Interview & Giveaway with Kim Law

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Sweet Nothings is the December romance pick for the Kindle First program!!

That means that Amazon Prime members get to choose one of four editor picks (one month before release date) and get the book for free. Non-Prime members can choose one of the four books and pay only $1.99. This goes for the whole month of December, and then the books officially release on January 1.

http://amzn.to/19bMZpb

Kim welcome back to Books-n-Kisses, can you please share with us a little about yourself

Sure. I’m a computer programmer turned romance writer, who sits home in her pajamas now and tries hard not to have to leave the house.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Always. I loved stories as a kid, and started writing them in elementary school. I even submitted a story to Highlights magazine when I was 11. It didn’t get picked up J But I was already out there trying!

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

I’m totally a plotter. Some people can have a nugget of an idea and just sit down and write by the seat of their pants. Not me! I need to know who my characters are, what their story is, and where in the world it’s going. It sometimes changes during the writing of the story, but then I go back to the drawing board and re-plot the rest of it. I often even outline each individual scene before I write it!

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Preferring to write with no pants on. I’ve almost answered the door in all my pantless wonder before. Thankfully, I caught myself in time!

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

I would love to! Sweet Nothings is a favorite of mine. It’s book two in my Sugar Springs series, set in the small TN town of Sugar Springs, and follows the twin brother of book one’s hero, and the best friend of book one’s heroine.

In this book, it kind of freaked Joanie out to find herself all hot and bothered over a guy who looks like her best friend’s fiancé, but that doesn’t hold her back for long. Nick and Joanie are complete opposites. She’s all about lack of commitment, he’s all about commitment. She wants fun. He wants forever. Together they do have a lot of fun, and yet Joanie learns a whole heck a lot about herself in the process. There’s cats, gossip, community bets, hot sex, sweetness and tenderness, a third brother, and a love that will last forever. Oh…and Nick’s a construction worker. And he has abs of steel. J

How did you come with the idea for this story?

This book got rewritten twice, but the basis of the story stayed all the way through. A woman who wouldn’t commit, and a guy who wanted nothing but commitment. I liked the twist because that’s the opposite of what you often get in a story. As for how I came up with it? I had Joanie from book one. She was a bit of a flake, but she had a good heart. She also showed up with commitment issues. So it was easy to see who would be the worst person for her!

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

I just finished the first draft on book three for this series. It’ll be called Sprinkles on Top, and should be out in July 2014. But right now I’m working on a cowboy novella. It’s my first foray into writing a cowboy, and I have to tell you, I’m quite excited by it! He’s a bad boy cowboy J And I’m already in love with him.

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

Stephen King. I’d love to hang with him and hear that his process can be as crazy as mine J

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

It’s hard, frustrating, and often demoralizing. Don’t get into it unless you can’t keep from it J It’s some of the hardest work I’ve ever done, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I also don’t think I could ever quit if I tried. Unless you feel that way, for your own sanity, rethink your decision 😉 (Because you will go a little nuts as a writer!)

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Here’s one that should be easy to mark off, yet I never have. Take a hot-air balloon ride. Preferably a long one!

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

Too many to even know! I plan to start attacking that pile again really soon. I’m actually looking forward to seeing what all I’ve downloaded to my Kindle over the last couple of months that I’ve forgotten about.

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

Oh geez…will I sound stupid if I don’t have an answer? I just think people should read, period. It drives me crazy (and worries me at the same time) when I hear someone say they don’t read or don’t like to read. I can’t imagine not having a magical world to disappear into. Those people are missing out!!

What is your favorite time of year & why?

I love the fall. I like the nip in the air and the smell of the drying leaves. I wish I could spend every day outdoors during the fall. J

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

Bradley Cooper. And I’d probably giggle and smile a lot. And then giggle some more.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just thank you for having me!!!

Sweet Nothings

Sugar Springs #2

By: Kim Law

Releasing January 1^st, 2014

Pre-Buy Links: Amazon | B&N

Joanie Bigbee, cupcake baker extraordinaire, likes to keep her options open–and she’s good at it. She’s started and sold some 30 businesses in her postage stamp-sized Tennessee town, and at the moment she can be found in a short skirt and go-go boots, selling cupcakes out of the back of a converted Volkswagen van. What she moves on to next is anybody’s guess. She knows better than to be tied down. In any way. She’s watched every woman in her family fall head-over-heels, only to find themselves wondering how to pick up the pieces when love is lost.

When Nick Dalton shows up at the groovy cupcakery, all Joanie wants is a taste; a fling with no strings suits her just fine. But for Nick, a bite is not enough; he wants the whole cake: a big house, a family, true love. But love only makes you stupid, right? Joanie has to decide whether to follow where her free-spirit leads? or hold on to the sweetest thing she’s ever known.

Author Info

Award-winning author Kim Law wrote her first story, “The Gigantic Talking Raisin,” in elementary school. Although it was never published, it was enough to whet her appetite for a career in writing. First, however, she would try her hand at a few other passions: baton twirling, softball, and music, to name a few. Voted “Bookworm” and “Most Likely to Succeed” in high school, she went on to earn a college degree in mathematics.

Law spent years working as a computer programmer and raising her son, and she now devotes her time and energy to writing romance novels (none of which feature talking raisins).

She is a Romance Writers of America’s RITA® finalist, a past winner of the RWA’s Golden Heart® Award, and currently serves as president for her local RWA chapter. Her books can best be described as a light-hearted mix taking her readers on a sexy, fun, and emotional ride. A native of Kentucky, she now lives with her husband and an assortment of animals in her Middle Tennessee home.

Author Links Website| Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY TIME:

Grand prize will be a cupcake basket with: A jumbo cupcake pan, A cupcake recipe book, Jumbo cupcake liners, Cupcakes sprinkles, A cupcake decorating kit, Cupcake measuring cups, An autographed copy of Sweet Nothings, And a cupcake recipe unique to my book.

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Link to Follow Tour HERE

December 11, 2013December 2, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Sylvain Reynard

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Sylvain Reynard to the blog today.

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

Hello Books n Kisses. It’s a pleasure to be with you and your readers. I’m a fairly new novelist. The Gabriel trilogy is my first series and the third and final novel is releasing December 3^rd. It’s entitled “Gabriel’s Redemption.”

Currently, I’m writing a new novel, “The Raven,” which will be the first in a series.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I’ve always enjoyed writing, but I never expected to become an author. I’m very grateful to my readers from around the world for my success.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Many authors seem to write to music. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them. I enjoy music, but I find that I can’t write while listening to it because I need to hear how dialogue and descriptions sound. Music distracts me. But I often mention music in my writing because my characters enjoy music as well and I find that a specific song or piece of music can add to a scene.

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

With pleasure. My newest book is “Gabriel’s Redemption,” and it releases December 3^rd from Berkley press. It’s the third book in the Gabriel series and here is its description:

Professor Gabriel Emerson has left his position at the University of Toronto to embark on a new life with his beloved Julianne. Together, he’s confident that they can face any challenge. And he’s eager to become a father.

But Julianne’s graduate program threatens Gabriel’s plans, as the pressures of being a student become all consuming. When she is given the honor of presenting an academic lecture at Oxford, Gabriel is forced to confront Julianne about the subject of her presentation—research that conflicts with his own. And in Oxford, several individuals from their past appear, including an old nemesis intent on humiliating Julia and exposing one of Gabriel’s darkest secrets.

In an effort to confront his remaining demons, Gabriel begins a quest to discover more about his biological parents, beginning a chain of events that has startling repercussions for himself, Julianne, and his hope of having a family.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

A few locations proved inspiring for the story: Umbria, Florence, Oxford, and Cambridge, Massachusetts. But I was also inspired by the overall theme of redemption and how finding one’s soul mate brings with it challenges along with extraordinary rewards.

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

I’m working on a new novel that will be the first in a series set in contemporary Florence. I’m fortunate in that my publisher has included an excerpt from it at the end of “Gabriel’s Redemption,” so readers will have a sneak peek at it.

The book is entitled “The Raven” and it will be a paranormal love story. You can read the cover copy and find out more about it here:http://www.sylvainreynard.com/2013/11/my-next-novel-revealed.html

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

To be honest, most of the authors I’d like to meet are deceased. I’d have given almost anything to meet Dante, for example.

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

I have two suggestions. First, write every day. This develops the habit of writing. Second, find someone whom you trust and ask him/her to read your work and to give you constructive criticism. Every writer needs an editor and it’s important to listen to criticism.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

I’ve always wanted to see Mount Everest. I don’t want to climb it, I just want to look at it and take pictures.

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

I’ve tweeted with Deborah Harkness, who is a friend of EL James, whom we both know, but I’ve never had the pleasure of reading “A Discovery of Witches.” It’s on my reading list and I hope I’ll be able to read it and it’s sequels.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

There’s a special giveaway to commemorate the release of “Gabriel’s Redemption,” which I’ll be hosting on my website. www.sylvainreynard.com

Website | Facebook | Twitter @Sylvainreynard| Goodreads

*****

From the author of the New York Times bestsellers Gabriel’s Rapture and Gabriel’s Inferno comes the epic conclusion to the captivating romantic trilogy.

Make sure to check out Kelly’s review of Gabriel’s Redemption HERE

Bio: I’m interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition – particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself.

I’m also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.

I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House. For more information, see my Twitter account

Social Media Accounts : Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

The Louboutin winner will be gifted a Neiman Marcus gift card with shipping included. All prizes are international.

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December 10, 2013December 9, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Kathryne Kennedy

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Kathryne Kennedy to the blog for the first time.

Kathryne, can you please share with us a little about yourself
KK: I’ve been married for over thirty years, have two sons, and currently, three dogs. I have an old Chihuahua named Baggins, and two new puppies. Champagne is a tiny Yorkie, and Pikachu is a small Chihuahua mix. I grew up in the Air Force, so I have lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S. I currently live in the desert state of Arizona.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
KK: Not until my mother became a published author, and I realized it was possible. But I have always been an avid reader.

Are you a plotter or a panster or combo of both? Can you explain the difference?
KK: I use a combination of both. I have a general outline of the plot before I get started. And of course, I have the world built. But then there’s the characters…they are always doing something or heading off in a direction I never thought of, and yes, they do occasionally alter the plot and I have to do some major juggling to keep up.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?
KK: I giggle to myself when I’m writing something I consider funny. I suppose it would look strange if anyone was watching me.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?view
KK: Everlasting Enchantment is the brand new fourth book in the Relics of Merlin series. It takes place in a magical Victorian London, where powers determine rank. My heroine, Millicent Pantere, is a shapeshifter caught up in a scheme to use one of Merlin’s relics to overthrow the Crown. When she steals a bracelet and it wraps around her arm and won’t come off, she meets Gareth Solimere, once a Knight of the Round Table, and since, trapped within the relic until he finds his one true love. Millicent is sure she isn’t the one to break the curse. Gareth thinks otherwise, and using all the experience garnered through centuries of lovemaking, sets out to seduce her.

How did you come up with the idea for this story?
KK: This is so hard to answer, because I usually start out with a germ of an idea, and build on it until it’s something tangible. In Everlasting Enchantment, I knew I wanted to switch it around a bit, so that this time the shapeshifter is the heroine. And then I knew she had to be a black panther, because it spoke of sleek and sexy to me, and this started creating her character. Then I knew she had to have grown up in the Underground, the dark city beneath London that Magic Users created to experiment with black magic. And this created all sorts of insecurities and strengths in her character. And then I knew I had to have a hero who was completely opposite of her, a man who was goodness and honor and…chivalry. Which made me think of the most chivalrous men in mythology (or history, depending on who you are talking to) King Arthur’s knights. I kept going on from here, the plot unfolding as I went.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
KK: Right now, I’m brainstorming another book in The Elven Lord’s series, and also fiddling with an idea for a young adult series.

Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?
KK: Andre Norton, because she introduced me to the world of fantasy and science fiction…worlds that fully captured my imagination. Unfortunately, she passed away, so that’s one wish that won’t be fulfilled.

What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
KK: Learn the craft, and then write what you want to read, not what’s selling or popular at the moment. You have to know the rules before you can bend them.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?
KK: Funny you should ask. There’s a restaurant here in Arizona that is 24 floors up and revolves. I always wanted to have dinner there, and just did, a few weekends ago. Yep, it’s off my bucket list, but can’t say I enjoyed it. Who would think it would revolve so fast? Who knew it would make me so dizzy I could barely eat my dinner? But there’s one strike off my list, anyway.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
KK: I’m currently reading Erin Quinn’s “The Five Deaths of Roxanne Love.” She’s my beta reader, and although I’ve already read the book in its manuscript stages, it’s an entirely different experience to read it bound and published. Sometimes, she puts words together like poetry, so I’m actually marking the pages and am going to highlight those sentences on my blog…so it’s taking me a bit longer to read it.

What is one book everyone should read before they die?
KK: Goodness, that’s a tall order. I suppose the bible.

What is your favorite time of year & why?
KK: Winter. Because there’s Christmas, my most happiest time of year. I love giving gifts. I love being with the family all warm and snug. I love sparklies and Christmas music and lights twinkling on otherwise ordinary houses. I love magic, and I think it’s the one time of year where it abounds.

Who is your Celebrity crush? And what would you do if you ever meet him or her?
KK: I think I get more of a crush on the character they are playing, not the actual man…so it’s still Legolas played by Orlando Bloom in the Lord of the Rings movie.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
KK: Yes. I have some fabulous readers, and I would like to thank them for their loyalty and support of my work.

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*****

IN STORES DECEMBER 2013

Powerful Magic is Afoot …

Millicent Pantere has lived her entire life in the notorious London Underground. She cares nothing for the problems of the crown or the intrigues of society. But the ladies of the realm are acting strangely, and Millicent is coerced into tracking down the rumors of a mysterious man—a magic man who comes in the night and disappears at dawn.

And So the Hunt Begins…

Millicent’s search leads her to one of Merlin’s legendary relics and the seductive knight whose fate is bound up with it. Centuries ago, Sir Gareth Solimere made the mistake of seducing the wrong woman, and he has been trapped ever since by a diabolical curse. He’s looking for the one who can break the enchantment—but in this world, there is no love without betrayal…

December 9, 2013November 23, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Jamie Wyman

Can you please share with us a little about yourself?

I’m Jamie. I’m a total geek who loves fire, circus history and chai. I live in Arizona with my husband, our 8 year old daughter and two feline overlords. When I’m not writing, I’m probably gaming with friends. Some of the more random things about me: I have 7 tattoos. I can read/write in Circular Gallifreyan (the language of the Time Lords in Doctor Who). I auditioned for Blue Man Group in 2004 and almost made it.

Learn more about Jamie here: Website Blog Twitter Facebook | Goodreads

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I’ve always loved telling stories, but it took me a while to get the hint about being an author. I only started seeking publication 5 years ago.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Hrm. Probably that I cast almost all of my characters. I have a folder for each character and I through pictures into it of actors that resemble them, or props, or symbols or whatever. It helps in those murkier moments.

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

WILD CARD is a romp through Vegas featuring trickster gods and technomancers. Catherine Sharp is stuck in a rut. She’s working a dead-end job as a code monkey and barely scrapes by. To make it worse, her soul belongs to Eris, the Greek goddess of Discord. So in her not-so-free time, Cat does little jobs for Eris in the hopes of balancing their books. When another deity claims to have won her soul, Cat has to think fast and get in on the game if she ever hopes to be free. The only person who can help her is Marius, a satyr with his own debt to Discord. He’s insatiable, sexy and snarky as hell. Their relationship has been rocky disdain at best, but now they have to work together. If they play their cards right, they might both win their freedom.

This book was crazy fun to write and I think that comes through for the reader.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

There were two separate ideas that came crashing together. I knew I wanted to write an urban fantasy with a heroine named C. Sharp. I wanted her to be a working class geek rather than a detective or vigilante type. But, I didn’t have much of a plot for her. I also had this idea for a story that had to do with the Trickster gods of various pantheons playing a game of poker. When I put the two together, magic started happening.

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

Right now I’m working on Book 3 of Cat Sharp’s story. That’s the main focus. Beyond that, there are a few novels that I’m outlining and hoping to fit into the schedule. I’ve also got a couple of stories brewing that you might see in anthologies soon.

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

Neil Gaiman. He’s one of my influences and I would love to thank him for his work.

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

RUN AWAY! No, not really. Best advice I can give…don’t be afraid. There’s so much to be afraid of in writing: am I doing it right? Will people like it? Fear of rejection. Fear of success. Fear of markets and trends and the nebulous world of publishing. Do I self-publish? Fear of writing from a place of truth and being vulnerable to the reader. And about a million other things.

Forget all of that. Write honestly and fearlessly.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Write an episode of Doctor Who.

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

My to read pile is about as tall as Everest at this point. I finally finished reading CARNIEPUNK (an anthology) and that turned me on to several new-to-me writers. I really want to start Kevin Hearne’s Iron Druid series. I also want to dig into the Cherry St. Croix Chronicles by Karina Cooper. Oh, and the new Gail Carriger series. See what I mean? Not enough time to read all of these books!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you for giving me some time here on Books n Kisses to talk. I hope everyone has a chance to enjoy WILD CARD and meet these characters that have had me laughing for a while now.

*****

WILD CARD

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Release Date: 11/25

Genre: Urban Fantasy

It was bad enough that gods gambled with human souls, but Catherine Sharp’s soul just had to be won by the Greek goddess of Discord, Eris. As if working a dead-end tech support job didn’t suck the life out of her as it was. Now, Cat finds herself performing random tasks for the goddess in her free time.

But when Coyote, the Native American trickster himself, claims to have won her own soul in Mayhem’s weekly poker game, Cat wants in on the action. With five sneaky gods upping the ante, Cat needs to find a way to collect the winning chips that could save her soul.

Marius, a handsome yet irritating satyr with his own debt to Eris, might finally come in handy for something. If they play their cards right and work together, Cat and Marius may just get their freedom back. If they don’t kill each other or fall in love first.

A little about Jamie:

After a misspent adulthood pursuing a Music Education degree, JAMIE WYMAN fostered several interests before discovering that being an author means never having to get out of pajamas. (However, she can eat/spin fire, tell you a lot about auditioning to be a Blue Man, and read/write in Circular Gallifreyan.) As an author, Jamie’s favorite playgrounds are urban fantasy, horror and creepy carnival settings. When she’s not traipsing about with her imaginary friends, she lives in Phoenix with two hobbits and two cats. She is proud to say she has a deeply disturbed following at her blog.

Jamie’s debut novel, WILD CARD, will be coming to an e-reader near you November 2013 thanks to Entangled Publishing. You can also find her short story “The Clever One” in the anthology WHEN THE HERO COMES HOME 2 (Dragon Moon Press, August ’13).

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Info: $25 ThinkGeek Gift Card

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Follow the whole tour here

11/25: Guest blog – Literal Hotties Naughty Book Reviews

11/26: Guest blog – Romantic Reads and Such

11/26: Spotlight – Sizzling Hot Book Reviews

11/27: Interview – Lusty Penguin Reviews

11/28: Interview – A Passion for Romance

11/29: Guest Blog – Bea’s Book Nook

12/3: Interview – You Gotta Read Reviews

12/4: Spotlight – In Shadows

12/5: Spotlight – Becky on Books

12/6: Spotlight – Melissa Stevens

12/9: Interview – Books-n-Kisses

12/10: Spotlight – Must Read Faster

12/11: Spotlight – Book Reviews and More by Kathy

12/12: Interview – Diane’s Book Blog

12/12: Spotlight – Snifferwalk Books

12/13: Spotlight – My Erotic Notions

12/13: Spotlight – Books to Get Lost In

December 3, 2013December 2, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Isabel Cooper

Books-n-Kisses is excited to welcome Isabel Cooper to the blog today .

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

Isabel: I grew up as a faculty brat in a variety of boarding schools: first in Pennsylvania, then in southern California, and finally in Maine. Now I live in Boston and take the subway everywhere, which means I get to read a lot. No kids, boyfriends, or pets: I shun responsibility.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Isabel: At least since sixth grade. The teacher read one of my essays aloud in class, everyone seemed entertained, and I thought that was pretty cool. Plus, I heard you could work in your bathrobe. I’m still hoping for that part one day.

Can you share with us your typical writing day. Is there anything you have to have while writing?
Isabel: Other than a computer, not really! I try and do at least a thousand words a day when I’m on deadline, 500 when not. I actually do most of my writing during downtime at work. J Life with roommates has left me able to tune out most distractions.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?
Isabel: The most rewarding moments are those when I’m really in the zone and words come easily—especially when dialogue is working, as that’s my favorite part. The most challenging is anything to do with physical details: sex, fighting, or geography. Lord, do I hate geography.

Can you please tell us about your latest book?
Isabel: She’s a late-Victorian secretary with ambitions beyond her East End roots! He’s a two-hundred-and-some-year-old shapeshifting Scottish dragon with a curse! They…fight crime? Kind of? They definitely fight one really awful guy. And they make out a lot.

How did you come with the idea for this story?
Isabel: My former editor, Leah Hultenschmidt, actually suggested dragons. I was all “Ooh, cool!” and started brainstorming, and settled on trying to do a version of “Beauty and the Beast” that made the Beast less of a jerk. (The instinct to do this is in like eighty percent of romance novelists, as far as I can tell—it’s like getting a tattoo in college. One can only hope to do it well, in both cases.)

Can you share with us your current work in progress?
Isabel: I’m tackling the story of Stephen’s sister Judith, who’s being all kinds of weary-quasi-mortal-veteran out in Scotland, and the spy who loves her. Only he doesn’t love her yet: they’re in the stage where neither trusts the other and each is pretending to be way less badass than he or she is. As one does.

Who are some of your favorite authors?
Isabel: Robin McKinley, Stephen King, Terry Pratchett, Mercedes Lackey, Candace Camp, and Georgette Heyer. This is a very abbreviated list. J

Do you feel that any of your favorite authors have inspired your writing style?
Isabel: I can only hope! I really love how both McKinley and King, each in their own very different ways, mix fantasy or horror and romance, and I expect I’ve tried to imitate that a little in my own way.

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

Isabel: I’m actually at the office as I’m writing this, so it’s more Google Docs Pointer Roulette, but: okay, so Stephen and Mina have just cast this spell to keep Bad Stuff out, only it’s triggered his transformation, and he’s all “RUN NOW” and starts Hulking out. She runs, because she’s a sensible girl. He starts angsting in a paragraph or two.

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

Isabel: I’ve promised myself Doctor Sleep to read when I travel this December. Otherwise, I tend to see what’s at the library when I go.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Isabel: Thank you very much for having me on here! I hope you enjoy the interview and Legend of the Highland Dragon.

LEGEND OF THE HIGHLAND DRAGON

by ISABEL COOPER

IN STORES DECEMBER 2013

He Guards a Ferocious Secret…

In Victorian England, gossip is often as precious as gold. But the Highlanders are a more mysterious bunch. And if anyone found out that Stephen MacAlasdair really was, he’d be hunted down, murdered, his clan wiped out. As he’s called to London on business, he’ll have to be extra vigilant—especially between sunset and the appearance of the first evening star.

Mina just wanted to find out more about the arrogant man who showed up in her employer’s office. Some might say it was part of her job. She never thought the stranger would turn into a dragon right in front of her. Or that he’d then offer her an outrageous sum of money to serve as his personal secretary. Working together night and day to track a dangerous enemy, Mina comes to see a man in love is more powerful and determined than any dragon.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Isabel Cooper is the author paranormal historical romances No Proper Lady, a Publishers Weekly and a Library Journal book of the year in 2011, and Lessons After Dark. Both titles were also nominated in the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice Awards. During the day, Isabel maintains her guise as a mild-mannered project manager working in legal publishing outside of Boston. For more, visit www.isabelcooper.org.

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November 26, 2013November 22, 2013

Interview with Laura Kaye

Happy Release Day to Laura Kaye!!

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

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

Why did you choose to write romance?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What significance does the military play in the book?

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

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

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

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

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

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

~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

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

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

Here’s my advice:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Introducing Nick and Becca from Hard As It Gets

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

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

MEET HERO NICK RIXEY:

Becca’s first impression of Nick:

“I’m Nick Rixey. Who wants to know?”

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

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

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

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

3 Words that Describe Nick: Tortured, Alpha, Heroic

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

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

MEET HEROINE BECCA MERRITT:

Nick’s first impression of Becca:

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

Becca’s Job: ER nurse

3 Words that Describe Becca: Loyal, Compassionate, Strong

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

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

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

Thanks for reading!

Laura

*****

Hard As It Gets

Hard Ink #1

Nov. 26, 2013
Amazon | B&N

Tall, dark, and lethal…

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

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

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

Read Chapter 1 of Hard As It Gets

Check out Kelly’s review HERE

About Laura Kaye:

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

Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Newsletter SignUp

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November 25, 2013November 8, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Anne Elizabeth

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcom Anne Elizabeth to the blog today to chat about her newest release.

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

I’m a Navy wife, a step-mother, a grandmother, a romance writer, a columnist, and a comic creator. I have a BS in Business and A MS in Communications from Boston University. I am a member of the Author’s Guild and RWA as well as a regular presenter at RT Book Lovers Convention. My contemporary romance is for adults and focuses on Spec Ops and Navy SEALS, and my paranormal comics are geared toward teens. I like the outdoors and we have an exuberant yellow Lab. My husband and I volunteer for the California State Parks, and we enjoy the quiet.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes, I’ve always wanted to be a published author. My mother tells this adorable story…when I was three I taught myself to read, because I had stories I wanted to put into books. Unfortunately, it took considerably longer to figure out how to write and get them into actual story form.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I can write anywhere. I’ve huddled over my laptop and worked in airports, comic-cons, restaurants, coffee shops, military air terminals, and all sorts of odd places. When work calls, you have to hunker down and do it with a flare. 🙂

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

Every woman dreams of marrying the perfect man—handsome, thoughtful, strong, and sensitive —and Aria Kavanagh believes she’s found the ultimate hero in Petty Officer Second Class Daniel McCullum. But being a U.S. Navy SEAL wife is a serious challenge, especially when the missions are putting more than their love in the line of fire. Can they jump the hurdles and handle the daily rigors without falling apart? Or will the pressures attached to the handsome uniform have them both questioning if their dedication is worth it? Every moment matters when the only thing that truly lasts is love.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

The first question most fans ask me is…what is it like being married to a Navy SEAL? So, I asked my editor if I could write a story that was out-of-the-box of the normal romance novel. Could I give fans exactly what they requested? My editor at the time was Leah Hultenschmidt, who is a brilliant editor that adored the concept and encouraged me on this unusual path. So, I spoke with many SEAL, Air Force, Army, and Marine wives, and they added to my story. I hope fans enjoy ONCE A SEAL as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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

I am in edits for my third SEAL book called A SEAL FOREVER. Enclosed is a sneak peak of the cover. It’s about a SEAL that loses his leg in combat. This book is very dear to my heart as we see more and more active duty military coming home with injuries. I want the public to know these men for the heroes they are, and to celebrate their sacrifice, their sexiness, and their strength.

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

I’d like to spend time chatting with Nora Roberts. I met her briefly at a RWA Convention, but never had the chance to ask her the multitude of questions that were bubbling in my brain.

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

Set goals for yourself and stick to them. Take yourself seriously and work through an entire manuscript and then seek feedback, whether that is through an editor or contests, a critique group, and/or friends. Then, submit, submit, submit. Also, realize that being able to take criticism and feedback is part of this job. In creative fields, there will always be opinions that differ from your own, and that can be great. It starts a dialog and who knows where that dialog where go.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I’ve actually been working on my bucket list this past year. I’ve already jumped from a plane, flown a Mooney plane, flown a glider, kayaked in the ocean, snorkeled with sharks, and swam with sea turtles. I have a list of hikes and places I’d like to visit such as going back to Scotland.

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

I recently received Anne Rice’s new werewolf novel. It’s on the top of my pile—some books get to jump the line— and it’s my treat for when I finish this next chunk of work. Rice is a brilliant author, and I enjoy her dynamic writing.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

For more info on AE’s fiction and comics, please check out her website at www.AnneElizabeth.net or https://www.facebook.com/aeauthorfanpage. Also, if you’re attending Comic-Con International in 2014, make sure you stop by her booth as they always have special gifts for romance lovers.

Thank you for having me on Books-n-Kisses! Xoxo ~AE

A little more about Anne:

Anne Elizabeth is an award winning romance author, the creator of the teen PULSE OF POWER comic book series, and the Columnist on Comics, Manga, and Graphics Novels for RT BOOK REVIEWS magazine. With a BS in Business and MS in Communications from Boston University, she is a regular presenter at the RT Book Lovers Convention as well as a member of the Authors Guild and Romance Writers of America. Her published credits include stories with Atria/Simon & Schuster, Highland Press, Dynamite Entertainment, Sea Lion Books, Bravo Zulu Studios, LLC, and Sourcebooks, Inc. She grew up in Greenwich, Connecticut, and now lives in the mountains above San Diego with her husband, a retired Navy SEAL. In her free time, she is also a serious Amelia Earhart who is always on the hunt for a new adventure. Catch AE on the Web at AnneElizabeth.net.

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November 22, 2013November 21, 2013

A Late Thaw Blog Tour and Giveaway

I have Ana Blaze here today to talk about her new release, A Late Thaw. This is a hot and steamy novella that I just couldn’t put down and I love the idea of Joe Manganiello as Cole. 🙂

1. Tell me about your new release.

A Late Thaw is a friends-to-lovers story set in a very small town in Vermont.

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

I think I had the setting first. I went to college in a small town in Vermont and it holds a special place in my heart. I’m also particularly fond of stories about friends who finally admit their feelings and get their happy endings, so this little tale is very much a “me” kind of story. I was also thinking a little bit about the tough road some guys have to plow, trying to be chivalrous but still respectful. That’s a bit of a challenge for Cole. He always means well, but he doesn’t always express himself well when it comes to the woman he loves. So he thinks that if he can help her he should, and she thinks he’s a bit over-bearing. I find that to be an interesting dynamic. She’s sort of fiercely independent and he loves that about her but doesn’t know quite where that leaves him.

3. Do you have any actors in mind when you are writing these characters?

I basically pictured a young Joe Manganiello. I think he has an almost universal appeal. He’s handsome, but not too pretty and he looks like he could rescue people from a burning building but that he’d also stop and scoop up kittens on his way out. That’s the ideal man, right? Just me? Oh.

As for an actress, I don’t think I really pictured one whilst writing, but I’d say Sarah Bolger has the right look. Maybe if I give a description, readers can give recommendations in the comments? What do you say? Kiley is thin and about average height, maybe a little taller. She has pale skin, straight brown hair, grey-blue eyes and a modest chest.

4. What are you working on now?

I have two big projects in the works right now. The first is a contemporary NA romance set in a small college in upstate NY (so not so far from the type of school I attended) and the second is a paranormal romance with vampires and a touch of suspense. I love vampires. I’m the reason they keep making more vampire television shows.

5. Do you have any other authors that you feel influence you and your writing?

I read a ton and I’d say that when you’re a writer most everything you read influences you at least a little, so why don’t I just list some of my favorite authors. I love: Anne Rice, Nora Roberts, Kelley Armstrong, Rachel Caine, Patricia Briggs, Charlaine Harris, Jill Shalvis, Sophie Moss, Richelle Mead, Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, D.D. Barant, Mary Janice Davidson and J.K. Rowling.

6. Favorite junk food? Or what food or drink do you absolutely have to have while writing?

Diet Coke. I love Diet Coke. When it’s cold, I like to sip tea (Earl Grey!) in my disappearing Tardis mug.

7. Any advice for aspiring writers?

Finish the story. I think a lot of writers are perfectionists and it’s easy to get all caught up trying to write a perfect first draft and then never finish it. That makes me sad, I think there are some great stories out there that are waiting to be told by writers who are holding themselves back. Just write it. The perfecting (which is never done) happens later. You need a first draft to move forward. So write a first draft and then find a couple of great beta readers.

Thank you so much for answering my questions.

Thank you so much for having me!

About the Author:

Ana lives just outside Washington DC with her very supportive husband and three rather demanding cats. She loves the ocean, Indian food, Ikea and cooking. Ana admits to watching too much television and she swears that someday she’s going to learn how to play the guitar resting on the bookshelf in her office.

Blog/Twitter/Facebook/Pinterest

The town’s too small for Kiley St. Claire’s reappearance to be a surprise, still seeing her hits Cole Thomas like a punch to the gut. She ripped his heart apart when she turned to ice and ran away all those years ago. Now that she’s back, Cole’s going to say his piece and move on.

Even if she does look damn good in that uniform.

Kiley St. Claire is back in the small town of Barrett, Vermont, for one reason and one reason only: to earn some cash so she can survive her final semester of grad school. She’s not there for the sexy Christmas tree farmers.

Even the one who once held her heart.

Amazon/BN/Goodreads

Jennifer’s Review of A Late Thaw

Review (4.5 Stars): I fell in love with Cole right away after starting A Late Thaw. He was sexy, strong and only had eyes for Kiley, when he could have any woman that he wanted. He and Kiley made a great couple, who once started out as childhood friends but grew apart because of a teenage misunderstanding. They had great chemistry together and I loved how they both had feelings for one another but never really acted on them.

Ana Blaze has created a fun light-hearted romance that will immediately captivate you. I love her style of writing and I connected with her characters right away. A Late Thaw is a perfect little romance and I absolutely can’t wait to read more great stories from Ms. Blaze.

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November 22, 2013November 11, 2013

Carrie Ann Ryan is interviewing Leslie from her new novella His Choice

Hi! Thank you all for coming to hear a little bit about my novella HIS CHOICE. I’m sitting down with Leslie, my heroine who not only is in this novella, but is also in AN UNLUCKY MOON.

Carrie Ann: Hi Leslie! Thank you for sitting with me.

Leslie: Thank you for having me.

Carrie Ann: So tell me about Fawkes. He’s a cutie, isn’t he?

Leslie: *blushes* Oh totally. He might be younger than me, but since we live for hundreds of years, it really doesn’t matter. We’ve been through so much on our own that it only makes sense that when we came together we found our way.

Carrie Ann: What was your first impression of him?

Leslie: That he looked lost.

Carrie Ann: Knowing what we know now, that totally makes sense. I’m glad you found him.

Leslie: I’m glad he found me.

Carrie Ann: What’s your favorite part about him?

Leslie: His laugh. He’s sense of humor rocks.

Carrie Ann: What’s your favorite flavor of ice cream?

Leslie: Rocky Road. It fits. You know? Plus I dig the marshmallows.

From five bestselling authors comes five brand new novellas sure to heat up the night.

From Carrie Ann Ryan‘s Dante’s Circle series, a demon from the fiery depths of hell must make his choice to follow in the footsteps of his father or love the submissive wolf who lays claim to his heart in His Choice.

From Marie Harte‘s Beasts of Burden, Eira, a fierce valkyrie, has spent fifty years trying to get a rise out of her goddess’s guardians. But when the battle-cat shifters give her what she wants, can she handle the heat—and the danger—that comes from loving them?

From Rebecca Royce‘s brand new series, the Alphas of each werewolf Pack are on the brink of war. Travis Michaels will use all in his power to keep innocent Lilliana out of danger and into his arms…away from rival Alpha Cyrus Fennell.

From Lia Davis’s Ashwood Falls series, buried pain, old lies, and dangerous secrets aren’t enough to keep the sparks from flying as Sarah Mathews and rebel leader, Damian Palmer, try to survive a new threat against their race.

From Leia Shaw’s Shadows of Destiny series, a war is brewing in the supernatural world. Rebel shifter Dalton’s only passion is protecting the colony, and flirtatious misfit, Eden, is a distraction he can’t afford. But as danger approaches, he learns that underestimating the sexy little wolf is a big mistake.

A little about Carrie Ann Ryan:

USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan never thought she’d be a writer. Not really. No, she loved math and science and even went on to graduate school in chemistry. Yes, she read as a kid and devoured teen fiction and Harry Potter, but it wasn’t until someone handed her a romance book in her late teens that she realized that there was something out there just for her. When another author suggested she use the voices in her head for good and not evil, The Redwood Pack and all her other stories were born.

Carrie Ann is a bestselling author of over twenty novels and novellas and has so much more on her mind (and on her spreadsheets *grins*) that she isn’t planning on giving up her dream anytime soon.

Carrie Ann loves hearing from readers. You can find her at: Website | Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter: @CarrieAnnRyan

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November 19, 2013November 11, 2013

Interview & Giveaway with Mary Wine

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Mary Wine to the blog for the first time.

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

Hello. I spend the better part of my day listening to the voices in my head and taking orders from a parrot. Ummm…I meant to say. I’m a writer and work very hard to transform my imagination world into novels while my parrot keeps me company.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

I think I have. Of course I wanted to be a ballerina but I did make up stories to tell to my younger brother as we traveled in my father motorhome. I recall deciding to write a romance novel when I was about 14. Got out the type writer, lord, remember those things? And worked on it in spite of my brothers teasing. No, I never finished that one and it wasn’t until about ten years ago that I sat back down to write again. Thank Goodness computers had come along. Spell check is my BBF!

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

I think I’m a hybrid. A plotter is someone who outlines the novel. A punster is someone who gets an idea and then sees where the charters take them. I tend to write an outline and sit down to write the book. However, often, I need a new outline by the time I finish the book because the story went a different direction.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

My parrot is my office manager? Really. She’s an umbrella cockatoo and watches me.

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

How to Handle a Highlander is book three in the Sutherlands. Gahan is the bastard son of the earl, the child of the woman he loved. Moira is the half-sister of the Frazer laird and only has one purpose…to wed and form an alliance. Her brother wants to feud with the Sutherland, so Moira is set to wed a man old enough to be her grandfather to unite the clans against the earl. Gahan knows this and will do anything to prevent the wedding. Only he didn’t expect to be drawn to Moria.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I think I began to get a feel for this one while I was writing the book before it, How to Handle a Highlander. I also love to look at history and weave in some of the harsher edges of reality that these people had to endure. The fact is that marriage was considered a business. Old men often wed young women because they wanted more children and needed young brides. Being the daughter of the laird might sound great, until you realize that you were expected to do your duty. It might sound easy for us to say…not on your life! But the people born in these eras had to face the very real fact that their action could and often did have deadly results when the groom you turned down went after yer clansmen in retribution.

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

I’m working on book four in the Sutherlands. It will be the story of Saer MacLeod….and it’s almost done.

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

Beatrice Small.

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

Turn off the tv, Facebook and video games and write. You can’t sell what you haven’t written.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

I would love to go to Egypt.

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

The Hunger Games.

What is one book everyone should read before they die?

I think everyone should read the major books of the major religions because maybe we all might find things in common to talk about instead of picking at one another.

What is your favorite time of year & why?

I actually love all seasons but I do live in Southern California, so there are those who say we don’t really have a winter. We do, we do. I have to socks on and get out the space heater when it get’s below 60. My poor little parrot can’t take that sort of a cold spell.Who is your Celebrity crush? And what would you do if you ever meet them?

Dame Judy Dench or George Takei. I would do a lot of listening if I met them. I think they both have a lot of life experience to share.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks so much to every reader who picks up one of my books. I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to me to have anyone reading my work.

Cheers!

You can find me on Facebook and my website.

MaryWine.com

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Moira Frazer is betrothed to a man who is old enough to be her father, but it’s her duty to her clan to marry him, and she’s determined to see this through…until she meets Gahan Sutherland.

Gahan knows this match is designed to start a feud between the clans, which is why he decides to stop the wedding. But when Moira awakens a passion within him that he never knew existed, he realizes that the outcome of this perilous situation will determine the future of his own happiness.

As trust and honor clash with forbidden attraction, manipulations, rivalries, and schemes will threaten to blow the Highlands sky high

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November 15, 2013November 11, 2013

Interview with JN Johnson

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

There isn’t really that much to tell. I am a mother of two beautiful daughters who keep me busy with school homework and volunteering. I have been married to my high school sweetheart going on fourteen years. When I am not with them hiking, fishing or watching cartoons I am a hermit.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
No actually I haven’t always wanted to be an author. My goal as a child was to be a dentist. I wanted to be the one thing I feared the most so that other kids wouldn’t be scared. Writing was always there in the back of my mind. I had a friend that I used to write short stories with when I was 13 or 14 years old. We kept these old spiral notebooks full of adventures that we only wished we could have. I always thought she would be the one with her name on a book one day.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

Interesting? I am a pretty boring writer. I tend to sit down when the house is empty to write. I have the normal desk beside a window and I totally pants each and every story. But for a quirk I would say I like to have the tv on for background noise, Dean and Sam are my writing partners. Oh and lemonheads are a must while writing.

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

Ravens Legacy is my twist on the Ugly Duckling. Raven was adopted into a shifter community as an infant and longs for the one things she doesn’t have, an inner beast. She feels pressure from her father to find her mate and to try and fit in. One tiny accident that would be nothing but a splinter to anyone else causes her world to flip flop upside down. When the power of the Goddess unlocks her hidden inner self she is thrown into a whirlwind of drama. Not only is there a hot steamy man who drives her crazy but there is a villain who wants to chop her head off and use her blood to bring forth more evil. I hope that makes sense J

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I think I started Raven as a sort of therapy for me. After my daughter and I were in a house fire I have had issues with dealing with the smell of smoke and the heat of fires even if they are contained. I think this was my way of having power of that element. Now Raven was a total surprise. One day I sat down at my computer and started typing, a few hours later the story was born. I sat back wowed at what I had done and it just kept getting better from there.

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

Currently I am working to see where this crazy journey is taking my dear Raven in the second Between Fire and Ice Novella. She keeps telling me that she needs to do this and I keep saying no do this but she is winning. I am also working on another shifter book that I have been throwing around for awhile. But that is still too new to share.

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

Jane Austen, I want the answer to the age old question. Did she have a lover and if not how the hell did she write men like that without a muse?
What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?
Don’t stop. Take lots of advice and do your homework. It is a tough industry and you need thick skin to make it but the end result is so worth it.Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

My husband and I wrote our bucket lists when we were married, we have marked a few things off but going to Ireland is on there for us both. Someday…

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I am waiting for the next Chicagoland Vampire by Chloe Neill and the next Hollows book by Kim Harrison, it seems to be taking forever for them to be released!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you so much for having me on here today. I hope that you and your readers enjoy Ravens Legacy, she was fun to write and I hope that you come back to see where this crazy roller coaster takes me!

*****

Raven’s Legacy

J.N. Johnson

Raven Corvus has always felt like she was on the outside looking in. Being adopted into a family of shifters without the ability to shift has put her life on hold. Never wanting to take part in the Moon Ceremony or choosing a mate, she tends to distance herself from her people. When an accident lets loose a side of her that had been hidden for her protection she is forced to come to terms with whom and what she really is.

Griffin Snow serves as a protector for the Goddess in the fight against Dexius, the Dark God. When an old enemy returns to threaten one of his charges, he jumps into action to protect Raven—only to discover that she is not just his charge, but his fated mate. Hiding out in the safety of Griffin’s cabin only adds to the need growing inside of them.

Can Raven and Griffin save their people from the big, bad ugly or will they lose their chance at happiness?

Excerpt:

Raven watched as the sun set over the valley. The view from her front porch was utterly breathtaking in the spring. The stars lit up the sky like a blanket of glittering diamonds, the absence of the moon leaving them the only guides in the sky. It wouldn’t be long until she made her appearance known to Raven’s kind. The drawl of her moon song would be too strong to ignore. But no matter how loud the beat played in Raven’s head she wouldn’t be able to answer the call. Fate had given her a bum ride; she could hear and feel the drawl of the moon but her body wouldn’t respond. It was a cruel reality that she dealt with every month.

“Raven, get in here now! Your father needs your help getting ready for the ceremony.”

Her mother had a temper shorter than a dynamite fuse and it was burning fast from the stress of the Moon Ceremony. Once the moon showed herself in the eastern sky, in less than a week, their home would be flooded with other shifters preparing for the spring mating ritual.

“I’m coming, Mom.” She whispered a few choice expletives, but with a shifter’s hearing her mother had no trouble understanding her ramblings.

“Young lady, I know you are twenty-five, but you’re still my daughter and I will pull you over my knee.” Her mother’s goodhearted laugh let her know it wasn’t urgent. Nevertheless, the stress level was getting pretty damn high. “Now get out in the yard and help your father.”

Her father, TalfrynCorvus, had been planning the Moon Ceremony since he was chosen by the council last spring. He was to host the opening ceremonies of the mating ritual on their family lands. Ever since he had been chosen, he had become obsessed with every small detail, and had driven Raven to the brink of insanity.

She walked through the front doors and back into the chill night air. Her father was bent over placing stones around the center alter, preparing a small pit to contain the fire.

“Hey Dad, did you need me?”

“Yes, please take a seat.” He indicated one of the makeshift benches made from cut logs that now lined the yard. The smell of sawdust mixed with the sweet smell of spring. “Daughter, I think you understand how important this ceremony is to your mother and me. I need to know for sure that you understand your part. You don’t have to shift to be included in the ritual but you should try to commune with the Goddess. She will choose your mate.”

Upon their eighteenth birthday, shifters gathered at the change of each season under the first full moon to not only celebrate and dance but to find and seal the mating bond. Most shifters went into the ceremony with their intended mate, ready to make the commitment and start families. Others went with the intent of finding their mate among the flock. But not Raven.

“Dad, I understand. I’m just not ready.”

“You are twenty-five and have refused each chance at a mate. Why do you buck tradition? You could have any man in the flock you desire and yet you still choose none.”

Her father was right on one count. She did turn her nose up at the traditions of her people, and she couldn’t imagine tying herself to one person for the rest of her life. She wanted to be free, to be among the rest of humanity, and off of this damn mountain.

He was wrong to assume she had her choice of mates. Most of the men she knew were family, and the ones who could be potential mates kept a wide berth when she was around. She was born different from most shifters, with the moon closer to her heart than her non-existent beast, and it kept her from the one thing she really wanted.

“Daddy, you know how I feel about finding a mate. When the Goddess thinks I’m ready, she will bring him to me. Not a moment before.”

Author Bio:

Growing up in her hometown of Charleston WV, J.N spends her days wrangling her two beautiful daughters and super dog Bo and is married to her high school sweetheart, who she considers the rock that keeps her grounded to reality when she would rather be lost in the paranormal. If a book contained something supernatural there is a good chance that she has read it. Whether its vamps, shifters, elves or fairies it is most likely setting on her shelf waiting to be re-read.

Looking for a new genre she found the world of romance and fell in love. The drama and conflict are different but still enough to get the adrenaline pumping and the heart thumping to keep her coming back for more. It wasn’t long until the need to write came knocking at the door and by the grace of her husband’s patience and her children’s bed times she got that chance. Her twisted mind found a new outlet on paper and now her story has found a way onto your shelf or reader and she hopes that you enjoy reading it as much as she enjoyed writing.

www.jnjohnsonauthor.com Facebook

10/28: Spotlight – Lunar Haven

11/1: Tens list or Interview – Laurie’s Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews

11/6: Spotlight – Indie Authors Books and More

11/7: Guest blog – Books to Get Lost In

11/8: Interview – You Gotta Read

11/11: Guest Blog – Romantic Reads and Such

11/12: Interview – Romance with Flavor

11/12: 2nd stop – Spotlight – My Erotic Notions

11/14: Interview – Lusty Penguin Reviews

11/15: Interview – Books-n-Kisses

11/15: 2nd stop – Review – Trips Down Imagination Road

November 14, 2013October 28, 2013

Interview with Mary Ann Kempher

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Mary Ann Kempher to the blog today.

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

I’m married with two children; a boy who is 15 and a girl who just turned 13; she’s the handful. I lived many years in Reno NV, where my first book; Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is set. I spent 20 years in the Air Force

Have you always wanted to be an author?

No. I’ve always liked to write, but didn’t decide to write a book until about 5 years ago.

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

Instead of feeding her late-night appetite, a midnight food run nearly gets 28-year-old Katherine O’Brian killed. She’s the only person to see the man who brutally murdered a local woman, and the killer is hell-bent on making sure she doesn’t talk.

Scott Mitchell left a broken engagement behind when he moved to Reno, and the last thing he needs is more melodrama. But when he and Katherine are paired for a college project, that’s what he gets. It can be very distracting when someone is out to kill your lab partner. Together, they try to figure out what the police haven’t been able to—the identity of the murderer.

Passion flares, but with Katherine’s life in danger, romance seems like more than a bad idea.

Scott and Katherine will face jealousy, misunderstandings, lust, and rivals, not to mention attempted murder—and all before their first real date.

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

The story evolved, I’m what people call a “pantser”, so my story started out one way and ended up being totally different from the original concept

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’ve just finished my second book, it’s a mystery set on a cruise ship where two people (so far) have been murdered. The head of security must find the killer before the ship returns to port. Still working on the title.Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

Both my favorite authors are dead, Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. At the moment, I’m reading a lot of Janet Evanovich. I wouldn’t mind meeting her.

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

Research the genre you want to write in. Research how to write a book, don’t just assume you can sit down and start writing. You can, but you’ll have less revisions if you do research first.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.
I want to visit London some day.What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

Anything and everything written by the fantastic author, Marni Mann.

*****

Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder

MaryAnn Kempher

Amazon Barnes and Noble

Scott Mitchell left a broken engagement behind when he moved to Reno, and the

last thing he needs is more melodrama. But when he and Katherine are paired for a college project, that’s what he gets. It can be very distracting when someone is out to kill your lab partner. Together, they try to figure out what the police haven’t been able to—the identity of the murderer. Passion flares, but with Katherine’s life in danger, romance seems like more than a bad idea.

Scott and Katherine will face jealousy, misunderstandings, lust, and rivals, not to mention attempted murder—and all before their first real date.

Author Bio:

MaryAnn Kempher’s writing is infused with romance and mystery. Her love of romance stories goes back to her teen years spent living in Reno NV where Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is set. MaryAnn’s travels have taken her to beautiful cities in Italy, Southeast Asia and the sultry desert country of Qatar. She met her husband on one of her romantic misadventures. She has two children andcurrently lives in Florida where she and her family share their home with two dogs and a cat. Her writing influences include favorite authors Jane Austen and Agatha Christie. She’s also a huge fan of the Hercule Poirot mysteries. Her guilty pleasures include any and all sweets, including a good cup of Mocha.

For more about MaryAnn Kempher, visit http://mkempher.com

Easily connect w/MaryAnn Kempher thru her author FB page: Facebook