My Page in Woman's World

by Joanne Rock

I'm excited to have a story in Woman's World magazine this week! If you're out grocery shopping, look for my short Super Bowl-themed piece called "A Tailgate Romance" in the February 3rd issue.

The story is set in Mesa Falls, the fictional town in western Montana where my current Harlequin Desire miniseries is set. I gave the heroine, Lexi Grayson, a reunion romance with a cowboy who left the ranch.

It was fun for me to write a football-themed story. Readers who've been with me for awhile might remember that my first miniseries for Harlequin Desire, Bayou Billionaires with my friend Catherine Mann, was set in the world of pro football. My titles were His Secretary's Surprise Fiance and Secret Baby Scandal. The hero of the former was a coach. The hero of the latter, a quarterback.

But then, I love sports romances. I've done hockey heroes and baseball players too. My current miniseries for Tule, Texas Playmakers, features baseball-playing brothers. Perfect Catch and Game On will be followed up by Scoring Position, due out in May 2020.

But one of the most interesting facts about this month's story in Woman's World? You may be interested to know it's not my first time in the magazine. Long ago, I appeared in the pages of the publication modeling back-to-school fashions! My guess is it ran sometime in August of 1985 or 1986. That'll tell you how long it's been since I looked like someone getting ready to go back to school. I wish I had the picture to share with you, but like so much of my life right now, it's packed in boxes as I'm between houses. One of these days, when I'm reunited with all my things, I'll post a pic.

For now, however, I'm far more proud of having my words on the magazine pages! Please do keep an eye out for the story, and for my February 2020 Harlequin Desire release, Rule Breaker.

***So if you're at the grocery store you can look for the magazine... I'm curious what are you most likely to forget to buy at the grocery store? Or what shopping oversight is most apt to send you right back out to get it? For me, it's coffee creamer. I can't cope without the kind I like! I'll give one random commenter an advance copy of my March Mesa Falls book, Heartbreaker!

Michelle Styles: Roman gladiators, highlanders and Vikings Oh My!

One of the great things about being part of the Harlequin Historical authors is that I am part  of a sisterhood who are passionate about writing historical romance, and history in general. I have been part of this particular sisterhood since 2005 and sometimes forget that when others join, they might have read my books. Earlier this year, I realised a newish author, Greta Gilbert had written a Harlequin Historical set in Ancient Rome. I wanted to read it so contacted her, expecting to have to explain who I was etc etc. To my surprise and delight she had read some of my books and graciously allowed me to read her latest (it is absolutely cracking). She also agreed to do a short blog for Tote Bags so you all could get to know her better:

When I was asked to tell my call story for Tote Bags, I immediately thought back to my twenties and the release of the movie Gladiator. I was an unpublished fictionista then, and I remember thinking that it was one of the best-written movies I had ever seen. Maximus (played by Russell Crowe) was the honorable (and rather hunky) general-turned-gladiator whose story was both plausible and incredibly poetic. The moment he touched his fingers to the sands, he had my heart.

Rejection letters piled up through my thirties, and by my forties I had mostly given up writing fiction and was working at an education publisher. A coworker told me that Harlequin was accepting unsolicited submissions for its Historical Undone! series, so I summoned my inner Maximus and wrote a gladiator story. When I got the call that my manuscript had been accepted, I could hardly believe my ears. I suppose I felt a bit like Maximus after he survived the Carthaginian horde. I still can hardly believe it.

Michelle Styles, friend and author of some truly epic Roman romances, says interest in ancient Rome is due for a resurgence. I hope she is right. With its greed, brutality, pluralism, inequality, and globalism, ancient Rome seems to me like a parallel universe to our own--and one capable of producing great heroes.

And though Russell Crowe’s beard is now more grey than brown, he will always be the honorable young gladiator who inspired me and stole my heart. (Russell, if you’re reading this, call me! ; )

To whet your appetite for this great book 

Cleopatra’s slave girl…

And an enemy Roman soldier…

Egyptian slave Wen-Nefer is wary of all men. But she can’t help but be captivated by handsome Titus, advisor to Julius Caesar―even though he is commanding, and intolerant of bold women like her. Their affair is as all-consuming as it is forbidden. But is he a man who will go to any lengths to love her despite their boundaries…or a sworn enemy she must never trust?

You can read the first chapter for free.

In Other News:

Make a Date with Harlequin is back. 

This time they have a date with a Highlander doing karoke.
They have also done several print ads with Woman’s World. The March 19 2018 edition features a Viking and my latest book. I didn’t know it was there until Denise Lynn, another Harlequin Historical author, alerted me.

What will be next year ? A Date with a Roman Gladiator?

Michelle Styles writes warm, witty and intimate historical romances for Harlequin Historical in a wide range of time periods including Vikings and Romans. Her latest The Warrior’s Viking Bride is out now. You can learn more about  Michelle and her books on www.michellestyles.co.uk