Looking back - Kate Walker gets nostalgic

Today I made a trip into town where – amongst other things  - I made a visit to our local library.   I don ‘t visit there very often these days, but today I had a special reason for going.
(I’ll come to that later).

It’s always rather strange walking through the main door of the library. You see, years ago, I used to work there. I was the children’s librarian, first of all for the small branches in the local villages and then after a  couple of years I was in charge of the main central library in the town. I loved that job – I got to  select and buy  lots of wonderful books and get them on the shelves,  meet   with children of all ages and help them find books they would enjoy. I used to love  running the library clubs and special book quizzes – and it was always  such a pleasure to know that I was helping children with their reading and encouraging them to read more.

Since I left, the library has changed a lot. The children’s library has been moved  several times, once  going from the ground floor  to the second floor, and  becoming smaller  after cutbacks. But now it’s back where it was when I ran it, on the ground floor, with lots of shelves filled with wonderful books – even a couple of comfortable easy chairs and settees – those weren’t there when I ran the place (unfortunately!)

So I had a nostalgic moment thinking about the job I used to have and how the library was the place I came to every day of the week. Then I remembered why I was in the library at all, and that reminded me of just how my life has changed and how very different my job is now.

I was in the library to donate some of my books – the library takes many of my international editions, so I was there with a box full of Japanese, French,  Italian, Brazilian,  Dutch and Czech editions, together with some large print editions that the library can really use.  This reminded me of how, 30 years ago this month, I was waiting for another parcel of books – the very first parcel of many – the very first set of my author’s copies of my first book. That book, The Chalk Line, was first published in the UK, in hardback only, in December 1984.

30 years ago! It doesn’t seem possible – and yet there are all those foreign editions to prove how different things are now from then. The Chalk Line  didn’t appear in foreign editions for some time. The German edition  was the very first translation I ever saw. And now I have 63 titles published, and I’m hard at work on my 64^th.  So many of the children I helped to find the books to enjoy have gro

wn up in that time, they have their own children – I sometimes see them with their kids in the Children’s library now,.

So next month I’ll be celebrating the 30^th anniversary of my very first book being published. It’s been a complete change in the way I thought my life would go, I have a totally different  job to work at, shelves of published editions of my books – and so many friends all over the world,. Both writers and readers, to show as a result.   It’s all been so much more exciting and rewarding than I could ever imagined.

So what about you? Where were you and what were you doing  30 years ago ? Were you even

alive then – eek! That’s a question that scares me!

Has your life changed as much in the past 30 years? Did you expect to be where you are today, back then?

I know I didn’t.

You can look for Kate's 12 Point Guide To Writing Romance which is now selling busily on Kindle.

In fiction, she has the reprint of Kept for Her Baby out in the current By Request 3 in 1. Coming soon is a reprint of The Konstantos Marriage Demand  in His Revenge Seduction another 3 in 1.

You can find all her news on her website, and  all the must up to date events on her blog.

Introducing Her Christmas Earl!

by Anna Campbell

It's that time of year again!

The time of year when we writers go all misty-eyed and sentimental and jolly and start penning Christmas romances.

This is the third year in a row that I've done a Christmas novella. My first was THE WINTER WIFE which was a reunion story set on the snowy Yorkshire Moors. My second was "His Christmas Cinderella" which was an ultra-romantic addition to the free anthology A GROSVENOR SQUARE CHRISTMAS.

This year I'm writing a marriage of convenience story featuring a rake ripe for redemption and the straight-talking unfashionable woman he finds himself married to as a result of bad luck and scandal (except as in all good romances, the bad luck is actually very good luck in disguise).

Here's the blurb for HER CHRISTMAS EARL: A REGENCY NOVELLA:

No good deed goes unpunished…

To save her hen-witted sister from scandal, Philippa Sanders ventures into a rake's bedroom - and into his power. Now her reputation hangs by a thread and only a hurried marriage can rescue her. Is the Earl of Erskine the heartless libertine the world believes? Or will Philippa discover unexpected honor in a man notorious for his wild ways?

Blair Hume, the dissolute Earl of Erskine, has had his eye on the intriguing Miss Sanders since he arrived at this deadly dull house party. Now a reckless act delivers this beguiling woman into his hands as a delightful Christmas gift. Does fate offer him a fleeting Yuletide diversion? Or will this Christmas Eve encounter spark a passion to last a lifetime? 

You can read an excerpt of HER CHRISTMAS EARL on my website here: http://annacampbell.info/xmasearl.html

And all at only 99 cents! 

You can buy HER CHRISTMAS EARL from:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Her-Christmas-Earl-Regency-Novella-ebook/dp/B00OQY2X06/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1413942208&sr=1-1&keywords=her+christmas+earl

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/486725

There's something lovely about writing a Christmas romance. It's a time of hope and family and love and generosity, and all of those qualities feed into a feel-good love story. I really enjoyed meeting clever, direct Philippa Sanders and her dashing, handsome, disreputable Christmas Earl, Blair Hume. I hope you feel the same! 

So are you a fan of romances set around Christmas time? Any favorites?

A Rose by Any Other Name . . . or Who's Your Heroine? :: Anne McAllister

I need you!  Again!

A couple of years ago I was scouting around for names for characters and I tossed out a challenge to readers of this blog and another one I was writing for at the time, and said, "I need a name for a heroine" because for the life of me, I couldn't figure out what this woman's name was.

I knew lots about her, but I didn't know her name. And she wasn't inclined to tell me.

Well, here I am again -- same problem.  So if you wouldn't mind, could you put on your thinking caps or your 'name the baby' caps and give me some more suggestions.

This heroine now lives in small town Montana, but she grew up in New Mexico. She is half-Navajo and something else.  Not sure what.

She's close to thirty, and she has yet to tell me if she's been married or not.  (Close-mouthed, wouldn't you say?).  She is a weaver, both loom and hand -- a fabric artist who has made a name for herself in the art world.

And once upon a time she may have had a thing for my hero. They seem to have a bit of history. At least I know that much.  He may have been a friend of her brother's way back in their high school or early college days. Now he's a widower with two young children,  home from the big city to make a life in the area where he grew up, the one place he was sure he'd never live again.

He's Clint McCullough, brother of the hero of my book, Last Year's Bride, which was out this past summer. I know a lot about Clint, but he isn't telling me this woman's name, either.

I suppose I could just put "Heroine" in when I start to think about her. But having a name really helps.  So if you have a suggestion -- or three or four -- I'd be very grateful.  If one of them resonates with me -- and with my heroine -- you can count on a dedication (and a copy of the book in e-format when it comes out next year.)




illustration credits:
1) red rose: wikimedia commons: creative commons license
2) Bridger Mountains: via Wikimedia Commons http://www.flickr.com/photos/23165290@N00/9315591779/ |Author =Tim Evanson |Date =2013-07-07 |Permission granted under C.C. License]
3. Last Year's Bride: WishngTreeStudio: Marie Schenck. [used with permission]

In bloom - Kandy Shepherd

It's spring Down Under and this month I'm sharing some recent snaps from my farm garden.

I wish I could share the glorious fragrance of the climbing rose Zepherine Drouhin that grows near our vegetable garden

My dear husband put in a lot of work over the winter (I was too busy writing to share much of the burden!) and our cottage-style garden is looking its best.

Our flowering cherry - sadly no fruit!

We have a cool winter and a hot summer and fruit, iris, roses and spring-flowering bulbs thrive.

I love columbines

In the last weeks the iris have been superb and the roses have just started.

Our climate is perfect for iris

We had the threat of bushfire last week but thankfully all we could smell was the fragrance of roses.

I love the bold shape of artichoke, here with clematis and sage in flower at the front

We grow vegetables too though it can be a hit or miss affair as to when we actually get them planted!

Lots of lettuce!

The cats are constant companions in the garden and tend to photo bomb any opportunity they can.

Rhubarb, too - those are its flowers that I cut off so all the growth goes into the edible stems

The horses, little bulls and chickens all contribute to the garden with fertilizer. 

Cindy is always nearby

My husband often lets the horses into the garden but not so much at the moment as the lettuce is a huge attraction. They nibble on the camellias too which makes me rather cranky!

Ivy helps too

At the moment I’m writing a story that features a rather grand garden. Mine is not on such a scale but it is lovely to be able to walk outside and feel inspired.

My husband worked all his winter weekends to put in this new path

Are you of the green-thumbed or brown-thumbed type of gardener? Do you have a favorite flower? Do you enjoy growing vegetables or herbs? I’d love to know!

Make a comment to be in the draw for a signed copy of my Christmas book for Harlequin Romance Diamond In Her Stocking. Please include your email address in your comment if you want to be included in the draw.

Kandy’s third Dolphin Bay story for Harlequin Romance, A Diamond in Her Stocking, goes on sale on December 1, 2014 and is available for pre-order now

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

Linda Thomas-Sundstrom: “Seduction in a Santa Claus suit?”

“Seduction in a Santa Claus suit?”

And the delight of writing about Christmas…

I love Christmas. Always have. The sights, the smells, the crazy feelings of happiness . . .

So when I was asked if I’d like to write a story about Christmas for Harlequin’s Desire line, I jumped at the chance. (That jump could have earned me a gold medal)

For a paranormal romance writer like me, used to the built-in conflicts and tension of the supernatural world, dealing with two characters in tension for other reasons, seemed a challenge at first. So when Christmas became my theme, I was in, and the writing flowed.

I just asked myself this question: Who doesn’t like the holiday?

I couldn’t honestly answer that from my own perspective, so I added another question: If someone wanted to like the holiday, but couldn’t, for some reason, what might that reason be, and how could they get around it?

And so, in answering that, I had my story. And Kim McKinley’s life took on a life of its own.

Toss in a sexy adversary with a big heart, like Chaz Monroe, who isn’t afraid to try anything to get his best new employee to handle Christmas ads for his agency… and sparks flew.

This is “The Boss’s Mistletoe Maneuvers.” I’m celebrating its release; the book came out yesterday! So if you feel the need for some light-hearted holiday spirit, and would like to share in my delight for the season as that season approaches, I hope you’ll join Kim, Chaz, and me on our crazy romp through love, loss, and the ultimate magic of a very special holiday. We’d love to meet you there.

Thanks for joining me today.

May you find your own magic this year!

Linda

Linda’s website

Facebook

“The Boss’s Mistletoe Maneuvers”

Amazon

The eternal question...

It's the one question every author is asked. All the time. Where do you get your ideas from? It's often hard to pin down an answer because so many things come together, often over a long time. A view here, a snippet of something from a newspaper there, something your mother said when you were a teen...

Once in a while, though, everything is there. Or maybe it's just because it was my first book that I know exactly how the idea for An Image of You emerged.

The setting was like a dangling plum, one I had to use. I'd lived in Kenya for a couple of years and spent several long weekends at a very small tented safari camp that was off the well-trodden beaten track. A dozen or so tents (with modern plumbing handily placed at the rear) beside the Tsavo River. A large canvas covered area for dining. A deep fire pit to sit beside at night where you could talk about the near miss from the charging rhino that had taken off the door of your jeep.

Add a television documentary where the wonderful Clive James had accompanied photographer Patrick Lichfield on a assignment in the same game reserve, staying at an almost identical safari camp with a bunch of glamour models, to photograph a much desired calender - with Patrick Lichfield standing in for my hero, Lukas.

Enter Georgette, my heroine, a feminist protestor who not only wanted to save the whales, but the entire world who has spent the night in jail after an "incident" - the last straw in her father's patience. In order to restore herself in his eyes she has to go to Kenya and take the place of our hero's injured assistant, who is working on the photographs of the famous glamour calender that is a major prop in the PR campaign of her father's motor parts company.

Georgette is outraged, but worse, far worse is that she's met the photographer before. And here I used another real event, a demonstration against the Miss World competition when it was held in London and a bunch of feminists threw flour at the judges. Because Lukas has been one of the judges in my fictional contest and had not only been showered with Georgette's flour bag, but had got her out of the event by the back way when she'd had every intention of getting arrested.

I've been thinking about this recently because Harlequin Mills and Boon have just re-released An Image of You as an ebook.

Ready, steady, click...

Addison Fox: In The Deep End

I had an experience this past weekend that’s really stuck with me. I was visiting with my sister and attended my nieces’ swim lessons. To say I was surprised would put it mildly….I had no idea children screamed and cried as they were set on the path of learning how to float, hold their breath and – ultimately - swim.

When I got over the sense that this ritual of throwing one’s child in the pool with a total stranger wasn’t totally barbaric (I still wasn’t able to stop the tears from forming for those small faces, scrunched up in terror), I began to realize something else. This push to swim – to learn an incredibly important life skill – was all part of a rather specific process.

In order to grow and learn, the children had to stretch and push themselves against boundaries that were uncomfortable and scary. And when I got past the fact that the tentative learners were part of the elementary crowd, I realized something even more important. The swim lessons were a funny sort of microcosm for life.

As humans, we don’t like those changes that make us stretch and (sometimes) suffer. We want our lessons to be tear free, with new skills coming as easy as breathing. But the reality is, new skills don’t come easy. They push us and prod us and force us to reach deep inside for courage we didn’t know we had – or needed.

As writers, it’s these moments – those diabolical yet necessary moments of learning – that we put on the page. Characters who don’t grow or change aren’t very interesting to read about for four hundred pages. Rather, those rich moments of growth that form out of the conflicts of our lives are the ones that we remember. Letting go of past hurts. Stepping out on a new life path. Taking a chance on someone who might have let us down before.

All these scenarios and so many more are what we read about and what authors are called to bring to life on the page.

So what do you think? What are some of your favorite characters and why? As you think back on it, did you love their story because of how much they grew and changed? (If it brought a tear to your eye, I won’t tell!)

Thanks for joining me today!

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 MANHATTAN ENCOUNTER, is currently out from Harlequin Romantic Suspense. You can visit her at her website at www.addisonfox.com

Brenda Novak: Difficult Occupations for a Romance Hero

I once received a note from an editor who was working on a short piece I contributed to LOVE IS MURDER. I’m going from memory, so I’m paraphrasing, but it said something like, “Only you could take a damaged individual like Rex and turn him into such a great hero.”

I had to smile at that, probably because I love stories where all is not as it seems. I also love to redeem characters that have made mistakes (thanks to the way they were raised or other setbacks) but have good hearts when it comes right down to it. In WHEN SUMMER COMES, I have a hero who is a vet with PTSD, and he is basically homeless at the beginning of the story. I redeemed the town “mean girl” when I gave Sophia DeBussi a happily-ever-after in TAKE ME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS (this received a starred review in Library Journal and was named one of the Ten Best Romances of 2013). I wrote about a recovering drug addict heroine who has finally grown up and is fighting to build a better life in COME HOME TO ME. So…I guess you could say that while some authors are busy writing stories about characters who are rich, beautiful and perfect, I’m empowering characters who are a lot more like the people I’ve met in my own life. Seeing such “every day” folk overcome tremendous challenges and find happiness is so hopeful to me, because it shows that anyone can turn their life around.

So, with some of my books, I have paupers who are really princes at heart—most often in the contemporary books. And in others, like my new historical romantic suspense, A MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN, I have princes (actually a duke) who, at first, seems like pauper. Maximillian Wilder is posing as a resurrection man (they were also called body-snatchers), which was pretty much considered the worst occupation in 1830s London (and there were some pretty bad ones). When Abby, my heroine, first meets Max, she is definitely not impressed. She just wants to buy the corpse he’s selling for her father’s medical college; it can’t continue without subjects. She considers Max and the gang he’s with a necessary evil. But she is a little frightened, especially when Max terrorizes her on purpose to make sure she stays well away from him and what he’s trying to accomplish. His neglected half-sister (the bastard child of his father) has gone missing, and she was last seen in the company of Jack Hurtsill, who runs the gang.  Max is determined to find Madeline and doesn’t want to risk associating with anyone who could blow his cover.

Abby has her own agenda, however—one that throws her right back in his path.

When I first wrote this story, I was worried that readers might be too put off by the creepiness of my hero joining a gang that digs up dead bodies and sells them to medical colleges. But I found the research so intriguing I just couldn’t resist. It’s hard for those of us in modern times to imagine having to sit out in a cemetery in order to guard the body of a loved one, but that was exactly what was taking place less than 200 years ago. History had simply handed me the ideal set up for a historical suspense novel.

 Are there other difficult occupations that I might have my heroes or heroines do? Absolutely! In my spring Whiskey Creek release, THIS HEART OF MINE, I feature a heroine who’s just getting out of prison after serving a number of years for murder. She didn’t really commit that murder, but everyone in Whiskey Creek believes she did. Anyone in her shoes would go anywhere else. But her son lives in Whiskey Creek with his father, and she’s determined to be part of his life at last. This is probably the most poignant book I’ve ever written. So I don’t think any occupation or background is off limits. I think it all depends on how real the characters seem and whether or not their motivations and actions are believable and sympathetic.

What about you? Are there some occupations/backgrounds you believe heroes or heroines in romance fiction should not have? Are you put off by the fact that my hero, Max in A MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN, is posing as a resurrection man?

CJ Carmichael: The Art of Experimenting with Cover Design

One of the many fun things about Indie publishing, is the ability to experiment with book covers when you realize your initial packaging may not have been the best. When I started out to write the Carrigans of The Circle C, initially there were only  going to be 4 stories. I had a rough idea of the stories I would write and the characters, so, together with Jane Porter (Tule Publishing) we decided on a certain “look” for the series and had covers designed accordingly.

Then I wrote the books. And four books became five. And I got to know the characters and their world, on a very intimate basis. And suddenly we had a problem with the “look.” It needed to change.

Fortunately Jane is open to experimenting with her authors’ books. In fact, it was Jane who first identified the problem with the packaging of this series. So we went to none other than Lee Hyat and asked her what she could do.

Here is what she came up with for Book 2, Good Together (old is on the left, new is on the right):

SO much better, right? Next we asked Lee to come up with a new cover for Book 5,which was Callan Carrigan’s story. Callan is the youngest of the Carrigan sisters, and in many ways her story is the most important, as it reveals old family secrets and deals with the future of the Circle C Ranch.

The first cover we had for this book, just didn’t feel right to me anymore. First, the setting was wrong. Since the ranch is so pivotal to the story, we needed to be there on the cover. Also, Callan looked too urban and, well, frivolous.

That wasn’t our only problem. The timing was working out so that this book would end at Christmas. It seemed to make sense that we reflect that in the title. So now we needed a new title AND a new cover. Here is what we decided on (again, old cover on the left, new on the right):

I’m hoping we got it right and came up with the perfect “packaging” for both these stories. Here is the way the covers look when they’re all together:

I’d love to know what you think. Do you prefer the new covers to the old? Please comment below for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.

Good Together: http://cjcarmichael.com/books/good.php#order

A Cowgirl's Christmas: http://cjcarmichael.com/books/cowgirl.php#order

***CJ's winner is Kelly Y!  Thanks for including your email address. :) Look for an email from CJ soon!***

Rebel's Bargain - Sizzling Romance and...Gardens!

It's release month for my latest Harlequin Presents: REBEL'S BARGAIN. It's a sizzling reunion story full of passion and emotion and, yes sensuality.

Five years ago, Poppy Graham married Orsino Chatsfield beneath a confetti of paparazzi flashbulbs. But Orsino spent more time chasing the rush of adrenaline than with his wife and, in her darkest hour, he let her down. Their split was bitter and Poppy’s striven for independence ever since. But now her arrogant husband is back…

Injured in a climbing accident, there’s only one person Orsino can turn to…his deceitful wife! They have unfinished business and he’ll face it before he walks away for ever. But the blazing passion between them reignites in an instant, leaving Orsino to wonder whether it will kill or cure!

Debbie from Romantic Times gave REBEL'S BARGAIN a 4 1/2 star review, concluding: “…West’s second-chance romance is an imaginative and intensely thrilling brainteaser, ripe with shrouded misconceptions. Her silver-spoon hero and wounded heroine are passionate and convincing.” You can find it at Harlequin, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and the Book Depository.

Annie researching at Chateau Chenonceau

What you might not know is that this book was in part inspired by an amazing place I visited a couple of years ago. Chateau Chenonceau in France's Loire Valley is famous as that picturesque chateau built across arches that span the river. Most of REBEL'S BARGAIN is set in a gorgeously romantic tower that sits just in front of the entrance to the main chateau. That's where Poppy and Orsino play out the drama and passion of their reunion, discovering long-hidden truths about each other and falling in love all over again.

For me, having a particular place in mind as I write is a real bonus, as I can picture my couple there, making the scenes even more real in my mind. One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the raw passion of it, the characters' deep feelings, hurt and lust and hope and love. Those are played out mainly within the confines of the round tower where they're staying but also on the riverbank, and the chateau itself.

One of the secret things that particularly appealed to me is the fact that this story, which is one of the most tempestuous and sizzling I've written, is set in a place surrounded by picture perfect formal French gardens. I enjoyed the counterpoint between the delightful precision of the surroundings and all the turmoil and drama going on within. For there's nothing quite as calmly composed and carefully beautiful as a formal garden. Here's a taste:

Lots of symmetrical paths and plantings.

Even the geraniums seem to grow more neatly than mine at home, but then perhaps they receive far more attention!

No rambling rose bushes here.

Of course there was a maze too. What would a formal garden be without a little topiary?

 

Even the vegetable gardens in the old chateau farm were incredibly neat. Neater than any garden I've ever owned. On the other hand, there is a little wilderness surrounding the formal gardens. There's a wood, complete with wild, soft pink cyclamen, so maybe some of that wildness helped inspire me as I wrote.

 

Are you a gardener - with green thumbs or just enough to enjoy someone else's gardening efforts? Do you like formal gardens or are you more a rambling garden sort of person?

 

I'll give a copy of one of my titles  to someone who leaves a comment today (drawn at random and open internationally).

 

 



Kelly Boyce interviews... Herself!

Kelly Boyce’s writing career took off in 2011 with the release of her first book, a western historical romance, THE OUTLAW BRIDE (Carina Press). Since then, she has written for Harlequin Historical and has published the first two regency historicals in her Sins & Scandals Series: AN INVITATION TO SCANDAL and A SCANDALOUS PASSION. When she isn’t busy writing, she likes to spend time with her husband and clownish golden retriever, travel, sweat it out in hot yoga, read and run. Her next release, Book 3 in the Sins & Scandals Series, A SINFUL TEMPTATION comes out November 18, 2014.

What inspired you to write your first book?
Teenage angst and being a sucker for a challenge. I had started my writing career at the ripe old age of 8 with short stories and poetry. This continued on straight through until the 11^th grade at which point I knew I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. Of books. Given that, I thought I should try my hand at something a bit longer than a short story. So I plotted a murder with near flawless completely flawed execution that took place at the beginning of my characters first semester in university. I titled it Murder 101. It was brilliant is hiding in a drawer somewhere.

What books have most influenced your life most?
I’ve always been a voracious reader, especially as a kid when there was a lot more time for it, so the list would be hideously long. But many of those books stayed with me and still do to this day and it was that impact that influences me the most when I write. I want to create something that sticks with the reader after they’ve turned the last page, whether it’s a character or a feeling, or just a general overall ‘ahhh, good stuff’.

Do you see writing as a career?
Definitely! I’m working toward doing this full-time and I think in order to get there, you really need to have a bit of a ‘nose to the grindstone’ mentality. I set a schedule for writing and I stick with it. I get up at 5:00 am in the morning and make it to the coffee shop near my office for 6:30 am and write until 8:55 am. On weekends, I usually hit the local coffee shop near my home and write from 9:00 am until noon or later. Thankfully, I have a very understanding husband.

Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
When I was in Grade 2, I had an amazing teacher, Mrs. Phyllis Matheson. She showed up near the end of the year with a box of cards. Each card had a plot idea on it. Mine was: You find a genie bottle on the beach. This was when I discovered I could put the stories in my head down on paper. It was a huge eye-opener for me. I loved it so much I tried to fail Grade 2 so I could come back the next year and go through the entire box, writing a story for each card. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on whether you ask me or my parents), I failed at failing, moved onto a new school and never saw Mrs. Matheson or her wonderful book of plots ever again.

What was the hardest part of writing your book?
Writing the book. J  I have a bad habit of throwing everything and the kitchen sink into my plots and then, as I approach the three-quarter mark, wonder why I’m having difficulty making all the parts come together. During revisions, I inevitably start paring things down significantly.

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Thank you!! Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! Oh, and did I mention—thank you!! Writing is like breathing to me, I can’t imagine not doing it, and I would write regardless, but when you add readers to the mix, it elevates it to a different level. It’s not just you. It’s taking a piece of you and sharing it with someone else, and something about that makes it much more personal. My readers allow me the opportunity to make a living from what I love and the gratitude I feel toward them for this is huge. Because of this, it pushes me even more to put out the best book possible to give them something back for what they’ve given to me.

What are your current projects?
As you read this, the third book in my Sins & Scandals Series is about to be released. A SINFUL TEMPTATION will be released November 18^th. After that, I have my second Harlequin Historical western romance coming out. SALVATION IN THE SHERIFF’S KISS will be released February 2015. As far as writing, I am finishing up a novella length western romance story for Harlequin Historicals’ Christmas Anthology that will be released October 2015. This novella will have ties to my Salvation Falls series. Then it’s back to the Sins & Scandals Series with a novella, THE LADY’S SINFUL SECRET (March 2015) and the 4^th full-length book, A SURRENDER TO SCANDAL (June 2015).


A SINFUL TEMPTATION – Book 3, The Sins & Scandals Series

Mr. Marcus Bowen, the former ward and now trusted man of business to the Marquess of Ellesmere, has returned from the brink of death only to discover his perfectly ordered life is on the verge of disaster. Not only has he received a mysterious package that reveals his past is a lie, but the woman he shared a passionate, ill-fated kiss with has requested his assistance to help her capture a proposal from another man, one more befitting her position as the daughter of an earl.

The dictates of her father’s will are clear—forcing Lady Rebecca Sheridan to put away her childhood fantasies featuring Mr. Marcus Bowen in favor of marrying the very proper Lord Selward. A feat she must accomplish before her next birthday or watch as her family fortunes are forfeited. When Lord Selward drags his feet on a proposal, desperation has Rebecca requesting assistance from the one man she trusts above all others—Marcus Bowen. But Rebecca soon learns how easily unspoken passions can be re-ignited, and how thin the line between love and friendship can be.

As Marcus works to unravel the mystery of his past and discover his true identity, can he ignore the sinful temptation Lady Rebecca presents? Or will long-ignored desires and well-buried secrets bring them both to the brink of ruin, destroying any hope of a happy future?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of SALVATION IN THE RANCHER’S ARMS (Harlequin Historical western romance).

“HE HAD MORE THE EDGE OF AN OUTLAW THAN A SHINING KNIGHT." 
Rachel Sutter's world is turned upside down when Caleb Beckett rides into Salvation Falls. He brings news of a poker game gone disastrously wrong—not only has her wastrel husband been killed, he's also gambled away Rachel's home! 
Suddenly, Rachel is left with nothing but an unpaid debt, and Caleb is holding all the cards—not to mention the deed to her land! There's something about the enigmatic drifter that she is instinctively drawn to, but how can she begin to trust him when so much of his past is shrouded in mystery?


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Lucy Monroe: Researching for my Ruthless Russians Duo

It's funny how books and mini-series come about.  A couple of years ago, my editor sent me a list of upcoming Harlequin Presents themes they were doing mini series for and one of them caught my attention and my imagination.  Notorious heiresses.  So, how did we get from there to Ruthless Russians?

It all started in San Francisco.  I'd decided I wanted to write a book duo about two old-money heiresses who'd grown up as close as sister on San Francisco's Nob Hill.  So, I asked my daughters if they'd like to go on a little trip with Mom.  One said yes, the other was still leery about leaving the baby home.

Isabelle and I had an amazing time in San Francisco and as will often happen, parts of the city I didn't expect to play into the story fascinated me.  I took tons of photos of the areas I intended to write about and the hotel that would inspire The Chatsfield - San Francisco (from Sheikh's Scandal).

When I began writing An Heiress for His Empire, the relationship between Vik and Max became every bit as intriguing and important as that between Maddie and Romi.  By the time I began working on A Virgin for His Prize, I knew that my guys who'd grown up in the Russian community in San Francisco and were now self-made tycoons were the center of the story every bit as much as the unconventional heiresses that ignited their passions and ultimately captured their hearts.

San Francisco is a city rife with subculture.  Isabelle and I absolutely loved it and hope to return, buy I think you'll find a good dose of the city's flavor in both books in my Ruthless Russians duo.  In fact, I think you'll find yourself wanting to visit after reading the books.

What is one place you've always wanted to visit, but have only had the chance to read about?

Hugs and Happy Reading,
Lucy

AN HEIRESS FOR HIS EMPIRE
© By Lucy Monroe

Ruthless Russians mini-series
Harlequin Presents #3274
October 2014 (09-16-14)
ISBN-10: 0373132808
ISBN-13: 978-0373132805

The story: Innocent debutante Madison Archer has hit the headlines for a scandal not of her making. Now, marriage to the unscrupulous Viktor Beck is the only way to save what’s left of her reputation!

The contract: Maddie has always featured in Viktor’s plans to take over her father’s company and expand his empire. The intense attraction between them only sweetens the deal he’s offered....

The secret: Though love doesn’t beat in Viktor’s heart, he’ll show Maddie just how hot their chemistry can be. But even this corporate shark is in for a shock—his wild socialite is still a virgin!

Read an Excerpt

A VIRGIN FOR HIS PRIZE
© By Lucy Monroe

Ruthless Russians mini-series
Harlequin Presents #3282
November 2014 (10-21-14)
ISBN-10: 0373132883
ISBN-13: 978-0373132881

Her awakening: San Francisco heiress Romi Grayson has only had a taste of Maxwell Black’s addictive brand of seduction and knows she should stay away...especially having discovered just how determined he is to possess her!

His proposal: Max prides himself on always being in control, yet somehow Romi sneaked under his cast-iron defences, then walked away. Now he is driven to finish what they started....

The ultimate prize! This Russian tycoon will stop at nothing, even blackmail, to have Romi warm and willing in his bed. And her innocence will make his long-awaited possession all the sweeter....

Read an Excerpt

I love the book trailer that COS Productions created for An Heiress for His Empire and wanted to share it with you all as well. :)