Interview with Heather Powell

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

Thanks so much for having me today! I absolutely love interviews. It’s the only way I can truly enjoy talking about myself.

First and foremost, I’m the mother of three little girls (8, 6, and 3) and a wife to my hubby for over ten. I’m a crazy obsessive reader of all things YA books, a lover of romantic comedies, and a huge, huge fan of chocolate banana shakes. I’m extremely shy, preferring to stay hidden in a crowd, so that means I’m definitely more of an introvert, but with the ability to put my real thoughts on life, down on paper. J

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Not really … I think for a while I wanted to write children’s books. But science was my thing, more precisely, the weather. I’m not ashamed to admit that I wanted to be a meteorologist, but the thought of tornados terrified me too much to follow through with that one, LOL.

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

My typical writing day? Hmm … I don’t really have a typical writing day, so to speak. I write whenever I can, which is mostly during the three year olds naptime, or when my husband is feeling generous and will take on motherly duties so I can go to Starbucks. But I do try to at least write for a few hours at night, in my bed, on my laptop, with a lot of caffeine next to me too keep me awake!

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

The most rewarding part is that moment when I’m reading back over my word count and I shed a tear or two because I realize that I actually did it … I actually completed a book!

The most challenging part? Well, I’ve got a few answers for that one … finding the time, feeling the muse, gaining the will to keep going, when your eyes are shutting at two in the morning in front of your computer screen, and the hardest part is finding balance; balance with my family and my characters.

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

Resisting Fate is the first novel in my Young Adult, Paranormal Romance series about a sassy red-headed teenage girl, and her struggle with the crazy supernatural world she’s just discovered. I’ll post the blurb below …

Eighteen Year old Emmy O’Connell is the epitome of a hot mess right now. The supposed love of her life up and left town to attend some ridiculous boarding school, leaving nothing but a vague email in his wake. Her step douche is constantly drunk and badgering her too, and her mother? Well, she’s a just a miserable shell of a woman, and Emmy, along with her four year old brother, are suffering because the lady just can’t seem to get her life straight. And then the elusive Jack Hartman saunters into town. That’s when things go from downright awful … to just plain disastrous. The jerk cousin of her boyfriend becomes Emmy’s worst nightmare, times ten. He’s cruel and insensitive, but then there’s that strange ability he has over her; the one where he can make Emmy weak in the knees with the single touch of his hand. But no matter how miserable or amazing Jack makes her feel, Emmy can’t seem to deny him, especially when he takes on the role of her protector, otherwise known as her sudo knight in shining armor, riding in on his black Harley. But then the impossible happens, rearing its head in the shape of a hairy wolf shifter. And the stubborn, unassuming Emmy is thrown head first into the center of it all. Will Emmy be able to handle the supernatural mess that is now considered her life? Or in the end, will she fight against the inevitable fate that her heart keeps insisting she grabs a hold of?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I love to tell this story because truthfully, I can’t take all the credit. I was telling my six year old that I wanted to write a story about teenagers. So she said that I should add animals into the book, and I asked her what kind, expecting her response to be puppies of kittens. Instead, she responded with “wolves of course, Mommy, jeeze!” Then she said “The girl’s name should be Emmy and her boyfriend’s name can be Jack,” hence the birth of Resisting Fate. The funny part is my daughter’s name is actually Emma, and Emmy is her nickname. J

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

Currently I am working on book two in my series, called Seizing Fate. I’ve also got another YA paranormal I’m working on occasionally about falling in love with two brothers, but one just so happens to be a ghost who she can’t touch, but will die just to try.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

My favorite authors are Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Kelly Gendron.

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

Not the style so to speak; more like given me the inspiration to actually write! Shortly after I began my very first novel, I went to the RT book convention in Chicago, and met Jennifer there. I had a seriously, giddy fan moment and went home refreshed and ready to go to work on my WIP because (and yeah this sounds cheesy) I had officially met my idol.

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

Well I do book reviews for a website, so I don’t get a whole lot of time to read a lot on my own personal TBR pile … but I am looking for to a few things. Walking Disaster by Jamie McGuire comes out in April I believe, and I’m really looking forward to any and all sequels from Jennifer as well.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just wanted to add a big, big thanks to you for hosting me today! And also, I wanted to say thank you to all of my friends and family out there who have supported me along the way! I couldn’t have done this without any and all of you!!

February 21, 2013February 21, 2013

Interview & giveaway with ML Buchman

Can you please share with us a little about yourself?

MB: Like a lot of writers, I’m a fairly quiet person who is never happier than when I’m out walking with my wife. I’ve spent 25 years as a project manager. I’ve built million-dollar computer systems, and designed and built houses. I’ve developed corporate training and bicycled around the world. I’ve written a dozen novels under three different names and I feel that I’m barely starting to hit my stride, yet I’m deeply humbled (and more than a little bit shocked) by the success of my writing.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
MB: Airline pilot. Dreamed about it. Planned on it. Earned my private pilot’s ticket right after college. When I finally discovered that I was just a bit to colorblind to ever make a career of it was one of the hardest days of my young life. I came to writing in my mid-thirties. I was on a plane from Korea to ride my bicycle across the Australian Outback during my mid-life crisis on wheels. I began writing a little vignette about a freshman roommate who killed alarm clocks (he really did). Though the character didn’t survive, that turned into my first novel and my first sale. I haven’t looked back since.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
MB: My writing office is just a little rolling desk with a laptop and an IKEA chair? I listen to loud rock and roll when I write to shut down my editor brain (except Sundays are usually loud opera)? Perhaps it’s as my wife says, apparently I chortle at my own writing when I feel I’ve been particularly clever. If I do, I’m too busy being totally absorbed by the world I’m creating to notice. Though more than once I’ve found my cheeks wet after a particularly harrowing scene.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
MB: Wait Until Dark is a stand-alone book that falls third in my “Night Stalkers” series. The real-life Night Stalkers are the Army’s 160th SOAR are the helicopter regiment of U.S. Special Forces. They fly primarily at night to place, if they do their job right, that we mostly will never hear of. The take down of bin Laden being an exception, though very few articles noted that SOAR did the flying.

Connie and John are both crew chiefs on one of SOAR’s most lethal helicopters. They work as mechanics and fly as gunners. They are responsible for the safety and well-being of one of the nastiest attack helicopters ever designed. And on the occasion of this book, their mission is uniquely fitted to their skills. But what I enjoy the most about this series, or any novel I write, is the complexities they must resolve in themselves so that their hearts have a chance of finding what they need most, each other.

Book #4 Take Over at Midnight will be out this fall. In between will see the launch of book #2 Where Dreams Reside in my contemporary romance series “Angelo’s Hearth,” a foodie romance about an Italian chef in Seattle and the best female lawyer in the city.

How did you come with the idea for this story?
MB: Wait Until Dark was actually born during book #2 in the series, I Own the Dawn. Connie showed up about two-thirds through the book. I didn’t ask for her. My hero and heroine went on leave and when they were called back, there she was. And no one knew what to do with her, least of all the #2 hero’s best friend and fellow crew chief, Big John Wallace. I always start from character, so that’s where I began. The discovery of their love story left the plot of the book almost a complete mystery for the longest time, it was definitely their book and I simply kept nudging the story along.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
MB: Book #4 of the SOAR series Take Over at Midnight (coming this fall) is just going through final edits. I’m polishing the first draft of a new series presently called “Firehawk” about aerial forest firefighters who fly a Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter rigged with firefighting tanks. It will include several crossover characters from “The Night Stalkers” as their mission isn’t just about the fires. I’ll be adding Where Dreams Reside to my “Angelo’s Hearth” series, a contemporary romance series set in Seattle. Then Matthew Lieber Buchman has a fantasy he’d been dying to write…

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
MB: I want to have dinner with Eloisa James, Carl Haissan, and Lee Child. I think the humor and banter would be outrageous and wonderful. I like to think we’d all be sick from laughing so hard. I’d need someone else there to talk for me though as I’d be too busy being gobsmacked to actually speak.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
MB: I’ve heard it from dozens of professionals. BIC, Butt In Chair. Nothing makes up for writing. Not rewriting, but new writing. The second thing? My mentor told me repeatedly before I could begin to understand it, “It’s not about this one book, it’s about a body of work.” You very, very rarely get better by writing one book over and over. Write more, write new, better will come with the practice. Better writing is what consistently sells books.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
MB: I miss my sailboat (I rebuilt a fifty-foot ketch in my misbegotten youth) and I miss flying (my childhood dream that I couldn’t quite turn into a career). I want to own a small plane and I want to take my wife sailing somewhere warm like the Mediterranean and take a few months teaching her the joys of being in a craft powered by the world’s winds.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
MB: Oh my gosh. I only recently discovered Eloisa James and I’m trying to read through everything she’s written, but she has a major head start on me. I’m also hooked on thrillers and have a stack of those. I have a pile of Kristine Kathryn Rusch science fiction stacked on my shelf that I’m barely half way through. And I spend about half of my reading time on non-fiction for next works, so I’m reading about aerial fire-fighting, unmanned aircraft, the tenets of a couple of now defunct religions, the inner workings of fashion design, and, uh, a bunch of other stuff.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
MB: Just my thanks for having me aboard and asking such great questions. And if anyone wants to charm me as a reader, make me laugh and make my heart sigh at the same time.

*****

WAIT UNTIL DARK

BY M.L. BUCHMAN

IN STORES FEBRUARY 2013

Name: Big John Wallace

Rank: Staff Sergeant, Chief Mechanic and Gunner

Mission: To serve and protect his crew and country.

Name: Connie Davis

Rank: Sergeant, Flight Engineer, Mechanical Wizard

Mission: To be the best…and survive.

Two Crack Mechanics, One Impossible Mission…

Being in The Night Stalkers is Connie Davis’s way of facing her demons head-on, but mountain-strong John Wallace is a threat on all fronts. Their passion is explosive, but their conflicts are insurmountable. When duty calls them to a mission no one else could survive, they’ll fly into the night together—ready or not.

Praise for I Own the Dawn:

“A rousing mix of romance and military action thrills…Buchman blends tender feelings with military politics to keep readers riveted.”—Publishers Weekly

“I can’t wait for the next book.”—RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“Filled with action, adventure, and danger.”—Booklist Starred Review

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M. L. Buchman has worked in fast food, theater, computers, publishing, and light manufacturing. It’s amazing what you can do with a degree in geophysics. At one point he sold everything and spent 18-months riding a bicycle around the world. In 11,000 miles, he touched 15 countries and hundreds of amazing people. Since then, he has acquired a loving lady, the coolest kid on the planet, and lives in Portland, OR. For more information, please visit http://www.mlbuchman.com/.

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February 20, 2013February 16, 2013

Interview with Laura DeLuca

Hi Laura, Welcome to the blog we are happy to have you on the blog today.

Can you please share with us a little about yourself.

In addition to being a young adult author, I am also a mom to four great kids, own a restaurant, and run a product review blog called New Age Mama. I live at the Jersey Shore (no, I don’t know Snooki), and I love spending the summer on the beach. It’s the best place to write.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I knew I was a writer for as long as I can remember. When I was in kindergarten, I wrote a book about bunnies getting married. When I was thirteen, I completed my first novel. I think writing is definitely in my blood, and I’ll probably die with a pen in my hand.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I write like I’m still in the 90’s, when I was a teenager myself. I want to hang Guns N Roses posters on the wall, I have people talking on touch tone phones, and I never think to add in cell phones or computers on my first draft. Those are normally things I edit in on the second or third draft when I realize that I forgot what decade it is…

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

Destiny is a story of self-acceptance as well as a paranormal battle. Gabriella doesn’t want to accept she’s a witch. Her friend Monte is struggling to come to terms with his sexuality. Darron doesn’t think he’s allowed to have human emotions. While dealing with all this inner turmoil, they also have to face the evil warlock who murdered Gabriella’s mother.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I started writing Destiny back in 1994. I honestly don’t remember where the idea initially came from. Unveiled was inspired by my friend and coven sister, Donna. I had tossed her name in Destiny and she said I should have Donna come back in the sequel. That sparked the idea for making it into a series.

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

I have a new fantasy a fantasy novel called Morrigan that was just released. Morrigan is a teenage witch who has been shuffled from one foster home to another all her life. Now she is about to discover she is a princess from the mystical land of Tír Na NÓg. The handsome werewolf Filtiarn guides her through countless perils to find her mother, Ceridwyn, and grandmother, Hecate. Only together can they complete the magical triad and save their world.

I am also working on a sequel to Phantom based on the musical “Sweeney Todd”.

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

I would love to meet Christopher Pike. He was my favorite young adult author when I was a teenager, and he remains my idol to this day. His stories were unique and original. He is still writing today, but has moved on to adult novels.

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

Learn to take criticism and use it to improve your work. This is a harsh business at times, and I have gotten some rejections that made me want to cry. But when I really listened to what they were saying, I could see where my work needed improvement, and it’s made me a better writer, which has subsequently led to me getting published.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

I want to see Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids before I die. I think it would be great inspiration for future novels.

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

I am dying to read Taking 1960 by Rosa Sophia. She is my editor and her time travelling book sounds amazing. I actually have a copy already, and plan to start it shortly.

Is there anything else you would like to add? Thanks so much for including me on your blog! It’s been a honor to visit with you,

February 18, 2013February 16, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Elle Kennedy

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Elle Kennedy to the blog today to chat about her new release

Elle, Can you please share with us a little about yourself?

Other than my passion for writing, I love music (I play piano and guitar and write really depressing songs!), reading, board games, lying on the beach and watching really bad movies. I love animals, especially my goofy dog Bear and mean cat Joey. And traveling—I definitely have a case of wanderlust, and enjoy visiting new places.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes, for as long as I can remember! As soon as I learned how to read and write, I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do. I feel very blessed that I have been able to follow my passion and make a living from it.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I prefer to write late into the night, when the whole world is asleep except for me and my characters. I used to chain-smoke when I wrote, but now that I quit smoking, I need a new vice!

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

Midnight Alias features a heroine, Olivia, who is caught up in a dark situation that has quickly begun to spin out of her control. When Luke, a sexy, reckless mercenary, shows up in her life and offers to help, she can’t resist taking him up on the offer. And she also can’t resist the primal attraction she feels for the man J

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

I introduced Luke in the first Killer Instincts book, Midnight Rescue, and I knew I needed to give this adventurous ladies man a story of his own! I thought it would be fun to pair him with a serious heroine who might not appreciate his reckless ways, and as I expected, the sparks flew!

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

I just finished up the third Killer Instincts book, Midnight Games, which releases in August, and now I’m working on the fourth one in the series. I’m also working on the final Out of Uniform book, which is the tenth book in an erotic contemporary series that features hot SEAL heroes and the feisty heroines who love them.

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

Danielle Steel. I adore her, and hers were the earliest romances I read (other than the Sweet Valley High series, of course!). I love her books and admire her work ethic, so she is definitely someone I would love to meet.

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

Always keep writing. Even if it seems like it’s never going to happen for you, keep writing, keep submitting, and keep learning your craft.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

For years I’ve been saying I want to drive across Canada, from Toronto (where I live) all the way to the BC coast. One of these days I’m going to do it!

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

I have dozens of books in my TBR pile at the moment, including new releases by Iris Johansen, Danielle Steel, Kay Hooper and Lauren Dane. The release I’m most looking forward to is JR Ward’s Lover at Last!

Amazon | B&N

She’s smart, seductive, and in way over her head.
He’s her only way out.

An undercover DEA agent has gone off the radar. Suspecting an internal mole, the government needs Luke Dubois and his elite team of operatives to recover their man, and the New Orleans native thinks he’s found his way inside the dark underbelly of Manhattan: Olivia Taylor, the girlfriend of a mob boss and the sexiest woman he’s ever laid eyes on. His new mission objective? Get past Olivia’s defenses and convince her to take a chance—on him.

All Olivia wanted was to finish law school and live a normal life, but that dream was shattered when one dangerous night put her deeply in a mobster’s debt. Now Luke and his team will help her escape—in exchange for intel on the missing agent. But Olivia doesn’t anticipate her intense attraction to the reckless Louisiana charmer or that she’ll be forced to risk everything—including her heart.

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February 15, 2013February 23, 2013

Interview with Jessica Subject

Hi Jessica. Welcome back to Books-n-Kisses.

Can you please share with us a little about yourself.

Thank you so much for having me on Books-n-Kisses again! Not only am I an author, but I am also a wife and mother of two energetic children. I write contemporary and science fiction romance ranging from sweet to erotica. My stories may include clones, or a sexy alien or two. They are set on Earth, in space, and on faraway planets. I passed on my love of reading to my children, and enjoy stories from a multitude of genres and heat levels. When I get the chance, I like to go for long and fast walks.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I’ve always enjoyed writing and thought of it as a hobby. I wrote my first romance story in grade seven, called It Starts With A Kiss. But, it wasn’t until I was on maternity leave with my second child that I considered submitting a story to have it published on something other than my computer.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I have a bad habit of grinding my teeth while I’m writing, so I’m usually chewing gum while I’m penning my stories.

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

Alien Lover released in December, and although classed as erotica, it is “a story of love so deep that it cannot be defined by time or galaxies.” Here’s the blurb:

Unconvinced of her fiancé’s demise, Molly combs the galaxy to search for him. As her supplies run low, she is forced to turn around and set a course for Earth, alone. But, a Moloxian Starcruiser halts her retreat, and the single passenger transports onto her ship without permission. Taser in hand to defend herself, she is startled as the form remolds into her fiancé. Has Diego found her or is her tired mind playing tricks?

I also had two stories release in January, Made For Her and Accidental Romance.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I’m not sure. I guess it just popped into my mind. It was the first erotica story that I started for The Edge line, but the last one I finished. It took a while for Molly to tell me her story.

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

Sure! I’m working on two stories right now. The first is Never Gonna Desert You, which is the sequel to my sci-fi/dystopian story, Never Gonna Let You Go. And the second is His Alien Virgin, another 1Night Stand story, where the heroine is the step-sister to the two heroes in Satin Sheets in Space. I also have the first book in my new Alien Next Door series with my editor.

I have many more sequels I plan to write this year as well as some stand-alones.

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

I’ve met a lot of wonderful authors who live close to me already, but I’d absolutely love to meet my critique partners, DL Jackson, Layna Pimentel, Rebecca Royce, and Zee Monodee. Not only are they all fabulous authors, but they are great people. I’d love to meet them in person.

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

Many authors say to keep writing. I agree with that somewhat, but if you don’t know the mistakes you are making, it is much more difficult to improve your craft. Therefore, I suggest taking courses in the genre you want to write, plus, have your work critiqued by others who write in the genre.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I’d love to visit Alaska and Hawaii.

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

Um, there are SO many book on my bookshelves, and even more on my Kindle and Kobo that I’m anxious to read. I, honestly, can’t choose just one. As for a book I can’t wait for that isn’t released yet, that would be the next book in The Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Opal ended on such a cliffhanger that I NEED to know what happens next.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you again for having me on your blog, Kelly! I’m hosting a giveaway during the Alien Lover tour. Any comments left during the tour will count as an entry toward the prize, an eBook copy of Crash Landing or The Power of Three, plus book swag. Contest is international. Winner will be announced February 28, 2013.

Amazon (Canada/US/UK) | Decadent Publishing | All Romance | more

Book Video Trailer:

http://youtu.be/p1Wr59y9F5I

February 14, 2013February 14, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Jane Ashford

Books-n-Kisses is please to have Jane Ashford on the blog to chat a little about her new book “Once Again a Bride“.

Jane, can you please share with us a little about yourself
JA: I love words. When I remember Joseph Campbell’s advice “follow your bliss,” I think of language and stories. I’ve pretty much stuck with words throughout my life. I studied literature and creative writing. I’ve worked as a composition teacher, an editor and in corporate communications. And I now have the privilege of being a full-time writer. My website is janeashford.com and my Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Ashford/154028944714495

Have you always wanted to be an author?
JA: I have. My mother wrote, and she encouraged me. I also loved to read from the moment I learned how. Books were just magical things to me – spells evoking the full gamut of emotion and time travel and amazing images. I wanted to be that kind of magician.

Are you a plotter or a pantster or combo of both?
JA: A combo. I make pages of notes before beginning a book, particularly about the characters. They include events that will happen, but it is not an official outline. This often means that my first runthrough is more of a “rough draft” than a “first draft.”

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
JA: I don’t know if it’s interesting, but I tend to hear the text as I write. I’m more an aural writer than a visual one.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
JA: Once Again a Bride is the double love story of Charlotte Rutherford Wylde and her maid Lucy Bowman. Thrown into a contemptuous household by Charlotte’s arranged marriage, and coldly oppressed in different ways, they both find their ways to love. After Charlotte’s aged husband Henry is killed in the dark London streets, they discover he had a family they knew nothing about. They’re taken into the household of his nephew Sir Alec Wylde, which includes handsome, sassy footman Ethan Trask. A dual attraction lights up, but there are many complications before the two couples are united.

How did you come with the idea for this story?
JA: It started with a phrase that popped into my mind “the Widow Wylde.” As I mentioned, I’m very attuned to the sound of words. They have a kind of music. And this phrase felt full of promise. I played with implications. What kind of widowhood? How wild? And characters started to make themselves known. I also became interested, in these tough economic times, in how a responsible landowner might deal with the agricultural depression that followed the Napoleonic Wars.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
JA: I recently finished another historical for Sourcebooks, A Compliant Husband. You can read a bit about it on my website http://www.janeashford.com/wip.html I’m working on another to follow it.

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

JA: I’d love to talk to Alice Hoffman about magical realism.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone who wants to get into writing?
JA: As they say in one of my favorite movies, Galaxy Quest, “Never give up, never surrender.” That is, if you really want to be a writer, keep writing and working on being better at it, keep submitting or putting the results out there. Perseverance in the face of rejection is a huge part of success in writing.
Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
JA: I’d like to visit New Zealand, which seems to be an amazingly beautiful country. Among other things I’d like to see the facade of Hobbiton Peter Jackson created there.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
JA: I’m doing some reading for the Rita Awards right now. I don’t always keep up with release dates; that way a new book by a favorite writer can be a lovely surprise. I do wish Charles de Lint would write another Newford book!

What is one book everyone should read before they die?
JA: Wow. That’s a hard question. One? (dithers, panics) No, no! I can’t pick just one.

What is your favorite time of year & why?
JA: This in interesting because I’ve been spending some time in Los Angeles lately, where the seasons are so much less marked than in New England. I’m not really missing the snow and ice so far! But I think fall in western Massachusetts is probably a favorite. For the foliage colors, of course, and the quality of the air and the light, and warm memories I have from that area.

Who is your Celebrity crush? And what would you do if you ever meet them?
JA: Okay, I’ve always had a thing for Pierce Brosnan. Handsome, suave, twinkle in the eye, family man, actor, painter. What’s not to like? And I’d probably just stammer.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
JA: Thanks so much for having me. I’ll be at the RT Booklovers Convention in May. Hope to see you there!

ONCE AGAIN A BRIDE

BY JANE ASHFORD

IN STORES FEBRUARY 2013

She couldn’t be more alone…

Widowhood has freed Charlotte Wylde from a demoralizing and miserable marriage. But when her husband’s intriguing nephew and heir arrives to take over the estate, Charlotte discovers she’s unsafe in her own home… Alec Wylde was shocked by his uncle’s untimely death, and even more shocked to encounter his uncle’s beautiful young widow. Now clouds of suspicion are gathering, and charges of murder hover over Charlotte’s head.

He could be her only hope…or her next victim…

A little more about Jane Ashford discovered Georgette Heyer in junior high school and was captivated by the glittering world and witty language of Regency England. That delight led her to study English literature and travel widely in Britain and Europe. Jane’s historical and contemporary romances have been published all over the world, and she has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. Eighteen of her Regency romances will be published by Sourcebooks in the near future! Born in Ohio, Jane currently lives in Boston. For more information, please visit www.janeashford.com.

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February 13, 2013February 9, 2013

Carrie Ann Ryan interview views Tyler & Abby from Finding Abigail

Carrie Ann: Hello Readers! I’m here today with two of my favorite people in the world so I can show them off. So, please welcome Tyler and Abby from Finding Abigail!

Tyler: Thank you for having us.

Abby: I’m so excited to be here.

Tyler: *rolls his eyes then kisses her temple* You’re always excited.

Abby: *laughs softly* Well yeah, especially after what just happened.

Carrie Ann: What just happened?

Abby: Uh, you wrote it, remember?

Carrie Ann: Oh shush, I was just trying to spoil it for the readers, but I guess I’ll just make the m read the book. Bwah ah ah ah.

Tyler: You are the devious one.

Carrie Ann: True. Okay, let’s get to some questions, shall we? Tyler, you want to explain to us why you let Abby walk around for years without you noticing her?

Tyler: *lets out a breath and pulls Abby close* Because I’m an idiot? A typical male? Because I’m not worthy of her?

Carrie Ann: *narrows eyes* That’s a good start. But I’m going to make sure Abby lets you wiggle a bit.

Abby: Oh, he wiggles. *grins*

Carrie Ann: *puts her hands over her ears* La la la la. Okay, enough of that. Now, Abby, are you really leaving Holiday? Or did you find something to make you stay?

Abby: It was never finding something to make me stay. It was finding something worth staying. And you’ll have to read and see.

Carrie Ann: You’re getting clever at this. Okay, fun questions. What’s your favorite type of candy?

Tyler & Abby: Candy Hearts!

Carrie Ann: Ew, I hate those things, but I guess that was an easy one. Hmmm….favorite position?

Abby: *blushes* I am so not telling you that.

Tyler: *grins* Oh, oh I could share some things. Remember that time in the kitchen, baby?

Abby: *covers ears* La la la la la

Carrie Ann: Oh my God, I love you two. Now, what readers might not know is that you Tyler are a cupid, what does that mean?

Tyler: That means I have a job to do other than my job as Sheriff. I have to make sure that people who could have something together get that chance.

Carrie Ann: Do you have to wear tights?

Abby: Only with me. *winks*

Carrie Ann: *laughs* Okay, I still love you both. I guess I should let y’all head out so you can do whatever it is you two do. And no, please, please, don’t give me details, we have enough of those in your book, Finding Abigail.

Hey readers, do you have any questions for me, Abby, or Tyler? We’d love to hear from you!

Carrie Ann Ryan is a bestselling paranormal and contemporary romance author. After spending too much time behind a lab bench, she decided to dive into the romance world and find her werewolf mate – even if it’s just in her books. Happy endings are always near – even if you have to get over the challenges of falling in love first.

Carrie Ann’s Redwood Pack series is an bestselling series that has made the shifter world even more real to her and has allowed the Dante’s Circle and Holiday, Montana series to be born. She’s also an avid reader and lover of romance and fiction novels. She loves meeting new authors and new worlds. Any recommendations you have are appreciated. Carrie Ann lives in New England with her husband and two kittens.

Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers.

You can find her at: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter: @CarrieAnnRyan

Giveaway

Carrie Ann is giving away a special swag pack to a lucky commenter. Be sure to leave your email address so you can win!

Finding Abigail

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ARe | Kobo

Tyler Cooper is the town sheriff and, in the past, had been the only person keeping Holiday steady. Though the community is now finding out that it’s town is magical, Tyler has always known it—it’s in his blood. He has always known his fate of becoming a cupid, striking love into the hearts others, but an enemy from his past is set on keeping him from finding his own destiny—and love.

Abigail Clarke is leaving Holiday for good. She has to. After years of trying to fit in and make Tyler notice her, she’s giving up. She’s watched her friends fall in love and it’s heartbreaking. Acknowledging that the one man she’s always loved doesn’t want her, it’s time to move on and find her own future.

Right when the stars align and Tyler opens his eyes, his enemy is back and has his sights on Abigail. Abigail is in danger and Tyler may be the only one to stand up to him and save her.

Warning: Contains one sexy sheriff who turns into cupid, complete with bow and arrow, the sweetest teacher you’ll ever meet who needs to find her bad girl side, and a love of candy hearts that’s sure to bring them together.

Excerpt:

How many skeins of yarn does a person need to collect before it became hoarding and not just there for a rainy day?

Abigail Clarke shook her head at her own question and started to throw various colors and textures of yarn into a canvas bag. Instead of trekking to her new place with them in tow, she’d just donate them to the Holiday Women’s Society since they knitted more than she did anyway. Dear Lord, she was twenty-two and a closet knitter. Even though she’d been living like an adult since she was fourteen, she was still a baby compared to most of her friends.

And, she was still a closet knitter.

Okay, not so much in the closet since the whole town thought she only knitted, baked, and cleaned her little house. God forbid they imagine her with a life of her own where she got to at least have some semblance of fun.

So, what if they were partially correct?

February 12, 2013February 10, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Joanne Kennedy

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to welcome Joanne Kennedy to the blog today to chat about her new book “Cowboy Tough”

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

JK: I’m a transplanted New Englander who fell in love with Wyoming on a childhood vacation. Twenty years ago I fulfilled a dream by moving West. I explored Montana and Colorado before settling in Cheyenne, Wyoming. My passions include dogs, fighter pilots, books, horses, and everything about the Wild West – especially cowboys.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
JK: Yes, but I never believed I could do it. I tried to write in my twenties, but decided I didn’t have the talent for it. As it turned out, I was just writing the wrong things! Once I tried romance, I knew I’d finally figured out what I was supposed to do with my life.

Can you share with us your typical writing day. Is there anything you have to have while writing?
JK: I’m happy to say I can write anywhere—hotel rooms, airports, even on airplanes. All I need is my trusty laptop. I do have a great little office up in the attic, but when I’m home, I start the day at the kitchen table with e-mails and interviews and then move on to the book. I write on and off all day and most of the night, rarely making it upstairs to the office!

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
JK: The challenging part comes about three-quarters of the way through a novel. Up to that point, I’m usually crazy in love with my characters and excited about the story, but when I get about forty pages from the end I suddenly just hate it. Everything seems wrong and I want to pile all my characters on horseback and herd them off a cliff! I’ve finally figured out that it’s a phase I have to go through to get to the end. If I just keep writing, the fear goes away, the horses turn around, and everyone, including me, lives happily ever after.

The rewarding part is hearing from readers, especially those who have taken my stories to heart and opened themselves to love because of my books. I have a sign over my desk that says “Love is a risk worth taking,” and that theme runs through every book. I love it when readers hear the message and act on it.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?
JK: Cowboy Tough begins when rodeo cowboy Mack Boyd is forced to return home to help his mother turn his family’s working cattle operation into a dude ranch. His first task is to guide a group of artists through the ranch’s beautiful backcountry. It doesn’t take him long to discover that artists are a lot harder to herd than cattle—especially since they’re led by a talented and strong-willed city girl who makes him see the ranch—and himself—in a whole new way.

How did you come up with the idea for this story?
JK: Before I became a writer, I channeled my creative urges into art. Outdoor painting workshops are very popular in the West, and the idea of a cowboy having to deal with some of the situations and personalities in the art world struck me as funny. I really love to clash cultures together, taking my stories way beyond “country boy meets city girl.” Mack and Cat see the world differently, and it’s not easy for them to find common ground.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

JK: Oh, I’m so excited about it! I’m working on Here Comes Trouble, the first volume of my new three-book series, The Cowboys of Decker Ranch. The series follows three cowboys who grew up fending for themselves in foster homes until they were adopted by a rancher as teenagers. Their foster father taught them about love, loyalty, and family, but when they start trying to create families of their own, their troubled pasts stand in the way. I love these guys, and can’t wait to introduce them to readers.

Who are some of your favorite authors?
JK: There are so many! I read a lot, in many genres, but in romance I love I love Linda Lael Miller, Jodi Thomas, and Carolyn Brown, among others. I also adore Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Kristan Higgins, Jennifer Cruisie, and so many others I can’t list them all!

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?
JK: Definitely! I like writers whose style makes it easy for readers to forget they’re reading and get involved in the story. Writers like Cruisie and Higgins have such an easy, breezy writing style that the story just flows through you. That’s how I want my stories to feel.

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

JK: Okay… it’s the start of Chapter 14. Cat is looking forward to her painting class’s first foray into the backcountry. She feels like everything’s finally going her way, despite all the mistakes she’s made so far—like kissing her cowboy guide on the day she arrived. She’s admiring the view and when that very same cowboy comes along and spoils her day. He’s not sure he’s willing to fulfill the ranch’s side of the contract, since all Cat’s students are either elderly and out of shape. Just when she’s about to win the argument, the oldest member of the party proves her wrong by hurtling down the hillside at top speed on an out-of-control trail horse.

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

JK: Well, I’m way behind on my Carolyn Brown books, so I’m looking forward to Just a Cowboy and his Baby. And I can’t wait to read Jodi Thomas’s new Harmony novel, Chance of a Lifetime.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
JK: Just a big thank you for inviting me to visit, and a double dose of gratitude for my readers, who let me spend all day, everyday in a world of my own making! I love my job, and it’s the readers that make it possible.

COWBOY TOUGH

BY JOANNE KENENDY

IN STORES FEBRUARY 2013

She’s hardly a cowgirl…

Cat Crendall left a successful advertising job in New York to teach art workshops in the wild west. The Boyd Ranch is hardly her dream destination, but if the outing’s a success, the company will send her to more exotic locations.

But once a cowboy…

Mack Boyd was in the middle of the best bronc-riding season of his life when his mother asked for help with an artists’ retreat at the ranch. Mack might be able to ride a wild stallion to a standstill but he can’t say no to his family.

Cat and Mack are complete opposites…but when the ranch is threatened financially, can they set aside their differences and work together?

A little more about Joanne: Joanne Kennedy’s lifelong fascination with Wyoming’s unique blend of past and present inspires her to write contemporary Western romances with traditional ranch settings. In 2010 she was nominated for a RITA award for One Fine Cowboy. At various times, Joanne has dabbled in horse training, chicken farming, and bridezilla wrangling at a department store wedding registry. Her fascination with literature led to careers in bookselling and writing. She lives with two dogs and a retired fighter pilot in Cheyenne, Wyoming. For more information, please visit http://joannekennedybooks.com/ and on Facebook.

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February 11, 2013February 11, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Mandy Harbin

Hi Mandy. Welcome to Books-n-Kisses. We are honored to have you on the blog to day

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

Sure! I’m an Arkansan with a teenage son. Yes, he is learning to drive, which means I have increased my wine budget. He and I live with two guys who are partners, one of which has been a best friend of mine for years. They are awesome and have been very supportive of my career. Of course, the BFF wants me to write hot M/M books…which I have also started to explore.

Learn more about Mandy here: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes and No. I have always loved writing, but I never thought it was a feasible career choice living in the Deep South. So, when I went to college, I studied Liberal Arts. I wanted to study writing creatively but also on a technical level to be applied to my day job as an IT analyst (I’d already earned a technical degree). It was how I could justify studying it on the collegiate level. Then I became a victim of corporate downsizing and decided to go back to college to work on my masters degree. I seriously, seriously considered focusing solely on getting my MFA in creative writing, but ultimately chose an MBA course because I still had a hard time wrapping my head around the possibility of turning my passion into a career. I eventually came to my senses and stopped that madness to focus more time on my writing, and I have never been happier.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I talk to myself while I’m alone in the car. Seriously, I’ll mimic out scenes and then catch myself doing it, look around to see I if I got caught, and then tell myself to stop because people driving by will think I’m some kind of weirdo… only to start back up later. But I’ve come up with some great dialogue this way.

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

Surrounded by Secrets is the last official book in my Woods Family Series. It’s about the brother Jack who has been the asshole of the family. I saved him for last because I wanted people to fully grasp his hang-ups, and frankly, I knew I was going to have a blast pairing him with a woman who could go toe-to-toe with him. Because of the premise of the series—that no single women could be around them—I knew I’d have challenges introducing the heroines and still keeping each of the stories unique. But I took it a step further with Jack’s story. For me, it’s bringing the family story full circle by truly unlocking the myths of their heritage and gaining a better understanding of the fate of their deceased brother, Eric.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I love shifter stories, but I hadn’t read one on mountain lions, so I’d been toying with the idea of writing a paranormal series with that animal (I’ve always had cats and love their mannerisms). However, not only had I never written anything paranormal before, but I’d never written anything erotic either. I came across an open submission call from a large publisher seeking short—as in 15,000 words max—stories in the paranormal genre. It was the push I needed to get my story out. However, when I finished the first draft of Josh’s story, it didn’t feel right. I put it away (deciding not to submit to the open call), but a few months later, it was still nagging at me. I decided then that I’d pull it back out and expand onto the story so that it felt whole to me, not limiting myself to any word count. I was so much happier with the newer version because it felt as if I’d finally done it justice. But I still wasn’t sure if publishers would agree. I decided I’d only send it to three publishers since I was working on other projects, and if I got any interest, then I’d pursue the series. I sent it to the three, got notification that it passed the initial phase of one and contract offers from the other two. I was floored.

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

Remember the m/m suggestion of my roommate? Um, yeah, I’m working on a contemporary m/m series. I’m also working on a BDSM story that isn’t really a sequel to my book Digital Possession but does involve a minor character mentioned in that book. Also, Darkest Sin, my full length contemporary erotic romance has gotten great reviews and was even featured in RT Book Reviews Magazine and prompted my local paper to interview me. I will be finishing book two in this series next.

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

Wow. Tough question. I love Laurann Dohner, but I met her. I was totally fan-girl stalkerish. We were both doing a book signing, but I kept leaving my table to go to hers. I haven’t met Sylvia Day or Megan Hart, but I have conventions booked this year where they’ve confirmed attendance. I will be embracing my fan-girl side then, too.

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

Write! And Read. You only get better at writing if you read books in your interested genre and actually put pen to paper. I release several books a year… this year, I believe I have seven scheduled for release…but I also read at least 100 books a year. You have to make time for both if you want to be a writer.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I want to travel. I’d love to go to England—I am a direct decedent of British royalty, which means, I have the same great (times several) great-grand parents as the Queen. I’d love to visit the gravesites of previous kings and queens and other noble ancestors. And yes, my friends call me “princess” because they think they’re all comedians. LOL!

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

Laurann Dohner’s next New Species book!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I just want to remind y’all that if you haven’t started reading the Woods Family Series, my publisher has book one, SURROUNDED BY WOODS, for free right now on the major retailers. I’m not sure how long this will last, but it’s a great way to try out the series.

THE WOODS FAMILY Series

*****

SURROUNDED BY DEATH – Prequel

His family speaks of his death as a tragic example of why it’s too dangerous for the Woods men to be around available women.

Eric Woods is now dead, but was his last night as a living, breathing mountain lion shifter as horrible as his family has always believed?

Experience Eric’s last night with Simone–a woman whose need for carnal pleasures for exceeds all rational thought.

Reader advisory: This book contains graphic language and explicit sex. It is meant as a bonus read in the Woods family saga and should not be viewed as a typical romance.

Purchase Links: FREE at Amazon / B&N / ARe

*****

SURROUNDED BY WOODS – Book 1

When Mikaela Patterson must take on a client with specific requirements that no single women be allowed on his property, she keeps her broken engagement a secret. She doesn’t realize her client and his sons are mountain lion shifters whose instinct to mate with any available woman turns deadly.

Josh Woods is her client’s eldest son, and he is immediately drawn to Mikaela. Knowing his father would never allow an available woman on the property, Josh doesn’t understand his fascination with her. Josh and Mikaela fight their attraction because of their own secrets, but when the truth comes out about Mikaela’s true availability and Josh’s animal instincts, they must be prepared to face the consequences.

Reader advisory: This book contains graphic language and explicit sex.

Purchase Links: FREE at Amazon / B&N / ARe

*****

SURROUNDED BY PLEASURE – Book 2

Krista Owens is an attorney who works too much and plays too little. When her colleague, Mikaela, requests her assistance for a month on the Woods estate, hinting that her brothers-in-law are all hot with commitment phobias, Krista agrees to tell the guys she has a boyfriend, hoping to finally lose her virginity.

Toby Woods doesn’t want anything to do with Krista, but watching his brothers fight over her ignites his feral side. He wants her, and he’ll stop at nothing to have her.

He knows it’s temporary, but will he be able to let her go when it’s time?

Reader advisory: This book contains graphic language and explicit sex.

Purchase Links: Amazon / B&N / ARe

*****

SURROUNDED BY TEMPTATION- Book 3

When Krista needs Ariel’s biochemical expertise because her new boyfriend can turn into a mountain lion, Ariel thinks her sister has lost her mind. But the possibility of a major discovery like this is too much of a temptation to ignore. Create a drug to stop a shifter from forcing a mating? Only if she got to test his sexual limits herself.

Rob thinks Ariel is an angel in disguise, and he immediately knows she’s the one for him. But is he strong enough to resist his animal’s need to claim her once the temptation begins?

Warning: This book contains a shifter who must resist his feral need to mate and a biochemist who is hell-bent on testing his sexual limits. You’ll never look at science the same way again.

Purchase Links: Amazon / B&N / ARe

*****

SURROUNDED BY SECRETS-Book 4

Lillian Caldwell has eyes on the hottie with the body, Jack Woods, one of the men who bought her family land and now new boss. She has big plans for Jack, including the getting-him-horizontal variety, and she always gets what she wants.

Jack is the family hard ass who’s trying to make amends. His plans of digging into the family secret he discovered are thwarted when he’s forced to work with Lillian, his gorgeous, pain-in-the-ass neighbor.

But a night of passion will unlock the secrets surrounding them and change both their lives forever.

Warning: This book contains a spitfire woman who doesn’t take no for an answer and a strong alpha mountain lion shifter whose preverbal bark really is as a bad as his bite.

Purchase Links: Amazon / B&N / ARe

Giveaway time…..

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But WAIT….

There is more…..

GRAND PRIZE GIVEAWAY

Mandy is giving away a $100.00 Gift Card to either Amazon or B&N (winners choice) to celebrate the release of SURROUNDED BY SECRETS.

TWO runners up will receive an eBook of SURROUNDED BY SECRETS.

To Enter: Fill out the Rafflecopter widget below. The more tasks you complete, the more points you get.

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February 11, 2013February 9, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Olivia Cunning

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have Olivia Cunning on the blog today to talk about her new book Hot Ticket .

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

I don’t lead a very interesting life. I think that’s one reason why I write. I was born in the Midwest and my father joined the military when I was 2, so we moved all over the country and were stationed in Germany a couple of times. I have one son who is college, one cat who will not let you pick her up, and one dog that barks at everything including the wind. I have an advanced degree in Research Pathology. Until recently I was a college professor who taught Human Anatomy and Physiology and now I write full time. My hobbies are going to rock concerts, taking walks on the beach and playing video games. See? Much less interesting than fiction.

Learn more about Olivia here: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Not always. My first choice of career was garbage man. Garbage woman? I wanted to ride on the back of the truck. Then I wanted to be a jet pilot, but found out you have to have great vision (this was before Lasik surgery), so that was out. Then I wanted to be a rock guitarist—stubby fingers, my father’s mockery and no talent destroyed that dream. At nineteen I decided I was going to write series romances for a living. Alas, that didn’t work out, so I went to school to be an elementary teacher. My professors pushed me into the science field, where I thought I would do research, but after obtaining the Master’s degree, went on to teach. I loved teaching for the most part. But I quit at the end of 2012 to be a full-time writer and so far, no complaints. I do miss my students, but not the grading! I heard somewhere that good teachers would teach for free, but you have to pay them to grade papers. I definitely identify with that!

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I can’t write with my son in the room. But considering that he’s 20 and what types of books I write, I guess most people would feel a bit subconscious about writing sex scenes with their young adult kid present.

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

Hot Ticket is the latest release in my Sinners on Tour series. The books center around a rock band called Sinners. This one is about the bassist Jace Seymour who doesn’t understand love because of his childhood. His heroine, Aggie, who is probably the most patient woman on the planet, helps him overcome his past and recognize all the love in his life—from her and his band mates. Sinners is a family. A very dysfunctional, sex-crazed family, but a family. The guys really depend on each other.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I usually start with a character and try to get to know them be putting them into situations. While I’m writing about the character, my story ideas come out of nowhere. So I’m not a writer who starts at the beginning and writes every well thought out scene from beginning to end. I go back and fill in the beginning of the story with details once I’m writing later scenes. The idea for Jace’s character was first spawned while listening to the song “Pain” by Three Days Grace. Pain without love. Those lyrics struck a chord as so many songs do. I wondered what kind of person would want pain? And why? What would get them to that point? And how would they learn to love? Thus, Jace Seymour was born.

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

I’m working on a serial series of novellas about a different rock band called Sole Regret. That series is unrelated to Sinners and occurs one night at a time. I wanted to try something a little different with that series. I’m also working on a spin-off series to Sinners about the band Exodus End. The rhythm guitarist of Sinners is Trey Mills and his brother, Dare, is in Exodus End, so you see bits of the band Exodus End in the Sinners series. You also see bits of Dare in the Sinners series. He’s a good guy. I’m looking forward to getting into his head and finding him a great heroine to love.

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

J.K. Rowling. I just love her writing. I’d go totally fangirl if I met her.

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

Don’t give up on your dream, but always seek to improve. The best way to improve is to write, write, write.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

My bucket list is a mile long. I checked off a couple things in January. I really want to go on a Safari. Maybe I’ll do that next. The biologist in me loves animals. Or skydiving. I’ve always wanted to hurtle myself out of a perfectly good airplane.

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

I really need to read J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I bought the first six books as a boxed set and am looking forward to reading them. I’ve heard great things. Yes, I realize I’m late to the party.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just that I never thought I’d actually be where I am today as a writer. I dreamed it, but wasn’t confident that I’d succeed, so thanks to all of those folks who read my books and enjoy them. I am humbled everyday by your encouragement and generosity of spirit.

Amazon | B&N

Book #3 in reading order of events in book series, per author

There are things in bassist Jace Seymour’s past that he is unwilling to share with anyone. To cover his guilt and anguish, he seeks dominatrix Mistress V (Aggie) to temporarily placate his inner turmoil.

Aggie doesn’t have much use for men–besides the power rush she gets when they’re begging for mercy at her feet–but Jace isn’t like her usual clients. His cool defiance and unexpected dominance in the bedroom drives her to distraction and quickly steals her heart.

When circumstances threaten Jace’s position in Sinners, Aggie must help him regain his rightful place in the band while showing him that time and love can heal all wounds.

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February 7, 2013February 2, 2013

Interview with Tracey Devlyn

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Tracey Devlyn to the blog today to chat about her newest book

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

I’m a small town girl who transplanted to the big city – or at least the suburbs!—several years ago. For the last eight years, I’ve been managing human resources for an environmental agency near Chicago. My adorable rescue Doberman keeps me youthful and my awesome husband keeps me grounded. J

Have you always wanted to be an author? Nope. The writing bug did not hit me until about six years ago. It never once occurred to me that I might have the chops to write a novel. Not long after I scrounged up the courage to put pen to paper (literally), I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Can you share with us your typical writing day. Is there anything you have to have while writing? My laptop and a quiet room is all I need to write. Every once in awhile I’ll light a candle, but I do that less and less these days. As for a typical writing day—I generally write for about three hours in the evenings and for 16-20 hours on the weekends. I have quite a few other things that vie for my time when I’m not at the day job, like email, marketing, publicity, website management, street team activities, social media, etc. I stay busy!

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

Because I have a strong suspense element in my stories, my plots tend to be a little more intricate than most historical romances. So, I’m constantly connecting the dots, both with the external suspense element and the romance. The most rewarding? Honestly, it’s all rewarding to me. I love the process of writing the books—even when it’s hard. I love interacting with readers. And I love the supportive nature of the romance community.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

Checkmate, My Lord is the second installment in my—take a deep breath—historical romantic spy thriller Nexus series. That was a mouthful, wasn’t it? J Those of you who have read my debut, A Lady’s Revenge, will recognize Lord Somerton’s name. He was the heroine’s guardian in ALR and is now the hero in Checkmate. Somerton, aka Sebastian Danvers, is ruthless, dedicated to his country, attracted to his murdered agent’s widow, and is a magnet for a seven-year-old girl who likes to natter on about horses.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

Good question! Somewhere along the way it became obvious that book 2 in the series would be Somerton’s and it would have to take place in the country. Pairing him up with an organizing widow, who’s being forced to spy on him, a spymaster, seemed even more fitting.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

Thanks for asking! Right now, I’m going through developmental edits for book 3, A Lady’s Secret Weapon. ALSW is Ethan deBeau’s story and will be available October 2013.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

I have so many! The authors that hooked me on romance forever are: Virginia Henley (The Raven and The Rose—first romance I ever read), Johanna Lindsay, Lisa Kleypas, Christina Dodd, Eloisa James, Mary Balogh, Christina Feehan, Kresley Cole, Adrienne Giordano—those are the ones I can think of off the top of my head.

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style? There is one book that has affected my writing more than any other. Unfortunately, I have lost the name of the author and book. Believe me, I’ve tried to find it in my mound! But the historical author set the story in Italy. The hero and heroine were married and his Italian family refused to embrace his new English wife. The part that shocked me and has stayed with me so many years later was the brutal sexual assault against the heroine. Yes, very ugly, but the author somehow pulled it off. Now, I have no plans to go there, but what I took away from that story was – keep your readers guessing. Shock them, make them laugh, make them cry. Make them remember.

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

Chapter Six. In this scene, Sebastian enters his study to find Catherine waiting for him. The night before, he over-imbibed and sent her a note, asking her to join him in the morning to discuss a potential business arrangement. Unfortunately, he has absolutely no recollection of sending her the note. Needless to say, the unflappable Lord Somerton is feeling a little off-balance.

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

Let’s see. Books queued up on my Kindle right now are: Starters by Lissa Price, The Blood Gospel by James Rollins & Rebecca Cantrell, and The Heiresses #1 by Allison Rushby.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I love connecting with readers! Please stop by at any of these haunts and say hello!

TraceyDevlyn.com | Dangerous Darlings Street Team | Newsletter

Twitter.com/TraceyDevlyn | Facebook.com/AuthorTraceyDevlyn | LadyJanesSalonNaperville.com Goodreads.com/TraceyDevlyn | Discover a New Love

Thanks again for allowing me to hang out today on Books-n-Kisses!

Hugs,

Tracey

Available February 5, 2013

eBook Amazon | Apple | All Romance | Barnes and Noble | B-A-M Sourcebooks

A desperate mother falls in love with the spymaster she’s forced to betray.

THE STAKES ARE HIGH, THE PLAYERS IN POSITION…

Catherine Ashcroft leads a quiet life caring for her precocious seven-year-old daughter, until a visitor delivers a startling ultimatum. She will match wits with the enigmatic Earl of Somerton, and it’s not just her heart that’s in danger.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN…

Spymaster Sebastian Danvers, Earl of Somerton, is famous for his cunning. Few can outwit him and even few dare challenge him–until now. After returning to his country estate, his no-nonsense neighbor turns her seductive wiles on him–but why would a respectable widow like Catherine risk scandal for a few passionate nights in his bed?

REVIEWS:

“Devlyn’s seamless writing will entice readers and keep them eager for the next installment.” ~ Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

“Devlyn delivers an emotional, powerful read.” ~ RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“Devlyn’s edgy and sexy series is gaining momentum, and historical-romantic suspense fans, particularly those who enjoy Brenda Joyce, will delight in this.” ~ Booklist

“Love the characters, lots of mystery, murderers, spies and lots of romance!!!!!!!! CHECKMATE MY LORD is an edge of your seat exciting read!” ~ Fresh Fiction

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

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February 6, 2013February 4, 2013

Interview & Giveaway(s) with Kathryn Quick

Kathryn, welcome to Books-n-Kisses. Can you please share with us a little about yourself

Born long ago in a place not so far away, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, I have been writing since the Sisters in St. Casmir’s Grammar School gave me the ruled yellow paper and a number two pencil. I write contemporary and career romances, romantic comedies, historical romances as well as urban fantasy,

I’ve been a member of New Jersey Romance Writers and Romance Writers of America since 1990 and consider it an honor to have been NJRW President in 1992 and 2001. I am also one of the founding members of Liberty States Fiction Writers, multi-genre writers’ organizations dedicated to furthering the craft of writing and helping aspiring writers move onto publication.

I also write as P. K. Eden with colleague, Patt Mihailoff, FIREBRAND and our debut urban fantasy, has been heralded for having lush worlds and colorful characters full of secrets and magic. Based on the fall of the Garden of Eden, FIREBRAND, has won two Reviewer’s Choice Awards.

Originally I wanted to be President of the United States or an Organic Chemist, but somehow life got in the way and I got married right out of high school and had a set of twins two years later. The Presidency seemed out of reach and night school to get her Ph.D. to create new molecule that would ultimately result in the betterment of humankind seemed a little time consuming while trying to raise twins, so she decided to write instead.

In my “other” life, I am happily married to my real-life hero Donald and have three grown sons all having adventures of their own and three “bonus” grandchildren. I am a die-hard New Jersey Devils fan and work for Somerset County government (as close as she could get to the White House) and am plotting a novel about a new molecule that will ultimately result in the betterment of humankind.

You can learn more about Kathryn here: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Amazon Page

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I have. Back in Catholic School, almost as soon as I learned to write and figured out the concept of phonics, I used to write stories about angels over the weekend and slip them on to the Sister’s desk every Monday. She never said anything to me, but she kept them. Wonder if she still has them somewhere

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

Typical writing day:
1. Work until 4:30pm

2. Run errands on the way home

3. Make dinner for the Hub or put the take-out in pots and pretend I made dinner for the Hub

4. fire-up the computer

5. Play Dynomite, Candy Crush and Scrabble – in that order – at least 5 games each

6. write at least 3 pages

7. Hub comes home – distraction – computer off

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

I have to say, I am still always amazed when someone likes my work. I get excited about a good review and, and unfortunately, get really bummed about a bad review; and there always are some. I think it has to do with my Catholic School guilt.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?

INELIGIBLE BACHELOR:

After years of pining, Frederika “Freddy” McAllister has hatched a scheme to win Logan Gabriel’s heart: she’ll secretly enter him in Elan Magazine’s Eligible Bachelor Contest, then swoop in to soothe his bruised ego when he loses. Unfortunately, Freddy’s “fool-proof” plans have a tendency to backfire, with disastrous—albeit hilarious—results. And this one looks to be no exception…

Because Logan doesn’t lose—he wins, earning a spot on a new reality TV show with six beautiful women vying for his affections. And if Freddy had read the fine print on the entry form, she would know that, as Logan’s oldest friend, she will be tagging along to choose the lucky girl. Suddenly Freddy’s perfect plan has become a perfect nightmare, complete with scheming TV executives, conniving contestants…and a bachelor in danger of falling for the wrong woman. Freddy caused this mess. Now it’s up to her to prove to Logan—and millions of television viewers—that the girl next door is really the woman of his dreams.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I am a reality TV junkie. Yes, I watch Dance Moms (don’t hate me – please). So I decided to incorporate some reality TV into my next story and INELIGIBLE BACHELOR was born.

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

INELIGIBLE BACHELOR is the first book in my Bachelors Three Series. The second is called BACHELOR-DOT-COM:

Briefly –

The signs are all there. Up-coming account executive Kinley Adams thinks she is in love with a nerd.

With eyes hidden behind horn-rimmed glasses and comfortable in sweat pants twenty-four-seven, Jack Reeves is a departure from all the hunky men she has dated in her life. A nice guy like Jack would never hurt her way a couple of those guys did, so it has to be love. Or is it just a feeling of being safe? She just isn’t sure enough to tell him.

But when a devastating auto accident nearly ends his like, what she feels for Jack in the aftermath, makes Kinley KNOW she’s in love with him. When the accident transform Jack Reeves into a honest-to-goodness hunk, reaction from women to his new look makes Kinley feel that Jack needs to experience the proverbial “sowing of the wild oats”, something he never had to opportunity to do, before she stakes a claim on his heart. So she plans to keep her feelings a secret; for a little while anyway.

But Jack has a secret of his own. He’s not the geeky video game trouble shooter Kinley thinks he is; he owns the company. Jack met Kinley when he fixed her computer on a trouble shoot report and was surprised when they seemed to hit it off. A month passed, then six and now, after two years, he is afraid to tell her the truth about himself. Now, with his company, Gaming International, going public in a few weeks, time is running out.

Can Kinley forgive the two-year lie Jack has been living or will she hit the delete button and try to forget about his deception.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Cris Anson for erotica, Sharon Sala for Women’s Fiction, Patt Mihailoff for historical and contemporary romance and any one of the talent authors in my Liberty States Writers Group. They are all stellar.

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

I can’t say they have. I think my style is uniquely mine. I have learned a lot from them, however. You can always learn something from whatever experience you have.

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

Freddy, Logan and the contestants are getting a paintball lesson before they play a game of elimination paintball. Freddy is already making a mental list of who is going to get hit by her marks and in what order. I think the Iraq war veteran is going out first. Freddy knows she can shoot and is planning an ambush to send her to the “hit box” to wait until the game is over.

Wait- Freddy just grabbed the flag and took off running, paintballs splattering all around her but not on her. Let the games begin.

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

I need to finish Book Four in Game of Thrones. I love that era. Cannot get enough of the Arthurian legend. I am also finishing up a series that explores the possibility of Camelot living beyond Arthur.

I also love anything sci-fi. I am a real Trekkie and Geek at heart.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just thanks for letting me ramble on here. I had a real blast . Hope you all will pop over to my website www.kathrynquick.com and learn a little more about my books.

Come on a friend me on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/kathye.quick.5

And follow me and I’ll follow you on Twitter – https://twitter.com/Kathyeq

Peace!!

Ineligible Bachelor

by Kathryn Quick

Amazon / B&N

Frederika “Freddy” McAllister has loved Logan Gabriel since…well, forever. Unfortunately, she’s spent most of forever in the dreaded “friend zone,” harboring what has to be the longest-running crush of all time. But now Freddy has a plan to make Logan see her as more than just the girl next door: She’ll enter him in Elan Magazine’s Eligible Bachelor Contest, then swoop in to soothe his bruised ego when he loses.

There’s just one tiny problem: Logan wins! And that means he’s headed to a mansion in New Jersey where six beautiful women will vie for his affections on reality TV. Making matters worse, the producers want Freddy to tag along and help choose his ideal match. Suddenly her perfect plan becomes a perfect nightmare, as Freddy scrambles to outwit conniving contestants and convince the man of her dreams that the woman of his has been by his side all along.

Giveaway Details

Kathryn is giving away a $10.00 gift card (winners choice of Amazon or B&N)

and an eBook of INELIGIBLE BACHELOR to one winner at every tour stop.

US/CANADA ONLY

To be entered please leave a comment or question for Kathryn

ALSO leave your email address (**NO EMAIL, NO ENTRY**)

giveaway ends 2/13/13

But wait there is more!!!!

Grand Prize Giveaway

Kathryn is giving away a Kobo mini ereader and an eBook of INELIGIABLE BACHELOR to ONE winner that follows the tour. (If you already have an ereader then Kathryn will gift you a $60.00 gift card to either Amazon or B&N.)

Fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. The more tasks you complete, the greater the chance you have at winning.

Good Luck

a Rafflecopter giveaway

INELIGIBLE BACHELOR Tour Schedule

2/1 – I Heart Books – Facebook Promo

2/2 – Alexx Mom Cat’s Gateway Book Blog

2/4 – Love Romance Passion

2/5 – Musings From An Addicted Reader

2/6 – Books-n-Kisses

2/10 – Romance Junkies

2/13 – United by Books

2/15 – Life of a Total Book Nerd