Interview with romance author E.M. Bannock

My special guest today is E.M. Bannock, member of Romance Writers of America. She’s chatting with me about her new modern western romance, Totally Devoted.

During her virtual book tour, E.M. will be giving away a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

E.M. Bannock was born in 1950 and grew up in the Detroit suburbs. Her love for writing began during high school where she excelled in writing short stories and poetry. Born with the wanderlust, she found herself in Los Angeles, an exciting place to be in the early 70’s, and E.M. experienced all that it had to offer. It was here she met her husband. She has lived in California, Oregon, Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming, where she now lives with her husband, son, daughter-in-law, grandson and a menagerie of cats, dogs, chickens, and horses.

Welcome, E.M. Please share a little bit about your current release.

Thank you for having me, Lisa. I’m very excited to be here and hopefully get some new readers. I love sharing my book.

Totally Devoted begins 10 years after the death of the main character’s son and husband. Marie Trousdale, a strong, independent, professional has spent that time working and little else. Her current job, Project Manager for a software company, has her flying around the country in a whirlwind of fuzzy faces and board rooms that all look the same. When her home in southern California gets condemned as part of an urban development plan, she realizes that she’s been stagnant for 10 years and longs for a change.

She decides to move to Oregon and hires Wil Townsend, a local contractor, to build a home for her on the property she inherited from her late husband.

Wil had lived a quite life in rural Oregon up to this point. Right after high school his young wife left him with their infant son. Soon after that, she died, leaving Wil to raise the boy alone. Wil is tough, rugged, and rough around the edges but honest, trustworthy, and devoted to family.

Marie and Wil clash from the start and mix like oil and water. But hidden emotions surface and bring out long forgotten passions.

Marie is determined to change professions so that she can spend more time in Oregon and be with Wil but the profession she chooses puts her at odds with him and his traditional values and puts her own life in danger. Wil must then decide if his love for Marie can save them both.

There is also a subplot involving family drama on Marie’s end which I’m sure some of my readers will be able to identify with. This subplot has some interesting twists.

There’s some pretty steamy sex scenes in the book. I make no apologies for them. They fit for the time and the place. You can always skim over them if you like. But I bet you’ll be coming back for a peek.

The majority of the book takes place in Oregon. A place I’ve lived and love. The places I describe when Marie and Wil are horseback riding are all written from memory of places I’ve ridden in the Oregon mountains. It’s very beautiful there and I hope I’m able to bring that beauty to life to my readers as well.

What inspired you to write this book?

I began this book shortly after the death my sister, Cheryl, from Breast Cancer. In fact, she was the inspiration for the subplot. It was actually kind of therapeutic.

The main plot of the book came to me in a dream, if you can believe that, and the entire outline of the book played out in my head one afternoon in a jet plane on the way to my sister, Annette’s, house. It took a couple of years to write it. I actually started it in 1998. Back then there was no self publishing or eBooks. I typed it out, printed several copies, and sent them to publishers in New York only to be rejected.

The book sat in my computer for years, moving from computer to computer as I upgraded and when an opportunity in 2013 came to self publish, I jumped on it. I learned a lot but with no marketing budget or experience the only thing I got was the personal satisfaction of seeing my book in print.

Through a chain of coincidences, I was introduced to 5 Prince Publishing who took an interest in the book and a chance on me, for which I am very grateful. They worked with me to edit the book and make it even better than before. I am very proud of the finished product and hope I bring entertainment to many readers.


Excerpt from Totally Devoted:

Chapter 7

And like the endless rush of rain flowing from the barn toward the ditch, he opened up to her. He told her the whole sorry tale of falling in love, getting Maggie pregnant, getting married, having Duke, and being abandoned by Maggie. He ended with the phone call from Maggie’s mother and the news of her death.

He said it without emotion. It was almost as if he was describing someone else’s life. His story filled Marie with such sorrow. How could a mother desert her own child? How could she throw away such a precious gift? And poor Wil…to have lived through that pain. No wonder he was so afraid to love again. She wanted to reach out to him and comfort him. She wanted to tell him that she would never hurt him, if he would only give her the chance. Instead, she just sat there, stunned in amazement. The only thing she could say was, “I’m sorry.”

What exciting story are you working on next?

Right now, I’m working on a book called Zoey’s Place. It’s about another strong, independent, professional woman (an attorney) who is in a loving, happy, successful, sexually passionate marriage (some called it kinky). Her beloved husband is suddenly killed while on a business trip, she quits her practice and tries to adjust to a life alone, without her partner, without a sex life, a life without meaning.

After a series of events she decides to open up a spa/brothel for women and uses the varied sexual role-playing escapades she shared with her husband as the basis for the brothel experiences. It’s a success.

Then as if it were planned, things begin to go wrong and it’s up to Zoey to figure out who or what is behind it. I’ll give you a hint. It has something to do with a ghost from her legal career past.

I’m still planning on a HEA ending but haven’t figured out how to fit it in and who Zoey will end up with.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I’ve always enjoyed writing from as far back as I can remember. My father was a great story teller. I guess that inspired me. I was infatuated with poetry at first. There were no computers when I was growing up. I know that gives my age away, but it encouraged me to read and write. I loved romance novels and it was even better if there was a sex scene in it; quite a thrill for a Catholic school girl.

I’ve written on and off my whole life, poems, short stories, a newsletter article now and then, and always held out the idea of writing books and becoming an author. And now I am one.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I do not write full-time. I would love to, but I can’t afford it. I live in a very rural area of Wyoming and you have to do what you can do make a living. My husband and I run a small, very small, construction company. I am also a volunteer and State Certified substitute teacher for our little K-5 elementary school. I can sub for the teacher, the two Para-educators, and/or the cook. We have fourteen students at school this year. I love them all.

We also have horses, chickens, and a garden which require daily care. I write when I can. When I get in a groove I can write for days taking breaks only for food, or care of my family members. I also enjoy reading, watching selected TV, enjoying the beautiful state of Wyoming, and my favorite pastime, spending time with my one and only grandson.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I like throwing the reader a curve ball. Just when you think everything is okay, BAM! You never see it coming and you can’t figure out how it will resolve. I like to explore the unexpected and keep the reader turning the page and staying up reading all night to find out.

I also like to keep it real life, whether that means crude talk, sex, hard facts of life, or whatever, I don’t sugar coat. And I like to add a touch of humor. I hate depressing books.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Actually, I wanted to be a cowboy. I even had a cowgirl (skirt instead of chaps) outfit with fringe trim and a cowboy hat. I even had a toy six gun and holster.

My parents were very old world traditional and I was pushed to get married, have children, and be a housewife. Something inside me “No Way” and I’ve been a rebel ever since, even burned a bra or two. I left home at eighteen and never looked back. When you read my books you won’t be able to tell what is written from real experience and what is made up.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I hope I’ve sparked your interest in Totally Devoted. I think you’ll enjoy the ride. Make sure you have plenty of ice water handy cause it gets pretty hot in some parts.

Keep reading. Every book is a new adventure. And lastly, please, please, please, leave reviews for authors. We thrive on the feedback. I read once where an author uses the names of readers in their future books who leave great reviews. It’s an idea I think I’ll adopt. I’ve already gone through sisters, brothers, and cousins. It also helps in this electronic age of social media. Most people depend on the reviews of others to make their purchases.

Links:

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Buy links:

GooglePlay | AMAZON | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Smashwords

Thank you for being a guest on my blog!

Thank you, Lisa, for the opportunity to share my book and my thoughts with you and your readers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

-->

Interview with paranormal romance author Randa Flannery

I’d like to introduce Randa Flannery to you today. She’s here to chat about her new paranormal romance novel, Love the One You’re Witch.

As she does her virtual book tour, Randa will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be entered for a chance to win, use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Randa Flannery has an a degree in English and writes a variety of romantic fiction, including suspense, comedy, and urban fantasy. Randa is a member of the Romance Writers of America and lives as an expat with her husband and children in FuYang, China.

Welcome, Randa. Please tell us about your current release.
Love the One You’re Witch is a paranormal romantic comedy. It follows Ana Gregor, a snarky witch PI, as she works to save a family of vampires from a love spell. Ana, herself, is not a fan of vampires. Then she meets Lucas. Sure, he’s good looking and intriguing and just all around perfect, but he has a big drinking problem...namely that he drinks blood. There’s a little mystery, a bit of action, a tiny twist, and a ball of fluff named Ollie. As things get complicated, Ana has to decide whether to hitch a broom out of town or stay and face the fang.

What inspired you to write this book?
I had only recently started reading the paranormal genre and was intrigued by the witches. I got a bit hooked on a series by Suza Kates called the Savanah Coven Series and, when I needed a break from writing the more serious topics in the novel I’d been working on at the time (Missing), I decided to dip my toe into the paranormal waters. Around that time, I’d read several stories that all seemed to have a whiny heroine pining after a dark, brooding, tortured hero. Drove me crazy. I hate whiny. I don’t find brooding and silent to be all that sexy, and didn’t see how in the world the characters were drawn to each other. So as I set out to write Ana’s story, I focused on making it the exact opposite from that. Love the One You’re Witch is the result.

Excerpt from Love the One You’re Witch:
“Can you fix it?” She said it with a touch of desperation and I wondered how long this had been going on.

“I can if it’s a spell,” I offered. “How long has she been like this?”

“I’ve loved him forever!” the young vamp declared as she and Lucas finally made it to the couch. “And I will love him forever, no matter what you try to do to us!”

“It’s been about a month,” Lucas answered, frustration edging that smooth voice while she ran fingers through his hair. “She was fine one day, chatting and joking, completely normal. The next, she couldn’t keep her hands off of me.”

I nodded. “Yes, well, have you seen yourself? I think that may be the normal reaction for teenagers when confronted with...” I waved a hand at him. I stopped mid-gesture when I realized the silence around me was now more of a shock reaction than the discomfort of having the errant vamp pawing at her man. “Sorry, just trying to lighten things up,” I mumbled. This is why I didn’t like vampires. No sense of humor. Well, the trying to kill me thing was also a put-off. That in mind, I got back to business and refused to drool over Lucas any more. Or at least, I’d try.

What exciting story are you working on next?
I’ve just finished the first draft of the second book in the Magically Yours series, which follows Ana’s coworker and friend, Lucy. Lucy is very different from Ana, but no less fun, and you get to know a few of the other characters a bit better, as well.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I was about 7 or 8, I wrote my first story. I’ve always loved writing stories and have been doing it forever, but always on the side. When I was applying to colleges, I actually considered not going because I wanted to write and I didn’t need college to teach me to do that. (HA!) But once there, the dream faded with a lot of other naivety and I looked for a direction in life that would keep me fed. Never really took, though. After changing majors about five times, I finally graduated with an English degree...and still didn’t consider the writing as anything more than a hobby. It wasn’t until we moved to China, where I can’t really work outside the home, and all of my kids were in school all day that I finally, with a push from the husband, decided to make a real go of it. It still felt funny to tell people I was a writer, and I still blush when I say it, but it’s true! I am a writer! Whether it’s been for over twenty years or only one year, I am now a writer.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?
I do write full time. I get the kids to school and get back home by 8am. I immediately sit down at my computer and get to work. I check email, social media, blog, goodreads, and amazon reviews. Take care of anything that needs attention there. Then I start writing. I take a couple breaks to exercise and shower, maybe watch a little TV if I’m feeling stuck, but ultimately, I’m at my desk until about 3. I make the rounds to pick up all my kids and get home at 5. While they do homework, I return to my office and keep plugging away (starting with the email and social media again) until it’s time for dinner at around 7. If i’m not under deadline, that’s the end of my work day. If I am, then I go back to the office after a quick dinner and stay there until I can simply take it no more and fall into bed.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I generally have to have two stories going at the same time, ones that are completely different from each other. Then I jump back and forth between them as I start to lose focus. My mind seems to constantly be kicking ideas around, so I lose focus a lot.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Oh, it changed a lot. A veterinarian (but I ended up hating science), a journalist (because, hello...Lois Lane got Superman), a boy (because peeing standing up seemed so much more convenient), a spy (heck, I still want to be that), and a writer (check).

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?
I’d like to thank them for reading. It’s why I write, to share a story with people who love stories. I’d love to hear from them, too, if they want to drop me a line through the Website or on Facebook, Twitter, or Goodreads.

Thanks, Randa! Happy writing.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Excerpt from paranormal romance Hell's Bounty by Kayden Claremont

Today we’re getting a little glimpse into the paranormal romance novel, Hell’s Bounty by Kayden Claremont.

Kayden is doing a virtual book tour with Goddess Fish Promotions. During the tour, she will be awarding a $25 Amazon gift card to a lucky winner. To be entered for a chance to win use the form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops, and the Review Only tour stops, and enter there, too!

Blurb about Hell’s Bounty:

Raven Hart, a succubus bounty hunter for Hell, is on a hunt. With her query in sight, she hits a brick wall, or rather the very hard chest of a giant sexy man. She might have lost the prize for now, but she's a winner when the hottie wants to get physical.

Marcus Dionysius, a Nephilim working for Heaven, has one mission—to prevent Hell’s beauty from stealing souls meant for the higher plane. But he soon realizes he’s met his sexual match. She’s naughty enough to tempt his senses, but her innocence means he can’t walk away when she needs him most.

Working together to discover who’s snatching souls from Heaven, they realize the true danger is falling in love.

Excerpt from Hell’s Bounty:

Raven looked over at him. “Marcus, this is the coroner, Doctor Hill. Doc, this is my new partner, Detective Marcus Dionysius.”

Marcus extended his hand to the doctor, but he just paced back and forth, ignoring the proffered handshake. “Oh, my dear, you shouldn’t see this.”

“Doc, I’m a detective. There isn’t much I haven’t seen.” Raven’s no-nonsense tone had no effect on the doctor. “No, dear, not this time.” He took her by the elbow and led her a few feet away from the body. Shaking his head, he continued, “This time it’s too personal. You don’t need to see this.” He pointed at the body on the ground. “It’s Stephen, my dear.”

Marcus watched shock flash across her face for a moment before she got control again. She wasn’t expecting to see her late partner. She hadn’t done this, but that didn’t clear her of the other attacks.

The captain was sleazy. Everyone in heaven and hell knew it. And everyone thought that because Raven worked so closely with him, she was part of his plan. Marcus hoped the sexy succubus wasn’t connected with hell’s mess. He moved closer to the body.

Doctor Hill glanced at him and stopped talking.

Clearing his throat, Marcus said softly to Raven, “I’ll handle this if you’re not up to it. The captain can assign another detective to work the case with me.”

Raven looked up at him, anger flaring in her eyes as she answered, “What do you think I am? Some fragile female who can’t do her job?”

Author bio and links:

Kayden loves sexy, well-crafted stories of lust and love. Her sensuous style drives the characters in lustful romps.

Her paranormal erotic novella, Hell’s Bounty is published by The Wild Rose Press.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime International, Sisters in Crime Toronto, Sisters in Crime Toronto Executive, Romance Writers of America, and Toronto Romance Writers.

When she’s not at her day job she’s crafting more tales of love or spending time with her husband and children.

Visit her at: Facebook | Twitter | Blog

Email her at: KaydenClaremont@bell.net 

Buy links:

Amazon Canada | Amazon US

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview with humorous mystery author Steve Shrott

Today’s guest is Steve Shrott. He’s talking about his humorous mystery, Audition for Death, and entertaining us in other ways.

Bio:

Steve Shrott's mystery short stories have been published in numerous print magazines and e-zines. His work has appeared in ten anthologies––two from Sisters-in-Crime (The Whole She-Bang, and Fishnets). He was also a winner in The Joe Konrath Short Story Contest. His comedy material has been used by well-known performers of stage and screen (including Joan Rivers and Phyllis Diller) and he has written a book on how to create humor. 

As well, he teaches, “how to add humor to novels and short stories,” at various real world and cyber schools (such as Savvy Authors and The Romance Writers of America.) Some of his jokes are in the Smithsonian Institute. His current novel is a humorous mystery entitled, Audition for Death.

Welcome, Steve. Please tell us about your current release.

Audition for Death is a humorous mystery about Joshua Mclintock, an actor who’s obsessed with his career, even though most of the roles he’s played have been dead bodies. But Joshua’s attitude is unfailing positive and he’s sure his big break is just around the corner. That is, until one day, while working his part-time job as a telemarketer, he overhears a murder take place, and suddenly finds himself the prime suspect. Of course, any normal person accused of a crime he didn’t commit, would rush to the police and clear his name—which is just what everyone urges Joshua to do (including his ex-wife Randy who doesn’t appreciate him hiding out in her apartment) And Joshua would do just that—if it weren’t for the fact that an audition for a great new role beckons. He believes he can clear up the entire misunderstanding by tracking down the real killer—and not miss any auditions in the process. He soon discovers that this is not just about murder, and sinister forces are threatening to destroy Hollywood. 

What inspired you to write this book?

Over the years, I’ve performed in various productions, and had contact with lots of actors. I’ve found them to be a wonderful and interesting group of people. A lot of real characters! I always thought a mystery involving the acting profession would be fun, so I wrote a short story about it for a magazine. When I decided to write a novel, I thought I’d just base it on this story, figuring it would be easy. Hey, it was all there on paper. That’s when I found out there’s a huge difference between an 8 page story and a 300 page book!  Yikes!

What exciting story are you working on next?

I have another humorous novel I’m currently finishing up. It’s about a dentist with wacky patients, who is a part-time detective. I’m also working on a thriller, some short stories, and a screenplay. I like a lot of variety. It makes things more interesting.

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I always considered myself a writer—even before I was one. I remember when I was a kid, there was this girl in my class who loved poetry. I liked her, so I said I write, even though the only things I’d written, were grocery lists for my mom. (Personally, I think they could have been turned in movies.) The girl asked to see some of my work so I ran home and wrote possibly the worst poem ever. I think I rhymed, ‘shoe’ with ‘moo.’  How footwear, and a cow got into a poem about love, I don’t know. Luckily the girl thought it was sweet. I’d like to say that we eventually got married and had four kids, but she left me for little Bobby Dixon who was really good with cut and paste.    

That started my interest in writing things other than grocery lists.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

Yes, I write full time. Generally, my butler wakes me in the a.m. and then my maid helps me on with my robe…sorry that’s someone else’s life. Mine is quite different, I usually wake up groggy, have twenty cups of coffee, wolf down some breakfast, then go to work. I write a lot of different things so when I get bored on one project I move to another, then, perhaps, onto a third. Later, I might come back to the first one again. I believe Isaac Asimov, the great sci-fi writer, did the same kind of thing. He said it was why he never had writer’s block. I think this system is good for that, as it helps your mind stay fresh. I usually work until about three or so. Sometimes longer, if things are really flowing.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I have many writing quirks but one of them is that when I write mystery, I often will put on a Fedora.That’s the hat worn by the old-time detectives (I guess that means when I write sci-fi, I should wear tentacles.) The Fedora seems to get me into the mystery mood. And I honestly think that it makes me more creative.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

As a kid I wanted to be lots of things, a magician, ventriloquist, cartoonist, King. I never made it to King. (I do have a scepter and crown just in case.) But I have ended up doing most of the above careers and still work in some of those areas. I’m often asked if I wanted to be a dentist when I was a kid, since I’ve written several stories about the dental profession.  Definitely not!!

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

Of course number one, is to make sure you buy my book. I’m telling you, as a friend, that your life will not be complete without it. Other than that, for any writers out there, I’d like to say that you should never give up. In a lot of cases, the rewards come only after you’ve been at this a while. Good luck!!

To find out even more about me feel free to check out my website or visit me on Facebook.

Hee hee. Thanks, Steve. You’ve been a lot of fun today.

Interview with historical romance author Cynthia Owens

Today's blog guest is novelist Cynthia Owens. This is the first of many stops she's making as she does a virtual book tour for her historical romance, Playing for Keeps.

Cynthia will be awarding a sterling silver Claddagh pendant (US/Canada only) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a second randomly drawn winner will receive winner's choice of an autographed copy of either Cynthia's first or second book (In Sunshine or in Shadow, or Coming Home).

To be entered to win, leave an e-mail with a comment below. And to increase your chances of winning, you can visit other tour stops and leave a comment there.

Welcome, Cynthia. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I believe I was destined to be interested in history. One of my distant ancestors, Thomas Aubert, reportedly sailed up the St. Lawrence River to discover Canada some 26 years before Jacques Cartier’s 1534 voyage. Another relative was a 17th Century “King’s Girl,” one of a group of young unmarried girls sent to New France (now the province of  Quebec) as brides for the habitants (settlers) there.

My passion for reading made me long to write books like the ones I enjoyed, and I tried penning sequels to my favorite Nancy Drew mysteries. Later, fancying myself a female version of Andrew Lloyd Weber, I drafted a musical set in Paris during WWII.

A former journalist and lifelong Celtophile, I enjoyed a previous career as a reporter/editor for a small chain of community newspapers before returning to my first love, romantic fiction. My stories usually include an Irish setting, hero or heroine, and sometimes all three. My novels, In Sunshine or in Shadow and Coming Home, set in post-Famine Ireland, are available from Highland Press. Playing For Keeps, the third book in the Claddagh series, will also be published by Highland Press.

I am a member of the Romance Writers of America, Hearts Through History Romance Writers, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers. A lifelong resident of Montreal, Canada, I still live there with my own Celtic hero and our two school-aged children.

Please tell us about your current release.

Playing For Keeps is the third book in the Claddagh Series, historical romances set in Ireland and beyond. My heroine, Katie O’Brien, is the daughter of an Irish landlord who has spent most of her life in the tiny, west-of-Ireland village of Ballycashel. Now eighteen, she’s convinced her father to allow her to return to Baltimore to become reacquainted with her late mother’s family. The reunion doesn’t go smoothly, though, and Katie finds herself longing for the loving family and friends she left behind.

Until she meets Lucas Howard. Lucas is an actor with the Shannon Troupe, a handsome, golden-haired man with wit and charm – and a passion for Katie O’Brien. But their love is threatened by buried secrets, old rivalries, and Lucas must make a decision that could tear the apart forever.

Is their love just a brief interlude, or are Lucas and Katie Playing For Keeps?

What inspired you to write this book?

Katie appeared in my first book, In Sunshine or in Shadow, and a throwaway remark she made in one scene told me she had to have her own story. Her father, Rory O’Brien, told her that one day, if she wanted to, she might return to America to visit her cousins, and it was then I knew I write Katie’s story. I’ve always loved Shakespeare and the theatre (as Katie does also), so what better hero for her than an actor? And I was thrilled to be able to set at least part of the book around the theatre.

Excerpt:

“The Theatre Royale is obviously the place to be tonight.”

Lights dimmed; thunder cracked and rumbled through the theatre. Katie blinked as bright flashes of lightning illuminated the house. Then her breath suspended in her throat as the red velvet curtain slowly rose and, accompanied by eerie music, three bearded witches slunk onstage.

When shall we three meet again?

In thunder, lightning or in rain?…

The magic had begun.

Lost in Shakespeare’s mystical otherworld, Katie drank in the lyricism of the Weird Sisters’ chants. A trumpet sounded off stage, and suddenly the words registered not only in her ears, but in her

heart.

This is the sergeant, Who like a good and hardy soldier fought ’gainst my captivity.

That voice! As smooth as her father’s best Irish whiskey, it shot through Katie’s veins like a liquid flame. It was he. The height, the golden hair, his very presence screamed to her that it was he, Apollo. Oh, how very fitting that he should play the role of Malcolm, the bright young prince destined to be king…

He was magnificent in medieval plaid, his strong legs encased in woolen hose, his sword glittering at his side. His broad shoulders wore the plaid with pride, and when he turned to face the audience, she felt his smile like a blow to her heart.

The instant the house lights came up and she could see properly, she glanced quickly through the program.

Malcolm.………………………Lucas Howard

Lucas Howard. A fine, strong name, and somehow appropriate. Those golden eyes could pierce right through to a woman’s soul and strip it bare. Oh, if only she could see him again, hear his whiskey-smooth voice, see his dazzling smile aimed only at her.

But of course, that was silly. Lucas Howard was probably as unaware of her as she was conscious of him. She was nothing to him but a potential member of a prospective audience, a ticket sale to add to the theatre’s coffers.

With that depressing thought, she pasted on a smile as the first guests arrived at their box.

…Let us seek out some desolate shade, and there Weep our sad bosoms empty.

The voice, filled with such powerful grief and longing, sent shivers dancing along Katie’s spine. She stared hard through her mother-of-pearl opera glasses, cool against her heated fingertips. His presence on the stage was compelling, his attraction undeniable. As she let her gaze wander for a fleeting second, she saw many pairs of opera glasses pointed in the same direction.

She’d be willing to bet all her winnings at last year’s Galway Races that most of them were pointed at Mr. Howard.

She soon became absorbed in the play once again. And it wasn’t only because of Lucas Howard. The entire cast was superb, particularly the lovely blonde actress who portrayed Lady Macbeth, and the older actor—it was he who had swept into the White Rose with Lucas—in the role of Macbeth.

But in truth, Katie only saw Lucas.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I have several stories-in-progress on my laptop right now. One of them that I’m really excited about is tentatively entitled “Everlasting.” It’s the fourth book of the Claddagh Series, and the heroine is Shannon Flynn, who appeared briefly in Coming Home, Book II of the Series. Shannon is Tom Flynn’s eldest daughter, and since her shy, tentative romance with Mike Donavan, she’s had a lot of heartache. Can a mysterious stranger with burnt-cinnamon hair and sea-mist eyes bring her the joy and fulfillment she deserves?

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I began writing stories in the second grade, so I’ve always considered myself a writer in one way or another. Published or unpublished, I’ve always called myself a writer, maybe because I can’t not write. Even when I take a short break from writing, I’m still thinking about my stories, taking notes, writing down ideas. My characters are never far from my mind.

But I think the moment I believed, really believed I was a writer, was the day I held my first book in my hand, when I ran my hand over my name on the cover and raised it to my face to smell that wonderful “new book smell.” That convinced me that all my dreams had really, finally come true.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

Well, I have two kids, so “full-time” is a relative term. I’m a stay-at-home mom, so I’ve always had to work around my husband, my kids, and the mundane stuff like housework and cleaning, etc. Both my kids are in their teens now, so it’s been easier, but when they were younger, I had to write when I could find the time, whether it was early in the morning, late at night, or during nap times.

I still like to write in the morning, since I feel at my most creative then. As soon as the house is empty, and everyone has left for work or school, I put on my favorite music (usually Irish, since my books are either set in Ireland or feature Irish characters) and just write. I try to write at least 1,000 words a day, sometimes 1,500, depending on how the story’s unfolding. I try to keep regular work hours during the day, and keep weekends free for family.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

Music inspires my storylines. While writing my first book, In Sunshine or in Shadow, I listened to a lot of Irish music (seemed sensible, since the book was set in Ireland). One of my favorite Irish songs is The Fields of Athenry, a song about Ireland’s Great Hunger, as sung by the incomparable Paddy Reilly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cc1zViuQ7Q. As I listened to the song one afternoon, I envisioned the entire back story for my heroine, Siobhán Desmond. I changed it up a bit (Siobhán’s husband was hanged, rather than transported to Australia), but the germ of the idea came directly from listening to that one song.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

My ambitions seemed to change on a weekly basis as I grew up. One of my favorite books as a child was Heidi, and I was determined I would one day be Heidi. I was also a HUGE fan of the Nancy Drew Mystery Stories, and for a while I was convinced I’d one day become a “girl detective.” But from the time I was about 11, I decided I’d one day write books like those I loved to read.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I’d like to thank everyone who came by to visit with me today. I love to hear from my readers, and I love to get to know them. Readers who want to can contact me at authorcynthiaowens@gmail.com  I do my best to answer e-mails as quickly as possible.

Website |  Facebook | TheCladdagh Series website

Buy links: 

Barnes and Noble | Amazon

Thanks, Cynthia! Readers, don't forget to leave an e-mail address with your comment below if you want to be entered for a chance to win the pendant. 

Interview with romance author Ann Montclair

Today's guest is Ann Monclair. She's on a virtual book tour for her newest romance, Good Things Come in Tall Packages.

And she will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. All you have to do to be entered to win is to leave an e-mail address with a comment below. And if you'd like more chances to win, you can follow her tour and comment at other stops.

Welcome, Ann. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up sneak-reading all my mom's steamy romance novels. She kept them high on a shelf in her closet and warned, "You better not read those..." Of course, I read them. And now I write them! I strive to take readers on a fun, emotionally charged, and highly sensual ride to happily ever after. Available now: TThe Billionaire's Bauble (Soul Mate Publishing 2011), One Wet Summer (Musa Publishing 2012), and Good Things Come in Tall Packages (Musa Publishing 2012). Next up: Lady in Deed, my debut novel in historical romance set in Tudor England (Musa Publishing Winter 2012).

I am a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) and a community college English professor. I live in the Finger Lakes region of New York with my sexy hero and our teenage son. Our grown daughter lives in Los Angeles, California--my hometown.

Thanks for learning a little about me. You can contact me at ann@annmontclair.com.

Web site: http://www.annmontclair.com

Blog: http://annmontclair.wordpress.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AnnMontclairFanPage

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/AnnMontclair

Buy link: http://www.musapublishing.com/

Please tell us about your current release.

Good Things Come in Tall Packages is about two people who are complete opposites, but despite those differences find common ground. I wanted to write a story where the ideal isn’t perfect harmony but dissonance. We’ve all seen those couples where you’re scratching your head, thinking, “How did that happen?” But it works. They’re perfect. Perfectly imperfect.

Blurb:

Dr. Joe Connors and socialite lawyer Lucy Alcott come from two different worlds, two very different cultures. But will those differences keep them apart when their attraction is too strong to be denied?

When socialite Savannah attorney Lucy Alcott entered the Hyatt looking for fun, martinis, and hot sex, the last thing she expected to find was Dr. Joe Connors. Joe is Lucy's opposite in every way: he’s dark, she’s pale; he’s tall and reserved, she's tiny and vivacious; he wears his compassion and deep spirituality on his sleeve, she wears designer bags and clothes. That night at the Hyatt Lucy found herself not in the arms of a casual encounter but reaching out to a man who challenged the walls she had built around her heart—and when he gave her his number, Lucy knew Joe deserved a woman as warm and tender as he was. So she threw his number away. When an unexpected meeting six months later brings them together again, will Joe overcome Lucy’s fear of losing her heart, or are their two very different worlds destined to keep them apart forever? 

What inspired you to write this book?

I was born at a time when my Puerto Rican mother and Irish father were considered an interracial couple. My father’s parents refused to meet me for two years. They hoped my mom and me would disappear. But we didn’t. My parents will be married fifty years next year—just a few months before I turn fifty! I’m a love child from a forbidden union. That’s what inspired Joe and Lucy.

Excerpt:

The doors whooshed open, and Joe swept his arm out in front of him, indicating Lucy should precede him into the elevator. She inclined her head to acknowledge his chivalry. Inside the elevator, the quiet assaulted her senses. She leaned against the shiny walnut wall, and a sigh of relief escaped her lungs.

“And the world is still,” Joe murmured. “Let me remove your shoes.”

Lucy lifted her left foot, and Joe knelt before her and took off the pump. She shrunk five inches before raising her other foot, so Joe could squeeze it from the rich, red leather.

“Ah,” she whispered in relief, “that feels a lot better.”

He stayed bent on his knee as if he were about to propose and rubbed the ball of first one tired foot and then the other. Lucy wasn’t wearing stockings, and the firm massaging motion he applied to her foot felt like a little bit of heaven. If she believed in such a place.

Struck by the juxtaposition of her white foot in his black hands, enamored by the lightness of his palms as they stroked the pink soles of her feet, she noted together they created a rainbow—a cascade of color, vibrant and beautiful to her eye.

“Thank you, Joe. You’re hired.”

He laughed in his low, bass voice, and the combination of his masterful administrations on her feet and the melody of his jazzy chuckle, proved to be a potent formula. A quiver ran through her body.

What exciting story are you working on next?

I’m in edits for my Tudor romance, A Lady in Deed. It will be released December 7, 2012. 

Here’s my blurb-in-progress:

Lady Mary Rutherford planned to be a nun until the reformist movement closed her cloister, forcing her to live with her mysterious benefactor and his rakish son. Lord Trenton Stanley returned home from a decade of service to King Henry VIII to find his estate in ruins, his family depleted, and a provocative novitiate under his roof. Can duty and honor be enough to sustain them, or will their ideals be compromised for love?

When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I received an MFA in Creative Writing and published lots of poems before I attempted romance novels. I think publishing helps solidify the idea, “I’m a writer,” but the intention and the emotion is born long before anyone ever publishes. Writers write. I always wrote. Most days, my whole life. Publication just made it “official.”

Do you write full-time? If so, what's your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find time to write?

I am a full-time professor of English for the State University system of New York. SUNY pays my bills and writing sustains my heart. I write in the evenings and on weekends. Right now, my son and husband are watching the original Rocky movie, and I’m writing on my laptop on the couch. That’s my life. It works.

What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?

I can’t stop writing if my characters are in crisis. I have to write to a happy or settled scene, so I can sleep without anxiety or nightmares. My characters are real to me, and I worry about them if I leave them in a bad place. I don’t know how thriller and horror writers do it! I’d be a wreck.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a writer who lived in a little cabin in the woods. Guess what? That’s what I am. It took 45 years, but when it happened, I believed all that Oprah stuff about putting your intentions out to the Universe then seeing them come true.

Anything additional you want to share with the readers?

I write for you, to help you believe in true love, to believe love will come when you least expect it, and when it arrives, hold on tight and work for it every day. Love is the ultimate reward. I believe we all deserve it.

Thanks, Ann. 

Readers, don't forget: Ann will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. All you have to do to be entered to win is to leave an e-mail address with a comment below. And if you'd like more chances to win, you can follow her tour and comment at other stops.

Virtual blurb blitz stop for Walk With Me Through Time by Jennifer Conner

This blog is just one stop along the path of a virtual blurb blitz tour for Walk With Me Through Time - Dimension Keeper Series by Jennifer Conner. The novel is a historical time travel romance.

Jennifer will be awarding a pocket watch (US/Canada only) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. To be entered to win, leave your e-mail address with a comment below, and at any of the other tour stops (the more times you comment, the more chances you have to win).

Author Bio and links:

Jennifer Conner is a best-selling Northwest author who has twenty short stories and one full length book on e-book and in print. She writes in Contemporary Romance, Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance, and Erotica.

Christmas Chaos was in the Kindle sales top 50 ebooks and #2 in the Romance category.

Her novel Shot in the Dark was a finalist in the Emerald City Opener, Cleveland, and Toronto RWA contests.

Jennifer is an Associate Publisher for the indie e-book publisher, Books to Go Now who resides in the Seattle area. They pride themselves in helping new authors get their foot in the door with well-edited manuscripts, professional covers, and platforms uploads.

She live in a hundred year old house that she grew up in. Her semi-small town holds an interesting mix of resident hillbillies, yuppies and Navy Seals. And of course Seattle, only a few miles away, is the birthplace of Starbucks so coffee is always on the check list. She blows glass beads with a blow torch, (which relieves a lot of stress and people don't bother you) and is  a huge fan of my local soccer teams, the Seattle Sounders, and Kitsap Pumas. Boys in shorts! :)

http://jenniferconnerwriter.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/jennifer.conner2

http://www.bookstogonow.com/sweetjenniferconner.html

http://www.bookstogonow.com/historicalromancejenniferconner.html

http://pinterest.com/jennilynnjac/

Blurb for Walk with me through Time:

An enchanting time-travel romance for fans of Jude Deveraux and Diana Gabaldon.

Hadley Easton has a family legacy to uphold as a Time-Keeper. He guides people forward -or back- who feel they were born into the wrong time.

Samantha turns his world upside down when she arrives through the front door of the London bookstore. No one arrives through the front door: it’s the time portal. On top of that, she informs him she’s from the year 2012, over a hundred years in the future.

When Hadley learns the truth, he realizes his time is running out...

Excerpt from Walk with me through Time:

“I love you, Hadley,” she cried, and tumbled over the edge.

There was a cool breeze against Sam’s face. She opened her eyes.

She was alone.

“Hadley?” she called his name. He’d never told her his name at the bookstore. Had she made it up in the dream or was that truly his name? Confused, Sam sat up and looked around the room. She flipped on bedside lamp expecting to see him come out of the bathroom, but the room remained dark.

She’d been dreaming?

You must return to the bookstore. He needs your help. You are the only one.

Voices spoke in her head. Clear and carrying precise instructions. Over and over like a recording.

Sam swore she still smelled the essence of his soap and sandalwood. Getting out of bed, she carefully searched the bedroom but found nothing. A sense of loss washed over her. This was crazy, how could she be sad he was gone if he’d never been there?