Lauren Dane Interview and Giveaway

The Brown series has a special place in my heart because when I read about Erin, I was hooked. We had a child about the same age and I remember being in tears when I read what had happened to her. Now, her best friend, Raven, has her own book and I am so excited that Raven finally gets her chance for a happy ending. Lauren is here today to discuss her new book, Drawn Together, and I am very excited to have this fabulous author here on Books-n-Kisses.

1. Tell me about your new release Drawn Together.

Drawn Together is the story of Raven Smith and Jonah Warner. Over the Brown Family series we’ve seen lots of prickly behavior from her and had a few glimpses of her softer side but she’s always had this backstory– this reason she acts the way she does and I didn’t want to tell her story until I had the right match for her.

As it happens, Jonah Warner, uber alpha, came along at just the right time and I was so excited to write this book and give her the HEA she needed.

She doesn’t totally change because of love. She’s still Raven. But Jonah gets her and he’s worth opening up for. And he’s sort of pushy and bossy and so totally patient she can’t resist. She finds herself breaking all her personal rules for him and sort of liking it too.

It’s a love story on a few levels, not just between Raven and Jonah, but also between these characters and their friends and family too, which is the heart of this series. Oh and smoking hot sexytimes too 😉

2. Where did you come up with the idea for the Brown Family series?

Erin was the heart of it from the very start. I had this scene come to me and it ended up being the opening scene for Laid Bare – a woman on stage, boots, dreds, tats and piercings. I wanted her to be bold and strong and vivid but also to have this darkness. Laid Bare was born and at the start it was just a one book sale to fill a slot in the Berkley schedule. I knew I wanted to do books for Brody and Adrian but as I was about halfway through Coming Undone, I realized I wanted a book for Cope and that he needed to be with Ella.

Eventually, I wanted to write Raven’s book but she needed a few years to be ready for her HEA. She’s a fitting close for this generation of Brown/Keenan/Copelands and friends.

I love this tight knit group of friends and intentional family. I love how colorful and artistic they are. I love how much they love and support each other while retaining their edges. I’m happy I wrote them all!

3. What kind of research did you have to do for this series?

Mostly fun stuff. I watched a lot of videos of people playing instruments – Erin is a bass player, Adrian a guitarist so lots of that. Concert videos. Tattooing stuff for Brody and Raven (piercings too).

The criminal justice stuff I knew (I’ve got a law degree). I did domestic violence advocacy work post law school so I knew all the protection order stuff really well (for Ella’s situation in Laid Bare and Inside Out). I did ask my dad some stuff about sentencing in California (he was a parole office before he retired several years back).

I live in the Northwest so many of the places they go are my favorites (Zeek’s Pizza, Red Mill, The Dahlia Lounge, etc.) and I know the neighborhoods I set parts of the story in. Written On the Body doesn’t exist, but that neighborhood does, for instance.

Other stuff is made up totally like Happy Bend – although I hear there is an actual town in Arkansas called Happy Bend, it’s not the one from the book! I promise you real citizens of Happy Bend I would not insult your town that way, LOL.

4. I love the Browns, especially Erin, and I was wondering if you are planning any more books for them?

This part of the series is over. I’ve written books for everyone and I don’t want to drag it out and have readers thinking, “She should have ended this three books ago.” But there’s a whole new generation of Brown/Keenan/Copelands coming up as well as Jonah’s brothers so we haven’t seen the last of these characters.

5. What are you working on now?

I just finished a novella called All That Remains that will be in the Marked anthology out in February. It’s an earth set futuristic erotic romance menage (say that ten times fast!) and the start of a new self published series I’ll be doing.

Now I’m working on Fool’s Gold, which is book one in my HURLEY BOYS series and features Paddy Hurley (Damien’s brother from LUSH).

6. Any advice for aspiring writers?

The only real takeaway that I think applies to everyone is that you can’t be a writer unless you write. Don’t talk about it. Do it. If that’s 100 words a day, or 45 minutes a night or at your lunch break, or every other day or weekend, whatever. Put your butt in that chair (or wherever you work) and get working. You can fix whatever you get on the page, but it has to be there to fix.

Thank you so much for answering my questions and I just want to say that I love all your book and am looking forward to everyone learning more about Raven.

Thank you and thank you so much for having me. 🙂

About the Author:

The story goes like this: While on pregnancy bed rest, Lauren Dane had plenty of down time so her husband took her comments about “giving that writing thing a serious go” to heart and brought home a secondhand laptop. She wrote her first book on it before it gave up the ghost. Even better, she sold that book and never looked back.

Today Lauren is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over forty novels and novellas across several genres. Though she no longer has to deal with Polly Pocket and getting those tiny outfits on and off, she still has trouble blocking out the sound of iCarly so she can write a love scene.

Website/ Twitter/ Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Drawn Together

TITLE: Drawn Together

SERIES #: Brown Family Series #6

CHARACTERS: Raven Smith and Jonah Warner

AUTHOR: Lauren Dane

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/1/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Beauty is more than skin-deep…..Tattoo artist Raven Smith is blunt and hard, broken and jaded, dark and beautiful. While she doesn’t hide her painful past, she does keep a wall around her heart. She’s free sexually–but no one gets to the real Raven beneath the prickly exterior.

With a voice like smoke, Jonah Warner is a smooth-talking, highly successful attorney, with a body that should never be hidden by a suit. He’s the kind of man who never takes no for an answer and always gets what he wants. And what he wants is Raven. She’s a survivor, and he finds that incredibly alluring.

Jonah gets under her skin in a way Raven has never experienced. He makes her break all the rules–including her no-monogamy rule. But when a figure from Raven’s past shows up at the tattoo parlor and drops a bomb into her life, their relationship will face the ultimate challenge…

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: 4.5 Stars

REVIEW: Raven has always been such a mystery to me throughout the series. A tough free-spirit, who lived by her own rules and at first, I didn’t like her because she just seemed like a mean person. Slowly, she started to grow on me, especially because of her interactions with Erin and Erin’s son, Alexander. I had loved Erin from the very beginning and if Erin loved Raven with such an intensity and protectiveness, I knew there had to be more to her than meets the eye and I was glad that we got to see that side of her in Drawn Together.

Raven is a beautiful, smart, artistic and strong woman that most people don’t cross because of the image that she portrays. She had such a hard life growing up and that life has made her who she was an adult. Jonah was exactly what she needed. He was an alpha in his own world and he was able to break down her walls with his love and devotion and at points in this story, those walls are made up of pretty strong raw emotion. She needed someone that she could finally trust to help her lose a little bit of the tight control in her life and the fact that she was able to do that with Jonah was a huge step for her. She didn’t feel the need to run like she had in the past, she just felt that being with him was the right thing and he proved to her that he was in it for the long haul. The sex scenes were very hot and steamy and I will warn people that Raven and Jonah’s sexual relationship was perfect for them but may not be for everyone.

Everyone knows that Lauren Dane is one of my absolute favorite authors and I purchase every book that she has ever written. The Brown Family series is one of the best series out there and Drawn Together is a perfect addition to these great books. I am so happy for Raven to finally get her happy ending and I can’t wait to read what happens to the next generation of these great characters.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a ARC copy of Drawn Together. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by October 6th, leave a meaningful comment for Lauren below:

October 2, 2013October 1, 2013

Spotlight & Tour Wide Giveaway with Lea Griffith

*****

BULLET TO THE HEART

Series: No Mercy, Book 1

Publication Date: 10/3/2013

Publisher: Taliesin Publishing

She was born to love then taught to kill. She has become everything but is no one.

Known only as Bullet she was long ago forced to shed the name her parents gave her. Changed, molded and trained to kill with sharp-shooting efficiency she is one of The Collective’s most valuable assets. In a cadre of killers, Bullet is death waiting but her time for vengeance has come.

He was loved and then he lost. He has become a hunter in search of revenge.

Everything was taken from Rand the day a bullet ended the lives of his beloved wife and daughter. He has searched for their killer seven long years and may have her in his hands. Rand has suffered but now the time has come to make The Collective pay or die trying.

Joy and sorrow are two sides of the same coin. Retribution draws them together but before all is said and done they will learn love can either break you or make you stronger.

A little about Lea:

Lea Griffith began sneaking to read her mother’s romance novels at a young age. She cut her teeth on the greats: McNaught, Woodiwiss, and Garwood. A firm believer that love makes the world go round, she still consumes every romance book she can put her hands on, but now she writes her own.

Lea lives with her husband and three teenage daughters in rural Georgia. Two dogs, a cat, and a Betta fish named Coddy George complete a family always in motion. When not working at the EDJ, she’s usually at her keyboard, using every spare second to write. Science fiction, paranormal and contemporary romance, oh my! Nothing is off-limits when it comes to her writing.

Website | Facebook Profile | Facebook page | Twitter | Goodreads

TOUR GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Lea is giving away the following prizes at the end of her tour:

GRAND PRIZE: $25 Amazon gift card

RUNNERS-UP: Three (3) runners-up will each receive an eBook of BULLET TO THE HEART.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lea Griffith’s BULLET TO THE HEART Tour Schedule – 9/27 – 10/12

9/27 – Notebook of Books (Spotlight & Review)

http://www.bookishlover.blogspot.com

9/28 – Book Monster Reviews (review & Guest Post)

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

9/30 – Coffee and Characters (spotlight)

http://www.daniellecromero.blogspot.com/

10/01/2013 – Where the Night Kind Roam (spotlight)

http://paranormalromancenovel.com/

10/01 – Tome Tender Book Blog (spotlight)

http://tometender.blogspot.com

10/02 – Kristina’s Books & More (spotlight)

http://kristinasbooksandmore.blogspot.com/

10/02 – Books-N-Kisses

http://www.books-n-kisses.com/

10/03 – Just Romantic Suspense (Book of the Day post)

http://www.justromanticsuspense.com/p/book-of-day.html

10/03 – Mad Hatter Reads (guest post)

http://madhatterreads.blogspot.com/

10/04 – Vampires, Werewolves & Fairies, Oh My! (spotlight & review)

http://vampireswerewolvesfairiesohmy.blogspot.com/

10/05 – Mythical Books (spotlight & review)

http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.ro/

10/05 – Literary Nook (spotlight)

http://literarynook.com

10/06 – Inner Goddess (spotlight & review)

Http://www.InnerGoddessforum.com

10/07 – Books, Books & More Books (interview)

http://booksbooksmorebooks.blogspot.com/

10/08 – Romance Junkies (interview)

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

10/09 – Romancing the Book (interview)

http://romancing-the-book.com/

10/09 – Victoria’s Gossip (spotlight)

http://victoriasgossip.com/blog/

10/10 – Book Pages and Dripping Ink (spotlight & review)

bookpagesanddrippingink.blogspot.com

10/11 – Sun Mountain Reviews (spotlight)

http://sunmountainreviews.wordpress.com

10/12 – Dalene’s Book Reviews (interview)

http://www.dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com/

10/12 – Coffee Talk (interview)

http://coffeetalkwriters.com/blog/

10/12 – Tiffy-Fit’s Reading Corner (spotlight)

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com/

September 30, 2013September 23, 2013

Interview & Tour Wide Giveaway with Michelle Grave

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome first time guest Michelle Graves to the blog today to talk about her book “See How She Runs”
Book one in the Chronicles of Izzy.

Michelle, can you please share with us a little about yourself:

MG: I am married to my very best friend who also happens to be an Army Infantryman. I have a wonderful daughter we call Squish that lights up each and every day of my existence. Hmm, talking about myself is harder than I thought. What else is exciting about me? I love to craft, bake, read, and I am a total Whovian.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

MG: Honestly, no. I did not even know I could write a book until I sat down and started this past year! I have always written poetry and loved doing research papers, it just never dawned on me to try writing a book until my characters became insistent.

Are you a plotter or a punster or combo of both? And you explain the difference?

MG: I am a total Pantser. I have a vague idea of what the main story arc will be when I sit down to write, but the main story just comes out as I write it. The plot twists, the character surprises, they all come to me as my fingers fly across the keys. I am just as surprised as the readers when I get to those points. I have always said it feels a bit like being possessed by my characters. I feel like Izzy uses me as a mouthpiece.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

MG: I send my book as I write it to my beta readers. Completely unedited. Oh, and I can’t go back and read what I have written until I am completely done with the story.

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

MG: See How She Runs is about Izzy Boone. She is a seemingly normal girl living in Chicago until one fateful delivery turns her entire life upside down. She is forced to face the truth, that she is a Seer on the run from the Corporation which means to use her abilities to gain profits. She finds out her best friend is not at all who he seemed. Ultimately, it is a story about Izzy becoming who she is meant to be and all of the trials and tribulations she must face on the road to get there.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

MG: It just came to me one day. I knew I wanted it to be about Izzy and Kennan and their relationship. My husband helped me come up with the bad guy bits. I tend to have a hard time thinking like a villain.

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

MG: See How She Fights, the second book in The Chronicles of Izzy series, is currently being edited. It comes out on my thirtieth birthday, December 12! I can honestly say that I LOVE this book. It went in a much darker direction than the first book, and the characters that show up in this one are quite intriguing.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

MG: Molly Harper. I have a total author crush on her. She is brilliantly witty.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

MG: Surround yourself with honest and supportive people. You will need both to make it through the emotional turmoil writing can bring.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

MG: I want to visit all fifty states in the United States. I love to travel, and I think it would be an amazing feat to accomplish.

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

MG: Penny Reid’s latest, R.L. Naquin’s new Monster Haven book, oh and Rae Carson’s new book coming out this fall.

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

MG: Jane Eyre and Pride and Prejudice. I couldn’t decide between the two.

What is your favorite time of year & why?

MG: From Halloween to Christmas. I absolutely love the food, the weather, the sense of family, and the decorations. I may suffer from post-Christmas depression when it is all over with.

Who is your Celebrity crush? And what would you do if you ever meet them?

MG: Any man that has ever played The Doctor on Doctor Who. I would immediately ask them where the TARDIS was and why we weren’t on an adventure yet!?!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

MG: Read my book. Only kidding, mostly just read. I think that reading allows us to escape into other worlds and live many lives in one lifetime.

*****

SEE HOW SHE RUNS

Chronicles of Izzy, Book 1

Amazon | B&N

One delivery changed her whole life.
Izzy was a normal girl living in Chicago as a bike messenger before that fateful day. She delivered one package and set into action a chain of events she never could have expected.

Now she is running for her life from the Corporation, her best friend is not at all who he seemed, and to top it all off she keeps having visions.

Will she survive to navigate the waters as a Seer? Will her feelings for Kennan be her very downfall? Find out in See How She Runs.

A little about Michelle:

Michelle Graves is a self-proclaimed nomad, moving every two to three years with her husband the Army man, her beautiful daughter, and a fat tailless cat named Torri. When she is not writing away trying to purge her mind of yapping characters she can be found entertaining her daughter, attempting to craft (whilst trying not to injure herself with the glue gun), baking yummy treats, or reading. She admits to having a restless spirit and forces her family to go out on adventures whenever possible. They lovingly play along.

Contact Links:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

Michelle is giving away the following prizes at the end of her tour:

GRAND PRIZE: $25 Amazon Giftcard

RUNNERS-UP: THREE (3) runners-up will each receive an eBook of SEE HOW SHE RUNS

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*****

Michelle Grave’s SEE HOW SHE RUNS Blog Tour

Schedule 9/16 – 9/30

9/16- Book Monster Reviews (guest post)

http://www.bookmonsterreviews.com/

9/16- I Smell Sheep (spotlight/review)

http://www.ismellsheep.com/

9/17- Babbling About Books (spotlight)

http://kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/

9/17- Regina May Ross (spotlight)

http://www.reginamayross.blogspot.com

9/18- Just Paranormal Romance (guest post)

http://www.justparanormalromance.com/

9/18- Paranormal Romance Fans Or Life (interview)

http://paranormalromancefanforlife.blogspot.com/

9/18- Bookin’ It Reviews (spotlight)

http://www.bookinitreviews.com/

9/19- Who’s Reviews (spotlight/review)

http://whosreviews.wordpress.com/

9/19- Froggarita’s Bookcase (interview/review)

http://www.froggaritasbookcase.com/

9/20- Over the Edge (interview & review)

http://overtheedgebookreviews.blogspot.com/

9/20- Coffee Talk (guest post)

http://coffeetalkwriters.com/blog/

9/21- Crazy Four Books (spotlight/review)

http://crazyfourbooks.blogspot.com/

9/21- Mad Hatter Reads (interview)

http://madhatterreads.blogspot.com/

9/22- Literal Addiction (guest post)

http://www.literaladdiction.com/

9/22- Dalene’s Book Reviews (spotlight) review after tour

http://www.dalenesbookreviews.blogspot.com/

9/23- Tome Tender (spotlight/review)

http://tometender.blogspot.com/

9/23- Sassy Book Lovers (spotlight)

http://sassybooklovers.blogspot.com/

9/24- Victoria’s Gossip (spotlight)

http://victoriasgossip.com/blog/

9/24- Wicked Readings by Tawania (spotlight/review)

http://www.wickedreadingsbytawania.blogspot.com/

9/25- CS Maxwell’s Where’s My muse (spotlight)

http://www.csmaxwell.blogspot.com/

9/25- Romance with Flavor (guest post)

http://romancewithflavor.com/

9/26- Miscellaneous Thoughts of A Bookaholic (spotlight/review)

http://miscellaneousthoughtsofabookaholic.blogspot.com/

9/26- Toot’s Book Reviews (spotlight)

http://tootsbookreviews.blogspot.com/

9/27- Book Lovin’ Mamas (guest post)

http://booklovinmamas.com/

9/27- Bibliophile Mystery (spotlight/review)

http://bibliophilemystery.blogspot.com/

9/28- The Reading Cafe (interview/review) morning post

http://www.thereadingcafe.com/

9/28- Cocktails and Books (spotlight/review)

http://www.cocktailsandbooks.com/

9/29- Romance Junkies (interview)

http://www.romancejunkies.com/rjblog/

9/29- Inner Goddess (spotlight/review)

http://www.innergoddessforum.com/

9/29- Tiffy-Fit’s Reading Corner (spotlight)

http://tiffyfit.blogspot.com/

9/30- Books-n-Kisses (interview/review)

http://www.books-n-kisses.com/

9/30- United by Books (spotlight/review)

http://unitedbybooks.blogspot.com/

September 30, 2013September 29, 2013

Cold Blooded Blog Tour and Giveaway

I love the Jessica McClain series and I have the talented Amanda Carlson here to discuss her third book in the series, Cold Blooded.

1. Tell me about your new release Cold Blooded.

It’s full of non-stop action and adventure. If you’re waiting to see what happens to Jess & Rourke you won’t be disappointed! It picks up right were HOT BLOODED left off.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for Jessica and her family?

The first scene of the book played out like a movie clip in my head. It all went from there. Once she was done shifting, I knew she had a family who loved her. Those family ties were really important to me. Jessica is not a dark twisted heroine, she’s well rooted and it helps her navigate the major changes in her life.

3. What kind of research did you have to do for this series?

I do minimal research, except for the mythological beings in the book. I love bringing true myth and history in when I can. Eudoxia was actually the name of Ivan the Terrible’s daughter in history. Selene is the real name of the Lunar Goddess in myth. Lots of my beasties are from myth as well. Try googling some of them!

4. Do you have any influence over choosing the covers of your books? The cover model for Jessica is perfect.

I gave them physical descriptions, but I didn’t have any say. They did a great job with the covers. I feel very lucky.

5. What are you working on now?

I’m working on more books in the series, as well as some “sekrit” projects! Stay tuned. The best place for updates and info on the “up and coming” from me is my author facebook page.

6. Do you envision any actors playing your characters while you are writing?

No, in fact I’m super bad at that game when anyone asks! Each character is really a conglomeration of looks, characteristics and voice all melded into one. Honestly, I like it better that way. Each reader should be able to substitute their favorites in for any of the characters.

7. Any advice for aspiring writers?

Keep going! This business is all about hard work and persistence. You have to finish the book first. After that you keep editing and querying. Then, while you’re querying, start something new. Don’t put all your eggs into one basket and keep writing. Always keep writing.

Thanks for having me on the blog! Super excited for COLD BLOODED to release next week.

About the Author:

I’m a Minnesota girl, born and bred. I started writing stories about teenage girls and their social missteps when I was in high school. I still have the handwritten spiral notebooks to prove it.

I started writing in earnest after my second child was born. After purchasing our first computer, I thought to myself, what better way to spend my time than e-mailing unsuspecting family members super cute stories about my exceptionally darling children? Isn’t that what computers were made for anyway?

The writer in me stretched and gave a defiant shove. I was hooked.

I jumped into writing classes, joined local writing chapters, organized author book signings, joined critique groups and participated in conferences. I had a blast writing a column in a local food & wine publication, and eventually tied together all my parenting stories into one full compilation.

My first fiction attempt was a contemporary romance, but I couldn’t seem to find the story. After my kids starting bringing home YA urban fantasy, I suddenly knew where my passion for fiction writing had been hiding. It was inside the action packed pages of an Urban Fantasy novel. Reading each new series was so much fun, I quickly realized this genre brought something to the storyline I hadn’t really seen before. It brought a hefty shot of adrenaline combined with a side of female kickass, all combined with that element of “other” I found so intriguing.

After reading YA, I picked up every adult UF I could get my hands on and I’ve been fully immersed in this genre ever since. On occasion I still pick up a “regular” book. But for the most part I find them lacking in superpowers and the excitement of the unexpected.

I started FULL BLOODED because kickass heroines rock and I love shifters of all kinds. There aren’t enough warm-blooded girls to go around, in my opinion. I fell into Jessica’s story and had such a great time writing it. I couldn’t imagine writing anything other than urban fantasy now.

When you’re creating a story in this fantastic genre, it can contain almost any elements you can dream up. Creatively, for me, there’s nothing better.

Now I think it’s about time to share it with all of you.

Website/ Twitter/ Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Cold Blooded

TITLE: Cold Blooded

SERIES #: Jessica McClain #3

CHARACTERS: Jessica, Rourke, Tyler

AUTHOR: Amanda Carlson

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/8/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Jessica McClain is on the run…again. Finally reunited with Rourke, Jessica arrives home to find that her best friend has been kidnapped, her father has vanished, and the supernatural Sects–witches, demons, and sorcerers–don’t even have the courtesy to wait until she is unpacked to attack.

Now, mastering her powers as the sole female werewolf might not be enough to save them. Thrown together in a shaky truce with the Vampire Queen, Jessica must show all the different Sects what the true meaning of “the enemy of my enemy” is or her father will die.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: This book is the third in the Jessica McClain series and each book keeps getting better and better. Cold Blooded picks up right after the events of Hot Blooded and Jessica finds herself on the run from demons and sorcerers while looking for her missing best friend, Marcy. Jessica and Rourke are now finally together and looking forward to spending some quality time with one another. But all that has to be put on hold when Jessica is summoned to the Vampire Queen’s home in New Orleans to serve a debt that they owe her and along the way bring an all-out war among paranormal beings to her doorstep. Jessica has to then side with the Vampire Queen to protect the people that she cares about before it is too late.

I have to say that this is one of my favorite series and I look forward to reading every book when it comes out. Jessica is such a great kick-ass heroine who is still coming to terms with her new supernatural powers and has finally been reunited with her mate, Rourke. There is non-stop action from the very first page and the story is so well-written that you feel like you’re watching a movie instead of reading a book. I absolutely love this series and all of its characters and I can’t wait to see what Amanda Carlson comes up with next.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

September 28, 2013

Interview and Review with Gretchen McNeil

A year ago, my friend Stacee from Adventures of a Book Junkie, sent a book from a new author that she absolutely loved. That book was Ten by Gretchen McNeil. I stayed up all night reading it because it was complex, thrilling and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. Once I knew Gretchen was coming out with a new book, I jumped at the chance to interview her. Thankfully, she said yes to answer some of my questions here on Books-n-Kisses today.

1. Tell me about your new release 3:59.

3:59 sci-fi doppelganger horror (that’s a genre, right?) about two girls who are the same girl in parallel universes, who discover that their worlds connect every twelve hours for exactly one minute at 3:59. When they decide to switch places, all hell breaks loose. Literally.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this book?

This sounds so cliche’, but I was driving home from work one day, and there was a traffic light turning red. I had a split second to decide: gun it or slam on the brakes. I braked, because I’m ever so responsible like that, then spend the rest of the time at the stop light wondering what would have happened if I hadn’t stopped. The idea grew in my head as I drove home, the idea that there would be two girls who are the same girl but in parallel universes, living out similar but different lives. While I was waking the dog, I started asking myself questions: What happens if these two girls meet? What happens if they switch places? The moment I got home, I emailed my agent.

3. I loved your book, Ten, and I was wondering what got you into writing suspense/horror YA?

I wanted to write the kind of books I loved to read as a teen. I wasn’t exactly a Sweet Valley High kind of girl. I read Victorian ghost stories, gothic novels, mysteries and of course, Christopher Pike. Kind of jumble all that together, and I think that is my writing style!

4. When you write your characters, do you envision a particular actor for each character?

No. In fact, personality comes first for me, and the physical characterization grows from that. Once the book is done, it’s very rare that I picture an actual actor playing one of my roles. For example, the only actor I pictured for TEN was Elle Fanning as Minnie.

5. As a writer, who has had the biggest influence on you?

Agatha Christie

6. What are you working on now?

Next up is GET EVEN, the first book in the Don’t Get Mad series, due out in Fall 2014. I pitched this book as “John Hughes with a body count” which meant I got to write a lot of funny dialogue, but still murder people.

GET EVEN is about four girls at a private school who come from totally different social strata: the student leader, the A student, the drama queen, the loner punk. Publicly, they aren’t friends. Privately, they’ve formed a secret society (Don’t Get Mad, or DGM for short) where they execute revenge missions against bullies, mean girls, and teachers who have wronged their classmates. It goes well until one of their targets turns up dead and DGM is implicated in the murder. The girls don’t know if one of them is the killer, or if someone else knows their secret, and they have to find out what which before someone else turns up dead.

7. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Finish the damn book.

I know that sounds trite, but too often, I hear about authors who just jump from project to project, never finishing a novel. You have to finish it. HAVE TO. That’s the only way you can improve, and the only way you can move forward in publishing!

About the Author:

Author of YA horror novels POSSESS, TEN and 3:59 (Fall 2013) as well as the upcoming YA mystery/suspense series Don’t Get Mad, beginning in 2014 with GET EVEN and continuing in 2015 with GET DIRTY. Gretchen also contributed an essay to the Dear Teen Me anthology from Zest Books.

Gretchen is a former coloratura soprano, the voice of Mary on G4’s Code Monkeys and she sings with the LA-based circus troupe Cirque Berzerk. Gretchen blogs with The Enchanted Inkpot and is a founding member of the vlog group the YARebels where she can be seen as “Monday.” She is repped by Ginger Clark of Curtis Brown, Ltd.

Website/ Twitter/ Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of 3:59

TITLE: 3:59

CHARACTERS: Josie Byrne, Nick and Madison

AUTHOR: Gretchen McNeil

PUBLICATION DATE: 9/17/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Josie Byrne’s life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend, Nick, has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. Just when Josie thinks things can’t get worse, she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time–3:59 a.m.

Jo’s life is everything Josie wants, but Josie knows it’s just a dream…until she wakes to an image of herself in the bedroom mirror. It’s Jo.

The two girls are doppelgangers whose universes overlap every twelve hours at 3:59. Fascinated by Jo’s perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to pass through the portal and switch places for a day. But Jo’s world is far from perfect…In fact, it’s more dangerous than Josie could ever imagine.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

REVIEW: I am always amazed at how Gretchen McNeil comes up with these brilliant ideas for books that leave me spellbound for hours. Her new novel, 3:59, tells the story of Josie Byrne, whose life is falling apart after discovering that her boyfriend, Nick, cheated on her with her own best friend. In the middle of all this, strange occurrences seem to be happening to her at home, where she is experiencing dreams of a girl that is exactly like her. Same name, same life except to Josie everything seems perfect for her other self. These glimpses into this alternate world happen every 12 hours at 3:59 and Josie makes plans to trade lives for just one day to experience how things would be if they were perfect. Once Josie gets her wish, she is faced with a deadly reality and her hopes for returning home are smashed with the ultimate act of betrayal.

I liked Josie because I felt for her when she discovered that Nick was cheating on her and she seemed to be the last person in her school to know. That heartbreak and embarrassment is horrible as a teenager and I could see her wanting a break even if it was just for 24 hours. Once, she changes worlds, she learns that everything that looked so wonderful on the outside was in fact, a living nightmare. Nick wasn’t her boyfriend and never was here, her alternate self was a manipulating bully and there was something dangerous hunting people at night. Then she finds that she can’t return home and may be trapped there forever with no one that she is able to trust.

3:59 is an amazing sci-fi fantasy with a complex storyline that provides such an array of twists and turns that will keep you guessing. Gretchen McNeil has provided an exciting well-written story that I know will have Hollywood knocking. To me, everything that she writes is magnificent and 3:59 has risen to the top of the list.

September 25, 2013August 30, 2013

Interview & giveaway with Victoria Roberts

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Victoria Roberts back to the blog today.

Victoria, can you please share with us a little about yourself.

First, thank you so much for having me today.

I’m a working wife and mother of two. Home is in western PA but would rather be in the Highlands.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I honestly did not find my calling until my late thirties. I’ve always dabbled in writing, but I never pursued that passion until later in life.

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

My favorite authors vary, but I’ll name a few: Lynn Kurland, Brenda Joyce, Karen Marie Moning, Sue Grafton and James Patterson.

As far as who influenced my writing, I’d have to say that Lynn Kurland, Hannah Howell and Karen Marie Moning made me crave tales from the Highlands.

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

I never read a single romance novel until my thirties. Low and behold, I discovered they actually had plots and characterization. The first book I read was a Scottish historical romance and I was hooked.

If I changed to another genre, the tales would still be Scottish-based. I’ve been thinking about paranormal, but my passion for writing historical has not died out. Who knows what the future holds?

What are some of your writing rituals?

I still have a day job so I strive to write 1k words/day or 5k/week. I must have complete silence and the muse must be present. Sometimes the two do not cooperate—at all.

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

I think the back cover blurb says it best.

She always wanted to be one of the boys…

Sybella would do anything to prove she’s just as valuable to the MacKenzie clan as her brother is. She’d go on any hunt, take any dare. But her father has a different sort of mission in mind: marriage. It’s simple, he explains. All she has to do is marry Alexander MacDonell and report back on his family’s secrets. It will be easy, he says, as long as she doesn’t do anything foolish…like fall in love.

Until she got a man

As laird of the MacDonells, Alex has a duty to produce an heir. It’s a duty he won’t mind with the lovely Ella as his wife―even if she is one of the dreaded MacKenzies. He’s wooed and won many ladies, but Ella is a challenge like no other. He can tell she’s holding something back. But not for long. Because inch by inch, he plans to expose everything she’s been hiding and claim the ultimate prize: her heart.

How did you come up with the idea for this story?

To Wed a Wicked Highlander is the third book in the Bad Boys of the Highlands series. Alex was in the first book, Temptation in a Kilt. He was Lady Rosalia Armstrong’s cousin from Glengarry. Alexander was so determined to make his father proud in the first book that I had to give him his own tale.

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

I sold another series to Sourcebooks called Royal Rebellion. My Highland Spy is the first book in the new series and will be released fall 2014.

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

Alex is standing with his Aunt Iseabail over his father’s grave in a private moment.

What would you be if you were not an author?

The wife of a Highland laird.

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

I have so many books in my TBR pile that I’ve lost count. I really want to read Karen Marie Moning’s new series Iced.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you so much for having me today.

Sourcebooks will give away one copy of To Wed a Wicked Highlander to a lucky commenter. (US and Canada only, please)

To enter please fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*****

Sourcebooks |Amazon | B&N

In the third book of this fun, action-packed Highland trilogy, Victoria Roberts introduces her baddest bad boy yet.

Laird Alexander MacDonnell must choose between his duty or
losing his heart forever to the woman who betrayed him—his own wife.

Lady Sybella MacKenzie is forced to search for her clan’s ancient seeing stone under the roof of her father’s enemy. When she finds the precious artifact, will she choose the family who raised her, or will she stand with the man who has captured her soul?

Praise for To Wed a Wicked Highlander:

Reviewer Top Pick

“Victoria Roberts knocked it outta the ballpark with this one!!! It is Highland romance at its best, loaded with likable characters, and an engaging plot with lots of angst and heartache that put a few tears in this reader’s eye. It was so good that I couldn’t put it down.”

―Night Owl Reviews

Reviewer Top Pick

“Roberts has created the baddest boy of the Highlands for her third in her series. This action-packed romance has everything Roberts’ fans adore: a strong heroine who meets her match in a to-die-for hero, deception, betrayal, love and redemption. To Wed a Wicked Highlander has all the elements that make readers sigh with pleasure.”

―RT Book Reviews

About Victoria Roberts:

Victoria Roberts writes Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. She was named by RT Book Reviews as “one of the most promising debut authors across the genres” and was also a 2012 Reviewers Choice nominee for Best First Historical for Temptation in a Kilt.

X Marks the Scot and To Wed a Wicked Highlander (Bad Boys of the Highlands #2 and #3) were reviewer TOP PICKS, and the first of Victoria’s new Royal Rebellion series is scheduled for release fall 2014.

Represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, Victoria is a member of Romance Writers of America®, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, several local chapters, as well as a contributing author to the online magazine Celtic Guide.

Victoria lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband of twenty years and their two beautiful children—not to mention one spoiled dog. When she is not plotting her next Scottish romp, she enjoys reading, nature, and antiques. She also drags her clan to every Scottish festival under the sun.

Where to find Victoria

Website: www.victoriarobertsauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/victoria.roberts.395

Celtic Guide: www.thecelticguide.com

September 23, 2013September 16, 2013

Interview with Jamie K. Schmidt

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

Jamie K. Schmidt has over thirty short stories in publication. Her romantic suspense novel UNDERCOVER LOVER, published by Musa Publishing, will be released September 13, 2013. THE QUEEN’S WINGS, book one of the Emerging Queens series, a paranormal dragon romance will be published by Entangled’s Edge line this fall. Book One of her contemporary romance series, INNER GODDESS, will be published by Random House’s Loveswept line June 2014.

Jamie holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York at New Paltz in Secondary Education English. She’s also held various jobs as a call center manager, a Tupperware consultant, a paralegal, and finally a technical writer for a major corporation. She is an active member in the Romance Writers of America (RWA), serving as the President for her local chapter Connecticut Romance Writers of America (CTRWA).

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Website | Blog

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes, ever since I was a little girl. My first novel attempt was in the fifth grade. I wrote about a family of dryer lint named The Fuzzies. I did my own artwork too. I self published a nonfiction book on Switzerland—also self illustrated. I was tickled to see my own catalog card in the library. When I was in middle school, I tried to tackle a Vietnam war novel called Blood and Brothers, about twins going to Vietnam. The first romance novel I wrote was “Sweet Southern Revenge.” It was heavily influenced by V.C. Andrews Flowers in the Attic Series. It’s probably best that manuscript has been forever lost.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I’m a big procrastinator. I work best when I have a deadline otherwise I start a bunch of books, get distracted or bored and never finish them. I’ve got at least five novels in different genres that I should finish. But I’ve got to finish the two books I’m contracted for first.

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

Undercover Lover: Her lips are sealed

When Reiki therapist Pamela Krupin is attacked by thugs who work for her client, a Russian mob boss, the boss orders his godson, Detective Drake Logan, to protect her. Their attraction flares across Pamela’s line in the sand: She will not violate her patient’s confidentiality. But when Drake’s godfather is murdered and Pamela is targeted, together they have to find out what the mob is really after.

Here’s an excerpt from it:

They stood up to leave when Vera brought over their checks. Drake took both of them and pulled out his wallet.

“You don’t have to do that,” she protested and tried to take her check from him.

“It’s the least I could do. Besides, it’s my pleasure to treat a beautiful woman to lunch. I usually get to buy hot dogs from the street vendor for me and my partner.”

“Well, thank you,” she said graciously and then impulsively kissed him on the cheek.

His face was smooth and warm. His cheek just having the slightest brush of whisker, unlike Ralphie whose beard was as riotous as the rest of his blond curls. Drake turned his head and their lips just missed brushing each other. There was a flicker of desire deep in her belly and her fingers itched to slide into his jacket and see if he had muscles to go with that suit.

Staring at his jaw, she wondered again why she was comparing him to Ralphie. Ralphie was her patient. It wouldn’t be ethical to be anything more. And this detective was a little too slick for her. Maybe it was the ponytail or him not taking off his sunglasses, but warning bells started to go off when he slid his finger down her chin and tilted it up so she was looking at her dual reflection in his sunglasses.

“Are you doing anything Friday night?” he asked.

“I’m working,” she said and stepped back. Just like that the spell was broken. She slung her purse over her shoulder. “Thank you again for lunch. Good luck with your search.”

“Stay safe,” he said and she felt his eyes on her as she walked out the back door

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I had a dual inspiration. The first was the movie Eastern Promises with Viggo Mortensen. I thought his Russian accent was mesmerizing and I was intrigued by the history of the Russian mob, most notably the vor v zakone. The other inspiration was the Reiki treatment I was undergoing. I found the mysticism and the energy work to be fascinating and it inspired my creativity.

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

I have a dragon paranormal romance series coming out from Entangled Publishing this fall, in which the fate of the dragon race revolves around a human woman who dreams of shifting into a dragon. The first book is called The Queen’s Wings and it’s due out in November 2013. I also have a contemporary romance series coming out early next year with Random House’s Loveswept line. The Couture Series revolves around an ex-stripper named Colleen who after inheriting a lot of money starts a secret sex society. In book one, Inner Goddess, Colleen’s strait-laced sister hides from her abusive boyfriend at what she thinks is a fashion house, but when she finds out the real purpose of Couture, she is shocked to discover that she can find true love amidst the bawdiness.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

I’d like to meet Ilona Andrews (husband and wife writing team, Gordon & Ilona Andrews) because I love all of their series. The Kate Daniels one is my favorite. I was sorry to see the Edge series end. Their online serial novel was something to look forward to every week. And their holiday novellas are always a treat.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Write. Finish the damn book. Then start a new file on the computer and write a new story. Don’t ever stop writing. The more you write the better you get. Join a writer’s group. Writing is a lonely job and it helps to have friends and colleagues to go to for advice or even a shoulder to cry on.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

I would like to take my son to Disney World. I want to go on a Hawaiian cruise. I want to quit my day job and write full time. Those are the top three items on my bucket list.

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

So. Many. Books! I’m looking forward to Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt, Up from the Grave by Jeaniene Frost, Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch, The Descent by Alma Katsu, and Barefoot by the Sea by Roxanne St. Clair.

September 22, 2013September 21, 2013

Chili Con Carnage Blog Tour Interview and Giveaway

Today I have Kylie Logan here with us to discuss her new book, Chili Con Carnage, which is the first in a brand new series. Kylie Logan also writes as Casey Daniels for the Pepper Martin series, which is one of my favorite characters. I enjoyed her new character, Maxie, and I know this is a great start to the series.

1. Tell me about your new release.

Chili Con Carnage is book #1 of the new Chili Cook-Off mysteries. It features heroine Maxie Pierce who (thanks to a no-good, two-timin’ creep of a rock guitarist boyfriend) decides that she’s done, done, done with relationships. Besides, Maxie has more important things to think about. Her dad, famous chili spice purveyor Texas Jack Pierce, is missing, and Maxie and her half-sister, Sylvia, have been called in to run his Hot-Cha Chili Seasoning Palace as it makes the rounds on the chili cook-off circuit.

In a perfect world and a perfect family, that might not be a bad thing. But Maxie and Sylvia have hated each other since the day Maxie’s mother stole Jack from Sylvia’s mom. Now, Sylvia handles the day-to-day business of the Palace while Maxie dons a gigantic red chili pepper costume and dances out front as the Chili Chick.

Things get even more complicated when Maxie finds the body of a roadie and Sylvia is arrested for murder. Truth? Maxie actually thinks about letting her half-sister languish in prison. That is, until her better self kicks in and she decides to investigate and find the real killer. Then she can get back to finding her father.

2. Where did you come up with the idea for this series?

I credit my agent, Gail Fortune, for sparking this idea. We were talking and I mentioned to her that my husband had just won a chili cook-off (he’s a great chili cook!). Gail’s reaction was immediate. “Chili?’ she said. “That would be a great idea for a mystery series!”

3. Did you have to do any research for this compared to your other books?

No matter how easy any idea looks to me from the outside, I always have to do plenty of research once I’m writing a book. Chili Con Carnage is set in Taos, New Mexico and I’ve been there so that part was simple. But of course, there’s the whole cooking part of the book and how real chili cook-offs work figured into it, too. A celebrity chef makes an appearance…and I needed to know how cable cooking shows work. And then there are RVs. Maxie and Sylvia have one so they can travel from cook-off to cook-off and I’ll tell you what, I didn’t know a thing about RVs!

4. Which authors do you feel have been a big influence on you as a writer?

There are so many! I’ve always loved the writing of the late, great Elizabeth Peters (and her alter-ego Barbara Michaels). I also enjoy the books of Alan Bradley who writes the Flavia de Luce mysteries. The first-person voice of those books is astonishing and always reminds me how important characterization is to any book. Then, of course, there is the influence of so many writing friends who’ve shared their time and their talents discussing ideas and brainstorming plots. Too many to name!

5. What are you working on now?

At the moment, I’m finishing up book #2 in the Chili Cook-Off series. It’s called “Death by Devil’s Breath” and is about a contest for the world’s hottest chili. That sounds easy but of course in Maxie’s world, nothing is, especially when the cook-off is in Las Vegas and the suspects in a murder are a cast of characters that include a magician, a jazz musician, a diva and a wedding chapel owner!

That’s what I’m working on, but there are other books coming out. In December, “Buttoned Up,” book #4 of my Button Box mystery series and in February, “A Tale of Two Biddies,” book #2 of my League of Literary Ladies mysteries.

6. What was the first book you ever wrote?

I started my career writing historical romance and my first book was “Twilight Secrets,” written under the name of Constance Laux. It’s out of print, but readers can find it on Kindle along with 7 others of my historical romance.

Lightning Round:

Favorite Food?

You know, I actually had to stop and think! I love couscous and veggies of all kinds and really good ribs. Ice cream…yum!

Morning person or Night Owl?

In between! I don’t stay up really late, but I don’t jump out of bed at dawn, either!

Favorite Candy?

Snickers

The one TV show you have to watch every week?

Have to? Not a one! But I do DVR a few and try to keep up: “Bones,” “Ghost Adventures” and “Downton Abbey” of course!

Thank you so much for answering my questions.

Thank you for inviting me, Jennifer! Let me also mention that readers can check out both my websites: www.kylielogan.com and www.caseydaniels.com

About the Author:

Kylie Logan has loved mysteries since she was a kid. Her dad was a Cleveland Police detective and he introduced her to Sherlock Holmes stories and gave her investigating experience when on his days off, they’d pile into the car and hit the streets to look for stolen cars. When he retired from the force, Dad became head of security for the Cleveland Public Library.

Crooks and books! Kylie comes by her love of mysteries honestly.

Kylie began her career writing historical romance and her book, “Devil’s Diamond” was nominated for a RITA award as historical romance of the year by Romance Writers of America. She’s also written contemporary romance (as Connie Lane), young adult horror (as Zoe Daniels and Connie Laux) and she writes the popular Pepper Martin Mysteries as Casey Daniels.

Kylie is currently writing three different mystery series: the Button Box Mysteries (newest book is “Panic Button”), the League of Literary Ladies mysteries (Mayhem at the Orient Express) and now, the Chili Cook-Off mysteries. She can’t pass up an antique shop…there might be buttons in there! She can’t put down a classic book . . . even if she already knows the story. And she can’t say no to a good bowl of chili. Luckily, her husband is the world’s greatest chili maker.

When she’s not writing, she’s usually with her family and their two dogs, Ernie, an adorable Airedale, and Oscar, a rescued Jack Russell who came for a short-term stay and ten years later, is still around. Kylie says that those of you who have ever met/lived with/had dealings with a Russell will certainly understand how knowing him has increased her propensity for murder.

Jennifer’s Review of Chili Con Carnage

TITLE: Chili Con Carnage

SERIES #: A Chili Cook-Off Mystery

CHARACTERS: Maxie Pierce, Sylvia and Nick

AUTHOR: Kylie Logan

PUBLICATION DATE: 10/1/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Romance is supposed to be the spice of life. But Maxie Pierce is so done with bad relationships–well, almost. She just has to get rid of the latest loser, Roberto. Besides, she has more important things to worry about. Her daddy, Texas Jack Pierce, king of the chili cook-off circuit, has been missing for nearly six weeks now. In his place, she must team up with her irritating half sister, Sylvia, to promote the family business at the Taos Chili Showdown, to be judged by celebrity chef Carter Donnelly.

But when Maxie discovers Roberto’s body in the chef’s trailer–only hours after publicly breaking up with him while wearing a giant red chili pepper costume–she suddenly finds she’s the one in the spotlight as the police pepper her with questions. Now this Chili Chick needs to kick up the search to catch the real killer and get back to finding her father……

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: I’m a big fan of Kylie’s other series, the Pepper Martin mysteries and Chili Con Carnage is off to a great start. Maxie Pierce is a cute heroine with a lot of attitude and has had her share of bad relationships. She is working on the chili cook-off circuit with her half-sister, Sylvia, when she discovers the body of Roberto who just happened to fall out of the celebrity chef’s RV. Maxie had one miserable date with Roberto but now she is determined to find the killer because her sister, Sylvia, has been arrested for his murder.

I thought this was a great little mystery and I enjoyed learning about the chili cook-off circuit. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like to Maxie in the beginning but she definitely started to grow on me and I can’t wait to read more about her in future books. There is a possible love interest for Maxie with Nick, the security guard for the chili cook-off so it will be fun to see where that goes. Fun mystery and a great start to the series.

Giveaway

I’m excited to give away a copy of Chili Con Carnage. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by September 28th, answer me this question in the comments:

What is your favorite spicy food?

September 18, 2013August 27, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Rebecca York

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to welcome Rebecca York to the blog for the first time. We are talking about her newest book “Bad Nights”.

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

RY: I started writing romances in the early eighties when they first became “the next big thing” and quickly found out that I needed more of a plot to keep my interest—which is why I write romantic suspense. Luckily, dumb little eighteen-year-old me was smart enough to marry the right guy. He loves being married to a writer, always supports my career, and loves going to conferences with me. He takes care of all the business stuff I hate, and I keep his clothes clean, cook for him, and manage all the tasks he hates, like gardening. We’ve got two kids. One’s a Foreign Service Officer and the other is a librarian turned massage therapist. Our three cats sit on our laps when we’re trying to work at the computer.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

RY: I always loved making up stories, but I thought I could never be a writer because I’m dyslexic and can’t spell. My husband takes care of that for me. I started my career writing for a local newspaper, but I did want to write fiction. I couldn’t imagine writing anything as long as a whole book, so I began with a kids’ science fiction novel. It’s not easier to write for kids, but it’s shorter.

Can you share with us your typical writing day. Is there anything you have to have while writing?

RY: I get up, feed the fish, and get myself a cup of coffee. I read the paper and the news online, check e-mail and browse my social media sites until I realize it’s almost lunchtime, and I haven’t written anything. Then I get to work and write ten pages. If I haven’t done them, I may still be working until ten p.m.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

RY: I love getting a synopsis finished. I hate looking at a blank screen, and I like editing best.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

RY: My latest book is Bad Nights in which a hard-bitten Navy SEAL, Jack Brandt, and a woman college professor, Morgan Rains, go up against an evil militia leader and his men. Jack and Morgan seem totally unsuited for each other, but as they escape through the woods, evading the bad guys, they come to trust and respect each other. It’s the story of two people falling in love against a background of suspense and danger.

How did you come up with the idea for this story?

RY: I wanted to find a plot that would lean on the talents of a Navy SEAL. I saw two people escaping through the wilderness, having to work together to survive. Of course, that turned out to be only part of the book. I also had to deal with how Jack and Morgan react to each other when they get back to civilization and what happens when she is kidnapped by the bad guys. By that time, Jack has fallen in love with Morgan and will do anything to save her.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

RY: Every since I saw the movie, The Naked Jungle, I wanted to write a book with a virgin hero who was effective in every way except that he wasn’t quite sure how to cope with a wife. The Naked Jungle’s set in the Amazon in the 1800’s. To make a virgin hero plausible, I knew I couldn’t write a contemporary. So I wrote Nightfall as science fiction romance set on a dangerous planet far in the future that was colonized only by men and their sons. I’ve had a lot of fun writing it. I’m editing it now, and it will be out in October.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

RY: Ken Follett, Clive Cussler, Lee Child, Mary Jo Putney, Lisa Kleypas

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?

RY: I read Ken Follett’s Key to Rebecca just as I was starting to write romantic suspense, and I loved the way he wove a romance and a suspense plot together. I’ve written a lot of werewolf books, and two of them got me into the field—Darker than You Think by Jack Williamson and The Wolf’s Hour, by, Robert McCammon. But most of McCammon’s books were too hard-core horror for me to enjoy. Again, his The Wolf’s Hour was a great blend of suspense and romance. I think of my actual style as unadorned—pretty straightforward without dwelling a lot on the description of the characters. I’m more interested in what’s going on emotionally with them than how they look.

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

RY: Okay, I’ve turned to the page where Jack and Morgan are wet and cold and have to share a sleeping bag in a cave, and he can’t stop himself from getting turned on.

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

RY: I want to read the next book in Marcus Sakey’s Brilliance series, but he hasn’t written it yet. I also want to read the next book after The Fifth Wave, by Rick Yancey, but that’s also not out yet. And I just bought the second and third books in Hugh Howey’s Wool series. I’ll read them next.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

RY: Yes, if someone who was constantly bullied by her teachers for her awful spelling can become a writer, anyone can. I love my life as a writer. I get to make up stories for a living, and I can work at home which means I can putter around the house and garden when I want. (I just went away to pull weeds for fifteen minutes.) I can also get up and start a pot of soup or bake lasagna while I’m in the middle of my workday.

*****

Bad Nights

by REBECCA YORK

N STORES SEPTEMBER 2013

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rebecca York’s newest series will keep you on the edge of your seat

When Professor Morgan Rains goes out to investigate a strange sound coming from her backyard, the last thing she expects to see is a naked man covered with burns and bruises. Jack Brandt is a former Navy SEAL on an undercover mission, and he’s barely managed to escape from a terrorist militia’s torture. Jack and Morgan are thrown into a pressure cooker of danger and intrigue, and they soon find themselves falling in love. When Morgan is captured by the terrorists, Jack must rescue the woman whose life now means more to him than his own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rebecca York’s writing has been compared to Dick Francis, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Maggie Shayne. Her books have been translated into twenty-two languages and optioned for film. She lives in Maryland, near Washington, D.C., which is often the setting of her romantic suspense novels. Rebecca’s next romantic suspense novel from Sourcebooks Casablanca, Betrayed, will be in stores in July 2014. For more information, please visit http://rebeccayork.com/.

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September 12, 2013September 12, 2013

Going Through The Notions Blog Tour and Giveaway

I have the fabulous Cate Price here today to talk about her new book, Going Through The Notions.

1. Tell me about your new release Going Through The Notions.

Daisy Buchanan is a former history teacher who took early retirement and moved with her husband, Joe, from New York to the quaint village of Millbury, PA. While Joe settled happily into country life, Daisy was somewhat restless, until one night she bid on a steamer trunk at a local auction. It turned out to be stuffed with exquisite antique linens and sewing notions, and was the inspiration for her store, Sometimes a Great Notion.

The story opens when Daisy Buchanan sees her best friend, Angus the auctioneer, arrested and charged with murder. One of the auction regulars was bashed in the head with a barn beam, and a collection of valuable fountain pens is also missing. Daisy is sure Angus didn’t do it, but as the evidence mounts against him, his state of mind becomes increasingly fragile. Everyone in town seems convinced of his guilt, and when Daisy discovers that the detective on the case holds a bitter grudge against Angus, she feels as though she’s the only one who can save him.

2. Where did you come up with the idea?

An editor at Berkley Prime Crime came up with the idea for a series based on a vintage sewing notions store. My agent thought that my writing style would be a good fit and recommended me for the job. I was given the guidelines and wrote a proposal consisting of the first three chapters and a synopsis. The editor loved it, I signed a three-book deal, and I was off and running!

3. Did you have to do a lot of research for this book?

I did quite a bit of research on fountain pens, vintage sewing notions, quilts, auction procedures, and Bucks County, PA, where the series is based.

4. Are your characters based on people that you know or did you envision certain actors as you were writing?

I don’t really picture actual people when I write and the characters aren’t based on anyone specific. There are probably traits and quirks from many people I’ve known. Luckily for me, I know some funny characters!

5. What are you working on now?

I’m working on Book Three in the series, which will focus on antique needlework samplers. (Book Two is turned in and awaiting copy edits).

6. Any advice for aspiring writers?

I was fortunate enough to join Romance Writers of America when I first decided to get serious about finishing a book about ten years ago. The local chapters all run writing contests and I received some great feedback which helped improve my work. I also found my first critique partner at a monthly meeting. I belong to Sisters in Crime now too, and I think getting together with other writers can be very inspirational and educational.

I’d also recommend getting into the habit of writing every day, even if you can only spare a few minutes. I used to have the mindset that I couldn’t write unless I had a big block of free time (which didn’t often present itself), but it’s important not to let your story “get cold.” If you touch it every day, it’s so much easier to pick up where you left off.

And of course, read as much as you can. That’s the best teacher of all!

About the Author:

Cate Price was born in England and came to the U.S. when she was sixteen. She is a regular sight on the streets of her home town walking her two amazing rescue dogs, and enjoys gardening, yard sales, and cooking with friends. Her previous (unpublished) books span the genres of romantic comedy, romantic suspense and murder mysteries, and have finaled in numerous contests, including the prestigious Daphne Du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America.

Writing the first book in the Deadly Notions mystery series proved to be rather an expensive project, because while researching auction houses, she also became addicted to bidding on box lots. She is currently hard at work on the next book in the series, A DOLLHOUSE TO DIE FOR.

Website/ Goodreads / Facebook

Jennifer’s Review of Going Through The Notions

TITLE: Going Through The Notions

SERIES #: A Deadly Notions Mystery

CHARACTERS: Daisy Buchanan, Joe and Sarah

AUTHOR: Cate Price

PUBLICATION DATE: 09/03/13

ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: A retired schoolteacher–and yes, daughter of a Fitzgerald fan–Daisy Buchanan has found her calling in the village of Millbury, Pennsylvania. While her husband endlessly renovates their old house, Daisy happily presides over Sometimes a Great Notion, a quirky shop that sells sewing bits and bobs, antiques and jewelry.

Daisy has her eye on an antique dollhouse and a classic Singer Featherweight at the local auction–until her friend and mentor, auctioneer Angus Backstead, is led away in handcuffs. It appears he bashed in the head of a drinking buddy who stole a set of fancy fountain pens. Daisy’s sure the sprightly old-timer couldn’t have done it. But if she can’t stitch together the bidder truth–and soon–Angus will be going once, going twice…gone forever.

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer NUMBER OF STARS: Four Stars

REVIEW: I really enjoyed this mystery involving a quirky cast of characters and which gave me more insight about the world of collectibles. Daisy Buchanan is a retired schoolteacher who has opened up her own business selling antiques and collectibles. She enjoys attending auctions so when she finds out that her good friend is arrested for murder at a local auction, Daisy makes it her mission to find out who the real killer is. Daisy was a fun character because she just seemed so genuine and went out of her way to help people. I also liked the fact that Daisy was married and in a loving relationship compared to other heroines in mystery novels. This small-town mystery was entertaining and I’m looking forward to reading more from Cate Price.

Giveaway

There are two giveaways with this tour, one that is tour-wide and one with each tour stop. I’m excited to give away a copy of Going Through The Notions. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by September 16th, answer me this question in the comments:

Do you collect anything and if so, what?

and to enter the tour-wide giveaway enter the Rafflecopter below:

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September 12, 2013August 27, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Shana Galen

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome back Shana Galen to the blog.

Can you please share with us a little about yourself
SG: Of course! Thanks for having me back. I write adventurous historical romances set in the Regency period and featuring spies, pirates, courtesans, and the like. I live in Houston, Texas, and I write full time. I live with my husband, two cats, and my daughter.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

SG: I didn’t know that author was a profession until I was about 28. Even then I never thought of writing books for a living (and it was a good thing I didn’t expect that!). I did always have stories to tell, stories in my mind that needed to get out. If you don’t believe me, ask my little sister. I used to make her stay awake and listen to my stories when we were kids and shared a room.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
SG: In the historical genre, I read Anna Campbell, Vanessa Kelly, Kate Noble, Robyn DeHart, Margo Maguire, Sophie Jordan, Kieran Kramer, Erin Knightley, Katharine Ashe, Theresa Romain, Miranda Neville, and Sarah MacLean. Contemporary favorites are Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Nora Roberts, and Tera Lynn Childs. Marsha Canham, Joanna Bourne, and Julie Garwood have really been the largest influences on y writing style.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre? Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre?
SG: Oh, I blame it on Julie Garwood. I picked up one of her historicals and had to read them all. When I finished, I didn’t know what else to read, so I wrote my own. Yes, I would like to write in other genres, but right now I don’t have much time since I have a young child, plus I have a lot of historical books contracted.

What are some of your writing rituals?
SG: I like to write early in the day. I have difficulty focusing in the evening. If I can sit down at my computer when it’s still dark outside, sip some coffee, and write a thousand words before everyone wakes up, I’m happy.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
SG: TRUE SPIES is the second in the Lord and Lady Spy series. It’s about Winn and Elinor, who are married but estranged. Winn is a spy, and Elinor has no idea of his secret identity. If it sounds a bit like the movie True Lies, that was the inspiration.

How did you come with the idea for this story?
SG: Readers asked for another book in the Lord and Lady Spy series, so I started re-watching some of my favorite spy movies, and I knew True Spies was one that would translate well to the Regency period.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
SG: I’m actually writing the third in the Lord and Lady Spy series, LOVE AND LET SPY. It’s a nod to the James Bond films, except the heroine is Jane Bonde.

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

SG: Here you go. In this scene Winn (Baron) is consulting with Adrian, the hero from LORD AND LADY SPY, about what to do about Elinor.

Baron raised his brows, looking skeptical.

“All you have to do is talk to her.” There. Adrian folded his arms across his chest. He felt rather proud of himself, actually. Sophia wasn’t the only one who could be sympathetic or solve others’ personal problems.

“Talk to her?” Baron said, sounding less than enthusiastic about Adrian’s advice. “And tell her what? I overheard her chatting about bedding another man?”

“I don’t know that I’d take that tack…”

“Oh, perhaps I should reveal I’m a member of the Barbican group. Even if I hadn’t pledged to keep that a secret, I can imagine her reaction when she realizes I’ve been lying to her for years.”

“Yes, well—”

“Or how about this idea? I go find this Rafe and beat the hell out of him…”

What would you be if you were not an author?

SG: A frustrated author. I’d have all these stories in my head, driving me nuts.

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

SG: I was asked to read an advance copy of Vanessa Kelly’s SECRETS FOR SEDUCING A ROYAL BODYGUARD. I cannot wait to get to it.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

SG: Thank you so much for having me again!

TRUE SPIES

by SHANA GALEN

IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2014

He’s Getting Tired of Deception…

Baron Winslow Keating is honor-bound to finish one last mission as an elite spy for the Barbican group even though he just wants to go home and be with his family. But after years of secrecy and absence, his daughters hardly know him and his wife has given up on him…

She Wants to Try a Little Intrigue…

Lady Elinor has had enough of domestic boredom. She contemplates an affair with a rakish spy, only to discover a world of intrigue and treachery that she never knew existed. Even more shocking, her neglectful husband is suddenly very attentive—quite the jealous type—and apparently there is much more to him than she ever knew…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shana Galen is the author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the Lord and Lady Spy Series, the Jewels of the Ton Series, as well as the Sons of the Revolution Trilogy. A former English teacher in Houston’s inner city, Shana now writes full time, and is working on more regency romance novels! She’s happily married to the Ultimate Sportsfan and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.

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September 10, 2013August 27, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Roxanne Snopek

Welcome to Books-n-Kisses Roxanne, can you please share with us a little about yourself

Married with three daughters. We once had five cats, three dogs, three birds, a rotating population of hamsters and a couple of fish tanks. Now, one of our daughters has moved out, we’re down to one cat, one bird and one betta in a bowl. The hamsters are running joyously on that big wheel in the sky. Still have three dogs, but they’re not the same ones.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I remember sitting in a coffee shop with a girlfriend, when I was about 20, telling her I would write a book one day. Didn’t know what it would be about, didn’t know anything about the business. But I loved to read and it seemed the epitome of existence, to belong to that club of people who created stuff to read.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Interesting? I’m so dull your teeth would fall asleep. But I do write in my car sometimes. Scares passers-by, I’ll tell ya!

http://www.roxannesnopek.ca/why-i-spent-five-hours-in-a-walmart-parking-lot-and-loved-it/

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

Fake Fiance, Real Revenge is a (wait for it) engagement-of-convenience story with a side of revenge! (bet’cha didn’t see that coming). It features Mitch Granger, the estranged older brother of Carson Granger, from Three River Ranch. Hm. I guess that makes it a prodigal-son story, too. Anyway, Mitch needs a cover fiancée in order to land a business deal, and who better than high-school sweetheart Sabrina Becker, now the town midwife. Unfortunately, they didn’t part on good terms…

How did you come up with the idea for this story?

I had this one in my pocket, way back when I came up with the series idea. (Can’t remember where I put Snipe, my water-bottle – 15 times a day, I go Snipe-hunting – but a whole town of imaginary characters have real estate in my brain, that I can remember from five years ago. Sigh.)

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

I’m wrapping up a novella for an Entangled Bliss Christmas 2013 anthology. It’s about a passionate do-gooder who “liberates” a bunch of what she thinks are reindeer, and gets caught releasing them, while trespassing, on Three River Ranch property. While it’s being house-sat by none other than the deputy sheriff. During a blizzard. Of course!

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

Lordy. So many authors! I’ve got a group of favorite Barbaras – O’Neal, Freethy, Rogan and Kingsolver – some of whom I’ve already met, but all of whom I’d happily buy drinks for! (You listenin’ ladies?)

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

Three pieces: Invest in yourself. Be patient. Hang in there.

I’ve been working at this for almost 25 years, first building a freelance career, then working on the holy grail of fiction. Even with all my experience, I nearly gave up my dream of being a fiction author. Then I gave it One Last Year. I submitted like crazy, went to three conferences, joined two or three more writers associations, submitted some more, took several on-line workshops, plus a couple of classroom workshops, submitted up down and sideways, took a position on the board of my local RWA chapter, entered contests, judged contests… in short, I spent money and time I didn’t have, so that IF I decided to give up my dream, I’d be able to say I’d tried, really, really tried.

About a month before my self-imposed deadline, I sold.

Oh, and do yoga. Sitting is more hazardous to your health than you might think!

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I want to visit the Galapagos Islands! I have a thing for turtles and tortoises. (Oh! I forgot, I used to have turtles, too! Did you know they carry Salmonella? Another story for another time.)

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

I’m reading RaeAnne Thayne’s Hope’s Crossing series right now and it’s just great! http://www.raeannethayne.com

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I think I’ve gone on long enough! Thank you so much for having me, Kelly! I love to hear from readers so if anyone’s interested in dropping me a line, go to:

www.roxannesnopek.ca

www.facebook.com/RoxanneSnopekAuthor

www.goodreads.com/RoxanneSnopek

Twitter @RoxanneSnopek

I’ve also got some pretty sweet cowboy pictures on Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/RoxanneSnopek

PS: don’t forget to enter the contest – grand prize is an iPad Mini!

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Real-estate tycoon Mitchell Granger has a problem. In order to secure a lucrative deal with an eccentric client, he told the teeny white lie that he was engaged…and now he needs to prove it. Even worse? The only name that came to mind was Sabrina Becker, the girl he was never good enough for growing up, and who still lives near his family ranch.

Sabrina doesn’t mind posing as Mitch’s fake fiancée—no, she doesn’t mind at all. One, she’ll make him pay with new construction for her business. And two, Sabrina’s got a plan to exact revenge on her first love, the boy who left her and Three River Ranch behind. She’ll pretend so well, he’ll fall in love with her…and then he’ll get a taste of what true heartbreak feels like.

But as Mitch sheds his corporate skin and picks up his dusty jeans and cowboy hat, will both his and Sabrina’s grand plans get derailed by love?

Buy Links

Fake Fiance, Real Revenge: Amazon B&N iBookstore

His Reluctant Rancher: Amazon

Three River Ranch: Amazon