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Interview & Giveaway with Tamara Hogan

Books-n-Kisses is excited to have Tamara Hogan for the first time on the blog today.  We are getting to know Tamara a little better and learning about her newest book Chase Me.  Please make Tamara feel welcome. 

Can you please share with us a little about yourself:

TH: my partner Mark and I live on a small hobby farm in southern Minnesota with two cats. I have a day job, telecommuting as a technology process analyst for a Silicon Valley-based company that makes network gear. Though I studied creative writing through high school and college, I didn’t write my first book until five years ago. Taste Me, Underbelly Chronicles Book One, is that book!

Have you always wanted to be an author?

TH: I knew I wanted to try to write a book someday, but let’s just say that ‘someday’ took many more years than I thought it would when I was younger. When I got an idea for a series – this one – I decided it was time to put up or shut up. Since that book was ultimately acquired by Sourcebooks’ Deb Werksman in a three-book deal, I guess I put up.  😉

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

TH: Nalini Singh. Old-skool Anne Rice. Frank Herbert, Anne Stuart, Stephen King, and of course, Nora Roberts. Maybe it’s an English major thing, but I can read for pleasure and analyze craft simultaneously; it’s not unusual for a paragraph to literally bring me to tears, and through the tears, for me to identify the exact turn of phrase—the exact WORD—that set off the waterworks, and why. I think I’ve learned something from nearly every book I’ve ever read, for better or worse, but in terms of specific influence, Nalini’s level of craft with emotional description and saturation continues to astound me—and pushes me to improve. Nora Roberts taught me everything I know about dialogue tags and beats. (Thanks, Nora!)

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

TH: I’ve always been a feral cross-genre reader, and started reading romance novels when I was ten. People who read my books will likely find elements of science fiction, psychological thriller, and mystery in my work. In terms of writing in another genre…CHASE ME is my second book —heck, my second manuscript —so right now I love where I’m at. My voice is still developing, still emerging. I want to feel confident before even considering branching out into a different direction.

What are some of your writing rituals?

TH: I telecommute for my day job, so an important aspect of my writing routine is simply getting up with the alarm and getting out of the house. I write at my local coffee shop, drinking three cups of black coffee with cream. I slap on my headset, dial in my music for the day, pull out either notebook or net book, and get cracking. This is a job, and I have to make the most of my limited daily writing time if I want to make my deadlines.

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

TH:  One of the continuing strands in this series is the paranormal creatures’ origin story: how did these paranormal creatures come to share the planet with us? In Chase Me, Valkyrie archaeologist Lorin Schlessinger has finally found evidence that the remote dig she and her mother have been working for years is the crash site of their ancestors’ ship. Due to a rather serious screw-up, her professional nemesis, werewolf geologist Gabe Lupinsky, is assigned as her dig manager.

How did you come with the idea for this story? TH: Lorin and Gabe shared a short scene together in TASTE ME, establishing their professional conflict and some massive sexual sparks. What could I do but throw them together? From a storytelling perspective, I was also interested in flipping some common paranormal tropes upside down. She’s the rough and tumble, sexually aggressive alpha badass, and he’s more cautious and deliberate, the one with a health issue/disability, who’s in touch with his feelings and looking for love. I wanted to explore the concept of masculinity through this lens. 

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

TH: I’m just about to turn in the manuscript for Underbelly Chronicles Book 3, TEMPT ME, featuring reformed human hacker Bailey Brown and hedonistic incubus sculptor Rafe Sebastiani—Lukas’s brother.

What would you be if you were not an author?

TH: or a technologist? 😉  My friends tell me that I suspend judgment so completely sometimes that I should train as forensic psychologist and profile serial killers for the FBI. I find many shades of gray in my villains, who, after all, are the heroes of their own stories—in their own minds, anyway. It’s all in the motivation.

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

 TH: My TBR pile is completely out of hand. One thing no one tells you when you sign a book contract is how much writing cuts into your reading time. That said, I’m excited about Kresley Cole’s “Lothaire” and Nalini Singh’s “Tangle of Need.” I’m still inching up the library wait list for J.R. Ward’s “Lover Reborn.” Yeah, I’m a complete hoor for the brothers.

Is there anything else you would like to add? 

TH: if you happen to read either TASTE ME or CHASE ME, please contact me and let me know what you think! If you HAVE read the books, which couple would you like to see get their own HEA in an upcoming book?

Want to learn more about Tamara or her books?   You can find her here:

Website |    Facebook  |   Twitter |  Goodreads      

CHASE ME BY TAMARA HOGAN – IN STORES JUNE 2012

THE SECRETS SHE’S UNCOVERING WILL BE HIS TO KEEP…

Centuries ago, when their ship crashed to Earth, paranormals of all types settled secretly into our world, quietly going about their business with humans none the wiser. Self–ruling and careful to stay below the radar, all is threatened when Valkyrie archaeologist Lorin Schlessinger and her werewolf geologist partner Gabe Lupinsky inadvertently draw evil attention to Earth and its treasured natural resources.

As the threat intensifies, Lorin and Gabe struggle to contain the chaos they’ve unleashed, and to resist their explosive mutual attraction…

“Hogan’s sharp, funny dialogue and strong but subtle character development elevate both the story and the fierce chemistry between insecure, bespectacled Gabe and lusty, aggressive Lorin. Paranormal fans will enjoy this fresh take on the genre.” — Publishers Weekly

CHASE ME Buy Links: (Amz | BN | Sourcebooks | Powell’s | BAM | Sony | Kobo)

Read an excerpt here.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tamara Hogan loathes cold and snow, but nonetheless lives near Minneapolis with her partner Mark and two naughty cats. When she’s not telecommuting as a quality and process engineer for a global networking company, she enjoys writing edgy urban fantasy romance with a sci-fi twist. A feral reader with an unapologetic television addiction, Tammy is forever on the lookout for the perfect black boots. Her debut, Taste Me, was a 2009 Daphne Paranormal Winner and 2009 Golden Heart Finalist.  For more information, please visit  www.TamaraHogan.com or follow her on Twitter, @TamaraHogan1.

GIVEAWAY TIME

Sourcebooks has given me one copy of Chase Me to giveaway. 

To enter for a chance to win please fill out the Rafflecopter form below (US/Canada Only)

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Spotlight Feature &Giveaway of Debra Cooke’s Dragon Diaries Series

DRAGON DIARIES Series

By Deborah Cooke

 
“Flying Blind” – Book 1

Zoë Sorensson is perfectly normal – well, as normal as a girl with an obsession with drawing dragons can be. The thing is that she’s always been told she’s special and destined for great things. It’s not just because of her good grades, either. Zoë’s the Wyvern, the one female dragon shapeshifter with special powers. But Zoë is at the bottom of the class when it comes to being Pyr and her powers are AWOL. Worse, there’s no reference book to consult and the last Wyvern is dead…

Everything changes when Zoë’s best friend is bullied and Zoë reacts. Before she can blink twice, her inner dragon is loose, she’s suspended from school and headed to a boot camp for thePyr guys she’s known all her life. But soon she’s doubting her powers—and even some of her friendships.

Zoë quickly realizes that she has to master her powers yesterday – the Pyr are in danger and boot camp is a trap. The Mages want to eliminate all shifters and the Pyr are next in line—unless Zoë and her friends can solve the riddle, work together and save their own kind…

Buy Links:  Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound

“Winging It” – Book 2

Zoë Sorensson yearns to come into her powers as the only female dragon shifter. But being part of two worlds is more complicated than she expected. It’s bad enough that she’s the target of the Mages’ plan to eliminate all shifters—she also has to hide her true nature from her best friend Megan, a human. For her sixteenth birthday, all Zoë wants is one normal day, including a tattoo and a chance to see hot rocker Jared.

Instead, the Pyr throw her a birthday party but ban Megan from attendance, putting Zoë in a tight spot. Things get even worse when Zoe is invited to the popular kids’ Halloween party and Megan’s left out. Zoë knows the party is a trap laid by the host, an apprentice Mage. When Megan gets a last-minute invite, Zoë must save the day—and her best friend—without revealing her fire-breathing secrets…

Buy Links:  Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound

“Blazing The Trail” – Book 3

It’s almost Valentine’s Day, and Zoë Sorensson’s love life is heating up. Cute, loyal, and understanding, wolf shifter Derek is pretty much the perfect guy. He likes Zoë, and he knows what it’s like to have to keep a secret. Yet, Zoë can’t help but wish it was rebel rocker Jared asking her to the Valentine’s dance instead. But Jared’s too busy playing hot and cold with her heart, calling Zoë his dragon girl one minute and then taking special interest in her best friend the next.

Zoë is just about ready to breathe fire, especially once she uncovers a new threat that targets her friends. Although Zoë thought the Mages were defeated, they’re back and have invoked an old spell to give them new power – they plan to eliminate all shape shifters on the night of the big dance. Now, Zoë must lead an alliance of young shifters to battle the Mages and figure out exactly what – and who – she wants, before it all goes up in smoke…

Buy Links:  Amazon /  Barnes & Noble / IndieBound

Deborah Cooke’s Bio

Deborah Cooke has always been fascinated with dragons, although she has never understood why they have to be the bad guys. She has an honours degree in history, with a focus on medieval studies. She is an avid reader of medieval vernacular literature, fairy tales and fantasy novels, and has written over forty romance novels and novellas. She has also been published under the names Claire Cross andClaire Delacroix.

Deborah makes her home in Canada with her husband. When she isn’t writing, she can be found knitting, sewing or hunting for vintage patterns.

Connect with Deborah:

Website | Facebook 

 

Deborah Cooke’s

BLAZING THE TRAIL Blog Tour

May 28 – June 15

May 28 – Lori’s Book Blog  (Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

May 30 – United By Books (Guest Post & Giveaway)

June 1 – Pimpin’ Reads YA (Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

June 2 – Book Monster Reviews (Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

June 3 – Delicate Simplicity (Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

June 5 – Paranormal Haven (Q&A Interview & Giveaway)

June 6 – I Smell Sheep (Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

June 7 – All Things Books (Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

June 8 – Page Flipperz (Interview & Giveaway)

June 9 – Writerspace (Guest Post & Giveaway)

June 11 – Paranormal Cravings (Guest Post & Giveaway)

June 14 – Books N Kisses – (Series Spotlight & Giveaway)

June 15 – One A Day YA – (Interview & Giveaway)

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Interview with Lisa Sanchez

Book-n-Kisses is happy to welcome Lisa Sanchez to the blog today to talk about her new release Faythe Reclaimed.

Can you please share with us a little about yourself:
 You bet! I’m a stay-at-home-mom to three beautiful girls. I love chocolate, purses, reality television and books.

Have you always wanted to be an author?
Yes. I’ve always loved to write, and even as a little girl, I had dreams of making people laugh with my words.

Who are some of your favorite writers? Who do you feel has influenced your writing?
J.R. Ward is my favorite author. Love, love, love her! I’ve also got mad love for Karen Marie Moning, and Diana Gabaldon.

How did you get into writing in this specific genre?
Have you ever thought about writing in a different genre? I’m a huge fan of paranormal romance, always have been. So, it came as big shock to me, that I write in the same genre that I read. I’ve actually also written an erotic suspense, and a contemporary YA. I’m pretty comfortable switching genres. I think, for me, it’s not so much about the genre, but the story.

What are some of your writing rituals?
I do most of my writing in the morning while my girls are in school. My Chihuahua usually snuggles up next to me in my big chair while I pound away at the keys on my laptop.

Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?
Faythe Reclaimed is the third (and for now) final installment in the Hanaford Park series, and features Taylor and Gabriel’s love story. Unlike the first two books, which were set in present day, Faythe Reclaimed takes place in Salem Village Massachusetts in the year 1692. Taylor has gone back in time, and the story follows her on her journey to return to her own time

How did you come with the idea for this story?
I’m a panster, so I never know what’s going to happen with a story until I sit down and start typing. I realized at the end of Pleasures Untold, that Taylor had gone back in time to the Salem Witch Trials, but as for what happened after that, I was just as surprised as I hope the readers will be.

Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?
I’ve just finished up a contemporary YA involving cheerleaders and the very prevalent problem of teenage drinking and driving. It’s very different from what I normally write, and I’m super excited about it.

What would you be if you were not an author?
I’m a mom first, before anything else. If I didn’t write, I’d still be doing what I do on a daily basis: care for my children.

What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?
I’m anxiously awaiting the next installment in the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. Love, love, love Daemon

Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’m just so thankful to be here today. Thanks for having me on your blog!

Fathye Reclaimed
Available at:
Amazon Barnes & Noble Tulipe Noire Press

Running through a strange forest with a bloodthirsty demon hot on her heels wasn’t Taylor’s idea of a rockin’ evening. Then again, neither was soaring backward through time and space. Time travel chafed and left a rank, nasty aftertaste. So, when she finds herself floundering amidst a sea of Commandment-loving holy rollers who fling accusations of witchcraft and bedevilment like hotcakes in a diner, finding her way home jumps to the top of her to do list. Too bad she can’t remember who she is or where she came from. And if that wasn’t bad enough, Taylor has to fall for the mysterious Latin warlock living on the edge of Salem Village and who comes to her rescue, Gabriel Castillo.
Battling an identity crisis and lost in a time that’s not her own, Taylor is determined to find her way back to twenty-first century Hanaford Park. But first, she and Gabriel must work together to uncover the dark scourge lurking in Salem’s shadows, and in doing so, save their own lives, and the lives of countless innocents from a lethal date with the hangman’s noose.

 

About the author:

Lisa Sanchez is a California cheer mom taxiing her way through life, one car ride at a time. Along with chauffer, she sports several job titles, including, but not limited to: author, chef, seamstress, videographer, nurse, enforcer, and general slave to her three daughters. The first two books in her Hanaford Park series (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold) are published with Omnific Publishing. The third book, Faythe Reclaimed, releases with Tulipe Noire Press on May 17th 2012. Her erotic suspense, Obsessed was published March 29th 2011 with Loose Id. Lisa also took the plunge into self-publishing this year and released the first novella, Cursing Athena, in her new Order Of Seven erotic paranormal romance series.

Blog:www.lisasanchezromanceauthor.com

Twitter: @LisaSanchez3

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaSanchezRomanceAuthor

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Interview with Ella Jade

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Ella Jade to the blog today.  This is Ella’s first visit to Books-n-Kisses so please make her feel welcomed.

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. As a child, I often had a notebook and pen with me and now as an adult, my laptop is never far. The plots and dialog have always played out in my head, but I never knew what to do with them. That all changed when I discovered the eBooks industry. I started penning novels at a rapid pace and now I can’t be stopped. I’m obsessed!

I live in New Jersey with my husband and two boys. When I’m not writing, I can be found attending PTO meetings, kickboxing and hanging out with my kids.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes! I don’t know that I always believed I could be one, but I’ve always been a writer.

What is your most interesting writing quirk?

I envision a scene in my head or come up with a line or two of dialog and I can build the whole story around it. I can come up with an idea on a Tuesday night and by Friday afternoon the story is plotted. It often starts with no more than two or three sentences.

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

Sure! Three’s A Crowd is a short, highly-erotic tale of a sexy, contemporary couple.

Here’s the blurb…

Connor Hughes is a lucky man. Janine and Sierra, the two sexy women who live downstairs from him have invited him to watch their intimate time in the bedroom. Connor is a willing spectator, but can’t believe it when Janine asks him to join in on the fun.

Connor is drawn to Sierra in ways he’d never imagined. There is something very familiar about the dark-haired beauty that has him wondering why she calls to him. When fantasy mixes with reality, Connor gives into temptation in more ways than one. Will he figure out who Sierra is to him? Can the feeling last all night?

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I do this writing exercise where I search for images (usually of the erotic kind) and write scenes for them. Sometimes the drabbles are no more than 1,000 words. I do this when I need to work out a sexy scene or get in the right frame of mind to write in the male POV. I saw this particular image and Three’s A Crowd was born. I thought the tale made for a perfect little steamy read.

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

This July, my BDSM romance Make Me Stay releases. There was a secondary character named Martin in that story who begged me to tell his story. Lol So, I’m working on his book now. It’s called Surrender to Me.

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

There are so many! If I had to choose, I’d go with Stephen King. I think the man is brilliant and his journey is inspiring. I’ve been reading him since I was a teenager. The stories he spins are amazing.

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

Don’t give up. It’s not an easy road. It takes hard work and dedication, but if you’re the type of person who has to tell the story, then be persistent.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list.

Hmm… I don’t have a bucket list. Two years ago, it would have been to become a published author;)

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

Too many to name. I have several 1NS (1 Night Stand from Decadent Publishing) books waiting for me on my Kindle. That’s a great series. I look forward to reading as many of them as I can this summer.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks so much for having me. If I’m a “new to you author”, Three’s A Crowd is a great way to get to know me. The book is an Amazon exclusive published through Ruby Lioness Press. It’s a quick, steamy read priced at $0.99 and free to Prime Members. It is a fun pool or beach read.

http://ellajadeauthor.blogspot.com

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Ella-Jade-Author/186959391390708

@ellajade1 Twitter

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Interview & Giveaway with Alice Gaines

Books-n-Kisses is super excited to have for the first time on the blog Alice Gaines!!!!  Oh and a very happy release day to Alice.

Heat Rises

release is today.

Amazon | B&N

Snowbound in a cabin . . . able to live out all her fantasies . . . Laura Barber has dreamt of doing unspeakably delicious things with Ethan Gould for years. Now, stuck in a mountain cabin, she just might get her shot. Ethan offers her the chance to live out each and every one of those desires. They may be rivals in the business world, but in the bedroom they’re a perfect match. Knowing they have only a few days, Laura shakes off all her inhibitions. Every secret need, every lust-filled thought . . . it’s all fair game.

 

Can you share with us a little about yourself?

I didn’t discover romance until I was an adult, and I didn’t think I was allowed to read erotica.  I was never lucky enough to have an older sister or a friend who shared “those” books with me, and so I had no idea where to look for them.  I did know I shouldn’t admit to reading them, because as everyone knew, they were trash.  When I finally did get my hands on some romance novels (after I’d started writing one, I’m ashamed to say), I discovered they were what I’d loved all along.  It’s no mistake that two of my favorite classics are Jane Eyre and The Taming of the Shrew.  That William Shakespeare could sure write romance!

Have you always wanted to be an author?

My heaven’s no.  That was way too much work.  I’m a lazy bum by nature, although my friends would laugh in my face if I were to tell them that.  I’m the one who’s always pounding on the keys and turning out manuscripts.  The secret is, there’s nothing I’d rather be doing than writing.  Someone else’s perfect weekend might involve watching all of the Star Wars movies in chronological order.  Mine would be spent sitting in my back yard from morning until evening writing and doing writing related tasks, like taking this interview.

I will say, though, that I always had an active imagination, and my stories always entertained me more than anything I saw in movies or read in books.  I just had no idea until I started writing that I could enjoy the “work” aspects.  I’m glad I finally figured that out because writing has very literally changed my life by filling it with joy.  I should emphasize that it’s the type of joy I don’t have to rely on any other human being to create.  I make it myself

What’s your most interesting writing quirk?

I was going to mention the grungy grubbies I wear when I write, but I’d guess most writers do the same.  You need to be comfortable to do this.

Instead, I’ll tell you about my aversion to silence.  Total silence depresses me.  I have to have quiet noise when I write.  However, it can’t be anything that interests me enough to distract me.  I’ve tried all kinds of music, and all of it either gets me listening or annoys me.

When I can sit outside during warm weather, the ambient sounds of the city where I live, punctuated by birdcalls, makes the perfect backdrop for writing.  When I’m stuck indoors, I have less wonderful options.  I’ve found that NFL football is great noise, as long as I don’t care about who’s winning the game.  I also discovered by complete serendipity that NASCAR makes great background noise.  I’ve tried basketball, but the squeaking of the sneakers annoys me, and the buzzer makes me jump out of my skin.  I wonder if I should buy a white noise machine and see if that works

Can you please tell us about your latest books?

Can I ever?  <g>  I’ve written a series of novellas and a free short story for Avon Impulse.  They all follow a theme called Cabin Fever.  People who are attracted to each other find themselves isolate in beautiful settings where they have the freedom to explore their sexual desires in ways they wouldn’t in their everyday lives.  The free short story, Brief Encounter, shows what happens when an art professor ends up stranded overnight in an erotic art museum with a sexy Italian lover.  It’s available for free at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  If you like it, you can try the first novella, Heat Rises, which is available today.  It depicts two people who were almost lovers in the past and are now stranded by a blizzard in a romantic mountain cabin.  That will be followed by Storm Bound in July and Mating Season in August.

How did you come up with the idea for these stories?

When I start a new story, I always try to think up a hook that’ll grab a reader’s attention.  If the story is erotic, the hook needs to be sexy.  I thought up “sexy people stuck somewhere alone together.”  Avon titled that Cabin Fever.

Can you share with us your work in progress?

I’ve just come off a heavy deadline schedule for these stories and haven’t had time to launch myself fully into anything yet.  However, my coworker and I were bemoaning the fact that there’s no Bunny Ranch for female clients.  So, I wondered if I could write a book about a bunch of women coworkers who take loans out of their 401ks and pool the money to open a stud ranch.  I think that could be a lot of fun.

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

I actually did meet her, but only for a very few minutes.  Julia Child.  More than anyone else, she brought good food and cooking to the United States.  She was a paragon of integrity who never endorsed a single product, even though a company once offered to buy her a house.  Her husband told them, “We already have a house.”  She worked tirelessly to make her recipes perfect to the point that if you follow them you end up with something marvelous.  She was an educator – one I consider my teacher.  Plus, she was funny as all hell.  I only found out after her death at nearly 100-years-old that she liked her gin.  Damn, I wish I could have shared a bottle with her.

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

Write.  That’s it.  Write.  Don’t let anyone stop you.  Don’t let anyone discourage you.  Write.  Submit to publishers.  When they reject you, and they will, don’t let it get you down.  Keep writing.

Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

Going to Italy to learn how to cook.  I’d taste everything, from the squid just pulled out of the ocean to the cheese an old farmer made in his shed in the mountains.  I’d learn pasta making from the oldest nonnas I could get to talk to me.

What’s in your To Read Pile that you’re dying to start?

I have to confess that the authors are close friends of mine, but they’re also fabulous writers.  I have Pamela Clare’s historical romance, Defiant, and a mystery in Norah Wilson’s delightful Dix Dodd series.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

But enough about me.  What do you think of my work?

Seriously.  Thanks for having me.

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!

I have one E-copy of Heat Rises by Alice Gaines.

If you want a chance to win please fill out the rafflecopter for below

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Interview & Giveaway with Dana Marton

Books-n-Kisses is pleased to welcome Dana Marton to the blog.  We are chatting about life, romance, family and her newest release The Third Scroll. 

Can you please share with us a little about yourself

I’ve been publishing for the last 10 years and have 30 or so books out there at this stage. I love my job. The most difficult part is to keep focused. I read pretty much every genre, so my ideas are all over the place. I try to be more consistent in my writing, however. Most of my books are romantic suspense. THE THIRD SCROLL is my first fantasy romance title. I’m so excited! It’s the book of my heart, a story that I waited ten years to finally see in print. I’m very glad that I never gave up. And so are my readers. The response has been absolutely overwhelming. Normally, I get one reader mail for about every thousand books sold. With THE THIRD SCROLL, about a third of the people who buy the book have written to me about how much they loved it and asking when the next one is coming out. The amazing support has been beyond my wildest dreams.

Have you always wanted to be an author?

Yes! I did take a detour through the business world first, though. But in my heart, I always knew I was a writer, and I was always working on something, writing after work or at night. My friends and family weren’t the least surprised when I finally started writing full-time. I’ve been writing since first grade. I think when something is truly in your heart, it will come out sooner or later. Your life will just never feel complete until you acknowledge and embrace your deepest purpose.

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

Silence is my only requirement. I start writing as soon as I get up in the morning and keep going until dinner time. I dreadfully neglect everything else, including yard work and housework. At the beginning of my career, I went to a writing workshop. The speaker talked about how difficult it was for women to succeed at a career, because we always put ourselves last, after husband, kids, pets, dishes, laundry etc. etc. You can’t say, I’ll write after the housework is done. Housework is never done. She said to ask yourself the question: Would you like to be an award-winning author someday or an award-winning housekeeper? Work your priorities.

Most challenging or rewarding part of writing?

The most rewarding part is hearing from readers. It’s absolutely the best part of my day. And it’s gotten so much easier with Facebook and Twitter. I swear every little note makes my day. I’ve made so many friends through my writing, and I’m grateful for every single one.

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

My latest book, THE THIRD SCROLL, is about a budding healer who is sold into slavery, thrust into the savage realm of barbarian warlords, the same realm which claimed her mother years ago. She must avoid the displeasure of her warrior lord as well as the cruelties of the concubines. Yet a greater danger looms when she catches the eye of the most powerful lord of the land and he takes her for his Pleasure Hall.

It’s a story filled with twists and surprises. I’ve been humbled by the reviews so far. RT Reviews called it “An ambitious, vividly imagined epic fantasy.” Kirkus Reviews said, “Readers will find it impossible not to care what happens next…” Honestly, I’m just dancing with excitement at this stage.

How did you come with the idea for this story?

I’ve always been fascinated by stories about healers. I loved Ayla, the heroine in Clan of the Cave Bear and Claire in Outlander. I love strong, resourceful heroines. In a historical setting, in a time when women had little power, sometimes the power of healing was the only thing left to them. Through that they could gain strength and some influence, grow into their own potential. My heroine’s character came to me pretty much fully formed. I just kept writing to see what happened to her next. She surprised the living daylights out of me a couple of times! lol

Can you share with us your current work in progress?

I just began working on the follow-up story to THE THIRD SCROLL. It’s such a wonderful, rich world. Going back to it is a real treat for me.

Who are some of your favorite authors?

Love Jean Auel, Diana Gabaldon, Nora Roberts, Susan Mallery, Maria V. Snyder, Robin D. Owens, C.L. Wilson… Too many names to list here.

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

I’m sure they have.

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

Summer Days from Susan Mallery. I love her Fool’s Gold series. She also writes strong women, and her stories are incredibly layered.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you so much for having me! Instead of raffling off one book to one lucky winner, how about this… I’ll drop THE THIRD SCROLL to 99c (from its regular $3.99) at amazon? Click HERE

And to sweeten the deal even further, I’ll send a free book bag to the first five people who leave an amazon review then email me their address. (danamarton at yahoo dot com).  Giveaway is open to US, Canada, Australia and EU.

Enjoy!

Dana Marton

www.thethirdscroll.com

www.facebook.com/danamarton

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Interview & Giveaway with Joanne Kennedy

Books-n-Kisses is please to welcome for the first time Joanna Kennedy to the blog.  We are excited to learn more about Joanne and share her and her newest book with you.. So enough of my talking lets talk Hot Cowboys……

Q1) Can you please share with us a little about yourself?

JK: I’m a romance writer who loves cowboys, horses, and the West. I’m lucky enough to have found my niche writing contemporary Westerns, and I find plenty of material here in my hometown of Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Q2) Have you always wanted to be an author?

JK: I’ve always loved books and I wanted to write, but like a lot of people, I talked about it a lot and didn’t actually sit down and do it until I hit my midlife crisis (it was a doozy!). I realized that if I didn’t make the effort, I’d never get it done—and I sat down and wrote the book that became Cowboy Trouble.

Q3) What is your most interesting writing quirk?

JK: When I write, I like to be surrounded by reminders of good times in my own life, so my office is scattered with odd little mementoes. There’s a wind-up chicken that poops out jellybeans, an elk vertebra, a plastic dinosaur, and a Chihuahua bobble-head, among other things.

Q4) Can you please tell us about your latest book(s)?

JK: Cowboy Crazy is about rodeo cowboy Lane Carrigan, who is the black-sheep heir to an oil fortune, and Sarah Landon, who manages publicity for his family’s company. Sarah thinks she left her small-town past behind, but when Lane goes public about his fight to save the town of Two Shot from his family’s development plans, she’s forced to return to her hometown and face some long-buried secrets.

Q5) How did you come with the idea for this story?

JK: I do a lot of traveling around the state of Wyoming, and I’ve watched a lot of small towns change as the mining industry goes through its boom-and-bust cycle. Lane and Sarah are both concerned about the town of Two Shot, but they’re on opposite sides: Lane wants to keep the town from changing, while Sarah wants the prosperity development will bring. They’re both right, and both wrong; part of the story is how they come to realize what the community really needs.

Q6) Can you share with us your current work(s) in progress?

JK: I just finished Cowboy Tough, which is about a rodeo cowboy who has to go home to help save the family ranch by turning it into a dude ranch. His first guest is a big-city artist who is leading a painting expedition, and his job is to guide them through the backcountry. It was a fun book to write because of the clash of cultures between the art world and the cowboy world.

Q7) Who is the one author that you would love to meet someday and why?

JK: I would love to meet Larry McMurtry. I think Lonesome Dove is the greatest Western ever written. I love his characters, his voice, and his ability to spin history into a story you can’t put down while respecting the reality of the old West. There’s no sugarcoating in a McMurtry book—he celebrates the real West!

Q8) What is the best piece of advice you would give to someone that wants to get into writing?

JK: Learn to accept and learn from criticism. No matter where you are in your writing journey, you can always get better. It’s easy to get defensive when someone criticizes your work, but take a step back, breathe deeply, and listen.

Q9) Can you share with us something off your bucket list?

JK: Okay, this is weird, but I have always wanted to get to know an elephant. I had a dream years ago where I was a mahout, riding my trusty pachyderm in the jungle. I worked with the elephant to move logs, and we were in perfect harmony. It was the best dream ever.

Q10 What is in your To Read Pile that you are dying to start or upcoming release you can’t wait for?

JK: I am really looking forward to Carolyn Brown’s upcoming women’s fiction book. She’s a good friend and a terrific person, and reading her books is just like sitting down and visiting with her. They’re funny and sweet and very entertaining.

Q11) Is there anything else you would like to add?

JK: Just a heartfelt thank you for taking the time to interview me! We writers owe a debt of gratitude to bloggers like you, who connect us with readers and help us add another level to the reading experience. And thanks to the readers out there, too, for inviting my characters into their lives.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joanne Kennedy is the author of four contemporary Western romances for Sourcebooks: Cowboy Trouble One Fine Cowboy, Cowboy Fever, and Tall, Dark and Cowboy. She brings a wide variety of experience, ranging from chicken farming to horse training, to her sexy, spicy cowboy stories. She is a 2011 finalist in the prestigious Romance Writers of American RITA© Awards, for One Fine Cowboy. Joanne lives in Cheyenne, Wyoming, where she is working on her next book, Cowboy Tough (Fall 2012). For more information, please visit http://joannekennedybooks.com/. To purchase Joanne’s latest release, Cowboy Crazy, please visit ganxy.com/p/62834.

 

To purchase Cowboy Crazy by Joanne Kennedy, please visit ganxy.com/p/62834. 

 

COWBOY CRAZY BY JOANNE KENNEDY – IN STORES JUNE 2012

Sparks fly when sexy cowboys collide with determined heroines in a West filled with quirky characters and sizzling romance. Acclaimed for delivering “a fresh take on the traditional contemporary Western“ Joanne Kennedy’s books might just be your next great discovery! 

From stable to boardroom…

Sarah Landon’s Ivy League scholarship transforms her from a wide-eyed country girl into a poised professional. Until she’s assigned to do damage control with the boss’s rebellious brother Lane, who’s the burr in everybody’s saddle. He’s determined to save his community from oil drilling, and she’s not going back to the ranch she left forever. Spurs will shine in this saucy romp about ranchers and roots, redemption and second chances.

 Giveaway Time!!!

I have one copy of Cowboy Crazy to giveaway… To enter please fill out the Rafflecopter form below.

Open to US Only.  Giveaway sponsored by Sourcebooks.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Spotlight Feature of Killer Flies by William Hicks

William D. Hicks

Killer Flies and Twist

Find the author on Twitter

Twist

As a boy growing up in 1953, Kevin Hull enjoyed playing games with his group of boyhood friends, like the game of “ledge.” After one such game with his friend Billy Hawkins, the two find themselves involved in a terrible accident that will forever change their lives. A work of short psychological horror from our Spectres line.

Killer Flies

The Army plans to use a new breed of flies to protect combat soldiers. But Dr. John Pankow, their creator, is worried that his killer flies are uncontrollable. Will Mother Nature’s most genetically-altered weapon be the ultimate armor, or the potential ravager of the entire world? A work of short horror from our Spectres line.

Excerpt – Killer Flies

“So, you created a vaccine?” General Donner asked.
“Yes, but its effectiveness is only twenty days, or less, depending on metabolic rate. Plus upon further testing this treatment doesn’t work on everyone.”

“Any more questions before I continue?” Pankow waited, no one’s hand went up. “Even though many of my colleagues see little harm in allowing the mix of killer flies with general house flies, I disagree. Currently interbreeding appears safe, because few can survive alone, and without ‘mothers,’ as we call the females, they can’t multiply. But that doesn’t prevent these flies from mutating and forming a new lethal strain. And this would be even more likely if one of the mothers escapes.”
“That won’t happen,” General Bider quickly interjected. “We have one room of mothers which is segregated from all the others.”
“But what happens if one does escape?” Carrie Jacobs, Dr. Pankow’s new research assistant, asked.
Before the doctor could respond, General Willard did. “We’ve taken precautions so that won’t happen; a full bee suit, a security access door, and researchers must go through a sealed room to get at those dangerous mothers. Pardon the pun.”
A slight giggle circled the room. It irritated Pankow. This was serious business, not a place for stupid puns.
“If one female escapes or gets into the wrong hands it will have dire effects. That is why all doors require a key card, and an electrical Flash-Kill system will be installed next year. Funding cuts, you understand, made it impossible to purchase this system until then,” General Bider said, giving no indication he was sorry about the funding issues.
“If one ever escapes it might mean the end of the world,” Pankow finished, allowing his last words to reverberate in their minds.

“I think Dr. Pankow is reading too many science fiction magazines.” General Bider laughed. “These flies will save our soldiers’ lives. We have them under control gentlemen. Are there any questions I can answer?”

Several hands shot up.

 

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Kimberly’s review of Too Tempting To Resist by Cara Elliot

Too Tempting To Resist
AUTHOR: Cara Elliot
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/01/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In the Wolf’s Lair . . .
Determined to stop her wayward brother from squandering their dwindling fortune, Lady Eliza Brentford decides to follow him to his favorite den of depravity. There, among the candlelight and raucous revelry, she encounters her brother’s role model in debauchery, the notorious Marquess of Haddan, Gryffin Dwight. Staring into his smoldering green eyes, Eliza can’t help but find the rakehell nobleman seductively charming-and sinfully attractive.

In a Lover’s Paradise . . .
When Gryffin appears on Eliza’s estate as a guest of her brother, a stolen kiss among the garden’s blooms leads to a night of unbridled passion. Suddenly the lovely widow feels herself opening up, like the petals of a rose. Could this master of seduction possibly feel true emotion for Eliza? Or is he leading her down the garden path to an Eden of delights no woman can resist-and a fall no woman can escape?

REVIEW:

What a delightful book. I could not put it down. The synopsis on the back of this book does not even come close to explaining everything that happens. Yes there is the love story between Hadden and Eliza but there is also the brother, the brothers despicable friends, her painting (incognito), Hadden writing (incognito) and flowers. I had no idea flowers had so many meanings and you will hear them all in this book. This is the second in the series even though is definitely stands alone. But the writing of this book makes you want to run out and read the first one and most certainly pick up the third when it comes out and I for one can not wait.

Hadden is the typical rake we have all read about in historical romance novels but the interesting thing is even before he meets Eliza he is tired of that life and ready to make a change he is just not sure what that change is until Eliza comes into his life. He has turned to writing and wants to publish his works about landscaping and has no idea the sample work he has seen is actually Eliza’s paintings. Hadden is a “man’s man” but when he meets Eliza he has this adorably sensitive playful side that makes the reader fall in love. And Eliza is so incredibly strong. So much is happening to her and she is always trying to figure it out on her own. She does not run off begging for help. She just knows that these are things she needs to deal with and she does. She is a delightful character who does not make you feel like she is a “damsel in distress” even though she most certainly is.

To play on the title – Read this book because it is “Too Tempting To Resist” and no lover of historical romances should resist it.

4 Hearts

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kimberly

 

 

 

 

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Kelly’s Review of The Werewolf’s Wife by Michele Hauf

The Werewolf’s Wife
AUTHOR: Michele Hauf
PUBLICATION DATE: 01/01/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The legacy he must obey…
The child she must save…
The man who threatens to fulfill her every fantasy…
and break her heart.

Alpha wolf Ridge Addison left his wife in Las Vegas, vowing to put their one reckless night of passion behind him and return to his clan. Thirteen years later he needs a divorce so he can become pack leader. Yet he’s never forgotten the sensuous witch whose life he saved…or the knee-buckling kisses he still craves.

After they parted, Abigail tried banishing Ridge from her memory. Now her heart belongs only to her son. But when the boy is kidnapped, she knows she alone can’t save him. Though Abigail’s body still aches for Ridge, she’s willing to give him his freedom in exchange for his help. But who will shield her heart from the only man she’s ever let claim her, body and soul?

REVIEW:

We got to meet Ridge in Her Vampire Husband when he took over the pack he was part of. In The Werewolf’s Wife we learn more about what makes this sweet bad boy werewolf tick. About one wild night he spent in Vegas. You know the typical Vegas night. Save a witch from a firey death, get totally wasted with said witch, marry said witch, have some awesome sex, totally wolf out and almost get killed. But after that one night he has never seen his wife since then. Now Ridge is ready to start over, but 1st he needs a divorce.

Abigal, has tried and tried to remember that night she got married, but she can’t remember all the details. But she has more important things to worry about her son has been kidnapped. All she needs is a hero. But where does one find a hero? The last thing Abigail ever expected was a knock on her door in her time of need, or the man on the other side of her door. Her Husband!!

Ridge is the big tough werewolf who deep down just wants to love and be loved. Abigail has for so long kept the walls up around her because she has never been lucky in love. These two make a great team. They work well together, as long as Abigail does what Ridge wants, which is not often.

I really enjoyed this story. I love the world that Michele has created. I love that so many of her stories have interlocking characters. It makes me always look forward to her next book. To see who we get to revisit this time.

REVIEWED BY: Kelly

4 Hearts
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Kimberly’s Review of Summer Days by Susan Mallery

Summer Days
AUTHOR: Susan Mallery
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/29/12
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Locked in an unexpected land dispute, Rafe Stryker is trapped in the one place he vowed never to return to – the Castle Ranch in Fool’s Gold, California. He made millions facing ruthless adversaries in the boardroom, but nothing could’ve prepared him to go head-to-head against stubborn, beautiful Heidi Simpson. No one is more surprised than Rafe to discover that he’s finding Heidi – and life as a cowboy – much more compelling than he wants to admit. For Heidi, the Castle Ranch is the home she’s always wanted. After a life on the road, the vivacious blonde has finally put down roots. She won’t give that up without a fight, not even for a man whose late-night kisses make her yearn to be a little less…wholesome. As the two turn from passionate adversaries to passionate, period, they’ll discover that summer love can last a lifetime.

REVIEW:
Oh, how I adore Fool’s Gold! Summer Days is a new direction in the Fool’s Gold series. This book is #7 in the series and takes on a character that we had only just met in the last book. Heidi is sweet and innocent in her own way and just wants to have a home to call her own and when her grandfather sells her land a big court battle takes place and that brings in Rafe to protect his mom from the “thief” who took her money and won’t give her the land. Rafe grew up in Fool’s Gold and is not happy to be back.

I really enjoyed these characters Rafe is what I would describe as a diamond in the rough. He has a heart of gold but doesn’t want anyone to see it. And Heidi is just an “every woman” type of girl, she is not gorgeous, she has simple taste, she is hardworking and wants to be loved.

As with all of the Fool’s Gold series (and the rest of Mallery’s books) I loved this story. It had me laughing and it had me shedding a tear for Heidi. I, however, was sad that more of the town was not mentioned in this book since that is what makes Fool’s Gold what it is but loved the story so much that I could see past that.

Usually with this series I say that, yes, the book can stand alone but it is best to read the whole series from the start and, yes, I will be saying that again but this one really can stand alone better than most. With it being the start of a new cowboy series (Stryker brothers) you really can read it alone and get to know Fool’s Gold. But be warned once you visit Fool’s Gold you will return again and again.

4 Hearts

REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Kimberly