Michelle Styles: Birchbox and me

It started with a phone call about my birthday from my sister. For a number of years she has given me a subscription to the Smithsonian magazine because basically it saved her sending me interesting articles but she wanted to know if I wanted something different – a subscription to Birchbox as they had just expanded into the UK (Birchbox UK).

Luckily I had heard of Birchbox. Birchbox is the brainchild of two Harvard Business School graduates who liked cosmetics. They had a friend who worked for a fashion magazine and who used to share cosmetic samples which they loved getting. The great idea was why not run a company which sends out samples of beauty products as well as having a website where people can buy the products. It sort of sounds like desperation when you are faced with a deadline and then having an idea which turns out to be pure genius. 

 These are the high end beauty products which are often featured in magazines but hard to find unless you know where to go. They pitched it, got the funding and the company was born.  It has gone from strength to strength and now has something like 400,000 subscribers as well expanding internationally. It sounds like it is straight from a romance novel in many ways – plucky women start company and succeed against the odds.  (I have no idea about their love lives but the whole company sent my imagination soaring but I don't do contemporary romance...). A true success story.

Anyway,thanks to my sister and her birthday present, I have signed up and am now getting my Birchbox box every month. It includes about 4 or 5 good sized samples. The quality has impressed so far.  Last month, among the goodies was a great anti-aging cream and the eyeliner  that Alexia Chung uses, plus instructions of how to put on eyeliner.  I am in love with the eyeliner. My 20 year old daughter nabbed the lipstick and loves it. This month, the box was edited by Lulu Guinness so they included a sample of her favourite eye primer as well as a stick of rock (a type of old fashioned boiled sweet) which helped to inspire Lulu’s Spring collection. I particularly like the Mouton Brown hand cream as it cleared up my dry elbow problem.  And I look forward to getting more boxes.

It is a great idea and I love getting my box. Anyway, I thought I’d highlight it as it is fun and other people might like to know about it.

In other news:

Earlier this week, I found out from the editor that the Viking setting is doing so well, my September release Saved by the Viking Warrior will be a North American Retail release  as well as being an ebook release.

Because Return of the Viking Warrior is released in May, I will be doing a contest next month for Tote Bag readers.

Michelle Styles writes warm, witty and intimate historical romance in a wide range of time periods. Her next book Return of the Viking Warrior will be published in May. You can learn more on about Michelle and her books on www.michellestyles.co.uk

Christina Hollis: Work In Progress - "Bright Danger"

Cover Art - Samantha Groom

I’ve recently taken some time out to write in genres beyond my usual category of contemporary romance. You can read an extract from my historical novel, Jewel Under Siege, by clicking here.  My current work in progress, Bright Danger, is a full-length contemporary thriller with a romantic twist.

Josh Ambrose turned to law-enforcement after a tragedy in his turbulent past. When mysterious woman-without-a-history Sophia Hope finds a dead celebrity at a local make-out point, she proves more dangerous to Josh's peace of mind than any murderer. He's in trouble, but her predicament is about to get a whole lot worse...

OPENING OF CHAPTER ONE, BRIGHT DANGER

'...but I love you!'

That was the last thing she wanted to hear, especially from him. She put on a spurt, desperate to get away. Would this guy never take the hint? She’d moved here to start a new, blameless life. He’d ignored every instruction not to follow her, from gentle hint to firm refusal. What was wrong with the man? He stuck like human chewing-gum. 

I’ll have to get nasty, she thought. Really nasty. 

The track ahead led up a bony limestone spine. Kicking on, she left her unwanted shadow for dead. The winter air burned her face, but she dragged it into her body like vodka.

‘I’m serious!’ his voice drifted up like cigarette smoke from a long way below her.

Something always managed to stop her running right to the summit of this heartbreaking hill. Today, that fawning fruit-loop wanted to hold her back–but it wasn't going to happen. Today, she was determined to find out what life was like at the top...

*

Josh Ambrose groaned and opened his eyes. It didn’t make any difference. His room was as black as an informant’s heart. Without much enthusiasm, he tried to extract himself from the duvet’s warm embrace. Then he remembered it was Sunday. 

Ahhh...Sunday.... 

Next minute, an unholy racket punched a hole straight through his head. Falling out of bed, he groped across the room. After ripping back the curtains, he killed the alarm clock. When the only thing still ringing was his ears, he dragged his hand down over his face. Then he went over to his bedside chair, and inspected the clothes he’d stripped off after coming home from the match.  They were alive with the smells of quattro stagioni and Black Pepper bodywash, but good enough for what he had in mind.

  Throwing his underpants aside, he got into his jeans. As he moved, he caught sight of his reflection in the mirror. Light ran over his body like honey. The double-headed eagle etched across his back roused as he flexed. It had taken a total of seven hours, eighteen minutes and twenty-seven seconds to get that inking done. The pain had been exquisite. He’d only endured it to fit in with the Anderson gang. All along, they’d thought they were using him. They'd realized too late that Josh was the one in charge, playing them like fish on hooks. In the end they’d lost everything. He’d walked away with the biggest prize of all. 

And Lucky.

Pulling on his shirt, Josh thundered downstairs. He almost filled the small kitchen, bouncing from light switch to radio, toaster to kettle and back again.  

In all that time, his new dog never moved a muscle. Brought up to expect nothing but trouble from men, she was screwed into her bed, still and silent.

  ‘Ready, Lucky?’ 

       He strolled toward her, braced for her usual morning routine of flinch and growl. 

This morning, it didn’t happen. His mouth dried. He dropped into a crouch beside the dog-basket. Was she sick? Instinctively, his hand went toward the danger zone, then he stopped himself. He could afford to lose a few minutes, but he wanted to keep all his fingers...

Josh Ambrose soon finds out that in a world where public faces hide private sins, he can’t count on loyalty from anyone. And the woman he wants has a lot of history, and it's catching up with her fast.

How do you think Bright Danger is shaping up so far?

Christina Hollis writes both contemporary and historical fiction - when she isn't cooking, gardening or beekeeping. You can catch up with her at http://www.christinahollis.blogspot.com, on Twitter and Facebook, and see a full list of her published books at http://www.christinahollis.com

The Road Less Traveled

Friends who follow me on social media still talk about my dual-flush toilet glee a couple years ago when we were renovating a bathroom. There was an article in the paper last weekend talking about water conservation and mentioned them (and water barrels…have that, too!).

Like so many things in my life, it became fodder for my writing.  I used that dual-flush toilet in my

December book, A Valley Ridge Christmas:

“I told the plumber I’d do the demo work in here, and the stupid toilet is stuck. I don’t know what else to do.”

“We’re replacing it, right?”

“Yes. We’re replacing both with dual flush toilets.”

“Dual flush?”

“They’re very water efficient. You use one button for little jobs and one for big …” She could feel her cheeks heating up. “Needless to say, they’re a green alternative. Tori’s dad suggested them. He said as long as we were doing all this work, we might as well make the house as green and energy efficient as possible.”

Aaron sank down next to her and examined the bolts, then turned so that his face was inches away from hers. “You are the first woman I’ve ever met who can get excited about a dual flush toilet.”
Maeve shrugged. “That’s me. Save the earth…one flush at a time. But only if I could get this nut off the bolt.”


“Let’s try it together.”

That working together moment was so important to the characters' changing relationship.  I loved that scene, but I was afraid my editor wouldn't see the merit in characters falling for each other over a toilet. I thought about cutting the scene, but in the end, I left it.  And she didn't even bat an eye.

I'm working on getting a few older books ready to reprint as eBooks.  One of them, Bosom Buddies (published as Baby, It's You), has a lactation consultant heroine meeting a hero with a nipple-confused baby.  He comes to her for help, and she has an idea.  It's called an SNS (supplemental nursing system).  Breastfeeding moms can supplement their milk by using the tubing that comes from a bottle and taping it next to their nipples.  The baby is supplemented as they nurse.  BUT the heroine in Bosom Buddies is suggesting the hero use the tubing taped to a finger.  Finger feeding will often work for babies who won't take a bottle.  BUT what the hero is hearing is she wants him to tape the tubing to HIS nipples and feed the baby.  Their miscommunication made me laugh as I reread it.

Yeah, it was a weird, convoluted scene.  More than a decade ago as I wrote the book, I almost cut it.  But I decided not to play it safe and sent the book, weird (but hopefully funny) opening scene in place.  I got a call days later from the editor.  She'd read that opening and called to tell me she couldn't stop laughing and she was buying the book…she'd get back to me with contract info after she finished more than just that first scene.

So what's my point here?  Well, you could say my point is conserving water is a good thing (it is), or that if you have a baby with feeding issues, go see a professional (do).  But really, my point is, sometimes we second-guess ourselves.  We take what we perceive as the safer path.  And that isn't necessarily the best path.  That weird SNS scene sold Bosom Buddies, and the dual-flush toilet scene was definitely something you don't find in a lot of romances.  It gave me glee, and some of my readers who follow me on FaceBook remembered my stories of my dual-flush and commented on finding it in a book!

I hope that you all take a chance…take that road less traveled.  Sometimes that makes all the difference!

Holly

PS. If you don't have it on your Kindle, Spruced Up is on sale today for 99¢

Old Favourites by Kate Walker

When I first started writing romance all that time ago – December 2014 marks 30 years since I was first published – the books were only available in  bookshops – no internet, no Amazon, definitely no  ebook readers.  They were also only available for that one month they were on sale – and no more.   And not even that if, as the very first book I ever wrote was only available in the hardback version that was known as a ‘library edition.’

So that first book,  The Chalk Line, appeared in my hands – arriving in a parcel  just before Christmas – but I couldn’t see it on the bookshop shelves. And as not every book ever went to America either, it didn’t have a paperback edition until some years later.  Seven years later to be precise, when it was decided to publish the paperback edition in 1991!

And of course on those days, once a book was published  and went on sale for a month, then that was it.  There was no way of getting hold of a copy later. And the only reprints were rare -  they were labelled ‘Bestsellers’  and possibly   reprinted a few years later – if the original book sold well enough to merit it. But when you were up against the greats like  Charlotte Lamb, Anne Mather, Penny Jordan,  you often didn’t get a chance at that.

I was thinking about this when  I realise that Harlequin have released a whole bundle of my earlier books in new ebook formats  since the start of this year.  It’s a thrill to see older books -  Wife For A Day (originally published 1998) or The Married Mistress (2003) coming ‘back to life’ so to speak in new Kindle editions so that new readers  - or readers who have been looking for these titles for some time – can now get copies of them at  the click of a mouse.  These books were only

in  Reader Service when they were first released so they were on general distribution for anyone to get hold of them

It’s been a thrill to see these ‘resurrected’ books selling too – I discovered The Married Mistress  in the top 20 bestsellers on Amazon – not bad for a book that is over 10 years old! But perhaps the best thing has been that  the covers are been renewed as well, where they were needed.   I always liked to cover of The Married Mistress  -  but the original artwork for Wife For A Day was -  well,  strange. . . I mean – look at the heroine’s hair. The new edition is much better, much more like the characters I had in mind.

It’s an amazing feeling, after 30 years writing and being published to find that my older  books are now getting this new lease of life – and coming back revitalised and revived.  It’s something I could never have imagined all those years ago when The Chalk Line first came out – just goes to show that nothing stands still – particularly not in publishing.  

What about you: Do you like the way the older books are being re-issued – are you glad to have a chance to grab at books you never read before – or revisit old

favourites? Are there any romances you’re particularly looking forward to seeing – or would like to see republished in this way?

Titles coming up  for me  are  the reprinting of  The Good Greek Wife in a 3 in 1 special collection titles Eligible Greeks: Sizzling Affairs.

My next full length novel will be  A Question of Honour (or Honor!) published in M&B Modern and Harlequin  Presents in  June.  The idea  for that came from my own family history - but I'll tell you more about that   nearer to publication time.

You can find out more about me and my books one my website  or on my blog where all the latest and most up to date news can be found.

Eat, Pray, Inspire

by Anna Campbell

Have you ever been to see a writer speak? I must say I love going to things like writers festivals and conventions and conferences where I get to hear people talk about their writing process and what inspires them.

Last week, I was lucky enough to go to hear American writer Elizabeth Gilbert speak about creativity at the Powerhouse arts centre in Brisbane.

Wow, what an inspiring woman.The qualities that I love in her writing - the honesty; the heart-on-the-sleeve emotional openness; the intellectual curiosity - were on display like Christmas lights in December!

Most of us know EG through her mega-bestselling memoir of finding herself after a divorce, EAT, PRAY, LOVE (which inspired my title for this piece!). This was made into a movie with Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem which I saw and I have to say I found a bit underwhelming. EG told a funny story about meeting a pair of old ladies at JFK airport who came up to her to ask if she was the writer who had done the novelization of the movie!

I really enjoyed EAT, PRAY, LOVE, but the book of hers that I really, really liked was the memoir that followed it, COMMITTED:  A LOVE STORY. This is an examination of the history of marriage and current cultural attitudes toward marriage around the world and it continues the story started in EPL. The other piece of work of hers that I strongly recommend is a talk she gave for TED (Technology, Education, Design) back in 2009 about "Your Elusive Creative Genius." Here's a link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86x-u-tz0MA

On this trip to Australia, EG was talking about the inspirations behind her latest book THE SIGNATURE OF ALL THINGS, which is a historical novel (I haven't read it but it sounds fascinating).

It was so interesting to hear her discuss her theory about ideas - she believes that ideas are floating around out there, looking for someone to fasten onto to achieve realisation. Which explains the rather odd phenomenon that two completely original ideas will pop up at nearly the same time (happened to me with courtesan books, happened to Darwin with evolution, LOL!). She also talked about the need for a writer to keep herself receptive so that the idea that is meant for her can find her.

It all sounds quite mystical, but I knew what EG was talking about, although I tend to think in terms of conscious and subconscious. I firmly believe that there is a whole ocean of 'stuff' out there that coagulates under its own volition in a writer's mind and will eventually find its way out as a book. One of the things I love about a good reading binge is that it lets my subconscious get on with its work of deciding what I'll do next!

Another thing that EG said that really rang a bell for me was when she said you can't force these ideas. It's pointless standing there and saying to the universe (or your subconscious in my terms), "Hey, give me an idea now, bud, or ELSE!" That just makes the good ideas curl up into a closed ball like a sulky child. The sort of sulky child who goes 'nuh!' a lot!

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Elizabeth Gilbert. I'd love the chance to hear her again. She's a wonderfully warm, witty and insightful speaker. If you get the chance to see her, rush to get a seat!

So did you read EAT, PRAY, LOVE? Read anything else by Elizabeth Gilbert? Have you been to see a writer speak? Did it help or hinder your appreciation of their work? Is there a writer you'd crawl across broken glass to hear?

What’s in a Name, part II :: Anne McAllister

Last month, you may recall, I asked for suggestions for my upcoming herione’s name.  There were lots of great ones – thank you very much. She turned out to be Eleanor, called Nell, thanks to Mary Preston. 

This month, I thought I would share with you an ongoing discussion I had with the marvelous Anne Gracie about names for heroes.  This began when she started writing her Brides series with The Autumn Bride and wanted to call her hero Charles.

I have no big problem with Charles. I wrote about a hero called Charlie myself. But Charles sounds sort of bland to me. Especially for the man she was writing about. 

Anne’s hero seemed edgier than a Charles, bigger than a Charles (my grandfather, Charles, was not a big man, so I have a precedent for the name).  I suggested, pleaded, begged, sighed and moaned -- and eventually he became Max. He’s a wonderful Max. It’s a wonderful book.

And then she started on the second book, the one about Damaris, the Chance “sister” who came from China where her father had been a missionary.  Damaris has pain and secrets and, above all, she needs a strong hero. 

“So,” I said, “who’s this hero going to be?”

And Anne said, “You already know him. It’s Freddy.”

Freddy? I said. What kind of name is that for a hero?

The rest is history – and here is Anne to tell you about it:

Freddy? What kind of name is that for a hero?

That's what Anne McAllister told me a year ago when I first told her who the hero was going to be in the second book of my 'Chance sisters'  series.

"Freddy? she said. "You can't have a hero called Freddy."

"Watch me," I told her.

Anne McA and I have been writing buddies for more than a dozen years. It started when I (an Australian) set a contemporary romantic comedy in Montana. Anne McAllister practically owns Montana. "Send me this story," she said. "I'd like to see an Aussie write about Montana."

I did. She liked it. She corrected a couple of small mistakes I'd made, and we've been good friends and writing buddies ever since. We email and talk on the phone, brainstorming and chatting, and we send each other bits to read and critique. We're respectful of each other's writing —we like each other's writing — but neither of us pulls our punches: if we think something doesn't work, we'll say so. You're no kind of writing friend if you pretend something works when it doesn't.

Which brings us back to my hero. "Freddy?" she said. "What kind of name is that for a hero?"

We generally agree on what kind of a hero we like. Strong, honorable, masterful, kind, often wounded deep down, but refusing to show it — that kind of hero. We've had disagreements on hero names before, and usually she's convinced me. Charles is not a hero name. And neither is Freddy.

Freddy, she insisted was a name for a secondary character, a lightweight, a frivolous, entertaining rattle.

And really, she's right. My Freddy is all of those things. I suspect his name was inspired by Georgette Heyer's Freddy in Cotillion.

My Freddy first makes an appearance as a secondary character in The Autumn Bride. He's an elegant, careless, frivolous rake, with a horror of marriage and muffins -- not the edible kind. In his own words:

"A muffin is dull, earnest, generally plain—though occasionally you’ll find one lurking behind a pretty face—and is bent on marrying a fellow and making his life a misery. Reforming him. Forcing him to do Good Works and attend Improving Talks.” He shuddered.

So he's not the strong, silent, tortured alpha kind of hero. He's very much the beta-type and is everything AMcA said a Freddy would be — an entertaining rattle who nobody takes too seriously. He's a frivolous rake who aims to stay that way.

As sole heir to his father's title and fortune, not to mention his own private fortune, he'd been a target for match-making mamas and daughters since he'd first appeared in society. From the beginning he'd made it clear he had no interest in marriage, and once he realized respectable mamas and daughters avoided rakes like the plague, he'd done his best to encourage his reputation as a rake to grow. 

But in the last year or so his mother had apparently informed the mothers, aunts and grandmothers of every eligible female in the kingdom that he was contemplating marriage —she might as well have put a notice in The Gazette, curse her!—and as a result, wherever he went, muffins popped out of the woodwork.

He wasn't contemplating marriage, dammit! Not with anything other than horror.

And don't we know, as romance readers, that them's fightin' words. When a hero swears off marriage in the strongest terms, we just know he's heading for a fall — of the most delicious sort.

You can't have a hero called Freddy?

Just watch me.

*********

The Winter Bride by Anne Gracie

coming April 1st 2014

So what do you prefer, the alpha kind of strong silent tough wounded hero? Or do you sometimes enjoy a change of pace with a beta guy? Who's your favorite beta-hero in romance?

Anne's giving away a copy of the Winter Bride to someone who leaves a comment

**********

ps:  Me, again. Anne McA.  Just so you know – she pulled it off. Freddy is a magnificent hero. And yes, there will be a copy of Freddy’s book, The Winter Bride,  for some lucky person who makes a comment.  Will post here later this week who the winner is so you can get in touch with me. Thanks, all. And thank you to Anne Gracie – and Freddy!

**************

UPDATE!!!!   Anne Gracie has chosen JULIE as the winner of a copy of her book, The Winter Bride.  Julie, if you will please email me at anne.mcallister (at) gmail.com, giving me your mailing address, Anne or I will send your book out to you. Thank you to everyone else for your comments, too. Freddy looks forward to meeting all of you between the pages!

Some things never change - Kandy Shepherd

“Give me the child until he is seven and I'll give you the man” is a famous quote about how childhood experiences affect the adults we become.*

As a romance writer, I like to delve into my characters’ fictional lives to see what happened in their early years to influence the way they behave as adults.

What aspects of my hero’s and heroine’s childhoods; their ingrained likes and dislikes; their buried hurts and memories might have some bearing on their relationships? In particular what might cause my fictional heroes and heroines not to commit to the perfect partner I have created for them? Well, not to commit until near the end of the novel, that is! By that time, there can be no more barriers to stop them getting their wonderful happy-ever-after ending together…

My recent release from Harlequin The Summer They Never Forgot is a story of first love and second chances and features a hero and heroine who first met as teenagers. Twelve years later they meet again—are the aspects of their character that made them fall in love still the same?

Recently, while celebrating a significant birthday, I trawled through family photos to find images that represented milestone times in my life for a party slide-show. Here’s a few that made me smile—those early interests certainly lived on!

Copying my mother or an early obsession?

 I think I was about eighteen months when the photo above was taken. It was the start of a life-long obsession with my weight. Hopping on the scales is still a regular occurrence. (Not that there's anything wrong with wanting to stay a healthy weight! ) Sadly, these days the numbers on the now digital scales are less than edifying...

Cats have been a life-long love

 In this next photo I'm about seven years old. These two kittens, Lucky (left) and Big Boy were born under my bed, their mother a stray who had wandered into our suburban garden. Big Boy went to a home nearby where we could visit him, but Lucky stayed with us until I was eighteen. I was heartbroken to leave him when I left home to go to university and I think he must have been too as he died not long after. That precious feline was the first of a number of beloved cats in my life.

Ivy (left) and Alfie, the most recent additions to my kitty family

What about you? How different are you now to when you were a child? Any particular incidents you might remember? Have any of your interests carried through to adulthood?

Please leave a comment—I’d love to hear about it!

I have one signed copy of The Summer They Never Forgot to give away. Please include your email address in your comment if you want to be included in the draw.

The Summer They Never Forgot is Kandy’s first release from Harlequin Romance in the US, the UK and Australia. Watch out for The Tycoon and the Wedding Planner in July 14.

Visit Kandy at her website

www.kandyshepherd.com

*Attributed by the Jesuits to St Francis Xavier

Addison Fox: Hurray For Hollywood

Like a good portion of the world, I watched the Academy Awards on Sunday night. As I do every year, I was enraptured in the glamour of the gowns, the bright, incandescent shine of the celebrities and the very real excitement that permeates everyone involved with the event. Even the accountants smile when they walk the ballots into the theater!

What I love the most, though, is how invigorated I am after another year’s awards comes to a close. While most industries have their awards, few are broadcast on such a grand scale. And every year, with my own acceptance speech rolling through my mind’s eye, I’m inspired anew to get back to my keyboard and work on my ideas. To focus on my dreams and, day by day and month by month, to work toward my own goals.

It’s easy to look at something like an awards show for film as a frivolity. Certainly, we’re not honoring the next advancement toward curing cancer or discovering new planets. But…I’d argue that by the very act of celebration, we acknowledge our humanity.

Art inspires us. And entertainment provides us with an escape. Combining those two together means we have a place to go inside our minds and hearts for a few hours to renew our spirits. Refill the well. And maybe - if we’re really lucky – see ourselves in a bit brighter light.

So yes, I’d agree that entertainment should be kept in its rightful place – with a fair measure of perspective and the full acknowledgement that we can’t live all the time inside a fantasy world. But I’d also argue that a bit of escape every now and again is just what we need to renew ourselves. Because, after all…tomorrow IS another day!

Thanks for joining me today! For those who watched on Sunday, what was your favorite gown or acceptance speech?

XOXO,

Addison

~~~~~~~~~~

Despite early ambitions of being a diver, a drummer or a doctor, Addison Fox happily discovered she was more suited to life as a writer. She lives in Dallas and - thankfully - doesn't have to operate on anyone. You can find her at her home on the web at www.addisonfox.com. Her latest book, THE ROME AFFAIR, is currently out from Harlequin Romantic Suspense.

You can visit her at her website at www.addisonfox.com or on Facebook: www.facebook.com/addisonfoxauthor or on Twitter: www.twitter.com/addisonfox

Shiloh Walker: Ten Reasons to try my book

My newest FBI Psychic story is due out on 3/11/2014.  Lee invited me to guest blog and here I am with a list on why I think people should give THE INNOCENT a shot.

1. You won’t get lost. I write them to stand alone so even if you haven’t read any of the books in the series, you can jump in and swim along just fine.
2. You can meet a frustrated virgin. You see, Jay doesn’t like her current…state, but she has this unique ability—she picks up on thoughts and emotions when she comes in physical contact with things or people, and nothing kills the mood like man, are her boobs real?
3. You can meet Linc, the hero, a hot and sexy piece of work.  Bald, goatee, muscled.  Former sheriff with an ax to grind.
4. You can take a trip to Hell.  Well, the fictional Hell.  Hell, Georgia.  Where I set the book. I like making towns up
5. Reading it would cost less than going to a movie.  Plus, you can read it again if you liked it.
6. If you read it, you’ll get to meet ‘Robyn’, the woman who bid on the chance to name a character in one of my books in the 2013 Brenda Novak Auction…I’m also donating another chance, this time in one of my J.C. Daniels books.  Who knows, I might even kill the winner this time.  Fictionally, of course.
7. You can see if there was anything in this book that made me cry.
8. You can find out how that tricky ‘touch’ thing with Jay is handled
9. You can also see what happens when unwanted touches occur
10. Last but not least, if you read it, it will make me smile. 

Snippet:

Jay seemed to come alive under his hands and, if he hadn't caught her hands, if he hadn't slowed her down, he suspected she might have tried to pull him to her right there, with the counter against her hips and his jeans still around his ass.

If he were smart, he'd just stop this.

But for the first time in two months, there was something else in his head besides the grief and the ache and the misery. For one night, he could let that go, couldn't he?

Tomorrow was time enough to go back to tearing this town apart, searching for answers.

Her fingers, cool as silk, closed around his cock and he groaned as she worked his jeans down with her free hand. "Slow down, darlin'," he muttered, capturing her wrists and drawing them back. "Slow down."

"I don't want slow."

He laughed hoarsely. "Slow isn't going to happen. But we can do better than this."

Read more…

CJ Carmichael: Partnerships

Last night two of my Calgary author friends—Roxy Boroughs and Brenda M. Collins--and I had a little party with pizza, chocolate and bubbly. Pretty decadent stuff for a Wednesday night—right?

Brenda, who also designs jewelry, made the evening even more special by presenting us all with “one of kind” silver snowflake necklaces. Here is mine.

So what were we celebrating? A writing project we’ve been working on for more than a year now. It began with Donna and her idea that we should collaborate on a Christmas series. Together we came up with the idea of a family who owns a maple syrup farm in fictional Carol Falls, Vermont. The title we settled on for the series was: Frost Family Christmas. Our goal with these stories was to combine what we loved most about small town settings, sweet romances and cozy mysteries into one heartwarming and page-turning series. And after much e-mailing, writing, revising and editing, that’s exactly what we did:

In December, after all the work was completed, we decided we needed to celebrate (you’ll notice this is a theme with our partnership.) So we treated ourselves to lunch in the beautiful mountain town of Canmore, Alberta. (I’m in the middle, with Roxy to my right and Brenda to my left.)

We had so much fun writing the books and our readers have been so supportive, we then did something crazy. We decided to write more. Since the series was now going to extend beyond Christmas, we needed a new name. After a few days of brainstorming we decided upon: Frost Family & Friends—Cozy in Carol Falls.

Each of us immediately started working on new ideas for the series. My story came together in a creative whirlwind of writing, where one of the most difficult challenges was designing a book cover that captured the right “small-town” feeling. In More Than A Feeling, I return our readers to Carol Falls, Vermont, two months after Christmas. The sugaring off season is just starting (the process of collecting sap from maple trees and producing maple syrup) and a new mystery and romance are in the works.

Last night, Donna, Brenda and I were celebrating, not just our books, but our partnership. We’ve been able to be supportive—yet honest—in our opinions and suggestions. We’ve all worked hard, we don’t let one-another down, but we also take time to celebrate our achievements.  

Here’s hoping we’ll still be writing, publishing and celebrating by the time next Christmas comes around!

Nancy Warren: What's on Your Bucket List?

An amazing writing friend of mine, Bobby Hutchinson, said to me once, "Nancy, our books are therapy. We always write about what's going on in our lives." I scoffed at the time but I've come to see how true that is.

Obviously, if you're writing vampire murder rampages or something it's less true, but even a vampire murder rampage is a metaphor for something.

So, anyway, I've been writing lately about people traveling to pursue some sort of quest. And in my own life, I'm at a stage where my kids are launched and I've got time to travel and do the things I've been putting off. So, of course, Bobby was right. Bobby is annoyingly usually right.

In Kiss a Girl in the Rain, the first of my brand new contemporary romance series called Take a Chance, my hero, Evan Chance, is at a crossroads.

He's turning 35; he's a successful corporate lawyer who's been working crazy hours on a path he's not sure he ever chose. When his hippy, dippy mother sends him the bucket list he wrote when he was twelve, and tells him he should do some of those things, the notion pulls at him. What if?

Through various crises he ends up chucking his successful, empty life to hit the road. Item one on his list was Ride a Motorcycle Across America.

Of course, being the directed, super-focused kind of guy, he's got to learn some lessons. For instance, things rarely go the way you think they will on a quest. That's the fun of adventure. Evan only gets two hundred miles from home when an accident derails him, and he meets a very homely dog and a very pretty doctor and -- well, you'll have to read the book.

The other project I'm just launching is a three book series called Changing Gears (are you seeing a pattern here? Take a Chance? Changing Gears? Hmmm). Changing Gears is a motorbike store that's semi-famous. They can find any bike you could ever want, and fix what ails it. Of course, there's something a little magical about the place and its strange owner.

In three books, three different couples find their lives changing directions as love knocks their careful plans astray.

So, I've been thinking about bucket lists lately. I'm a passionate hiker.

In the last couple of years I've hiked in Peru, the Canadian rockies, and most recently I did a solo trip to the Grand Canyon. In the next year, I'm booked to hike Mont Blanc and tentatively Kilimanjaro. Those are my bucket list biggies. I'd also like to learn to speak Spanish and I'd like to live in Europe for a few months. I'd also like to grow my newsletter list. If you feel like helping me out with that, hop on over to http://www.nancywarren.net and sign up. You get the greatest chocolate chip cookie recipe. So, I'm wondering, What's on your list?

Big or small, it doesn't matter. It's fun to dream.

Leave your thoughts in the comments section. I'm offering an ecopy of Kiss a Girl in the Rain and one of Wild Ride as prizes.

Thanks to Lee for having me and remember, every day we should do something that scares us just a little bit.

Nancy

http://www.nancywarren.net

Maisey Yates: Birthday Presents!

Today is a very special day…because today is my birthday!

I just got back from London, and the day really snuck up on me (Darn February…why is it so short??)

I was in London sightseeing with my mom (it was a first time for both of us and it was magical!) and also visiting the UK offices for Harlequin.

I’d never had the opportunity to visit one of my publishers before, and while I’ve met many of Harlequin’s editors at conferences, I’ve never been on their home turf.

When I arrived, I went in for a meeting with the whole Presents team. We talked about the years I’ve had with them, and the years ahead, and it was wonderfully encouraging.

Next up, my mom, and everyone in the office, joined us for a champagne/sparkling grape juice toast.

Then we went on a tour of the office. I loved getting a chance to see where everyone works. I’m fascinated by how things run on the ‘other side of the computer’. The desks are set up in groups, and that keeps the teams for various lines in close communication. A massive contrast to working at home like I do!

From the main office area, we went upstairs to see the social media crew, then on to my very favorite part of the tour - the library. It’s filled with all of the books published from Harlequin UK over more than ten years. It’s AMAZING to say the least!

I may have sneaked out with a few books…maybe. I won’t confirm or deny.

But then, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to know I had! One thing that’s very clear about everyone in this business - editor or writer - is that we LOVE books.

And speaking of books…since it’s my birthday, I want to give YOU a present!

I’m going to pick FIVE commenters to receive ebook copies of my recent North American releases - A Game of Vows and Her Little White Lie!

Leave a comment below for your chance to win!

Kim Boykin: The Perfect Man

So what make the perfect man? Let’s examine gorgeous, restaurateur, Beck Hartnett, the hero in my latest novella, STEAL ME, COWBOY. And don’t worry, Beck, we’ll be gentle.

I don’t know about you, but I like my hero’s tall, and to be honest, I’ve yet to read a romance that began, “He was incredibly short…” Of course there are scads of lovely short men in real life, but we are talking fiction here.

I don’t have a preference for body type, but I like ‘em as “lean and muscled” as the next girl. As both a reader and a writer, I like to know how my hero’s jeans fit, where they hang on his hips, and again, we’re going for the lean hips. I have to believe if men read more romance novels, relaxed fit jeans would be a thing of the past. And would that really be such a bad thing?

Hair’s important in romance and says a lot about our hero. I’m a sucker for long hair and Beck pulls it off with hot cowboy look when he wears his down. And, Lord, have mercy, when it’s pulled back, you know he’s getting ready to woo his woman, Rainey Brown, with otherworldly food and wine.

I like my heroes to have a healthy attitude about their heroine’s eating habits. I haven’t read a romance yet that said, “He looked at her plate and said, “You’re not really going to eat all of that, are you?” No, our perfect man wants to meet all of our heroine’s needs, and always seems to understand the true meaning of comfort food.

Last but not least, one of the things I love most about Beck Hartnett is his sense of humor. Funny is sexy. Smart. And Beck has that in spades. So, what’s your idea of the perfect man? Do you like ‘em dark and brooding?  Is a rich hero in a story more interesting to you than a guy with a good job and a 401K? Do you like ‘em outdoorsy? Tough? Suave and refined?

***Kim's winner is Sherry Lilly! Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your mailing details. Thanks!***