Friday Fun - Meet author Victoria Gray!

Please help me welcome the talented, VICTORIA GRAY. She's brought her wonderful Civil War era story, SURRENDER TO YOUR TOUCH. (You ladies know how much I love that era!) Plus Victoria and I have the same taste in men ....Johnny Depp and Alex O'Loughlin. *sigh*

Victoria is going to give away 1 e-copy to a lucky winner, so be sure and leave your email with your comment.

You can find out all about Victoria at her website http://www.victoriagrayromance.com

Then come on back a visit with us:)

Thanks for being here today, Victoria !

Please tell us a little about your story, Surrender to Your Touch.

Will Reed is out to settle a brutal score. The disgraced Rebel officer's own men want him hanged, and an enemy has ordered him killed. Intent on clearing his name and evening the score with those who betrayed him, he begins with the woman he once loved—Union spy Kate Sinclair.

For years, Kate used seduction as a lure. She knew better than to let her heart get involved--until she fell in love with Will. Grieving his death, Kate's joy at discovering him alive shatters when she is confronted by a bitter, vengeful man—a man who'll stop at nothing to learn the truth of her betrayal. As danger pursues them, Kate fights to tear down the barriers Will has erected around his heart, but her most powerful weapon may ultimately destroy her—surrender.

What are your favorite foods?

Chocolate and white wine!

What’s your favorite romance movie?

Wow, that’s a tough one…there are so many great ones! I think it depends on my mood. For a lighthearted romance, Romancing the Stone is a classic …especially since the heroine is a romance novelist, and I adore Bridget Jones’ Diary…there is something super sexy about Colin Firth. If I’m in the mood for a brooding hero, Jane Eyre, is a great choice. Michael Fassbender was wonderfully smoldering in the latest version. The Notebook is a touching romance, and I adored Crazy Stupid Love…wonder if Ryan Gosling had anything to do with those choices?

Who’s your favorite actor?

Again, it’s hard to name just one. Russell Crowe is my absolute favorite…he is simply brilliant and so very hot! Robert Downey, Jr. is another actor at the top of my list these days. His portrayal of Sherlock Holmes is witty and very sexy. Ryan Gosling is terrific, and I adore Edward Norton. Oh, and I certainly can’t leave out Johnny Depp…those dark eyes get me every time!

Name one thing readers would be surprised to know about you.

I love football! I’m a total football fanatic…unfortunately, my team is now out of the playoffs (I’m a Steeler gal!), but now I can root for Drew Brees…wow, is he hot!!!

What’s your idea of a romantic evening?

A quiet dinner with my husband, followed by a moonlit walk and time in the hot tub with a glass of wine.

If you were going to cast your hero in a movie, which actor would you cast?

When I wrote Surrender To Your Touch, I had Alex O'Loughlin in the part. He’s tall, dark, handsome, and possesses the emotional intensity to play Will.

Where can readers find you on the web?

I hope readers will stop by my website and my blog, www.victoriagrayromance.com ; www.victoriagrayromance.blogspot.com.

I’d love for you to friend me on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1819636616

and follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/VictoriaGray115

What’s your idea of a romantic evening?

A quiet dinner with my husband, followed by a moonlit walk and time in the hot tub with a glass of wine.

Where can readers find your book?

Surrender to Your Touch is available from The Wild Rose Press (print- http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=4652  and e-book - http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_135&products_id=4643

Amazon - http://tinyurl.com/6rhtyos

Barnes and Noble - http://tinyurl.com/7l5e73b

And other great retailers!

Free For All Friday - Meet Author Elizabeth Means!

Hi everyone! Please help me welcome the talented ELIZABETH MEANS here today. She's brought her Victorian Romance - and oh! this one is going to be a great read - DANGEROUS CHARADE.
If like me you can't wait to read the back cover, here's the buy link. http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=4639
You can also find out more about Elizabeth at her website www.elizabeth-means.com
But come on back, grab a cup of coffee and get to know Elizabeth a little better;)

Thanks for being here today, Elizabeth.

1-     Was your road to publication a delightful stroll in the park or a tiring jog over hot coals?
My road to publication was a bit of both, actually.  The first major piece I wrote was a screenplay.  I entered it in a local competition and it ended up being one of the top five finalists.  I did not win but I met a lot of incredible people (writers) during the experience.   They all had the same advice – if you want to write a movie, write a book.  It’s a lot easier to get published than it is to sell a screenplay and most movies are based on novels anyway.  After numerous queries and rejections, a few requests for partials and a ridiculous amount of money spent on postage to send the screenplay around the country, I took their advice and wrote a book.  That book, Dangerous Charade, releases today!

2-     Where is your favorite place to write?

My favorite place to write is outside on the deck when the weather is good.  It’s surrounded by trees and is a great place to go and shut out the world so I can get into whatever story I’m working on.  If the weather is bad then my second choice is a bookstore or library.  Being surrounded by books is very inspiring.

3-     Do you have critique partners?
Yes.  I belong to two separate writing groups, one that meets weekly very close to where I live and is very laid back and another that meets monthly further away and is much more serious about the business of fiction writing.   I love them both and find everyone in them to be a great inspiration and sounding board.  I highly recommend getting involved with a writers group or finding at least one critique partner.

4-     Favorite romance movie?

That’s really tough, I like a lot of romance movies.  What comes to mind at the moment is Love Actually, it’s a great movie.

5-     What is your favorite time of year?

Sept. 8^th to Jan 2^nd.  I love fall and the 2^nd week of September almost always feels fallish as the temperatures cool a bit and the wind picks up.  This quickly slides into Halloween, my second most favorite holiday.  Then comes the excitement about Thanksgiving and Christmas.  After New Years I’m pretty much done with winter and ready for spring again! 

6-     What was the best advice you were given leading you to getting published?

Never stop writing if it’s what you love to do and never give up.

Dangerous Charade, back cover blurb:

To escape an arranged marriage Gabrielle Broussard flees her home to become an undercover investigator with an elite, all-female investigative agency.  Her first assignment, as governess at Westford castle to investigate the suspicious death of the Countess of Westford, quickly becomes complicated when she finds herself attracted to her number one suspect.

Lord Julian Blackwell is a survivor.  After his father’s bankruptcy, he becomes a self-made man in Victorian England’s booming industrial era.  Trapped into a loveless marriage, he has survived the shock of his wife’s sudden death.  But now he must survive rumors and outright accusations.  Hiring a private agency to investigate and prove his innocence seems like a good idea…until desire threatens to compromise both the case and the life of the investigator.

Dangerous Charade, teaser

“One-two-three... two-two-three… very good.”  Julian held Gabrielle securely about the waist as they moved across the floor in perfect unison.  “You’re a surprisingly quick study.”

She nodded demurely, barely able to concentrate on whatever it was her feet were supposed to be doing. Or not doing. Dancing with Julian was proving to be even more unnerving than she had feared. Having his body but a breath away from hers was far too distracting. He was her number one murder suspect, and she needed to keep her wits about her now more than ever.

“Are you sure you’ve never waltzed before?” he asked.

“Never,” she lied.

He spun them around quickly, catching her off guard, causing her to cling to him tighter. “I believe you’re ready for Rocancourt’s ball. I no longer fear you will trip over both my feet and embarrass us silly.”

She pursed her lips. “I can assure you I would do no such thing, with or without your lessons.”

“You don’t say?”   He furrowed his brow in mock thoughtfulness. “Do you know what I’m thinking, Gabrielle?”

“I cannot begin to imagine, my lord.” She cursed the butterflies in her stomach. The effect he had on her when he breathed her name in that seductive drawl of his was maddening.

He leaned down so his face was beside hers and whispered in her ear. “I think you have a secret.” He felt her body tense. “Oh, yes, I’m onto your little game.”

Friday Free for All - Meet Author Jannine Corti-Petska!

Please help me welcome Jannine Corti Petska! Her latest release, LOVE'S SWEET WAGER, is one story I can't wait to read! Why, yes, it's a Western Historical (my favorite)! How did you guess?? LOL 

I'm thrilled to have such a talented author as Jannine here today, and I can't wait for you all to read the blurb for this story and for her other works. You can see everything on her website  www.jcortipetska.com but come on back and visit with us awhile;)

Thanks for being here, Jannine!

Was your road to publication a delightful stroll in the park or a tiring jog over hot coals?

The first fifteen years, I couldn’t write fast enough to get all those ideas from my head to paper. (I started out writing long hand; no computer.) My mind was flooded with storylines. Four years after joining RWA and getting serious about publishing, I sold my first book to Kensington in 1999. That’s where delightful ended and the tiring jog over hot coals began. Getting published doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in and will sell all you’ve written. After the first two published books, I had a four-year dry spell. And I couldn’t seem to catch an editor’s eye in N.Y.C. I turned to small press in 2006. At times, I questioned my writing and why I was putting myself through the rejections and disappointments. There were so many times I wanted to quit. In reality, I still feel as if I’m on the road to publication and not quite there.

Tell us about your real life romance.

I met my husband on a So. California beach 40 years ago. We’ve been married 39 years this past July. I wrote a very short story about our first meeting for the book Fall in Love Like a Romance Writer, which was released in February 2011. There are 67 authors, all relating how they fell in love with their better half. It can be bought at all the major bookstores.  You can read how my mom almost ended the relationship before it began. My story is titled Romance is calling: Don’t hang up!

How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book?

On a scale of 1-10 (10 the highest), the likelihood of people I meet ending up in my books probably would be a 3. I think I draw something from every person and put all the little nuances into characters. Of course, I’d never tell who the real characters are. It’s my secret.

If you could time travel would you go forward or backward?

Definitely backward. The future and all the technology doesn’t interest me. But I’d love to have lived in the 1800s or 15^th century Italy. It’s a very wide spectrum of time and place, but history in those eras is fascinating to me. I especially love the American West and cowboys. The medieval period wasn’t nice to women, but I still love the romance of knights and nobles…and their feisty women. I seriously doubt I could have lived back then without a bathroom, shower and running water. My idea of camping out is the nearest hotel, lol. That’s very telling. J

What did you do to celebrate when your first book was published?

I wish I could remember the details, like what I was wearing and all that, but that was 12 years ago. I know I was in a state of shock and thought it was a dream. I called my husband first. Then my agent. My editor at Kensington had called me directly to say she’d like to publish my book but couldn’t get a hold of my agent. She didn’t reveal the details until she talked to him first.  That’s about all I can recall.

What is your favorite writing conference to attend?

While I like the RWA conference and the Romantic Times convention, they are too big and noisy and busy. Too many people. But I love talking to the many writers and readers, as long as it’s only for a few days, then I’ll crawl back into my hole of solace. Actually, I prefer RWA chapter conferences. The chances of getting a one-on-one with an editor or agent are much higher. It’s calmer, not as fast-tracked as the larger conferences.

Tropical or European vacation?

European (if I wasn’t afraid to fly). I’m not a fun in the sun person, although a tropical island would be heavenly for a short spell. But the history of European countries, the castles and churches and other historical sites are what I crave and love. I’m sure writing historical romances has a lot to do with it because I hated history in school. When I began writing, there were many times I wished I had paid more attention to what my boring history teachers were saying. Researching my stories has given me a deep appreciation for Europe’s history.

If you’d like to find out more about me or my books, please visit my website at www.jcortipetska.com.

My latest release in Love’s Sweet Wager, set along the California Trail in 1852.

Book video

http://youtu.be/d764IotVEjM

Blurb
Her gambler father murdered, Rachel Garrett joins a wagon train west to be with her aunt and the fiancé she's never met.  Her dream is to forget the life she led performing on stage to earn the money her father gambled away and settle down in one place.  But along the trail, she is helplessly drawn to a priest--forbidden fruit--and her hopes are shattered.

Professional gambler Reno Hunter is wanted for the murder of  James Garrett.  His disguise as a priest on a wagon train is foolproof, until he discovers the woman the old gambler wagered in that fatal card game and Rachel Garrett are one and the same.  Can he protect his identity and his heart, or will he surrender to his desire for Rachel and risk being apprehended by the law?

Excerpt
In this scene, Reno is jealous that his brother Alex accompanied Rachel into the fort to shop. Because of his disguise as a priest,  Reno couldn't do anything about it. Neither could he suppress his strong attraction to her.
    Reno shrewdly watched Rachel ride into camp alongside his brother. His gut twisted every time he saw the two together. He was still irked at Alex for accompanying Rachel into the fort on the premise that Mrs. Larson called for the priest. The lie battered his mind, and he’d conjured up many reasons for Alex’s duplicity. The moment his brother left Rachel alone, Reno walked up to her before she had the chance to dismount.
    “A new hat?”
    She touched the hat, seemingly guilty for wearing it. “Yes, it is. Alex bought it for me—I mean…he—”  She pressed her lips together in displeasure then stated bluntly, “I didn’t ask him to buy it.”
    Her familiarity with Alex’s name raised Reno’s suspicions. It slipped off her tongue as if she’d spoken it a hundred times before. He doubted the gift didn’t mean anything. Knowing his brother lavished gifts on the women who had succumbed to his charms turned Reno’s gut inside out. He scowled while thinking up ways to make Alex suffer for his indiscretions. Reno inhaled deeply to collect his unhealthy thoughts and control his precarious temper.
    “I see you have your own gloves.”
    She bunched her hands into her skirt and indignant fire flared in her eyes. When she sat up taller with a look of challenge, his gut twisted tighter.
    “I cannot lie to you, Father. Alex bought the gloves, too.” She pulled blue material out of her saddlebag. “And the reticule.”
    Apparently, guilt rode her to tell the truth.
    She swung her leg over the horse’s neck to dismount. Reno curved his fingers around her small waist, forcing her hands to his shoulders as he set her to the ground. Remembering his place, he dropped his arms like felled trees.
    “Apparently you and Alex are on friendly terms now.”
    Her sunny smile stole his breath. “Yes, he and I are on friendly terms now.”
    A tick worked along Reno’s jaw, and he couldn’t do a damn thing to stop it. He felt a burning need to ask how friendly. Instead, he chomped his teeth together and pried his lips apart with a reserved smile.
    “May I help you unsaddle your horse?”
    “Don’t trouble yourself, Father.”
    “Believe me, it’s no trouble at all.” He clenched his jaw. Better me than Alex.
LOVE'S SWEET WAGER can be bought through The Wild Rose Press
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=4573 

Available in ebook and print.

Also released this year was Charlotte and the Gypsy, book 2 in The Sisters of Destiny trilogy about three psychic sisters separated at birth. It takes place in the 15^th century in an Andalusian Gypsy camp and later in England.

Blurb

Charlotte Nikolos was raised in a Gypsy camp, her pale hair and light skin in stark contrast from the darkness of her family. After she learns she has two sisters somewhere who share her looks and psychic powers, she's determined to search for them and learn why her birth mother sent her away. But where does she begin?

After three years of roaming, Rafael Cazares returns to his Andalusian Gypsy camp to pursue the woman he left behind in disgrace. He must win back Char's trust and recapture her heart. He insists on helping her find her true family but soon realizes someone is determined to keep them apart.  When Rafael's deep, dark secret is revealed, he will do everything in his power to protect the only woman he has ever loved. Even if it costs him his life.

This book is available through The Dark Castle Lords in ebook only.

http://www.thedarkcastlelords.com/CharlotteandtheGypsy.htm

Book video: http://youtu.be/H26Ny5YuMis

Book 1, Carina and the Nobleman is also available in ebook and print.

SPOTLIGHT ON . . .

ANGEL'S SHARE: The Fado Trilogy By Clare Austin

Aidan Kennedy thought he’d left his past behind in the troubled neighborhoods of Belfast, but   revenge is a hard habit to break.

Kerry Sloane has fought to overcome devastating loss and grief to start a new life in Boston.

Vengeance tore them from one another’s arms. Will it be the catalyst to once again spark the flames of love?

Here are the buy  links:  for an autographed copy.... http://www.clareaustin.com/books.html 

Free For All Friday - Meet Author Autumn Jordon!

Please welcome fellow Wild Rose Press author, Autumn Jordon. She's here today with her new release, IN THE PRESENCE OF EVIL ( Check out that beautiful cover ) available NOW from TWRP http://www.wildrosepress.us/maincatalog/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=747

Autumn is talking about my favorite subject today - MEN! lol OK, it's not all about men. But there is one. . .
So grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the eye candy she brought along.

To Know Him Is To Love Him

Jennifer shares her eye candy every Monday.  I know because I stop by often and check her men out.

Whenever I start a story, I start with my hero.  I need to know what he looks like.  In my mind’s I have an idea, but it’s like looking at someone from a distance.  So I search magazines, newspaper, catalogs and on-line free picture sites until I find a close up of my hero.

The hero in my new romantic suspense release from The Wild Rose Press, ‘IN THE PRESENCE OF EVIL’, is marine Cole Hanson. That’s him, right there. Isn’t he to die for?

I found Cole Hanson first in a catalog.  As I flipped through the pages, I stopped immediately and fell in love.  He stared back at me with those intense, gorgeous eyes and I knew he was the perfect guy for the story rolling around in my head.  I always get hooked by the guy’s eyes, then his strong jaw line and his most-men-would-kill-for hair.  Of course he also has to have the body worthy of a low riding towel.  YUM

After I get my drooling under control, I post my hero’s picture above my desk at eye level and with a pen in hand, we have a conversation.  I get to know the man, asking him all types of questions and watching him for his mannerisms and quirks. He’s got to have idiosyncrasies and flaws.  Why? Because he is a man and no man is perfect.  Perfect characters are boring.  Readers like lots of conflict and some conflict can occur because of our hero’s flaws.

Cole is not perfect. Yes, he does look it. SIGH. But he’s not.  He has a serious complex stemming from his childhood. That attribute creates conflict between him and Gina, the heroine in ‘IN THE PRESENCE OF EVIL’.  His hang-up keeps him from confronting Gina about the event which happened years prior and that drove him from her life.  Later, when Cole learns the actual facts, his neurosis causes him to blame himself and feeds the conflict all over again.

I follow the same steps for all my major characters and a most of my secondary characters.  A secondary character’s flaws can create the major conflict of your story.  Example; In ‘EVIL’S WITNESS’, my 2010 Golden Leaf winner,  a minor character’s gambling problem set the stage for the mafia’s money laundering scheme.   Greed and lust happens in ‘IN THE PRESENCE OF EVIL’.

Okay, enough about flaws.  Let’s talk heroes and what makes them totally droolicious.  What grabs your attention and sends your heart pattering feverishly?  

To learn more about Autumn Jordon’s new release ‘In The Presence Of Evil’ or any of her other works, visit www.autumnjordon.com

CARIBBEAN FRIDAY!

While it's true there might be some other Caribbean themed releases today (Love ya, Capt. Jack) I am honored to have award winning Kimberly Killion here with me for her newest release CARIBBEAN SCOT available TODAY! http://www.amazon.com/Caribbean-Scot-ebook/dp/B0050VQCH4/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1305861307&sr=1-1


Thanks so much for sharing your release day with us, Kim. Here, have a glass of champagne and tell us all about you!

Was your road to publication a delightful stroll in the park or a tiring jog over hot coals? The latter for sure. It took me 10 years to sign with a NY house, but I met some fabulous people along the way, including my soul sisters. I wouldn’t trade the journey for anything in the world. 

 Where is your favorite place to write? In my comfy recliner with my cat coiled around me feet. 

 What is the most difficult for you to write: Characters, conflict, emotions? Conflict for certain. I excel at writing love scene, battle scenes, and deep internal turmoil. It’s what I enjoy. I suppose I do write conflict. I just don’t realize it. 

 Do you have critique partners? I used to. A gazillion of them, but I don’t have time to reciprocate anymore. I credit my critique group and the individuals who swapped chapters with me to my publishing success. And those soul sisters I talked about earlier…those were critique partners. Love them! 

 What music are you listening to lately? Oddly enough, I’m really into Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and I’m really digging Rihanna’s newest tune, S & M. But my all time favorite group is Aerosmith. Love me some Steven Tyler!

 Classic Novel you would like to see turned into a movie? THE SECRET by Julie Garwood 

  If you were going to cast the hero of your book, what actor would get the part? Gerard Butler 

 Do you believe in love at first sight? Yes! 

 How likely are people you meet to end up in your next book? VERY likely! Especially if I don’t like them. I maim, torture, and kill A LOT of my characters. *vwg* 

 If you could time travel would you go forward or backward? Backward for certain. I would want to live in 15^th century Scotland, but I would want to be wealthy because I would need my own bathhouse. :) 

What was the best advice you were given leading you to getting published? Persistence is key 

 If you could switch places with one of your characters would you? Abso-freakin-lutely! I would switch place with every heroine I’ve ever written!
 

 What is your favorite dessert/food? Chocolate anything. I’m also fond of cheesecake…so chocolate cheesecake. No wait, make that triple chocolate cheesecake with pecans and caramel. *sigh*
 

Favorite romance movie? Legends of the Fall 

 Favorite actor/actress/both? Gerard Butler, Gerard Butler, and ummm…who’s that hot actor with the accent? Oh, Gerard Butler! *Hmmm. Starting to see a trend with Gerard* ;)

 Favorite song/singer? Pour Some Sugar on Me is a classic. I’m also a fan of Dude Looks Like a Lady.
 

 What is your favorite writing conference to attend? I dig the M&M conference. Those women rock, but I’m looking forward to Lori Foster this year and RomCon and Romanticon and, of course, RWA in NY! 

 What is your favorite time of year? Spring when everything is new and starting over.

 Tropical or European vacation? European *And I bet if I asked who could be your guide you'd say. . .going out on a limb here . . .Gerard Butler?* LOL

 Tell us a little about your next release.

CARIBBEAN SCOT comes out May 20^th. Here’s the blurb.

CARIBBEAN SCOT
GLENSTRAE, SCOTLAND -1614

RICHES... Forced to flee Scotland and forfeit the chieftainship of his  clan, renegade Reid MacGregor prospers as a fortune hunter  in the rich waters of the Caribbean. But there are two treasures  he has yet to claim—the lost library of an ancient Mayan  priestess and the wild lass he left behind. TEMPTATION... Mary-Robena Wallace is a member of the rebellious MacGregor  clan and a warrior in her own right. Desperate to free her clan  from the cruelty of their king, she raids the borders alongside  her kinsmen...until the devilishly handsome man from her past  returns with an offer she’s hard-pressed to refuse. SEDUCTION... Reid promises gold in exchange for her expertise as a cave diver  to locate a treasure in the Caribbean—but they both know he’s  after something more. They strike a deal to save her clan, but  the fruits of an exotic paradise and the sinful kiss of a traitorous  rogue force her to choose between returning to Scotland, or  surrendering to the Caribbean Scot. "A sexy, suspenseful story with great plotting and lots of witty dialogue. A winner!" —Toni LoTempio, Reviewer, Night Owl Reviews, Author of Raven’s Kiss &  No Rest for the Wicca Check out all of Kimberly’s books at www.kimberlykillion.com