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

Tell us about yourself

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

Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?

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

How did you get started writing?

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

What genres do you write in and why?

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

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

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

How does your family feel about your writing career?

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

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

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

Do you have critique partners?

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

What’s next for you?

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

 The Seduction of Madalyn by Cynthia A Clement

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

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

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

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

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

Excerpt from The Seduction of Madalyn

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

“A penny for your thoughts.”

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

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

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

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

“I might have been dressing.”

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

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

“Annie insisted on dressing my hair up.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Would that be wise?”

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

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

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

Author Bio

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

Author Links

Website:  www.cynthiaclement.com

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

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

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

Who is Khloe Adams?

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

How do the three of you work together?

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

What releases do you have out now?

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

What inspired you to write this serial?

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

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

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

Will you be branching out in other genres?

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

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

Khloe:

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

How can readers find you?

Khloe:

http://www.khloeadams.com

http://www.facebook.com/authorkhloeadams

http://www.twitter.com/khloeadamsbooks

http://www.pinterest.com/khloeadamsbooks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I shrugged. “Definitely not a super model.”

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

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

“Don’t mind if I do.”

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

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

“Thanks,” I said with pride.

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

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

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

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

AMAZON: http://bitly.com/1yMGUAO

BIO

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Website — Facebook — Twitter — Goodreads  links)

GIVEAWAY:

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Give us an elevator pitch for your book.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Title: Princess of the Light

Author: N. N. Light

Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance

Blurb:

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

Book Cover Graphic Artist Credit:

Illustration : streamy digital

Model : VictoriaAndrea

Photo : shutterstock/depositphoto

Excerpt:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Buy Links:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Goodreads:

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

Newsletter:

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

Author Bio:

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

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

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

Website: http://princessofthelight.com  

Blog: http://princessofthelight.wordpress.com 

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

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

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

Email: nnlight@outlook.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/PrincessOTLight 

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

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

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

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

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

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

I welcome Jacquie Biggar to the blog today. Jacquie owned and operated a restaurant in her hometown of Edson Alberta for thirteen years before moving west to Victoria to take care of her grandson and pursue her dream of becoming a writer. She joined Romance Writers of America, Kiss of Death—an online suspense group, and a local chapter, VIC-RWA, of which she currently holds the position of secretary.

Do you outline your books or wing it? Describe your process.

I’m what’s known as a pantser, in other words I wing it. I get my ideas from current events and from there I build my character’s world.

How do you decide on setting?

The setting was the easy part. I love the west coast and small towns, so I made that an integral part of my story.

What genre(s) do you write in? Why?

I’ve always loved romance and dreamed of one day writing for Harlequin—still working on that—and suspense books keep me turning the pages, so it was a natural fit.

What is your favorite part of writing?

When you get that scene in your head and everything flows from the fingers to the keyboard, almost without thought. Love that.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

I’d have to say editing. I go over the same words so many times it can be frustrating.

Some writers edit excessively as they write; others wait until a novel is finished to do the bulk of editing. How about you?

I edit as I go. I’m compulsive, and can’t seem to leave it alone.

What’s the strangest thing you have ever done in the name of research?

Online searches for drug-running and human trafficking in Iraq and Mexico. I expected to be flagged by the CIA at any time, 

E-books, print, or both? Any preferences? Why?

For myself I prefer e-books, but I know a lot of people like print so I’ve gone with both for my novel. And let’s face it, there’s nothing like holding a book you wrote in your hands.

Please tell us your experiences with social media. What are your favorite and least favorite parts of it?

I love social media. It’s an amazing way to make friends with people from all over the globe. That being said, I’ve found since I opened an author page on Facebook, I’m getting lots of strange, “Hi, I’d like to get to know you better,” messages I could do without.

What do you read? Do you read different genres when you’re writing versus not writing?

I read a wide variety within the romance genre. Romantic Suspense-Iris Johansen, Suzanne Brockmann, Comedy-Jennifer Crusie, Paranormal-J.R.Ward, YA-Jodie Esch, Lisa Lange.

For more about Jacquie Biggar check out her website and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

http://jacquiebiggar.com
http://Facebook.com/jacqbiggar
http://Twitter.com/Jacqbiggar

Here is a blurb from my novel, Tidal Falls, available Sept 15/14

Sara Reed is on the run from an abusive ex who happens to have ties to a Mexican cartel. Mistakenly thinking her and her daughter would be safer if she had some kind of leverage, she takes a copy of some valuable files, files that make her a target.

Nick Kelley is an ex-marine trying to find his place now that his career is over due to injuries suffered from an IED. When the two of them meet in the pretty little town of Tidal Falls, the experience is explosive.

http://www.amazon.com/Tidal-Falls-Wounded-Hearts-Book-ebook/dp/B00MS89MA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1410146633&sr=1-1&keywords=tidal+falls

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and who you are as a writer?

I grew up in NW Indiana, several miles from Chicago. I started reading romantic stories when I was eight, devouring library books written for teens, usually one a day. This love of romance carried into my adult life. I now have over three thousand romance novels in my collection and am rarely willing to part with any of them. It seemed only natural for me to write romance.
My books are primarily contemporary “relationship” books—stories about people falling in love and making that love work for them. My protagonists might have idealistic differences, but I don’t dwell on “love-hate” themes used to create conflict that we find in a lot of formula romance.

Who is your intended audience and why should they read your books?

Readers who like a good old-fashioned romance, character-driven and emotional, might like my books. I’m not heavy into complicated plots; I like to concentrate on a good story about the process of finding the happily-ever-after (HEA). I was pleased when romance novels opened the bedroom door and let us see the physical love between two people. Reviewers who rate “heat” have rated my love scenes mild or medium heat. I also try to keep the language relatively clean.

Peter Jordan’s Marriage is an unusual title—how did you come up with it?

Peter Jordan’s Marriage (PJM) is a special book for me. It’s about making a love and marriage work, and I wanted the title to reflect that. So, even though the hero is a pro-football player, that’s not the focus of the story. When Peter Jordan finds the one woman who is right for him, he scraps all his ideals of a stay-at-home mom to marry the woman he loves. But making his marriage work with her career becomes an obstacle both have to face, making this book about Peter Jordan’s Marriage.

I am a huge sports fan, though, and was actually sitting in an NFL stadium on a Monday night football game, when I saw a player, a wide receiver, get hit exactly as described in PJM. As they took him off the field in an ambulance the idea for this book sprang to life.

Football players, both in college and the NFL, often get a bad rap, because of the few that make headlines for their abusiveness to women and children. We encounter abusive men in all walks of life, not just sports. I wanted to show a “good guy” sports figure who is looking for a woman he can love forever, a woman who will give him the family life he missed as a child.

Who is your favorite character from you books and why?

Peter Jordan, no question about it. A true “gentle giant” Peter Jordan epitomizes the “nice guy” most any woman could fall in love with. My heart kicks up a beat every time a I get a response from a reader that points out how nice it is to read about an athlete who isn’t a jerk.

How about your least favorite character? What makes them less appealing to you?

I’m assuming were talking about the hero/heroine in my books. Less favorite characters, of course, are the obvious villains and need no explanation for my dislike. Although I often try to find redemption for my obvious villains, trusting my reader might like them as well by the end of the book.

I suppose my least favorite heroine might be the one I’m writing about now in The Handsome Contractor. Beth is not very likeable at first: career-driven, hiding her dysfunctional family background, wanting no part of a future that includes a man. (Almost sounds like the clichéd formula romance, doesn’t it?) She is a successful architect, wielding great power in the business world, but she’s got to come a long way if I’m going to like her. I do see some improvement in the last two chapters, but she’s been a tough character for me to develop and has given me writer’s block more than once.

What other books are similar to your own? What makes them alike?

Other than being contemporary romance or the general themes, (i.e. Million Dollar Wife a marriage of convenience, or the friendship into love theme found in Here For You Always) I like to think my books are not that similar. For example, when I first submitted Here For You Always for publication, editors liked the story and my characters, and particularly commented on Leigh’s son, but the idea of the hero loving the heroine from the get-go didn’t fall into the formula at the time. Editors insisted characters couldn’t admit love until the end of the story or it ruined the tension. Also sports heroes were definitely taboo. Susan Elizabeth Phillips was one author I admired because she ignored that rule and was successful doing so.

What can we expect from you in the future?

I’m hoping to finish The Handsome Contractor in time for Christmas. My contractor is Matt Spicer, running a family business with two grown delinquent brothers and a widowed mother he feels responsible for. The last thing he wants is more responsibility in the form of a wife.

Readers have asked for a sequel to Million Dollar Wife that includes Bryce’s sister, Ann, a successful entertainment lawyer, and the private investigator, Jarret McGraw. At first I couldn’t seem to come up with a story, but in the last few weeks I found Ann snowbound with two orphaned children. She just might have to contact Jarret for help. Who knows what might happen?

What can readers who enjoy you books do to help make them successful?

Reviews on Amazon, or Goodreads or any other websites help a great deal. Telling their friends is also helpful. I hope to have a website soon, so I can communicate directly with readers; find out what they like and don’t like. I think having some direct contact would be especially fun.

How about a taste of one of your books?

Here’s an excerpt from Peter Jordan’s Marriage…
Her voice was so soft Pete wasn’t sure he heard her. “What did you say?”
“Do you want to make love to me?”
Incredulous, he stood with his arms at his side. “Now? Tonight?”
“Right now.” She gestured toward the white fur rug. “Right here.”
He stared down into her eyes, a pool of blue lights, unfathomable, dewy from unshed tears. This wasn’t the way he’d planned this moment. Something was terribly wrong. “Does this mean you love me, Bobbie?”
“I just want us to make love—tonight.”
“Why?” The word came out harsher than he meant it too.
“Why?” she countered. “Why does anyone make love?”
“For a lot of people, it’s not love, Bobbie. It’s just sex. I want to be sure you know the difference.”
“I thought this is what you wanted.”
“I do,” he said, ignoring her trembling lips, “but not like this. Do you know how this feels to me?” He didn’t give her a chance to reply. “Like a command performance. I’m not taking your test, Bobbie.” She didn’t answer him.
Watching the expressions of hurt and bewilderment play across her face, Pete took a step forward. There was so much at stake he had to find the right words. “I love you, you little idiot, and you’re risking our entire future on one night. If I don’t perform on demand, like some trained animal, if I can’t make sex acceptable for you on the first try, you’re going to walk out of my life, convinced it will never be right. That’s not fair, Bobbie, to yourself or to me.”
“You’ve got this all wrong, Pete,” she said sadly. “I wasn’t testing you. I was testing me. This whole thing makes me feel guilty. I can’t seem to be all the things you want in a woman. I haven’t been willing to take the chances you need me to take.” Her voice broke.
“So you’ve offered yourself as the sacrificial lamb? Is that supposed to make me feel good?” He could see in her expression that his words cut deep.
“Stop it,” she said. “I got your message. What do you want from me, Pete?”
“What I don’t want is your guilt. You are the first woman I’ve ever loved. The only woman. And I want all the things that go with a first love. A love without reservations or doubts. I want marriage with you. A family . . . “ His voice trailed off. Despite all of their obstacles, his values that didn’t match hers, her goals so different, miles apart from his own, none of it mattered. He’d just asked her to marry him. The situation was so far from his fantasy of candlelight and wine, red roses and a velvet ring box, it was almost laughable.
God, this was for real. He wanted her under any circumstances.