Please help me welcome Edie Ramer to my blog today. Edie has given me a great interview that I think you’ll find interesting. She is also giving a $10 gift card to Amazon, BN or Kobo to one lucky commentor so be sure and leave her a comment to be entered.

Do you have other talents? Or is there a talent you don’t have that you wish you did?

The wonderful thing about being a writer is that, through my characters, I can be an artist, a chef, home remodeler, saxophone player, ghost whisperer, cat furniture designer, and a martial arts expert without actually being talented in any of that. (Though I can cook, and I have painted in oils and acrylics.) I live vicariously through my characters.

Tell us about your current work in progress.

It’s a Christmas book, the second in my Rescued Hearts series, titled CHRISTMAS AT ANGEL LAKE. It has a small boy, a single mom, a rich man who’s been under the spell of a woman he calls “the Dark Queen,” and an awesome dog. (It has a great cat, too, but the dog has a point of view in this book, not the cat.)

When will it be released?

October or November. I’m hoping for October.

What inspired your latest book?

HEARTS IN MOTION, my first Rescued Hearts book, is inspired by my own interests (this goes back to the first question, lol). I’ve been looking at furniture and cat furniture, and my hero ended up as the President and CEO of a furniture company, and my heroine is co-owner of a struggling cat furniture company. I love animals, so this has animals. My husband and I are thinking of fostering dogs in the future. I’m also giving 25 cents from every book sold to the Washington County Humane Society in Wisconsin.

What’s your favorite part of writing?

Finishing! And then revising. I love making the words shine. I love cutting parts that don’t matter and make it flabby. Then I love reading what I’ve written and thinking, I wrote that? A little stunned and happy.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

Plotting. I’m a pantser, and I often go places where I shouldn’t go then end up cutting scenes and backtracking. But when I plot, I end up cutting even more.

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

I’m a proponent of self-publishing. I’ve advised other new indie authors to join the IRI and Selfpublish loops. Also to read blogs by Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch and J.A. Konrath.

What was the deciding factor in self-publishing your books?

Before I self-published, I’d already sold short stories to print magazines and anthologies. I’d won and finaled in quite a few RWA contests. I’d had 4 agents. So I was feeling jaded about the business. A friend, Zoe Winters, had been publishing for a couple of years and was getting well-known. About the same time, I was in the RWA Women’s Fiction chapter, and I was writing articles for their newsletter on the business. I started reading all the blogs I mentioned…and I realized that I should self-publish. So I did.

Give us an elevator pitch for your book.

Take two cats, a dog, a sad, six-year-old girl, a vibrant woman who needs help, a stubborn man who needs a favor, and you have a recipe for romance.

Where can readers find you?
www.edieramer.com, Facebook, Twitter

HEARTS IN MOTION excerpt:

“So, you have a thing for me,” he said.

“And you have a thing for me,” she said.

He stared at her. “I’m engaged.”

“I hope you keep remembering that.”

“I don’t forget.”

“You should call Portia and see her tonight. Cara could sleep over with us.” With each word, she was punishing herself, but she needed this punishment. Needed it to stop these emotions that she had no business feeling. “You’re not my type, anyway. I usually go for guys who are more fun.”

“And you’re not mine. I usually date women who are more… Just more.”

“Is that a cut on my height?” Now her voice rose with indignation, when she wanted to be aloof and uncaring.

He was holding back laughter; she could see it in the clenched muscles around his mouth and his eyes. Usually she loved laughter, even when the joke was on her. Maybe even more in that case. But now… Well, sometimes a girl just didn’t feel like laughing. Once again, she had to fight to keep from kicking him in the shins.

Or higher.

“No insult intended,” he said.

“Because I am more.” She held her arms out at her sides. “I am so filled with life, when I was young, I would climb up on the roof and yell that I could fly.”

He laughed, a rumble that came from his belly, joy in his face. “I can picture you doing that. What happened to that little girl?”

She tilted her head. “Are you kidding? I still think I could fly.”

“Aren’t you missing something?”

“A pair of wings. That’s all I need.”

“I was going to say airplane ticket.”

“That’s the difference between us.”

“The difference between us…”—he leaned toward her and lowered his face, until their lips were a hand-width away—“…is that I already picture you with wings.”

As she gasped, a voice called out. “Daddy!”

He jerked back, looking guilty.

So he should feel guilty, Abby thought fiercely. He was flirting with her. Trying to seduce her.

And she was flirting back. Trying to seduce him.

That’s the last time she started a conversation with a man by telling him to stay away. Obviously it was a case of wanting what they shouldn’t take and what she couldn’t give.

Amazon | Apple | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | All Romance Ebooks | Smashwords

Edie Ramer is funnier on the page than in real life. A multiple award-winning writer, she writes stories with heart. She lives in southeastern Wisconsin with her husband, dog and one important cat.

In addition to her Rescued Hearts and Miracle Interrupted series, she’s published in paranormal and sci fi romance, plus a humorous mystery. She’s happy to be able to do what she loves nearly every day.

Please help me welcome Sara Walter Ellwood to my blog today. Sara is giving away a prize to one lucky commenter. Be sure and leave your email address in the message to qualify. See below for complete requirements.

Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?

Oh, goodness yes! I actually have a teaching degree—secondary social studies. In my area of Pennsylvania 20 years ago, teaching jobs were almost impossible to come by. I substituted for a few years, but decided to change careers. I was lost, had no idea what I waned to do, but thought about either nursing or lab tech. The problem—I really didn’t want to incur another large school loan… So, I went to a tech school for an eight month medical assisting program. After graduating in 1996, I got a job working in an urgent care unit. I was there for five years, until I was hired by a local Army clinic. I’ve been there for almost twelve years. For the last ten of those years, I’ve worked as a medical clerk, which really is a hodgepodge of different duties. My latest training included audiology testing.

Do you have other talents? Or is there a talent you don’t have that you wish you did?

How did you get started writing?

I started writing while in high school, but quit for almost 20 years… Until I started writing Star Wars fan fiction in 2005.

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

I write paranormal and contemporary western romance. Both with suspense twist…Right now my paranormals are under the pen name Cera duBois, but I’ve decided to not write any other books under that name. My westerns (and any new paranormals) will be under my real name. Lord only knows why I chose these genres! I tell people they chose me…LOL I wrote A Hunter’s Angel after reading my first vampire series—the Twilight books. I started writing westerns when I came up with my hero in Heartstrings, a country singer. It just seemed logical he’d be from Texas. I started reading westerns after I stared writing my story. I actually have an idea for a science fiction romance that I’d love to write someday. So who knows how many genres I’ll end up writing.

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

Bloodwine by Cera duBois (self-pub short story 2012)
A Hunter’s Angel by Cera duBois (The Wild Rose Press 2012)
A Hunter’s Blade by Cera duBois (The Wild Rose Press 2012)
Gambling On A Secret by Sara Walter Ellwood (Lyrical Press 2013)
Heartstrings by Sara Walter Ellwood (Lyrical Press 2013)
The Birthday Fantasy by Sara Water Ellwood (self-pub novella 2013)
Gambling On A Heart by Sara Walter Ellwood (Lyrical Press 2013)

I also wrote a Civil War romance novel in high school and about seven Star Wars fan fiction novels and about 35 short stories.

Oh wow! Asking which one is my favorite is like asking which child love more…LOL
Well, let’s just say my favorite fan fiction was a very long saga titled The Path of Dreams. It won an award for best romance in 2006 by readers and that convinced me to give actual romance writing a go. As for my published books… They are all my favorites!

Tell us about your current series/WIP.

My current WIP, which I’m REALLY hoping to have finished SOON, is book 3 of the Colton Gamblers—Gambling On A Dream. It’s sexy Texas Ranger Wyatt McPherson and Sheriff Dawn Madison’s story—they both appear in Gambling On A Heart. I’m also working on 2 other westerns, but I have no idea when I’ll get them finished.

What is your favorite part of writing?

The revision/editing process… I love polishing my story until it shines.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

Writing the first draft! Sometimes I really hate this part. Which probably would be resolved some if I could just learn to plot…LOL Yeah, I’m a pantser.

How does your family feel about your writing career?

They are supportive, though sometimes the hubby gets a little perturbed by the amount of time I spend on the computer after coming home from work.

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

I do. Although Sara Walter Ellwood is my real name, Walter isn’t my legal middle name. It’s my maiden name. I think it was a no-brainer for me to write under this name. I’ve always wanted to be a write (well, since about ninth grade anyway) and my dream has been to see my name on a cover of a book. And since most married woman out there still considers herself by her maiden name as much as she does her married name, adding the Walter pays homage to this. I’m still Sara Walter as much as I am Sara Ellwood.

I also have a short story and two paranormal romances published under the pen name Cera duBois, which is a play on my real name. Cera is just a different spelling of Sara, and duBois is French for “the woods”, while Ellwood means “noble woods” in Old English. I originally chose this name to keep my two genres separate. But all it has done is confuse readers and cause twice the amount of promo for me. So, I’ve decided to not use this pen name again. My Hunter’s Dagger series does have a third book, but I’m waiting to write it. After I get all my rights back to the two books published by The Wild Rose Press, I plan to re-edit and self-publish the entire series under my Sara Walter Ellwood name.

What sort of promo do you do? Do you have help?

I’ve really done a lot of everything. Mostly I do blog tours. Some of them have been scheduled by a PR person, some by me and a few have been a combination of both. I’m not really sure how many sells actually come from tours, but I think they help in other ways, like with my SEO of my website, which I’ll not get into here. I’ve also joined sites like The Romance Reviews and participate in their parties. I’m a featured member of The Romance Studio and have advertised on other book sites. Again I don’t know how much this has helped. But the will say the few times I held release parties on The Romance Studio, I did see an increase of sales of all my books.

Gambling On A Heart
Book 2 of The Colton Gamblers

Blurb:
She once lost his heart on a bluff. Will she risk everything to win it back?
Beautician Tracy Quinn spends her days making the women of Colton, Texas beautiful, while living down the nickname of Olive Oyl, given to her by the only man she has ever loved—Zack Cartwright. She spends her nights alone, despite what her ex husband wants their friends and neighbors to think.

Ex-rodeo cowboy. Ex-bad-boy. Ex-Marine. Widower and single dad Sheriff Zack Cartwright can describe his life in exes. One ex in particular reminds him of what’s missing in his workaholic life: Tracy Quinn. For years since she broke his heart, he’s practically made avoiding her a second job. He still wants her, but can never go after her.

When cattle rustlers target her brother’s ranch, Tracy and Zack are stuck working together. Her son could use a positive male role model, and his daughter is wild for a chance at a “substitute” mom. But Tracy’s ex threatens to sue if she lets Zack near her son, and the Colton grapevine is abuzz with rumors about their past relationship. Is it worth the gamble to see if what they have is more than lust?

CONTENT WARNING: Spicy sex

Excerpt:

“I was hoping you could keep me company this afternoon.” He skimmed his fingers over her cheek.

Her insides, heating up like lava under the surface of the earth, pooled in her low belly. Her lips parted.

Against her lips, he whispered, “Tracy, I want you.”

She had thought of little else since he’d left her standing on her porch Friday night. He was asking her to enter into a sexual relationship without any hope of a future–without love.

But she was already in love with Zack.

Both of their kids would benefit from them being together. Hadn’t that been what she’d decided while she tossed and turned in her big, empty bed?

With her gaze locked on his, she murmured, “I want you, too, but I have a stipulation.”

He leaned back. “What is it?”

“I’m no one’s bed-buddy, Zack. I know what my reputation is in this town, but it’s all wrong.” She swallowed her rapidly thumping heart back into place. “I’ll only go through with this, if you promise to treat me as a serious girlfriend. That means we date, we visit with our families and we share our kids.” When his expression hardened, she quickly added, “Mandy likes me. And I adore her. I’d like to bring her here, to the shop, for a few hours and play. And take her shopping. I know your mom tries, but she’s busy with her foundations and charities she does for the Junior League.”

The breath she sucked in was full of Zack’s scent of sage and leather. “Meanwhile, you can teach Bobby how to ride and maybe take him to the sheriff’s department and show him around. Jake won’t like it, but I’ll deal with him.” Having laid her demands out on the proverbial table, she held her breath, waiting for him to tell her what she could do with herself. After all, a man of Zack’s caliber could have any damned woman he wanted. Tracy was just handy, and according to the gossip of her ex-husband and mother-in-law, she was easy.

He studied her for a few moments. “That’s more than one stipulation.”

“Take it or leave it.”

“Tracy, it won’t change what I told you Friday night. I’m never getting married again.”

His words stung as much now as they had the other night, but she didn’t show him how much. She kept her face determined, as if she were haggling over one of his horses, rather than her body and soul.

“Fine. But I’m not a floozy. Yes, I’ve made mistakes. But I have my son to consider. And I’d hope you’d feel the same about Mandy. They’re bound to see us together. What do you plan on telling your six-year-old daughter when she asks about me? That I’m your friend with benefits? I know that isn’t what I want to be teaching my son.” Moreover, she didn’t want to give credence to Jake’s claim that she had no sexual morals.

“Okay,” he said at last. “We’ll play the game your way.” He pressed her against him. “Luck would have it I’m off this afternoon, too. I’ve already put in sixteen hours.”

When his lips captured hers, she knew she’d made a pact with the devil, but she couldn’t stop the elation surging through her. There was something he wanted from her. Sex was a big portion of it, but something else kept Zack from walking away and hooking up with any one of the many available women in town.

Bio:
Sara Walter Ellwood is an award winning author whose novel Gambling On A Secret was named by bestselling author Carolyn Brown in the Happy Ever After Blog on USA Today as one of her favorite romances of 2012. Although Sara has long ago left the farm for the glamour of the big town, she draws on her experiences growing up on a small hobby farm in West Central Pennsylvania to write her stories. She’s been married to her college sweetheart for nearly 20 years, and they have two teenagers and one very spoiled rescue cat named Penny. She longs to visit the places she writes about and jokes she’s a cowgirl at heart stuck in Pennsylvania suburbia.

She also writes paranormal romantic suspense under the pen name of Cera duBois.

Buy Links:
Lyrical Press: http://www.lyricalpress.com/gambling-on-a-heart/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_12?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=sara+walter+ellwood&sprefix=sara+walter+%2Caps%2C420
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s?store=allproducts&keyword=Sara+Walter+Ellwood
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/gambling-on-a-heart/id642804045?mt=11
Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/Gambling-On-a-Heart/book-6EzOUD6_-UWAPR0RZT34Pw/page1.html?s=Zj9Z9eXVJ0inBNYR-g5mTg&r=2

Author links:
Website: http://www.sarawalterellwood.com
Blog: http://www.sarawalterellwood.com/blog/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarawalterellwood.ceradubois/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sara_w_ellwood
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6869635.Sara_Walter_Ellwood
To Sign Up for Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/mVxXf

Giveaway:
*Please leave your email address to qualify*
Tour Grand Prize is a swag pack full of goodies! A signed copy of Carolyn Brown’s Just a Cowboy and His Baby, an ebook copy of my last release Gambling On A Secret, a notebook, a pen, and a custom jewelry set—all tucked into a keepsake box. A $20 value.
*Swag pack is for the entire six-week tour. Winner will be announced on September 1, 2013
*Open to Continental US citizens 18 years and older and where not prohibited by law.
*For the complete list of rules click HERE http://sarawalterellwood.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/giveaway-rules.pdf

Please help me welcome Stacy Juba to my blog today. Stacy has given me a great interview and I hope you all like it, too. As part of her visit today she is giving away one Smashwords download of Twenty-Five Years Ago Today to one lucky commentor.

Have you had other careers before becoming a writer? After college, I worked as an obit writer and newspaper editorial assistant, much like my heroine Kris Langley in Twenty-Five Years Ago Today. Like her, one of my tasks was preparing the 25 and 50 Years Ago Today column. I later became a reporter, specializing in features and health. In college, my major was exercise science and I worked briefly as a trainer in a health club and as an intern in a hospital cardiac rehabilitation program. However, I didn’t enjoy working in a club or a hospital as much as I thought I would. I decided to apply for a job at the local newspaper and have been writing articles for various publications ever since.

What genre(s) do you write in and why? I specialize in adult mystery and romantic suspense, however I have also published a couple of young adult novels, children’s picture books, an essay anthology, and short stories. I revamped my website to One Stop Reading: Books for Adults, Teens and Children. I wanted to make it easy for my adult readers to also find books for their kids or grandkids. My work-in-progress is a romantic comedy without a mystery element to it, so I basically pursue the story ideas that excite me the most at the time.

What inspired your latest book? Sink or Swim was inspired by the reality TV show craze. I wanted to write a book about what happens to a character once the series is over and she returns to her normal life. In the novel, Cassidy Novak attracts a stalker after returning to her job as a personal trainer in a small town. I set much of the book at a health club since I had experience working at one in my early twenties.

What is your favorite part of writing? My favorite part of writing is getting so engrossed in the process that two hours passes like twenty minutes. It’s almost meditative how focused and “in the zone” that I get when the writing process is going well. Working on my novel puts me in a better mood.

What is your least favorite part of writing? My least favorite part is when I get writer’s block or run into a plot hole that needs fixing. Then I have trouble moving forward. To combat writer’s block, I’ll take a few days away from the story and then go to the library with my word processor and force myself to sit there until I’ve written for a couple hours. When I need to fix a plot hole, I’ll brainstorm with my husband or a writer friend.

How much time do you spend promoting your books? What works best for you? I spend a great deal of time on promotion. It has been trial and error experimenting with different marketing strategies to see what works and what doesn’t. What works best for me is a combination of strategically placed ads, a strong Twitter presence, having my blog syndicated through Triberr, and participating in some author marketing groups where we exchange leads and support one another on social networking sites.

Do you have a view in your writing space? What does your space look like? There is no view as my desk faces the wall, but I have a vision board hanging to my right which has pictures and words focusing on my personal and professional goals. It is a memo board with a blue background and yellow stars, not that you can see much of the background due to all of the cards and photos. I also have a picture of a butterfly over my desk with the words Believe in the Magic You Can Create, and a picture of a flower with the Chinese proverb, Those Who Say It Cannot Be Done Should Not Interrupt the Person Doing It. Basically, I find it inspiring to be surrounded by positive phrases and images.

Tell us about your heroine. Give us one of her strengths and one of her weaknesses. Cassidy Novak, the heroine of Sink or Swim, is a personal trainer who goes on a reality show as she hopes to win enough money to launch a chain of fitness centers. She is ambitious and has worked hard to put herself through school, yet doesn’t have the finances to follow her dream of being an entrepreneur. Her strength is her mental toughness and her weakness is her stubbornness.

Has your muse always known what genre you would write and be published in? I started writing mystery stories in elementary school so my muse always knew that genre would be important to me, and when I was a young adult myself, I got interested in writing YA. My muse really surprised me with the sweet romantic comedy that I’m currently finishing up – I never would have dreamed that I’d write a romantic comedy, with no mystery elements to it, even though I enjoy reading that genre. But who am I to question the muse!

Do you or have you belonged to a writing organization? Which one? Have they helped you with your writing? How? The most beneficial writing organization that I’ve ever belonged to is Sisters in Crime. I’ve learned a lot through their newsletters and workshops, have found critique partners through the organization, and have appeared as a panelist at local conferences and libraries as a direct result of my membership. It has also been a wonderful networking opportunity for me to meet authors, booksellers, and others in the publishing industry.

Where can readers find you? They can find me on my website http://stacyjuba.com/blog/ , on Twitter https://twitter.com/stacyjuba, and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stacy-Juba/100155471301.

Do you have any upcoming FREE promotions you would like to tell us about? Readers can download my free 23 minute murder mystery audiobook Laundry Day, performed by award-winning narrator Nicole Poole, who also did Jodi Picoult’s House Rules and Change of Heart. It’s a mystery set in a suburban neighborhood reminiscent of Desperate Housewives. It’s also available as an e-book. I recommend the audio version because of Nicole’s great performance, but the e-book has some excerpts of my novels if readers would like to have those also. In addition, I have an anthology that is free for the time being at many retailers: 25 Years in the Rearview Mirror: 52 Authors Look Back. It is a companion book to my bestseller Twenty-Five Years Ago Today and features 52 authors looking back at their own pasts or the pasts of their characters. It’s an interesting book that will inspire readers to reflect on their own lives, as well as introduce them to new authors. Download links are on my Free Reads page: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/short-stories/

Excerpt from Sink or Swim:

Cassidy sat poised in her chair as former contestants filed onto the soundstage at WBC in New York. Together, the studio audience and television viewers had watched the recorded footage of her walking the plank. Gabriel would now interview the competitors from the inaugural season one final time.

More importantly, he would announce her prize. If it erased most of her debts, then it would at least make this whole embarrassing experience worthwhile. Cassidy’s heart kicked in her chest and sweat moistened her brow.

As one of her old teammates entered, her heart rate skyrocketed for a different reason. Josh Sanchioni slid into a bucket seat, carrying himself stiffer than normal in his sharp gray suit. Studio lights caught his sunbleached strawberry blonde waves, brightening the reddish gold tints.

Cassidy slipped her gaze to his leather shoes. If Josh hadn’t been engaged, they could have been an item. Instead, they’d been good friends until that one evening when the cameras were off and they almost kissed. They’d both realized their mistake and backed away. Things were strained until Josh walked the plank a week later.
Tonight, not only did Cassidy have to face Josh, she would probably meet his fiancée.
Her cheeks heating, Cassidy focused on the competitor beside Josh as a distraction. Adam Horton sat erect, hands folded in the lap of his olive green khakis. He wasn’t military, but he dressed like an Army wannabe. His reptilian eyes drilled into Cassidy, his angular face revealing the shape of bones underneath. A blond goatee darkened his pointy chin.

Cassidy shuddered involuntarily. Adam never said much, but he made her uncomfortable just the same. She’d sense someone watching her on the ship and Adam would be lurking in the hatches. Luckily, he only lasted on the show two weeks.

Bio:

Stacy Juba has made numerous bestseller lists including GalleyCat’s Barnes & Noble Bestsellers, GalleyCat’s Mystery and Thriller Bestsellers, and multiple Amazon Top 100 lists, and she has also been ranked as one of the Most Popular Authors in Mysteries on Amazon. She has had a book ranked as #5 in the Nook Store and #30 on the Amazon Kindle Paid List. Stacy has written about reality TV contestants targeted by a killer, an obit writer investigating a cold case, teen psychics who control minds, twin high school hockey stars battling on the ice, and teddy bears learning to raise the U.S. flag: she pursues whatever story ideas won’t leave her alone. Her titles include the adult mystery novels Sink or Swim and Twenty-Five Years Ago Today, the children’s picture books The Flag Keeper and the Teddy Bear Town Children’s Bundle (Three Complete Picture Books), and the young adult novels Face-Off and Dark Before Dawn.

Please help me welcome Linda to my blog today. She will be giving a $5 giftcard of the winners choice as a prize to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave her a comment.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a native Pennsylvanian who lived most of my life in Southern California. As a child, I was fascinated by the ocean, and I like living near it, even though I don’t swim well. I’m also a book junkie who spent much of my childhood either lost in the pages of a book or in my own daydreams of the books I would write when I grew up. That dream was put aside for a number of years. About 25 years ago, I decided it was time to try to make that childhood dream come true and I’ve been writing ever since.

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

The Monterey Peninsula in Central California. There’s something special about that area for me. It’s not just the cooler weather or the natural beauty of the beaches, though they are lovely, but there’s something in the air that seems magical to me. I just feel good there. It’s not as urban as Southern California, and wild deer can be seen roaming the streets of Pacific Grove. We even saw a red fox once out by Asilomar Beach. But alas, it’s very expensive real estate. Of course if I want to dream really big, I’ll say London, which is even more expensive, but oh, to be so close to all that history and research material! That would be wonderful.

Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?

Yes, I’m a librarian by training, with a Master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Texas at Austin. When I first got out of school, I worked for several years as a technical librarian. For a history buff like me, it was surreal to be surrounded by technical books and journals, most of which I didn’t understand. It’s pretty bad when the only books you can read in your own library are the dictionary and encyclopedia! I left the library field to work as a travel agent for a time, and then went back to library work, but in public libraries this time. I enjoy being on the information/reference desk and helping people to find the information and books they needed.

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

Generally, not very likely, at least not in recognizable form, though I have used old boyfriends as models for a couple of villains. However, in Lady Elinor’s Escape, I cast some of my closest women friends as secondary characters, with names only slightly changed to accommodate the Regency period, for instance Belinda rather than Linda.

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

I have written and published 3 full-length novels plus about two dozen short stories and novellas under my Lyndi Lamont pseudonym. I call Rogue’s Hostage the book of my heart, but really, I love them all.

What inspired your latest book?

My recent release is a reissue of my Regency romance, Lady Elinor’s Escape. Like a lot of readers, I fell in love with this time period when I read Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. I wanted to write a Regency Cinderella story, but needed a twist on it, and came up with the idea of a poor little rich girl with an abusive aunt who finds her Prince Charming in the form of a London barrister who rescues damsels in distress. Stephen helps Elinor escape to her fairy godmother, a French modiste in London, where Elinor hides out disguised as a seamstress. It’s not the typical Regency, since readers get to see how the working class lived for a change.

What is your favorite part of writing?

The most exciting part is when the original idea starts to take shape in my mind, as the characters come to life and start talking to me, though not literally, of course. (The difference between writers and schizophrenics is writers know the voices in their heads aren’t real.) The most satisfying part is when you get to The End.

What are you reading now?

Dan Brown’s Inferno.

Where can readers find your books? Print/Ebook?

Most of my books are available only in ebook format at this time. I’m hoping to get them into print soon using Amazon’s CreateSpace. The ebook are available at Amaon, Barnes and Noble and other retailers. Links are available at my website: http://www.lindamclaughlin.com/bookshelf

What’s next for you?

Presently I have two projects in the works, both Westerns. One is a full length novel set in post-Civil War Texas entitled Touched By Fire. I’m also working on a holiday short story for a Western historical Christmas anthology set in Debra Holland’s fictional town of Sweetwater Springs. I’m honored to be working with Debra and Cynthia on this fun project.

Cynthia, thanks so much for hosting me here at your blog.

Linda

Lady Elinor’s Escape
by Linda McLaughlin
Sweet Regency Romance
Lady Elinor Ashworth always longed for adventure, but when she runs away from her abusive aunt, she finds more than she bargained for. Elinor fears her aunt who is irrational and dangerous, threatening Elinor and anyone she associates with. When she encounters an inquisitive gentleman, she accepts his help, but fearing for his safety, hides her identity by pretending to be a seamstress. She resists his every attempt to draw her out, all the while fighting her attraction to him.
There are too many women in barrister Stephen Chaplin’s life, but he has never been able to turn his back on a damsel in distress. The younger son of a baronet is a rescuer of troubled females, an unusual vocation fueled guilt over his failure to save the woman he loved from her brutal husband. He cannot help falling in love with his secretive seamstress, but to his dismay, the truth of her background reveals Stephen as the ineligible party.
Lady Elinor’s Escape is now available at Amazon, All Romance eBooks, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Kobo and Smashwords.

Excerpt:

“Excuse me, madam, but I could not help overhearing you say that you must leave for London immediately. Allow me to introduce myself. Stephen Chaplin, Esquire, at your service.”

Elinor turned to face the gentleman who had suddenly appeared. She stared at him through a haze of black, taking advantage of her veil to get a closer look at this tall, dark-haired, seemingly well bred gentleman. He was above average height, with finely chiseled features, and while he could not, strictly speaking, be deemed handsome, there was something in the intense scrutiny of his light brown eyes that drew her to him. By the cut of his bottle green Superfine coat, which emphasized his broad shoulders, but was not so tight as to hamper movement, and his casually tied neckcloth, she surmised he was no society dandy.

“How do you do?” she said politely, extending one black-gloved hand.

“Fine, thank you.”

As he took her hand and bowed over it, Elinor savored the warmth of his touch for a moment. It had been a long time since someone had touched her out of kindness. Suddenly realizing she was clutching his hand, she withdrew hers. He studied her, his gaze seeming to penetrate the veil, and she could only stand like the veriest lump under his scrutiny.

“I beg your pardon, madam, but what did you say your name was?”

“Eli—” Elinor broke off and feigned a cough, panic bubbling up inside. Her name. Dear heavens, she needed a new name. If she told him who she was, he would never agree to take her to Mimi. She stared down at the gentleman’s yellow nankeen trousers and shiny brown boots. “Brown,” she stammered. “Ellie Brown.”

“Mrs. Brown, may I offer my assistance? I’m heading for London myself and would be pleased to convey you as far as Chippenham, where you may pick up another stage coach.”

Relief flooded through her at his offer, but could she trust him? No proper young lady rides in a closed carriage with a gentleman who is not related to her. The words of her governess rang in her ears. “I do not think—”

“Of course, you are cautious,” he interrupted smoothly. “Any genteel lady would hesitate to trust a strange gentleman.”

“But I am not a lady,” she blurted. If Aunt Sarah learned that a ‘lady’ had been here, she would know where to look for her. “I am merely a seamstress.”

“Really,” he drawled, doubt evident in his tone.

Linda’s Bio:

Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of history fostered by her paternal grandmother and an incurable case of wanderlust inherited from her father. She has traveled extensively within the United States and has visited Mexico, Canada, & Australia. A lifelong dream came true with a trip to England where she was able to combine sightseeing and theater with research for her novels. A native of Pittsburgh, she now lives in Southern California with her husband.

Her first book was Worth The Risk by Lyn O’Farrell, written with Anne Farrell. Now Linda writes historical and Regency romance. She loves transporting her readers into the past where her characters learn that, in the journey of life, love is the sweetest reward.

She also writes sexy to erotic romance under the name Lyndi Lamont.

Website: http://www.lindamclaughlin.com/
Blog: http://flightsafancy.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.mclaughlin.1806
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/lindamclaughlin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont

Hi Cindy! Thanks for having me over for a visit today. Last time I was here it was June, 2012. A lot has happened since then and I’m excited to share news on my upcoming July release, HAVEN. But first let’s answer your fun questions… 🙂

Tell us about yourself.

Let’s see… how about some tidbits not in the bio below (*grins*)
Favorite food: Asian, especially Japanese and Thai cuisine
Favorite TV shows: True Blood, Vampire Diaries, Game of Thrones
Favorite music: varies with my mood and yes, I often listen to music while writing
Preferred caffeine sources: Soy Thai Iced Tea and Soy Chai Tea Latte

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

Northern California, Scotland and Ireland. The first is my current home and I love it here. And all three locales are beautiful, mysterious, magical…

Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?

Yes, I’ve worn other work hats, such as Web site producer, English and French teacher, online nonfiction editor, writer and copy editor.

Are you a full time writer or do you have a “day job”?

I write as often as I can. I also read slush pile and line edit for an indie publisher.

Do you have other talents? Or is there a talent you don’t have that you wish you did?

I play the piano. I was classically trained as a kid and then wandered away from it as a teen. Wish I had a piano now!

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

Do the unfinished Nanowrimo novels shoved under the bed count? LOL. Currently, I have two novels and three novellas completed. I also have several short stories written years ago; mostly horror and some fantasy. A third novel is in progress.

As for a favorite, well I love them all, but let’s go with HAVEN. Otherwise, my vampires will get mighty cranky!

Tell us about your current series/WIP.

I’m working on an urban fantasy series called The Tranquilli Bloodline Series. Vampires, love, mayhem…

The first book, HAVEN, an urban fantasy romance, releases July 2nd from Champagne Books, BURST imprint. A prequel novella, The Vampire Code, releases in October, 2013.

Haven’s Elevator pitch:
San Francisco nightclub owner Carina Tranquilli discovers latent powers and makes peace with her vampire family, destiny and soul mate, with Team Evil in hot pursuit.

Haven Romance snippet:
Alexander crushed his lips to mine. Need roared through me and my hands burrowed into his thick, silky hair, holding his head as if he might try to escape. He growled his approval against my lips, his kiss growing more insistent. He tasted metallic, like the blood he’d consumed. Again, I found I liked the taste…

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

I love to write about all manner of Fae, and I recently put the finishing touches on a paranormal romance featuring a merman-human surfer and a human book nerd. Two of the secondary characters from that story — an earth fae warrior and the book nerd’s BFF – will receive their own story. Outlining now…

How does your family feel about your writing career?

One hundred percent supportive, thank goodness!

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

There will be a blog tour for HAVEN in July that will include an E-Book giveaway. Check my Web site in July for details. Hope to see you there! 🙂

Today’s Giveaway

Thanks for visiting today, dear readers! And now, I’m off on a week-long vacation to the mountains where the wi-fi is scarce but the trees are plentiful.

Please leave a comment below for a chance to win one (1) $5 Starbucks E-Gift Card. This giveaway will run until MIDNIGHT tonight (12 AM Pacific). Include your email address so we can contact you if you win.

One winner will be drawn with the help of the gods at random.org and announced in the comment section on this page on SATURDAY, JUNE 29, when I return to the land of reliable wi-fi! Winner will also be contacted via email.

Have a great week, everyone!

BIO

Celia lives in California with her husband, daughter, and two feisty cats. She writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance, and has a particular fondness for vampires and the Fae. When not writing, you’ll find her exercising, reading a good book or indulging her addiction to Joss Whedon’s TV shows and movies.

Where to find Celia.

Web site: http://www.celiabreslin.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/celiabreslin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CeliaBreslinAuthor
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CeliaBreslin

Please help me welcome Guy Ogan to my blog today. Guy will be giving away an ecopy of of his first book, Immortal Relations to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave him a comment.

Q: Have you had other careers before becoming a writer?

A: Yes, I was an officer in the U.S.A.F. for over 20 years, mostly working in logistics. After completing a second masters degree I set up a clinic working with children, adolescents and adults with Attention Deficit and taught psychology and sociology at a local college and university, then went to work for the State of Texas in Criminal Justice, as a psychologist. All of these careers required a good deal of writing; however, they used very specific formats so I’m not sure how well they helped in writing my novels.

Q: How did you get started writing?

A: In my teens I started writing about my love of long distance running and sent articles to “The Long Distance Log” and several other running related publications which used all the articles I sent. At college and university I had to do a lot of writing and also loved writing and submitting photographs of car shows I attended to “Cruising Style Magazine.” In the Air Force and later in criminal justice I did a lot of professional writing, still finding time to write a clinical book on assessment and treatment of ADHD. If anyone had told me I’d someday be writing Paranormal-Romance novels I would have certified them as delusional! LOL

Q: Tell us about your current WIP.

A: My, “Immortal Relations Coming Out” starts with my guardian vampires discussing coming out to the human populations. After stopping a war between Communist China and the Russian Federation, keeping it from going nuclear, as well as solving serious ecological threats, the good vampires consider the possibilities of informing humans of their existence. The hope is that coming out will allow the guardians to work more closely with them to safeguard humans from the evil type of vampires, as well as human criminals and evil governments seeking to enslave their peoples. Things spiral out of control when the would be dictators spin the fact that vampires exist to frighten people into giving up their rights and giving those in power total control. A potentially Extinction Level Event, forces humans to rethink the situation as only the vampires can save mankind. Also introduced is a very young and inexperienced shape-shifter “wolf,” who falls in love with the young hybrid human-vampire granddaughter of two of the main characters. As with the previous novels, there is a good deal of “explicit togetherness,” so the novels are geared to an adult audience.

Q: What is your favorite part of writing?

A: I absolutely love to write about my characters and the interesting situations they get into while trying to safeguard mankind! The calling I felt to write the first book, when I found
out that my late father had had a tryst immediately after WW-II, would probably make an interesting research paper for a psychological journal. I loved writing it and the second book and am enjoying working on the third in the series now.

Q: What is your least favorite part of writing?

A: It is after the books are published (print and Kindle) that the “less than fun part” commences. Trying to get exposure for the books is difficult at best…fortunately there are great people who have blogs, such as this one, who offer new authors a place to spotlight their books.

Q: Give us an elevator pitch for your book.

A: Gary Logan finds a World War II Era Photograph of his late father in front of an ancient building. On the back of the picture his father had written Prague, Czechoslovakia; however, underneath, in a feminine hand was, “I’ll always be waiting here.” This shocked Gary into remembering things his mother had said when he was a child, “He is over there with that woman” and “He has had a child with her!” As a young boy, Gary had no understand of who those comments were about; however, the anger in his mother’s voice caused what she said to remain in his subconscious. Now, Gary goes to Prague to see where his father had worked and possibly find out more, but what he finds instead is a lovely young lady who seems to know too much about his father. Gary is confused but it isn’t long before he falls in love, even though he recognizes she is much more than what she seems. Thus begins an extraordinary journey of epic proportions. Exciting, erotic, and full of heart-stopping action, this debut novel turns human vampire lore on its head and despite lurking dangers, creates a symbiotic relationship between the two species that deepens emotional connections to astonishing effect.

Q: Where can readers find you?

A: My blogspot is, http://immortalrelations.blogspot.com/ and I’m also listed at http://www.amazon.com/author/guyogan

Q: Where can readers find your books?

A: The first book, “Immortal Relations” is at http://amzn.com/B006ZCBT6G and the second, “Immortal Relations, Love and War” is at http://amzn.com/B00A4IEHL6 in both print and Kindle versions. The third in the series, “Immortal Relations Coming Out” will join the others on Amazon and Kindle this Summer and a forth is in the early stages of development with the cover already created.

Please help me welcome Karalee Long to my blog today. In addition to being a wonderful writer, Karalee is a friend and I hope you’ll give her a warm welcome. She’s also giving away a $5 Starbucks card to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave her a comment.

What inspired your latest book?

I read about a contest in an issue of Writer’s Digest years ago. It gave a list of items to include in a story, and one of the items was a red dress. I didn’t enter the contest, but that darn red dress kept bugging me. So, it made a memorable appearance in my romantic suspense novel Love and Murder In Red Satin.

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

I don’t take real people and plunk a facsimile of them down in my book, but I do take habits, gestures, speech patterns, physical and personality traits, things like that from people for my characters—especially secondary or minor ones.

Give us an elevator pitch for my book.

My book features a marriage counselor suspected of murdering her ex-husband, a cop out for redemption and maybe a bit of revenge, a neat-freak killer, burned pancakes, and hot passion.

What genres are you drawn to as a reader?

I love romantic suspense. Besides having a happy ending for two people in love, I want the good guys to win over the bad guys. And women can be the good or bad guys, too. I do some volunteer work for our local police department, and it’s gratifying to be around these unsung heroes. Also, I enjoy reading paranormal, fantasy, futuristic, time travel romance and historical romance.

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

As soon as I learned how to print, I wrote a little story. I loved to read and was always imagining stories. I thought when I grew up, I’d move out west — I lived in Indiana — marry a cowboy, live on a ranch with horses, and when I wasn’t riding my big black horse, I’d write important novels. Well, I did move out west. I married an English teacher and kept on writing. I’d learned ranch or farm life was not for me. And the horse? Not being able to afford him and having no place to put him, I allowed him to gallop freely off into the western sunset. Coincidently, he ended up as a rescue horse who now lives happily with my wonderful childhood friend in Missouri.

Do you belong to a writing organization? Which one? Has it helped you with your writing? How?

I belong to Romance Writers of America, Colorado Romance Writers, and Kiss Of Death. They have helped me immensely. Without them I wouldn’t be published. They taught me about character development, character motivation, how to keep the plot moving forward while building the suspense, and how the writing and publishing business works. Through these organizations I found critique partners, encouragement, and wonderful friends.

Do you have any rejection stories to share?

Early in my writing, I wrote and submitted to an agent a psychological romantic thriller. I had an appointment with that agent at a conference a short time later and learned that when my submission was read, everyone in her office thought I was the victim of mental illness. They were actually afraid of me. I can only assume their conclusion had something to do with the heroine finding her sister beheaded. I never submitted that story again.

What are you reading now?

I recently finished reading Betrayal, a paranormal romance by M.L. Guida that kept me turning the pages. I’m currently reading a nonfiction book, Joseph Anton a Memoir.

Where can readers find you?

My website is at www.karaleelong.com, and I’m on Facebook at www.facebook.com/karaleelong.

Where can readers find my books?

Love and Murder In Red Satin is a trade paperback published by Passion In Print Press and is available on Amazon and other vendors.

Excerpt from Love and Murder In Red Satin:

Greg knocked and slowly opened Allie’s bedroom door. She was in the closet, yanking clothes from hangers and dropping them over her free arm. He stepped inside and quietly closed the door.

“Allie, let me help.”

She whirled around, clutching the clothes to her chest, her eyes glistening with tears. Wiping them away with the back of her hand, she blinked and swallowed. He could feel her struggle to control the chaos of her situation.

“You can’t.”

The certainty in her voice twisted his gut.

“I can. If you’ll let me.”

“I’m putting everyone in danger. I can’t live with that.”

“And I respect that,” he said, hoping he was saying the right thing. By the tortured look on her face, he knew the wrong word now, the wrong move, the wrong expression on his face, she’d bolt. And he’d be reading her obit in the paper.

“I can protect you, Allie.” At least, he hoped so.

“You were almost killed yesterday because of me.”

The anguish in her eyes told him more than he wanted to know. She cared about him, and not just as a friend. The image of her face down in the dirt yesterday made his heart beat a pained staccato. He had to convince her. Risky for him, but he wouldn’t risk her life.

“If something happens to you, your uncle will be devastated.” He was afraid he would be too. “Security is my business.”

The muscles of her forearms clasping the clothes tightened.

“I’m between jobs now.” He wasn’t exactly lying since he wasn’t sure he’d have his job after this was over.

She frowned, and he added, “Pro bono.”

She swallowed.

“I only have one bedroom, but I’ll sleep on the couch.”

She scraped her teeth over her lower lip, and he mentally groaned.

“You bet you will,” she said.

BIO

Karalee Long has been writing stories since second grade. Reading comic books taught her story structure while her imagination conjured characters to talk with and adventures to plot. She now writes romantic suspense and paranormal romantic suspense novels.

She lives at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with her husband, an alpha male cockatiel who owns the family room, and Bad Boy Bones who came to visit at Halloween and now resides in the living room—without paying rent. She and her husband are blessed with a wonderful son, amazing daughter-in-law, and lovable grandson.

She loves to hear from readers at www.karaleelong.com. Or catch her at www.facebook.com/karaleelong.

I’ve got one of my favorite authors, the lovely Lily Rede, on my blog today. Please help me welcome her. She is gratiously giving away three copies of PLAYING HOOKY in either PDF or mobi styles to three lucky commentors so be sure and comment.

1. Tell us about your current series/WIP.

Thanks so much to Cindy for having me!

I’m one of those writers who is completely incapable of working on one project at a time, so “current” is a relative term. However, this week my focus is on my series of summer shorts with my lovely friend Jane Gaudet, titled TEACH ME TONIGHT. The first one is PLAYING HOOKY, which is up now, but I’ve got two more waiting in the wings as single titles, and then I’ll bundle those with a few more for a full collection later in the summer. These are short, sexy little bites of summer loosely tied together, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy writing them!

2. Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

Ideas come from everywhere. I get my best ideas in the tub – where there are no writing materials handy, unfortunately. I’m seriously thinking of investing in soap crayons. The whole TEACH ME TONIGHT series, however, was not my idea at all. I have been sitting around, grousing over the fact that I’m not going to get a summer vacation this year (outrage!), and my dear friend Jane, who is not a writer, suggested a series about teachers and school administrators on their summer breaks. The slate is pretty full at the moment, so I suggested a collaboration, and had her plot them out. Then we tossed them back and forth a bit. When you read PLAYING HOOKY you’ll see how badly I’m dying for a tropical beach. I actually live right on the water, but it’s the chilly part of the Pacific, and nary a hot cabana boy in sight!

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

Be patient. And when it gets frustrating, be even more patient. It’s a long game, and there’s absolutely no rushing it. I started publishing almost a year ago and the ups and downs can make you want to throw things, but it’s also been intensely rewarding. Build your audience a reader at a time, spend your promo dollars wisely, and remember that the absolute best thing you can do for your writing career is to sit down and write another book. I’d also add be flexible. The self-pub industry is changing rapidly, and you want to go with the flow as much as possible.

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

I have thirteen short stories (a few in collections) and two Bright’s Ferry books completed at the moment. They’re all my babies, but I think I love SAFE FROM THE DARK the best. The chemistry between Evie and Colin really worked for me, and there was something about creating the world of Bright’s Ferry that was so satisfying. It’s the one I go back to when I get stuck, to remind myself that stories do come together with patience and editing. However, I have to admit that one of the things I adore about writing is the ability to fall in love with characters with every new title. My imagination is fickle and has a serious problem with monogamy, LOL…

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

Never, never, never! The lines between reality and fantasy must not cross, lest all life as we know it implode at the speed of light. Seriously, I don’t like writing about people I know. It gives me the creeps. Occasionally, a character trait from a real human will slip in, but I can’t even use names. I have some weird, deep-seated fear of it coming back to bite me, so I just avoid it.

6. What do you have planned for the future?

The plan for the summer is to deal with the WIP infestation. There are four TEACH ME TONIGHT shorts coming up – one more this month, the others in July. SAFE FROM THE STORM should be out for the 4th of July, fingers crossed. I’m in the editing stage with a hot little contemporary called MORE THAN A NIGHT, which will be out soon, along with the prequel for my paranormal HEARTS OF STONE series – SHADOW OF THE RAVEN. There are a gazillion excerpts on my blog, so check it out! Lilycrede.wordpress.com

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

I don’t know, I’ve seen traditionally published work that was barely literate, so I’m skeptical. I do think there’s more pressure on self-pubs, simply because we don’t generally have the longer editing process. It’s a trade-off – less time to get it on the shelf is probably going to mean more mistakes. That being said, it’s impossible to catch all of them, no matter how you publish. I do my best, but I certainly have those face-palm moments that are so hugely embarrassing in reading something over weeks after I published it. Best advice, proof. Proof again. Have a friend proof. Hire someone to proof. Then publish. It’s still going to have a mistake or two, but it’ll cut down on the worst of it.

8. What advice can you offer readers of self-pubbed books in making a decision on what to read?

This is a tough one – there are so many new books hitting the virtual shelves on a weekly basis, and tastes are so subjective. I think the best advice is just to read sample chapters whenever possible – you’ll know if something appeals right away. Also, try new writers whenever you can, broaden your horizons and see if there’s something else you might like that’s not on the list of ten writers on your “must buy” list.

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

Next up, MAKING THE GRADE – TEACH ME TONIGHT #2, which is about what happens when a summer school teacher with a desire to dominate gets trapped in a closet with a hunky school handyman who finds that he kind of likes being at the mercy of a beautiful woman. Hot, funny, and hopefully a little outrageous if I write it right. (This one made me laugh when Jane suggested it – she’s very much a good girl, and it’s kind of a kick to see her dark, kinky side peeking out)

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

Sometimes I think I should just stand on a street corner with a sandwich board and free cookies…LOL. Promo is definitely the hardest part for me. I tend to spend less time and money on ads and more time on social media – Twitter, Facebook, etc. I find that my blog readers love excerpts (and I do too!), and my serial romantic suspense novel SHINY THINGS, which I am sadly way behind on at the moment. It’s coming back, I swear! But in all seriousness, I tend to spend about an hour every morning on promo, maybe two when I’ve got a new release. Blog visits are fun, posting new reviews works well, freebies still help (though not as much as they used to), and a well-timed tweet can do wonders. The best thing about both the writing and the promo is that I truly feel you get out of it what you put in – the more love and care I give, the more I get back from the readers.

EXCERPT

He may have a great ass, but Jack Roman was proving to be something of an ass himself.

I don’t know what Bree was thinking, Molly thought, surly and struggling with a hot stab of disappointment, Hot doesn’t make up for jerk.

She turned to go, planning to introduce herself to the other guests and not waste one more second on Jack Roman, when the floor shifted out from under her as the yacht crossed the wake of a passing sailboat and rocked.

The honeymooners giggled, clutching each other, while the birdwatcher simply grabbed the railing and shifted his stance, but Molly was untethered. The flute slipped from her fingers with a crash, and she got a glimpse of Jack’s wide-eyed horror as she lost her footing and toppled ungracefully…right into his arms.

I’M BEING PUNISHED, thought Jack as Molly’s soft weight crashed into him, sending them tumbling down together onto the padded bench by the railing. A second jolt hit as she frantically tried to push away, and suddenly she was pinned beneath his weight, intimately pressed from thigh to chest, and holy fuck, she felt good.

Molly froze as the intimacy of their position hit her, and Jack marveled that having her under him was incredible, even though he’d never pictured them like this fully clothed, on a yacht, with an audience. Anger, frustration, and lust churned through him. Their confrontation was the longest conversation they’d ever had, and now her curves molded against him as if they were two pieces of a puzzle, as if they’d been sleeping together for years. Her breath came fast with her breasts crushed against his chest, their legs tangled, and her intimate heat seared him where his thigh rubbed her hot, sweet pussy. His cock cuddled against her stomach, his thick dumb flesh eager to show her how big and hard she made him.

Molly’s eyes were wide, and this close he could make out the specks of green and count every little freckle on her cute little nose. She wasn’t wearing perfume, but the scent of soap and Molly had Jack holding in a shudder. Then she nervously licked her lower lip and his cock jerked hard. Her eyes widened as she felt it, and the little gasp she tried to stifle puffed against his chin.

It would be so easy to kiss her.

Swearing under his breath, Jack yanked himself away, noting that the staff was rushing to help them and clean up the broken glass, noting that her hands took a moment to let him go as he pulled away. It had only been a few seconds, but his unruly body had taken swift measure of Molly Callahan and decided that she fit him perfectly.

Too bad, he sternly warned his dick, trying to get his pulse under control, you can’t have her.

“Stay out of my way,” he advised her, and turned away.

Without a backward glance, Jack grabbed a fresh glass of champagne from a passing steward and walked away from temptation to the other end of the yacht.

Please help me welcome Barbara Monajem to my blog today. Barbara is kindly giving away a $10 giftcard to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave a comment.

How did you get started writing?

My mother read to me when I was little—wonderful stories such as Winnie-the-Pooh. I could hardly wait to learn how to read them for myself! The first story I remember writing down was in third grade about apple tree gnomes. I’ve never really stopped writing since.

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

I write a mish-mash of whatever suits the story. Usually it’s either historical and/or paranormal romance, with mystery as well if there’s room. (In my novellas, there usually isn’t enough room for a mystery, alas). Why the mish-mash? Because my favorite books are usually the kind that combine genres. I guess I’m just writing the kind of book I like to read.

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

My next book is Heart of Constantine, the third book in the Bayou Gavotte series of paranormal romances. I wrote this book in many different versions over the course of years—so many versions that when I was revising it, I couldn’t remember which scenes I had left in and which I’d taken out. It will finally be released in September!! I will also be releasing a novella in the same series soon.

I am also writing a couple of Regency holiday novellas—one about Christmas and the other about Twelfth Night. These are fun because I get to research historical holiday customs.

What is your favorite part of writing?

Revising. I love revising because I have something to work with. The first draft can be fun, but often it comes very, very, very slowly.

What is your least favorite part of writing?

Promotion. Like many writers, I’m an introvert. I have to remind myself constantly to go to Twitter and Facebook, and my poor blog is completely neglected. (But I’m very happy when readers contact me.)

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

Not likely at all. My characters walk into my head from out of the blue.

Was your road to publication difficult or a walk in the park?

Sort of in-between. I was published in children’s fiction when my kids were young, and that was sheer luck—I knew someone who was starting a small publishing company and agreed to publish my book. After that, I didn’t write much for years, although I always dabbled. When I started writing seriously again, I entered lots of contests and did a bit of querying, but very little follow-up. Mostly, I kept writing and writing and writing. Eventually, an editor who had requested my work by way of a contest final called and offered me a contract on my first Bayou Gavotte story. Soon after that, another editor bought one of my historical novellas.

Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A pantser—God help me. It’s not efficient, but I simply can’t plan the story properly until I’ve started writing it. I don’t know who the characters really are until I’ve walked in their shoes for a while. Sometimes I have a fairly good idea of the characters and the basic plot up front, but other times (such as with the story I’m working on now) I make a bunch of false starts before figuring things out. Grrr.

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

The older I get, the harder it is to decide. There are many wonderful places in the world, but they all have their drawbacks. If I had my druthers, I would live in several different cities, each for six months or so—London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris, and Rome, to name a few—with plenty of time to travel and see the historic sites.

Here is a blurb and excerpt from the first of my May Day Mischief novella duet, The Magic of His Touch.

Blurb:

England, 1804
Tired of being paraded before every eligible bachelor, Peony Whistleby decides it’s time to find her true love—through the ancient custom of rolling naked in the dew on May Day morning. But the magic goes awry when she is caught in the act—and by an entirely unsuitable man. And yet, the way his eyes linger upon her flesh ignites a sensual craving that can only be satisfied by his touch…

Excerpt:

“Get up! Get dressed!”

Peony froze in mid-roll. A strange man bounded toward her, gesturing, his voice low but urgent. She scrambled to her feet, a shriek catching in her throat.

“I won’t hurt you,” he said, but he kept on coming. Her heart clambering into her gullet, she tried to cover herself with her hands.

“Who— What—” She couldn’t get a word out.

“Don’t stand there like an idiot, girl! I already know what you look like naked.” A blush crowded up her neck and burned her cheeks. “Get your clothes on, and be quick about it.” With brisk, shooing motions he herded her toward the hawthorn where she’d left her shift and gown.

Anger swelled up, overcoming her fear. How dare he order her about? “Go away,” she said, hating how her voice trembled as she fled before him. “What are you doing here? You have no right.” A little way round the circle of meadow, she spied a horse cropping the grass at the edge of the wood.

“You should be thankful I’m here,” he said, stopping several feet away when she reached the hawthorn. “I don’t know what foolishness you’re up to, but clearly your lover isn’t coming, and—”

“No, because you spoiled everything,” she said. Her hair had fallen out of its ribbon and stuck wetly to her face. She clawed it away, wanting to hit him. Her chance at finding love was gone. “Go away!”

He folded his arms and just stood there, scowling—and looking at her as if, underneath that frown, he was enjoying himself. “Not until you put your clothes on and be off home where you belong.”

Another flush overwhelmed her, this time of shame and misery, as she realized what he meant. He thought she’d come out here to tryst with some likely village lad, as if she were a scullery maid. And who was he, anyway? She’d never seen him before. He was dressed like a gentleman and spoke like one, too, but he didn’t belong here.

“Who gave you the right to order me about?” she demanded. “This is private land.”

His eyes widened. “You silly little fool, I’m trying to protect you. I traveled here with a friend. To him, a naked woman is a blatant invitation. You’re lucky it’s I who came upon you and not he.”

She grabbed her shift and turned it right side out. “Stop staring at me.”

“You’re a beautiful girl without any clothes on,” he said. “I wouldn’t be much of a man if I didn’t stare.”

***

Here are some buy links for The Magic of His Touch:
Amazon.com: http://tinyurl.com/bb823aa
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-magic-of-his-touch-barbara-monajem/1114334728?ean=9781460310960
Harlequin: http://ebooks.harlequin.com/A1CEDFD7-54F8-4304-A8E7-A7C5B41E68EC/10/141/en/ContentDetails.htm?ID=69E9E950-511F-4500-8E66-FDF8523A1BCA

And here’s where you can contact me:

Website: www.BarbaraMonajem.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/barbara.monajem
Twitter: @BarbaraMonajem

BEWITCHED BY HIS KISS (May Day Mischief, Book Two)

Lucasta Barnes knows the folly believing in magic can lead to, and won’t accept that her illicit tryst with a notorious rake was the result of anything more than pure lust. Or that it has bonded them together forever. Yet, she can’t deny that she yearns for just one more night in his arms…

David, Earl of Elderwood, is used to women being enchanted by him, but ever since a passionate encounter with Lucasta three years ago, he desires only her. How can he convince his thoroughly practical paramour that love is the greatest magic of all?

BIO:

Barbara Monajem wrote her first story in third grade about apple tree gnomes. After dabbling in neighborhood musicals and teen melodrama, she published a middle-grade fantasy when her children were young. Now her kids are adults, and she’s writing historical and paranormal romance for grownups. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia with an ever-shifting population of relatives, friends, and feline strays.

Please help me welcome Jan Romes to my blog. Today she will be giving a copy of Stella In Stilettos to one lucky commentor, so be sure and leave her a comment.

Tell us about yourself:
Hmm. Let’s see. First and foremost, I’m a wife, mother, grandma and sister. After that, I’m a romance writer and part-time fitness trainer. I love to read (all genres), garden, and cruise the Caribbean. I like to make people laugh even though I’m a relatively shy person.

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? And why?
I think I’m a misplaced spirit that should have been living in the tropics all these years. Life in Ohio has been good to me, but I’m fast becoming someone who no longer wants to deal with winter weather. I could so see myself living on an island in the Caribbean or living along the coast of South Carolina. I dig hot, muggy weather. And I wouldn’t mind wearing shorts, tank tops and flip-flops all year round.

Are you a full-time writer or do you have a “day job”?
I consider myself a full-time writer, although I occasionally pick up a shift at the gym. In years past, I worked outside the home as an administrative assistant for an electric utility company. Now I’m fortunate to be able to spend most of my time writing.

How does your family feel about your writing career?
My husband is very supportive. I bounce ideas off of him. He gives me feedback. When something awesome happens with my writing/career he’s just as excited as I am. I couldn’t ask for more.

What is your typical day like?
I would love to say that it begins with the smell of coffee wafting through the air to make my sleepy eyes pop open and the sounds of birds chirping at my windows and that the day just gets better from there. In reality, there’s a mop of scary bed-head to deal with as I shuffle my way to the kitchen where I impatiently pace back and forth in front of the coffee pot waiting for that first eye-opening sip. I pop into social media for a bit. Open my current work-in-progress. Pop back into social media. Go back to said WIP and let the creativity flow. Another cup of joe. Back into social media. Back to WIP. Lather-rinse-repeat. Not so glamorous, but it works for me. (New Year’s resolution for 2014 – be more structured with writing habits)

Tell us about your current work-in-progress:
I’m only about 45 pages into the story (a little over 11,000 words). But I can share that it’s a marriage of convenience story with two unusual plot twists. For now, I’d like to keep them a secret.

What genres are you drawn to as a reader?
I love to read most genres. Of course, my first pick would be romance since it’s the genre I write. But then, it’s sort of wide open. I love westerns, suspense, paranormal, fantasy, historicals, time travel, non-fiction, etc. I’m a little leery of books with too much gore in them. Not saying I wouldn’t read them, but if there’s too much descriptive blood and guts, I would probably have difficulty sleeping. LOL!

Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do to combat it?
I don’t think I suffer from writer’s block as much as I deal with distractions that interrupt my creativity. (By distractions, I don’t mean my penchant for social media – *grins*) Life occasionally throws a curve. When that happens, it can take the train off the tracks for a day or two.
If I’m still in a funk, I forget about the WIP by reading or going for a walk.

Bio:
Jan Romes grew up in northwest Ohio with eight zany siblings. Married to her high school sweetheart for more years than seems possible, she is also a proud mom, mother-in-law, and grandmother. She likes to read all genres, writes witty contemporary romance with characters who give as good as they get, is a part-time fitness trainer, and enjoys growing pumpkins and sunflowers.
Here’s how to follow Jan:
Website: www.janromes.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jan.romes.5
Twitter: @janromes
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5240156.Jan_Romes
Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Jan-Romes/e/B005OMZICY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

EXCERPT FROM STAY CLOSE, NOVAC

Adrenaline pumped through Jessi with as much velocity as gale force winds and she got an instant headache. While she rubbed her temples she did some erratic pacing from the back door to the front door to the bathroom, waiting for the slightest sound that would indicate she was under siege. The same helpless feeling that plagued her in New York had returned. The only difference was instead of being surrounded by millions of New Yorkers, she was isolated on a lonely stretch of beach where no one would stumble across her until the stench of decomposition attracted attention. A worse thought played across her mind – what if Ian and the fancy pants thug turned her into a shark snack? Oh God! She thought about her parents. While they drove her up a wall with their constant bickering, she still loved them and didn’t want them to suffer the pain of losing their only child.

Well, she wouldn’t go down easy. She wrung her hands and tried to come up with a brilliant plan.

She needed an equalizer.

A quick rummage through the kitchen drawers produced a mountain of plastic spoons. Great. Ian Alexander and his accomplice better watch out. One false move and they’d be pulling plastic ware from their ribs. Jessi groaned.