Last August, Crimson Romance author, Lisa White stopped by for an interview. Today she's back with a new book, DISCOVERY, and she's giving us an excerpt.

Excerpt from DISCOVERY:

AND THEN THERE WAS ONE…

            The highway patrolman wrote “Unknown” on the blank line across from the word “Cause.” He hated using that word, especially when death was involved, but the seasoned officer did not know what else to write in his report.

            The weather was clear. The road was dry. No other cars were involved. But here he was, staring at a crushed wad of metal in the middle of the road while the sun glimmered brightly off the van’s chrome accents. The chrome accents that had adorned the van only a few hours earlier. The shiny chrome ribbons contrasted sharply against the black tar of the hot pavement underneath and it seemed strange to the patrolman that, despite the acrid smell of burnt metal lofting around the van, there was no evidence of fire. None of the chrome pieces were burned or even scratched. They were dented and twisted, sure, but no burn marks could be seen anywhere.

            Looking closer at what used to be the family’s minivan, the patrolman noticed that the same was true for the van’s paint. It was a metallic light blue that matched the color of today’s clear sky, but the van’s blue parts, while wadded up together like one large piece of notebook paper, were as clean as the day the car rolled off the assembly line. There were no scratches crossing through the blue, no burned spots dirtying up the paint’s glitter. Instead, it looked as if the parts were originally molded in their present contorted form and then sprayed with the shiny blue paint like some modern-day sculpture on display in the latest hip art gallery.

            The patrolman stopped writing his report, placed his pen in its usual spot on his clipboard, and peered down through the shattered window into what was left of the van’s interior. In all his years on the job, he had never seen anything like this. Except for the dark red blood stains running through the beige leather and the copious used gauze pads left behind by the paramedics, the van’s crushed interior was pristine, as clean as the new models sitting on the showroom floor at an auto mall. It was as if someone had picked up the minivan, dunked it in bath water and, while still holding it under the water, crushed the van and its occupants, ending the massacre by delicately placing the washed metal mess back in the middle of the road from whence it came.    

            The patrolman took a deep breath, kicked at a stray gauze pad, and began writing his report again. Four of the van’s five occupants died that day and the patrolman reasoned that the van’s unusual pristine interior somehow helped protect the surviving, slender, four–year–old girl from the other occupants’ fate. He had dealt with dozens of crashes during his years on the force, but those involving children never failed to affect him, especially those that produced orphans. The young girl’s wide eyes frantically darting around the scene as the paramedics loaded her into the ambulance left another scar on the patrolman’s memory and he knew her blue eyes would haunt his dreams for quite a few nights going forward. He was so captivated by the girl’s eyes he never saw the man standing on the high ridge overlooking the crash site.

            The man who smelled of burnt metal.

            The man who did not understand why the girl was still alive.

LISA WHITE was born in Kingsport, Tennessee and raised in Bristol, Virginia.  After graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in Italian language and literature, she obtained her law degree from the University of Richmond School of Law.

When not practicing law, Lisa enjoys gardening, spending time with friends and family, and, of course, writing romance novels.  She is a member of Romance Writers of America and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.  Her first novel, THE LAWS OF LOVE, was released by Crimson Romance in July, 2012.  In April, 2013, Crimson Romance released her second novel, DISCOVERY, the first book in her Council of Powers trilogy.  DISCOVERY is a new adult paranormal romance where two friends discover hidden powers and the love that makes these powers great. 

Lisa currently lives in Southwest Virginia with her husband and two children where she is frantically writing another story in which her readers can escape…one page at a time. 

Look for Lisa on:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

GOODREADS

You can buy DISCOVERY at the following retailers:

AMZ / B&N / I-TUNES / KOBO / ALL ROMANCE

Welcome, Crimson Romance author, Christine S. Feldman.  Tell us about your book.

Christine: It’s called Coming Home, and it’s a friends-to-lovers kind of story in which one friend has had unspoken feelings for the other for years…but now things are about to change.  The heroine, Callie, carried a secret torch for her older brother’s best friend, Danny, when she was a teenager, and she realizes when she returns home several years later that old feelings die hard—whereas Danny starts noticing some new feelings for Callie developing.  Naturally there are complications from their past that get in the way.  Wouldn’t want things to be too easy, now would we?

Galen: What was the inspiration for Coming Home?

Christine: Longtime friends falling for each other has always been a favorite theme of mine in books and movies.  I still think Duckie should have gotten the girl in Pretty in Pink!

Galen: I agree! What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Christine:  Hmm…it’s a toss up between these two, I think:  

But of all the people she had ever met, he was the one who had always left her most at a loss for words.  At least for words that really mattered.

and [during an impromptu and very up-close pool lesson]:

“Is pool by any chance an excuse men use to get their hands on a woman?” she asked over her shoulder.

“It’s the reason most of us play, actually.”

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Christine: Well, I love writing, and I love romance.  Even I can do the math on that one!

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Christine: Oh, golly…The very first?  I’m not sure I can remember.  I’m not sure if these count, but I do remember being, like, twelve or thirteen years old and discovering some books for teens at the local library that were kind of like choose-your-own adventure stories, but they were romance plus fantasy (sweet romance, very tame stuff).  I think the series was called Heartquest, but I’m not positive—

 —Yes, it was!  I just googled them on Amazon, and there they are!  Wow!  Don’t mind me while I just drift off down memory lane…

But as far as just a straightforward romance, one of the earliest I remember reading and enjoying was Morning Glory by LaVyrle Spencer.  The developing relationship between the two lead characters, both very damaged people in their own ways, struck me as deeply touching.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Christine: Plotter all the way.  I like to know where my story is going and whether or not I’ve got enough of a story to keep it going until it gets there.  Plus I’m just way too uptight to do anything else.  It’s like a disease with me.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Christine: You mean books for pure entertainment, right?  And not just survival handbooks like 101 Practical Uses For Palm Fronds And Coconuts…In that case, they would probably be something like The Lord of the Rings, The Stand, and Sense and Sensibility.  At least I’d have great variety that way.

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday.

Christine: It’s not quite every day, but two of the blogs that I read most often are Kristin Lamb’s We Are Not Alone blog (because it’s very helpful in educating and encouraging writers in the world of social media), and Tawna Fenske’s blog (because it’s laugh-out-loud funny).

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Christine: Living room couch and a laptop.  Occasionally there’s a beagle on the couch with me.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Christine: Ireland, Scotland, Tuscany, Provence, the island of Santorini, New Zealand…Those would be my top picks.  And Canada.  There are lots of places in Canada that I would love to visit, like Prince Edward Island or Nova Scotia.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Christine: Sometimes when I just feel like getting away from things, I think it would be lovely to be a park ranger.  But then I read a Nevada Barr novel and rethink the safety of that decision.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Christine: Housework.  Nah, I’m kidding.  I never do housework.  I do, however, occasionally go ballroom dancing with my husband, which is a whole lot more fun than cleaning the bathroom.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Christine: Best part:  Anything I dream up, I can turn it into a story.  It’s great to have a respectable excuse to indulge my imagination in fantasy like that! Worst part:  When someone else doesn’t find my imagination nearly as wonderful as I do—and they say so.  Then I just want to curl up in the fetal position and whimper.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Christine: It was kind of a variation of that John Lennon line about life being what happens while you’re busy making other plans.  There’s nothing wrong with plans; in fact, they can be very beneficial.  Just don’t be so focused on plans for the future that you neglect to appreciate what’s going on in the present.  Easier said than done, maybe, but still worth shooting for, right?

Thanks for having me on your blog today!

You can find out more about Christine here:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

GOODREADS

You can find Coming Home at these retailers:

AMZ / B&N / CRIMSON / ITUNES / ALL ROMANCE / KOBO

Today I'd like to welcome Crimson Romance author, Becky Flade. Thanks for stopping by, tell us about your book,

Fated Souls.

Becky: Thanks so much for having me Galen. Fated Souls is a paranormal romance between Maggie, a tabloid reporter from the East Coast, and Aidan, a horse rancher/werewolf from Trappers’ Cove, Minnesota.

Galen: What was the inspiration for your Fated Souls?

Becky: There was an incident between my father’s late dog and I that inspired me to write a short story and that story blossomed into the book.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?           

Becky: Maggie pulled her head back resting one palm against the side of his face and with a sweet smile, said, “You’re forgiven. But if you ever touch my radio again, you’ll pull away a bloody stump.”

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Becky: I’m a sucker for a happily ever after. ♥

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Becky: I sure do! It was a Harlequin Presents, Ishbel’s Party by Stacy Absolom; I may be misspelling her last name. I still have the book but it is in storage and I haven’t read it in years.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Becky: A plotter with her pantz off.  I set off with a plot, but I once I get going, the story takes off on its course and I’m just along for the ride. The story has never naturally concluded as plotted.  A few times I’ve made myself stick to the outline as prepared; and I tossed those finished pieces in the recycling bin. I hated them; the story, the characters, everything felt very stiff. They were just awful!

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Becky: 365 Meals You Can Prepare with Pineapple, Basic First Aid & CPR for Dummies, My Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Deveraux

Galen: Name two blogs you read every day.

Becky: I love The Book Tart and the HEA blog on USA Today online.\

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Becky: I work from a laptop. So any spot in the house, where I can get comfortable for a few minutes of peace and quiet, becomes a workspace. Until the kids find me that is, lol.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Becky: Ireland. I dream of going there.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Becky: I’d be a librarian. Being surrounded by all those words is an intoxicating idea!

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Becky: Read, dance, and wash dishes.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Becky: The best part is taking something that only exists in my own imagination and making it something tangible that exists for someone else. And the worst part is the flip side of that same coin – trying to find the right combination of words that makes what’s in my imagination come alive for someone else .

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Becky: Reach for your stars!
 

You can find out more about Becky Flade at:

BLOG

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

GOODREADS

You can purchase Fated Souls at:

AMZ / ITUNES / KOBO

Crimson Romance Authors Heat Things Up!

Crimson Romance authors love their leading men and are willing to fight for them. In celebration of Lover’s Day on April 23, we’re kicking off the first-ever Hot Heroes Faceoff.

The event will run each Tuesday for the next six weeks, in which two hot heroes will square off for your votes. The winning hero on April 23 will advance to the next round. On June 4 we’ll crown the hot hero for the summer and throw in some prizes here and there along the way!

Our first two heroes squaring off are Jordon from Save My Soul by Elley Arden and

Chago from Seal of Surrender by Traci Douglass.

Here’s a little background on their hotties:

Jordon Kemmons wears a Versace suit like it's nobody's business. As a successful baseball agent, he's a tough negotiator who's used to getting his way, but he has a soft spot for free-spirited women who love him flaws and all.

Chago has always been the quiet one amongst his warrior Scion brethren—the brooding, immortal, Spanish combat expert with a hidden soft side. Still, his greatest joy comes not from the battlefield, but from tending the cattle herd on his remote Montana ranch.

Jordon and Chago are currently undergoing intense training with their authors and virtual coaches. How’s it going so far? Here’s what are heroes have to say:

“Honestly, I’m a little miffed she signed me up for something like this during the season,” Jordon said. “I have free agents who want to play ball. But then she talked about having a book to sell, and as a business man and competitor, I couldn’t argue with that. So here I am, wearing her favorite suit and promising to smile on queue. I didn’t promise to shut my phone off, though.”

As a combat expert, Chago was born ready for competition. When pressed, he stated he’s much too busy with running his ranch and saving the world to spend time preparing to be ogled. Brooding by nature and confident in his ability to handle any competition, his only response fit for print was, “Bring it on.”

Who will you vote for on April 23? Join us at:

FACEBOOK

Join the conversation on Twitter, get updates on how the heroes are training and pick a team. #HotHeroFaceoff

Crimson Romance author, Elizabeth Meyette stopped by today to talk about her historical novel,

Love's Spirit.

Elizabeth: I am happy to say that Love’s Spirit took 1/60 of the amount of time that Love’s Destiny took!  I wrote the first draft of Love’s Destiny 30 years ago, and I finished Love’s Spirit in 6 months. My math might not be correct – I’m an English major. LOL

Though Love’s Spirit is the sequel to Love’s Destiny, I’ve been told that it works as a stand-alone, too.  Set in colonial Virginia as the American Revolution is beginning, it continues the story of Jonathon and Emily Brentwood.  As the story opens, Jonathon, severely injured from wounds he received as a prisoner of the British, is in hiding. Emily, for a while believing he had been killed, is thrilled to finally unite with him. But he is at risk at being recaptured by the British, so they are separated once again.  Deidre Manning, Jonathon’s life-long friend and former lover, discovers Jonathon’s whereabouts and sets out to claim him at last with a plan that is the severest test of the love of Jonathon and Emily. Danger doesn’t lurk just for Jonathon; Emily’s life and the life of their unborn child hang in the balance, too.

Galen: What was the inspiration for Love’s Spirit?

Elizabeth: My readers. I never intended to write a sequel to Love’s Destiny, but readers kept asking me what happened next, so I figured the story wasn’t finished. I listened for Emily and Jonathon, and they began to whisper in my ear. Voila—a sequel!

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?          

Elizabeth: In one of the love scenes, Jonathon has spoken beautifully of his love for Emily and she replies, “You make love to me with your words, Jonathon.  I burn with desire at their sound and stir inside for your touch.”  For some reason that resonated with me even as I wrote it.

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Elizabeth: My friend’s dare.  I wasn’t a romance reader, and she kept urging me to read Kathleen Woodiwiss, but I refused.  Finally, I read The Flame and the Flower, and loved it.  But I didn’t want my friend to win, so when I returned her book, I casually said, “It was good, but I could do that.” She replied, “Then do it!” so I did.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Elizabeth: I am definitely a pantzer.  My Muse beckons and then my characters tell me what to write.  But right now I’m working on a mystery so I am being forced out of my comfort zone and becoming a plotter.

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Elizabeth: I used the principles of Feng Shui to organize and decorate our den and transform it into my writing space.  Of course, clearing clutter is the first step in Feng Shui so I need to do a little clean-up right now.  But it truly is a writer’s haven for me.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Elizabeth: Best part – I love what I’m doing.  Worst part – I love what I’m doing so much that I ignore other things I should be doing!

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Elizabeth: One mentor told me to put my writing away for a while and then look at it with fresh eyes.   That has helped me tremendously because I often see the “holes” that need additional detail in a scene, or I catch a place that needs a segue.  It really helps me revise more effectively.

Find out more about Elizabeth at the following sites:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

GOODREADS

You can find Love's Spirit at these retailers:

AMZ / KOBO / ITUNES

In my new release ESCAPE TO MY ARMS,Sara is a prepper. She’s prepared for all kinds of emergencies. One of the best ways she’s prepared is by having a prepper standard—the Bug Out Bag—in her car when she needs it. A Bug Out Bag is a backpack filled with essentials you might need to help you survive for 72 hours should you have to leave. I’m a mild prepper. I have a small food storage at home in case we can’t leave the house and I need to feed my family. I have a small amount of water stored. I have a generator with fuel if we lose power and need heat.

And I also made Bug Out Bags for each of our vehicles. I call them my zombie apocalypse bags. Here’s a few of the things that I put in my bags, but I’m sure there is more you could add if you wanted to.

Filtering water bottles with extra filters

First aid supplies, plastic gloves, air filter masks

Water

Food

Swiss army knife and hunting knife

Flint

Waterproof matches

Toilet paper, tissues, and other toiletries

Tube tent and space blankets

Waterproof ponchos

Candles, glow-sticks, flashlights

Solar powered radio

2-way radios

Tarp and cord

Duct tape

Paper, pencil

Hand/body warmers

I’m sure there are other things, but I can’t think of what right now. So, do you have a Bug Out Bag? What’s in yours that isn’t in mine? If you don’t have one, will you make one now that you know they exist and you might need one in the future?

I don’t expect the world to end any time soon, but you never know when you’ll get stranded on the highway, lost or need to flee a storm. Why not be prepared, just in case?

Happy prepping!

Heather Thurmeier

Sara’s been preparing for this moment her whole life—she just never believed it would actually happen. With her bug-out bag and emergency food already in her truck, her only goal is to get to her family’s hidden bunker and wait out the pandemic that’s hit every major cruise ship port in the US. But her plan quickly falls apart. She’s out of gas, her route to the bunker is now a two-lane parking lot with no alternative in sight, and her only weapon is a pocketknife. For an experienced prepper, she’s made every rookie mistake.

Dane believes he’s safe in his cabin, off the beaten path and in the woods with his own source for water, electricity and an endless supply of food to hunt. After finding Sara stranded and alone, he’s suddenly not only providing for and protecting himself, but also the girl who wandered out of the woods and into his life. When looters come looking to take what he has, Sara and Dane’s only option is to make a run for their last hope—the bunker.

Can Sara and Dane find safety in each other’s arms and will they survive long enough to escape to a future together?

Excerpt:

Sara sipped her wine and nibbled on another square of chocolate. He was right. Again.

They didn’t know what would happen in the future. Hell, they didn’t even know if there was a future to look forward to at this point. So why shouldn’t they enjoy the moments like this one while they could? Moments when they were safe, warm, fed, and comfortable. They might not get many more nights like this if things kept getting worse, as they seemed to be. Best to savor the time while you had it instead of squandering it away with fights.

At this point, she didn’t even know what future awaited her at the bunker. Would she live with her family for the rest of their lives, never to interact with people from the outside world again? That’s sort of what they wanted, wasn’t it? Wasn’t that why they hadn’t told anyone about the bunker, because they couldn’t trust anyone?

What if this was her last night on her own? It might be her last night to live her life however she wanted to before she had to start making group decisions with her family.

“You’re right.” She polished off the last of her wine in a big gulp. Her head already swirled with the effects of the alcohol. She’d always been a lightweight when it came to getting drunk. Tonight would be no different. Good thing she’d planned to stop at one this evening. She had other plans for the rest of the night.

“Right about what exactly? I said a bunch of stuff.”

She put her wineglass on the floor and took his hand in hers. “You were right about enjoying this moment we have tonight since we don’t know what the future holds, or even if we have a future.”

“Does this mean I’m forgiven?” He smiled, squeezing her hand.

“Yes. And then some.”

Sara took the wineglass from his hand and set it down next to hers, then straddled his lap, resting her hands on his chest. She pressed her mouth to his, delighting in the surprise on his face.

She wasn’t a throw-caution-to-the-wind kind of girl, but for once she was going to do just that, since she didn’t know if she’d have wind to be cautious of later on. Tonight, she’d live by her feelings. Tomorrow she’d go back to surviving.

You can follow Heather at the following links:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER 

You can purchase Heather's books at these retailers:

AMZ / B&N / All ROMANCE / DECADENT

Drivers along the northern stretch of Alabama’s busy I65 met with an eerie and unexpected sight during February of 2012 when a gaping sinkhole appeared before them in the blacktop.

It must have been terrifying.

In a peculiar way, the event reminded me of the devastating effects of writer’s block. Can you relate? How many of us have been swept along by intoxicating whirlwinds of creativity and inspiration, only to be dropped suddenly and unceremoniously at the brink of our own black and cavernous ‘sinkhole’?

The big question is: how should we react when this happens? Human nature seems to say stare at the looming sinkhole, think about the sinkhole, and possibly even begin to researchsinkholes. Think SINK. Until the blackness grows to an overwhelming, all-consuming size.

Or…take action.

For just a moment, imagine the impact if those unlucky February drivers had chosen to simply sit in their cars and stare at their obstacle. Not too efficient.

Instead, traffic was detoured, some folks chose different modes of transportation for a week or two, and others opted for phone calls instead of personal visits. People got creative!

To ward off writer’s block, you too, have to be pro-active and creative. One step is by choosing to become proficient in different genres. Though you may prefer to write Young Adult Fiction, your writing can only improve as you learn to write quality Flash Fiction or try your hand at Poetry or Romance. If you always compose while sitting at the computer, ‘unplug’ yourself and write long-handed or speak into a voice-recorder. Make notes while sitting under a tree.

Dare to challenge yourself and your brain. Do things differently and don’t be afraid to take detours!

Robyn Corum is a writer and author living in Alabama near the repaired Interstate. She writes in many genres and has two books available for purchase. Melinda Heads West is a Historical Romance and Pieces of Her Mind is a book of short form Japanese Poetry with seventeen other women poets.

The following is a 596-word Flash Fiction piece by Robyn that placed in the Top 10 in Summer 2012 WOW-Women on Writing Contest.

Annie Faye

Annie Faye has always been the brave one in the family. We had strict orders from momma when we were children not to dare Annie Faye to do anything, because she'd proven time and again that she would. She wasn't afraid of spiders or snakes or those things in the back of the closet or even what Mr. Lunden said he kept in the bottom drawer of his desk at school for bad boys and girls. 

Oh, she was something growing up. While all us girls sat under the shade tree talking about babies and pinafores, Annie Faye was playing kick ball with the boys, or jumping off the school house roof. She broke her leg three times, and never cried once. Doctor Mayfield said he'd never seen anything like her. Momma 'bout wore her poor hands out from wringing them. She'd say, "Annie Faye, Annie Faye. You're gonna be the death of me!" But Annie Faye just smiled and kept right on doing her foolish things. 

We all told her she was crazy, but secretly I think we envied her stoic regard of the same world we shied away from. She lived life face first. 

Annie Faye got an old beat-up camera when our Uncle Henry passed away–that's my mother's brother. My, she was hot for that. Summertime, she would go up on the mountain at sunrise and we wouldn't see her again 'til after dark. Sometimes she'd be all thoughtful-like when she got home, and sometimes she'd run in hugging everybody and giddy, and we always wondered what took place on those hills, just her and that camera. 

O' course, this town was way too small for a big soul like hers and soon as she got old enough, she packed a worn out leather suitcase, kissed our momma and headed off into the sunset. Had that camera tucked under her arm. She was aiming to see the world, she said. I have to admit, I said a prayer for the poor world. 

Every now and again, we'd get a postcard, or more rarely, a letter. The letters were our favorites 'cause she'd put some of her pictures in there. Oh! You only hear about places like that. We were getting a history lesson in the mail. 

When we heard she went skydiving, we all made a collective gasp, I think, but for ourselves, at the thought of it–not for Annie Faye… that didn't really seem a surprise somehow. 

Her travels took her everywhere, all across this big, old ball. She rode in boats and planes, and I don't know what all. I even heard she climbed some mountains. She's a brave one, that Annie Faye. 

Then the other day, I got a package in the mail. In it I found a beautiful ring, a plane ticket, and a peculiar note from Annie Faye. It said, "Riding camels in Egypt. Life is flying by. What are you waiting for?" And there I stood in the middle of my lonely yard, half sunburnt grass, and half hard beat dirt, looking around, and it occurred to me, what am I waiting for?

So that's why I'm writing you this letter. I don't know when I'll be home, but I'm having more fun than I ever thought possible. 

I hope you find the ring. Annie Faye said she likes to think the round ruby represents the world, and the tiny facets represent all the possibilities there are. I left it on the counter for you. I don't think I'll be needing it.

Robyn's latest book,  Melinda Heads West, is available here:

AMZ / B&N / I-TUNES / CRIMSON / KOBO

Today I'm happy to welcome Crimson Romance author, Andrea R. Cooper.

Hi Andrea, tell us about your book, The Garnet Dagger.

The Garnet Dagger is a paranormal romance. Brock, an Elvin, is bitten by a vampire. Since he is not human, this dark gift manifests itself in a different way than blood sucking. He is forced to live on the life-essence of others. Prophecy tells him that me must find a witch, pierce her heart and draw her blood for his cure. When he falls in love with her instead, will he sacrifice his cure and his people for her? Will he fight a Warloc who craves her powers and wants her dead?

Galen: What was the inspiration for your paranormal romance, The Garnet Dagger?

Andrea: In 2003 I watched the movie Underworld. Seeing how they combined the species of vampire and werewolf, it got me thinking. Everyone knows what happens when a vampire bites a human – or in the case of the movie – a werewolf, but what if the victim is Elvin?

In answer, I wrote The Garnet Dagger. Then wrote the second and third books of this trilogy.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Andrea: Fragments of leaves clung to finger tips, marking sepulchers of the dying trees.

Taken from The Garnet Dagger.

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Andrea: I started writing historical fiction with a romance. Then shifted to what I thought was fantasy with a romantic theme. When I pursued a publisher I realized I wrote a paranormal romance. It was like the light was cleaned in the lighthouse and I knew where I was finally.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Andrea: The first romance book I read was when I was in middle school. I don’t remember the name or the author as it was my mother’s Harlequin book that she had hidden and I found one lazy summer day. The romance I do remember reading, also in middle school, that was scandalous for me at the time was Forever by Judy Blume.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Andrea: A little of both. I start out with a general theme then I let the characters lose and see where they take me. However, if they get lost, I have a general outline as a backup.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Andrea: Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, The Black Jewels Trilogy by Anne Bishop, Wizard’s First Rule by Terry Goodkind

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday.

Andrea: Only two? Princess of Procrastination , Darkling Delights

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Andrea: On a laptop at the kitchen table surrounded by my children and their toys.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Andrea: Scotland. My ancestry on my grandmother’s side is McLaughlin and I’d love to see both of their castles. One is in ruins, but I would still love to touch the ancient stone. This would also fit along with the Viking love story that I am editing.  Some historians believe Laughlin may refer to Vikings. In Gaelic, Lochlainn translates 'of the lakes' and refers to the Scandinavians or Vikings from the West of Norway.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Andrea: A perfect job? It would be a teacher. And since its perfect, all the kids would listen and love learning…lol

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Andrea: I chase my three year old, cuddle with my five month old, and snuggle with my husband. If time allows, I read.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Andea: The best part is writing a story and having the characters take on a life of their own. The worst part is never feeling like the book is never perfect enough. In other words endless editing.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Andrea: Read everything – even my own story (especially out loud).

You can find out more about Andrea at the following links:

WEBSITE

GOODREADS

FACEBOOK

PINTEREST

You can purchase The Garnet Dagger here:

AMZ / ITUNES / ALL ROMANCE / KOBO

So Galen gave me the option to talk about anything I wanted to on her blog. Muhhaaa-haa-haa-haa! Let’s just call this Confession Time then, Galen. You might want to have a seat. This post should probably be preceded by the warning to never do any of the stupid things I’ve done. God looks out for toddlers, teenagers, and morons like myself, so don’t try this at home.

My new book, TRAPPED UNDER ICE, is about a rock star. Rock stars bring out the crazy in me. I’m usually more the rule following type. I always adhere to the drop off instructions at my kids’ school in the morning, for example. I always count to make sure that I have twenty or less items in the express lane.  If a clerk forgets to charge me for something, I’ll drive back to the mall to get the error corrected. And, of course, I never, ever tear mattress tags off. Despite this fact, when it comes to getting back stage at a rock concert, for some reason, all bets are off.

I really don’t know what comes over me when I’m at a concert. I just know that I’d have a great time with the boys in the band, and, of course, they’d love me and want to become my best friend. (I know, I’m delusional.) So Miss Rules Follower turns into Miss Wild Child. Most of the time I’m with my best friend, who is generally the one to lead us head on into trouble, but she takes a back seat at concerts and follows my lawless lead. We switch places and the one that most often offers a cautionary word is the one getting us escorted out of one venue or another by a platoon of security people, while my cohort follows along loyally, as meek as a lamb. 

At one of our first concerts, Maroon 5, I tried to convince a security officer that Adam Levine had asked for school cafeteria sloppy joes (I’m a lunch lady) and he wasn’t going to be happy if she didn’t let me through.  Apparently others have offered sloppy joe meat, too, because she turned me down flat. 

The next time “our” intended target (read “my” intended target) was Nickelback.  I tried to walk into a roped off backstage area on the heels of a group of guys with passes, but the guard stopped me. I tried to bribe him with talk of the access I have, as a lunch lady, to government meat and pizza made with cheese substitute, but even this sweet talk couldn’t woo him. FYI, security guards, as a rule, have no sense of humor. Probably because they have to deal with idiots like me. Not to be stymied by his rejection, I acted like I was leaving and doubled back to sneak under a tarp just outside the roped off area. We were back in the seats of the auditorium, directly behind the stage. The tarps went all the way around the back, making a sort of room. I peeked between the seam created where two tarps met. I spied one security woman, who was focused, understandably, on the front. I still can’t believe it, but we crept in past her, tip toeing like Barney Rubble and Fred Flintstone. We got to another tarped, empty room that had the opening bands names written on pieces of paper taped to the “walls.” I figured there must have been a meet-and-greet there and started getting excited. We found a metal staircase that wound down to a tunnel where roadies were shuttling equipment out to the trucks. We were spotted. We claimed to have been at a backstage party and that we got lost on the way to the bathrooms.  The roadie immediately saw through our little lost girls act and threw us out.

Now for the worst one. I want to emphasize now that you should not try to sneak backstage at concerts. It’s probably illegal and definitely stupid. This time Nickelback was playing at an outdoor venue. It was raining. I climbed a twenty foot high fence in the rain in my rock and roll boots. As I perched on the top of the fence with one leg on one side and one on the other I could look down and see a dozen or so security people at the end of the fence with their backs to me gazing out over the parking lot. Had one turned around and looked, I was a dead duck, but my luck held. I shimmied down the other side of the fence, but had a pretty good drop onto my high heels at the end. I was backstage, walking in between the tour busses. Before I could get very far a security guard accosted me and asked if I had a pass. Since I am usually that law abiding citizen my first instinct was to be honest, so I told him no. He asked me how I got in and I pointed over my shoulder to the fence. He raised an eyebrow in begrudging admiration and then kicked me out.

Nickelback concert number four. We scurried onto a freight elevator and again got to the bus area. Even said hi to the guy who played acoustic guitar for the band before he boarded the bus and no doubt phoned security.  Within minutes we were escorted out. You may be asking yourself right now, does Nickelback have a restraining order out against this kook? Answer is, probably. The moral of the story is, don’t try to sneak backstage because you’ll only get bounced and you’ll never get to hang with the boys in the band and be invited to sing with them on stage. Life’s unfair!

This little post may have convinced you that you never want to read anything by this delinquent, but in case you still do…

Beth Donovan meets her rock star in a more legal, but also more violent manner. She is attacked backstage and Chad Evans, lead singer of Trapped Under Ice, comes to her rescue.  

Blurb:

Rock star Chad Evans’s tortured past hides just beneath the surface. Even fans screaming out his name in ecstasy can’t drown out the screams of his childhood. He can usually keep it under control, but not always. Tonight the alcohol doesn’t seem to soothe.

Part of the crowd, Beth Donovan smiles, really enjoying herself for a change. But her smile isn’t usually this bright. It is the kind of smile that masks sorrow.  Three years just isn’t long enough to get over losing Paul. 

When a vicious attack behind stage brings this unlikely pair together, something changes inside of them both. But can a jet-setting superstar and a Midwestern lunch lady ever manage a real relationship? And even if they can, will the person sending Chad death threats take it all away? Or is it their fate to remain forever trapped under ice?

Excerpt:

For the first time, the pair was alone with no ready subject for conversation. They both took a sip of their drinks to stall for time.

            “Your drink all right?”

            “Good, good.” She nodded.

            “Good,” he repeated, seeming at a loss as to where to go next. He exhaled with a laugh. “You know, I don’t know anything about you, other than your name is Beth, you have a daughter named Cassie, and you’re one hell of a singer.”

            “Ah…well…” Again she was unnerved by the praise.                

            “You’re staying at this hotel, so you’re not from here. Where do you live?”

            “Bloomington, Illinois.” When he stared at her blankly, she added, “It’s about halfway between here and Chicago.”

            He nodded. “What’s it like?”

            “Well…it’s a college town. In fact, we have the little known distinction of being the only city with a university at either end of the same street,” she threw in, remembering seeing that in a paper Cassie did for social studies.

            “I see,” he replied, bemused. “And what do you do in this fair city? I mean,” he back-pedaled, “do you work outside of the home?”

            “Ah, so politically correct. Yes, as a matter of fact, I’m a lunch lady.”

            The singer looked for a minute like he was going to spit out his drink, but he swallowed hurriedly and laughed.

            “What?” Beth retorted, pretending to be hurt. “You’ve got something against lunch ladies, I suppose?”

            “No, no,” he insisted. “It’s just…you don’t look like any lunch lady I ever had.”

            She took a long drink and considered his words. Was there a compliment in there somewhere?

            “So how did you land this lunch lady gig?”

            Now it was Beth’s turn to laugh at his choice of the word “gig.” “Well, in truth it wasn’t all that difficult. I just showed up for the interview, they told me what the hours were, how much it paid, and what it entailed, then asked me if I wanted the job. So, hearing what glamorous duties I was to have and what a fabulous paycheck I would be bringing home, I, of course, took it.” He laughed. “No, really, I love my job. I love working with kids. I can come home and take a nap every afternoon before Cas gets home from school. What’s not to like?”

            “Well, when you put it that way…”

            “Not to mention, sometimes I get to bring home leftover sloppy joe meat.”

            “It gets better and better. Sign me up.”

            “Oh yeah. ‘Cause this whole rock star thing can’t compare to the wonderful benefits I just described. Tell me the truth, it was the sloppy joe meat that really sold you, wasn’t it?”

About me:

I was born in the heart of Tornado Alley, and I’ve been a bit mixed up ever since. Not really, but I’ve always wanted to use that line. The medical community has established no solid connection between the place of my birth and my off-beat personality.

I grew up in St. Louis and graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a degree in English education. I left the workforce, however, when my kids were born. Unbelievably I now have an eighteen year old and sixteen-year-old triplets! Yes, I write to escape teenagerdom. Although I love them dearly.  When not participating in the described sketchy behavior, I also escape via rock concerts and karaoke. My first book, TAKEN BY STORM, was published by Crimson Romance last fall, and my next book, the second in the ROCKING ROMANCE COLLECTION, titled ABANDON ALL HOPE will be coming soon!

You can find me at:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

You can find TRAPPED UNDER ICE at Amazon, BN.com, the I-book Store, iTunes, and other e-book retailers.

Thanks for joining me! Now, confession is good for the soul, so they say. What stupid things have you done in the name of rock and roll, or for that matter, for any cause? Come. Unburden yourself. 

Today author Terri Herman-Poncé stopped by to talk about where she gets her ideas for her terrific novels.

Hi, Galen, and thanks for having me here!

You know, as an author a lot of people ask me where I get my ideas from and I have to admit that they usually come from one place – music. It’s been this way since I started writing sixteen years ago. Yeah, sixteen years! I have a hard time believing it myself. And in that time, I’ve written heaps of Star Trek: TNG fanfiction (stop rolling your eyes), a couple of crappy first novels that will never see the light of day (I shudder to even think about them!), and a bunch of incomplete manuscripts (they just didn’t have the oomph I was looking for). In the middle of all of that, I gave birth to the love of my life character, David Bellotti. And it’s his stories that stuck with me and that are now being published.

See, I’m a paranormal suspense and mystery kind of girl who loves to throw in a side order of romance into my stories. And I love music that has a certain mood to spark my imagination. When I hear a specific artist, or a certain genre, or even a particular kind of mood or sound, my brain goes into writing hyperdrive. The characters and the scenes unfold in my head like a movie, all big screen and surround sound.

There are also certain songs and bands that make me think of David Bellotti, too. It’s like all of a sudden I’m in his head and can think what he’s thinking and feel what he’s feeling when I hear them. Artists like Saving Abel and Nickelback and Staind are right up his alley, and fuel the stories I write for him. They’re edgy, a bit raw, and very, very male. Just like David.

Addicted and Drowning (Face Down) by Saving Abel were two songs that inspired my latest book, COVET, which releases today! There’s a line in Drowning that goes something like: “I've come too far to turn around”, and that’s how David feels about Lottie, the love of his life and the woman he has to fight for in the story. Their love is profound and deep and spans millennia, but it’s not without challenge. Which is what made writing this story so much fun. I got to get inside David’s head and really find out what makes Lottie so special to him.

For those of you who read COVET, I hope you think their story is special, too.

You can find Covet on Amazon / itunes / Crimson Romance

Blurb:

COVET is the story of threatening secrets, risky espionage, and one man’s discovery that instinct can be more powerful than reason.

All professional soldier David Bellotti has to do is steal a wallet from drug lord Zev Sahin. A simple operation to snag the key card to Sahin’s compound and hand the card over to the woman who hired him. But when David finds a photo inside the wallet of his lover, Lottie, kissing another man, he discovers his life isn’t what it seems and that the people in it are keeping dangerous information from him.

Ex-lover, Monica, is carrying the biggest secret of all. Determined to get David back into her life, her secret will become her strongest weapon against him. But protecting his love for Lottie won’t be easy for David. As images of Lottie’s murder start surfacing, David realizes he’s reliving ancient memories from over ten thousand years ago—from a life that’s linked to Lottie and Monica now, and that will once again end in Lottie’s death if he can’t find a way to stop it.

Bio:

Terri Herman–Poncé looks for any opportunity to make stuff up. Born on Long Island, New York, she thinks anything that can’t so easily be explained is worth an extra look and often makes a great story. She loves red wine, sunrises, Ancient Egypt, and the New York Yankees. The youngest of five children, Terri lives with her husband and son on Long Island. In her next life, if she hasn’t moved on to somewhere else, Terri wants to be an astronomer. She’s fascinated with the night skies almost as much as she’s fascinated with Ancient Egypt.

Terri is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and Romance Writers of America. You can read about Terri and her stories at

WEBSITE

TWITTER

FACEBOOK

I will be on the radio with the hosts of The Way of Love, 

Saturday,February 2

5:40pm – 6:15pm, KSCO, 1080am

Book Signing

I will be autographing my book at Zinnia's Gift Store,

219C Mt. Hermon Rd. Scotts Valley, CA

Saturday, February 9

10:30 – 3:00pm

Zinnia's will also be hosting a toffee tasting of Foxy's Toffee.

Crimson Romance author, Lynn Crandall stopped by today to talk about her new book,

DANCING WITH DETECTIVE DANGER.

Galen: I love the title, tell us about your book.

Lynn: Thank you for having me on your blog today, Galen.

Dancing with Detective Danger is a contemporary romantic suspense set in a mid-size city in the Midwest. It focuses on the renewed relationship between private investigator Sterling Aegar and police detective Ben Kirby.

Galen: What was the inspiration for Dancing with Detective Danger?

Lynn: The story evolved from a thought about family relationships that have suffered through problems and yet remain intact, vital, and growing. I'm fascinated by problem-solving and using typical tools to unlock mysteries along with innate abilities to identify and tease out information. So, the story world began about two sisters who work together, support each other through pain, and become free to find true love. Of course, it became about Ben and Sterling.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?          

Lynn: Well, it’s more than one line:

In one second, he slammed the door shut and strode close to her. Standing inches from Sterling’s face, Ben peered down at her. “We never settled anything. You may have, I don’t know, but we never settled anything.”

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Lynn: I had an interest in writing as child but I grew up and got busy with a life that didn’t include writing until I read a book by John Gardner, On Becoming a Novelist. It summoned up so strongly the memory of what I wanted to do that I regrouped and started writing. I like writing romances because I enjoy exploring the dynamics of relationships and love a happy ending.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Lynn: I actually read only nonfiction until I decided I wanted to write romance, so I started random reading. The first romance novel that grabbed me, though, was A Knight in Shining Armor, by Jude Deveraux. It took me a while to recover from that compelling read. In fact, I would say it left a lasting impact on my life. Her characters came to life for me and their love was lovely to read about.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Lynn: I’m definitely a pantser. I enjoy the feel of a story and characters coming to life as I write, but it’s daunting not to know everything when I start writing. I do create a general outline and construct out possible scenes, as well as character bios.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Lynn: Bitten, by Kelley Armstrong, Frostbitten, by Kelley Armstrong, and Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte.

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday.

Lynn: Because I’m a freelance writer of commercial fiction I read a range of blogs all the time. For fiction, I enjoy Kelley Armstrong’s blog and Kat Richardon’s, who writes the Greywalker series.

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Lynn: I work in a large corner in a room in my house. I’ve been writing in that space for a number of years, so when I sit there in front of my computer I feel I’m home. I have everything I need within reach because often I have a cat on my lap as I write. So my printer sits beside my laptop, a file cabinet under my desk, I have a pleasing calendar on the wall and little things that inspire me sitting on nearby shelves. Outside the window are two birdfeeders and two bird baths that attract my attention with activity year-round.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Lynn: I want to go to Zihuatanejo, Mexico. The area sounds so lovely the way it’s described in the movie, Shawshank Redemption: “Do you know what the Mexicans say about the Pacific? They say it has no memory. That's where I want to live the rest of my life. A warm place with no memory.” It sounds relaxing and carefree, but a place where intrigue could happen.

Galen: Shawshank Redemption is one of my favorite moveis.  If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Lynn: Art historian. The symbolism in art fascinates me.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Lynn: I like hiking, biking, and spending time with family and friends. I’m reading all the time.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Lynn: Good question! I can’t think of anything I don’t like about writing fiction. Oh, there is the self-doubt that is prone to crop up. But other than that, what’s not to like? I love words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs all strung together in beautiful ways.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you? 

Lynn: Believe in yourself.

You can find out more about Lynn Crandall here:

WEBSITE

GOODREADS

You can purchase DANCING WITH DETECTIVE DANGER here:

AMAZON / B&N / ITUNES / CRIMSON ROMANCE / EBOOKS / KOBO

Today, A Place to Rest My Heart

is featured on Awesome Romance Novels!

Awesome Romance Novels is brought to you by romance novelist,

Donna Fasano

Author, Rowena May O'Sullivan stopped by to talk about her new book, The Silver Rose. Welcome Rowena.

Thank you Galen for hosting me on your website today.

My name is Rowena May O’Sullivan and I’ve just released my very first book with Crimson Romance, a paranormal romance entitled, The Silver Rose. It’s been a long road getting here, but I’ve learned so much along the way and I’m so happy to see my work with a cover and available to purchase through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iTunes as well as through Crimson Romance.

When I first started writing The Silver Rose, it was called The Bells of Marylebone. Why? Because I dreamed a book was delivered to my door in brown paper and when I unwrapped it, it was a copy of a book entitled The Bells of Marylebone. How strange I thought. What does that mean? I often trust my dreams as they’ve been known to come true or have hinted at a possible future. 

I tend to write organically and the only idea I had at the beginning was the dream and the title. 

Writing is a series of asking yourself, what if? I love paranormal romances so I knew my next book would have to include magic of some description. So after pondering on my dream I also looked to the meaning of the word bells and came up with “belles”. OK. The plural meant there would be more than one. Three sisters. What if they were witches? And what if the bells of Marylebone played a significant part in their lives? What if they tolled for witches so powerful and close to flaming out that they either had to sacrifice their magic or bind themselves to another to help balance that power? What if they failed to do either? Send the Dragons of Marylebone with their miniature dragons to hunt them down and burn the magic from them before their magic grows so powerful they turn rogue. Such an act will kill them.

Then Rosa, the eldest sister arrived in my thoughts with Aden, the hero, following not long after in the form of a warlock. I also wanted my story to be contemporary and in this world, living side by side with every day people. But Marylebone became the supreme ruling coven for all witches and warlocks and is located on another plane, virtually invisible to anyone other than those invited into its halls.

Most of the book is set in the small town of Raven’s Creek, a fictional town in New Zealand, but based on one that I used to visit a lot when my sister lived there. A small community where everyone knows your business and if they don’t they will do their best to find out.  A small community that cared for the sisters after their parents were killed in an auto-accident when they were mere teenagers.

As for the title –Aden, the hero – an immortal and several hundred years old is a jeweler. In the book, the silver rose was born from Aden’s painful past, which he has done his utmost to forget and atone for. But everything about Rosa, reminds him of his past and his vow to never love again is sorely tested when he discovers she possesses the rose he crafted for his Beloved who died in his arms four hundred years ago.

And then Rosa learns, that the man she has fallen for, is also the one who has been sent to kill her should she fail when the bells of Marylebone toll for her.

Gradually, the characters of Marylebone Coven, Raven’s Creek and Rosa’s sisters, Beth and Alanna, all powerful witches, arrived on the scene and I realized I had a trilogy. A story for each sister, each with her own trials to face.

As an aside, the subject of jewelry isn’t such a leap for me as I’d worked for a manufacturing jeweler for three years when I was 18-21 and, I realize now, some of the knowledge I learned about the processes of crafting jewelry stuck.  Plus, I’m a writer. I make stuff up!  There was a jeweler in the workroom where I worked, who was the most amazing artisan. He once crafted me as a surprise gift (when I was leaving the firm to travel to Europe for an extended period), a silver dolphin with sapphire eyes, just like the one Aden crafted and Rosa wears in the book.  It was the most beautiful gift. The sad thing is, I lost it while in Europe – I believe I lost it in a small Dutch town called Noordgouwe. I’ve never forgotten that loss and often wonder if anyone found it and is wearing it now. 

Here’s an excerpt from The Silver Rose for you – Rosa’s first impressions of  Aden after his arrival in Raven’s Creek.

Rosa peered through the steam from her coffee and out the window to the stranger across the road. A number of expressions had crossed his far-too-handsome-for-his-own-good features. Shock, irritation, even a flash of awareness was quickly doused with an equal portion of anger. She immediately thought of the bells. Here was a man with huge potential. It swirled about him in a rainbow of color. A prickle of something she couldn’t define—warning, perhaps—skittered across the back of her neck, so she took a harder look, using her ability to read auras to divine what it was about him that made him so…different. She studied him as intently as he studied them but couldn’t find anything except an uncommonly large dose of impressive energy swirling about his auric field. As far as she could tell he wasn’t a warlock.

Beth came up to stand beside her. “Oh, my. He’s gorgeous!”

“‘Oh, my, is an understatement,” Alanna concurred as she too stared outwards before turning and narrowing an assessing gaze at Rosa. “You want him?”

Rosa spluttered into her coffee. “I certainly do not!”

Alanna shrugged. “Liar! Your aura’s gone ruby red. You fancy him like crazy.”

Ruby red! There was red in her aura? “Well, I can’t deny he’s attractive.”

“The master of understatement, as usual.” Alanna rolled her eyes. “If you don’t want him, I’ll take him!”

Rosa almost snorted. “You would!”

“Are you blind? Look at him! He’s juicy delicious.”

Rosa almost laughed. “An apt description. Very juicy. Drop-dead gorgeous. Every witches’ dream.”

Alanna’s head rocked back and she laughed. “Damn right!”

Rosa gulped back a mouthful of coffee, scalding the roof of her mouth. She

immediately cooled it with a simple spell before the sensitive skin blistered. She was

hearing the bells again. She looked to Alanna and Beth. Had they heard them too? But no, they both laughed and studied the stranger, jostling each other’s arms as they debated the best description for him.

But Rosa was too intent as she felt a whisper of warning: He brings change… Beware!

The Silver Rose is available for purchase from:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

iTunes

Crimson Romance

I’m currently writing Alanna’s story, The Jade Dragon, which has just been contracted with Crimson Romance.  I don’t have a release date yet, but she’s proving to be an interesting character and Gregori, well, he’s quite delicious!

To learn more about me you can visit my website at www.rowenamayosullian.com

Once again, a very big thank you so much Galen for allowing me to post on your website today.

I'd like to introduce multi-published author, Callie Hutton. Callie has stopped by to talk about her new book, Daniel's Desire. Welcome Callie, tell us about your new book.

When Confederate soldier, Lt. Daniel McCoy makes his escape from a Union prison toward the end of the Civil War, his only thought is to get as far away from enemy territory as possible. But he doesn’t count on saving young widow Rosemarie Wilson’s life from an infected leg wound.

Rosemarie has no use for Rebels soldiers, having lost everything, including her husband, the last time they came to her home. However, Daniel has not only saved her life, but is sticking around to help with the farm and her three children until she recovers.

With Union soldiers searching for him, every day Daniel remains puts him in danger. Or is the beautiful widow who has captured his heart the greater risk?

Galen: What was the inspiration for Daniel's Desire?

Callie: With it being the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War from 2011 to 2015, I thought it was an appropriate time to write a story set during that time. I will probably write another one or two in the future.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?   

Callie: My all time favorite line is from my Historical Christmas novella from last year (A Wife By Christmas). In this scene, Ellie (the heroine) is climbing out of an upstairs bedroom window (the hero’s). She is hanging by her arms from the window sill, with him below her, waiting to catch her when she drops. With all the anxiety and trying to keep quiet (they don’t want to be caught – major indiscretion), she looks down at him, and says “Stop looking up my skirts.”

Galen: Are you a pantzer or a plotter?
 

Callie: Major pantser. I generally have an idea of what I want to write about, but just sit down and start writing, letting the characters take me where they want to go. Needless to say, my stories are very character driven.

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Callie: I read so many books where I said “I could do this.” I’d been writing all my life, with various magazines and newspapers picking up some of my articles. Finally, on summer break from school (I worked as a substitute teacher at the time), I picked up one of my romance books, outlined the entire thing, and using that outline, wrote my very first romance book.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Callie: Although I read all the gothic romance novels, the very first ‘romance’ book that I distinctly remember was Parrish. It was the rage when I was in high school, and was later made into a movie with Troy Donahue. It probably stuck with me because we were all reading it in class, covering the paperback with one of our school books. Catholic high school, you see.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Callie: “How to Build an Unsinkable Boat With Trees and Bark”;  “How To Catch Fish With Your Hands”; and “Robinson Crusoe”  I tend to be a practical, problem-solving woman.

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Callie: I write mostly at work. I purposely took a job at a local cleaners where I’m alone from seven AM to noon when my relief comes in. Very slow traffic, so I bring my laptop and write almost the entire time. Also, no internet to distract me.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Callie: My husband and I plan a trip to England/Scotland/Ireland in two years. I plan to do a lot of research there (hence, write off my portion of the trip), because I’d like very much to write a Highlander book in the future.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Callie: History teacher. I was an Education/History major in college.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Callie: Read. I watch some news programs on TV, but not much else.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer?

Callie: Best: Doing something I’ve always loved. Worst: Promotion. I’d rather sit in my pajamas and furry slippers, sipping coffee and writing. However, my husband, who is also my self-appointed (and non-paid) publicist is booking me on speaking engagements and book signings. Sigh.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Callie: It’s not a failure until you give up.

Excerpt:

The moonlight filtering through the window cast an eerie glow over the room. She shifted onto her side, clasping her hands together under her cheek. More than an hour passed before she felt herself drifting off.

Rosemarie’s eyelid’s popped open. What was that noise? She rolled onto her back as Daniel walked through the bedroom door. He stopped inside the door and stared at her. Slowly, he moved to her side and squatted down.

Her heart thumped so loudly, he must’ve heard it. Happiness warred with fear. His return put him in jeopardy, and her heart in danger.

He studied her face, his eyes seeking an answer to a question she wasn’t sure she wanted to answer. He ran his knuckles over her cheek. “I wanted to lead them away from here, so they would leave you in peace.”

“I thought you were halfway to Kentucky by now,” she whispered.

He smiled, flashing straight white teeth. “It crossed my mind, but you still need help.”

“Is that the only reason you came back?” She inhaled sharply, amazed at what she’d asked him.

“No.” He lowered his head, his breath fanning her face. “But I need to leave one day. You must know that.”

“I do.” The last words she murmured before he took possession of her mouth.

You can follow Callie Hutton here:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

GOODREADS

TWITTER

Find Daniel's Desire and Callie's other books here:

AMAZON / B&N / KOBO / CRIMSON / ITUNES

A much beloved angel atop a Christmas tree.

Caroling through the neighborhood as the snow falls.

Opening a box containing new jammies for Christmas morning….

What?  Your family doesn’t open Christmas PJs?  Somehow I’m not surprised.  My family’s Christmas tradition was born out of necessity.  Back when my two children were little, we had an abundance of excitement for Christmas morning, and a definite lack of gifts.  One of my daughter’s preschool friends had been kind enough to share the knowledge of her family’s tradition with my daughter – every Christmas Eve everyone got to select one present from under the tree to open.  I’d tried to convince my little one that tradition belonged to her friend’s family, but she wasn’t convinced.  If Hadley could open a present on Christmas Eve, so could she.

I’d seen Hadley’s tree.  Presents overflowed and threatened to take over a quarter of the room.  Our tree wasn’t so fortunate.  Finally, though, we agreed that perhaps we could each open a single gift, but I had to select which one.  Part of me was a little excited, since I knew the boxes I’d chosen contained new pajamas that just happened to color coordinate.  They’d look awesome for Christmas morning pictures.

So they opened the boxes.  Squealed in excitement.  And a Christmas tradition was born.  Even now, when my daughter is fast approaching the end of her high school career, the boxes containing the new pajamas are as eagerly anticipated as any other gift they’ll receive on Christmas morning.  (And if you have any doubts, just ask me about the year I forgot the jammies.  In my defense, we closed on a new house on Christmas Eve – pajamas just weren’t at the top of my priority list.  Thank goodness for a store nearby that just happened to be staying open late when my daughter casually mentioned that none of the boxes under the tree had that “Christmas Eve look.”)

While we borrowed a bit of Hadley’s tradition, our family gave it our own twist.

Towns and communities are each equally unique.  No matter how similar one town is to the next, their Christmas tree lighting is never identical.  One neighborhood close to my house has Christmas hayrides through the decorated streets.  Another town celebrates with a candlelight processional through the historic downtown.

Traditions give each town its own flavor – something I try to bring to my own writing.  I often say that my setting (most often a small town in Texas) is a character just as much as one of the people in my stories.  I’ve made sure that each of my towns has traditions to help set it apart from the rest.  In Small Town Secrets, Josh and Tara enjoy the lights at the Harvest Days festival.  The firefighters in Playing with Fire pass out candy in the haunted town square on Halloween.

What tradition does your family hold dear?

Molly Kate Gray's new book, Playing With Fire is available for pre-order now.

How would you like to win a book to read over the Christmas Holiday? I have listed links to a lot of awesome books that are being given-away right now. Enter one or all, and you could be a winner!

Crimson Romance Holiday Blog Hop - 10 Crimson authors who launched the line on June 4, 2012, are celebrating their 6 month release anniversary with a good ole' blog hop. You could win a Kindle loaded with one title from each of the 10 participating authors! 

Galen Rose is giving away two autographed copies of her book on Goodreads.

Lynn Cahoon is having a give away of her book on Goodreads.

Diane R. Jewkes is having a give away of her book on Goodreads.

Danica Winters is giving away a $10.00 Amazon gift card via her Facebook page.

Mary Hghes is giving away his or her choice of one Biting Love ebook (including Biting Oz) *or* a $5 gift certificate from Amazon or Samhain!

Lola Karns is giving away an electronic copy of Winter Fairy on her website.

Becky Lower is giving away and authographed of her book at Goodreads.

Tara Mills is giving away a copy of her book on Goodreads.

Pam B. Morris is giving away of copy of her book on Goodreads.

Morgan O'Neill is giving away an autographed copy of her book on Goodreads.

Amanda L.V. Shalaby is giving away an autographed book on Goodreads.

Heather Thurmeier is giving away an autographed copy of her book on Goodreads.

Peggy Bird is giving away a copy of her book on Goodreads.

K.M. Jackson is giving away an autographed copy of her book on Goodreads.

I'd like to introduce Crimson Romance author, Robyn Corum. Her book,

Melinda Heads West, was just released in October. Hi Robyn, tell us about your book. 

Melinda Heads West is the story of a young woman traveling west in 1880 to pick up a family deed.  When the stage coach breaks down, Mindy and her six male companions are forced to walk the remaining thirty-five miles to their destination. That would be enough to try anyone's patience, but then the company is set upon by thieves and murderers, and the stakes are raised.

Fortunately, Mindy makes the close acquaintance of two “gentlemen,” who try to help her through these dangers.

When the chance for marriage interrupts her once boring life, Mindy must make a decision:  settle for safe or go for love?

Galen: What was the inspiration for Melinda Heads West?

Robyn: In the summer of 2011, I had a chance to participate in a flash fiction contest that included a required list of western words.  I created an entry, but felt it didn’t meet the criteria for flash fiction, so I didn’t enter it into the contest.  I kept coming back to it ‘cause I liked it a lot.  I ended up adding more chapters, and it became the beginning of Melinda Heads West.   *smile*

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?  

Robyn: “Looking high overhead, where the faint streaks of dawn could be seen over the buildings surrounding hers, Ama could see the impression of colors in the light and knew somewhere, someone experienced the full, breathtaking dawn in its glory.”  – from Ama, my WIP

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Robyn: I have read SO many romance novels.  I suppose that when I decided to write, it’s what I gravitated to naturally.  I love love!    *smile*

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Robyn: No, but I remember reading Kathleen Woodiwiss’ The Flame and the Flower many years ago! That’s probably the oldest book I can remember reading.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Robyn: I’m a pantzer who usually has a rough idea plotted out in my mind.  I always  tell my  beta readers that I’m as excited to find out what happens as they are!

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Robyn: The Bible, The Grapes of Wrath, and I Do, I Do, I Do by Maggie Osborne

Galen: Name two blogs you read every day.

Robyn: I can’t do it.  My day is too unpredictable! 

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Robyn: I have a wonderful library in my home.  It has floor-to-ceiling mahogany shelves filled with my favorite books.  My desk is in one corner.  To my right is my collection of Titanic memorabilia and to my left is my collection of writing books and resources.  My desk is a mess.  It’s got a half-eaten bag of raw almonds, random pieces of jewelry that I took off and left where they landed, nail polish, pens, pencils, notecards and my all-important notebook that I work from.  And of course, my computer!

Galen: Wow, the library sounds beautiful! Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Robyn: oooOoooo…  Ireland, maybe.   I’ve got a list, but Ireland, first.

Galen: Ireland tops my list too! If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Robyn: I’ve always been in sales.  If I wasn’t writing, I would definitely be doing something in sales.  I love it!

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Robyn: That’s a great question.  Reading, I guess.  But I love anything crafty.  And I adore photography.  When I’m writing and get stuck, I stop for a while and play Solitaire on my iPhone.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Robyn: The best part of being a writer…Hmmm… I think it’s when people really get caught up in my stories.  That’s absolutely amazing!  The worst part is… the business end of writing.  When you get to those parts that just won’t come and you have to sweat it out.   And then when the book is released, praying for readers and reviewers!

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Robyn: Wow.  I’ve received so much great advice.  To watch my active/passive voice, to get on Twitter…Learning to write flash fiction was a great help for my writing career.  It helped me cut down on excess verbage and learn to streamline the story.

I'd like to thank Robyn for stopping by today. You can find out more about Robyn at the following links:

ROBYN'S BLOG

FACEBOOK

GOODREADS

PINTEREST

You can purchase Melinda Heads West at:

AMAZON / B&N / KOBO / E-BOOKS / CRIMSON ROMANCE / I-TUNES

This month, my award winning recipe, Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, are featured on author Debbie Macomber's recipe blog. She chose five pumpkin recipes for October. I also received an autographed copy of Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Cookbook; recipes from her beloved characters of the Cedar Cove series!

For the past six years at Christmas time I have entered a cookie contest at my favorite gift store, Zinnia's. I have been circling first place for a few years and last year, won with this recipe.

Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Eggnog Cream Cheese Filling

Yield: About 5 dozen assembled

Bake Time: 10 – 11 minutes

For the Whoopie Pies:

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (you can substitute pumpkin pie spice for more pumpkin taste)
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons canola oil
2 ½ cups chilled pumpkin puree (canned pumpkin) (you might need to add a little more if mixture looks too thick)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Eggnog Cream Cheese Filling:
3 cups powdered sugar
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
4 ounces (½ cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

¼ – ½ tsp. eggnog flavor *

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

2. Measure out the pumpkin filling into a bowl and place in the refrigerator to chill while you prep everything else. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger and nutmeg. Set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk the granulated sugar, the dark brown sugar, and the oil together. Add the pumpkin puree and whisk to combine thoroughly. Add the eggs and vanilla and whisk until combined. (or use the paddle attachment of an electric mixer)

4. Gradually add the flour mixture to the pumpkin mixture and whisk until completely combined.

5. Use a small cookie scoop * to drop a rounded, heaping teaspoon of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, about 1 inch apart. Lightly wet the tip of your finger and smooth out the tops of the cookies and flatten slightly

6. Bake for 10 – 11 minutes, making sure that the cookies are just starting to crack on top and a toothpick inserted into the center of a cookie comes out clean. The cookies should be firm when touched. Remove from the oven and let the cookies cool completely on a cooling rack.

7. To make the filling, beat the butter on medium speed until smooth with no visible lumps, about 3 minutes. Add the cream cheese and beat until smooth and combined, about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, then add the vanilla bean paste, ¼ tsp. eggnog flavor and beat until smooth. Taste the filling. Here is where to add a drop or two more of the eggnog flavor but be very careful, it can easily overpower everything! Place in refrigerator for a few minutes to firm up.

8. To assemble the whoopie pies: Turn half of the cooled cookies upside down. Pipe or spoon the filling (about a teaspoon) onto that half. Place another cookie, flat side down, on top of the filling. Press down slightly so that the filling spread to the edges of the cookie. Repeat until all the cookies are used. Put the whoopie pies in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes to firm before serving.*

NOTES: I adapted this recipe from Browneyedbaker.com to make them mini size for a cookie contest. I use a teaspoon cookie scoop I found at kingarthurflour.com. This scoop works great for rounding the cookie. The eggnog flavor came from kingarthurflour.com as well. I used a piping bag with a star top to pipe the filling onto the mini cookies. I have also made this recipe eggnog buttercream filing. I found mini cupcake papers at my local craft store. I flatten the papers out a little to rest the pies on them and keep them from sticking to each other.

Stop by and visit any one of the terrific Crimson Romance authors on the blog hop, leave a comment with your email address and you could be a winner of one of the great prizes being offered.

I am priviledged to interview some amazing authors on my blog, but today author Robyn Corum has turned the tables on me.

Shelley K. Wall was tagged. Read about her WIP, Shelley's Blog.

Traci McDonald was tagged, and she is talking about her WIP on her blog, Writing Blind.

I tagged author Nancy Loyan about her work-in-progress, and she has posted on her blog; SCRIBBLES.

Tara Mills was tagged too, read about her WIP here

more authors to come…

My work-in-progress has been tagged by author Suzanne Barrett. You can read about her work in progress, a romantic suspense at Bellarustique.

What is the title of your book?

It is tentatively titled, The Trouble With Paradise

Where did the idea for the book come from?

I have been blessed to go to Maui many times over the last twenty years. A few years ago I was looking through a magazine for weddings in Maui, when I wondered about how bad it would be to get there and be prepared to marry the man of your dreams and be left at the alter!

What genre does your book fall under?

Romance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Not sure yet on this one. I am still getting a feel for each of the main characters.

What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?

Can a jilted bride turn her lonely honeymoon into something fun or will there be trouble in paradise?

Will your book be self-published or agented?

I don't have an agent and I won't show this to my current publisher, Crimson Romance until it is finished. I do plan to have it done by Christmas though.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

I'm still writing the first draft! Although I did the opening first two chapters a couple of years ago, I'd rather say it has taken me three months than three years to craft it!

What other books within your genre would you compare your WIP to?

humm.. maybe a cross between any of the crazy Stephanie Plum books and Agnes and the Hitman by Jennifer Crusie & Bob Mayer.

Who or what inspired this book?

My imagination combined with some lovely relaxing on a beach. It takes about oh, five minutes after touching down in Kahalui, Maui for my brain to realize it can now let go of way too much stuff packed into it and start relaxing.

What else about your book might pique the readers interest?

I plan to feature acutal places from the island so it could be a travel reference too.

That's a slice of my work in progress. Please check back to see how it's going. I will update from time to time. Meanwhile, I'll be tagging five other authors to take part. I'll let you know who they are and each time they post about their work-in-progress.

(photo references, #1 view of Lānaʻi from Napili,  #2 hibiscus flower,  #3 Nakalele Blowhole)

They saying goes, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

This September/October gave me plenty of lemons; mystery illnesses for my husband and I, my mom in ICU, heck, even one of the cats jumped on the bandwagon. (Thankfully one mystery illness has been partially solved, Mom is doing much better and the cat is back to ruling the roost again). Now that October is done and fall is here it's time to take those lemons and make something more yummy than lemonade. Truth be told, I'm really tired of lemonade. 

This is my husband's favorite chicken dish, Chicken Picatta. 

4 chicken cutlets

salt, pepper, flour for dusting

2 T vegetable oil

1/2 C white wine

2 tsp. minced garlic

3/4 C low-sodium chicken stock

3-4 T fresh lemon juice

1-2 T drained capers (depends on how much you like capers)

2-3 T unsalted butter

fresh lemon slices 1-2 lemons

1 tsp. chopped fresh parsley

Season cutlets with salt and pepper, then dust with flour. Add vegetable oil to a nonstick pan and heat to medium-high. (My husband is gluten-free so I used King Arthur Gluten Free Flour, and it works just as well as regular all-purpose flour)

Saute cutlets about 2-3 minutes on one side, then flip the cutlets over and saute for 1-2 minutes with pan covered. Transfer cutlets to a warm plate then pour off fat from pan, except for 1 tsp.

Deglaze pan with white wine, and add minced garlic. Cook until garlic is slightly brown and the liquid is nearly gone,  2-3 minutes.

Add chicken stock, lemon juice and capers, stir. Return cutlets to the pan and cook on each side about 1-2 minutes. Transfer cutlets to warm platter. Add butter to the pan as well as the lemon slices and stir lightly until butter is fully melted. Pour over cutlets and sprinkle with parsley.

Enjoy~

Today I am welcoming Crimson Romance author, Rena Koontz. Tell us about your book, LOVE'S SECRET FIRE.

"Love's Secret Fire" is a romantic suspense loosely based on a real-life arson case I covered as a Pittsburgh-area news reporter.  Valerie Daniels is determined to prove her twin brother is not responsible for the rash of suspicious fires in Benton Falls, despite all the evidence that leads undercover investigator Adam Michaels to believe he's caught his arsonist — Valerie's brother.

Arson turns to murder and sparks fly between Adam and Valerie. But the real arsonist has his own plans to heat things up. To defeat the killer and his deadly trap, they must learn to trust each other. When they do, they also learn to love.

Galen: What was the inspiration for "Love's Secret Fire."?

Rena: As a reporter I was assigned to do a "ride along" one night with one of the firemen. The police and firemen had added extra patrols in an effort to catch the arsonist. It was after midnight when we crept down side streets and back alleys trying to catch him. I was nervous — the experience stuck in my mind and gave birth to this plot.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Rena: My favorite line is an internal thought of Valerie's: This would be the swing of her life.

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Rena: I've always been a writer and always wanted to write romance novels, ever since I read "The Flame and the Flower." Romance novels have come a long way since those bodice-ripping days.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Rena: "The Flame and the Flower" was my older sister's book that I swiped and read. Kathleen Woodiwiss was a pioneer author of historical romances. I wanted to be just like her except I don't write historicals. But I love to read them. I've read "The Flame and the Flower" more than three dozen times.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Rena: I'm a pantzer. I have a general idea about the story I want to tell but the characters actually take me through the pages from beginning to end.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Rena:  "The Flame and the Flower" – Kathleen Woodiwiss, "No Place Like Home" – Barbara Samuels, "The Client" - John Grisham

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Rena: Cluttered, with a dog bed close by.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Rena: Australia

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Rena: Usually, I'm thinking about getting back to writing.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Rena: Write. Write every day. It's a full-time job, treat it like one.

You can find out more about Rena here:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

GOODREADS

You can purchase LOVE'S SECRET FIRE here:

AMZ / KOBO / GOOGLE PLAY / DIESEL

Today, I'd like to introduce multi-published author, Jaye Shields.

Jaye, tell is about your latest book, SECRETS OF THE FOG, 

Secrets of the Fog takes place in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I’ve lived ever since moving from Seattle in 2005. The small town of Alameda is home to a badass coffee shop owner, Tera, who hunts demons in her spare time. When a wicked beast escapes through a portal above Alcatraz island, she’s brought face to face with the handsome, albeit frustrating immortal warrior who’s hunting the demon. The monster is capable of inciting chaos and violence wherever it goes. It’s up to Tera and her newfound stud to stop it.

Galen: I know what I'm reading next! What was the inspiration for Secrets of the Fog?

Jaye: I’ve always loved the Muir Woods, a giant redwood forest not far from my home. Coupled with my classics and archaeology courses at SFSU, I couldn’t resist writing a story about the dryad daughter of the goddess Artemis. Oh, and everyone loves an immortal warrior. *swoon*

Galen: Muir Woods is truly beautiful!  What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Jaye: Oh gosh, this is entirely too hard. There is no way I can choose just one. The interviewer is nuts

Galen: Nuts? Moi? What started you on the road to writing romance?

Jaye: I’ve always loved to write, and I read a lot of romance. I thought. Hey, I can do this. And I did. I wrote the entire Immortals in Alameda Trilogy during my junior year of college at SFSU.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Jaye: I believe it was The Reef by Nora Roberts. I think I was 13 or 14 years old and it was the vivid imagery involved in the scuba diving and treasure hunting plot. I fell in love with Mathew. I think it’s still one of my favorites.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Jaye: Both. Characters come to me in vivid detail way before hand, so I generally have an idea of what’s going to happen, but nothing is set in stone.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Jaye: The Reef, Autobiography of Paramahansa Yogananda, Idiots Guide to Surviving a Deserted Island

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday.

Jaye: A Tasty Read & Unwrapping Romance…followed of course by Ladies In Red, the Crimson Romance Authors Blog

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Jaye: 30K feet in the air…oh you mean writing? Coffee shops here and there.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Jaye: Paris is my favorite place in the world. Italy and Mexico are close runners up.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Jaye: The one I have. Gotta love being a flight attendant.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Jaye: Traveling, hanging with friends or family, pursuing my other artistic interests such as playing guitar or photography.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Jaye: I suppose there are bad parts, such as bad reviews, but I haven’t gotten any yet. Oh, I know, the bad part is wondering if you’re actually selling any books. The best part of being a writer is obvious…the possibilities of the imagination are endless.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Jaye: “You can do anything you put your mind to.” – My parents

About the Author:

Jaye Shields holds a degree in Anthropology from San Francisco State University with an emphasis in archaeology. Her previous claims to fame include being a bass player for a grunge band called the Hymens, being mistaken for Britney Spears while in Tokyo, and commercial model. She insists the commercial still counts even though her lines were cut.

Born and raised in Seattle, she now lives in the realm of fog, skyscrapers, and redwood trees. Happy to call San Francisco home, she spends her time writing sensual paranormal romance and urban fantasy. Thanks to her grandmother, she's been reading romance novels since she was ten years old. Jaye sprinkles her love of history, mythology, and the occult into flaming hot reads.

Official Blurb

Secrets of the Fog

Available Oct. 29th, 2012

When the dryad Tera’s friends inform her that the portal on Alcatraz Island is buzzing with an arrival, she thinks her goddess mother has come to visit. When Tera arrives at the portal to welcome her, she doesn’t find her mother, she finds a gigantic otherworldly warrior causing mass destruction among the San Francisco tourists. Being a forest dryad born from the Goddess of the Hunt has its perks, and kicking ass is one of them.

Sabin is six-feet-six of hard-bodied soldier, used to subduing demons twice his size. One day after chasing an elusive smoke demon through a portal into the human realm, Sabin is brought to his knees by a beautiful woman, literally. After arriving at a pier full of dead bodies, Tera issues a passionate smack-down before Sabin can explain that he’s the good guy.

He’s just in time: an an ancient grudge has come to life. Eris, the Goddess of Chaos, has held a bitter hatred for Tera’s mother, Artemis, for over 400 years – and now she’s ready to destroy all dryads – including Tera.

Find out more about Jaye Shields:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

GOODREADS

You can purchase SECRETS OF THE FOG here:

AMAZON / KOBO / CRIMSON / E-BOOKS

Today I'd like to welcome author, M.J. Schiller. Today is launch day for your new book, TAKEN BY STORM. Tell us about your book.

MJ: TAKEN BY STORM begins as the darkly bitter Grand Vizier, Lord Boltar, is about to claim what he believes belongs to him, the rule of Avistad.  The King of Avistad’s son, Prince Tahj, has just returned from a trip and senses the unrest even before his best friend and captain, Radeem, warns him.  Radeem has heard rumors and suspects that the King’s advisor is planning to overthrow the crown.  Just as Tahj discovers a “gift” from Lord Boltar, a young girl bound and gagged on the prince’s bedroom floor, fighting erupts.  Tahj, Radeem, and the captive girl, Bashea, escape the castle in a hail of arrows.  Born from the fire of a coup, Tahj and Bashea’s relationship burns with a passion that neither of them quite understands.  The pair is drawn closer together as they face various perils, Boltar’s soldiers, a screaming panther, even the scathing winds of a desert storm.  But after what she had been through at the hands of Boltar’s men, Bashea is afraid to trust and her fiery nature is both what appeals to Tahj, and what drives him crazy.  In fact, when Bashea’s brother, Bagrat, informs Tahj that Bashea means “lips of the gods,” he retorts, “Are you sure you don’t mean tongue of the devil?”  It takes a long separation to bring them back to each other, but when Tahj does return, it is once again during a battle with Lord Boltar.  But now the overlord, who has been forced beyond reason by Tahj’s success in retaking the throne, is an even more dangerous threat than before.  Reunited, Tahj and Bashea must be strong enough to defeat their twisted and powerful enemy.

Galen: What was the inspiration for your Taken by Storm?

MJ: Troy, although I know that makes no sense as it is about Ancient Greece.  I’d also have to say it is a little bit of Prince of Persia, and The Prince of Egypt, all three smashed together.

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

MJ: Hmmm…that’s a good question.  I think I would have to say my dad.  He was a very positive thinker and I think he helped to foster my desire for happily-ever-afters.  He was also a great natural storyteller, whether it was just a little snippet about his day, or the funny stories he made up for my sisters, brother, and I when we were little.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

MJ: Total pantzer.  I don’t know what’s gonna happen until it happens.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

MJ: Oh, boy!  That would have been many moons ago.  In high school I used to read romances so much that my algebra teacher nicknamed me “Harlequin.”  (I even worked that into a book!)  I didn’t do a lot of reading after my triplets were born, (other than reading Curious George and the ilk to them and my two-year-old), but I began reading again when they were in school.  The first book I remember from that time frame was Anita Shreve’s The Pilot’s Wife.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

MJ: Honestly?  I would love to be a book cover designer.  That would satisfy both my love for books, and my creative design urge.  I’d have to learn a lot, though.  Either that, or a rock star.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

MJ: Mmmm…this is fun!  I’ve been to Ireland once, but I’d love to go back.  The people were charming and the scenery absolutely breathtaking!  Other than that, the one area of the country I’ve never traveled to is the Northeast, Maine, or thereabouts.

Galen: Describe your workspace.

MJ: Uhh…it’s a mess.  It often contains my cat, a cup of hot chocolate, and the kids’ school papers.  I do most of my work from the dining room table, but I’ve been known to take my laptop to Starbuck’s, or write in the car, or even, to my children’s horror, to the midnight showing of Batman: The Dark Knight Rises.  If I’m going to be sitting there for an hour in order to get a good seat, I’m bringing my laptop.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

MJ: Oooh!  …The Bible, A Tale of Two Cities, and The Great Gatsby…I think….

Galen: Name two blogs you read every day.

MJ: I don’t get to them read them every day, but I like Write in Color and Daily Writing Tips.  And of course, The Ladies in Red.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

MJ:  “Even through blood-shot eyes, Michael could tell she was different.” –from Damage Done, not out yet.

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

MJ: No.  It is a sci-fi/fantasy romance and it is a little long by traditional standards; but it consists of three books I may put out separately as novellas.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

MJ: Wish that I was writing.  Oh, wait, that’s probably not what you were looking for.  I like to do P90X (exercise program) and walk, read, of course, and karaoke (see “I want to be a rock star” reference above).

 Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

 MJ: Now this one’s easy.  Best thing- creating characters that come to life, but who usually do what I say, unlike my children.

Then getting to watch those characters develop on the page, fall in love, and get their happy ending! Worst thing- having to market my writing to individuals.  I had an office job that turned into a sales job once and I hated it.  I’m just not a pushy  person.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

MJ: Oh, my gosh.  There are so many!  I think it would have to be Nickelback’s “Don’t take the free ride in your own life.”  You’ve got to work to achieve your dreams, and that’s why we’re here, to make use of our special, God-given talents.

Find out more about M.J. Schiller:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

PINTEREST

GOODREADS

CRIMSON ROMANCE

You can purchase TAKEN BY STORM:

AMZ / E-BOOKS / I-TUNES

I have had two reviews of A Place to Rest My Heart: 

and

http://lgib-bookreview.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-place-to-rest-my-heart-galen-rose.html

I'd like to welcome, Loucinda McGary, author of HIS RELUCTANT BODYGUARD.

Tell us about your book.

His Reluctant Bodyguard is the second book in my Adventure Cruise Line series. It takes place at least partly on a cruise ship. This is a reunion story, and features the assistant cruise director from the first book in the series, High Seas Deception.

Avery Knox is surprised to see a man from her college days. Not just any man, but Rip Pollendene, the university football star whom Avery turned down and regretted her decision. As for Rip, he is the heir apparent to a beautiful island nation, but he has rejected that heritage for over twenty years. Now his homeland is on the verge of a civil war, and somebody wants him dead. What a time for the girl he’s never forgotten to walk back into his life!

Galen: What was the inspiration for His Reluctant Bodyguard?

Loucinda: Several Caribbean cruises I’ve taken in the past few years. The beautiful islands and friendly people were very inspiring. My fictional island of Benezet is a combination of several islands I have visited, chiefly Grenada, St. Lucia, and Domenica.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?          

Loucinda: I love spunky heroine’s, and I love it when they get sassy with the hero. Here’s an example of that, and is one of my favorite lines from His Reluctant Bodyguard: “No way!” Avery interrupted, determination blazing in her wide blue eyes. “I’m not letting you walk into a war without me…."

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Loucinda: Reading romance, of course! I love to read an exciting and suspenseful story with an appealing hero and heroine, and a satisfying happily-ever-after. I’ve always loved to write, so when I decided to seriously pursue publication, it was only natural to write the kinds of stories I love to read.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Loucinda: When I was around fourteen, I had read all my library books and was bored, so I picked up one of my mom’s gothics and I was hooked! I can’t remember the first one I read, because my mom always had a half-dozen or more lying around. It was probably by Victoria Holt or Phyllis A. Whitney, who were her favorites, and I loved them too! Those woman-in-jeopardy stories really fired up my overactive teenage imagination, and I’ve loved them ever since.

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

Loucinda: Yes, but it was not the first book I sold. When I left my day job at the end of 2003 to seriously pursue writing a novel for publication, the first romantic suspense story that I wrote, Jewels of the Madonna was a finalist in the 2006 Romance Writers’ of America Golden Heart contest. That contest final eventually led to my first sale. However, my Golden Heart manuscript turned out to be the second book I sold and was released in Sept. 2009 from Sourcebooks Casablanca as The Treasures of Venice.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Loucinda: A total pantzer! Believe me, I’ve tried to be otherwise, but my characters just wouldn’t cooperate with the program. I always start with my characters, a setting, and a vague idea of a plot. Basically, once my characters start talking to me, I just follow where they lead. At some point, the ending becomes clear.  I’m never quite sure when or how, but it always does. Once I dreamed the ending. I wish that happened more often.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Loucinda: The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. I read it for the first time when I was 15 and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read it since. I actually own both paperback and hardcover editions of it.

If it only counts as one book (and my hardcover volume includes all three books), then I’d also take Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, my favorite romance, and something practical like a survival guide.

Galen: Describe your workspace. 

Loucinda: Have you seen pictures of places after a tornado or hurricane has gone through? Pretty much like that.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Loucinda: I travel all the time, and every place I visit has something unique and interesting about it. Most of the time, I don’t visit a place with the thought of setting a story there. Too bad I’m not that organized! I’m never really sure where I’ll set my next story.

When I first started traveling, the top three places on my bucket list were Venice, Ireland, and the Great Wall of China. Within the next five years, I’d seen all three and plenty of places in between. I’ve set one story in Venice, and three in Ireland, but so far the Great Wall hasn’t made it into one of my books. My newest work-in-progress is set on Mackinac Island, Michigan.

As for places I haven’t been, Egypt has been on the top of my list for a long time, and so have Japan (I’ve only been in the Tokyo airport) and Brazil.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing.

Loucinda: Besides travel and read? I love to watch movies and live theater, but TV, not so much. To relax, I enjoy crocheting and knitting. I usually have two or three projects going at once.  I usually make simple things like scarves or afghans.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Loucinda: One of my old bosses always used to say, “You don’t g-e-t unless you a-s-k.” Thanks to him, I’ve stood up many times and asked for things I felt I needed or deserved.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Loucinda: The worst is rejections, followed closely by nasty reviews. I know I’m not suppose to take them personally, but sometimes I have a hard time doing that because my writing is so much a part of me.

The absolute best part is readers! I love knowing that someone has read one of my stories and enjoyed it. I treasure every piece of fan mail and positive review I receive. I’ve received fan emails from as far away as Romania, South Africa, and Australia. I’m still amazed and thrilled to think about someone so far away reading one of my stories.

Also, seeing my first book on the shelf of a local bookstore was pretty darn exciting too! Equally exciting was seeing a copy of The Treasures of Venice on the shelf of a library in Colorado Springs when I was on vacation there. Yes, I almost yelled, “This is my book!” right there in the middle of the library. Somehow, I managed to restrain myself and only did a little happy dance. Luckily there weren’t a lot of other patrons there at the time.  

Thank you so much, Galen, for hosting me on your blog today! I’d love to ask your readers if there’s a setting for a story that you have not read, but would like to see. Or do you have a favorite setting for books you read?

Loucinda: I’d love to give away 2 downloads of His Reluctant Bodyguard to anyone who leaves a comment today. I’ll chose two people at random, so please leave an email address. The book is currently available for Nook or Kindle or as a pdf file. 

You can find out more about Loucinda and her books at the following links:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

AMAZON AUTHOR

GOODREADS

TWITTER

You can purchase HIS RELUCTANT BODYGUARD at the following links:

AMAZON, B&N

Today I'd like to welcome Meline Nadeau, author of HOT OFF THE PRESS.

Tell us about your book.

Hot Off the Press is the story of Leigh Cameron who, following the death of her father, returns to the sleepy seaside town of her youth, where she’s shocked and surprised to learn she’s inherited the family paper. For a seasoned journalist with the country’s largest daily, running a small town newspaper should be a piece of cake.

But, she hadn’t counted on having to share the reigns with David, her father’s right hand man.  Leigh sees him as an arrogant tyrant who believes that his way is the only way. David can only see her as the private school brat who’s had everything handed to her on a silver platter.  To top it all off, the paper’s in serious financial trouble and the town’s people are keeping some ugly secrets about their correctional facilities under wraps.

Despite their differences, Leigh and David are going to have to work closely to save the failing paper – very closely.  Their major scoop and saving grace comes by way of a prison break from the local penitentiary.  And when an escaped convict highjacks the presses and holds Leigh hostage, only one person can come to her rescue.

Galen: What was the inspiration for Hot Off the Press?

Meline: I worked in a small town newspaper when I first started my journalism career.  From the old printing press to the building’s dust-covered dark room, I loved everything about the Georgian-Federal building and so it seemed the perfect setting for romance.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?          

Meline: Here’s a passage from Hot Off the Press I like.

She pressed her face against his bare chest and breathed in his scent.  Cinnamon, sandalwood, and musk mingled with dizzying effect.  Her blood coursed through her veins like an awakened river. To hell with propriety.  She pushed away the urge to cover her bare breasts and teased the tip of his nipples with her tongue. She’d go back to worrying about her weight tomorrow.  Tonight, she was a wanton goddess of love.

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Meline: I’ve always wanted to write for a living – it’s why I became a journalist.  It seemed like a smart, safe way to make a living from my writing.  Then, in the late 90s, I interviewed a romance author for a TV show I was working on.  She spoke so eloquently about the power of love and seemed so happy and fulfilled, I went out and joined the Romance Writers of Toronto a few days later.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Meline: The first romance novels I read were Angélique Books, a series of 13 French historical romance-adventure books by the novelist duo Anne and Serge Golon.  Angélique was a young, impetuous heroine who wasn’t afraid to fight for what she wanted.  And although she was breathtakingly beautiful, she was seriously flawed, which made her victories all that more inspiring. I spent a summer reading the series when I was about 13 or 14 years old.

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

Meline: Yes.  Hot Off the Press is the first book I wrote.  I’ve written two more since.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Meline: When I have an idea for a new book, I start by writing the first couple of scenes.  Then, once I’ve gotten a feel for the characters and the setting, I stop writing and spend a good month plotting the story, beat by beat. I like to know exactly where I’m headed when I write. Laying the structure gives me the freedom to let the characters reveal themselves. That said, things do change along the way.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Meline: That’s a tough one.  I read voraciously and across genres but I honestly can’t say I have one particular book I’ve read over and over again.  I would need at least one funny read from Janet Evanovich, though.

Galen:  Name two blogs you read everyday.

Meline: I drop in and check out Crimson Romance’s Ladies in Red (I’m a contributing member) every day and I drop in about once a week to check out Heidi Ruby Miller’s Just a Girl (http://heidirubymiller.blogspot.ca) for great author interviews and articles on writing and Lauren O’Nizzle’s LaurenOutLoud.com for a spacy, geeky take on fashion and pop culture. 

Galen:  Describe your workspace.

Meline: I write everywhere and anytime I can steal a few minutes.  A lot of my plotting and story ideas come to me while I’m driving and singing along to music but I prefer to write in complete silence or to the animated chatter of a busy café. 

In fact, in the last 10 years, I’ve written just about everywhere I’ve been.  Waiting rooms, buses, planes, cafés, on the corner of the kitchen table and, even ocean side.  But the reality is that I’ve done most of my writing in my home office, butt in chair for hours on end, after working well over 40 hours at my day job.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Meline: I’m dying to go to south-east Asia but I think I’m going to have to wait until my daughter is a little older. She’s already flown a bunch of times and she has a passport (I know!) but I’d like to make sure she’s old enough to remember a trip of that magnitude. I can’t wait to discover the world through her eyes!

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Meline: Hmm…My current day job and writing are the two things I’ve always wanted to do.  That said, if I had to pick something else, I’d like to be a travel writer (does that count?) and file stories from exotic locations all over the world.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Meline: I’m currently on mat leave and spend my days with my infant daughter, Chloë Echo.  Long walks around the city, baby music classes, Mommy and Me Yoga and Mommy Movies are my regular activities these days.  I had the opportunity to go back to work this fall and decided to stay at home with Chloë for at least the first year of her life. I just can’t bear the thought of being away from her.  Not, yet!!

That said, I will eventually have to go back to work.  I love what I do, I just wish I could bring Chloë with me!  I’m a freelance TV writer-producer and I’ve produced lifestyle and entertainment programming for networks such as CMT Canada, Teletoon and Cosmopolitan TV, to name a few. I also enjoy photography, yoga and combing through markets and thrift shops for that special find. I speak four languages which really comes in handy for haggling and negotiating – whether I’m buying a purse in a South American market or producing a shoot overseas.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Meline: The best part about being a writer is being able to give the voices in my head a home all the while sitting in my jammies in front of my computer.  That’s also the worst part.  Writing is a very solitary pursuit.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Meline: Just write.  Bad pages are better than no pages at all.  They can be edited and rewritten.  Set a daily page count and don’t stop writing until you’ve met it.

You can read more about Meline at the following links:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

GOODREADS

PINTEREST

BLOG 1

BLOG 2

Today I'd like to introduce author, Traci McDonald. Welcome Traci, tell us about your book, KILLING CASANOVA

KILLING CASANOVA is the story of Jake Caswell and Cassie Taylor. Jake has a reputation for being the town’s local Casanova. Sexy, charming and gorgeous, women literally line up for a chance to be with him. Most women…but not Cassie. Cassie has a bitter past experience with men like Jake and her physical blindness makes it difficult for her to see the man Jake wants her to see. Their journey through healing, and heartache teaches them both the difference between true love and attraction. Throw in a deadly fire, an unhappy meeting with a rattlesnake and it’s an exciting ride.

Galen: What was the inspiration for Killing Casanova?

Traci: When I was in my twenties I lived back east and knew more than one Casanova. Most of these guys were good time charlies and I always ended up a little broken after dating them. Seventeen years ago I lost my eyesight and the way I looked at men completely changed because it was no longer about attraction to what I could see. There is a line from a Carrie Underwood song about a “Good Time Cowboy Casanova’ which says…”he’s the devil in disguise, he’s a snake with blue eyes.” When I heard that song I thought to myself There was a time in my life when I was a sucker for a ‘snake with blue eyes’ Thank God going blind saved me from ending up with one of those guys. And a story was born.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Traci: The first time Cassie looks at Jake she has to touch his face. When she feels his five o’clock shadow she tells him his face looks like a baby pig. My favorite line is his response: “My face looks like a baby pig to you,” Jake said pulling her into his arms and tangling his fingers through her hair. “I can do better than that. The first time you ride a wild mustang; she is jittery, nervous. There is no time to think, you must wind your fingers through her mane and take her; like the wild thing she is.”

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Traci: I originally started trying to write for the young adult genre but soon discovered I wanted everyone to fall in love. Teenage love rubs me wrong, often it ends up in teenage pregnancy and that’s a whole can of worms I am not qualified to handle. So I took my characters and grew them up a little and had a lot more fun writing.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Traci: I am definitely a plotter. I hear something, or smell something or feel something and I get an idea for a story. It usually starts with a title,  and then characters from there.  I tell the story in my mind from beginning to end. When I sit down and write I follow my plotted line but every time I start down one road, my characters start telling the story themselves. When I finish my plot has flown by the seat of its pants but I started by plotting the whole thing.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Traci: The first romance I thought of as a romance was Hondo by Louis La’mour. Strange but Louis actually has elements of romance in most of his work. I have re-read Hondo multiple times and the more I read it the less romance I find. That is probably because I am looking for it more now though. It made such an impression on me that first time, because I was 12 years old and I read Louis La’mour with my dad, who was my best friend. The story of Hondo Lane is about a man who works a lonely part of the desert and accidently encounters a beautiful woman being harassed by Apaches. My starry eyed pre-teen mind saw a knight on his horse and a damsel in distress and I was hooked.

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

Traci: I have Four more finished manuscripts besides the one I sold to Crimson romance, but Killing Casanova is the first one I offered to a publisher for consideration. I have been writing poems, lyrics, short stories and novels on and off my entire life. Recently I had a kidney transplant and with a new lease on life making writing a career has finally become a goal I now have the time and strength to accomplish.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle? 

Traci: The Book of Mormon, Divergent, by Veronica Roth, and Jay Hawk, by Dorothy Keddington?

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday.

Traci: I read blogs every day but I don’t read the same two. I read Veronica Roth’s blog, Shannon Hale, Kiristin White, Writers Digest has lots of great blogs to read and I follow a few friends from Crimson Romance. I also check in with Pioneer Woman, Word Wranglers and of course Writing Blind.

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Traci: One of the great benefits of being blind is the awesome technology available to the visually impaired. I have a desktop computer and a laptop that both talk to me. With my screen reading program JAWS I can work just about anywhere. My desktop is in a corner facing the wall because I don’t need to look at anything when I write. My laptop has a wireless keyboard that makes it so I can set the main part up in my kitchen and then work on the couch, or in bed or in the backyard if I want. It’s a great life.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Traci: I have already done this research. In the Caribbean there are a group of islands known as TheTurks and Caicos. The water is a crystal clear blue and you can see the white sand on the ocean floor. The average year round temperature is 78 degrees with all the lusciousness of an island paradise and the spectacular views of sand and sea. Next to Hawaii it sounds to me like the most beautiful place on the planet.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Traci: I would be a kicker in the NFL. Work once a week, wear the least amount of pads, and take the fewest hits. You can still make a million if you are good, and kickers have careers that last for more than twenty years.  A million bucks a year for twenty years sounds good to me, and I love football. I am an Eli Manning fan.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Traci: Where do I start? I have three boys between the ages of 8 and 13. Between football, soccer, scouts, gymnastics, church, and school, I barely have time to breathe. I do read, research family history, play co-ed softball with my husband, tandem bike ride and I am learning to read Braille.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Traci: The best part of being a writer for me is the people. I love people I love to talk to them, I love to tell their stories and I love to write things that touch hearts and minds. People are fun, inspiring, humorous, sad and full of life. The good, the bad, and the dirty. I love filling my life with wonderful people and writing has opened my life up to so many great ones, that it has been worth it.

The worst part is the marketing. If I could write, talk, dream, learn and make friends along the way; it would be enough. Unfortunately in order to do all that you have to sell yourself and sometimes I feel like a harker at the circus. “Step right up folks…Watch the funny blind lady try to convince you to buy her books.”

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Traci: Ever? or about writing? The best piece of writing advice I was ever given was given by Dorothey Keddington in a writers workshop. She said: “If you have a great idea but can’t figure out where to start writing, then think of it like picking up a wriggling puppy. Grasp it firmly around the middle and get it on its feet.” I think the best advice I have ever been given is: “It will all work out in the end: If it hasn’t worked out yet…then its not the end.”

You can find out more about Traci at the following links:

BLOG

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

or view her BOOK TRAILER

I had the honor of posting a recipe on Romance Recipes today as well as an excerpt from my book, A Place to Rest My Heart. Stop by and find how to make Mini Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Eggnog Cream Cheese Filing.

Have you ever been stereotyped, pigeonholed, and labeled?   I have.  Talk about being frustrated, upset, and exasperated.

As a much-published author and ghostwriter, with more than 70 nonfiction books to my credit including award-winners like What to Do When a Loved One Dies and years teaching university-level writing courses, I was determined.  I wanted the novel I'd written taken seriously, even if was a mystery/comedy with romance in all the right places.

You would have thought I was trying to sell acreage for a green cheese factory on the moon with the weird looks and a few laughs.  "You're a nonfiction writer," were the responses as I presented my novel to those in the publishing world.  Most editors and agents didn't even want to look at the synopsis of Games of the Heart because [loud gasp here] because I was so thoroughly thought of as strictly a nonfiction writer.  I've lost count for the times I was informed, "Writers either fiction or nonfiction.  Not both."

Grab that sledgehammer and let's bust this myth forever.

Want to check to see if good writers can create both?   Just look at the books by Stephen King, Barbara Kingsolver, John Grisham, and Amy Tan.  Go back a few generations to add the works of John Steinbeck (who could forget Travels with Charley), Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie, and Dorothy Parker.  These wordsmiths smashed through being labeled.  Yet, when a new generation of agents and editors enter the field, the concept that good writers can create both is disregard.   Go figure.  I'm happy to champion this cause for others right now and in the years ahead.

Yes, Virginia, good writers can and do make the smooth transition back and forth from storytelling to journalism and novels to nonfiction.  They flourish on the journey.

I am thriving, too. 

Just a few months back editor Jennifer Lawler, at Crimson Romance Books, read the manuscript for Games of the Heart before she learned of my extensive writing qualifications.  But when she popped "Eva Shaw, Ph.D." in on Google.com, she didn't hold my credentials against me.  Instead, she contacted me in record time and wanted the novel because of the imaginative writing, a theme that caught in her throat and scenes that made her laugh.  She emailed me saying, this book is "a delightful romp and you have strong storytelling skills."

After clutching her email to my bosom, I remember saying, "Finally. An editor accepts I can write fiction."

The early reviews of Games of the Heart have echoed my editor's first comments.  The book was recently compared to the novels by Janet Evanovich.  Speaking of being blown away by that compliment, I felt like Dorothy in the first scenes of the Wizard of Oz.  

As a Christian, I accept we are here to learn and God always puts us in the right place at the right time.  Note:  That might not be the place or situation we'd select, but He does it His way.  I believe He let me be pigeonholed as an expert nonfiction writer and a ghost for celebrities and notable people until the right editor (thank you, Jennifer Lawler) and publisher (thank you, Crimson Romance Books) were ready.  A coincidence?  Come on.

Will you do me a favor?  Check back for my next novels that include themes snatched from the headlines, entertaining mysteries, and delightful romps.  But don't be surprised if you see my name attached to articles or nonfiction books.  Just smile because now you know that breaking the mold is possible.  Heck, it's fun, too.

~ Eva

You can find out more about Eva and the other books she has written:

WEBSITE

GAMES OF THE HEART can be purchased here:

AMAZON, B&N, I-TUNES, DIESEL, KOBO

Crimson Romance author, R.T. Wolfe stopped by on her Blog Tour!

Welcome R.T., tell us about your book.

RT: First of all, Galen, let me say thank you for having me on your beautiful blog today!

BLACK CREEK BURNING is the first in my romantic suspense Black Creek Trilogy. Set in upstate New York, it’s a story about taking chances with your heart… and about family, trust and passion.  Witnessing the murder of her parents was a brutal day for Brie Chapman. Learning her parents died in her place was almost unbearable. It took her years to overcome and move on as no suspects were found. Unknowingly, she ignites the dormant killer into coming back to finish the job. Nathan Reed moves in behind her with his two adorable nephews he’s raising as his own. Patiently, he transforms Brie from an icy self-proclaimed independent into a woman willing to accept not only the help of a strong man, but the love of a family.

GALEN: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

RT: My first romance novel was actually Emma, by Jane Austen. Although I had to quite literally keep a flow chart to remember all of her characters, I loved her style and her bravery. Her characters are diverse and her plot realistic.

GALEN: What started you on the road to writing romance?

RT: People ask me that often and I must be honest and say I don’t know. I’m a bit of an insomniac. I’m not sure what made me write the first line in Black Creek Burning in the middle of one of those sleepless nights, but somehow the first line turned into the first page and then into the first hundred pages…It was absolutely addicting. The research, editing, revising…I truly love all of it. Nine months later I had completed Black Creek Burning with books two and three buzzing holes in my head. What a rush!

Galen: Describe your workspace.

RT: My workspace is mostly at a Barnes and Noble or a Panera. Sometimes I work at home, but it seems there are always perennials that need deadheading, grass that needs mowing and dishes that need to be done. You can also find me sitting in the bleachers of one of my sons’ many athletic events I travel to with my laptop on my lap. I do, actually, have a nicely decorated desk for my writing but am rarely there. lol

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

RT: Oh, decisions, decisions. I would say Northern Lights, by Nora Roberts, Private, by James Patterson, and Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I must hurry to the next question before I change my mind!

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

RT: Black Creek Burning: "It was just a white lie," Brie told him. Nathan lifted a corner of his mouth. "I'll have to remember you think that way."

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

RT: I’m not sure who loves working together more, my golden retriever or myself, but one of my favorite past times is training my dogs. I’m quite an animal lover and can be found attending a flyover of human-raised endangered Whooping cranes or tending to the monarch and swallowtail caterpillars I enjoy raising in the summer months.

I’ve flipped two and a half houses, meaning I buy them, fix them up and sell them. The half of a flipped house is the one I bought, fixed up but decided to stay in! My husband and I are not your ordinary man and woman. I do all the work outside, meaning the landscape design, planting and outdoor building and maintaining. He works inside on the trim, cabinets and furniture. 

I also have my green belt in Tae Kwan Do and have taught Pilates and Kickboxing at our local Y for a very long time. In the daytime, I have the honor of working with wondrous children as a teacher in the public school system.

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

RT: Black Creek Burning is the first book I wrote, yes. I’ve been fortunate and am extremely thankful. I didn’t write with the intention of publishing. The readers of my manuscripts are the ones who have pushed, prodded and hounded me to publish. They humble me.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

RT: “Finish the damn book,” by Kate Bateman, my lovely English author friend. 

You could be a WINNER! Catch up with R.T. Wolfe on her Blog Tour and you could win a $40.00 Amazon or B&N Gift Card. 

You can find out more about R.T. Wolfe at the following links:

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You can pre-order Black Creek Burning from:

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Today I'd like to introduce author, Heather Thurmeier.  Welcome Heather, tell us about your book,

Falling for You!

Heather: My newest book out is Falling for You. It’s about a girl who goes on a reality dating show for a chance at falling in love again. And it’s the first in my new Reality TV Trilogy. The second will be released in Feb 2013.

Here’s the blurb to entice you.

Newly single Cassidy Quinn is thrilled to be a contestant on the new reality dating show The One. But her excitement turns to horror when the gorgeous bachelor turns out to be her ex-boyfriend. Seeing Brad again makes Cassidy realize she might not be as “over him” as she thought—and then she meets hunky cameraman Evan Burke.

After watching his brother lose his wife in a tragic accident, Evan vows never to fall in love. But following Cassidy around as her personal cameraman makes him question his decision, and resisting her gets harder with every sunbathing, bikini-wearing day.

Cassidy and Evan begin a forbidden affair while her ex-boyfriend tries to win her heart back one groping, awkward moment at a time. If Cassidy can manage to stop falling off horses (literally), stop falling onto her ex-boyfriend, the bachelor (yes, literally), and stop falling in love with backstage playboy Evan, she might still make it through the show without becoming a tabloid sensation.

But soon Cassidy must choose between the ex who broke her heart and the cameraman who might never love her back. For Cassidy, this reality show just got real.

Galen: What was the inspiration for your Falling for You?

Heather: Falling for You is a reality TV show based romance. I’m a bit of a reality TV junkie so they were definitely an inspiration for this book. I hope other reality TV fans will find my book interesting and intriguing and different, but that it will also feel familiar to them…  almost as if they’re watching a season of their favorite show.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Heather: Cassidy could do anything the other girls could—she’d just do it with a few more bruises and a lot less grace.

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Heather: I’ve always been a romantic. I love seeing people share their lives together. I always wonder how they met and fell in love. Then one day I got an idea for a book and I couldn’t resist writing it. So I did!

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Heather: I’m a plotter all the way. I usually have fairly detailed outline completed before I start writing. It doesn’t mean I never stray from the outline, because I do. But before I begin, I have a really good sense of how I’m going to get my characters from chapter one through the end.

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

Heather: Yes! Falling for You is the first book I ever wrote. But it is the 4th to be published. This book was a journey for me. It was the book that made me start writing and because of that, it was also the book I learned the most about the craft of writing from. I’m thrilled that my book is finally in the hands of readers. There were many times along the way, from initial idea to seeing my book on Amazon, that I worried my book might never make it through the process. But it did. And I don’t think I could be any happier with the finished product. I love this story, I love these characters, and this book will always hold a special place in my heart as my first. I hope people will give it a chance and fall in love with Cassidy and Evan’s story as much as I have.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Heather: I don’t remember the name of the book, or anything else about the book for that matter, but I know it was a Harlequin. There was always one laying around from either my mum or sisters reading it.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Heather: I think I’d like to work with horses. I can’t imagine being in an office all day or stuck at meetings. It’s just not my thing. So I think I’d like to be out with the horse helping children do therapeutic riding or something similar. If I can’t be with my own family, then I think I’d like to be with someone else’s helping their child to have a good experience. Of course I’m not trained in anything related in any way to that field. But I do love kids and horses.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Heather:There are a lot of places I’d love to travel, but if I was traveling for research for a book, then I’d have to pick England. I love reading books set in the England and I’m Canadian so I feel like I have some British embedded in my DNA. I’d love to go there and visit the country, see the sites, meet he people. Sigh. England would be so awesome.

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Heather: I’m afraid it’s not very interesting. I don’t have an office so right now I write sitting on the couch with my laptop or at the dining room table. I really need an office.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Heather: Best part: The freedom of getting to be anyone I want, doing anything I want, and going anywhere I want via whatever book I’m currently writing.

Worst part: Getting a book I love rejected by an editor.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Heather: The complete Harry Potter series. I’m counting that as one book and you can’t stop me.

The entire Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. Again, I’m counting it as one.

Pride and Prejudice because everyone says it’s amazing, but I’ve never read it.

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday.

Heather: I’m not sure I read the same blogs everyday. I usually just click on something I see on twitter or Facebook that sounds interesting at the time. Websites I check on a daily basis are Cnn, goodreads, facebook and twitter.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Heather: When I’m not writing I keep busy being a full time stay at home mum. I run my kids to school and back, I volunteer in my kids classrooms at least once a month, and I chauffer them to after school activities. Aside from my mum duties, I love reading (of course!), geocaching, taking my dog for walks, and hanging out with friends. I’m always happy to host a game night or BBQ!

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Heather: The best advice I’ve received so far is to just keep writing. Even if you sell your first book right away to a publisher, it might not be the book that attracts readers. So keep working on the next book and build your backlist. Give readers more than one option when they find your name among the millions of other authors out there. Sooner or later, one of your books is going to be the one that people can’t stop talking to their friends about!

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Galen! And if any readers have questions for me, feel free to ask them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Happy reading!

Heather Thurmeier

"Heather Thurmeier's hunky heroes and feisty heroines will have you laughing out loud, falling in love … and coming back for more!" ~ Carly Phillips, NY Times Bestselling Author

"Heather Thurmeier writes sweet, funny romances that capture your heart!" –NYT and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Probst

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You can find FALLING FOR YOU and Heather's other books at:

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Love and Lattes, Love on Landing, Love or Luxury, Bunny Hills and Bikinis, Falling for You ~ Available now!

Stuck on You, Lost without You ~ Coming Soon!

I'd like to introduce author, LAURA SIMCOX. Her new book, SUMMER PROMISES, premiers September 17. Welcome Laura, tells us about your book.

Laura: Scenic designer Carly Foster just started her last summer theatre job, and at the ripe old age of twenty-nine, she promised herself it would be a working vacation in the mountains of New Mexico – with no romance allowed. She’s finished with the “drama trauma” of theatre romance: her love life has never been beyond Act One because she can’t stay away from tortured artists. Not this time.

But luck is so not on her side: she’s stuck in a touristy ghost town with a charming bodyguard who’s flirting with her just to relieve his own boredom: Asher Day, the producer’s brother recently returned from New York City with an armload of empty canvasses and a vanload of attitude. A sexy painter who won’t talk about his past? So typical. But Carly is determined not to experience a repeat of her past relationships. If only Asher could live up to his wounded artist persona, she could kick him to the curb and stick by her goal to stay away from the type of guy who stomps on her spirit.

But the magnetic pull she feels from Asher is irresistible: he has inner strength and compassion, not to mention a heart-melting wink and kisses that leave her sleepless. If Carly can’t keep the drama in the theatre and out of her personal life, not only will she have bags under her eyes, but her heart will never survive the summer.

Galen: What was the inspiration for SUMMER PROMISES?

Laura: ‘SUMMER PROMISES’ is inspired by my experience working in summer theaters across the USA. I spent many years jumping into my car and heading for the unknown. When I was younger and single, the promise of possible romance was always with me. Good thing it didn’t work out, because I married a great guy who is a science nerd, not a theater geek. It’s hard to find love working in theater since moving around a lot is a given, so I wrote this story in tribute to theater people everywhere who are searching for that happily ever after.

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Laura: Unofficially, it was to see if I COULD write an entire novel. And I did, but set it aside for a couple of years while real life happened. In the same week I became a mom, I found out my college teaching job lost funding and I was going to have to either teach part time or quit. So I quit to be home with my son. A few months later, I joined RWA and then my local chapter. I got busy learning everything I could about romance publishing and haven’t looked back.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Laura: Marilyn Masters is a character in ‘Summer Promises’. She’s pushing middle age, but is dating a younger man. She says: “Cougar? I’m not a wild animal. That’s absurd. Think of me as a sinfully sexy Robin Hood. I rob from the cradle and give to myself.”

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Laura: I’m a plantzer. More pants than plot, but I have to have bones to a book before I start to create the rest.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Laura: ‘A Rose in Winter’ by Kathleen Woodiwiss. I was only twelve and probably shouldn’t have been reading it, but I was a sappy romantic even then. The poem at the beginning made me sigh.

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Laura: I write at a giant second hand oak desk. My fifteen year old cat sleeps on one corner next to the windows. There are notebooks and scraps of paper piled next to my computer and a perpetual glass of iced tea off to the side.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Laura: The best part is the fact that I control my own destiny, and that includes writing in jammies and creating worlds in my head. The worst part is not knowing whether what I’ve written will be published, but since in my past life I worked in a creative field, I’m used to a blank slate in front of me more often than not.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Laura: I would be a radio personality on a morning talk show. I think it would be a blast to improvise and laugh at silly stuff for a living. Hard work, but fun!

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Laura: Hmm. So many choices. Right now, my top pick would be London. I’ve read so many books set there (yay Regency romance!) that I want to see it for myself.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Laura: I couldn’t be stranded without ‘The Corset Diaries’ by Katie MacAlister. Always funny and a great love story. I’d also take a thesaurus and a book with blank pages so I can continue to write. Let’s just assume I’ve smuggled a pencil in a pocket somewhere. J

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday.

Laura: I read ‘Ladies in Red’ and a new blog called ‘Teatime Romance’.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Laura: I spend a lot of time playing with wooden trains. My three year old son is crazy about Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. I also dabble in potty training, general cleaning and cat wrangling. When I have time left over, I like to play the piano and watch really dumb comedy movies.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Laura: Do your best and you have nothing to be ashamed of.

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I have some amazingly creative friends and today I'd like to introduce you to

Holly DeFount of Raven and Rose Arts.

Welcome Holly, tell us a little about yourself and your business. 

Holly: I've been an artist all my life, though I haven't always felt like I had a successful arts career. I'm a Bay Area native, living with my fiancé (who is also an artist) and our fat two cats in the Berkeley Hills. I got my degree in Fine Art from the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, CA (now California College of the Arts) in 1996, and worked freelance for many years as a Faux-finish/Mural artist. I've had my hands in just about everything creative you can imagine…music, theater, graphic design, costuming, writing. I'm kind of an addict, in many ways! In the last few years, I feel like I finally discovered the path to my creative identity, and am happily continuing to grow into it.  I participated in National Novel Writing Month (November of 2010), and after completing 50,000 words in 30 days, I realized how much I could accomplish by just adhering to a creative discipline without judgment or editing. That experience was my creative liberation.

Galen: How long have you been in business?

Holly: Though I've been in the arts "business" for nearly 20 years, since NaNoWriMo, I've been focusing on my illustration and fine art again. In 2011, I challenged myself to create one original piece of *visual* art every day, and from that I ended up creating and self-publishing a Tarot deck, The Incidental Tarot.

My artistic and intuitive life has been flourishing ever since!  I've also written a "Companion to the Cards" which is set to release this fall by Hunt Press. Exciting stuff!

Galen: What inspires you to create?

Holly: I'm inspired by a lot of things, but most profoundly by the world around me and the power of myth and archetype. There is so much depth and magic in the world around us…so many creatures and places and stories that we connect to on a spiritual level. I want my work to resonate with that kind of pathos and power.  It is something I strive for every day.  Right now I am immersing myself in the concept of the lost American Goddess. There was a time early in our country's history when America was represented, not by Uncle Sam or the "Founding Fathers" but by a mytho-poetic goddess called Columbia. She represented liberty, equality, justice and prosperity and beauty; in short, the feminized version of the American Dream. I am feeling called to explore this archetype, and to re-imagine what Columbia represents in our modern world.

I believe that the work of art (in all its forms, visual art, writing, film, music, etc) is profoundly an art of service. It is meant to forge connections between people and to evoke an emotional response…an EMPATHIC response. To inspire us to greater things. My greatest desire is to inspire others.

Here are examples of Holly's beautiful artwork. Holly's art and jewelry is available for sale at ETSY.

You can find Holly at:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

ETSY

Today I'd like to introduce author and jeweler, SUZANNE BARRETT. Suzanne is also a friend, mentor and fellow Monterey Bay RWA chapter member. Welcome Suzanne, tell us about your latest book, THE PRODIGAL LOVER.

Suzanne: My latest book, The Prodigal Lover, is set in the fictional Northern California town of  Timberlake. Heroine Mary Sweeney, daughter of an Irish immigrant Ohio steelworker, struggles to make ends meet at the home of her employer, Ida Fallon. Turning the old Victorian into a bed and breakfast seems a sensible plan: it provides an income and allows the elderly woman to stay in the home she came to as a bride. Mary has been a companion and a helper to Mrs. Fallon whom she loves like a mother. A decade earlier, shortly after Mary came to work for the Fallons, she fell in love with Mrs. Fallon's grandson Rob. But Rob liked the pretty girls, not plain, sensible Mary, and when he left Timberlake, he took a chunk of her heart with him.

Now Rob's back in town, but for what purpose? Is he missing his grandmother or is he after her property? Mary is determined to protect the elderly woman in whatever way she can. But when Rob turns on his considerable charm, who will protect Mary? 

Galen: What was the inspiration for The Prodigal Lover?

Suzanne: I like small town, love Northern California settings. I also love a tortured hero, and while Rob Fallon isn't tortured in every sense of the word, he's a bad boy with a past he can't escape. Mary is practical and pragmatic, yet drawn, almost against her will to Rob. It's a story of high drama. I started out with a small town and two characters with a lot of baggage and then kept throwing in more and more obstacles.

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romanc?

Suzanne: I have always been a reader and a writer—everything from short stories to correspondence with numerous pen pals. However, in the eighties we had an opportunity to relocate to Northern England. The plan fell through and I was devastated, but it was then the germ of an idea grew: if I could write, we could live anywhere. Of course, back then I had no idea how difficult it would be to become published. The actual book that spurred my desire to write a romance was LaVyrle Spencer's Hummingbird.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Suzanne: Ah, this is  going to date me, but when I was thirteen, McCall's magazine (think it was Mccall's) ran a serialized cersion of Anya Seton's Katherine. I read it and loved it. 

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Suzanne: I spent nearly three decades in engineering, stayed long enough to take early retirement so I could stay home and write. That is what I love to do, however, once I had dreams of being an interpreter, and I would have enjoyed that. I think I would like to be a master gardener; I love digging in the dirt.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Suzanne: When I wrote an earlier book (In Love and War), I spent part of a winter in County Waterford, researching everything from castle keeps to dairy farming, cheesemaking and Irish Republicanism, all of which are featured in the story. I loved doing the research. I have also done considerable research in Counties Cork and Dublin for a book set during the Easter Uprising on through the irish Cicil War and the formation of the irish Free State. For Still another story, I spent time in Britain, so I'd say my research preferences definitely lean to England and Ireland.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Suzanne: Best part is allowing my mind to open up to creative thoughts. Worst part is having difficulty turning off my internal editor.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Suzanne: A little of both. I know where the story is going but I haven't plotted it out enough to have a complete road map.

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

Suzanne: You've got to be kidding! My first book was my learn how to write effort, and while I still love it, I doubt it will ever make prime time.

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Suzanne: I am fortunate to have an office. In one corner, two six-foot tables form an “L” where I have my desktop computer, printer, assorted external hard drives. Above the computer are several shelved housing my writing books.

I can look out a sliding glass door onto the deck and a pergola, and on the far wall is a window that overlooks the garden and below the window a comfy sofa where I can curl up with a book or take a quick nap. The wall behind me is floor-to-ceiling books, mostly books on Britain and Ireland, my keeper shelf and a collection of miniature cats.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Suzanne: The Bible, A Fair Stream of Silver by Ann Moray (folk tales from the Hebrides). Not sure I could name just one more book…there are so many.

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday.

Suzanne: I don't actually read blogs with any regularity. I read the American Thinker and a couple other online news reports. I also enjoy Pioneer Woman.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Suzanne: I design jewelry with wire wrap being my specialty, I also garden, love to cook, love staying at home. I am also an editor and a book reviewer.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Suzanne: “Don't wait for something; make it happen.”

You can find out more about Suzanne, her books and jewelry at:

WEBSITE

JEWELRY

BLOG

FACEBOOK

THE PRODIGAL LOVER can be purchased at:

AMAZON, B&N, KOBO,TURQUOISE

Aloha! Today Crimson Romance author, PAM B. MORRIS stopped by. Welcome Pam, tell us about your book, SMITTEN IMAGE.

SMITTEN IMAGE is a paranormal romance set in 2039 New Chicago. The magnetic pole switched, releasing elemental magic to be used by those who are finding it. Lily Barnett is a portrait painter living more in her creative vision than reality but is looking for love, of course. She stumbles on a magic shop, drinks a love potion that awakens catastrophic powers inside her. A portrait of a male nude she paints comes to life and pursues her. (She accidentally melts him which has, well, unexpected consequences.) Her house plants grow like Aubrey II in Little Shop o Horrors, and strings of flamingo lights spout poetry. Chaos ensues and Lily’s too mortified to ask her best friend Daniel for help because somehow the portrait she painted looked exactly like him. And that’s just the beginning of the magic and mayhem.

Galen: What was the inspiration for Smitten Image?

Pam: Art, basically. I wanted to tell a story about a drifty artist, her creative vision and how magical the world is from an artist’s point of view.

G​alen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Pam: My pushy, mushy writer friends. I never meant to be a romance writer but was surrounded my them and finally caved!

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Pam: The best part is the creating, making up storylines, the characters babbling in your head and going off in all directions. The worst part is wondering if I’m good enough, if people will like my writing and my stories. Rejection just kills me.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Pam: I read Mary Stewart’s The Moonspinner’s in middle school. Her stories were mesmerizing and had everything, danger, suspense, romance. My library science teacher in college was a huge Kathleen Woodiwiss fan and after reading The Wolf and The Dove, I was a gonner.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Pam:  "I don't happen to think kissing ruins a friendship.  And I'm pretty sure someone who snogs her cousin hasn't the right to judge."

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

Pam: Heck, no! It took me years of writing really bad manuscripts to finally get good enough to publish. And let me tell you, the journey was frustrating. But worth it.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Pam: I’d be a cartoonist, and illustrate graphic novels. Yeah, I’d be, like, way cool!

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Pam: Complete works of William Shakespeare, Joseph Campbell’s Power of Myth and an empty notebook to write in.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Pam: Maui, definitely. We were there about ten years ago. I’m scared of water (I flounder instead of swim) but snorkeling opened up a whole new world for me. I’d so do that again. Otherwise, I’m a stay at home person. My mind wanders off on its own enough as it is.

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Pam: I work at a cluttered table, looking out over our two acre bit of heaven at the gorgeous Bitteroot Mountains with wild birds squabbling at the feeders.  I have to pinch myself, it’s so perfect.

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday.

Pam: I don’t read blogs everyday anymore(it got addicting and cut way into work time) but when I do, I try to read Neil Gaiman’s blogs, then I roam… yeah, addicting and distracting!

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Pam: An absolute pantzer and proud of it.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Pam: I draw, paint, knit, garden, read and find ways to avoid cleaning my house.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Pam: Write the next book. And never stop.

You can find Pam here:

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SMITTEN IMAGE can be found at these stores:

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Today I'd like to welcome Crimson Romance author, Kate Fellowes. Tell us about your book.

Kate: Aspiring investigative journalist Allison Belsar has exactly zero interest in tagging along with the society set when they visit Belize. But when the trip is sponsored by the local zoo and her editor issues the order, she packs her bags and shows up on time.

Turns out there’s more to this adventure than red-eyed tree frogs and Mayan ruins. Something criminal is going on. But what? And how does that gorgeous tour guide figure into events? He’s close at hand every time there’s danger.

Of course, he’s nearby plenty of other times, too. The moments she spends in his arms are as magical as the moonlight on a tropical night. Allison is in danger of losing her heart to this man, and her life to a deadly ring of criminals who will do anything to keep their secrets hidden deep in the jungle. This could be the story to make her career—if she lives to tell it.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Kate: I’ve been an Anglophile all my life, so I’d love to do some research in England.  What a great way that would be to combine business with pleasure!

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Kate: Over the years I’ve learned I can write anywhere.  In the car on a long drive while my husband listens to sports radio.  In front of the television, if I’m really absorbed in my project.  On my lunch break, squeezing in a few paragraphs.  When I have my choice, I like to write in my own backyard under a tree, or in the library at my Alma Mater.  I used to dream of having a desk in front of a window with a scenic view.  At college, that’s what I get.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Kate: Great question and a real brain teaser!  After much thought I would go with:

Camelot Caper, by Elizabeth Peters (my favorite book)

Sleeping Tiger, by Rosamund Pilcher (my favorite book—I have lots more than one!)

My current work-in-progress, of course!

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday.

Kate: I read the Crimson Romance blog every day and am really enjoying getting to know all these wonderful writers.  And the day wouldn’t be complete without checking “Beyond Her Book” by Publisher Weekly’s Barbara Vey.  She is so in touch with the romance community and authors old and new.  And this year, she began having a Readers Appreciation Luncheon, bringing together authors and readers for a fabulous afternoon.  I’m thrilled that at next April’s event, as a Crimson Romance author, I’ll be hosting my own table.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Kate: Yes, I’m a pantzer.  No, wait, make that yes, I’m a plotter.  In truth, I’m equal parts both!  I have my idea, my characters, my beginning and my end before I get started.  But after that, I just jump in and write fifty pages or so.  By the time I write those, I can see the next fifty pages.  And so I build my novel, one step at a time.  It might be easier to write a longer outline, and be more methodical, but I have to say this method really works for me.

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

Kate: Yes.  I sold the first novel I ever actually finished.  I had a few false starts (don’t we all?) before I managed to take a story from Chapter One all the way to The End.  But that book, Secrets of Echo Moon, (Avalon Books, 1991), made me realize my dream of being a published novelist.  My new novel, Thunder in the Night, is my fifth.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Kate: I have a Kurt Vonnegut anecdote pasted on my computer.  He said someone told him once, “Just quit.  It’s such a relief.”  But he didn’t.  And neither will I.

Kate: Thanks, for giving me the chance to be on your blog today!  I’d love to talk to readers and writers.  You can find me at these places:

WEBLOG 

FACEBOOK

You can purchase Kate's latest book at:

AMAZON, B&N, KOBO, DIESEL

Today I am interviewing Crimson Romance author, Shelley K. Wall.  Her new book, NUMBERS NEVER LIE, just came out on Monday! 

Galen: Congratulations and welcome Shelley. Tell us about your book.

Shelley: Numbers Never Lie is a romantic suspense about a woman that happens onto discrepancies in her employer’s financial reports while working on a project. Sophie Henderson isn’t sure whether it’s important or not but starts investigating the variances covertly so no one thinks she’s over-reacting. She happens to meet a consultant that she enlists to help her and very quickly gets thrust into a situation where she’s hiding out from an unknown assailant.

Trevan Prater, an FBI investigator, was assigned to investigate Sophie and a coworker as lead suspects in a possible embezzlement scheme. When her boss was killed after reporting the issue, they ramp up the investigation. He poses as a consultant to get closer, and suddenly he’s front and center, investigating and protecting. He’s not sure if she’s a suspect or a target.

I really enjoyed writing this, the ending will surprise you. The bad guy has a sliver of a good streak, and well, things just aren’t what one thinks they are.

Galen: What was the inspiration for Numbers Never Lie?

Shelley: Some of the scenarios in this book were ideas that stemmed from situations that could have happened in my own career under different circumstances. I’d very often hear or see something and just ask myself, wouldn’t it be interesting to read about X happening in this situation?

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Shelley: I’ve written in one form or another since I was a child. As far as choosing romance, well, I believe in happy endings. I have read way too many books that leave you sad, angry, or scared. I’d rather leave the reader with something uplifting or even inspiring in the end. If I can fit the other parts in during the story, even better.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Shelley: I don’t remember the name. It was a Victoria Holt book. Very scary.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Shelley: Italy, Greece, Thailand…actually everywhere and anywhere. My husband says my middle name is Go.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Shelley: Seeing your work in print is such a rush. It really feeds your confidence. Even better is getting a good review from a reader that really enjoyed your book. That is the real test of whether the writing works or not. The only bad part for me is being patient. I have always been a person that likes to finish something and then move on to the next project. With a book, you finish it, then send it out into the world of publishers. You hope for a bite and wait. Like a fisherman, you may wait for ages and then get nothing. Or you may get a lot of interest all at once.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Shelley:  Oh, there are so many that I don’t know where to start. In Numbers, I love the ending when Trev is afraid that Sophie won’t stay so he’s waiting for her to admit she loves him. He knows she does but he’s not sure she’s willing to take the chance. She’s been through a lot. What happens is not so much in a line, but an action that they both take. It is their way of committing and it’s pretty cool. I can’t really give it away but I loved it.

In my next book, Bring It On, Thomas and Kathryn receive a gift from the “bad guy” and send it sailing out the window out of fear. Their family’s reaction is a little funny.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter? 

Shelley: Both. I create a very generic plot but don’t sketch out all the scenes, then I just start typing. I fill in the blanks as I go. Sometimes I’ll have to really think over a particular part before going on. I don’t like to plot it out too much because sometimes a better idea comes along and changes the direction. But it does help to have at least a vague plan to go by.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Shelley: I tend to daydream a lot. I’ll hear or see something and often ruminate a way to put that into a book. I’m also working on an idea for a nonprofit that’s pretty exciting. I’ve worked for years in technology for the public sector, devoting my spare time to one cause or another that was associated with my employer. I have a better idea now what I’d like to devote my later years to and am focusing on that. I think we all owe it to future generations to leave something worthwhile behind. It can be anything, but it has to be for the betterment of those that are affected by it. For me, the writing is a portion of it, my family another, and I hope the nonprofit is the third.

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

Shelley: No. I never even submitted the first one. Hated it. Maybe I’ll dust it off some day, who knows.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Shelley: Honestly, I’d love to have a job like Trevan’s. I think it would be so interesting to do security analysis for the feds. I’ve been a victim of this type of crime in my past, so putting the bad guys away would be satisfying.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Shelley: You will be exactly what you expect to be, in proportion with how hard you work at it. There is monumental truth in that statement.

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

BLOG

NUMBERS NEVER LIE is available at:

AMAZON, B&N, DIESEL, KOBO

I'd like to introduce Crimson Romance author, Erin Richards. Her new book,

Wicked Paradise, was just released this month.

Galen: Congratulations and welcome Erin, tell us about your book.

Erin: Balanced between the future and the past lies a pre-utopian paradise that may be mankind’s last hope for survival. Yet the island hides a sinister secret…a fearsome demon from ancient Ireland is imprisoned there and it’s about to escape to the twenty-first century.

Desperate to save a future post-apocalyptic world from total destruction, sorcerers send the most powerful sorceress from medieval times, Morgan of the Druids, through time to an island prison to kill WindWraith, the long-imprisoned Fomorian demon.

After a deadly squall tosses Druid-assassin Ryan O’Rourke into the Pacific Ocean, he washes ashore on an unchartered island brimming with magic. Ryan’s determined to find a way to return to Earth’s wasteland to battle the resurrected Fomorians plaguing the dwindling human race. When he stumbles across the enchantress who tantalizes his dreams to the point of madness, his plans turn upside down. For she stirs in him a hunger that puts his life’s purpose at risk.

Morgan has no choice but to kill the Fomorian before it kills her. But Ryan has other plans for the demon . . . Now Morgan and Ryan must decide between love and duty in a perilous race against the evil that could destroy Earth.

Galen: What was the inspiration for WICKED PARADISE?

Erin: I wanted to write a time-travel in an unknown setting, a middle ground between my heroine’s home on Avalon and my hero’s home in Los Angeles. I was also reading Druid history & mythology at the time, so I knew my book had to have another fantasy element other than time-travel. When I conceived the book, a couple of lines from an old favorite song, “Hotel California” triggered the concept of the island paradise. “This could be heaven or this could be hell” and “you can check-out anytime you like, but you can never leave” put the idea in my head about a deserted and unchartered island, and a colony of desperate and lost people who were destined to live on the island. I had to give them a purpose for being there (a little hell), and a reason to want to stay (a lot of heaven).

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Erin: I was in a romantic suspense reading mode and a couple of novels with cops as the hero gave me the idea of a psychic helping the police find a kidnapped child. Of course, a romance between the psychic and the detective was bound to happen! It gave me the kick I needed to get back to writing after burying the writing bug I’d had since I was a kid. The psychic and detective romance turned into my first published novel, CHASING SHADOWS!

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Erin: It was the classic THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER by Kathleen Woodiwiss (which probably ages me!). I remember reading a lot of historical at the time I discovered that book. But they were epic historical without a centralized romance, and the small romantic elements in them left me wanting much more. On a whim, I thought I’d check out this historical romance book that had become such a sensation. The fact that THE FLAME was over 500 pages long was a bonus! I loved long, drawn out lush stories with characters you never want to leave. I LOVED the book, and it started me on lifelong adventure of reading romance books in every genre.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Erin: “I’m not in the mood to rescue idiotic women again.” This is Ryan talking in WICKED PARADISE. It shows so much who he was when the story began! The man came a long way by the end of the book!

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Erin: I dabble with Photoshop & graphic art for my own purposes. I’m not proficient at it, though. What takes me 8 hours to perfect one design, probably takes an expert 1 hour! I would love to spend more time learning the tools better and do it for profit.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Erin: Since I’m a little bit Scottish and Irish, Scotland & Ireland would be the first place I’d go. I’ve always wanted to visit all the castles and landmarks. Scottish historical romance made up a large part of my reading history!

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Erin: I have a great dedicated office in my house. But it also serves as my telecommute office for my day job. Two computers and two printers on an oak desk and credenza with a full height bookcase stuffed with books complete the space! I like to stack things, so my desk is covered with stacks of papers and folders. I even have 2 tall shelving units in my closet with stacks of magazines, folders, books, computer peripherals (and a lot of crap!). But I can close the door and no one can see the clutter!

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Erin: Writing gives me a creative outlet to an otherwise mundane life! I love to give a voice to the worlds in my head, to disappear into these worlds and become my characters just for a while.

Not having enough time to write is my biggest pet peeve. Beyond that, it’s the promotion and PR. I want to do everything I can for promotion, but I only have a small window of time to do it, so I have to pick and choose.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Erin: I love long historical and fantasy books, so I’d chose:

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley

Kushiel’s Dart by Jacqueline Carey

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday.

Erin: I wish I had time to read blogs every day. A couple blogs that I visit regularly are the Crimson Author’s Ladies in Red blog and Barbara Vey’s Beyond Her Book @ Publishers Weekly.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Erin: When I wrote my first book CHASING SHADOWS and WICKED PARADISE, I was a pantzer! But during the revision stage of WICKED PARADISE, I became a plotter. It was the only way I could keep the story straight when it went through its various iterations. Now, I draft a high level plot and a goal, motivation & conflict chart before I start each book. There’s no way I could plot out every detail, though. My muse has a mind of its own and the book I complete is always different than the book I set out to write! Yet, the main plot points remain. It’s those pesky subplots that make it fun and tortuous!

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

Erin: I wrote my first book when I was 18 and it was never meant for publication. The poor neglected manuscript sits in a box underneath my stairs never to see the light of day. However, the first book I wrote as an “adult” was published—CHASING SHADOWS—which I’m excited to say came out in print two weeks before WICKED PARADISE was released!

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Erin: This past year, I purchased and updated a house, which became a year-long time sink. Now that it’s done, I’m catching up on reading! I’m also a TV junkie. I love The Walking Dead, The Vampire Diaries, Game of Thrones, True Blood. Can you tell I like paranormal and fantasy? Plus, I’m a Survivor fan! Can’t wait for the next season!

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Erin: Never give up. Never surrender.

To celebrate the August 13 release of WICKED PARADISE and the July 16 print release of my first novel CHASING SHADOWS, I’m holding a Kindle giveaway on my website! One lucky person will win a new Kindle. Stop by and enter my “Set Sail for Wicked Paradise Contest.” Contest ends September 8, 2012.

**Leave a comment in this Blog post for your chance to win a copy of WICKED PARADISE (PDF, Kindle or Nook format). Winner will be chosen by random draw from all comments received by August 31, midnight EST.**

You can find Erin at:

Website

Blog

Facebook

Goodreads

Twitter

You can purchase WICKED PARADISE AT:

AMZ, B&N, KOBO, ALL ROMANCE

Is Falling in Love Really So Trivial?

By Sharon Clare

I write romance. I chose to write romance because falling in love feels good, and as important as it is to me to entertain readers, I also want them to feel good.

I read this sentiment recently expressed on Joan Swan's blog, by M.L. Buchman, a man who writes romance, yes, a man! A brave man, I think, after reading his post. This is a little snippet of what he had to say as to why he writes romance:

'First off, I don’t understand why you wouldn’t want a love story in your book, even if it’s not a romance per se. What’s the most fun I ever had? Courting my wife.'

Romance has gotten a bad rap over the years. Stigmatized by Fabio-like shirtless men on 'bodice-ripper' book covers, romance stories were seen as little more than girl-porn.

I didn’t need to study writing craft for a decade, and attain a professional writing degree, and a college certificate to write dirty letters to a magazine.

Please, all those other genre readers,  give us romance writers a break. Is falling in love really so trivial?

As romance writers, we must not only carry a plot forward, we must also delve into the psychology of relationships and what qualities bring two people together to conquer page-turning conflicts and fall in love. Heroines are savvy, discerning, multi-faceted, well-rounded, capable women these days. Shirtless Fabio's, no matter how ripped, just won't cut it if they don't impress these heroines.

Another reason I write romance: romance sells more books than any other genre—more than mystery, thrillers, historical, science fiction or  literary. Okay, falling in love is not trivial at all.

But I don’t want to preach to the choir here.

Let’s get back to the romantically uncomfortable. I imagine every romance writer has been on the receiving line of a squeamish look when they admit they write romance. You know the one. Teeth clamped tight, tarnished glaze in eyes backing off in haughtiness. The look that says, ‘I don't read that frivolous stuff. Let's talk about that best-seller, the one on dysfunction, abuse, regret, rape, depression, terror or murder. Now, we're talking substance.’

I wonder . . . really? Do people really get squeamish over romance? To be romanced is not as satisfying as being terrorized? Not to suggest there are not incredibly well-written books on these subjects, thought-provoking books, I read them, I enjoy them. I just don’t think it’s necessary to pooh-pooh romance.

So what is it? Is it the sex in romance novels that makes some women squeamish? I have a few thoughts on this, but I better save them for another day. 

I love spending my time on what goes into making a hero. What do women want? In my new paranormal romance, Love of Her Lives, I decided that while Calum the hero is very much an old-world man, and this causes great conflict between him and the contemporary, strong-willed heroine, he also excels at making a woman feel treasured.

This is a small excerpt from a scene where Calum wants to know why Beth is okay (at that moment) being with him:

His gaze softened as his thumbs started to twirl circles on her neck.

“No, Calum, it’s not just your physical appeal. You’re considerate and chivalrous, yet sensitive too. You’re kind and fun–loving, and oh wait, persistent, let’s not forget that one. But the thing I like most about you is you make me feel treasured, as if there’s nothing you want more than me.”

He laughed softly.

“What’s so funny?”

“It’s not that, m’eudail. Do you know what it means? M’eudail?”

“I hope it’s something nice since you keep calling me that.”

“It means my treasure.”

“Oh,” she said faintly. “You’re making me melt again.”

What kind of responses do you get if you admit to reading or writing romance?

Love of Her Lives is published by Crimson Romance. Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, Google Play (for epub file) and wherever ebooks are sold.

Sharon Clare lives in Mississauga with her husband and three wonderful grown-up kids who come and go from the nest. Her favourite place to write is outside under the maple trees beside the trickling pond and blooming lilies. 

I like food. Truly, it's more of a love affair with it. Not always a healthy affair, as evidenced by my expanding wasitline. But I love it nonetheless! The taste, smell, texture and even the memories it can conjure up too. 

A slice of fresh pineapple in a tall glass of ice tea can take me back to my first trip to Maui with my mom, many years ago. It was a great trip for us to celebrate my birthday and Mother's Day that were on the same day that year. It was ten days of fun, relaxing and some adventures too. It also set my love for Maui as well, but that's a different post.

The smell of onions frying in butter will forever be associated with my grandmother, Gammy. No matter how late we arrived for a visit, she always had homemade vegatable/barley soup simmering on the stove and thick slices of roast beef frying in butter and onions. She made the most incredible pies and there was never a lack of cookies for us grandkids. As a child I would sit on the counter near (but not too near) the stove and stir my 'creation' in my own little Revereware pot as she would create away. I am sure my love of cooking grew from those interactions of rolling dough and making pierogi with her.

Food brings families together at holidays and who can resist hanging out in the kitchen at a party!

Food nourishes our body and in many ways our souls. If we feed our bodies a diet of wholesome foods we know that it restores our bodies, making them run at an optimum level of health and energy. In much the same way, writing nourishes the writer's soul. When we create and our WIP hums along, we are feedling ourselves a delicious diet of words and feelings that transcends the page and feeds our reader too. (at least that's the plan) We want to have the reader sated but yet wanting just one more bite.

Taking the time and making the effort for good choices can be a difficult task. To write daily, promote weekly, and keep your eye on the prize…the next book. But there are many temptations out there, that are so hard to resist. That one slice of deep rich dark chocolate cake, or that TV show you keep seeing previews for. I say have a bite of that cake! Record that TV show for later, but get back to what's really important. Writing!

I'd like to welcome Crimson Romance author D'Ann Lindun. Her book,

Shot Through the Heart just came out this week. Tell us about your book. 

D'Ann: When Laramie Porter’s sister-in-law Julie is beaten so badly by her husband she miscarries her baby, Laramie takes her home from the hospital. But just a few minutes after the women arrive home, Julie’s husband, who also happens to be a drug addict and the local police sheriff, shows up at the house on a murderous rampage.

He kills Julie and attempts to murder Laramie. When he doesn’t succeed, he hauls them into the mountains and throws them off a cliff. Julie’s body lands in a pond, but Laramie hits a ledge, where she perches, terrified.

Derrick Garrison is in the mountains moving his cattle when his dog finds Julie’s body in the pond. Creeped out, Derrick at first doesn’t believe his ears when he hears a girl crying for help. But he finds Laramie and pulls her to safety. Before she can tell him anything, a lightning strike starts a forest fire and they flee to a hidden valley.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you? 

D'Ann: I do. It was Victoria Holt. I loved the Gothic. Still do, and want to write one someday.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

D'Ann: Cattle rancher. It’s a dream, always been a dream. I’ve been lucky enough to ride with my dad when he was a cowboss of a big cattle ranch, and I love it.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

D'Ann: I wouldn’t. I don’t like to travel. I prefer to stay home. When I was a kid, I moved a lot, and when I got a home of my own, I vowed to never leave it.

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance? 

D'Ann: I fell in love with romance novels the summer before sixth grade, but I never thought about writing one until many years later when I took a how-to class at the local college. I was hooked! I began writing and never looked back. Romance appeals to me because there's just something so satisfying about writing a book guaranteed to have a happy ending. My particular favorites usually feature cowboys and the women who love them. This is probably because I draw inspiration from the area where I live, Western Colorado, with my husband of twenty-nine years and our daughter. Composites of our small farm, herd of horses, five Australian shepherds, a Queensland heeler, eight ducks and cats of every shape and color often show up in my stories! 

Galen: Describe your workspace.

D'Ann: A corner of the living room. Messy desk. Some of my awards and my new covers framed, hanging on the wall in front of me.  I can look out and see my flowers, and the horses in their corral, and further, the cornfields. I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be. 

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

D'Ann: The best is bringing the characters who live in my head to life, and for other people to read them is amazing. The worst would be losing a contract after the book was published. 

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

D'Ann: I’ve answered this a lot! Laura Kinsale’s For My Lady’s Heart. And I just reread Monica Burns’ Pleasure Me. I love those two, although they are not in my genre. 

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday.

D'Ann: One I share with four fab friends, Wordwranglers and another I also share, Inkslingers. Those ladies are amazing, gifted, talented, giving, friends.

Galen: What was the inspiration for Shot Through the Heart?

D'Ann: Louis L’Amour. I blogged about this a few days ago. 

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

D'Ann: Pantser. I see a scene in my head. I figure all the particulars around it later. 

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

D'Ann: Too many to pick just one. 

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

D'Ann: Trail ride with my daughter.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

D'Ann: Learn grammar … from Margot Early. 

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

D'Ann: Good God no. It was terrible! I love the title though, Dance the Dance. 

D'Ann, thank you so much for stopping by. Want to know more about D'Ann? You can find her and more of her novels at the following links:

BLOG 

FACEBOOK 

AMAZON – Wild Horses

AMAZON – Shot Through the Heart

Here is an excerpt from Shot Through The Heart:

Finally, Lawrence stopped and dismounted at a spot in the trail wide enough for the three horses. 

  “Oh, God. Thank you.” Laramie was so relieved that she’d finally broken through to her brother, she almost fell off Pale. Her hands had gone so numb she feared them never working right again. But her relief turned to terror when Lawrence untied Julie and lifted her body off Dancer’s back. With no show of emotion whatsoever, he carried her to the edge of the trail.

 “No, Lawrence!” 

Hefting her high, he let go.

Far below, the sound of Julie’s body crashing into the rocks reached them.

Laramie’s screams reverberated through the mountains, bouncing from peak to peak. Frantic, she fought the leather binding her to the saddle. This cannot be happening. Please, please let me wake up!  Pale danced dangerously close to the edge. Her movements were going to cause Pale to fall with her, dragging Dancer and Nightmare with them. Laramie froze.

Lawrence turned and walked toward her. She shook her head from side to side.    “Lawrence. You’re my big brother. You don’t want to do this.” 

Like a robot, he untied her as she sobbed and begged.

As blood rushed back into her tingling hands, the pain became unbearable. She couldn’t lift them to fight back when Lawrence unloaded her from Pale. She kicked at him, but he dodged her feeble attempts and carried her toward the same place he’d dumped Julie. Tears poured down her face as Laramie twisted and kicked, but nothing seemed to faze Lawrence. “Please listen to me. Think of what this will do to your career,” Laramie begged. “This will destroy it.”

As if he couldn’t hear her, he dangled her above the clouds below. Unable to hold on, Laramie was helpless. She tried to connect with Lawrence through her eyes, but he showed no sign of emotion, no remorse.

 “Don’t,” she pleaded just before he let go.

Galen: Congratulations Mary on the release of, Love's Little Instruction Book! Tell us about your book.

Mary: Love’s Little Instruction Book is a romantic comedy about a guy who decides to use romance novels as guidebooks to winning the woman he adores.  His theory is that by reading the books, instead of approaching romance through a guy’s perspective, he’ll be able to figure out what it is that women want and plan accordingly.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t turn out quite the way he’d planned.  It’s kind of unusual for a romance because the hero is a sweetie rather than a hottie.  He’s short, a little chubby, but he’s also funny and honest and a generally nice guy.

Galen: What was the inspiration for your Love’s Little Instruction Book? 

Mary: Actually, it came from a lot of different ideas.  I’ve always been a sucker for the Beta Male; the second banana who never gets to be the hero.  Think of the character of Cameron in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, or Leonard on The Big Bang Theory.  The hot ones are great to look at, but I prefer a man who doesn’t take foolish chances, has a heart of gold and a sense of humor, and who will love and stand by the woman he loves with all his heart.  So I invented Dave DiSciullo, who’s named after the chubby stripper in The Full Monty and has my mother’s unpronounceable maiden name (I couldn’t give it to my kids, so I gave it to my hero instead!).  The heroine, Denise, looks a lot like my cousin Denise, only taller, since my cousin is only four foot ten.  A lot of the misadventures in the story were actually my own – I’ve bought lobsters at the grocery store and “liberated” them, have watched meteor showers while munching on Milky Way bars, and own a cockatiel named Cookie.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter? 

Mary: Actually, I’m a piecer.  I’ll have a general idea of what’s going to happen, then I write the chapters out of sequence.  Afterwards, I got back and smooth things out for the sake of continuity.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Mary: Oh, that’s tough.  How about this one? “Let’s just assume that I have nothing in common with these horny, muscle bound, bald-chested, long-haired contortionists and take a look at what’s actually in the books, okay?”   It basically sums up the male perception of what romance books are like while setting up the premise that they’re going to have to read them to see what they can learn about romance.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Mary: It was probably Jane Eyre, and I think I was in about fifth grade.  I developed a life-long crush on Mr Rochester!

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance? 

Mary: Honestly?  The laws of probability.  I read that more than half of all books published in the US were romances.  And I’m a sucker for a happy ending.  I’ve also written three books on parrots (someone had to do it!) and I’m working on a book on the life of a Civil War sailor named Fred who died at Andersonville Prison.

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?  

Mary: Not the first one I wrote – I think my first attempt was when I was about eleven.  The first few I sold, I never pitched; Barron’s hired me to write books on pet birds for their line of pet owner’s manuals.  By that point, I’d already written for every bird magazine in the US and the UK, plus Ranger Rick, so I made the sale based on my established reputation.  Love’s Little Instruction Book is my first published fiction.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Mary: The best part is that it’s something you can do anywhere. I’ve written while in the hospital, waiting for my daughter to get out of school, in a motel room in Cape Breton and sitting in the back of boring college classes. The worst part for an independent freelancer like me, it’s really hard to know when or if you’ll make a sale, and sometimes you’ll sell to a place that is REALLY slow at issuing checks.  It’s not a good day job if you like to know where your next meal is coming from!

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Mary: I think it might be fun to be a flight attendant.  I’d love to travel, and my youngest is moving out in the fall, so I don’t have to stay close to home any more.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area? 

Mary: I’m a big time genealogist and I’d love to go to all of the places where my ancestors lived.  Any one of them – Yorkshire, England; the Hebridean Islands off the coast of Scotland; Versailles, France; Cape Breton, Canada; a small town in the Abruzzi region of Italy; and several different towns in Ireland – would make a great setting for a romance novel. 

Galen: Describe your workspace. 

Mary: If I need to be online, I’m at the local library, which is very pleasant.  If I don’t need to be online, I usually write sitting on my bed, wedged in between my four cats, usually with my amazon parrot sitting close by on his portable perch.  The cats are pretty quiet, but want to lie on whatever I’m using.  The parrot stays put, but frequently offers his own opinion on things, or yells something obscure like “Look at me!  I’m a pretty flower!” or “I’m a dinosaur!  ROAR!”  He also sings operatic arias of his own composition.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Mary: The Bible, the Guinness Book of World Records and a guide to what plants are safe to eat!

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday. 

Mary: I’m not actually a big blog reader.  I’ve been following the blog put up by Jennifer Lawler, the editor for Crimson Romance, but that’s generally only updated twice a week.  I try to stay focused when I’m online, and not to spend too much time surfing – otherwise I’d never get any writing done!

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing? 

Mary: I herd cats.  I’m a genealogist, raise exotic birds, and I read like there’s no tomorrow.

Galen:  What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Mary: Honestly?  On my first day teaching at a new school, the teacher next door told me, “Look, there’s serial arsonist loose in the building, so when you get here, put your car keys in one pocket and your wallet in the other, because there’s no telling when we’ll have to evacuate the building and not be let back in.”  It was the middle of winter, and it was very, very good advice.

You can find Love's Little Instruction Book at:

AMAZON

B&N

i-TUNES

Today I'd like to welcome Crimson Romance author, Synithia Williams. Her book, You Can't Plan Love, is out in three more days.

Galen: Welcome Synithia, tell us about your book.

Synithia: After several bad relationships, Kenyatta Copeland decides to control her love life with the same discernment she uses in her professional life. Knowing firsthand the heartbreak that comes when desire and emotion rule a relationship, Kenyatta assumes marrying Brad Johnson will lead to a stable life. But as much as she believes she can plan her future, it’s hard to ignore the way her boss, Malcolm Patterson, ignites her passions with just one look. After Malcolm learns of her engagement, he makes a play for her heart and reminds her that passion between a man and a woman has its perks … but also its costs. When Brad suspects there’s more than work between Kenyatta and Malcolm, he works harder to keep Kenyatta by his side. Torn between her promise to marry Brad and her irrepressible longing for Malcolm, Kenyatta must decide if she can live her life in a passionless marriage of convenience or once again trust her heart. Yet Brad isn’t as perfect as he seems, and by the time Kenyatta realizes this it may be too late. 

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Synithia: I love romance. I don't remember the first one I read, but I do know that once I started I couldn't stop. I hand wrote my first two romances in high school and haven’t stopped since. Even if I were never published, I would make up love stories.

Galen:  If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Synithia: I'd be an anthropologist. My dream is to participate in a dig in a desert somewhere and discover an ancient civilization.

Galen:  Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Synithia: No place fancy, London. I'm obsessed with British culture at the moment and would love to have a British hero in a novel. But to do that, I'd need to actually experience living there.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Synithia: When Kenyatta tells Malcolm that the thinks he's God's gift to women and he says "Not women, Kenyatta, just you."

Galen:  Name two blogs you read everyday.

Synithia:  PubRants and A Newbies Guide to Publishing

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Synithia: My kitchen table. I tried to shut myself off somewhere, but it doesn't work. so after my boys go to bed, I put the TV on a music station (or turn it down low b/c I need background noise) and start writing.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Synithia: I'm trying to improve air and water quality around the Midlands of South Carolina. In 2010 I was named a Green Queen by our newspaper for my efforts. I also have a wonderful husband and two beautiful boys.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Synithia: Keep writing! I don't write every day, but I do write 3-4 days out of the week. The story will never be told if you don't put it on paper.

You can find Synithia:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon

B&N

Today's guest is Crimson Romance author, Carol Ritten Smith. Please tell us about your book.  

Carol: Stubborn Hearts is a historical romance set circa 1900, in a small fictitous town, called Whistle Creek. The heroine, Beth, along with her two younger brothers, have assumed up false identities in Whistle Creek to escape her felonious past. She gets a job as the town’s school teacher. Tom, the hero, is the blacksmith in the town. He becomes suspicious of the family. Beth is terrified he will discover what she has done, especially since her youngest brother spends a lot of time at the blacksmith shop. But while Tom tries to unravel the mystery of the young family, he finds himself falling in love with the young school teacher. Beth won’t allow herself to reciprocate his feelings. After all, could Tom love her enough to overlook her past?

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Carol: Oh, yes, I remember well my first romance. It was The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss. Like many women I fell in love with Captain Brandon Birmingham. Remember the rash of babies named Brandon soon after that book came out? The other reason it stuck with me was the way Ms. Woodiwiss could draw out the sexual tension so effectively. I thought Brandon would never get to bed his wife. Oops, probably too much information there.

Galen: Describe your workspace. 

Carol: I’d be embarrassed if someone were to see my workplace. Currently I’m sitting with my laptop at my dining room table that is covered with books and papers and a few empty glasses and other paraphernalia. Sadly, clutter doesn’t bother me. If I needed to use the table, it would take me quite a while to clear it off. But hey, I write every day and we seldom use the dining room table. We’re the eat-in-the-kitchen type of people. Hmm, maybe that’s because we can’t use the dining room table.  Oh well, too bad.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle? 

Carol: For certain I’d want a Bible. I have a feeling I’d become an avid reader of it all of a sudden. I’d also want “How to Survive on a Deserted Isle.” Surely there’s a book called that somewhere! And for my last book . . .hmm . . . oh, I know . . . “Things to Make and Do in the Sand.” Might as well enjoy myself there.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Carol: By “pantzer” I’m assuming by pantzer you mean by the seat of my pants. If so, I guess I’m one of those.  I have a good idea where I’m going with the story: a happily ever after ending. Basically, I find a situation that’s a bit unorthodox, create two people who would not likely fall in love with each other and toss them together in that situation. While I research I’m always looking for something that would throw a monkey wrench into their relationship. And then it’s my job to get them back on track. Great fun!

Galen:  What do you do when you are not writing? I

Carol: I’m one of the few who gets to play creatively all the time . . . well almost all the time. I own a picture framing shop and a gallery. I do pottery and sculpt with polymer clay that I sell out of my gallery.

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

Carol: Yup, it’s this one, Stubborn Hearts.  Years ago I also sold the first short story I ever wrote. Truthfully, that wasn’t good. I got me thinking that writing and getting published was a piece of cake. I soon learned otherwise!

Carol, thank you for stopping by today! Want to know more about Carol Ritten Smith? You can find her here:

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Amazon

B&N

Galen: Today Crimson Romance author, Beth Yarnall stopped by!  Tell us about your book, RUSH.

Beth: Miyuki Price-Jones or Mi, is the host of a very successful home shopping TV show for adult toys called Pleasure at Home. Lucas Vega is an ex-Navy SEAL turned bodyguard, who is sent to protect Mi from a stalker. Damaged by their pasts, each of them must learn to trust one another by exposing and confronting their deepest, darkest fears. 

Oh, and there’s lots of steamy sexoring.

Galen: What was the inspiration for RUSH?

Beth: The idea for RUSH came to me late one sleepless night. I was flipping channels when I came across a show that sold adult toys. I became fascinated by the way the hosts described the products all the while keeping within FCC guidelines. I then thought- What if one of the hosts was being stalked? The idea for RUSH blossomed from there.

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Beth: Hmm. That’s a tough question. It wasn’t any one thing, but a lot of little things that coalesced when I started reading Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. For whatever reason when I read those books something clicked inside of me and I thought- I could write books like this. I didn’t know that there could be humor in romance. It was truly eye opening and inspiring. Thanks Janet!

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Beth: Can I choose a short passage? This is from RUSH. Mi is describing Lucas as she’s just beginning to realize that her attraction for him will add a complication to her life that she doesn’t want or need.

'No, he wasn‘t handsome, but there was something there. Something dark and hot in his eyes that gave away the things he‘d seen, not nice things. This was a man who‘d lived at the edge of life, skirting around the outside. She knew about that. About secrets and always being on the outside looking in.'

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Beth: The best part is the act of putting words to paper, creating people and worlds that didn’t exist before.

The worst part? All of the sitting. I’m hoping flat bottoms come into style soon because I’m totally rocking it.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Beth: The first romance novels I read were Harlequin romances. Those cameo covers exposed my barely teen self to the wonders and magic of happily ever after.

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Beth: I wish I had a designated workspace! I write in the office we use for our business when I really need to shut the world out. Most days I write in the recliner in my living room because it’s the most comfortable for my back. I also write with friends at their home or at The Corner Bakery, which seems to be Mecca for all of the hot cops and firemen in the city. Lots of inspiration to be found there.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Beth: I love watching my two sons play sports. I do the billing and accounts payable for the business my husband and I own. Thank goodness I write because billing is bor-ing. Other than that, I spend time with my family and friends whenever possible.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Beth: Jewelry designer. I lurve costume jewelry. Way back in the olden days when I was brunette, I considered going to a local art college for jewelry design. Instead I ended up flipping a coin- heads was interior design, tails was beauty school.

I’ve had my cosmetology license for nearly twenty years now, but I still kinda wish quarters came with three sides so I could have added jewelry design as a third option.

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Beth: It wouldn’t suck to have to research Scotland and Ireland.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Beth: Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, Too Much Temptation by Lori Foster, The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Galen: Are you a pantser or plotter?

Beth: I’m a pantser who’s learned the hard way that I need to plot or I spend way too much time staring at the blinking curser, wondering what to write next. I use Michael Hauge’s Six Stage Plot structure. It’s linear and helps me ‘see’ my story more easily.

 http://www.storymastery.com/articles/30-screenplay-structure

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Beth: On writing, the best advice I’ve gotten was from a contest judge on how to make description work hard for me. She then went on to point out examples of where I’d made it work hard and where I hadn’t. I’ve never forgotten that lesson and try my best to make my descriptions say something not only about the object, person or feeling being described, but also have it reveal something about the character doing the describing. A character’s past, their opinions and their insecurities directly impact how they view the world. I try to bring that aspect into my writing whenever possible.

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

Beth: Oh, goodness no. RUSH is the fourth book I’ve written and the first to be published. I call my first two books my practice books. They will stay under my bed forever.

Beth: Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Galen. I had a blast!

Galen: Beth you are most welcome! Want to know more about Beth Yarnall? You can find her at the following links:

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Amazon

B&N

Today I'd like to welcome Lisa White, author of the book, The Laws of Love.

Galen: Welcome Lisa, tell is about your book.

Lisa: THE LAWS OF LOVE is set in a small, Virginia town where fly-fishing is the favorite pastime, Hampton Steel is essentially the only employer and Associate General Counsel Livi Miller believes she has reached the top rung of Hampton Steel’s corporate ladder. With her alcoholic boss retiring soon, Livi is the presumptive heir to Hampton Steel's general counsel position. However, in the midst of proving herself promotion-worthy, Livi's high school sweetheart, Jake Cooper, returns from Iraq and causes long-lost butterflies to alight in Livi’s emotionally charged stomach. The resulting loss of her promotion to slimy newcomer Edward Winston combines with her rekindled feelings for Jake to place Livi on track to choose between her career and her heart. If she chooses Hampton Steel, she saves her hometown. If she chooses Jake, she saves her butterflies as well as herself.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Lisa: I don’t remember the exact book, but I know it was by Danielle Steel.  I devoured her books when I was younger – I thought her happily-ever-afters were so real.   

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Lisa: No question or hesitation – Europe.  I traveled there with a tour group in high school and was an Italian Language and Literature major in college.  I love the history that can be found in each city and the stories that are so unbelievably true.  There is more mystery and intrigue in Europe’s past than can be found in any library today – well, almost…

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Lisa: The happily-ever-afters, of course.  I love a happy ending and still believe in true love so I never even considered writing anything else.

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Lisa: My husband and I share an office so the only word to describe it is MESSY.  I never throw any paper away and we have almost run out of filing room.  Each pile of papers means something and is somewhat organized – there is just a lot of them.  The rest of the house stays pretty clean – even with two kids – but if the Hoarders reality show ever gets wind of our study, we could become their next featured guests! 

Galen: Did you sell the first book you wrote?

Lisa: Yes.  THE LAWS OF LOVE is my first novel.  Of course, it had the requisite number of rejections and sat in a drawer for quite a while before it sold – but it sold – eventually.  While it sat in the drawer I was able to finish my second novel, a young adult romance, and start my third, another adult romance – so letting my first novel “age” so to speak was a good thing.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Lisa: The best part of being a writer is bringing the characters in my head to life.  I have all these story ideas scattered in my brain and I love seeing where the characters in my stories take me – it is never where I expect.

The worst part of being a writer is the inevitable lack of time.  There is never enough time in the day to write the way I want to.  My writing time is at night, when everyone else is asleep.  If I don’t watch the clock, I stay up way too late playing with my fictional characters and then my real life suffers the next day – so I really have to watch the clock.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Lisa: THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald, THE TWILIGHT SERIES by Stephanie Meyer (can that count as one?), THE HARRY POTTER SERIES by J.K Rowling (okay, so three books is not nearly enough!)

Galen: Name two blogs you read everyday.

Lisa: The Ladies in Red, Crimson Romance (and now yours and Beth Yarnell’s of course!)

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Lisa: Definitely a plotter – but with some pantzer tendencies.  I try to be very organized with everything (yes, even in my messy study) and especially with my writing.  With my stories, I try to draft my character sketches first – to see how each character interplays with the others.  Then I do a brief summary of the story and divide it into chapters.  But even with all that, I still stray from my chapter maps all the time with new characters popping in and new scenes jumping onto the page – I can’t help it!  In the end, I usually finish the story where I thought I would – but the path is often very curvy and never exactly as I plotted it out.

Galen: What do you do when you are not writing?

Lisa: Lawyer – but contracts are not nearly as fun as fiction – too many rules to follow.

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Lisa: Don’t give up.  Ever.  A speaker at the RWA Annual Conference said that three years ago – and she was right.

Galen: Thank you so much Lisa, for stopping by. You can find Lisa at the following sites:

BLOG 

FACEBOOK 

GOODREADS

AMAZON 

Today's blog post is by Becky Lower, author of The Reluctant Debutante. Take it away Becky…

My thoughts one week after RWA national conference

Those of you who were fortunate enough to attend Nationals know what an electrifying experience it is. From having Julia Quinn reveal her secrets about writing dialogue to watching the great interplay between Jayne Anne Krentz and Susan Elizabeth Phillips to gaining knowledge from Michael Hauge, it was a jam-packed three days and my head is still spinning. I met lots of people including fellow Crimson authors and members of the host chapter, who made everyone feel at ease.

One of the most helpful workshops I attended was on How To Write A Series. Since I’m in the middle of a nine-book series about the various Fitzpatrick children, this was a topic of great interest to me. The information I gained is useful and should be applied even if you think your book is a stand-alone, since you never know what might happen once the book is out. Secondary characters, if properly crafted, can entice the reader into demanding those characters get their time in the spotlight through his or her own book. One of the reviewers of my debut novel, The Reluctant Debutante, emailed me to say she hoped I would write a book about Basil, who plays a secondary role, since he needed an Annie Oakley type to straighten out his uptight ass! I was already well into the book where Basil meets his match, but her comment made me giggle. I’d done my job with Basil if he elicited that type of response.

Here are the rules to writing a series:

1)    Create a Bible to keep track of everyone who appears in the book.

2)    Take great notes on character description, not only hair and eye coloring, but manners of speech, height, nervous habits, etc. The more you can put into your notes, the less likely you’ll be to have to go back through the first book to make sure your eye coloring is consistent.

3)    Think strategically. Your secondary characters might do something in the first book that needs to be rectified in subsequent books. Make certain you’re not painting yourself into a corner with your characters’ actions. In my second book, The Abolitionist’s Secret, which is being released by Crimson Romance in December, one of the twins (Jasmine) does something very foolish, which results in the other twin (Heather) being placed in a potentially hazardous situation. This impetuous act on Jasmine’s part made my early readers want to smack her. Now, my job is to make her likable in the fourth book, which is slated to be Jasmine’s story.

4)    Put your characters in tense situations.

5)    Make the reader want to be invested in the characters.

6)    Advocate with the publisher for great covers and tag lines.

7)    Write quickly in order to keep your readers fed and happy. Most series publish two to three books a year.

There you have it. Simple as pie. But I never did learn how to make good pie crust, and even with having my world set up by the first and second books, every book in this series will provide me with many challenges.

Becky Lower’s debut novel, The Reluctant Debutante, is available now from Crimson Romance. The second book in the series, The Abolitionist’s Secret, will be available in December, 2012.

Becky's Blog

Website

The Reluctant Debutante can be found:

AMZ / B&N / Kobo 

I'd like to introduce, my dear friend Terena Scott, writer, editor and owner of Medusa's Muse. Medusa's Muse is a small press publishing company, specializing in memoir and creative non-fiction. Her blog post is about something we writers have experienced a few times in our writing career.

How many of you feel that if you're not earning money with your writing, then you're not really a writer? Deep down, do you feel doubt in your abilities as an artist if no one pays you for what you create? Does price denote value?

I do. That's why I dabble at writing. I write "when I have time." When all the bills have been paid and phone calls returned and emails sent, when the house is clean, dishes done, laundry folded and put away. When the plants have been watered and my desk cleaned off and all the grocery shopping done. Then, and only then, am I allowed to write.

And this attitude bleeds into Medusa's Muse too. I edit manuscripts because I owe that to my authors; I do it for them. But everything else, the promotion of my press, updating the website, marketing books, lining up teaching gigs, record keeping and networking… all of those things that help my press thrive get put on the list called "when I have time."

This is called sabotage. I am sabotaging myself by not dedicating the same focus and energy to my press and my writing that I gave to grad school. It was easy to give focus to grad school, because that would eventually lead to a job and a paycheck. A so called real job. My press is a job, but it doesn't make much money, therefore it doesn't feed my family. The press feeds itself. I can't justify devoting time to it when it doesn't sustain me economically.

Which is bullshit, because my press sustains me in every other way but economics. It feeds my soul, my spirit, my artistic needs and creativity. Writing feeds me in even deeper ways. Why does economics always take priority?

Yes, we have to eat and keep a roof over our head. Making money is very important, especially if you have children. We live in this world which requires sacrifice sometimes to survive. I'm not knocking the importance of work.

But we must not let that importance destroy the other things that are important, especially our art.

And if you find yourself saying things like, "I don't have time to write" or "The grocery shopping is way more important right now" then it's time to take a good long look at your priorities. Are you saying this because it's true? Or are you finding an excuse to quit, and in so doing sabotage yourself.

Sabotage. The power to destroy your art before you've devoted yourself to it.

I know I'm just as guilty as anyone of sabotage, and I'm trying hard to stop. My press is important, not just to my authors, but for the joy it brings me. So why do I just dabble at publishing rather than treat it like the job it is?

I don't know, other than I must believe on some deep level that I don't deserve to be a successful publisher and writer.

Have you ever felt that way?

My book went live today! I cannot even begin to describe how I feel. Over the moon! Walking on air!

At each stage since being signed by Crimson Romance the weird, surreal feelings have lessened and the reality has set in. I am a published author. Now the work begins. Or should I say, the harder work begins.

The amount of media savy needed to get people reading your book is huge! I sat in on several classes on media/promotion during the RWA conference and the one thing I learned… everyone does it differently and you need to find what works for you. Blog? Facbook? Twitter? The bottom line… keep writing!

My brother and several friends are all in the process of trying to self-publish their works. I met so many people at RWA working hard to get published. I met a young screenwriter at Disneyland, trying to get his script read. All have asked, what did you do to get that brass ring. My bottom line answer is…

DON'T GIVE UP! KEEP WRITING!

For all the readers out there, the best way to support your local/fav author, is buy their book, post a review.  If you liked it, talk about it. Tell everyone.

I hope that all who read my book like it, but I know some won't. I know I will probably get a bad review or two too. It happens. Someone at RWA said they absolutely will not read their bad reviews. Another writer told of a lengthy and scathing review of his earlier work… now that reviewer is a dear friend of his. It still comes down to what works for you. But keep writing!

And what works for me right now… a Frappacino from Starbucks and enjoying the fruits of my labor. But tomorrow…it's back to WRITING!

Website

Amazon

B&N

Today, I'd like to welcome Lynn Cahoon, author of The Bull Rider's Brother.

Galen, Thank you so much for inviting me today. I’m so excited to talk to you about my writing and, my favorite subject, The Bull Rider’s Brother.  

Galen: Tell us about your book.

Lynn: The Bull Rider’s Brother is a feel good, contemporary romance published by Crimson Romance this June. This is my debut book and I love the story of home and family. 

Shawnee, Idaho is known for two things. Amazing salmon fishing and the first local rodeo of the summer. For four friends, growing up in Shawnee, meant one thing, making plans to get out. Five years later, that wish has been granted for all but one. What happens when they all get together again changes five lives.

When James Sullivan visits his hometown’s rodeo weekend and learns that his high school sweetheart had his child – six years ago – Lizzie’s world is thrown into turmoil. In THE BULL RIDER'S BROTHER, James struggles with family and Lizzie questions the risk of love.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Lynn: If I could work every job in the world, I’d do it for a week or so. Okay, maybe not field hand, but I did that as a kid.  Topped corn for two summers. And I was a janitor helper for two summers, so I can cross both of those off the list. I even worked as a housecleaner for a while.  Waitressing was fun, but as much as I hurt then, I’d be in crazy pain now. I’d love to be a lawyer, if I didn’t have to argue. I guess for a real answer, I’d love to run a consulting business in the training field.  There are so many opportunities to train more effectively and give your new employees a solid beginning. 

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Lynn: New Orleans. Or Savannah. I so want to write a paranormal set in New Orleans, matching the history of the region with an outsider’s vision. And of course, it would feature the food around the area. 

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Lynn: My husband would say one word -clutter.  And he’s probably right. I have so many projects stacked around, kind of like the stories running through my mind. I have a large desk upstairs with a desk top computer, printer, and my files. I have a white board with a calendar and a list of the projects I need to complete. Kind of big picture stuff. 

I also have a lap top downstairs so I can work the social media stuff in front of the television and get in my reality shows – multi tasking at its best. But my writing is done in peace and quiet.

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer.

Lynn: Best part is when you get a contract. In the mail, in email, or by phone, that call, is uplifting and amazing. And the contracts, the acceptances, the publication is like crack.  You get a taste of success, you want more. Of course, the balance is the worst part is the rejection. Trying to learn that it’s not personal. That it doesn’t mean no, it just means, no right now. 

Galen: What was the inspiration for The Bull Rider’s Brother?

Lynn: I wanted to tell a story about a woman who ran a tilapia farm on her families hot springs cabin rental spa in the mountains of Idaho.  I even had the name picked out – Trouble with Tilapia. 

Then as I started writing, the Sullivan boys showed up on the page. And I realized the tilapia farm wasn’t the story. The story was about making life choices for family. And our hero learning that family is defined in a lot of ways. 

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Lynn: Finish the book. I was a four chapter wonder for a long time.  I thought it was an issue of not writing the right type of book. That I wasn’t good about writing mystery, or young adult, or romance. That wasn’t the problem. The problem was I wasn’t good at finishing. It scared me. There were too many what ifs to consider. My mentor asked me to pick a book and finish it. I learned so much about myself as a writer and a person while I finished that book.   

The other best piece of advice was there’s always a lake monster. Conflict is part of every good book.

BIO – Growing up in the middle of cowboy country, Lynn Cahoon was destined to fall in love with a tall, cool glass of water.  Now, she enjoys writing about small town America, the cowboys who ride the range, and the women who love them. Contact her at her website – 

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Available at Amazon/Barnes and Noble and iTunes.

Yesterday, I was nearly toppled by a migraine and did not post Kay Rogal's interview blog until late afternoon. So today, I am giving a shout out to Kay and her book, Sweet Revenge. 

I just finished read it and it is hot and intense! I am looking forward to more from Kay.

I'd like to welcome my guest blogger, Kay Rogal, author of Sweet Revenge.

Kay: As writers, we understand what it takes to forge ahead with following a dream, an idea, planting our bodies in our chairs to write, query, wait and start all over again.  We have read what goes on behind the scenes of an agent and an editor, from their slush piles to what's involved with publishing an author's book.  From the newbies to old hats in the publishing/marketing world, we are always looking for ways to network, look behind the scenes, advocate for other authors and take time to know each other.  I have been lucky in finding a home for 'Sweet Revenge', my romantic suspense, recently released in July, and during this process of before and after, Jessica Ames, Editorial Assistant to our Editor, Jennifer Lawler, at Crimson Romance, is always nearby.  I thought it would be great to see what happens at Jessica's 'desk'…It's all yours, Jessica!

Jessica: First off, let me just say thank you for interviewing me!

My job as an Editorial Assistant deals specifically with social media and promoting Crimson Romance novels through the main networks of Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. I work with the Crimson Romance authors and the editor to figure out how to best promote their novels through social media. This means that I post reviews, book covers, blogs, interviews, etc. These things generally generate discussion and interest in new Crimson novels. In addition, a lot of the time my job is researching fun things that would be of interest to our fans. It is challenging, yet rewarding to try and find ways to connect with our fans.

Kay: Jessica, as the editorial assistant at Crimson Romance, what drew you to the editorial side of books?

Jessica: To successfully do a job like this, you have to really love social networking. It certainly helps that I am an avid social media user in my personal life; if you name the social network, I probably have a personal account for it. I graduated with a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Mass Communications/Public Relations where I was continually taught the importance of networking and how social media can immensely help a cause if done correctly. As for book sales and promotions I think social media can have a hugely positive impact. With the ability to share blogs, promotions, book reviews and recommendations to hundreds of people in a single click, the possibilities are endless.

Kay: What do you love most about your job?

Jessica: This is such a difficult question because honestly there is not a lot I don’t love about this job! If I had to pick one aspect though it would probably be the opportunity to network and meet the Crimson Romance authors (as well as the editor, Jennifer). Since I just graduated from Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania this past May, it is extremely rewarding to meet such passionate minded people who inspire me to follow my dreams, as cliché as that does sound. I can honestly say I enjoy assisting them in promoting their novels, which is a dream come true in the eyes of many Crimson Romance authors. I am constantly surprised at their appreciation and gratitude for my services since I am but a very small part in their road to publication. I also have to admit I love the fact that I get paid to do something I actually enjoy doing—not many recent graduates can say that about their part time job!

Kay: Have you ever thought of writing romance or any other genre? If not, what compels you to read a book for enjoyment and why?

Jessica: Although it is rather difficult for me to find time to write these days, writing will always be a passion of mine. I took several creative writing and poetry classes in high school as well as college. Some of my poetry was even published in a local literary arts magazine. Have I ever thought about writing a romance of my own? I like to believe that the sky is the limit! Aside from the fact that I am dreadful at spelling publishing a novel would be amazing. I am only twenty-two years old and I can only hope that such epic adventures are in store for my future. As for reading books for enjoyment, there seems to be no greater pleasure to me. Books are an escape for me and I imagine they always will be.

Kay: What do you like to do for fun?

Jessica: I grew up in a small town in northern New Jersey where unfortunately, there is not a lot to do. Luckily, I am blessed with the most amazing group of friends and family that are there to entertain me! I enjoy the company of others so I constantly surround myself with people who are going to lift me higher in my life. As I mentioned before, I always love a good novel. In my spare time I also enjoy going to the movies, listening to music and spending time on the computer. While I do enjoy an active lifestyle with plenty of excitement and adventure my favorite thing to do is kick back and enjoy a nap with my black lab, Jake.

Thank you so much for this opportunity to share a little about myself and what I do for Crimson Romance. If you would like to know more about me and what I do please feel free to visit my personal website at: jessicamames.weebly.com

Kay: It was great getting to know more about you and what you do for authors, Jessica!  We appreciate what you do for us –

Kay Rogal

@kayrogal

Facebook/kayrogal

Fellow Crimson Romance author, Pam B. Morris is hosting an on-line book launch party on Monday, July 23. Stop by and say hello!

Tara Mills, new novel is Caution: Filling is Hot, and she stopped by today for an interview!

Galen: Welcome Tara! Tell is about your book.

Tara: Caution: Filling is Hot is a contemporary romance with a hero and heroine at very different places in their lives when they meet up. Chad’s ready, you could even say eager, to start up with Piper, however, she’s just extricated herself from a very draining relationship and all she wants is a little selfish, me time. So how does a guy turn that kind of reluctance around? With patience, persistence, and his undeniable sex appeal doesn’t hurt him either. But Piper’s provisions aren’t all Chad has to worry about. 

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you? 

Tara: It was This Loving Torment by Valerie Sherwood.  I picked it up while I was babysitting and when the mom came home and found me engrossed in her book, she insisted I keep it.  I continued to buy Valerie Sherwood after that. My favorite is probably To Love A Rogue. I really identified with Lorraine London. Lorraine is also my middle name. I’ve held onto my 1982 copy of Wild Willful Love too. I pull them off my shelf and reread them from time to time. They’re treasures. I’ve had a thing for sexy buccaneers/privateers ever since. 

Galen: What started you on the road to writing romance?

Tara: I suppose it was Valerie Sherwood and the writers who followed her to me. The first romance I ever wrote was a weak and unoriginal historical. Over time I decided that genre wasn’t really me and switched to contemporary. That’s where I discovered my own voice. 

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Tara: That’s a hard question.  I have so many.  This is from Caution: Filling is Hot
‘It hurt so much to drink her in and yet, he needed that painful swallow to soothe his raw throat, even if it burned going down.’ 

Galen: Best and worst part of being a writer. 

Tara: Well, I’ve always loved the process of writing. I write because I have to, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to finally decide to share your work. I’d say doing that is as hard as standing in front of people stark naked, waiting for their criticisms to rain down on you. What we create is very personal to us so it takes a lot of courage to open up in this way. 

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Tara: I’m upstairs in our lofted bedroom. On my right is an arched window opened to the woods facing north. I hear birds from every direction because my house is full of windows. It’s a very peaceful setting.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Tara: I’m a pantzer. Once I have my cute meet, I’m off and running. Lives unfold, characters introduce themselves, complications crop up, and love finds a way. I love discovering a story I didn’t even know was in me as it shows up right before my eyes.  Occasionally I’ll need to plot my way out of a bind or a sudden twist I didn’t see coming but otherwise, nope, my stories come organically.      

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Tara: I’d be an architect. I’ve been drawing floor plans and visualizing houses since I was in first grade. My parents built their house so they brought books and catalogues home and I was hooked. Before I knew it, I was creating my own. I love it and I still play with sketches when I have time. 

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Tara: I’d want my tome of Shakespeare. I’d take a collection of P.G. Wodehouse, and hmm, as a writer, I think I’d need a very large empty notebook and pencils because otherwise I’d deface all the paper I brought with me by writing in the margins. 

Galen: Where would you like to travel to if you had to research an area?

Tara: Europe. I want to start at the Atlantic and work my way east. I imagine history as a tangible thing, almost like humidity hanging in the air. You can almost catch a glimpse of another time out of the corner of your eye – see shadows of people who’ve walked these very streets over the centuries. Isn’t that a romantic thought? It never fails to impress me that people felt as intensely as I do now. They had vibrant lives, passionate loves, highs, and lows. Everything I experience has been experienced over and over again, only the specific details change. It can put things into perspective and leave writers wide open to their own imaginations. 

Galen: What was the best piece of advice given to you?

Tara: Write.  Write, write, write. Practice makes perfect.

Thank you so much Tara for stopping by. Want to knnow more about Tara Mills? You can follow her at:

My website

My blog

Facebook

Pinterest

Goodreads

Twitter

Today I am welcoming Nikkie Locke to my blog! Her book, Unbound was just released yesterday!

Congratulations Nikkie!

Galen: Nikkie, Tell us about your book.

Nikkie: Unbound is a romance suspense novel set in a small town called Hartsville. Payten Bailey is the heroine, and Dean Whitley is the hero. These two are just starting their relationship when she is targeted in a series of attacks.

Dean Whitley is no stranger to murder. In the small town of Hartsville, he isn’t just another one of the guys. He is a survivor of the killing spree that left his mother dead and his father heartbroken. Determined to avoid the same lonely fate, he refuses to pursue the one woman he knows he could fall for.

Payten Bailey isn’t looking for a happily ever after ending. Busy running her parents’ diner, she isn’t looking for a relationship at all in spite of her friends’ insistent prodding.

An unexpected, and perhaps unavoidable, kiss puts Dean and Payten on a collision course toward disaster. As things heat up between the two, something far deadlier than the temperature is rising. Dean’s worst fears come to life when Payten becomes the target for a killer. Plagued by nightmares of his mother’s murder, Dean is determined to protect Payten at any cost.

The small town police department struggles to find the man behind the attacks. The longer it takes to find answers, the more time a killer has to plan his final revenge.

Galen: Do you remember the first romance book you read? If so, who was the author? What made it stick with you?

Nikkie: The first romance novel I ever read wasn’t a strict romance novel. When I was thirteen, I was at Wal-Mart with my mother scouring the book aisle. I’d read everything in the young adult section and started looking for something in the adult section. I went home with JD Robb’s Imitation in Death.

I loved everything about the book. The depth of the characters, the hunt for the killer, bad-ass Eve, yummy Roarke, and especially the relationship between them just captured my attention in a way nothing I was reading at the time had. I was hooked. I just kept thinking, “This is real life. This is how things are!” Deep thoughts for a thirteen year old kid in middle school. Scary thoughts considering how many people die in that book.

After Imitation in Death, I started reading Nora Roberts books. It wasn’t a huge leap considering they’re the same author under two different names.

Galen: If you could have any other job, (not your current writing or day job) what would it be?

Nikkie: I’ve considered lots of job options- ballerina, book store owner, police officer, anthropologist, zoo keeper, wedding planner, tour guide in a foreign country, bed and breakfast hostess, Queen. Some are more unrealistic than others… That’s the best part of being a writer. You get to do everything.

Galen: Describe your workspace.

Nikkie: My desk is a joke. It’s this beautiful “L” shaped desk that a friend of mine and I spent hours putting together. Leather inlay. Gorgeous. It’s also covered with crap. Sticky notes, notebooks, loose pages, stacks of novels, framed pictures scattered about, occasionally littered with clean laundry. My laptop usually joins me in bed or the couch. I get most of my work done there.

Galen: What are the three books you’d have if you were stranded on a deserted isle?

Nikkie: Oh jeez. Just three books? I might be able to do three series, but books? You’re killing me! Okay. Let’s try this. JR Ward’s Lover Awakened would make the list because it is one of my all-time favorites. I cry every time I read it. Zsadist and Bella’s struggle is so powerful. Angela Knight’s Stranded would make the list because it takes place on a deserted island and I could fantasize about the book’s hero being on the island with ME! The final would be any of Julie Garwood’s Highlander books. I love those books- all of them.

Galen: Name two blogs you read every day.

Nikkie: Every day, I read a variety of blogs- writing blogs, author blogs, agent blogs. Tons of writing related blogs are on the list. The only blog I check daily is Weddingbee (www.weddingbee.com). Oh, the curse of a long engagement.

Galen: Are you a pantzer or plotter?

Nikkie: I’m a bit of both. I tend start out just writing, and then I plot a little bit ahead. I’m always surprised how I get to the end though.

Galen: What’s your favorite line from one of your books?

Nikkie: This is a line from a paranormal I currently have on the back burner in favor of a second book set in Hartsville. I’m looking forward to getting back to it.

“Never show weakness in front of someone who would gladly eat you. It was just one of his personal rules.”

Thank you so much for stopping by! Want to know more about Nikkie? You can find her at the following places:

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Good morning! I hope everyone had a great weekend? I had a very busy but fun weekend. Saturday started with an ice cream crawl all around San Francisco for a dear friend's birthday and Sunday was a beautiful drive up to Calavaras/Big Trees to bring our son home from Boy Scout camp! 

Galen: Today, I'd like to welcome Rionna Morgan. Rionna, thank you for stopping by!

Rionna: Thank you so much for inviting me to be here today!  

Galen: Tell us about your book.

Rionna: The Wanting Heart, released, July 9, 2012 by Crimson Romance.

Katherine White, a barrel racer from Colorado, lives in a fast-paced world where rhinestones shine, hooves pound, and dreams come true. She plans on winning World Champion Barrel Racer and being with her friends until she graduates from college.  

She doesn’t plan on the man who broke her heart strolling back into her life. She doesn’t plan on finding solace in a charming stranger’s smile or falling victim to his knife.