Kathleen O'Brien: Amalfi Night Billionaires

I’m up late tonight, because I’m in the middle of revisions for my upcoming Tule novella, THE BILLIONAIRE’S SECRET.  It’s part of a really exciting new series, HOT AMALFI NIGHTS, which kicks off today with Katherine Garbera’s hot and fabulous novella, THE BILLIONAIRE’S TEMPTATION. Go check it out…you won’t regret it! J

My book won’t be available until September 14^th, and I’m glad, because I want that time to polish the story.  Believe it or not, I really love doing revisions.  When I write the first draft of a book, I’m always stressed and anxious.  Is my planned plot going to work?  Are the people likeable?  Will the story be long enough, short enough, correctly paced, satisfying in its happily-ever-after?

Then, when I reach The End, I turn the manuscript over to the editor and take a step back.  Over the next few days or weeks, depending on the schedule, I work on another project, or refill my creative well by doing the non-writing things I love, while the editor does the thinking.

By the time she returns the manuscript to me with her comments and suggestions, I’m feeling renewed, and far less frazzled, because now it’s not just me sitting here worrying myself to death.  Now I’m part of a team, and for all of us the only goal is to make my book as good as it can be.

I’ve written about forty-five books, over many years, and every single editor I’ve been lucky enough to work with, both at Harlequin and at Tule, has been fantastic.  These professionals have, every one, been warm, sensitive, brilliantly analytical and wholeheartedly in my corner. 

People often ask me whether it’s hard to be edited.  One friend even wondered whether it might “hurt.”  I understand the question, but the answer is unequivocally NO. 

Sure, it can be disappointing to roll up your sleeves and go back to work when you would have liked to binge-watch Downton Abbey instead.  And occasionally it’s embarrassing, sometimes, if I have to face that I’ve missed the mark, that something I imagined would be funny simply wasn’t, or that something I hoped would be sexy was actually kind of blah. 

But it never hurts. 

How could it?  We’re all on the same team, remember, all shooting for the same goal.  And knowing the editor is there to catch me if I fall gives me the confidence and freedom to try those high-wire tricks I might not dare alone.

The truth is, no writer can ever possibly tell how her words will come across to someone else.  I know what I meant to communicate.  But did I?  Only a fresh pair of eyes can tell me what actually came across to the reader.  And only a seasoned professional editor can tell me how to bridge that gap, how to flesh out the conflict or pick up the pace, how to build sympathy for my hero or recover those little plot points I misplaced along the way.

So as I return to polishing THE BILLIONAIRE’S SECRET, a big, sloppy thank you kiss goes out to my editors for helping me be the best writer I can be.  And a big thank you to my readers, too.  Because you’re the goal we’re shooting for.  If you like it, we all win!

I’m giving away a $10 Amazon gift certificate to one randomly chosen poster today, so I hope you’ll stop by and tell me how you feel about getting feedback and notes on your work.  Do you love it?  Hate it?  What makes the difference for you?

A quick Hello! from Susan Stephens

It’s so good to be back here, chatting to again!

The Romance Writers of America conference in New York this July was the most fantastic event. The signing raises a great deal of money for literacy charities, and gives authors the chance to chat with readers face to face. There’s nothing better than sharing our passion for romance.

It also gives us chance to meet up with signing buddies each year—and here’s mine, Alison Stone, who writes fabulous Amish inspirational romance.

Plain Peril is Alison’s most recent book, and I can tell you first hand, that it’s a great, suspenseful story!

This year was particularly special for me, as my close friend and traveling companion, the wonderful author Carole Mortimer was honoured with the Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement award.

I was thrilled to be invited to present an outline of Carole’s outstanding career.

If you would like to watch the RITA ceremony, here is a link to the YouTube recording of the live streaming. Our section begins around 50 mins 20 seconds in.

The night was made even more fabulous as Carole’s family was able to fly in to be with her. And here they are, justifiably proud of a giant in our industry, the modest, self effacing author of more than 200 books! Carole Mortimer.

I’ll be back next month with news of an exciting Susan Stephens box set, along with all the other bits of industry gossip I know you love to share.

Finally, let me thank the wonderful Lee Hyat for hosting this blog, and I leave you with my warmest wishes to you all for the month of August, and I’m looking forward to being back here chatting to you in September!

Your friend and author,

Susan

Non-Interview With A Hero

It's always a challenge as a book is releasing to find fresh angles for blog posts. Today I thought maybe I'd interview my hero, Roman Killian, from Vows Of Revenge. As soon as I started, however, I knew how it would go.

Me: How are you, Roman?

Him: Fine.

Me: Would you like to tell the readers a bit about your background? Why did you have a grudge against Melodie's family?

Him: No comment.

Me: But what about--

Him: I have a call to take. Excuse me.

Roman was a difficult hero to write, to be honest! Not only is he a security specialist with a locked down life, he was a foster child who never had control over his own backstory, let alone his front one. His mother's attempt to feed him by selling herself was the reason he was put into care and it tarred him the rest of his childhood. His history was reduced to a few pages in a folder that was shared with strangers without his permission. No wonder he's willing to help others keep their privacy in tact!

He later winds up learning to hack computers, gets arrested, and is helped/hired--he thinks exploited--by a security specialist who really gives him an education. This results in his writing a type of security software that has the potential to change his life. Unfortunately, he trusts the wrong investors, Melodie's brother and father. They steal it, threaten to claim he hacked the software if he goes to the police, then give him a sound beating for good measure.

It takes years, but he rallies. He's on the verge of annihilating them through old-fashioned competition when Melodie crosses his path. He's certain her flirting is a set up so she can spy on her father's behalf.

Except, Melodie hates her father as much as Roman does. I knew I wanted him to seek revenge against someone who was totally innocent. I love that moment when a hero realizes he has screwed up, bad. I also love those moments when a heroine knows she's being a fool, falling for this cad, but she has no willpower.

Here's a snippet from Melodie's point of view as she faces that maybe she doesn't hate Roman quite as much as she should, even though she really doesn't know him, and definitely knows better!

~ * ~

I knew that day in the limo that you weren’t really like them. I just…”

“Still hate me.”

“I’m trying to. If I don’t, then you’ll—”

“What?” he prompted quickly, demeanor changing.

He knew. She blushed and had to look away.

A muted noise sounded and they both looked to the clutch where she’d set it next to her glass. Her mobile vibrated inside it.

“Trenton is wondering where I am,” she guessed, then made a face, feeling as though she was with a friend after all, she supposed, because she found herself saying a very uncharitable, “I should text back that I’m 'being nice' to you.”

The banked sexual awareness between them flared like the catch of a match.

“That wasn’t—” she hurried to say.

“I know.” He sounded as though he was laughing at her, making her shoot a scowl his direction. “I’m not going to make another unwelcome pass, Melodie. No matter how much I want to.”

Which was a pass in itself, she noted dryly, but managed to say, “Good.” Even though she was suddenly reluctant to accept that. Her mind was expanding with one ballooning thought. What would it be like now, when they’d set aside the misjudgments and animosity?

“I should go,” she said briskly. Before she lost her mind.

“I’ll walk you down.”

“You don’t have to.” She picked up her clutch and headed toward the door.

He pocketed his room key off the bar and followed her. “Better if we both reappear without looking flushed and disheveled.”

“Right.” Flushed. Disheveled. Skin damp and whole body tingling in the aftermath of orgasm. That would be bad. “Yes,” she affirmed. “You’re probably right.”

“Only probably? Don’t give me an opening, Melodie. I will take it,” he said.

They stood at the door, his hand on the latch, his white shirt and black jacket filling her vision.

“An opening for what?” She was playing dumb, not like her at all.

His mouth lifted at one corner, knowing. “I said I wouldn’t make an unwelcome pass,” he said, then touched her chin, gently forcing her to tilt up her face until she couldn’t avoid his eyes. “If this is not welcome say so now.”

His touch was bringing her to life in ways she had thought were manifestations of an overactive imagination.

“I keep wondering—”

He covered her mouth and she knew. They were every bit as volatile as before. They stepped into the kiss with synchronicity, her arms going over his shoulders, his hands sliding to her lower back, pulling her hips into his. In heels she was eye level with his mouth and they both moaned with pleasure at how perfectly they fitted together.

The buzz sounded again from inside her purse.

They broke away.

She threw the clutch toward the sofa, missing. It hit the floor and slid while they stepped into tight contact again, lips meeting without hesitation or clumsiness. Her same distant thoughts of how and why penetrated, but she honestly didn’t care. He was the man who did this to her. She couldn’t turn away now that it had started. And there was no evidence of his trying to slow down things as his fingertips dug into her buttocks and he rotated to press her into the door.

~ * ~

It's not HEA from there. Roman keeps a lot of secrets! And for a woman like Melodie, who doesn't bond easily in the first place, this is a difficult relationship no matter how great the sex is. They still have a long ways to go.

Do you like the strong, silent type? What about a revenge romance? Do you love the comeuppance?

If you'd like Roman's full story, Vows Of Revenge goes on sale Tuesday, the 18th. You can pre-order here:

Amazon: US | CA | UK | AUS
Nook | Kobo | iBooks | BAM | GooglePlay | Harlequin | Mills & Boon

Tomato juice -- a secret weapon? by Michelle Styles

Growing up, I need tomato juice had its uses. It is the best thing for removing skunk smell from dogs. However I had never really thought of its health advantages for me. It was a thing that went in a Bloody Mary basically and that was it. I preferred other types of juice.  That is until a few weeks ago.
Basically, I have reached that time of life. Menopause or at least peri-menopause is upon me at 51. There are a number of annoying factors like my metabolism going south and feeling lethargic. Hot flushes. Difficulty focusing. Wanting to curl up into a small ball and tell the world -- stop I want to get off.
I have a Mirena coil which is supposed to help alleviate the symptoms in any case (except for hot flushes and boy when they come, they really do come). The Mirena is from problems in my early 40s and much than having a hysterectomy. It has worked beautifully.
I am looking forward to being through this whole thing and getting on with the rest of my life.

So when I read about  tomato juice helping symptoms of menopause. (Yes I know it is a Daily Fail article and so needed to be taken with more than a grain of salt)  I thought it worth a go. This was  on about 10 June 2015 so I have now done  over 8 weeks. And you know what? It does work. It took about three days for me to notice anything and then things became much better but things have continued to improve.
My hot flushes are gone. Before this I had a bout one a day. But more than that my positive energy has returned. I find when I am annoyed or upset, instead of curling up into a small ball (my reaction for about, I can actually write. Writing has once again become therapeutic rather than a chore. It is easier for me to focus.
 My anxiety has decreased. One of the problems with being a fiction writer is that a vivid imagination is required. Vivid imaginations can be put to other uses... Personally I'd rather use mine proactively and create something for others to enjoy. For example, the start of Taken by the Viking was written just after a drunken man tried to kidnap my son off a street in Reykjavik, Iceland. Positive use of emotion.  Recently though I would just sit. Within a week of starting to take the tomato juice, I found if I was annoyed or upset, I could channel that energy into my writing again. Not that I like being annoyed or upset, I just like having an outlet for it.

Is it a placebo effect? I am not sure. All I know it is working --particularly with the hot flushes. Tomatoes are rich in lypocene and have a bunch of antioxidents. All of which are concentrated in the juice.

There is another article about it  here.

The fact is that the research was only released in early June 2015. So it is possibly too early to tell long term. However when it is something like tomato juice and very easy to get hold, I thought why wait? Why not just try it and see?

It is working for me and I figure that it is better than a lot of things. And I have developed a liking for Virgin Marys...

I am still keeping up with my exercise (redoing TAM and now rebounding -- good for the lymph system) as exercise with its endorphins are also good for such things.

So if you are feeling overwhelmed and are in menopause or peri-menopause, you might want to try tomato juice  twice a day. It is simple and effective (or at least for me). And when you are menopausal, anything that might help is worth investigating. I am passing this on in case it is of use to anyone. It is very easy to feel alone when you are going through The Change of Life.

Has anyone else tried tomato juice when menopausal?

Michelle Styles writes warm, witty and intimate historical romance in a wide range of time periods including Viking. Her most recent novel  Summer of the Viking was published in June 2015. YOu can learn more about Michelle and her books on www.michellestyles.co.uk

Christina Hollis: Rebel Prince Of Kharova Steals Heart Of A Hostage Shock!

Coming Soon!

The cover of my twentieth novel, Heart Of A Hostage, has just been released. Heart Of A Hostage is the third book in my Princes Of Kharova series for the Wild Rose Press

The first book, His Majesty’s Secret Passion, sets the scene for all the stories that follow. Leo and Sara look on their holiday romance in Greece as some fun in the sun, with strictly no strings attached. She’s determined to go back to her career, while he has to return home to take over his ‘family business’, as he calls it.  Then she discovers the dangerous truth about Leo's life. In an instant, the lives of both Sara and Leo change forever. 

Her Royal Risk is the second book in the Princes Of Kharova series. It follows Leo’s outspoken personal assistant, Krisia, to her new job with Leo’s younger brother Prince Athan. With rebels threatening the future of Kharova and its new king, commando Athan is suddenly centre stage. The last thing he needs is Krisia trying to help out. Luckily, she isn’t a woman who takes no for an answer. The crown of Kharova is in so much trouble, Athan soon finds he needs her like never before. In all sorts of unexpected ways...

In my next book, Heart Of A Hostage, the focus switches from the two legitimate Princes Of Kharova to the pretender to their country’s throne. Four generations ago, Mihail Dukagjini’s royal ancestor was disinherited for eloping with a commoner. Descendants from that marriage have borne a grudge ever since, but their claim to the throne has never got them anywhere. Mihail is the last of the Dukagjini.  He’s more of a realist than his predecessors, but he’s got plenty of imagination and initiative. When the beautiful woman he rescues from a car breakdown turns out to be the king’s sister, Princess Maia, Mihail sees her as a bargaining chip rather than the girl he had a crush on eight years earlier. But Maia's not a blushing teenager any more. She's got no intention of being used as a pawn. 

Find out more at http://bit.ly/1GQPIIq

Here’s the tag line and blurb of Heart Of A Hostage. I'd love to know what you think!

Mihail walks out of Maia's past, and into her present. Who is in more trouble—kidnapper or victim?

Princess Maia has it all—including a horrible fiancé chosen for her by the king, and a family bullying her into doing the right thing—but all she wants is her independence. When she falls into the hands of rebel leader, Mihail, she tastes real freedom for the first time. Mihail is a lone wolf, Public Enemy Number One, and heir to a fierce tradition. A dangerous reputation, a castle full of guilty secrets and now rescuing Maia are all woven into his master plan. He can’t lose.

Until his unexpected hostage turns out to be the house guest from hell...

There's something unusual about the background to Heart Of A Hostage, but I’m only revealing that little nugget to readers of my newsletter. The autumn edition comes out in October.  As well as background details about Heart Of A Hostage, it will also contain news of my latest short story, My Dream Guy, together with a seasonal recipe, an update on my bees after their recent scare, and a competition to win one of my books. 

Sign up to my mailing list here to get a copy delivered straight to your inbox, as soon as it's ready!

Because You Smiled!

Because You Smiled

My family laughs because, when we're out and about, random people come up and talk to me.  They ask for directions, they ask for help, or they simply chat.  As a person, I never mind. I like that I give off an accessible vibe.  As a writer, these moments become fodder for my work.  They inspire a character, or they suggest a scene.

Once, I was on a flight home and an airline mechanic sat next to me.  We struck up a conversation.  I mentioned my husband early on and he mentioned his wife, so there was no worries about flirting.  We simply two people who talked about our homes and jobs.  I, of course, was  all Erie, PA rocks.  He assured me he thought his more southern hometown won...no snow.  (It was snowing as we flew.  Not just a little snow, a big storm.)  It was a fun debate.

At the end of the flight, he said, "Thank you".  And then told me he flew all the time for work, but hadn't conversed with another passenger in years.  I asked why me.  He said,  "...because you smiled." 

Those words have stuck with me for years. I thought it was such a powerful message!  A reminder that the smallest things we do—things we do without even thinking about it—can make a difference to someone else.  A smile.  Holding the door for someone behind you.  Even sharing Monday-Glee on social media. (What you don't do that???  I'm so very guilty of it.)

There's a scene in Her Second-Chance Family that was inspired by this random mechanic and his very profound message. 

As you go about your day today, smile.  You'll never know how much that small act can mean to someone else!  (Or maybe you will!)

Holly

Out Now:

Her Second-Chance Family

Good can come out of bad 

If it wasn't for the tragic accident ten years earlier, Audrey Smith might never have taken in the three foster kids she loves so dearly. And if it wasn't for the new addition to her home—a troubled teenage thief—she wouldn't be fantasizing about Sawyer Williams. 

Make no mistake—Sawyer's the victim here. He's the one who was robbed by Audrey's daughter. But teaching the teen a lesson rather than punishing her makes Sawyer a superhero in Audrey's eyes. Someone who can forgive and forget… That is until another break-in rocks their community, threatening Audrey's family and her future with Sawyer.

An Alfred Hitchcock sort of life

Some time ago, a friend sent me a great quote about writing – fiction in general or drama in the form of a screenplay of a play script.  This quote was attributed to Alfred Hitchcock, but later I found that

Hitchcock was in fact quoting another screenwriter and director.

His name was François Roland Truffaut  and the quote was this:

“What is drama, after all, but life with the dull bits cut out…”

I always remember this when I’m writing. Particularly when I want to create a fast-paced, heightened scene, one in which the intensity sparks between my characters and things are really hotting up. It’s when I use what I call the ‘cup of coffee’ test.  Because, when  the conflict and the emotions in the story are really important, making my characters do something as ordinary and everyday as making a cup of coffee can slow the whole action down and   reduce the pace. (Unless of course the way they make that cup of coffee is full of drama with the mugs banged down on the table, the water spilled from the kettle etc.)

I often wonder if people think that the life of a writer is a drama like the ones we write about.  Writers only seem to get into the papers when the big /TV/magazines when the big things happen –  a major signing a huge advance, a public event for some literary prize, a personal drama or perhaps a huge price paid to turn a book into a film.  The rest of the time we are shut away in our workrooms, with just us, the computer keyboard – and our imaginations. 

The past few weeks though have been what I would term my life with the boring bits taken out.  Part of this was because of my writing – the other pat was because of my husband’s work. He writes too, though mostly fact – true crime and  local history. And just lately he’s had a book of short stories published with the title Uncle Albert, based on memories of growing up in a Yorkshire village and the characters there.

So our summer which is always pretty busy has been more full than usual. We had to travel to Haworth  (where the Bronte sisters lived) to launch the Uncle Albert book – then fly to the Isle of Man to launch the ‘one man show’ that went with the stories.  3 events, radio interviews, all were great publicity but we’re writers – and writers aren’t used to appearing at public events. We’d barely got back before our summer commitments started. I usually go to the Romantic Novelists’ Association conference (and sometimes the RWA one) but these had had to be left aside as there were other commitments

for those dates and times. There was a trip to Wales, where I was teaching at Fishguard Writers’ Holiday, and my DH was giving two talks during the week. We got back, unpacked, did the laundry, repacked – and set out again. This time it was for another event, at the Gilbert and Sullivan Festival where my husband was giving a talk on another of his books – A Victorian Somebody - a biography of George Grossmith who used to appear in the Gilbert and Sullivan productions in 1870s and 80s.   (He also wrote a famous comic book The Diary of a Nobody.)

All this was fun but time consuming. It certainly wasn't 'dull' - but there were times when I wished I could just draw breath and stay put for a while.   Now we’re back home and – thankfully – can breathe again for a little while. The travelling will start again in September when there will be a trip to London to meet with the Association of Mills & Boon Authors – and many of the Editors from HMB London (and Toronto)  I have another course to teach and so does my husband (actually two!)  – and he will be appearing at several book festivals to talk about Uncle Albert and his other books.  Phew!

And before I know where I am, my next book  - Destined For The Desert King - will be on the shelves and I'll need to do some publicity on that one!  

But in the meantime, I’m hoping for a decent patch of quiet time so I can sit at my desk, switch on the computer – and focus. I have a deadline and the next book isn’t going to write itself.  It’s funny that people think  a writers’ life is a hectic and public one. I know that the publicity and the teaching, enjoyable as they are, are the times that interrupt my writing. It’s when I’m sitting  - as the saying is- BICHOK – Bum in Chair, Hands on Keyboard  that I feel most like a writer. Just putting the words down, on paper or on a screen, is what the real writers’ life is like. Even more so, there’s the time that I spend thinking and wondering and planning – before I can even begin to tell the story of my hero and heroine’s journey to their happy ever after.

That’s when I’m working hardest as a writer!  So right now, I’m looking forward to some time where life is pretty dull and ordinary – that’s the way I can best get to know my characters and write their story.   And I can build their story into a drama – by leaving out as much of the dull bits as I can, and focusing on the dramatic bits.

I can’t show you the  image that the cover designers have come up with for the UK edition of  my December book – Destined for The Desert King – but  I can share the Harlequin Presents  cover I’ve only just seen for the first time. This is set on one of the balconies in the palace  in  Hazibah, even if you can't see very much of it.   I like this cover a lot - but it's a bit scary seeing the Christmas decorations on the red banner on the top of the cover  - it reminds me that, even if I get the peace and quiet I want, the time just slips away - and I'll have another deadline, for another book by then.

My  latest romance  is Olivero's Outrageous Proposal published in April in Harlequin Presents and Mills and Boon Modern Romance . Coming next is   Destined For The Desert King  which is published in December this year.

Then there's the  12 Point Guide to Writing Romance, the newest edition of which is available on Kindle or a revised and updated paperback edition now available on Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com

Kate Walker's web site is here   and the up-to-date news can be found on her blog or her Facebook page.

It's a Whole New Year! :: Anne McAllister

My favorite "new year" growing up was probably when summer began and I had days of freedom to explore and read and pick strawberries and raspberries and go to the beach.  And every year, I looked forward to it eagerly.  

Even the summer chores didn't seem particularly onerous, though one of mine was to crawl along the brick edging of our yard and cut the grass that grew up alongside it after my dad had finished mowing.  

But I have to admit that I also had a soft spot for that other "new year" that came at the end of summer -- the ones that meant we were heading back to school.  I liked school.  But more than that, I liked paper. I liked pens. I liked notebooks. And erasers.  And pencils. And rulers.  You name it  -- if you could get it at a stationery store (or the local dime store -- do they still have dime stores?)  I was a fan.

And I've noticed that my grandkids are fans, too.  I got a picture the other day of a couple of feet in new shoes -- all set for school.  I heard about the new backpack one of the six year old's got, and the notebooks his sister is sporting this year.  I did my part and tracked down red polo shirts and blue polo shirts so, presumably, someone can tell the ten year old twins apart (but since they tend to wear the same color on the same day, I wonder at the wisdom of this).  

Even the college senior is excited to go back for one more year before he hits "the real world."  He just got home from summer baseball today, and tomorrow he's heading back to the house he shares with friends near campus, ready to find his books and pens and make sure he's got a back-up drive for his computer this year (hard-earned wisdom).

And I'm getting ready, too. Well, I've been getting ready all summer.  I'm working on a new set of books set in a mountain valley in Montana.  I prowled around it in the spring, making notes and conjuring up scenes. I took a ton of pictures and I'm stitching them into collages on the computer.  I have also prowled lots of "people" places looking for ones who "speak to me" and give me ideas as well.  

And I've been learning how to use Scrivener in case I get brave enough to switch from the Word Perfect software I've been moving along with for the past 30 years.  It appears that you can teach an old writer new tricks. But I'm not entirely sure I'll make the switch for good. I may work between the two.

But I'm glad I've done it. The energy that comes with learning something new is always a boost.  It makes the brain turn over. Sometimes it makes the words flow.  

And right now I need to get back at it or there won't be a story come October when there is supposed to be.  

What are you doing to get ready for the "new year?"  Do you like this time of year?  What's your favorite?

Flowers of New York - Kandy Shepherd

Sitting at my desk in front of my computer wearing yoga pants and a cat on my lap, it’s hard to believe just ten days ago I was in New York City. I’ve been from winter to summer and back to winter again in just one week.

Times Square - very busy in July

 It’s a long way to go from Australia for a conference but The Romance Writers of America national convention was worth it. Over two thousand romance writers as well as industry professionals gathered under the one roof—in this case the Marriott Marquis hotel right on Times Square.  It was exhausting and informative and I loved it.

I only had one day free, on the Sunday after the conference ended. I took the opportunity to walk with a friend from Times Square up to Central Park.

This one is so pretty 

In late July with the sun out and flowers everywhere, I marveled at how lovely the city was, with so many beautiful old buildings juxtaposed with streamlined skyscrapers.

I love the bold shapes and colors of this one

I loved all the vibrant potted plant displays I saw in my stroll around Manhattan and took inspiration for my own garden. Trouble is, I never seem to have much luck with these pots myself. I know the idea is you plant a thriller—the main central plant; a low filler to grow around it; and a spiller to flow down the edges. It’ll be spring Down Under before too long and I’m going to try again.

This one doesn't look too difficult to copy!

The heroine of my August release for Harlequin Romance, Hired by the Brooding Billionaire is a horticulturalist working to restore the hero’s overgrown garden—and his damaged heart. I wish I could call on her in real life for some gardening help!

Do you have luck with potted plants or, like me, never seem to get them quite right? Do you have a favorite city you like to visit?  I’d love to know—please share your thoughts with a comment!

Signing at the Romance Writers of America conference

I’m giving away one signed paperback copy of Hired by the Brooding Billionaire. Make a comment to be in the draw. Please include your email address if you want to be included in the draw.

Hired by the Brooding Billionaire is my August 2015 release for Harlequin Romance and is on sale now.

“Beauty and the reclusive billionaire… 

When billionaire Declan Grant decides his estate's enormous garden needs taming, he hires idealistic horticulturalist Shelley Fairhill to take on the challenge. Since losing his wife, Declan has adjusted to a life of self-imposed isolation—he wants Shelley to tackle the weeds, then leave.

But as Shelley gradually restores order and unexpected beauty to his garden, her caring nature also begins to thaw the ice encasing Declan's heart. Can he let Shelley's light in and finally let his second chance at love blossom?”

Kandy Shepherd is an award-winning author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She lives on a small farm in the

Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her family and a menagerie of four-legged friends.

Visit Kandy at her website

www.kandyshepherd.com

Connect with Kandy on Facebook and Twitter