Lily Stone

Another Cool Cover

2010-12-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

Paranormal fans should love this cover... Can't wait to read the latest werewolf saga from Kitty Keswick due out in 2011.

Casey's torn between two loves?? Hope one's the hot ghost she met at the end of Freaksville book one. I assume the other is her British boyfriend, but I'll wait to see...

And things get hairy?? Hmmm...literally or figuratively? Or both?

Guess we'll have to wait for the release to find out.

Ready for Some Paranormal Fun??

2010-10-10T17:54:00.000-07:00

For 16 days, paranormal YA author Judith Graves is unfolding a spooky story. Each day she'll be appearing at one of these blogs. If you find the clues and answer the day questions by October 31st, you'll be eligible for a terrific prize package. :-)

Judith is the author of the Skinned series, available from Leap Books. Here's the blurb for book 1, Under My Skin:

The town of Redgrave had had its share of monsters before Eryn moved to town. Mauled pets and missing children. The Delacroix family is taking the blame, but Eryn knows the truth. Something stalks the night. Wade, the police chief's son and Regrave High's resident hottie, warns her the Delacroix are dangerous. But then so is Eryn--in fact, she's lethal.

But Eryn can't help falling for one of the Delacroix boys, dark, brooding, human Alec. And then it all goes bad.

And here's the totally cool trailer:

And if you're looking for a spooky read, watch for Second Skin, coming in 2011...

Sunshine Award

2010-03-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

You are my sunshine...

OK, I got an award. Now I get to bestow it.

Hmmm, how do I choose from all those blogs I absolutely adore? Guess I'll be thinking about this a bit.

Check back for my award list...

Coming Soon...

2010-03-11T13:21:00.000-08:00

Talk about exciting... Have you seen this upcoming release from Leap Books? Author Judith Graves is touring the teen blogs to promote Under My Skin.

The excerpts that have appeared on various blogs. Check this one out, for example:

http://hefollowedmehome.blogspot.com/2010/03/under-my-skin-prequel-and-pics.html (a prequel)

Or this one:

http://haleymathiot.blogspot.com/2010/03/interview-and-tour-judith-graves-author.html

And if you want to see the author in person, check out her vlog:

http://wolfychicks.blogspot.com/2010/02/judith-graves-vlog-modern-vampire.html

If you're into vamps, weres, wolvens, or other creatures of the night, this is one book you won't want to miss.

Blue Moon Special

2010-01-09T18:52:00.000-08:00

Blue moons are rare, magical, and very special. So anyone who thinks to launch a venture on the night of the blue moon must be visionary. To do it as the year turns from old to new makes it even more of a good omen.

With all that going for them, Leap Books has definitely had an auspicious start to their new venture. Their authors are LUCKY. That's for sure.

But they have other formulas for success:

1) terrific goals: They hope to get teens excited and eager to read more, to encourage reluctant readers to pick up books, and to put out books with artistic appeal.

2) fabulous authors: Check out Bonnie J. Doerr, Kitty Keswick, Judith Graves, Jacqueline Horsfall... and that's just the start.

3) super cool artists: Wait until you see the gothic art of Val Cox.

4) talented editors: I should know. My editor Kat O'Shea is one of them.

5) exciting badges: Collect them all, but I have to admit I'm partial to this one--

I could wax eloquent over all the other things they're doing right, but those words to the left reveal their secrets.

Leap Books intends to do all this and more. Watch for this exciting new publisher. Better yet, support their efforts and encourage literacy by picking up one of their titles and giving it to your favorite teen.

Now through January 31, 2010, they're offering a BLUE MOON special. They have an awesome video with details.

Beasties and Vamps, Oh My...

2009-12-10T13:37:00.001-08:00

If you're into paranormal, here's a free read. Check out that cool cover. It's a Leap Books Exclusive. If you like your bites small and slightly sexy, you'll enjoy this short read. And who doesn't love FREE???

These tasty bites from this debut publisher will be followed up by some blood-suckingly good fun in January and March. Not vampires this time, but werewolves--the hottest new genre to hit the scene. You'll want to snag both these books by hot new authors Judith Graves and Kitty Keswick. If you haven't seen their book trailers yet (most people have), I've added the addresses here, 'cos they're well worth a look:

Freaksville book trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrvLFZcwUPE

Under My Skin book trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0s3kQ4nnSEk

I think Leap Books is onto something good. I've been seeing these authors' names plastered all over the Internet.

Watch Those Fangs!

2009-11-06T18:37:00.000-08:00

Vampire lovers everywhere will get a charge out of these Exclusives offered by Leap Books. Two chilling tales about graveyards starring otherworldly creatures...

Think these books are only for teens? Think again.

Come on, show of hands here. How many of you picked up the Twilight series? Who's read Harry Potter? Ah-ha, I thought so. Me too.

So I couldn't help getting excited about these tales either. These books aren't just for teens. They're for romance lovers everywhere.

And what's better than FREE?

Maybe a boyfriend who wants to bite YOUR neck? So why not get both?

Hurry over to the Leap Books site. Who knows how long this Exclusive offer will last.

Should This Cover Be Banned?

2009-09-29T21:14:00.000-07:00

Author Bonnie J. Doerr was excited when her publisher, Leap Books, designed her book cover to match the yellow Key deer sign: Caution: Endangered Animal Area. Because her book's about a poacher, the cover artist added bullet holes, including one dripping with blood. Cool, right?

Well, maybe not.

The cover definitely has a lot of teen appeal, and Bonnie has worked up lesson plans so her book can be used in the classroom. What teachers wouldn't love to have a fast-paced eco-mystery about endangered animals that ties into the science, social studies, and language arts curriculum?

Maybe not all of them. Some, who cite teen violence, object to the cover because of the bullet holes and the blood.

So should the cover be changed to make it more palatable to teachers? Or should it stay the way it is--faithful to the contents of the book. Poaching is a bloody business, after all. Shouldn't the cover reflect reality?

Stop by my blog and leave your opinion. One commenter will win an autographed copy of the book when it comes out.

P.S. If you're wondering if the bullet holes go all the way through the book and exit through the back cover, you'll have to pick up a copy when it comes out on January 6, 2010 to see--unless you're that lucky winner.

Choices Meant for Kings

2009-09-19T09:15:00.000-07:00

We're lucky enough to have Sandy Lender back with us today for a blog tour for her next book, Choices Meant for Kings.

I always love getting a sneak peek into authors' lives, so Sandy's been kind enough to answer some of my questions. Lucky you, you'll get to eavesdrop on our conversation:

When did you first decide to become a writer?

I started on this dream of being a writer when I was a little kid. I used to write stories for my great grandmother and she’d share them with folks in her apartment building. I like to say I wrote my first speculative fiction story when I was six or seven because one of those stories was about a spider that ended up haunting an old lady.

Ah. My beautiful great grandmother always supported my dreams and goals. She didn’t just share a six-year-old’s stories around a building, you know. I could devote an entire blog to her.

Tell us a bit about your road to publication.

That road is paved with frozen tears. Mwuahahahahaha. Seriously, I finished CHOICES MEANT FOR GODS the summer of 2003 and announced such at the summer Duran Duran party. My friend Steve Thomas said, “Now you need to get an agent.” An agent.

So I did some research online and bought that Herman book about agents. (Note the importance of that in this story…) I found a couple agents in that book who A) claimed they handled fantasy works, B) claimed they accepted new clients, and C) claimed they accepted writers who hadn’t been published before. I researched those further online and figured out which one seemed fabulous for me. I mean, she looked like the IDEAL agent for me to work with. We would totally click. I wrote a fabulous query letter according to all the research I was doing, mailed it to her with the SASE, and got a reply back requesting the first three chapters. I WAS ELATED. So I sent that to her formatted exactly the way her Web site said to.

The night that I got her “I’m just not suitably excited to represent you properly” rejection in the mail, I cried as if someone had killed my best friend. When the guy I was married to at the time got home from work, he found me sitting in the living room floor, leaning against the couch with the mail strewn out around me, a tumbler of amaretto in my hand, a box of tissues with wadded-up-used Kleenexes salting the carpet in a trail everywhere I’d been in the house, and sobbing quietly into the couch cushions. He was stunned, to say the least. I don’t remember if I waved the rejection letter at him or just pointed to it, but I said, “I got a rejection from (fill in name here).” I think he said, “I’m sorry,” before he tucked his tail between his legs and slunk off down the hall to his den and closed the door with a quiet click against the insanity unfolding in the house.

But, you know…the next day…I started researching who to send a new query letter off to. The thing is, I figured out on my own that getting a literary agent wasn’t the way I was going to get my foot in the publishing industry door. I stopped the query-rejection-letter blues a couple months into the exercise. After moving to Florida in 2006, I attended the Naples Press Club’s annual writer’s conference where I had a pitch session with Bob Gelinas of ArcheBooks Publishing. Pow. The dream came true!

That's a wonderfully inspiring story and points out that persistence is the key. All of us have been down the rejection path, but isn't it wonderful when you find an editor or agent and you click? (For all you as-yet-unpublished authors, don't give up hope. Someday that "click" will be yours too.)

Now on to some nuts-and-bolts writing questions. How do you come up with your ideas? And what do you do when you face writer’s block?

My ideas come from anything and everything. People at Wal-mart really have to start being more careful around me…they’re turning into comic relief characters. Even though I can write under any conditions and at the drop of a hat, I know I have certain triggers that will get ideas flowing “on command.” When I was preparing for a recent timed contest, I set up my writing “area” with comfy pillows and certain candles and ornate bookends around my reference books and paintings of the type of dragon I wanted in the story and specific, moody songs on my iTunes.

Luckily, writer’s block is not something I have to deal with. I’ve heard other writers complain about it, but…you know…it’s just not in me. My brain is too full of bizarre crap. And funky dreams. I swear, I have vivid, bizarre, four-color, sometimes violent dreams. That’s why I keep a notebook and several pens next to the bed.

My author friend Jamieson Wolf has a non-fiction book that’s a guidebook for writers. It includes a chapter on preparing what he has coined an “idea jar.” It’s a fantastic idea that he’s come up with if you fear writer’s block may catch up to you some day. I hope he doesn’t mind me sharing this, because I’m giving away a majority of that chapter here, but you essentially write down ideas or characters or concepts that bombard you during your ultra creative times and stuff them in an “idea jar” for use during those dry spells. You can find Jamieson’s writer’s guidebook (as well as a ton of his fiction work) at his site www.jamiesonwolf.com.

What’s your typical writing day like?

I don’t think I get typical writing days. Now, having said that, I do work as the editor for a construction magazine, so I write (and edit) for that on a daily basis. Even that, though, requires writing some days, interviewing people and discussing article ideas some days, editing and assembling things some days, etc. For sure, every day, whether I’m going to write, edit, or do marketing work, the day starts with offering appeasement to the birds. I have companion parrots who are pretty smart, so they need puzzles and games to keep them occupied during the day. So the day starts with treats and foraging puzzles for the birds. The work day ends with me diving into marketing adventures. Then I write before I pass out at night. There are myriad other tasks in between all that stuff. That’s sort of a “general” writing day if not typical…

What hobbies do you have besides writing?

What? Besides writing? I don’t think I understand…He he he. To be serious, I’m passionate about sea turtle conservation (check the links section of my Web site to see the link to the group I volunteer with), Charlotte Bronte and her sisters (because they are amazing and awe-inspiring), Duran Duran (because they have provided the soundtrack for my life), companion parrots (because mine rule my life and provide TONS of entertainment), and probably many other things I’m neglecting to mention. You can become my friend on Facebook and see “some” of the craziness…

What books are you reading now?

Dragon in Chains by Daniel Fox; The Exodus Gate by Stephen Zimmer; Facets of Fantasy by Sarah Scheele; The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert Heinlein

If you could be anyone throughout history or in the present day, who would you choose, and why?

You know…I’m kinda struggling with this. I don’t think I want to “be” anyone else. I don’t even want to say “Chariss” from my novels because I know what she has yet to go through.

Sounds as if you're content with your life as it is, Sandy. A rare and wonderful gift. :-)

What’s one secret that no one knows about you?

This isn’t really a secret, and my parents know it, but when I was in like second or third grade, I wanted to set up a science section in my room. I wanted to have a microscope and telescope and science books and gems and stuff.

What one question would you like to ask the readers of the blog?

I have a presence on tons of Web sites and book-buying sites. I’d like to do more than ask where readers like to go to look for new authors or new books…I’d like to ask which sites you guys trust to give you good info about the author and the book? Thanks for sharing your opinions!

Thank you for a great interview, Lily. Good questions…my poor brain is really getting a workout on this tour! I hope your visitors are very kind with their follow-up questions, and I hope they weigh in with their opinions on book-buying sites they trust for info. Thanks for the opp to ask!

“Some days, you just want the dragon to win.”

You're welcome. And readers, why not leave some answers for Sandy and give yourself a chance to win a copy of her latest book, Choices Meant for Kings.

To whet your appetite, I've included a blurb and excerpt below:

BLURB:

Chariss is in danger. Her geasa is hampered by the effects of a friend’s marriage. The dashing Nigel Taiman hides something from her, yet demands she stay at his family’s estate where he and her wizard guardian intend to keep her safe. But the sorcerer Lord Drake and Julette The Betrayer know she’s there, and their monstrous army marches that way.

When prophecies stack up to threaten an arrogant deity, Chariss must choose between the dragon that courts her and the ostracized kings of the Southlands for help. Evil stalks her at every turn and madness creeps over the goddess who guides her. Can an orphan-turned-Protector resist the dark side of her heritage? Or will she sacrifice all to keep her god-charge safe?

A Tense Little Excerpt From Choices Meant for Kings

By fantasy author Sandy Lender

http://www.authorsandylender.com

You won’t find this excerpt anywhere except Sandy’s current online book tour…

As the soldier stepped toward him, Nigel reached out his arm and caught him by the neck. He slammed the captain against the far wall. He pinned him there with his body, leaning against the man as if he could crush the wind from him with his presence.

He brought his face close to the soldier’s ear and spoke lowly, fiercely, so that no one could have overheard him. The menace and intent behind the words was as surprising to the captain as the words themselves.

“I asked you to accompany [Chariss] on this journey tomorrow because I have faith in your sword, and until this moment I trusted you to keep your distance from her. Now, I find her down here at your side with a look upon your face that suggests more than you realize. So help me, Naegling, the only thing that stays my hand is how displeased she would be if she learned that I sliced you open.”

“The look you see is merely my concern for her honor. Nothing more.”

“I’m not a fool. And I’ll use every last piece of Arcana’s treasury to pay the prophets to justify my reasons for marrying that woman, so you can unconcern yourself with her honor.”

Hrazon stepped off the staircase then and saw Nigel pressed against his guard.

“I still believe you’re one of the best soldiers Arcana’s ever seen,” Nigel continued, “and I want you at her side for this journey, but, so help me, Naegling, she comes back alive and well and not confused in the least about her affections for me, or I will string you up from a tree in the orchard and attach your intestines to your horse’s saddle before I send it—”

Hrazon cleared his throat. “Excuse me. Is there an issue here I should address?”

Werewolf Fever

2009-09-11T17:50:00.000-07:00

Isn't this the coolest cover ever? Makes you want to grab the book off the shelves. Even better is the blurb:

All her parents wanted was for Eryn to live a normal life...

Redgrave had its share of monsters before Eryn moved to town. Mauled pets, missing children. The Delacroix family is taking the blame, but Eryn knows the truth. Something stalks the night. Wade, the police chief's son and Redgrave High's resident hottie, warns her the Delacroix are dangerous. But then so is Eryn--in fact, she's lethal.

But she can't help falling for one of the Delacroix boys, dark, brooding--human Alec. And then her world falls apart.

Author Judith Graves has a fabulous book trailer for Under My Skin. Watch it and shiver...

Then check out more about this exciting new author at Leap Books and at her blog, the Wolfy Chicks. Counting down the days until this release on March 27, 2010.

World-building for Writers

2009-09-06T00:44:00.000-07:00

Today C.L. Talmadge, author of the Green Stone of Healing® series, is joining us today to share about how she does world-building. For anyone who wants to create a fantasy or sci-fi, these techniques are powerful, but even those who are writing contemporary or historical can pick up some tips.

Let's welcome C.L. and find out her insider secrets:

Creating Different Worlds

By C.L. Talmadge

Creating a different world, whether for fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal romance, or any other speculative fiction, is not all that different from creating a contemporary setting for a novel of the here and now.

This “other” world cannot be so different or unusual that readers do not relate to or understand it. In fact, most of the elements of this different world will be very similar if not the same as elements of the world we know.

It’s the exceptions that mark a world out as alternative, or speculative.

One such exception might be the world’s technology. Yet-to-be seen gadgetry is usually the star of hardcore sci-fi, but not always. The Dune series, for example, boasts scads of way-out technology, but it always takes a back seat to the story and the characters. Maybe that’s why it has been such an enduring bestseller. Few readers are satisfied with nothing but pages filled with dissertations on future technology.

In my speculative epic, the Green Stone of Healing® series, much of the technology is similar to what we know now. There are cell phones (links), the Internet (the Grid), mobile computers called Gridbooks, and mechanized transportation (helicopters are called rotors). But there is also what I call spiritual technology based on the ability to perceive and manipulate something called kura (energy defined somewhat differently than sciences does).

In the past, this spiritual technology was the basis of the power of the dominant people in my series, the Toltecs. Most Toltecs are not aware that they live in a society that is not progressing or evolving. Instead, it is regressing, especially in technology. The ability to manipulate kura via thoughts and feelings gave the Toltecs transportation technology that was clean and needed no fuel to operate. These machines are called impellers. But they abused their powers and thus lost the ability to manufacture more of this technology. A lot of the plot later in the series hinges on this regression.

Another way to establish a speculative world is through its economy. What do people do for a living? How is their profit-making organized? This, of course, is closely related to politics. So, think about how this speculative society is organized. Is it tribal and rural? Urban and nation-state? Some blend of the two or something else altogether? Keep in mind our world today displays a wide range of ways to organize people, even if we divide politically into countries. Some nations are more coherent and homogenous than others.

In my series, the predominant setting is an island-nation called Azgard. It is a monarchy but there is a legislative body that the ruler, called the Exalted Lord, must consult. Much conflict and thus plot arises out of the power struggle between the king and this group, known as the Kinshazen.

This legislative body, however, does not represent all the people of Azgard. It consists only of the heads of the families that comprise the oligarchy that controls the nation’s wealth. Poor Toltecs and the Turanians, the conquered and dispossessed people of Azgard, have no political power and no representation. They fare little better than serfs. Later in the series a lot of action and conflict will arise out of this situation as future heroines seek to right this inequity.

Language is still another way to establish otherworldliness. The first-generation protagonist of my series, Helen Andros, is fluent in three languages. They are Atalan, the language of her mother’s people, the Turanians; Terzil, the language of the Toltecs, her father’s people, and Kydosh, the language of a vassal state far to the East of Azgard. Even the simple acts of naming a different language and providing a few words in that strange tongue helps imbue your setting with an otherworldly aura.

Last but not least, the characters help set the stage for a different world. Sometimes they are simply not human beings, like the mystical, alien mist-Weavers in my series. Aliens, elves, dwarves, werewolves, vampires are one dramatic way to establish a speculative world. But then, some of these nonhumans pop up in thoroughly contemporary settings, too.

Even the human characters, however, can contribute to the fantasy atmosphere by their beliefs and expectations about life and their world. They do not necessarily have an old-fashioned sensibility, but they are not totally modern or post-modern, either. In my series, for example, forget about women’s rights. Females are treated like chattel in Azgard, and my strong-willed first-generation heroine pretty much accepts her lot, even if she does not like it. Her warrior daughter, however, will raise an ungodly stink about it. Since my series is set in a theocracy, my characters’ religious beliefs and their national origin mythology are critical and very much interrelated.

Numerous ways exist to set a world apart and imbue it with a sense of otherness. Just don’t go so far afield that an audience cannot find some way to connect the characters and events they read about to their own lives.

C.L. Talmadge is the author of the Green Stone of Healing® speculative epic. The fourth in the series, Outcast, will be published Oct. 1. Vote for the first book, The Vision, through Sept. 25 and get a free e-book on healing, love, and spirituality. Details at her blog: www.healingstonebooks.com/stonescribe

Thanks so much for joining us C.L. You've given us a lot to think about. Readers who comment on the blog tour also have an opportunity to win the series of books. So leave a comment for C.L. or share your own techniques for world-building. If you're a reader rather than a writer, what's your favorite world and why?

Werewolves, Vamps, and Ghosts...Oh My!

2009-09-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, talk about buzz...

If you love werewolves and all things paranormal, which is obviously right up my alley, you're gonna love Freaksville by Kitty Keswick. Lucky me, I got a sneak peek at the title everyone's buzzing about and it's SENSATIONAL. Due out in January 2010 from Leap Books, this is one worth waiting for. Okay, it's classified as a YA, but I guarantee if you're an adult reader, it'll hook you too. What's not to love about werewolves, ghosts, and visions? Not to mention a romance and lots of mystery thrown into the mix. You'll fall head over heels for British hottie, Josh.

If you don't believe me, check out the book trailer. Does it give you shivers? A haunted theater, a full moon, and werewolves??

I'm starting the countdown 'til I can collect my autographed copy. Put it on your list. Lots of other people are:

It's been WOW'ed at Waiting on Wednesday, and featured at Reading Keeps You Sane, and Teen RC. And Kitty has a lot more interviews lined up, so check them out to find out more about her and her much-anticipated book.

Visit her at her website or at Leap Books or at The Wolfy Chicks blog that she shares with fellow paranormal author, Judith Graves. (More about Judith's upcoming release soon.)

Here's an excerpt:

Suddenly the lights failed.

The tunnel was shrouded in darkness.

A deep throaty growl vibrated a few yards away.

“Stay still,” I whispered.

This was the end. I wanted to grip Gillie’s hand for comfort. But didn’t want to see my best friend’s last moments in my head.

My strange list-making compulsion shoved at my thoughts. I didn’t fight it when my brain filtered through my mental catalog. It helped me process.

I knew three things:

1) That was a real growl.

2) It sounded hungry.

3) I was on the menu.

From somewhere on my right, in all the blackness, another wolf howled. Claws scratched the rough cement as the beasts darted toward us. Their heavy panting was as loud as my own. The slight clip-clop of nails scraped on the floor in front of me as this creature stalked forward. The smell of wet dog, raunchy, burned my nose. Hot breath wheezed out a moment before the wolf sprang.

Green Stone of Healing

2009-08-30T05:52:00.000-07:00

Author C.L. Talmadge will be my guest on September 6 for another in this series of authors discussing their writing. Here's what one reviewer had to say about an earlier book in the series:

"Exceptional job of writing, and keeping this story tightly together in a genre that is certainly difficult to do such, our author is top-notch," Shirley P. Johnson writes about Fallout in Midwest Book Review. "If you love an intense read, packed with sinister power seekers, grueling heartless characters, yet laced with mystical moments, the lure of peace and healing, and the hope that goodness will prevail, this read is for you."

The Green Stone of Healing® fictional epic explores what happens when politics and piety collide in an island nation called Azgard. Theocrats plot to impose total control over Azgard but end up destroying their country and much of the rest of the world. The series portrays four generations of strong-willed heroines who use their mysterious gem to offer a healing, inclusive alternative to the hate-filled bigotry of religious tyrants. Books One through Three are released, with the release of Book Four to be announced.

And if you'd like a chance to win not just one, but three books, Candace will be giving away an autographed set of her books in the series to one randomly drawn commenter from the tour, so come have your say. You might be the lucky winner!

Writing Memorable Characters

2009-08-22T05:16:00.000-07:00

Diane Craver, author of Whitney in Charge, who's joining us today, has agreed to share her insights on writing characters. She obviously has had a lot of experience with that because she's a multi-published author. Here's a bit about her latest release:

TV producer Whitney Benson is tired of her older sisters’ attempts to fix her up with every single male they meet. Shannon and Regan cross the line when they arrange for her to go skydiving with the simple excuse that more guys like to float in the air than women.

Whitney meets two eligible bachelors, Jack and Ben, who constantly battle for her affection. Which one will she choose? Both men make Whitney realize, even a heart shattered by her husband’s death, can once again be made whole.

But did she have to fall off a cliff to learn that?

Intriguing, right? So let's take a sneak peek at two of Diane's characters:

When the fireworks went off to celebrate a Reds homerun above the Ohio River, the crowd roared and clapped. Whitney let herself be caught up in the enthusiasm, jumping up from her seat to clap and whoop, cupping her palms around her mouth. She sat down, laughing, enjoying herself more than she had in a long time. When Jack had invited Whitney to go to a baseball game on Wednesday, she’d hesitated even though she loved going to the stadium. They’d just gone out Saturday night. She wanted to take things slow and easy. But, in the end, she’d said yes.

And she was so glad she did.

Who was she kidding? She wanted to wrap her arms around him and kiss him until neither one of them could think or breathe. But she couldn’t smother his lips with hers during a baseball game. She took a quick glance at Jack. Regan was right – he did look a lot like Matthew McConaughey. She wondered if McConaughey also loved baseball.

Jack tugged on her visor. “Hey, you look pretty cute in this cap.”

She took a bite of her nachos and cheese. “I like the eating part a lot at games.”

Jack glanced at the boy sitting a couple rows in front of them munching on a box of popcorn. The delicious aroma of popcorn and butter drifted up to them. “I might have to buy popcorn, too.”

“Please help me eat the nachos first.”

He dipped a chip in the cheese, popping it in his mouth. He smacked his fingertips between his lips, licking off the melted cheese and salt. “I wish you hadn’t paid for the beer.”

“You bought the tickets. I wanted to pay for something.” She licked warm cheese off her finger. “So did you rescue any cliff climbers today?”

“Nope. I only rescue beautiful women on Mondays.”

“I’ll have to remember that. Since the pool’s open now and if it’s not too cold, we can go swimming after the game.” Why did she blurt that invitation out to him? Could she handle him if he got too intimate? She hated taking a step forward, then a step back again, but she was just confused about what she wanted from Jack.

“I’ll have to go home to get my trunks first.”

“I have several suits in different sizes.”

Jack smiled at her. “Do you collect trunks from your guests?”

She laughed. “No. Unless my mom did. People used to drop in a lot, and she’d invite them to go swimming with us. They didn’t have their suits. Mom bought a few girls’ suits and women’s and men’s in different sizes.”

“Bases are loaded. Bring them home.” Jack patted her knee. “Isn’t this fun? I love the Reds.”

“You’re right. This is fun. I’m glad you─”

“Hey, the kissing cam’s on us.” Jack wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close, covering her mouth with his.

She’d forgotten how they had a kissing camera to zero in on couples and when it happened, the pair usually waved or kissed each other.

She enjoyed kissing Jack back and hated it when he stopped. “You didn’t need to stop because the camera’s no longer on us.”

“I don’t want to spoil you.”

It occurred to her why he wanted her to switch T-shirts before the game. “You gave me a Reds’ t-shirt to wear to increase our chances of getting on the kissing cam.”

He shrugged. “Ben already got you on TV when you fell. I had to get you on TV again. I didn’t want you to think I’m a slacker here. And I managed it without you falling out of your seat.”

“We can’t have you being a slacker.” She glanced down at her red shirt. “Do I get to keep this shirt?”

“Only if you get me a baseball cap like yours?”

“This one was my dad’s, but it’s a deal.”

So let's find out some of her secrets about how to write characters:

One of the hardest things to do in writing is to create characters that readers will care about, and will want to read on. You can have a well-written novel but if the editors, agents or readers don’t care that much about your characters, you won’t get very far.

A Memorable Character should have the following attributes:

1. A strong, independent personality.
2. Believable motivation.
3. Consistent behavior.
4. Imagination.
5. Courage to take the initiative.
6. A bigger-than-life image.
7. Human traits - good and bad.

The above traits will develop over the character’s life. In other words, a character usually doesn’t begin her or his novel life having all 7 attributes.

Each writer has their own system in creating their characters. I jot down as much information about each main character as possible - eye color, hair color, and write down a goal for each one. Some authors are more detailed in their approach and use a chart method, filling in vital information. Mine is more a narrative approach. You need to know your characters very well so that you can make them real to the readers.

Character description shouldn’t stop the action. The writer needs to convey description without stopping the flow. I try not to convey description by saying the character stopped and looked in the mirror at his or her appearance. Boring!

A pet peeve of mine is when a writer tries too hard to be different in naming their characters. If the names are hard to remember or I can’t pronounce them, I will become annoyed. But you don’t want to use Mary Doe or John Smith either. Poor usage of character names may signal an amateur writer. Switching between first and last names makes it hard for a reader to learn a new character. For example, referring to a character as “Mary Doe” in the first sentence, then “Mrs. Doe” in the second, then “Mary” in the third will confuse the reader, especially if there are many characters in the scene.

There are drives, strong feelings, and motivations that are common to all of us. We all need to be loved, to get recognition, and to know who we are. When any one of these basic drives is blocked, there is conflict. When you have conflict, whether it is physical, psychological, or spiritual, you have one of the fundamental elements of all fiction. Conflict is what drives fiction. Without conflict, there is no action or reaction.

I love to research occupations for my characters because it’s fun to write about jobs I have never had. Although I was a teacher before starting our family, Mallory is the only teacher I have for a main character. I’ve used teaching careers for secondary characters. I’ve gone to the library to get books on occupations used for characters, but I also have used the internet for a lot of my background information. I did buy a used book from Amazon on broadcasting for my Whitney in Charge book. I enjoyed reading how a TV program is produced.

It’s not good to launch into the story without stopping to establish any of the characters. In many “high concept” novels, a heated scene occurs immediately without the readers knowing anything about the characters. Readers have to know something about the characters to care what happens to them before the exciting scene happens. The characters are the plot - their needs, wishes, developments. Their introduction and establishment should be the most important. Introducing too many characters in the beginning pages will confuse the reader.

I pay close attention to those around me in my daily life. I remember any interesting or unusual traits or habits that I can use for my characters. Observation is important for a writer. Also what might be interesting to me may not be to someone else. I consider what makes a character intriguing to others. I try to avoid cliché traits and to create unique characters.

While reading or writing, what kind of characters do you enjoy the most?

Readers, answer Diane's question or just leave a comment about her book or this blog and you'll be in the running for a free copy of the book. And a bonus: All this week, I'm picking one commenter to win an e-copy of my book, Spark of Magic. Will YOU be one of the lucky winners? Leave a comment and see...

Need Some Writing Motivation?

2009-08-19T18:04:00.000-07:00

Another writer and more great writing tips...

I asked Lorhainne Eckhardt , author of The Captain's Lady, to tell us how she manages to keep herself writing. I know many people would be writers if only...

If only my life weren't so busy. If only I had the time. If only I didn't procrastinate. If only... If only...

So here are Lorhainne's suggestions:

How I motivate myself to write is such a good topic for a blog, since I am sure I am one of many who fights that urge to procrastinate. I love to write, but there are days where it is easy for me to find anything else to do, such as clean the house, mow the lawn, go grocery shopping, talk on the telephone, you get the idea. My children are my biggest motivator.

I developed a schedule. I get up in the morning generally around 4 am, but sometimes it’s 5 am. I put on the coffee, and I schedule a good two hours of writing time in the peace and quiet before the kids get up. During this time I actually get more accomplished then any other time of day.

After the kids are at school, I write for the next five hours. What I do is establish a goal each day. When I am writing a novel, it’s two thousand words a day. So if I can maintain my focus I can be done in three or four hours. On those days, I’ll reward myself. I’ll take some me time, and it could be anything, such as sitting down and reading a book of one of my many favorite authors or working in my garden. Whatever it is at that moment that will bring peace.

There have been many days where I struggled to get two pages written. At anytime if the words aren’t flowing or I’m struggling with a particular scene, I’ll close up my computer and take a walk outside in nature to clear my head. This works for me, it helps me to ground myself to go back and write.

It’s important that I don’t schedule anything during the day when I’m writing. But life is such that things do come up. If I need to schedule an appointment, I do it late enough in the afternoon that it doesn’t cut up my day. I plan meals in advance too, so I don’t spend every day preparing a meal from scratch. When I cook, I make lots so there are leftovers and freeze any extras for a quick meal. Otherwise I found I always had that one thing in the back of my mind, that I still needed to do and that would took my focus away from my writing.

I never write when my kids are home, I maintain that time as our time together. Basically what it boils down to is that this is my career choice, and I treat it as a job, one that I love. No matter what the deadline is, I never write at night.

Thanks, Lohrainne! You've given us some great ideas. I especially like the tip about not writing at night. Have to try that one. And I must admit, my kids were a great motivator for writing too. Writing was the only way I could keep my sanity.

Well, I know after viewing the terrific cover above, you'd love to learn more about The Captain's Lady, so I'm including a blurb below:

Captain Eric Hamilton is a powerful force in the U.S. Navy, having earned himself a reputation of being a hard-nosed chauvinist. He’s commander of the USS Larsen, a destroyer, currently deployed in the Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Abby Carlton has just escaped from the man who held her captive for a year. Abducted while travelling in Paris, she was given to an Arab man as a gift, until one night she makes her desperate escape.

While on patrol one morning Captain Eric Hamilton discovers a dinghy floating aimlessly. Abby is found, battered and in an advanced state of pregnancy, lying in the bottom of the dinghy. From the moment she lay on the deck of his ship her innocence finds a way to penetrate his hardened heart. But time is running out. Eric is falsely accused of sexual assault and the CIA wants Abby and the baby for bait to flush out her captor.

Sounds great doesn't it? Here's a sneak peek at an excerpt (and at Lohrainne):

“We have no reports of a ship in distress in the area, Captain.”

“What about fishing boats?”

“No, sir, no reports.”

Looking once more at his first officer, Eric issued curt orders, the harshness grating in his voice. “Send a rescue team to check it out.”

Handing the binoculars off to one of the crew members, he strode with determination off the bridge, heading directly to the ship’s launch. His well-trained crew scurried about. Joe appeared at his side and they watched from the rail as the small rigid hull sped off in the direction of the dinghy. His pulse rose and the dampness on his back soaked through his short-sleeved shirt.

“So what do you think?” Joe leaned on the rail, uncertainty clear in the crinkle of his brows.

“Don’t know, dammit.” Eric focused on the scene unfolding in the distance. Again he commandeered the binoculars from Joe and scrutinized the three-man team approaching, then securing the boat to the dinghy.

His senses were keen; over the years, he’d learned to trust them. The uneasiness that crept its way into his gut, the hairs now standing up on the back of his neck and the racing of his heart; this unshakable feeling was telling him that things were about to change—drastically. Puzzled, he felt the mounting frustration build inside, along with something else he could not quite put his finger on. Shaking his head, he realized it was not a feeling of dread.

The crackle of the radio interrupted his speculation. A voice from the rescue team came over the line. “There’s someone in here, a woman, and she’s in bad shape.”

Thanks so much for sharing, Lohrainne! Good luck with the book sales! And one lucky commenter on Lohrainne's book tour will win a copy of The Captain's Lady, so get out there and comment. Here's a question for you to answer: What do you do to motivate yourself to write?? Best answer will also be eligible to win a free e-copy of Spark of Magic.

Viva Italy!

2009-08-15T01:02:00.001-07:00

This is a fun week! Lots of authors who are willing to share their secrets and help us learn to improve our writing.

Christine's book is set in Italy. Ah, beautiful Rome. The city that stole my heart. I threw coins in the Trevi fountain, so I will return someday. But I have the most wonderful memories...

Italy is where I reclaimed the artist within & resolved to live the life of the creative. If it weren't for that trip, I might still be stuck in a dead-end job. Instead, I'm a writer, and I have the privilege of interviewing fellow authors. Today Christine is going to tell us how she did her research for her book, A Daughter's Promise, set during World War II. Scroll down to a previous blog for more into about Christine and her book. Thanks for joining us, Christine!

Research is Unique

By Christine Clemetson

Researching for a book is unique. Whether you’re researching a setting, world building or simply learning a career for one of your characters, you have a lot of information to digest and somehow sprinkle into your story. But just like soup, too many spices don’t work well for the taste. So with our stories, we need enough research to make the story believable, but too much can make it more of an information dump.

When I was researching my book, A Daughter’s Promise, set in WWII Italy, I needed to research everything, from the ground up. To get the richness of the time period, and the people who lived in it, I had to dig in deep and be creative in my research methods.

So where to begin?

I used the internet and library to form the foundation of my research, including the timeline of events in Rome, what churches were still standing, and also what an Italian funeral would have been like. Here is a great tip—believe it or not—in the library, I found good information in the children’s section, including a lot of great diagrams of soldier’s uniforms, procedures, etc. These books break down the information into simple diagrams, and easy-to-find information about common foods in Italy, cultural traditions, etc.

One of the research methods that helped me the most was an eyewitness account. From networking, I found a woman who had lived close to Rome during WWII. She told me many things hard to find in books, including how people felt about the war conditions going on around them, how bad the food rations were, how people moved around Rome, and how it felt for the Germans to be patrolling their neighborhoods. Also, I read many biographies. Whether you’re writing a contemporary or historical, a person’s biography holds a wealth of knowledge!

In general, I’m a pantser-type writer, which means that I know the beginning and end of the story and the major plot points, but the rest comes as I’m doing the actual writing. This is the same for research. I know the basics of the place in which I’m setting the story, and also the major historical references I want to use, but the research details unfold as I’m writing. For example, I knew the bulk of my story would take place in a family-owned restaurant. I did high-level research on the types of drinks popular during that time period, but I waited until I wrote those actual scenes to determine which kind of wine would work with the scene’s mood. For me, it all adds to the discovery part of writing.

Here's an excerpt:

Excerpt

They both knew Serene’s turn had come. She took in a deep breath and touched his arms in a stiff embrace. She hugged him the way she had rehearsed in her head over and over, the way a mother would hug her son going off to war.

“I don’t care who sees,” he said gruffly, pulling her closer. He pushed her chin up with his

fingertips, and bent his head to kiss her.

She took his lips, his body, all of him, into her heart for the last time. Feeling the rapid beating in his chest, she fought the urge to mold her most intimate part against his.

When their lips parted, his warm breath on her neck made her body shiver. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she buried her face into his jacket. “I’m not ashamed about

what I said to you last night or what happened between us.” Her voice cracked. “It’s a sin, I know, but it was the most beautiful—”

“Ashamed? I don’t think I’ll ever have that kind of love again.”

Trembling, she stood back a little, clinging to her emotions with the delicacy of a spider web. “But you were right. We made the most logical decision.”

“Jesus, Serry. I want to tell you so bad that I—”

“You’re all set, then?” Sam said, coming back into the house.

Serene let go of Miles, letting her one finger intertwine with one of his pinky fingers. She couldn’t let him go.

Slowly, he released her and went to the door, putting one foot on the outside pavement before hesitating and turning back. His eyes were red, and she clutched the stair banister to keep from running to him. How much she loved him would be a secret

she’d take to the grave.

Carrying a bottle of whiskey, Marcus passed him at the door and gave him a friendly slap on the back. “I came to give you a goodbye, Coulson.”

Serene stood up straight and froze.

Miles jerked himself away. “Change of heart about me?”

His answer was Marcus’ deep kiss on Serene’s cheek and an arm around her waist. “I realized, Coulson, that I’m proud of her for taking the responsibility for you. I thought it was about time that I offered my apologies for the undiplomatic way I acted. We’re all in this for a cause, no? Why don’t we share a bottle to celebrate?”

“No, your change of heart doesn’t rub me the right way.” Miles offered an apologetic glance to Serene and then shifted his gaze back to Marcus. “You hurt her, and I’ll hurt you. You understand me?”

“Have a safe trip,” Marcus drawled.

Serene watched the driver help him in and her knees weakened. As the truck’s engine started, she braced herself against the wall.

“Don’t worry. Serene. Just think of this as a wedding present from me. No more worries about your American. He is well now and gone for good. Your only thanks is to marry me.”

She couldn’t hear him. Her throat ached and she made no effort to wipe the tears spilling freely from her eyes. She started for the door, but he grabbed her by the shoulders.

The Magic of Ireland

2009-08-13T21:36:00.000-07:00

Today we have a special blog with author Clare Austin on a subject near and dear to my heart: Ireland. It's easy to wax lyrical, when the lush fields of green surround you. And the loveliness of the redheads catches your eye. As you can see, Clare has captured that magical beauty. I, too, am a redhead, so we have much in common as we both love Éire and love to write.

I asked Clare to tell us a bit about how she researches her stories. And one of her recommendations is to visit Ireland. If you haven't done so, I highly recommend it. (Just think of the tax write-off.)

Thanks for joining us, Clare! And now I'll turn the blog over to you for some words of wisdom:

Thank you for having me on your blog today. I have been thinking about how I research my stories. I would have to say it’s a dynamic process. Researching Ireland is always a joy. Invisible threads pull me back each year to the shores and hills I’ve loved since a child. My muse thrives in the weather, dances to the music of the sea caressing the cliffs and breathes deep into her soul the fragrant air settling over a field of stone and whitethorn.

When I started writing fiction four years ago this fall, all the Irishness in me once again surfaced. I had recently been back to Éire and as I traveled I made copious notes for story ideas. If you get off the tourist track, it won’t be long before someone will tell a tale, sing a song, raise a pint in celebration of a victory or to salve a defeat. The Irish love to talk. I love to listen. Story telling is a national pastime…right up there with Gaelic Football and Hurling. History, both recent and ancient, is a nebulous thing mixed with lore and a touch of blarney.

Years ago someone asked me “Why Ireland?” My answer… “Why anywhere?” Apart from the obvious, the physical beauty, the friendly people, the magical charm, there is a gravitational pull. The land of Yeats, Joyce, and Sheridan tugs on every cell of my body until I once again return to that greener shore.

My writing has been described by more than one reader as “lyrical.” I have to believe some of that tendency is in my mitochondria, passed down from generations of Celtic folk. But, I also have a vast curiosity about how environment shapes us.

I cannot walk past the General Post Office in Dublin without visualizing the struggle for Irish Independence…and a story will start to gel in my consciousness. When I stand on the shore or swim in the sea, I literally hear the music of harps, fiddles and pipes in my head. I’m “Off with the fairies.” This is a very Irish phrase that gently depicts a condition lacking reason or sanity. It rather sweetly illustrates a state of blissful confusion. My friends and family will attest to the fact that I can get lost in my own neighborhood. I know it is because those “fairies” called me off to places in my heart.

I’m not at all sure this qualifies as research. Yes, I do actually read, study articles on the internet, talk to experts. In the Fad Trilogy the Irish characters are native Irish speakers. I have an Irish language expert who helps me not sound like an illiterate when I use an Gaeilge in my books. I have a great little book called Slanguage by Bernard Share to help wade though the street slang of Dublin. The film “The Commitments” is fabulous for getting a feel for modern urban Irishness. I am a voracious reader. Frank Delaney, Maeve Binchy, The Táin translated from the Irish by Ciaran Carson and the Princes of Ireland series by Rutherford sit on my bookshelves beside the poetry of W.B. Yeats.

But, if you are going to write about Ireland, there is no research better than being there. You will feel the stories soaking into your skin, your hair, your lungs as gently as the rain that falls on a soft Connemara morning. Be mindful to keep your voice silent, ears tuned, to quiet your heart and wait. It will come…that’s Ireland.

Thank you for this opportunity. I hope you will stop by my website www.clareaustin.com and take a look at my other books, Angel’s Share and Hot Flash, both due to release early in 2010. If you wish to contact me personally, my email is authorclare@gmail.com. Don’t be shy…I love to be chat with people about writing, books and Ireland.

Clare

And here's Clare's most recent release:

Flannery Sloane is a free spirited bohemian with a soul blessed by Irish musical tradition. She doesn’t give a care for where she’s going or how she’ll get there. Joy and passion are her only map. And, though she’s not interested in falling in love, she wouldn’t mind a little fun with a fine looking man. Hunter Kincade looks like he could fill that bill and have a bit of change left over.

Flannery never wears a watch. She’s late for everything but the downbeat of a fiddle tune. She’s happy serving pints in the pub and playing for tips and smiles. Hunter thrives on punctuality. He is in the music business with his focus on the bottom line. The pretty fiddle player with the bright green eyes would make his next production worth the price of a CD.

Their only common ground is the belief that falling in love is a danger to health and sanity.

Will it take more than Irish magic to pull a man like Hunter into the spell of a woman like Flannery? They are all wrong for each other...and they are so right.

Coming Soon...

2009-08-10T07:34:00.000-07:00

I promised you more information on upcoming events, but got sidetracked this weekend. I accomplished a great deal, though, so it was worth it. Anyway, here's some info about the author who will be joining us on August 15th, Christine Clemetson:

Here's a blurb from her book (see picture below):

A Daughter’s Promise, by debut novelist Christine Clemetson, is a sweeping love story of sacrifice and unexpected hope. In war torn Italy, 1944, Serene Moneto made a promise to her dying mother—a promise so haunting that it directs the course of her life. When she chooses to save an American soldier from death, she risks everything—her name, her life, and capture by the Germans. Finding forbidden love with this soldier tears her world apart. Against the backdrop of a war raging right outside her door, can she choose happiness? Despite the promise she made those years ago?

See the trailer at http://www.christineclemetson.com/trailers.html

Sounds great, doesn't it? Check back on the 15th for a sneak peek and more about Christine.

Upcoming Surprises

2009-08-07T21:43:00.000-07:00

I've been globetrotting and just returned, but have 3 wonderful surprises coming up soon--visits from 3 different romance writers who will be sharing writing tips.

Here's the fun lineup:

August 14 -- Clare Austin's debut novel Butterfly, the first of in the Fadó trilogy

August 15 -- Lorhainne Eckhardt's debut novel The Captain's Lady

August 20 -- Christine Clemetson, author of A Daughter's Promise

Tomorrow I'll post blurbs and additional information, but for now, I hope this whets your appetite.

Welcome Donna Marie Rogers

2009-07-22T12:51:00.000-07:00

Hi, all,

I'm heading off to Asia in the morning, so I'm posting this great interview before I go. Let's welcome Donna Marie Rogers, who's on a Goddess Fish blog tour. She's agreed to answer some questions about her writing process and she's also shared her blurb and excerpt. Hope you'll all rush out and buy the book. Isn't the cover fabulous???

Here's my interview with Donna:

When did you first dream of being a writer and what steps did you take to follow your dream?

I read my first romance novel when I was 20 years old. I'd picked up a couple of used Kathleen E. Woodiwiss novels for my mom, and decided to give one a try on the long ride home. By the time we arrived, I was hooked! I read every romance novel I could get my hands on (even hooked both my sisters-in-law, who are still voracious readers), and slowly the writing jones took a hold of me. Only I quickly discovered that writing an entire novel wasn't as easy as I'd thought. Several years and many half-written manuscripts later, I became discouraged and gave up. But in 2004, I sat down at my computer, a little older and with thicker skin (LOL), and eight months later I'd finished my first draft of There's Only Been You. Unsure of where to go from there, I emailed a fan letter to Jayne Ann Krentz who told me if I was a serious about writing, I should join RWA. Which I did, along with my local chapter. :-)

What do you find most challenging about being a writer? What do you love most?

For me, the most challenging is simply finding the time to write. But once my kids are both in school (this fall!!!), I hope to nail down a regular writing schedule. I love so many things...editing, fan letters, good reviews (just received my first review for MEANT TO BE & it was excellent!). And I love how proud my family is of me. :-)

In addition to writing, what are your other passions?

My family, of course. My friends. Reading, for sure. I love watching TV and I'm a longtime soap opera fan. I also love to garden. I used to love to fish, so I may get my butt out on the boat again this year.

What stumbling blocks have you encountered and how have you overcome them?

The usual, I suppose. Agents who say they love your book, but don't know if they could sell it. Editors who call, and just as you're about to have a heart attack they say, "I'm not calling for the reason you think I am." LOL Perseverence is how I overcame those stumbling blocks, until I found an editor who not only loved my work, but believed in it.

What comes first in your writing process? A scene, characters, title? Are you a plotter?

I like to simply start with the opening paragraph, which sets the scene for me. Everything else just develops, I guess, as I write. I used to be a pantser, but I quickly realized plotting works a lot better for me...less headaches...LOL

Where do you get your ideas? And what do you do if your muse decides to take a vacation?

I get my ideas in all sorts of places: the news, articles, books, real life, reality shows. Reality shows are a goldmine for quirky characters. LOL

What’s one secret few people know about you?

I've wracked my brain for something juicy, but I got nothing. Well, I cry at the drop of a hat...but heck, that's just pathetic. *grin* A few months ago, I was trying to tell my friend (co-author Stacey Joy Netzel) about the movie Somewhere In Time with Christopher Reeves & Jane Seymour, which she's never seen, and I couldn't get the words out I was so choked up. She just shook her head and said, "Really? Are you kidding?" LOL I also couldn't read the speech for this year's Chapter Service Award recipients (at the WisRWA conference) because when I tried to practice it on my friends I couldn't do it without crying. Man, I'm a blubbering fool...LOL

Anything special you wish I'd asked or that you'd like to share with readers.

I'd love to post an excerpt for the secondary love story in Meant To Be between Luke Jamison (Garrett's uncle who moved in to take care of them after the deaths of their parents) & Muriel, a neighbor who works at the police station with Garrett & Mike.

Excerpt:

Luke Jamison nearly choked on his beer when he saw Muriel strolling his way with a killer smile and a plateful of food. She was so beautiful he couldn't believe some lucky guy hadn't snapped her up already. She had a figure women half her age would envy, and today she wore a pair of those lowrise jeans with a white, spaghetti-strap tank top that had the Led Zeppelin blimp on it. Please, God, let something witty come out of my mouth. He cleared his throat and gestured toward her chest. "You know, I saw them once, but it was years ago."

"Oh, I don't think so." She grinned. "I would've remembered something like that."

Heat crawled up Luke's neck. "I, uh, what I meant was...ah, hell, I'm an idiot."

"Actually, I think you're cute. And I know what you meant, I was only teasing." She stopped in front of him and held out the plate. "Garrett asked me to bring this in to you."

"Thanks." He accepted it without making eye contact. Chicken shit.

"Don't mention it." She took a seat on the beige and gold flower-patterned sofa and patted the cushion beside her. "I'd be happy to keep you company while you eat."

"Maybe I should go eat this out on the patio. Sara'll skin me alive if I plop barbecue sauce on their new furniture."

"Relax, Luke. After four kids, trust me, I'm an expert at taking out stains."

With a hesitant nod, he walked over and sat down next to her, being careful not to sit too close. With his luck, he'd end up getting barbecue sauce on her as well as the sofa.

"So how have you been?" she asked. "I haven't seen you down at the station in quite a while."

"I've been working a lot. Eating up the overtime." He picked up his fork and took a bite of the macaroni salad.

"Tasty, huh? Your Sara sure can cook." Muriel crossed her legs, her sandaled foot brushing his calf. "You know, I'm not a half-bad cook myself."

He glanced up after another bite of macaroni salad. "Can you make pierogies?"

"My maiden name is Slotkowski; what do you think?"

He held her gaze for moment before dropping his back to his plate.

Muriel took heart. Luke Jamison was easily the shyest man she'd ever met. And one of the best looking. He stood just shy of six-feet, had a thick, full head of salt and pepper hair with a matching mustache and beard that he kept neatly trimmed. Muscular, like his nephews, he was in surprisingly good shape for a man of nearly fifty. He wore a wellworn pair of Levi's with a black pocket T-shirt tucked into the waistband, which showed off a lean waist from all the years he'd spent doing hard physical labor at the paper mill. He had big, brown bedroom eyes, and some of the sexiest hands she'd ever seen.

Muriel had been itching to feel those hands on her since the moment they'd met.

* * *

Can you tell us a bit about what you’re working on now?

I'd be happy to. I'm working on a novella, Home Is Where the Heart Is, my first story for the sequel to Welcome To Redemption, a four-story anthology I wrote with my good friend & CP, Stacey Joy Netzel. Once we finish the sequel, I have to get back to Jack Sutton's story. You meet Jack in Meant To Be.

And here's a blurb and excerpt from Meant to Be:

She's running from her past, he's unsure about his future. Maybe together they can figure out what was MEANT TO BE. Officer Garrett Jamison is at the lowest point in his life. He’s lost faith in his ability as a police officer after unwittingly setting his sister up with a dirty cop. Garrett ended up getting shot, and his sister's son kidnapped right out of his own bed. He takes a leave from the force, in need of some time to make a decision about his future. Too bad he can't get a decent night's sleep thanks to his sexy new neighbor and her howling cat.

Jessica McGovern moves halfway across the country to start a new life in Green Bay, Wisconsin after her ex-husband is convicted of involuntary manslaughter in the death of their young son. Her new neighbor is as infuriating as he is handsome, but when her ex is released from prison early and shows up in town, Jessica discovers she's never needed anyone more...

EXCERPT:

"Come here, Miss Crabbypants."

Jessica resisted, but it was no use. The big oaf outweighed her by a ton. "Look, I just want to finish my tea and relax. Today's my last day off for almost two weeks."

He leaned back and frowned down at her. "Why are you working so many hours?"

She rolled her eyes. "Um, I have bills to pay...?"

His gaze became pensive as he massaged the back of her neck. Slowly, she relaxed until she was leaning into his broad chest, eyes closed, inhaling his spicy masculine scent. He always smelled so good...Damn, the man was a magician; she'd already forgotten why she was mad at him...Wait, oh yeah. "So what's with all that hammering?"

"We're building a doghouse."

His busy fingers moved to her shoulders wringing a groan of ecstasy from her. Oh, God, was she drooling on his shirt? Then his words registered. Jessica leaned back and swiped her mouth with the back of her wrist. "A doghouse? But you don't have a dog...do you?"

"No, but Ethan's been begging for a puppy for a couple years now. I guess he finally wore Sara down. And Mike's still in the ‘buy-Ethan-anything-he-wants' phase." Garrett glanced down at his T-shirt and chuckled. He reached out and recaptured the back of her neck. "Liked that, did you? You do seem a little tense—"

"Oh, no you don't." She ducked out of his reach and took a few steps back. He started to follow but she held up both hands. "You stay right where you are."

He propped his hands on his hips. "So do I have a date tonight or what?"

"Or what."

He grinned. "Wear something sexy," he said with a wink before strolling out the back door. The jackass even had the nerve to whistle.

Jessica walked over and slammed the door with a muttered, "Nutjob." Then she headed into the bedroom to search through her closet.

Thanks so much, Donna, for popping by today! And readers, check yesterday's post for another fun blurb!! And remember to comment. One lucky reader on Donna's blog tour will win a copy of her book.

I'm Fashionable

2009-07-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

Turns out when you Google my name that I have many upscale, creative businesses going. Of course, you already know I'm an author, but I'm also an artist and a businesswoman, so I indulge my creativity in other ways.

Check out these possibilities and see if you think any of them represent my other creative endeavors. Even if you decide none of them are mine, it can't hurt to help out a namesake. But you never know...

I've done many fun things in my life--including selling cosmetics, designing children's clothes, and taking classes in sculpture. I've also owned several businesses, so all of these are real possibilities:

Lily Stone London is a very classy, casual clothing line for women made from luxury fabrics that has recently opened in England. You can find out more at http://theagencylimited.com/blog/?p=145.

Lily Stone Designs specializes in architectural cast stone design. A gallery of breathtaking of houses with Lily Stone details await your at http://www.lilystonedesigns.com.

Professional makeup artist Lilly Stone has created her own line of cosmetics called Soo Lilly.

Globetrotting

2009-07-12T22:08:00.000-07:00

"The time has come," the Walrus said, "to talk of many things: Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax-- Of cabbages--and kings..."

Of planes--and trains--and foreign lands. Of the joy that travel brings.

I'm off again on my globetrotting adventures. I'll be heading thousands of miles from home, winging my way through the sky, only to end up at the same place I left. But I won't be the same person. Every time I travel anywhere, my heart and soul expand. I meet new people, imprint a new landscape on my mind, and become one with the wider world. No longer is that place just a dot on a map. It explodes from a 2-D, easy-to-ignore spot into a fully fleshed out world. It becomes real. When I read news about a place I've been, I ache. I think about the people that live there and hope they're OK. Their pain becomes my pain.

I often wonder if the solution to world peace is travel. If everyone spent time in various spots around the world, they'd open their hearts to the people there. They'd care about that place and what happens there. It's so much harder to close your eyes to the pain and suffering of people you know. Travel to Africa. See the AIDS orphans. Look at the poverty of India--not on TV or in magazine pictures, but firsthand. Experience a drought and learn how precious water can be. Afterward, it's hard to turn your back when you see charity appeals to help the people you've seen. Suddenly, they become real. Their problems become your problems. Their poverty becomes your responsibility. You are them and they are you.

Whenever I arrive home after a trip, I've not only increased my understanding of myself and others, but I've added to my family--I now have relatives all over the globe. I've also added another country to care about. They say travel is broadening, and it's true. It enlarges your horizon, your understanding, your heart.

Coming Soon...

2009-07-06T15:16:00.000-07:00

Watch for author Christine Clemetson's blog tour stop here in mid-August. Her historical is set in Italy during the war.

Some Wise Advice

2009-06-24T05:28:00.000-07:00

Just read the following quote by marketing guru Seth Godin:

“The best time to start promoting your book is three years before it comes out. Three years to build a reputation, build a permission asset, build a blog, build a following, build credibility and build the connections you’ll need later.”

So those of you struggling to get published can take heart. It takes time to become a writer. Many writers practice their craft for years--10+ years is not uncommon--before they see their work in print. So if you're at the early stages of your career, now's the time to start blogging, building your platform, and making connections. Then when you find a publisher for your novel, you'll have all the pieces in place to promote it.

I've learned that marketing can eat up a lot of time. I write under several pseudonyms and juggling all the promo efforts often devours hours of what used to be writing time. I find I enjoy social networking. So much so that I sometimes spend hours reading posts and responding to even the silly and mundane ones. Not sure that any of that gains me more readers or sales, but it sure is FUN!

Anyone have any advice on how to cut back on the social media addiction & find more time to write?

The RWA Controversy

2009-06-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

So are those of us who are e-published less legitimate as authors? Perhaps RWA needs to learn to distinguish between e-publishing, vanity publishing, and self-publishing. Many great discussions are occurring around the web on the topic of e-published romances. Perhaps this is what we need to get the dialogue started and come to an understanding between the two factions. Check out: Deidre Knight and Ecataromance for two of the many discussions in favor of e-publishing.