Presents

One of the questions I’m most often asked  about the American editions of my books  is –

In  Harlequin Presents (Or Harlequin Presents Extra)  does that ‘Presents’ mean  presents as in a gift – a birthday  present – or Ta dah! Harlequin  Presents – as in ‘ we present to you . .

Well, the answer is that the real way to pronounce it is as in that second version – the ‘we present to you . . .’ but today  I’ve been thinking about the word  in its other sort of meaning – the presents that come gift-wrapped and we give to people for their special days.   There is a reason for this -  May is a month when several people I love have their birthday . My dear friend and wonderful writer Michelle Reid just had her special day and  in a couple of weeks my eldest sister has her birthday,  Oh, and tomorrow is my own birthday. No, you can’t ask which one – I was a child when I started writing -  honest!

So of course I have been dealing with the gift sort of presents for  a few weeks now. (My sister lives in Tasmania so I had to buy/wrap and send her gift a while back.) I like choosing presents for people I care about – I like thinking of what they enjoy, what interests them, what sort of things they might like to treat themselves too but perhaps couldn’t afford or  might think was a bit too extravagant to indulge in.  But I’m  pretty hopeless about  thinking about gifts for myself.

I just had a  conversation with my husband and my son and a couple of friends – could I . . .l well, no really, I couldn’t come up with any suggestions of what I’d like for a birthday present.  I’m lucky, you see – I  have the perfume  I want, the  bath and body luxuries that I was given for Christmas and  I haven’t been able to use up because of the renovations we had in the house for the last three months  – it’s hard to use up bath essences or oils when you don’t have a bathroom that’s working for some time, let alone a bath!  And  jewellery?   Well, really I don’t want a lot of jewellery – I mean how much can you wear at one time?  And I recently treated  myself to the one really special piece that I wanted  because my latest novel – The Devil and  Miss Jones – is my 60^th published title.  So I bought myself this necklace to celebrate.

But after a rather difficult year just behind me – with family ill health, bereavement   . .. and then all those renovations – messy, dirty, noisy, but worth it in the end – I  come to this birthday knowing deep down that really I have all I need or want.  My husband is now  well after a health scare, my son and his partner are happy and settled, my family  - there are more sisters than the one in Tasmania -  are all fine.  Even the  cats, two crazy Maine Coons are happy and healthy and revelling in the fact that  Spring is back and they can roam in the garden and climb the trees.

And  thinking about this reminds me why I write romance. It brings me back the that opening and the ‘Harlequin Presents ‘.   Because the truth is that if we have someone to  love and care for us then we have everything we need. That’s why I write romance and, I think, why people love to read it. We love to think that there will be someone special, a real true hero (or heroine) for each of us. Someone who really is a lover in all senses of the word. And that’s why I write the lovely life and love-affirming books I do. To show how important  love is in the world and in our lives.

So in a way the Harlequin Presents   books are those very special gifts too.

My DH has just gone into the living room with some wrapping paper and a bag containing . . . well, I don’t know what, but I have strict instructions not to go in there for a while! So  it looks like he found something that needs wrapping for  tomorrow.  As I said, I really am very lucky.

And because I’d like to share my special day and the celebrations with the wonderful readers who have helped me enjoy this special career  - because without my readers  buying my books I  wouldn’t be able to keep writing – I’m offering a giveaway with this post to someone who comments.

I’d love to know which of my backlist of books you’d really like to read.  If I was sending  you a Present  from Harlequin Presents (or Presents Extra) then which one would it be?  Have a look at my web site  if you need inspiration but just let me know which title you’re missing from your collection – or that you really fancy reading – and I’ll  get Charlie the Maine Coon to pick a winner who’ll receive a book from the backlist I have in stock. (I don’t have any of the really older books -  the ones that date back to 1986 when my writing career really began but I’ll offer you a choice of the ones I do have!)

Thank you all for sharing in my celebration.

The Devil and Miss Jones is out in  Presents Extra - and still available iN Mills & Boon Modern too. In Australia it's the lead book in the special Motehr's Day Pack so that means it's helping with anoyther sort of celebration too. 

 You can keep up with all my news on my web site, and the latest happenings are over on my personal blog.

It took some time to find Charlie and get him to pick the winners, but now that the rain has started he's back inside!  And he was hungry so he has picked more than one winner!
The winners are -
Lory Lee
Squiressj
and
JenB
Suqiressj  and Jen - I have copies of the books you have chosen (Lept for Her Baby and The Return of The Stranger)   and Lory Lee- I don't have any copies of One Night in Madrid because that is a 3 book  anthology - but I will send you a copyu of the book Spanish Billionaire,Inocent Wife which is my book in that collection
Please all winners send  me your postal addresses to kate AT kate-walker.com
And thank you all again for the birthday wishes!

Australian Garden Visitors - Annie West



Rainbow Lorikeets

 I thought I'd share something a little different with you today. I looked out my window earlier and saw a group of colourful birds (Eastern Rosellas) gathered on our pergola and realised how unique they are. Australia is full of a great range of birdlife, and other unique wildlife for that matter, which makes life interesting.

As well as rosellas, we get colourful lorikeets and I have to say they're the stars of this piece. Here's a picture I took at my parents' house. As you can see, my parents put out food for them . These little birds are very cheeky and appealing, and raucous in large numbers. In wet weather they congregate near my parents' back door, on the eaves and outdoor windowsills, waiting for feed time. One even flew in one day, to be found hours later perched on the top of their curtains - obviously eager for seconds.


Free for all at feeding time



You'll get a little idea from the picture what a scene they make - always on the move and squabbling even as they make room for each other. I get these in my yard too, flying down from the tall gum trees and filling up on edible fruits and flowers. In addition we get kookaburras (not nearly so pretty but with great character and a terrific laugh), king parrots in vivid red and emerald green that I'm sure is even brighter than the lorikeets, and a whole stack of other winged visitors.

Here's a surprise we discovered one day. Mum and baby ducklings had decided to have their first swim on our pool. Sorry the photo isn't too clear - I didn't want to distress them by getting too close. You can see them gathered on the far side of the pool. I got such a shock when I sat down to work early one morning and discovered this little lot paddling about. Unfortunately I had to go out later and missed seeing how mum got the babies out of there and down to the nearest watercourse.

Their first swim!

In addition to birds we get snakes, including at least one venomous one, but as they're usually after frogs they don't bother us. We have the most marvellous slow-moving and very appealing blue tongue lizards (whose tongues really are blue). They creep through the undergrowth and give me the fright of my life when I'm weeding and think I've found a snake. We have at least two types of possum in our yard and have had a stand off with one who wanted to live in our roof. In addition there are the usual little critters including red back spiders (nasty little things related to black widow spiders) and funnel-web spiders which give me the creeps (yes, they're venomous). But, though it sounds like it could be scary, it's not. I'm glad to say we live pretty well in harmony with our wilder neigbours.

How about you? Do you get visitors to your garden or neighbourhood that remind you of the wider world of nature? Or do you have favourite creatures you haven't seen but would love to?

I'll give away a copy of my latest book to a person, chosen at random, from those who leave a comment.

I've got a new release out now: UNDONE BY HIS TOUCH, and for a change it's set in Australia. No, it doesn't feature flocks of birds or even venomous creepy crawlies. Instead it's got a brooding, scarred Aussie recluse of a hero who steals the limelight. This is my first Beauty and the Beast story and I'm very excited about it.

If you want to read more about it visit me at http://www.annie-west.com/ where you'll find an excerpt and  links to buy it. It's a May release in Australia and New Zealand, and a June Presents Extra in North America. And, to my delight, it recently scored a 4 star review from Romantic Times. 

Blond Heroes

Someone tweeted me the other day, thanking me for the fact that Leo Bailey, the hero of DEMON’S BRIDE, is blond.  She mentioned that blond heroes are relatively uncommon in romance, which made me wonder—why are blond heroes so rare in romance?

Maybe it all goes back to the idea of the 19^th century Byronic hero—the dark, brooding loner, whose hair color reflected his inner turmoil.  If blond meant angelic, then dark hair represented the opposite.  Lord Byron himself had dark hair, and his wild antics and air of mystery made him irresistible to women (and some men).  Byron was a bad boy, and who can resist a bad boy?

Thinking of other heroes in early romantic novels, such as Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights and Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre, we see the dark hero become even more popular.  Perhaps that trend continues on in today’s romance novels.  I know there are blond heroes out there, but I’ve read far more heroes with black or dark brown hair, Lord Byron’s legacy.

I recall reading somewhere that even if the hero in the book is blond, he’s seldom depicted as such on the cover of romance novels because, apparently, blond heroes on covers don’t sell as well as their dark-haired brothers. 

So why did I make Leo Bailey blond?  First of all, I wanted variety in the looks and coloring of the Hellraisers.  Whit, the hero of the first Hellraisers novel DEVIL’S BRIDE, has dark hair, as does Bram, one of the other Hellraisers.  I didn’t want all dark heroes.  Secondly, Leo is the only one of the Hellraisers who isn’t a gentleman.  He’s not just a commoner, but he’s the son of a saddler.  Leo has worked hard to become one of the richest non-titled men in England.  He’s very driven, and bears a huge grudge against the aristocrats who look down on him.  There is an association of the nobility being fair of skin and fair haired, so I thought it would be an interesting inversion to have my lowest-born Hellraiser to be blond.  And Leo is far from angelic—a fact which becomes more and more clear to Anne Hartfield, the impoverished baron’s daughter that Leo weds at the very beginning of DEMON’S BRIDE.  Anne can’t help but be drawn to the contradiction that is her husband, however, and finds in him an unexpected connection that leads to desire, and something more…  Yet Leo’s dark, dangerous secrets imperil not only the new bond between husband and wife, but also the world as we know it.

 

So, tell me, do you like blond heroes in romance?  Or do you prefer tall, dark and handsome?  Who are some of your favorite blond heroes?  I’ll pick one commenter to win a copy of DEMON’S BRIDE (US/Canada only).

DEMON’S BRIDE

The Hellraisers, Book 2

Hell to Pay

Leo Bailey may have been born to poverty, but ruthless business sense and sparkling intelligence have made money worries a thing of his past. It doesn't hurt that the Devil himself has granted Leo the ability to read the future.

But even infallible predictions are a déclassé commoner's trick to some members of the ton. They'll never see Leo as their equal - one good reason to prove himself their better. And a noble marriage is an obvious start.

Bookish Anne Hartfield, daughter of a baron, is hardly the flashiest miss on the marriage market. But her thoughtful reserve complements Leo's brash boldness in an attraction neither can deny. A whirlwind courtship sweeps Anne and Leo into a smoldering marriage before either can believe their luck. But happiness built on Leo's dark powers can't last. Soon, Anne will have to save her husband...or lose her heart.

Zoë Archer is an award-winning romance author who thinks there's nothing sexier than a man in tall boots and a waistcoat. As a child, she never dreamed about being the rescued princess, but wanted to kick butt right beside the hero. She now applies her master's degrees in Literature and Fiction to creating butt-kicking heroines and heroes in tall boots. She is the author of the acclaimed BLADES OF THE ROSE series and the paranormal historical romance series, THE HELLRAISERS. She and her husband, fellow romance author Nico Rosso, created the steampunk world of THE ETHER CHRONICLES together.  Her steampunk romance, SKIES OF FIRE, is now available from Avon Impulse, and Nico’s steampunk Western, NIGHT OF FIRE, will be available in July. Zoë and Nico live in Los Angeles.

Excerpt   Trailer   Website, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr

***The winner is Mary Anne Landers!  Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing address!***

Elaine Viets: Creating Your Own Focus Group

I wanted a book trailer for “Final Sail,” my new Dead-End Job mystery. All the cool kids have one. Book trailers are good selling tools. Bookstores post them on their Websites or use them in e-newletters. TV and radio stations use them on their sites, too.

Kelly Nichols at LookABook created my trailer. Kelly is one half of the award-winning P.J. Parrish. For “Pumped for Murder,” my tenth Dead-End Job mystery, Kelly made a book trailer that was a 1:50 seconds.

For “Final Sail,” author James Swain suggested I try a shorter trailer. Thanks to Twitter, readers are getting used shorter messages.

My new “Final Sail”  trailer would be only 45 seconds. Since I host a radio talk show for Radio Ear Network, I voiced it.

Kelly worked with this synopsis: Private eye Helen tries to catch an emerald smuggler on a luxury yacht, while she works undercover as a stewardess, serving snobs, scrubbing floors, and cleaning up after a pampered poodle. Meanwhile, Phil investigates a sexy gold digger, Blossom Zerling, who may have murdered her rich old husband.

Kelly put together two sample videos with music. I chose the version I liked. But I figured  I was too close to the subject. The Penguin publicist gave this useful advice: Leave the “call to action” – the Website address and “available in e-book and hardcover” information –  up longer.

Next, I asked for focus group volunteers on various mystery lists. Seven women between the ages of 30 and 50 – my prime readership – volunteered.

The focus group saw things I didn’t.

Helen scrubs toilets as yacht stewardess. My sample trailer had video of a brush scrubbing a toilet. The focus group resounding nixed it. “Makes me want to hurl,” said one woman.

 I flushed the toilet.

Several wondered why the Zerling mansion looked spooky, and asked why a skeleton was stalking the grounds. The Zerlings were given a conventional Florida mansion, and we buried the skeleton.

The sample video had a captain in a pirate uniform. He was cute, but the focus group wondered why he was there. The captain was deep-sixed, along with a hard-to-make-out horde   of emeralds. They were replaced with two rotating emeralds.

Kelly included all ten Dead-End Job covers. “I would like to see your book titles a little slower,” one woman said. “You never know when someone will walk into a B & N and spy a title and remember that it's you.”

Here’s the final version of the “Final Sail” book trailer. Like the song says, I get by with a little help from my friends.  

What do you think?

 Have you ever put together your own focus group?

Joanne Rock: Inescapable Romance

I’m surrounded by romance at all times in my life. It’s not just that I’m married to a great guy, although that helps. (Thank you, Dean!) I have elected to let my home decorating reflect my love of all things romantic. 

At first, I guess I went the romance route with my décor because the experts say our homes should reflect who we are. Communicating my love of romance became simple enough by hanging a few of my book covers on the walls of my office. Pretty and personal, right?

But I was so encouraged to see those book covers that I thought I’d take it a step further.  When it came to decorate my living room, I decided to display the kinds of images I never get tired of seeing. Frank Dicksee’s Romeo and Juliet was an easy choice to hang on one wall. I liked it so much I snagged a larger copy of Godspeed by Edmund Blair Leighton to hang over the sofa.

After a few years, I realized that I wasn’t just showcasing who I am by displaying these romantic images. I was also actively inspiring myself. As I sit down to write books, my eye is drawn to these paintings and I end up thinking about story ideas. So I invested in another interesting piece of artwork in a different medium. I love all the images from the Limboug brothers’ paintings for the duc de Barry and I liked that the January image for the Book of Hours is so well populated. There’s so much to see!

If my husband is tired of my romantic decorating aesthetic, he hasn’t said anything yet. I snuck a copy of John Everett Millais’ Apple Blossoms over my stairs. My office is now crowded with Waterhouse paintings and a huge version of his Lady of Shalott. The author in me loves to think about the stories behind the paintings while the homeowner in me enjoys the play of light and color.

**What about you? Did you have a theme in mind when you decorated your home or did one emerge as you collected things you love? Chat with me this week on the boards and I’ll give away a copy of my new Blaze, HER MAN ADVANTAGE, to one random poster. 

Joanne

www.joannerock.com

***Joanne's winner is Eli Yanti!  Eli, please email me at totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing info.  Thank you!***

Blurring Lines and Breaking Rules: UF vs. PNR

I once read that you could differentiate an urban fantasy from a paranormal romance book by whether the heroine a) slayed or b) fell in love the monsters. Really? I honestly don't think this has ever really been true, because even in the early days of UF, when Laurell K. Hamilton was the only big player on the block, Anita Blake was falling in love with monsters. And most of the PNRs I've read feature strong heroines who do their fair share of slaying.

That's not the only so-called yardstick by which to measure the sub-genres. Problem is, many of the other standard guidelines don't work, either. For example, this one: all paranormals have happily-ever-after endings. What about Yasmine Galenorn? She writes steamy love stories, but doesn't guarantee a HEA. Here's another: PNRs have sex scenes. What about Karen Moning's Fever series? Every bookstore I've been in shelves it in the romance section, but the first few books have zero sex scenes. Zilch! And to contrast that, most of the UFs I read have at least a little smexy-time.

Maybe it's not sex, but love. Urban fantasies only feature flings or crushes that eventually fade. The heroine moves from one man to the next throughout the series, which is in contrast to PNRs that feature one soulmate couple per book—the next book in the series moves on to the next couple. Then how do you explain the Night Huntress books by Jeaniene Frost? Cat and Bones are soulmates who star in multiple books, shelved as PNR. Same with Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter series—several books feature one couple. On the other side of the fence, Stacia Kane's UF Downside series features a heroine, Chess, who is clearly in love with Terrible throughout the series.

The be-all, end-all sub-genre identifier seems to be this: if you strip away the romance from a book, does the story still stand on its own? (If no, it's romance, natch!) I've tried to apply this measurement to my own series, Arcadia Bell. At its core, the series is a story about an occult magician, Arcadia "Cady" Bell, who runs a demon-friendly tiki bar in Northern California. She has a special sight that allows her to identify Earthbound demons—who, to the average person, look like humans. Each of my books features a supernatural mystery that Cady must solve and fight her way out of. But they also feature a strong, soulmate romance between Cady and an Earthbound demon she falls in love with. There are sex scenes, teasing banter, and romantic adventure. If you stripped away Cady and Lon's relationship from the books, the mystery would stand on its own, I suppose, but it wouldn't be half as interesting. And the first two books have HEAs of sorts—hopeful endings in which the couple is together. As far as slaying goes, Cady and Lon both fight the bad guys, usually together. But Lon is demon, so Cady's definitely in love with the monster.

Arcadia Bell has strong, unique world-building and is shelved in urban fantasy, even though a lot of paranormal readers have picked it up for the romance. But in the end, like many other series that cross the line between these two genres, I think people will continue to read it because it doesn't strictly belong in one place or the other. Because sometimes, breaking the rules can be extraordinarily exciting.

Do you have a favorite series that crosses genre lines?

Jenn Bennett

http://www.jennbennett.com

A Year in the Life of an Author - April

If you've been following my posts (January, February and March), you'll know I've been working towards finishing the draft of my next book, traveling more than usual, and trying to keep up with business. April was no exception, 'cept that it whirled by! I did finally get the draft done. After 5 solid months of writing, the draft for the 2nd book in my new Rhymes with Love series is done.

Tentatively titled, And the Miss Ran Away with the Rake, I really like this book. Love the characters and it has been a fun book to write. Not all books are like that, but this one has--thank goodness! However, as it always is with my drafts--it looks like swiss cheese right now. Missing scenes, no love scenes, and a lot of XXXs where I need to insert . . . something!

On top of finishing the draft, I added into the mix, the kids Spring Break. We headed off to Hawaii to stay with my dear and wonderful friend, Jane Porter and spent an idyllic week on the beach. And that is where is I got the draft done. If you think the writer's life sounds perfect, know this: we always have work hanging over our heads and it goes with us everywhere.

No rest for the wicked.

After returning from vacation, I've had to immediately start prepping for the Washington Romance Writers Retreat, where I am the opening speaker and giving a workshop. These things take time to write and prepare, so the life of a writer is also about being able to shift gears from one thing to another and back to the first. So as I write this, I am once again packing, gathering pages to bring with me to work on, and of course a couple of books to read.

Now one thing of note happened in April that I must share: my upcoming book, Along Came a Duke got a starred review in PW. I couldn't be more proud. This is one of those moments where you take a deep breath and look at the email twice and then say, "Shut the Front Door!"

Here's the link, and for those of you who love digital reads, Along Came a Duke is being offered for pre-sale at $4.99 from Kindle and Barnes & Noble and most every online purveyor of ebooks. See you May 29th!

Food for Love by Natalie Anderson

There's an old adage that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach... whether it's true or not I don't know, but I can say that for me, food is one of life's great pleasures - yes, we women are allowed to enjoy our food every bit as much as men, right?! ;)

And being the chief cook and bottle washer in a family of six, having someone else cook a delicious dinner for me is such a treat - it's more than a meal, it's a gift.

Roxie, the heroine in my May US release FIRST TIME LUCKY?, has been the chief cook and bottle washer for years. For her food has been medicinal more than pleasurable as she tried to help her Grandfather through his illness. And she didn't just cook the food - she grew it. It became a lifestyle and a part of her identity. But now she's about to embark on a new phase in her life - she has a six point checklist and and airplane ticket... But first, there's something she wants from her new neighbour. Only he, Gabe, wants a few things himself... and one night he pushes to make Roxie see that he's more than just another item for her 'to do'.

Roxie eats veggie, so she knows that for Gabe to have made her a meal from scratch has taken real time and effort. It's the kind of effort that thrills her, but also scares her...

“Wow,’ she said, taking in the laden plates on the outdoor dining table. “Not sure the Bolly is good enough for this.”                       

“Don’t get too effusive, it’s only burger and chips.”            

“Not your average burger and chips.” They were home-made bean patties, ripped-from-the-plant salad and freshly dug new potatoes cooked then crisped up something yummy. Her mouth watered, her appetite suddenly screaming. “You cooked all this?”  

“I’m a single man, living alone,” he drawled. “You didn’t think I could cook?”             

“But it’s...”             

“Veggie, I know. Not bad for a beef farm boy, huh?” He popped the cork and poured the champagne into two glasses – frowning when that was enough to empty the bottle.             

She picked up her fork and took a bite of the patty poking out from the toasted roll. Oh, wow. “You really made this from scratch?”             

“Your amazement is insulting.”             

She chuckled, a trickle of warmth flowing back into her chilled body. “I’ve never met anyone who makes veggie burgers like these. From scratch. Not even me.”             

He pulled his phone from his pocket and swiped the screen a few times. “Okay, I got the recipe online. Here.”             

She angled her head to read the page he’d pulled up. “The Heganator?” She didn’t just giggle, she squealed. “Hegan?”             

“Yeah, cool recipes for the hot vegan male,” he turned the phone back to study it oh, so intently. Then he peered over the top of the phone, eyes twinkling. “I think it’s really written by a woman. Apparently hegans like burgers and barbecues.”             

“You’re hot but you’re not a hegan,” she said, almost all her old flirt tone back.             

“But I can cook like one on occasion.”             

“It is amazing. I mean that in a good way,” she looked at him and her teasing smile died. “Thank you.”             

Her heart was beating too hard. She couldn’t remember when someone else had cooked dinner for her. When someone had gone to so much trouble and thought. Someone who bothered to understand what she preferred to eat and not eat. Certainly not her lame ex-boyfriend. The joke died from his eyes too – leaving them warm and gentle and so deep...             

She dropped her knife so she had the excuse to break away from that acute, wordless communication. Surely she was reading the wrong messages. It wasn’t caring she was supposed to see in him, it was supposed to be all carnal. But for a weird second there everything had gone upside down and inside out.

If you had a handsome hero on hand to prepare a lavish feast just for you, what would you have him make?!

Discipline, Dedication, and Very Old TV Shows

Writer’s Block: It happens. It’s happening right now. I’m halfway into book four in my Underworld Detection Agency series and a mere three weeks away from deadline. Technically, the book should have been done two weeks ago, but I was afforded a lucky reprieve because my editor has (thankfully) extended his European vacation. And before you think “extra-long European vacation?! Writers and book people must make tons of money!” Let me just mention that my last vacation? Involved a tent, sixteen pounds of DEET, and an air mattress with a slow leak. Not that I’m complaining. Except I am.

Anyway, my thought was that I would wake up this morning and, just before settling down to hammer out a good chunk of the as-yet untitled Under-Something, I would drop in here and impart the kind of deep, thought-provoking prose I read from authors I loved just as I was starting out. Something like Anne Lamott’s invaluable (and inspiring) bits in Bird by Bird. Or maybe I’d offer some of those fabulous character studies I love so much from Janet Evanovich’s How I Write. I used to love sitting down with those books, knowing that those authors woke up fresh faced and sat at a clean desk, just recording genius as it flowed from their collective brains. Easy, I thought then, and elegant.

I still believe in their ease and genius and clean desks, even as I sit here, trying to finagle five inches of couch space from my cat who, like water, can randomly spread her body to fit (read: take over) any space she wishes. While I watch a decade old repeat of Boy Meets World on mute. And think about pancakes and how I don’t want to go to the gym this morning because it might interfere with my lunch plans. Genius, right! Creative tidbits! Thought-provoking prose and prompts! Ummm…

Here’s the thing: I love my job. I love it more than donuts, Johnny Depp, and an Army Wives marathon. I might love it even more than me, nibbling on a donut-covered Johnny Depp while watching an Army Wives marathon. And that’s saying a lot, because those are all things I love and things that would likely make up my perfect last day on earth. But just because I love my job doesn’t mean it’s easy, doesn’t mean it’s not a struggle or that sometimes, I don’t spend full days staring at a near blank screen, certain that the blinking cursor is a mocking ploy by Microsoft to get me to off myself. I love it, but my job is a job and when people say “I admire your discipline!” or “how do you get yourself to keep going?” my answer is always this: how many days have you dragged yourself out of bed, slogged your way to work, only to stare at the clock, willing it to be time to go home? Probably more often than you can count. But do you still get up the next morning and do it again? So do I.  Some days I love to write. Some days I think I’ve just sat down and when I look up, hours have passed and Sophie Lawson has gone from being smiley and chocolate-mouthed to eyebrow deep in danger and zombie parts. Other days… well, other days, I try desperately to stay relevant while watching old TV and bargaining for couch space with the cat. It’s about discipline, and dedication, and your editor’s travel schedule. It’s about doing what you love when you don’t always love it. It might not be as elegant as Anne Lamott or Janet Evanovich but if you want to write – if you want to do anything – the key isn’t to throwing yourself full boar into it when you want to, it’s doing it even when you don’t.

Especially if you have nowhere to sit.

Do you have tips and tricks to get yourself motivated or favorite books that help? Whether it’s to write, to exercise, or just to get out of bed, I’d love to hear them!  One lucky commenter will win an autographed copy of Under Suspicion. US and Canada only, please. Winner will be drawn randomly from all entries. Good luck!

Visit Hannah at www.Hannah-Jayne.com or www.hannahjschwartz.com. Tweet me @Hannah_Jayne! Like the Hannah Jayne author page for more fun giveaways!

As always, thank you for reading and I’m sorry my book covers don’t match the content (Sophie doesn't like leather!). Seriously, I have nothing to do with cover choices...


***Hannah's winner is Ev!  Ev, please email me at totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing info.  Thank you!***

Julianne MacLean on Plot Twists and Exasperating Spoilers

(And a gift card giveaway!)

Have you ever wanted to kick someone for giving away a plot twist in a book or movie?  I’m the type of person who shuts her eyes and covers her ears during long movie trailers that go too far into the plot elements of a film.  I like the teaser trailers best.

The same goes for books.  I just want to know the set up… the high concept event that throws the characters into conflict and sets the story in motion.  I don’t want to know what happens beyond the first few chapters because I prefer to discover that for myself, and I want the suspense of not knowing what’s going to happen next.

Even in a romance novel--when it’s safe to assume there will be a happy ending--I want to be surprised along the way.  As a writer I always try to steer away from the predictable.  I like to lead my readers down a certain garden path, then take a sharp, unexpected left turn along the way and maybe dash into a bed of ferns or a thick grove of junipers.

I love it best when a reader writes to me and says, “Wow - I didn’t see that coming!”  But I also enjoy hearing from readers who do figure out a plot twist before it happens.  I like to know that they were on their toes while reading, and that they enjoyed the experience of putting the puzzle pieces together.

Sadly it’s become an epidemic online where reviewers write a full synopsis of the storyline before they reveal how they liked or didn’t like the book.  It takes great skill to write a review that presents just the right amount of information to intrigue a reader without giving too much away.  It’s a delicate balance that I see tipping over and spilling onto desktops far too often in reviews.

As an author, when I release a new book, I always brace myself for the spoiler reviews and hope that not too many people will stumble across them before reading the story.  Remember the movie The Sixth Sense?  It had a spectacular plot twist and I was always amazed and impressed by how very few people gave it away in the media.  Radio personalities talked about it on the air but were careful to keep the twist under wraps, and most audience members were blown away by it in the theater.  Those who figured it out beforehand could pat themselves on the back for being so insightful and observant…that is, if no one had told them about it beforehand.

For the most part, I’ve been pleased with the majority of reviewers who have NOT given away some of my best twists.  CAPTURED BY THE HIGHLANDER and THE COLOR OF HEAVEN both had some drastic hairpin turns, and there were only a few readers who blabbed about them.  I often want to write to the conscientious reviewers to thank them for being so careful.

As of this moment, there are only two reviews up on Amazon for my new release BE MY PRINCE and both have handled the situation like true pros.  I’m sure that won’t last long, however.  There will probably be more reviews by the time you are reading this blog, and someone will have given everything away, no doubt.  So if you’re like me and don’t like spoilers, stick to the back cover blurb and don’t scroll down.

So tell me - how do you feel about spoilers?  Feel free to vent about them - especially if you’re an author who has seen your book retold in such detail, there was no reason left for the reader to buy it.  I’ll be giving away a $25 gift card to Amazon or B&N - winner’s choice.

And here’s the set up for my new book - with no spoilers, I promise:

What would you do for a royal romance?

From bestselling author Julianne MacLean comes a new series brimming with the lavish romance of the Regency period—and the dangerous passions of royals in love …

Attention one and all. His Royal Highness, Prince Randolph of Petersbourg, will set sail for London in early June and reside at St. James’s Palace for one full month…Some say the true motive for the prince’s visit to our fair country is to seek and marry his future queen. I will therefore pose the question to our devoted and reflective readers: Who among us will be the chosen one? —From the London Ballroom Society Pages

Lady Alexandra Monroe has been told in no uncertain terms that she must set her sights on a proposal from Prince Randolph to better her family’s situation. Instead, she finds herself falling for his charming but dangerous younger brother Nicholas, a man whose passionate nature—and irresistible good looks—makes it impossible to remember her duty. But while she is torn between ambition and desire, a wicked scandal brews, shocking secrets are revealed, and soon she begins to wonder: can true love really conquer all?

http://www.juliannemaclean.com

***Julianne's winner is Wendy!  Wendy, please email me at totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing info.  Thank you!***

Grandma & the Prince - Part 35

Mona at 16

Now here's where my Aunt Mona's story get weird.

Last month I told you about her romance with Jack the photographer and the moment when I first saw real, live, grown-up romance on the day Mona and her friend Helen opened their own real estate office.

I can almost hear why you're thinking. Wow! Early 1960s and she was living the Gloria Steinem/Betty Friedan dream. Mona was smart, sexy,and independent. She thought nothing of jumping behind the wheel of her gigantic, snow white, Chevy Biscayne and driving across the country alone to San Diego, just because she could. Well into her seventies, she was driving the Florida-to-New York trail twice a year. She was five-foot-two and weighed maybe one hundred and ten pounds but the woman was fearless. Except for her brief marriage, she lived alone her entire life and loved it. She walked city streets at night and didn't blink. She was probably one of the strongest human beings, both physically and mentally, that I have ever known.

  But I found out much later that when it came to love, my sassy and ambitious aunt was  a geisha at heart. Love makes us all a little crazy. That's a given, isn't it? When you're wildly in love, you're not thinking clearly. In fact, you're lucky if you're thinking at all. The same woman who had a cleaning service come into her apartment twice a week, the same woman had her laundry done by professionals, the same woman who didn't take orders from anyone, cleaned her boyfriend Jack's apartment twice a week, ran over to walk his dog every afternoon, and made sure he had a nutritious meal waiting either on the stove or in the fridge when he came home each night. Or early morning, depending on what he'd been up to. You see, Jack liked Mona but he didn't love her and no matter how many dishes she washed or how many dog-walking miles she racked up, nothing was going to change that fact.

A few years into their relationship, he told her he was in love with someone else.  And Mona continued to clean his apartment. Then he told her he was engaged to marry that someone else. And Mona continued to walk his dog. Finally he said the wedding was next week and maybe it was time she gave back his key. And she did.

Jack's marriage didn't last but his friendship (and maybe more) with my aunt Mona did. Same as her friendship with her ex-husband.

And the dentist who lived with his sister Tillie. But I'll tell you about him next month.

P.S. My name is Barbara Bretton and you can find me here  and here and here.

P.P.S. I apologize for taking so long to send out last month's prizes. I promise you they'll go out this week.

P.P.S. I'm giving away e-books this month. Ten commenters will each receive a copy of The Marrying Man for their Kindles.

P.P.P.S. Barbara E., you are my March winner. Please drop me an email at barbarabretton AT gmail DOT com with your full name and mailing address and I PROMISE I'll send out your prize ASAP.

P.P.P.P.S. Here's what I've been up to.

The first time they met, his dog trashed her car.
The second time they met, she set fire to her bathroom.
The third time they met, they fell in love.

Annie Galloway isn't looking to fall in love again. Sam Butler doesn't want a home and family of his own.

Too bad fate has other plans . . .

A SOFT PLACE TO FALL is a 100,000 word contemporary romance, previously published by Berkley Books.Available now for the first time as an e-book.

Click here to read the first chapter.






     
The Edge of Forever, an award-winning Harlequin American, available for the first time in e-book form.

OPPOSITES ATTRACT . . .

But can a night of passion turn into a love that lasts forever?

Meg Lindstrom is a struggling photographer who drives a limo to make ends meet.

Joe Alessio is a best-selling author of fiery historical romances who hasn’t written a word in months.

They don't have a thing in common until Meg falls at his feet one sunny October afternoon and Joe realizes he’s finally met the woman of his dreams.

But first Joe will have to convince Meg that her dreams really can come true . . .

Click here to read an excerpt on Amazon.

So there’s a naked man in the kitchen…

What would you do if you showed up for work one day and the guy you’re supposed to be working for shows up naked? And no, please don’t imagine your current boss naked. That would just be wrong. Unless your boss looks like the cover of my newest release, Beauty and The Best. Then, by all means, go ahead and imagine it.

And never ever quit that job.

But if this happened to you, what would you do? How would you react? What would you call him? Big guy?

It’s a question the heroine, personal chef Jolie Gardener, has to address when she’s preparing breakfast for Todd Best, her new boss. Considering Todd does look like the cover of the book, it’s no surprise that a few things start burning…

Here’s a sneak peek at that scene:

There’s a naked man in my kitchen.

The thought registered just as the terse, “Who the hell are you?” had Jolie Gardener spinning around faster than a figure skater on speed.

He had the nerve to ask this? He of the broad shoulders, six-pack abs, and other, nice, um, parts... 

Really. A naked man. In her kitchen.

Well, technically, she was in a naked man’s kitchen. Even more technically, she was in a naked Todd Best’s kitchen—and there wasn’t one hint of self-consciousness or embarrassment on his part. Of course with that body, there shouldn’t be. The guy should flaunt his nudity for the world to see. Which, at present, consisted of one single, solitary person: Jolie Gardener, aspiring writer and personal chef extraordinaire.

“Well?” His hands slammed to his hips.

“You’re naked,” she squeaked, which, really, was the only way to state that kind of obvious.

“I’m what?” Mr. Six-Pack Abs glanced down.

Jolie tried not to—so unsuccessfully it was pitiful.

“Shit,” he muttered. “I am. I, uh, fell asleep last night…”

As butter sizzled in the new super-slick omelet pan on the top-of-the-line range, Jolie’s gaze alternated between some rock-hard abs and a scruffy eight a.m. shadow while her fingers danced along the speckled granite countertop in search of a napkin, placemat, oven mitt… something.

Mercifully, they scooped up a thick dishtowel that, in her world, would constitute a very plush, very luxurious hand towel from The Ritz or The Four Seasons, but which, here, apparently, was used to soak up water from designer flatware. She dangled it in the direction of Mr. Au Naturel. “Here.”

He placed an empty bottle of Jim Beam on the island countertop with a clink, then took the towel with a grunt. “So, who are you, what are you doing in my kitchen, and would you mind turning around?”

She turned. “I’m the new girl the agency sent over.”

“Hell. There better be some aspirin left,” he muttered beside her, his bare (of course) feet making no sound on the limestone floor.

She peeked over at him.

His eyebrow soared skyward.

Right.

### © 2012 Judi Fennell

Sadly, no naked hot guy has ever shown up on my first day on the job. No, I get the jobs where the office manager rents out the choicest office to her father for 1/5th of the rent, among other bad business decisions that drive the company into bankruptcy. Or the boss who had perjured himself on the stand for another corporate executive who then said to him, “You’ll never have to worry about a job ever again.” So true; the guy showed up at the office and did nothing. Absolutely nothing. I’d ask him who we should have as a speaker or what event we should do at the corporate meeting and all I’d get in response was a shrug while holding his palms up. Seriously. And he wonders why I couldn’t stand him.

Then there’s the job where I found out that the so-called “owner” isn’t really named John Q. Public * (*name changed to protect me from lawsuits). No, this guy’s name is John K. Publick and the reason he’s using the misspelled name is because, um, he doesn’t want anyone to google him and find his jail term sentencing for insider training. Or the one for fraud.

I kid you not.

So, yeah, I’d say a naked man in the kitchen would be a welcome change after some of the stuff I’ve seen through the years in the “real” world. Someday I’ll write that book. And you know what? No one will believe it. Truth really is stranger than fiction.

So, what’s your Day Job horror story? Worst horror story will win an PDF copy of  Beauty and The Best. I’ll pick the winner after 5 pm eastern on the 26th to be announced on the 27th. Be sure to leave your email with your horror story so we can get in touch with you if you win.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy Todd and Jolie’s Once-Upon-A-Time Romance!

Beauty and The Best is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords and is currently on sale for $2.99. But hurry; this price won’t last much longer.

PRISM Award and Golden Leaf Award-winning author, Judi Fennell, has had her nose in a book and her head in some celestial realm all her life, including those early years when her mom would exhort her to “get outside!” instead of watching Bewitched or I Dream of Jeannie on television. So she did—right into Dad’s hammock with her Nancy Drew books.

These days she’s more likely to have her nose in her laptop and her head (and the rest of her body) at her favorite writing spot, but she’s still reading, whether it be her latest manuscript or friends’ books.

Author of “fairy tales with a twist,” pun-filled, tongue-in-cheek, contemporary paranormal romances, starting with the Tritone Trilogy about Mermen and the Humans who love them, her Bottled Magic Series about genies and magic and falling in love, and now her Once-Upon-A-Time Romances, those twisted fairy tales that were the inspiration for her tagline.

Dive into the romance on her website, www.JudiFennell.com, for excerpts, deleted scenes, reviews, contests, and pictures from reader and writer conferences


***Judi's winner is Kathleen! Kathleen, please email me at totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing info.  Thank you!***