Spotlight Feature of Cynthia Eden’s Shattered

*****

Shattered

LOST Series, book #3

Blurb:

In New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Eden’s latest novel featuring the Last Option Search Team (LOST), one agent is forced to face her past as she uncovers secrets about the man who may be the key to her future.

Criminal psychologist Dr. Sarah Jacobs is all too familiar with the kind of bad boys who belong behind bars. But the dark, dangerous man she meets in the New Orleans underworld is a new kind of ruthless, and all too irresistible.

Jax Fontaine doesn’t claim to be a good guy, but he’s loyal to his own code and brutally honest about what he wants. He and Sarah may be worlds apart, but when they’re skin to skin, nothing matters but the heat between them.

And when a deranged killer targets Sarah, Jax will do whatever it takes to keep her safe.

Available for purchase at

*****

Excerpt

His blue gaze sharpened on her. “Are you afraid of me?”

“Aren’t most people?” she dodged. Most smart people?

“Yes, but they have a reason to fear me.” His knuckles fell away from her. “You don’t. I wouldn’t ever hurt you.”

Right. Like she was just supposed to take him at his word. Once Jax had been drawn into LOST’s investigation, Sarah had made it a top priority to learn as much about him as she could. Only it turned out that there wasn’t a whole lot to discover. Most of his past was cloaked, little more than rumors and smoke. Sure, she’d seen his criminal record, but that had been all juvie stuff. The guy had been good at covering his tracks once he’d become legal.

He’d been on the streets since he was a teenager. Somehow, he’d clawed his way—quite literally—out of the gutter and become a force to be reckoned with in the area. He owned several businesses and had connections that stretched across the county. And the local police were sure that he was a criminal. They just hadn’t been able to pin any serious crimes on him.

It’s hard because he has money and power. And he’s smart. She could see the intelligence in his eyes. The cunning. He won’t make mistakes easily.

“I love it when your mind starts spinning,” he murmured, his voice a deep rumble. “Tell me, Dr. Jacobs, are you profiling me right now?”

Her hands lifted and she shoved against his chest. He backed up, not because she’d been uber strong and knocked him back, but because … dammit, she suspected he moved for her.

To make her feel in control.

But he likes power.

And, hell, she was profiling him. “I don’t understand the point of this little meeting. Stopping a woman in the elevator is hardly an appropriate pick-up routine—”

He laughed. His laughter actually sounded real. Warm and rough, and it rolled right over her.

“How is anything about us appropriate?” Jax asked. That man’s voice—so deep and rumbly—it was like pure sex. She was pretty sure, like one hundred percent so, that he normally had women tossing their panties at him on sight.

She wasn’t one of those women. Or, rather, she was trying not to be one of those women.

The Lost Series Now Available

(Book #1)

Available for purchase at

(Book #2)

Available for purchase at

About the Author:

USA Today Best-selling author Cynthia Eden has written over twenty-five novels and novellas. She was named as a 2013 RITA^® finalist for her paranormal romance, ANGEL IN CHAINS, and, in 2011, Cynthia Eden was a RITA finalist for her romantic suspense, DEADLY FEAR.

Cynthia is a southern girl who loves horror movies, chocolate, and happy endings. She has always wanted to write (don’t most authors say that?), and particularly enjoys creating stories about monsters–vampires, werewolves, and even the real-life monsters that populate her romantic suspense stories.

Cynthia’s foreign sales for her books include translations to Japan, Germany, Thailand, Greece, and Brazil.

(Back in the day…) Cynthia graduated summa cum laude from the University of South Alabama where she studied Sociology (because people interest her) and Communication (because she likes to write about said people). Cynthia has worked as a college admissions counselor, a teacher, and as an editor. But now, Cynthia is thrilled to be spending her days making up stories.

You can find Cynthia here:

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November 26, 2013November 22, 2013

Interview with Laura Kaye

Happy Release Day to Laura Kaye!!

HARD AS IT GETS is one steamy read! How did you first get into writing?

Thanks so much! And thanks for having me here! I’ve been a writer all my life. I’m a historian by training, so writing non-fiction was a part of my job for the fifteen years I worked as a college professor. But I started writing fiction in 2008 in kind of an unusual way. I hit my head on July 4, 2008. I didn’t think much of it that day, but soon after I realized I’d really hurt myself, and it turned out I had a minor traumatic brain injury. As I recovered, I was filled with an amazing urge to be creative, so I started taking guitar lessons (still not very good at that!) and wrote my first novel in 12 weeks (fortunately, I’m better at that LOL!). The experience of writing that first book was truly transformative. It was what I was supposed to be doing, so I revised that book until it sold and kept writing new ones. And I haven’t looked back since!

Why did you choose to write romance?

I had been an avid reader of paranormal romance for years at that point, so I wrote what I loved. But I also picked romance—unconsciously, I think—because to me it’s an incredibly hopeful genre. Romance stories are inherently stories about people who can’t find love or think they don’t deserve it who overcome the odds and find it in the end. In the years leading up to starting writing, I experienced a number of very hard personal losses, so writing in this genre was one way I worked through those issues.

What does “Hard Ink” refer to? What importance do tattoos play in your story?

Hard Ink is the name of the Rixey brothers’ tattoo shop in the Hard Ink series. Nick and Jeremy Rixey are co-owners, though Nick (the hero of book one, Hard As It Gets) prefers to be more of a silent partner, despite Jeremy’s efforts to put Nick’s artistic talents to work. In this series, tattoos are a way people remember, pay penance, or highlight what’s important to them. The act of creating permanent marks on skin has deep meaning to them. And the shop creates a gritty setting where diverse kinds of people meet and interact in the series. I really love it!

Describe Becca—what do you love most about her? And Nick?

I’d love to! Because I really loved writing these characters!

Becca Merritt is smart and strong and honest and protective. I really loved the way she was willing to stand up for those she loves, even against people and forces who might be stronger and even a little scary. There’s a scene in particular when she dresses down Nick’s Special Forces teammates after a fist fight where I was particularly cheering for her! LOL

Nick Rixey is, omg, so freaking hot, you guys! He’s brooding and tortured and honorable and when he falls he falls so hard. I especially loved Nick’s mix of hard, alpha edges with his artistic side. When Nick shows Becca what her idea for a tattoo might look like on her skin, it’s just scorching!

What significance does the military play in the book?

Military themes are central to the whole Hard Ink series. The military isn’t just sexy window dressing nor is it just there to provide an intriguing backstory. The prior SF guys are this series are entirely defined by their military experience good and bad. It informs their identity, their sense of honor and duty, their view of the world, and of course gives them the skill set required to fight the battles they face in the series. The overall series mystery the characters are working to solve revolves around a military conspiracy in Afghanistan, so even though they’re out of the Army, the military themes are central.

If you could describe your book in a 140 character tweet, what would it be?

In #HardAsItGets, an ex-soldier joins forces w/his dead commander’s daughter to regain his tarnished honor & save her brother from a gang

Is there a particular author or book that has influenced your writing?

There are a number of authors that have influenced me, but if I had to pick one it would be J.R. Ward. A lot of what I know about how to write sexy, authentic male point of view comes from reading her books. And I definitely learned the importance of a good bromance to a romance novel from her Black Dagger Brotherhood series, too. Given my ginormous fangirling, you can only imagine how flipping excited I was when this happened:

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”

~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

You guys, I bawled like a baby in the middle of a huge workshop put on by my publisher. For real. LOL

What advice would you give aspiring writers looking to get into the publishing industry?

Here’s my advice:

1) Write, write, write. You can’t revise what you haven’t written and you can’t sell what you haven’t written. And the psychological and emotional boost you’ll get from writing “The End” for the first time cannot be overestimated.

2) Revise, revise, revise. That first time you type “The End”? Yeah, you’re nowhere near done. Your book will need to be edited, by you, several times before you ever put it in front of an agent or editor. You get one shot with them, so don’t waste it by not showing them your very best and most polished work.

3) Find critique partners. And your mom, siblings, and best friend do not count (unless you’re really lucky, like me, and your best friend happens t also be a professional author). You need other aspiring writers in your genre who will give you honest but constructive feedback about how to improve your manuscript. Let them catch all the embarrassing goofs and plot holes you thought you caught before it gets to an agent or editor.

4) Want to be a professional, then act it. And by that I mean join the professional organization(s) of the genre in which you write. Through them you will find classes to help hone your craft, critique partner match-ups, networking opportunities, calls for submission, and other opportunities invaluable to breaking into publishing.

5) Don’t give up. You will hear way more no’s than yeses, particularly early in your writing career. Stick with it. Believe in yourself. Give yourself one day to wallow in the rejection and eat a bunch of chocolate and then get right back on the horse. If your first book doesn’t sell, chalk that up to learning and write a second.

What can fans of HARD AS IT GETS look forward to next?

I’m currently writing four series: two contemporary (Hard Ink, Heroes) and two paranormal (Hearts of the Anemoi, Vampire Warrior Kings). I’ll have books from all four of those releasing in 2014. My next release is Hard As You Can (Hard Ink #2) coming 2/25/14!

Introducing Nick and Becca from Hard As It Gets

I am absolutely thrilled to be celebrating the release of my sexy contemporary romance, Hard As It Gets, the first book in my new Hard Ink series. If you like sexy, gritty contemporaries, military heroes and themes, and even a little suspense, Hard As It Gets is the perfect book for you! *grins*

Today, I’d like to introduce you to Nick Rixey and Becca Merritt, the hero and heroine of Hard As It Gets. They just sizzled together on the page and I really enjoyed writing them. I hope you love them, too! So, without further ado, please meet Hard As It Gets’s Nick and Becca:

MEET HERO NICK RIXEY:

Becca’s first impression of Nick:

“I’m Nick Rixey. Who wants to know?”

Becca jumped at the deep sound of the man’s voice. Geez. How long had he been standing there? And, big as he was, how had she not heard him approach? It was like he’d materialized out of thin air.

The surprise of his appearance pounded adrenaline through her system. Her racing pulse had absolutely nothing to do with the bulge of his impressive biceps straining the sleeves of his black T-shirt, the hints of ink just visible on his upper arms, nor with his harsh yet darkly handsome face. And definitely not with the way his jeans hung on those lean hips. Right. Definitely not.

Given who her father was, or had been, this was the type of man she’d expected to find at the end of Charlie’s cryptic note. His dark hair was a little on the long side, but the hard edges and leashed strength of his body clearly read ex-military.

Nick’s Job: Process Server, Part-time Tattoo Artist

3 Words that Describe Nick: Tortured, Alpha, Heroic

3 Things he Loves about Heroine Becca Merritt: Her courage, her compassion, the way she takes away his hurt

Who could play Nick if the book was made into a movie? Tyler Hoechlin hung above my desk for months (in fact, he just may still be there!), so he’s got the look for sure!

MEET HEROINE BECCA MERRITT:

Nick’s first impression of Becca:

Becca Merritt was the all-American girl personified, with her fierce blue eyes and wavy hair the rich color of honey. Bet she tastes as sweet, too. And, damn, that body. It was all he’d been able to do not to gawk at the curves her fitted T-shirt hugged, or trace his eyes over the lace just visible through the thin cotton. It was like the sun had strolled through their front door, casting heat and light all over him. Only the haunted dark circles under her eyes ruined the analogy.

Becca’s Job: ER nurse

3 Words that Describe Becca: Loyal, Compassionate, Strong

3 Things she Loves about Hero Nick Rixey: His intensity (in everything), his strength, his willingness to help her and her brother

Who could play Becca if the book was made into a movie? With her wholesome prettiness, Blake Lively would make a good Becca Merritt!

Do you have a question for either of the characters or their author lady? Ask away and we’d all be happy to chat!

Thanks for reading!

Laura

*****

Hard As It Gets

Hard Ink #1

Nov. 26, 2013
Amazon | B&N

Tall, dark, and lethal…

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey’s tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome — pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He’s left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander’s daughter. Loyalty won’t let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn’t expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge.

Read Chapter 1 of Hard As It Gets

Check out Kelly’s review HERE

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Follow the whole tour HERE:

June 7, 2013June 3, 2013

Guest blog & giveaway with Gwen Jones

Julie Does Julia – and makes Traditional French Baguettes

Julie never did much cooking back in Philadelphia, as the only thing she really liked to make was reservations. All that changed of course, once she found herself in the woods with very few dining options beside what she could create herself. So ever adventurous, she threw herself into French cooking and more than that, traditional French eating, a staple being the crusty baguette to go with the evening meal’s cheese course. So armed with a copy of Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking, Vol 2, Julie did Andy proud with her crusty fresh loaves of traditional pain… (NOTE: this is made with an electric mixer equipped with dough hook and flat beater).

Julia Child’s French Bread

Ingredients

2 1/4 teaspoons (1 packet) instant yeast
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups warm water (120º – 130º)

Directions

In the mixing bowl of a stand mixer using the flat beater, combine the yeast, 2 1/2 cups flour and salt. Mix on low for about 30 seconds.
With the motor running on low, pour in the warm water. Continue mixing until a shaggy dough forms. Clean off beater and switch to the dough hook. Mix in the remaining cup of flour a little at a time, to make a soft dough, adding more or less flour as needed. Knead the dough for 5 minutes. The surface should be smooth and the dough will be soft and somewhat sticky.
Turn the dough onto a kneading surface and let rest for 2 – 3 minutes while you wash and dry the bowl.
Return the dough to the mixing bowl and let it rise at room temperature (about 75º) until 3 1/2 times its original volume. This will probably take about 3 hours.
Deflate the dough and return it to the bowl. Let the dough rise at room temperature until not quite tripled in volume, about 1 1/2 – 2 hours.
Meanwhile, prepare the rising surface: rub flour into canvas or linen towel placed on a baking sheet. (I used parchment paper.)
Divide the dough into 3, 6, or 12 pieces depending on the size loaves you wish to make. Fold each piece of dough in two, cover loosely, and let the pieces relax for 5 minutes.
Shape the loaves and place them on the prepared towel or parchment. Cover the loaves loosely and let them rise at room temperature until almost triple in volume, about 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 hours.
Preheat oven to 450º. Set up a “simulated baker’s oven” by placing a baking stone on the center rack, with a metal broiler pan on the rack beneath, at least 4 inches away from the baking stone to prevent the stone from cracking.
Transfer the risen loaves onto a peel.
Slash the loaves.
Spray the loaves with water. Slide the loaves into the oven onto the preheated stone and add a cup of hot water to the broiler tray.
Bake for about 25 minutes until golden brown. (If you used parchment paper you will want to remove it after about 10-15 minutes to crisp up the bottom crust. Spray the loaves with water three times at 3-minute intervals.
Cool for 2 – 3 hours before cutting.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gwen Jones, after spending years writing several unpublishable novels, decided to learn what she was doing wrong or give it all up. So after earning an MFA in Creative Writing from Western Connecticut State University, she’s now so good they even allow her to teach there. An unabashed born-and-bred native of Southern New Jersey and the Jersey Shore, she lives with her husband, Frank, and the absolute cutest cat in the world, Gracie.

Visit my website – Gwen Jones Writes

Like me on Facebook – gwenjoneswrites

Follow me on Twitter – gwenjones25

ebook | paperback!

Andy Devine is advertising for a wife on a utility pole, and interviewing him is the last thing TV reporter Julie Knott needs. Especially after her cheating fiancé just tweeted their disengagement. Now she has got to choose: get the story—or become it?

Wanted: Wife

Landed, Financially Secure 40-Yr-Old Male
* Handsome, but with old-school communication skills and a secret past *

Seeks Healthy, Athletic Female
* Preferably a pretty reporter with a messy love life who has never spent a day in the woods *

For Marriage and Family
* What could possibly go wrong? *

If you love the humor and romance of Rachel Gibson and Susan Elizabeth Phillips, don’t miss the fabulous debut of Gwen Jones!

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April 26, 2013April 26, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Karina Cooper

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to have Karina Cooper on the blog today to chat about life, Merri Destefano and her newest book One for the Wicked.

Karina, can you please share with us a little about yourself

Hi! Thanks so much for having me today! My name’s Karina Cooper, and I’m a writer. I have paranormal romance books out and a steampunk urban fantasy series. I tend to be all over the place, creatively and otherwise. I’m a steampunk, a gamer, and all around twitter-holic.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

In a roundabout way? Yes! I started writing for fun when I was in high school, little short stories designed to give friends of mine happily ever afters. I even had a little form for them to fill out detailing their ideal man. I was a smooth operator, right? … We’ll go with that.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?

Some of my favorite authors are Neil Gaiman—naturally!—and Merrie Destefano. Interestingly enough, I have long said that Merrie’s prose is very fluid and lyrical, much like Neil’s, and I’m often left thinking about their books long after I put them down. I also enjoy books by Ilona Andrews, I’m loving Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid series, and Victoria Dahl always gets my engine started. I’m not sure if I can say if any of them influenced my writing—I think I’m too close to the subject. Maybe readers could tell me who I remind them of, and I’ll say whether or not I’ve read them! I get a lot of comparisons to JR Ward, which is ridiculously flattering, but I have to admit, I’ve never had a chance to sit and read her. Please don’t burn me!

How did you get into writing in this specific genre? Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?

I started writing PNR because I’m heavily influenced by the supernatural—I love paranormal stories, from the classic vampires to human magic-users to aliens to steampunk alchemy to even stories of angels and demons. However, I don’t stop there! I write a steampunk urban fantasy, and I’m currently developing projects outside the romance genre and steampunk themes. I believe in writing the stories that want to be written, and a lot of times, that journey takes an author outside established genre lines. I’m all for that.

What are some of your writing rituals?

I only really have one: hot drinks. No matter what’s going on, or where I am, if I’m sitting down to work, I have a hot cup of something near at hand. Usually? It’s coffee. Because coffee, man. But I’ll have hot apple cider, hot tea, even hot emergen-C if I’m not feeling well. Regardless, that hot drink is near at hand or I’m not writing a word. It’s a terrible crutch, but it’s one I can live with.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

One for the Wicked is the finale to the Dark Mission series. It follows Kayleigh Lauderdale, the daughter of the enigmatic leader of the Holy Order’s Sector Three, and the man who’s out to achieve revenge no matter what the cost. Shawn Lowe has it out for the Lauderdale family in a big way, and nothing’s going to get in his way. Except, what happens when you actually start to like the person you’re supposed to hate? The stakes are at their all-time highest as the root of the greatest conspiracy the new world knows is finally exposed.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

A sick day watching the Discovery channel! At the very least, that’s what started the whole story, anyway, right back to Blood of the Wicked. Shawn and Kayleigh’s story is a culmination of 7 books—four full lengths and three novellas—of conspiracies, cover-ups, betrayals and bloodshed. Really, I didn’t have to do a lot of dreaming up for this one. These were seeds sowed over the past two years, and in a lot of ways, I just had to hang on for the ride.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

Currently, I’m in between projects! (Gasp!) but starting Monday, I’ll be beginning work for the fourth in my steampunk urban fantasy, whose title is not yet decided. I’m also going to be working on edits for Corroded, which is the third book in that series. And tells the story of Cherry St. Croix as she works to achieve revenge for a terrible crime committed below the filthy, smoggy drift.

Open your book to a random page and tell us what’s happening.

Okay, let’s see! I turn to a scene wherein Shawn is in trouble, and the only person who can help him is Kayleigh Lauderdale—the woman he’s kidnapped. She’s nobody’s fool, and she’s definitely cautious, but she’s also aware that her chances of survival are extremely low without Shawn’s help. It’s a stand-off, and she’s going to have to make a decision: help him now, knowing it could put her at risk later, or leave him to rot—and risk rotting herself.

What would you be if you were not an author?

I have zero idea. Writing is such a fundamental part of who I am that I can’t imagine what I’d be. I was always a bit of a profession gypsy—I stayed at a job just until I mastered it, and then when it became commonplace, I moved on. I imagine I’d be kind of drifting.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

I definitely am looking forward to the continuation of Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid series, and I can’t wait for Ilona Andrews’ next Kate Daniels book. I kind of stalk Victoria Dahl, I’ll admit it.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just a huge thanks for having me today! I hope you’ll come frolic in my ongoing worlds and new projects, and that you loved the story of New Seattle as much as I did writing it. I bid these characters a fond farewell, and hope I left you with so many great memories.

Avon (@avonbooks) will be having a twitter chat on Monday, 4/29, from 3-4PM EST, with Karina Cooper (@KarinaCooper), and we’d love for you to participate! It will be using hashtag #WickedOne, and we’ll be chatting about all kinds of things—namely, witches! We’d love it if you shared your favorite witches (from books, movies, TV and beyond), but we’re also keen to hear about your favorite epic endings, favorite moments in the Dark Mission series—and don’t forget, Karina will be answering questions, so please do join us! Here’s the cherry on top of our paranormal Sundae (err…Monday): anyone who tweets using #WickedOne will be entered to win the complete Dark Mission series!

Giveaway Time!!!!

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February 28, 2013February 26, 2013

Guest Blog & Giveaway with Jennifer Ryan

Thank you Books-n-Kisses for having me over today.

In SAVED BY THE RANCHER, I explore several themes – Jenna’s complicated relationship with her abusive ex-husband. Learning to trust a new man, even one as sexy and kind as Jack Turner.

Rich enough to surround herself with guards and hide behind walls and security, Jenna discovers no amount of money can protect you from an obsessed man. But Jenna has a plan for all that wealth and will use every dime she has to make her ex pay, but not before she shows Jack and his family a little gratitude for all their kindness.

SAVED BY THE RANCHER

From the moment rancher Jack Turner rescues Jenna Caldwell Merrick, he is determined to help her. Soon, he is tending more than her wounds, he is mending her heart. Jenna is a woman on the run—hunted down by her ex-husband, David Merrick, from the moment she left him, taking part of his company with her, to the second she found herself on the safety of Jack’s ranch. More than just a safe haven, Jack’s offering the love, family, and home she thought was out of reach.

Jack’s support and love will give her the strength she needs to reclaim her life. The hunted will become the hunter, as David gets what he deserves when they have an explosive confrontation in the boardroom of Merrick International. But not before Jack and Jenna enter into a fight…for their lives.

Excerpt:

“Now that’s what I like to see. A couple of nice asses bent over a really hot car.”

“Jenna! You didn’t. You bought them cars.”

“Yep. Cool, huh.”

…

“The cars, Jenna. How? Why? Not that I’m complaining, but this is too much. How can you do this for all of us?”

“Yes, Jenna. How can you afford to do this for everyone? Jets, limos, cars, diamonds, shopping sprees?” Jack couldn’t take his eyes off her. She looked like a million bucks in that dress and his mouth watered just looking at her. This was the real Jenna. Dressed like she was, smiling, enjoying herself. He didn’t know what to make of it.

“Jack, you asked me several times who I’m running from. You neglected to ask who I am.”

She wore a huge smile on her face, like the joke was on him for missing that fact. He guessed it was.

“You may be rich, but I’m filthy stinking rich.” She let them absorb that little bombshell. Still smiling like the cat who ate the canary, she took in their shocked faces.

“What I did today was just money. I could do this every day until I die if I wanted to.”

Stunned into complete silence, she smiled even more.

“Okay, here it is. You guys took me in and cared for me. A stranger. You didn’t know anything about me, except someone hurt me. You nursed me back to health and gave me something back that I’ve been missing for far too long.”

She turned to Caleb. “Friendship.”

To Summer. “Caring.”

And Lily. “Hope.”

She faced Jack again. “Kindness. That’s all I ever wanted. You know that. You all gave it to me, expecting nothing in return, without knowing who I am, or what my circumstances.

“I’m returning that kindness. You all have my love and friendship, but I wanted to give you something to show you how much I appreciate having you in my life.” She raised her hand and gestured to the cars. “So, every boy should have a really cool toy. Hence, the really cool cars. I hope you like them.

“Every girl should get to go on a marvelous shopping spree. The jet and limo were just, well, lots of fun.”

They all spoke at once, saying it was too much, and they couldn’t accept.

She held up both her hands to stop all the protests. “These are just things, and I give them to you with all the love in my heart. Accept them. Enjoy them. Seeing you happy makes me happy. That’s another thing I haven’t felt in a long time.

“Now, the appropriate response is, ‘Thank you, Jenna.’”

Heads turned this way and that as they all came to a silent agreement and in unison said, “Thank you, Jenna.”

She laughed.

What would it be like to have all that money? What would I do first?

Buy a huge house? Send my kids to Harvard? Buy my husband that hot sports car he’s always wanted? Take a trip around the world and stay in five-star hotels? Pay off all my bills? My family’s bills? Help a stranger? Use it for revenge against someone who wronged me? Keep it for myself, even when I knew a friend could use a helping hand?

Buy a new freezer and keep it stocked with rocky road ice cream? Definitely. I’m a simple girl, who likes simple things. Like diamonds. Sparkly things make me smile.

Dream big and make those dreams come true? Absolutely.

If you had Jenna’s wealth, what would you do with it?

Author Bio:

Jennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, three children, her dog, Bella, and cat, Shadow.

When she isn’t writing a book, she’s reading one. Her obsession for both is often revealed in the state of her home and how late dinner is to the table. When she finally leaves those fictional worlds, you’ll find her in the garden, playing in the dirt and daydreaming about people who live only in her head, until she puts them on paper.

For more information about Jennifer and her upcoming releases, visit www.jennifer-ryan.com.

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February 14, 2013February 14, 2013

Interview with the authors of Vampires Gone Wild…..& a giveaway too

Oh those funny authors

Thank you for hosting us today during out whirlwind blog tour for Vampires Gone Wild. Kerrelyn Sparks, Pamela Palmer, Amanda Arista, and Kim Falconer are here today to tell you about the strange life of being paranormal writers.

So this recent anthology is all about Vampires, do you ever come up with anything so wild that you scare yourself, that leaves you wondering where that came from?

Kerrelyn Sparks: There are times when the characters surprise me and say or do something really crazy. If I tell them they can’t do that, they tell me to buzz off. Also, my heroes tend to kiss the heroines without my permission, before I was planning for them to do it. If I object, they smirk at me.

Pamela Palmer: Oh, yes, all the time. My imagination seems to be fascinated by the things that used to give me nightmares. Starting with vampires!

Amanda Arista: Going to echo everyone else on this one. Yes, especially when I’m trying to really test a character. When you are really testing a character’s metal, you have to pit them against their personal darkest fear. For some, that’s being buried alive in a coffin seven feet below the surface where they can still hear the living, or putting them in them in a dark alley with a monster and nothing to protect themselves.

Kim Falconer: Oh yes. Particularly with characters that are over the top, or emotionally on the edge. To write them, you have to ‘go there’ in your mind. You have to ask, what would it be like to have that perspective? The answers come out in the writing, and it can be terrifying. When that happens, the up side is, you know you’re on to something good! Something real.

Since you all are multi-published authors, what would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

KS: Thinking my characters are real with minds of their own (see above comment).

PP: I always listen to music when I write—Keiko Matsui’s new age jazz instrumentals. I turn on the music when I sit down to write and turn it off when I get up, even if it’s just to refill my coffee mug. Hearing that music puts my mind in instant writing mode.

AA: Coffee. It’s not so much the caffeine as the ritual of making the coffee. My brain knows that when I go to make the cup of coffee that it’s writing time. With the biggest mug that I can find, I can start my writing. Same works at coffee shops. A cup of black coffee with a splash of cream and two sugars. And then I sit down and begin the torture.

KF: I have this habit, when waiting for a new wave of inspiration, of rubbing my hands together, like in those cartoons when someone’s just gotten a great idea, or is about to execute a plan. Almost an ‘evil grin – now we’re cooking’ action. Within seconds, the light bulb goes on. Every time.

Since the book is about things that go bump in the night, what was a time in your life when you were really scared?

KS: I get scared when someone I care about is in danger. They can be real people or imaginary ones.

PP: Hmm…I’d probably have to say a time when I was really scared was the first time I went water skiing after watching the movie Jaws. We lived on the water in Florida when I was in high school, on the intercoastal waterway that leads out to the Gulf of Mexico. My little brother, who was about twelve at the time, saw a fin breach the water near him when he was up on the skis, panicked, and dropped the rope…right beside the fin. You can imagine the grief I gave him about his lousy survival instincts. Fortunately, it was just a dolphin, and one who ignored him.

AA: Madame Tussaud’s House of Wax. There is a Halloween exhibit of all the nightmare creatures from the movies: Freddie, Jason, the Alien, Chucky. I knew that they weren’t going to jump out at me (hello, wax), but I couldn’t stop my imagination from going there. What if all of them attacked at once? I hid behind my mom the whole time (she was totally calm).

KF: On a dive off the Channel Islands, 75 feet deep, a school of thirty tiger sharks swimming between me and the surface, almost out of air . . .

Since we know that the book has vampires and romance in it, what did you edit OUT of this book?

PP: Nothing that I can think of. I tend to write in layers, so I’m always adding IN, not out.

AA: There was a piece of information about Valiance that I had built in as a deep secret that he would share with Esme to show how much he trusted her. But as I kept working at their story, about the time that Valiance was realizing that he wasn’t the man he used to be, that information wasn’t relevant to who he was anymore, who he was with her. It was kinda an interesting moment as a writer and as a person.

KF: I took out one of Salila’s scenes (a secondary character) which was very dark and sexual. On second and third thought, it was too full on for the shorter work. There wasn’t enough time to ‘repair’ afterwards, and choices weren’t making quite the right sense. It had to go, but Salila will hopefully have her day in the sun, somewhere down the track.

The perception of the paranormal romance writer is that she is just a little bit weirder than most. Do you find yourself to be more idiosyncratic than the average person? Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer?

KS: I always thought I was normal, but my critique partners took me gently aside to break the news. Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer? Yes. Getting fat from too many hours in front of a computer!

PP: Ha. I guess that depends on your definition of ‘weird’. If being addicted to paranormal and fantasy television dramas (True Blood, Vampire diaries, Game of Thrones, etc.), loving dark fantasy movies and paranormal romance novels, and being fascinated by antique knives and swords is weird, then yes. Definitely. : ) Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer? Several. We’re prone to sitting too much! I try to spend at least an hour on the treadmill every day to counteract that. And we tend to talk to ourselves. Thank goodness for wireless phone technology. Now when I’m talking to myself in the car, or as I walk down the sidewalk, no one thinks twice. I’m sure they assume I have a Bluetooth receiver clipped to my ear.

AA: Yes, but admitting it is the first step right? I think studying story structure and techniques had probably made me a very idiosyncratic wife. My poor hubby has to listen to me talk about my “Supreme Ordeal” at work and the “Crossing the threshold” moment I had when it came to my novel. And heaven forbid we see a movie that completely skimped on the hero’s journey. My poor hubby has to hear about it. The biggest occupational hazard that I’ve come across is that I’m curious. About everything. I know my hairdressers entire story because I kept asking him about it. And the guys at electronic and gun stores probably roll their eyes when they see me coming. However, I have learned to at least give people a heads up. “Hi, I’m a writer and I saw (blank). Can you tell me more about it?”

KF: I think any writer is a little quirky. A lot quirky. It comes from spending so much time alone in one’s own head. Because we’re thinking a lot about ‘paranormal’ worlds, well, you are what you think about, right? Occupational hazards to being a writer include, talking to oneself, aloud, interrupting people in the middle of a conversation to jot down something that has nothing to do with them, or what they were saying, craving solitude (to get back to the people in the story), being oblivious to meals, appointments, normal sleeping hours and other people’s needs while in writing mode. Oh, and a big one, not getting enough physical exercise. Writer’s need an hour (of bootcamp level) work out, every day, to counter all that time on one’s duff.

Now that we know what scares you and what it takes to get you in the mood, what’s next on the horizon?

KS: A diet!!

PP: Book 2 in the Vamp City series, A Kiss of Blood, comes out June 26^th. And the 8^th book in my Feral Warriors shape-shifter series will be out in about a year. (Book 7, A Love Untamed, came out last month).

AA: More short stories from the Those who Wander universe and, cross our fingers, a new series about demon redemption.

KF: More of the Blood and Water ilk! I am writing a series, both historical and contemporary, based on this entombed, undersea race.

Thank you for hosting us today.

If you have any questions about our crazy writer lives, please feel free to post a comment/question.

One random commenter will win a digital copy of Vampires Gone Wild

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Vampires Gone Wild brings together four paranormal romance novellas by Kerrelyn Sparks, Pamela Palmer, Amanda Arista, and Kim Falconer, authors and bloggers at Supernatural Underground.
Kerrelyn Sparks’s demure Pamela and sexy vampire sidekick battle the Malcontents in “V is for Vampwoman.” Kim Falconer’s aqueous San Francisco vampires in “Blood and Water” want nothing from “landers” — unless it’s dinner, but that’s until Stellan meets Angelina. Pamela Palmer carries readers to Vamp City in “A Forever Love” where trapped Lukas pines for his lost love. When she appears, Lukas will fight to keep her alive. It’s been a hundred years since Valiance has dated; all is great until they’re attacked, but quiet Esme will shock Valiance in Amanda Arista’s “First Dates Are from Hell.”

Supernatural Underground

We’re a group of HarperCollins authors, writing Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance/Fantasy/Sci-Fi for adults and teens under the Avon, Eos and HarperTeen imprints. Call it what you like, if it lurks in the shadows, and there’s fur, fangs, fins, phantoms or faery wings involved, we write it!

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February 4, 2013February 4, 2013

Guest Blogger: Codi Gray

How Sexy was Written…

When I saw AVON was looking for new authors to write stories with a Valentine’s Day twist, I was excited, but also a little stumped. I haven’t always had the most romantic (or awesome) experiences with Valentine’s day so I thought about what I usually do on a day so focused on lovers…think…think…

Watch a romantic movie. Eat ice cream. Sob pathetically. Maybe not in that order.

Granted, my Valentine’s Days have improved since getting married, but I still remember watching all the happy couples when I was single; holding hands, kissing, and the girls gushing over their huge bouquets of roses that cost a fortune, telling myself I didn’t care, it was a stupid holiday anyway, and who wanted to celebrate love on a day when a bunch of people got massacred?

ME. I did. I wanted the flowers and the chocolates and…EVERYTHING!

I always like to write a short summary of my stories before I start, and my character outlines. I decided that I’d take a little bit of my pessimism and bitterness and incorporate them into my story.

So now I had my heroine’s idea of Valentine’s Day; hate with a touch of envy. Why is she single on the big day? Well, there’s something about a red headed heroine that always gets me (maybe because they’re usually such a firecracker) and she just has horribly bad luck with men. She’s socially, romantically, and fashionably awkward. Ladies and Gentleman, I give you Ryan Ashton (Oh and heroines with boy’s names are ROCK STARS).

So what type of hero makes such an odd duck’s heart go thumpety thump thump thump?

Bring in the hot boss! He was hiring another photographer, and photography is the only thing that really brings Ryan out of her shell. He’s a good guy that always finishes last, and is the only one who sees all of Ryan’s excellent qualities without an ounce of make up or a trace of sex appeal. He’s tall, he’s tan, and he’s got a body to drool over. But he’s still just a regular guy, with a regular job, so I gave him a regular name: Gregg Philips.

Why haven’t these two hooked up already?

Mixed signals play a big part, but being comfortable with each other is their biggest problem. I need to shake up these two and trigger Gregg to make his move.

Every girly-girls favorite word: MAKEOVER!

Yes, I’m a total cliché when it comes to romance. I love stories of ducklings to swans, friends becoming lovers, and that one big, public moment when the hero forgets there are people watching and he declares himself and his love.

Sigh. Squeal. Repeat.

Of course no story is complete without the antagonist, Chase Crawford, the new tattoo artist in town or the Fairy Godmother (or in this case, well dressed barista) Gracie Lou McAllister. Ryan grows into herself with Gracie’s help, Gregg gets a little friendly competition for Ryan’s heart, and I got to have a lot of fun giving these two a happily ever after! I hope you enjoy The Trouble with Sexy, a part of Kiss Me: An Avon Valentine’s Day Anthology!

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Pucker up on the most romantic day of the year with three debut contemporary authors and their tales of romance, seduction, and Elvis?

She’s got a hot new makeover . . . and a boss to seduce! For prim and proper Ryan Ashton, sexy has always been an elusive quality. But with a little help from a new friend, she just might snag the one man who can set her seductive side loose in Codi Gary’s The Trouble With Sexy.

Stuck in a king-size suite with a sexy man . . . What more could a girl want? But for Julie Dillon, being snowed in at an Elvis-themed Memphis hotel with Luke Pearce can’t mean anything but trouble. Too close for comfort gets close enough to taste in Cheryl Harper’s Love Me Tender.

Her best friend’s brother is shaking up her Valentine’s Day! Katie Quinn just wanted to spend the day watching Jurassic Park and eating chocolate. She certainly had no intention of running into Logan Cross—or running for her life! Suddenly caught in the crosshairs of danger, Katie and Logan must get together to find a way out in Jaclyn Hatcher’sLove, Guns, and Heart-Shaped Chocolate.

Learn more about Codi here:

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