Thursday, December 29, 2011

Friday Fun- Meet author Louisa Masters!

Good Morning, everyone! Please help me welcome, LOUISA MASTERS to the blog. This is the first time I've had the pleasure of her being my guest here ....But with a cover like this one, I think she needs to come back more often! *grin* (That is a hot cover, Louisa!)
Anyway, the first time I read the blurb for INTER-OFFICE RELATIONS, I put the book on my TBR list. 
You can visit Louisa anytime at her website http://louisamasters.com/
So without further ado, let's get to know Louisa a little better. Don't forget: Leave a comment for a chance to win and be sure in include your email addy so we can contact you:)

Thanks for being here today, Louisa!

Where is your favorite place to write?
I wish I could say I have a tidy desk where I sit in an ergonomic chair, but the truth is my apartment is so small there's no room for a desk. My options are the kitchen table or the couch, and sadly, my favorite is the couch. I put my feet up, settle the laptop in my—hehe—lap, and thrash things out. It actually led to disaster in 2010, what I call the Great Computer Crash.  I tripped on the power cord and the laptop crashed to the floor. Because I don't do things in half-measures, the hard drive shattered and I lost nearly everything. Thank heaven for back-ups!
What is the most difficult for you to write: Characters, conflict, emotions?
Emotions. I always go back and end up adding them in. My problem is that I find it so much easier to tell than show.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Yes and no. I believe you can meet someone and instantly have a connection, a spark, and that it can grow into love, but I think you actually need to spend time with a person before love can grow.
How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?
I would never put real people in a book. Erm. Well, not the entire person. Maybe just a couple of character traits. That's what I tell my family, anyway.
What was the best advice you were given leading you to getting published?
Persevere. And I hated it. I was convinced that it was the suckiest, crappest advice ever. I mean, how is that going to make me a better writer? How is it going to make publishers like my story?
Now it's the single piece of advice that I attribute my publication to. Rejection hurts. It made me want to curl into a ball and pull the covers over my head every time I got a "no, thanks." But I persevered. I reviewed and revised my story a thousand times. I kept on going, even when I just wanted to scrap the whole @$^&&#$% thing. And in the end, it got published. (wheee!)
Tell us a little about your WIP.
I'm currently working on an as-yet-untitled short about one of the characters in One Night in a Bar, which is due for release from Total-e-Bound mid-2012. Mandy is Karen from ONiaB's best friend, and when she recognizes former rock star Blake Hawley at the local watering hole, she fulfils a fantasy and propositions him: one hot night of sex. He turns her down. Drunk chicks aren't his style. But he gives her his number and a promise that he won't turn her down when she's sober.
You can read more about One Night in a Bar at my site, www.louisamasters.com, and I'll post updates on my WIP as I have them.
What is your favorite time of year?
Summer. Long days, vacation time, warm weather. Clothes are more comfortable, food tastes better. I can write outside. Spend time at the beach. Mmmm.
 Tropical or European vacation?
Well, seeing how much I love summer... Plus, I honestly believe that vacation is for relaxing, and the one time I was in Europe, I was up early every morning for a full day of sightseeing. So, definitely a tropical vacation.
Blurb:
With her resignation submitted, Jeannie Price has one last task she's itching to perform before leaving her job. After months of sitting next to hot, sexy colleague Tim Harding, it’s time to turn fantasy into reality with a scorching invitation to collaborate on matters of the flesh in Conference Room B. Then she can walk away without regrets.

Tim’s dreams of wild, sweaty sex with Jeannie come true when he accepts her offer, but he's stunned to learn she doesn't want to see him again after their steamy tryst. She may be trying to brush him off as just one more item on her To-Do List, but he’s determined to convince her there’s nothing taboo about inter-office relations.

You can read an excerpt on my site, or buy Inter-Office Relations at any of these retailers:
Big thanks to Jennifer for being an awesome host! Leave a comment and go in the running  to win a title from Jennifer's backlist—you have until midnight on the 1st January.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Friday Fun - Meet author Lacey Wolfe!

Please help me welcome my friend, the talented LACEY WOLFE! Lacey writes hot contemporary romances and has brought her latest release, FOOL ME ONCE. She's also going to give 1 free copy to a lucky commentator:)
You can learn more about Lacey and all her work at www.laceywolfe.com then grab a cup of coffee - I'm thinking Salted Caramel today - and visit with us!
Thanks for being here today, Lacey.

Was your road to publication a delightful stroll in the park or a tiring jog over hot coals? 
My road wasn't as hard as some but it also wasn't a walk in the breeze. I've been writing for years and sharing my stories here and there with friends and so on. Amber's Muse, my debut novella was the first thing I wrote for publication. It was in ten drafts before it found a home, but I did receive several rejections along the way before it found its home at Beachwalk Press. 

Do you have critique partners? 
Yes, and without them I wouldn't be where I am today. Thankfully they aren't afraid to tell me what needs work and what sucks. I think they are the reason I have had the success I have so far.

What is the most difficult for you to write: Characters, conflict, emotions? 
I think the emotions. You have to get it right so the reader feels it too. This is something I've learned a lot about through editing. How to get deeper into my characters so the reader feels like they are the hero/heroine.

Tell us about your real life romance. 
I think my real life romance might make for a good romance novel. My hunky hubby was once my boss. And it was instant attraction between us. It took us three years, but we finally found our way to the alter. Its been ten years now and I enjoy each day with him.

What is your favorite dessert/food? 
I love taco salads and fried chicken! And dessert, give me chocolate with more chocolate. In fact, lets make it a chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting, and top it off with chocolate sprinkles. Yum!

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book? 
At this point I think people are safe. I have plenty of characters in my head banging to get out. Once I use them up, I may start looking for some inspiration.

Thank you for having me here today Jennifer.
To learn more about me, visit www.laceywolfe.com

Fool Me Once (Hot Bods Series)
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice…

Drew is the last person Skylar wanted to see across from her at a local bar. A month ago he'd wined and dined her all weekend, leaving her feeling fully in love, but then she awoke alone in an empty hotel room and she hadn't heard from him since.

The weekend Drew spent with Skylar was phenomenal. There had never been anyone who made him feel as complete as she did. He shouldn't have disappeared, he should have called, but his feelings for her scared him, so he distanced himself. But when he saw her again, he knew he couldn't stay away any longer.

Skylar's determined not to give Drew another chance to hurt her, but he's just as determined to win her back. Although it won't be easy, he's up to the challenge, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal.
BUY NOW! 
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Fool-Once-Hot-Bods-ebook/dp/B006N9FJDK/ref%3dsr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324164077&sr=1-1
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fool-me-once-lacey-wolfe/1107866182?ean=2940013865044&itm=2&usri=lacey+wolfe
BeachWalk Press http://beachwalkpress.com/fool-me-once/ 
ARe  http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-foolmeonce-661427-144.html

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Holiday Reads and Giveaway!!



Happy holidays, everyone! I'm continuing the December fun. Today my guest is LAURA BROWNING. (Check out the cover!!!) Please leave a comment to be entered in a drawing for an e-copy of SANTA'S HELPER.

Now, help me welcome, Laura -

Are you ready for Christmas? I think my teenager has been ready since birth. Combine the proximity of Christmas with the end of exams and the break from school, and his excitement’s reached darn near torturous levels. Torturous for me. I finally told him if I heard one more word about how I need to wrap gifts and not leave it until the last minute I would return all of his, so there would be no need to wrap gifts. I am the Grinch. He is Cindy Lou Who.
Now I only have to listen to the countdown to school being out. Sigh.
I need some help from the heroine of my newest Wild Rose Press release, Santa’s Helper. Merry has plenty of Christmas spirit. In fact, she works part time as an elf at the local mall. That’s where she meets Jack, the unlucky sucker who lost a bet with his employees and now has to ring the bell out front.

Here’s an excerpt from Santa’s Helper:
 Merry sipped her coffee and angled her head at him. “You know, the first night I saw you, you didn’t look like the bell ringer type. And even though you’ve changed out of the fancy clothes, you still don’t look the type. How did you end up doing it…and doing it every night?”

Jack laughed. “I lost a bet with my employees and had to take over all their shifts.”

He watched in fascination as color stained her creamy cheeks. “Well, I’m glad. I’ve liked being able to bring you coffee and getting to know you.”

“I have another week, Merry.”

Her eyes widened. Was that hope he saw there? Gladness? “You do?”

He nodded before touching the delicate skin inside her wrist. “I want to kiss you. Will you let me?”
He watched her hesitate, and then she nodded. He smiled and scooped the last bit of brownie and ice
cream. “Here. It’s yours.” Her eyes held his as she slid the sweet from the spoon. Jack dropped the spoon into the bowl. “Let’s go,” he growled.
***
Watch it, Merry. Jack’s got a whole lot more than kisses on his mind…lol.

You can purchase Santa’s Helper from The Wild Rose Press. It’s also available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

You can also visit me at my website www.laurabrowningbooks.com or my blog www.laurabrowningbooks.blogspot.com.

Thanks so much for the chance to visit today. If anyone has a surefire way to ramp up the Christmas spirit, I’d sure like to hear it!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Friday Fun-Meet Author Amber Leigh Williams!!

Please help me welcome fellow Wild Rose Press author, AMBER LEIGH WILLIAMS. :) She's brought her wonderful story, BET IT ON MY HEART, in both e-book and Audio Book!! 
You can find out all about Amber and her work at http://www.amberleighwilliams.com
Then come on back, settle down with a cup of coffee (I'm having French Vanilla) and visit with us.

Thanks for being here today, Amber:)


1- Where is your favorite place to write?
I usually write best in the dining room, particularly when it’s raining. There’s a nice glow there on sunny days and there are windows all around so the sound of rain makes for a creative, lulling atmosphere. It’s also easy kitchen access. All that creative adrenaline calls for snacking J
2- What is the most difficult for you to write: Characters, conflict, emotions?
None of them are difficult, but I would say that character motivation and conflict both can sometimes be challenging. Oddly, emotions are easiest for me to write. They often seem to be tied in with character and motivation, which influence conflict. All three elements are wound pretty tight together. If I have one, the others will come.
 3 – Which classic Novel you would like to see turned into a movie?
What great classic novel hasn’t been adapted to the big screen at least once? I once thought there should be a sequel to Gone with the Wind then I realized that there was and it was based off the book Scarlet by Alexandra Ripley. And, for me, there’s no Rhett Butler without Clark Gable. I could think of several modern movies that should be made into movies or television series. The In Death series by J.D. Robb. J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I’m all for both! 
 4- Do you believe in love at first sight?
I don’t think I do, and neither do my characters. I believe in that great big significant “spark” at first sight because I’ve experienced it and revisit it often while writing romance. And while I don’t believe in love at first sight, I do believe in a form of recognition  – because I’ve met people and instantly known that they were going to have a major impact on the course of my life. My husband was one of them. It’s almost like déjà vu…but in reverse.
 5 - How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?
I don’t base my characters off real-life people, but I have been known to steal a line of dialogue or a mannerism or two J
 6- If you could switch places with one of your characters would you?
Great question! While I’m writing their story, I would love to be able to switch places in order to see their motivations and conflicts more clearly. But part of the fun of developing a character is discovering them organically through the words of the story and it would be hard to give that up.

Thank you so much for the interview, Jennifer!

Blurb:
ANTE UP!
Keefe Ridge's bronc-busting days are nearly over. Despite that and the fact that he is slowly making his dream business venture a reality, Wayback's wildest cowboy doesn't see any reason to settle down. He is even willing to bet that marriage isn't in the cards at all for him.

Agent Calli Morlani came to Wayback on a mission: to bring Stella Ridge back to Hollywood . When Stella refuses, she dares Calli to take in some local color and see what Wayback has to offer. Whether that includes Stella's devastatingly charming brother becomes irrelevant once Calli finds herself in bed with him - in more ways than one…

Will it take a tough city girl to make the Wayback playboy finally fall long and hard? Or will Keefe give Calli a reason to stay? Place your bet!


Excerpt:
"Are you a gift from God or do they make all the men like you around here?"

"What’re you talking about?" he asked with a chuckle, threading his fingers through hers and pulling her close, navel to navel.

"You ride a horse like a Trojan warrior," she pointed out. "You happen to look like one, too, minus the hat and boots. You’re ninety-nine-point-nine-nine percent charm. And you also happen to be a fabulous dancer." She tilted her head curiously. "All that’s missing is ‘Great Kisser.’"

He lowered his lips. They brushed hers as he murmured, "Got that covered."

Her eyes drifted to a close while he lingered a breath away, teasing her. That fresh smell of his wrapped her close and warm. "Of course, you do." Her lips parted under his to accept the full depth of his smoldering kiss. The hands she’d twined at the nape of his neck fell limp on his collar. Her head bowed back into his cupped palm as his tongue danced over hers in firm, languid strokes.

Heart pattering, breath stalling, she hardly noticed the hum that escaped her throat. His hand was trekking down her back, long fingers inciting the skin underneath the zipper of her dress.

The song ended, but she didn’t break away from him when applause sounded around them and people began to nudge past them on and off the dance floor. His hands gripped her hips as the kiss intensified. Good God.

BET IT ON MY HEART © Amber Leigh Williams

BET IT ON MY HEART available now in ebook – Only $4.00! http://www.thewildrosepress.com/bet-it-on-my-heart-p-3906.html



Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Holiday Reads and Giveaway!


WIN IT BEFORE YOU CAN BUY IT!!!
Please help me welcome my friend and RWA Chapter Mate, Megan Kelly. She's brought her brand new -- and I mean so new you'll have to go to her website this week to get the BUY Link - SANTA DEAR!  
Here is Megan's website. Please check back tomorrow if you're not the lucky winner. http://www.megankellybooks.com

Thanks for being here today, Megan. This sounds like a great read!






Trish needs a man--but ONLY to play Santa for her five-year-old son.
Sam wants to build a family, but not with a woman after his money.
Tyler just wants a bike.
Does Santa have enough magic to fulfill the wishes of these three people?

Trish Howell finds a letter to Santa Claus from her five-year-old son, Tyler.  In it, Tyler mentions that Santa might "just be a story," like his dad, who passed away when Ty was one.  The doubt breaks Trish's heart but steels her resolve to reassure her son.  She'll hire a man to play Santa.  It will be neat and tidy, with no strings--unlike those her husband used in his manipulation of her time after time.  She's not looking to repeat that experience.
Sam Carrow is taking a break from his successful construction business to rehab a house for resale.  Meanwhile, he's living with his friends, Bart and Jenny, to escape the plaster dust and enjoy a family holiday, even though it's not his family.  He can't refuse to play Santa for Tyler, but Sam has no intention of getting mixed up with Trish, who admits she'd like a rich husband.  He's been burned by ambitious career women in his past, including his mom and almost-fiancee.  No way is he getting mixed up with another.
Trish's mother-in-law is threatening a custody battle over Tyler.  Trish has to be careful to give her no reason to charge her with being an unfit parent.  Fortunately, her business is supporting them well enough, and there's no man in her life to compromise her reputation.  Especially not the man using her friend Jenny as a housemaid, cook, laundress, and cleaning lady..
Santa has his hands full with this bunch.

EXCERPT:
"She doesn't need just the rich part, Sam. She needs someone to take care of her for a change. She's a really nice woman, if you'd just give her a chance."
"I'm not in the market for a gold-digger."
Laying a hand on his forearm, Jenny met his gaze and held it. "Not all women are like Sherry."
An image of his ex-girlfriend came unbidden to his mind. Sleek. Beautiful. Cold. Living together suited Sherry. She liked being seen at the places he'd taken her. Until he'd proposed.
She'd refused, stating that planning a wedding would sidetrack her from getting ahead in the corporation. She'd have been satisfied with continuing her relationship as it stood, but she needed to concentrate on her career.
Sam had declined and moved to Cloverdale.
He wouldn't get mixed up with another woman who put her career before her family, no matter if she was Jenny's best friend. His mother and Sherry had been lessons enough. He would find the ideal woman someday, but it wasn't Trish Howell.
"Tell her to look elsewhere for Santa and for a husband."



In unpublished form, this book won the GRW Maggie Award of Excellence.  This is my first self-published work, although I have four Harlequin Americans in digital form also. 
Website: www.megankellybooks.com