Guest Author Roxanne St Claire & a Giveaway!
by admin on Aug.29, 2009, under Book Chat
Can I just say that I am loving this new gathering of readers and writers (and booksellers!) in Romancelandia! I’ve forgiven Sue, Sarah, and Jane for creating yet another daily diversion that takes me from my writing, and am delighted to be part of it today.
When I received the invitation to guest blog, I was given a list of questions. Some were puffballs like “Is your hero a boxer or brief kind of guy?” (I think he lets the situation dictate his underneeds, but in at least one scene, he’s in boxers) and “Your hero’s favorite hobbies?” (Slaying baddies, melting hearts, solving crimes, natch) and “Scene you would never cut?” (Two words: Shed scene. Trust me on this one!) and “Most fun ancillary character?” (Brandy the BFF bartender).
All great questions, but when the email arrived, I admit I skimmed the list, expecting, dare I say hoping for that one question that usually gets the universal eyeroll or a flippant response…
Rocki, where do you get your ideas? 
Guess what? With my new release, HUNT HER DOWN, I can finally answer that with something better than “The idea bank. I’m overdrawn.” For once, I can tell you that some of the elements of the story came from real life, real experiences, real places, and yes, it’s true…one real live man named Gallagher.
The hero of HUNT HER DOWN, Dan Gallagher, is based on living, breathing, smokin’ hot hunk of human male who walks this earth today. I wish I could give you his occupation, address, and cell phone, but I haven’t seen him in, oh, thirty-some years. A boy named Jimmy Gallagher sat next to me in third grade, teased me with the occasional sideways glance of Irish green eyes, broke my heart when he tossed a thick lock of honey gold hair, and curled my toes with an imperfect, crooked smile. If you’ve read any of the Bullet Catcher books, you’ll recognize all those traits in fictional, grown-up Dan Gallagher, transformed from a heartbreaking boy into the heartstopping Bullet Catcher I fantasize my childhood crush turned out to be.
Oh, yeah, I know. The real Mr. Gallagher is probably fat, bald, and reclining in his Barcalounger with an Iron City in one hand and remote in the other, but, hey, that’s why I write fiction.
But that boy isn’t the only real-life inspiration in Hunt Her Down. At the center of the tale is a Chinese cookie fortune that has been stored in the heroine’s jewelry box for fourteen years. Seem preposterous? Not to me. I’ve got one in a silver box upstairs, next to an ultrasound picture taken the day I got the fortune, in 1992. Just like in the book, my fortune says: In as much as love grows in you, so beauty grows in you. I thought it meant I was having a girl; instead I had a beautiful boy…and inspiration for this novel.
Then there’s that teenage boy himself, Quinn in the story, Dante in real life. My son has introduced me to a lot of slang, the love of fast cars, and the joy of watching Top Gun twenty or more times. All in the book. And speaking of Top Gun, who would Maverick be without Goose? In HUNT HER DOWN, Goose is an Australian Shepherd based on a four-legged friend named Rojo, who happens to belong to a neighbor, and is my own dog’s boyfriend. (Don’t ask.)
Much of the story is set in two locations dear to my heart: Marathon, Florida, a tiny fishing town in the Keys where we have vacationed many times, and Miami, a city I once called home and the backdrop for many books. In Marathon, I’ve spent long and happy days at Sombrero Beach…exactly where Quinn is kidnapped and Goose is left to roam. And I’ve taken quite a few boat rides through the canals of Miami’s Coral Gables where that incendiary shed hides in the mangroves of my imagination.
Even my favorite secondary character has a “real” inspiration – Brandy Istre was the winner of a “Get Your Name In A Book” contest I participated in at last year’s Heart Of Dixie Romance Readers Luncheon. (Hi Brandy!)
So, next time you ask an author “Where do you get your ideas?” — don’t settle for smarty-pants answer and a look skyward. Just ask about elementary school.
All right, it’s time to spill. Who’s the heroic hottie who lives in your memory? Share the name of one blast from the past and what you remember about him (now don’t go hunting him down on google, ladies!) and three commenters will win an autographed copy of HUNT HER DOWN!
Bullet Catchers:
Hunt Her Down
Now You Die
Then You Hide
First You Run
Take Me Tonight
Thrill Me To Death
Kill Me Twice
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August 29th, 2009 on 11:40 am[...] St. Claire is at the Borders True Romance blog talking about her latest book (a recommended read by Robin) and giving away three free copies of [...]
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Sue G - Borders True Romance Host - Borders Romance Buyer, reads romance. For her JOB. No, really. You can email Sue at sgrimshaw at bordersgroupinc dot com.
Borders True Romance Blog is a community, developed for you, the romance reader, to find out more about the books you love; the authors who write them & where to buy them :) Borders.com
Previously published as Wishes No Matter How Fast You Run. . .The newborn baby boy is beautiful, perfect, and hers for the asking. All Kate Summers has to do is agree to one condition--she must disappear from Boston and never breathe a word about the adoption to anyone. Or How Far You Go. . .Fifteen years later, Kate has built a good life for herself and her son, Jon, in Hopewell, Oregon. Still, she is haunted by the fear that he will somehow be taken away. Then Daegan O'Rourke arrives in town and strikes up a friendship with her and Jon. But Daegan has his own past to hide--one with shocking ties to hers. A Killer Will Always Find You. . .Someone is watching Kate, watching her son, and is willing to go to any lengths to claim him. And the one man Kate is tempted to trust has dangerous secrets that could change her world forever. Soon the past Kate thought she could outrun will explode, unearthing a legacy of lies and treachery, and a fury powerful enough to kill. . .
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February 4th, 2010 on 6:43 pm
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January 6th, 2010 on 9:59 am
There is a gentleman in Curacao who lives aside the sea. His eyes are clear as the sea waters and, like the ocean, he is strong-willed. his name is Bert Knubben.(64) He is on the beach of the BREEZES Holiday Resort and a craftsman of the exclusive
December 3rd, 2009 on 1:13 pm
A well researched site, I’ll link to it from my site thanks
September 3rd, 2009 on 11:48 am
Alright - I was sort of ’set up’ with a guy at my BF’s wedding many years back - we wrote back and forth while he taught in a school down in Haiti, then he invited me down there for Christmas. What can I say ? He was handsome, and I have a soft spot for adventure. What I remember most ? The feeling of excitement I had while down there with him. I felt like I was living a dream, which in fact I was because things didn’t work out for us. Now I find adventure in reading and writing
ps: the story ends well - we both found our true loves and are living happily !
August 31st, 2009 on 11:58 am
There was this one guy named Daniel. I called him Dan in an attempt to be “cool” and “different”… {these painful attempts are the main reason I don’t visit my childhood memories very often. I was SUCH a dork.} Anyway, he had the bluest eyes. We went to the same church. He was a Very Nice Boy.
Then in High School there was Sammy, who was such a Bad Boy I swore I wanted him to be The One. He was on the football team, and I once caught sight of him in his briefs, being a Bad Boy on the sidelines. I almost didn’t recover.
Nothing ever came of it, of course, and now I’m happily with my SO (my own personal Bad Boy) for over 11 years.
August 30th, 2009 on 1:02 pm
Hi Rocki,
So delighted to see you here at the TR blog! Can’t wait to read Hunt Her Down. I love the Bullet Catchers series — love, love, love.
Hmm, a blast from the past? There was this young man in grammar school named Andrew, and he called himself a Greek-a-Rican (Greek & Puerto Rican) — I just called him yummy! Well I called him that in my head. LOL! Have a great day.
Stephanie
August 30th, 2009 on 8:55 am
Hi Rocki! Sorry I’m late to the party. I loved HHD and the shed scene? Oh my but I need a cold shower just thinking about it again. I let Brandy know she’d been mentioned here. Our character in a book raffle is always a big hit.
Anyway, I had a huge crush on Lewis in my 9th grade civics class. He was a senior and didn’t know I existed. Then a few years later he came back to the high school for a pep rally and he’d been injured in Vietnam and lost an arm. He still didn’t know who I was but my heart bled for him. I have no idea where he is now but I’m friends on Facebook with his sister who’s my age.
Great interview here!
August 30th, 2009 on 8:44 am
I was thinking of all the guys I crushed on through the years while I read through the posts. If we went with elementary school, I could use this name and if we went with junior high, I could use that one, etc. But actual heroic-type crush? Well, that came in my early 20s. The guy that I had dated, on and off, had ripped out my heart, stomped on it, and then gleefully told everyone about it. I was waitressing at the NCO Club at the time and said guy was bringing his new girlfriend into my bar, when I couldn’t leave (and I’d have to wait on them), and rubbing it in my face and I just felt like someone could set me on fire and it would hurt less.
In the midst of all this, I went out one night with a couple of my girlfriends and met this gorgeous guy, Joe. He was from West Virginia and his Irish/Cherokee ancestry was evident in his black hair, ice-blue eyes, and light brown skin. (As the palest person I know, I’ve always loved darker guys!) He also had the longest black lashes ever, a lovely straight nose, a square jaw, and, as an Army Ranger, one damned fine body. He was so very sweet and so very polite. He struck up a conversation as we stood in line and, as fine as he was, I kind of blew him off because The Jerk was sitting just 4 seats away at the bar and just looking at him nuzzling the new girl ripped my guts out. Joe saw that I was tearing up and asked me what was wrong and said it didn’t look like nothing when I shook it off. When I said that I was sorry, but I couldn’t stay, he followed me out to ask again if I was okay and the whole sad tale poured out, up to how he was torturing me for no apparent reason. His solution?
“Let’s pretend that I’m YOUR new guy. I bet he won’t want to hang around for long after that.”
“He won’t care, believe me.”
“Oh, he’ll care. I’m younger and better-looking,” he shot me a rather self-deprecating grin at that. “And no matter how much he thinks he doesn’t want you, he doesn’t want to see you move on. Guys like that are assholes that way.”
Well, I had my doubts, but I was willing to give it a try. Joe stayed by my side all the rest of the evening. We’d be on the dance floor and he’d say, “He’s looking. Laugh like I told you the funniest joke ever!” Which of course, was ridiculous and that made me laugh. And sure enough, after about 20 minutes of us dancing (and laughing like a couple of loons), The Jerk and the new girl left the bar. At the end of the evening, Joe asked permission to walk me to my car and then he asked if he could kiss me. (And you bet I said yes!)
We didn’t see each other after that. I think he was deployed and I know he was dealing with his own bad situation and lord knows I was in no place to date anyone else at that point in time. He was just a really great guy who helped me one particularly bad night during the worst break up I’ve ever had and I sure hope he went on to find someone just as great. By the way, after that night, The Jerk didn’t come back to my bar for months! I don’t know if it was because of Joe or what, but I was so thankful, I didn’t care!
August 30th, 2009 on 5:41 am
Pam, I loved that you called him at home and he knew you. I did that kind of call one night with girlfriends, called a boy I liked — this was pre-caller ID when every call was anonymous– and I said in my sexiest voice, “Hi, you don’t know who I am but,” and got, “Roxanne?” in response. I hung up and died. Thanks for commenting!
August 30th, 2009 on 12:50 am
Oh, my crush would have to be Taylor from middle school. Tall, blonde, blue eyes, laid back & one of the nicest guys EVER. Too bad we grew up and went in totally different directions.
I’ve heard only good things about HUNT HER DOWN & look forward to reading it.
August 30th, 2009 on 12:15 am
There was a page boy in a wedding I was flower girl in when I was 4 or 5 - some 37 years ago now. We made eyes at each other the whole time - some interesting wedding picks were taken!
I’m looking forward to reading this one - I’ve a soft spot for Dan.
August 29th, 2009 on 11:53 pm
Oh my, quite the question but relatively easy. Tom Limekuller in 4th grade. Is that not the best name? He had brown hair, soulful eyes and he was quiet, which made him mysterious. I remember once going to his house to sell Girl Scout cookies or something and he came to the door with his shirt off. I gasped inside.
I can’t wait to read this one–I love all the Bullet Catchers.
August 29th, 2009 on 11:35 pm
I loved the video!
I would have to say Jake from high school. We didn’t go to the same school but spent so much time as friends we gradually became more. There were always suprise outings to the beach or just a movie day at his house. The sweetest moments were the times of laughing together and holding hands whille strolling along the beach. It lasted until graduation but we still keep in touch and go out once in a while when we have the time. There is always the possibility of another beginning fo us after college.
August 29th, 2009 on 10:07 pm
I had a horrible crush on Jack Lloyd, THE bad boy of my junior high school, for a couple of years. He lived down the street from my best friend and we used to take walks by his house to see if he would come outside. He hung out with the boy who lived next door to my friend so we opened her bedroom window and eavesdropped on their conversations while they snuck cigarettes on the carport. I used to call him at home and go by a made up name. I think he knew who I was, though, because there was a girl who wanted to fight me because she found out I liked him and I’m pretty sure he stopped her from attacking me. I’ve already thought that story will make a good plot for a future book — that the two characters meet again as adults and he admits he had a crush on her, too, but was too scared to approach her because she was a “good” girl who probably wouldn’t have wanted to have anything to do with him. He had straight, long black hair and looked a lot like Johnny Depp. Oh, if only he would walk back into my life…Sigh!
August 29th, 2009 on 9:34 pm
Okay. It was the UPS guy. Seriously. I won’t give his name. Nope. But man….! Rocki, great blog! Can’t wait to read Hunt Her Down! Smiles, Elissa
August 29th, 2009 on 9:03 pm
Hi, I’ve just discovered your Bullet Catcher books, just finished “Now You Die” yesterday. Very keen to read “Hunt Her Down” though it’s not stocked in any bookstores here (I’m in Wellington, New Zealand). Now, my first crush was a boy called Troy. He had curly ginger/red hair and freckles and I loved him because he looked like Ralph Malph from Happy Days and Ralph was my fave person in the world. I was 6. Like Ralph, Troy was goofy and silly and very sweet. Unfortunately, my young heart was fickle and I soon developed a monster crush on Brendan. He had a dimple, cheeky grin and sparkly green eyes. He was a bit of a bad boy and we circled each other for years until I was about 12 and then we “went around” with each other for 2 months over the Christmas/summer holidays. Unfortunately our “love” didn’t last longer as he went to a different high school and then moved away. I wonder where he is now? Perhaps Facebook might tell me LOL.
August 29th, 2009 on 5:44 pm
Hey Barbie - great to see you here and thanks for all the props on the book. I think you’ll love Con, too, when he shows up on September 29!
August 29th, 2009 on 5:34 pm
Not sure what to say here — I’m shy, but I wanted to say hi.
Hunt Her Down is *the best*. Can’t wait for Make Her Pay.
August 29th, 2009 on 5:21 pm
Hey Leigh - thanks for getting the book! You are such a good friend & fan! xoxo
August 29th, 2009 on 5:20 pm
Lori - I LOVE the Steelers! I was born and raised under the Steel Curtain, honestly. Kent Scribner sounds like he should have been a writer!
August 29th, 2009 on 5:18 pm
Caitie - Third grade must be a life-changing year! It’s been mentioned a lot today. Thanks for stopping by!
August 29th, 2009 on 4:48 pm
Rocki, Love your blog! Love the way you wove your life stories into HUNT HER DOWN. I picked up my very own copy at the Borders in Seminole Town Center today.
August 29th, 2009 on 4:29 pm
Oh goodness!! Kent Scribner. 3rd grade. We played handball every day at recess. My heart was broken when he moved to Philadelphia. A couple years later, Philadelphia Freedom was big on the radio, and it instantly became my favorite song (Captain Fantastic & the Brown Dirt Cowboy is still my fave Elton John album). It also gave me the freedom to become a lifelong fan of the Steelers (I just didn’t like those nancy Eagles, and Pittsburgh is in the same state, right?). Back in the days of the Steel Curtain.
Yeah, Kent was sure good for some lifelong love.
August 29th, 2009 on 4:26 pm
I can’t wait to read Hunt Her Down! From all the reviews I’ve read, it looks awesome. I guess my first “love” was in grade 3 *sigh* Adam…he was a real sweetheart, and so cute too;) It’s definitely loads of fun to look up people from back in the day, should do that again:o)
August 29th, 2009 on 3:41 pm
Julie! Your story is so touching. I’m writing a story now that has some backstory that takes place during those crazy weeks before deployment, and have been talking to some military people about it. I’m glad he’s home safe…and secretly hoping for a reunion romance!
August 29th, 2009 on 3:39 pm
Thank you, Sarah, glad you liked the “idea” answers, and props to you for respecting David’s girlfriend. I hope their happily married with two kids. Not!
August 29th, 2009 on 2:54 pm
He wasn’t my first crush, but Mike was certainly the most surprising. He was handsome, half-black and half-white, and we fell in intense like at our last high school dance when we found out how well we could move together. Quite the odd couple we were, with me the book-smart overachiever at the top of our class and him the street-smart slacker who was more wont to ditch school to hang out with non-school people; our respective groups of friends never really understood why or how we we got together, haha. But alas, being so different spelled the end of our relationship, as I was on the college track and he was headed for the military, following in his father’s footsteps.
The heroic part? He offered to give up his lifelong dream of a military career for college and a continued relationship, something that we’d avoided discussing until the end (this was right during seemingly every military personnel’s deployment to Iraq). I promptly veto-ed this suggestion, however, because I knew that it was all he’s ever wanted to be. So we broke up in the days before I left for college and he for boot camp; last I heard, he’s back in town after a stint in the Middle East. We’re Facebook friends, but haven’t had any interaction outside of that…I’m not really sure what would happen if we ever spoke together again, haha.
August 29th, 2009 on 2:53 pm
Miss Vicki! Why do moms flip lights on? I was busted a few times that way myself and oh did I get the look from my mother. I can’t wait to do that to my daughter!
August 29th, 2009 on 2:51 pm
Ina - I admit I spewed a little Diet Coke over the reacting of Baywatch. That is just classic and OMG thank you for sharing that!
August 29th, 2009 on 2:50 pm
Caffey - you’re kidding with Bobby Sherman, right? Surely you’ve heard me admit that I got my start in writing at the ripe old age of 10 writing HERE COME THE BRIDES fan fic. The Bolt brothers - I think I’ll rewrite a version of that TV show. Just hearing the song “Seattle” gives me a little tingle of anticipation. Great to see you here!
August 29th, 2009 on 2:48 pm
Laura, I like “I am tall.” Hah. No wonder you stayed friends. And Cathy - a boy named Chad. We just don’t use that down here in Florida after the “hanging chad” debacle a few years ago. Thanks for sharing!
August 29th, 2009 on 2:47 pm
Oh my, I had to go out for a few hours and look at all these true confessions! Love this. There seems to be a rush on blue-eyed blonde boys today. Eshani, I loved your description of “the look.” I’m so bad, I’ve told my 16 year old son how much girls go for the look - and he uses it all the time. Much of his high school is outdoors (Florida) and he said he had to stop wearing sunglasses between classes because he couldn’t have eye contact with the cute girls. LOL!
August 29th, 2009 on 2:10 pm
Rocki, the “ideas” question is so overused that I dread reading the answers almost as much as I imagine authors dread answering them. But! Your story was wonderfully entertaining, and I love how you drew from so many real life elements. It’s quite charming and gives everything a bit more meaning, to know how close to your heart this book is. I was already looking forward to reading this book after the review on Dear Author, but now I await with delicious anticipation
My unrequited I-Can’t-Stop-Thinking-About-You crush didn’t hit until college. David and I were both in a super serious major, and we broke the monotony of classes by passing jokes back and forth. Sometimes all I’d have to do is look at his laughing brown eyes and I’d crack up. I thought he was the cat’s meow, but unfortunately, so did his girlfriend, so I never acted on it.
August 29th, 2009 on 2:10 pm
Hi Roxanne!
oh wow, old memories *dreaming*
my first “love” was in the kindergarden… we played Baywatch and he rescued me and defeated the shark… oh, those were the days!
Thanks for the great interview!
Hugs,
Ina
August 29th, 2009 on 1:41 pm
Hey Rocki!! I guess I’ve got two. One was a jr. high school (we didn’t have middle school then), crush who I went to the prom with. He was tall, olive skin, and the blackest eyes. Oh my, that little kiss at the front door before my mom flipped on the lights are memories I’ll have forever.
The other was in high school. He really was tall and we sang in the same group. He was drool worthy to be sure and everyone had a crush on him. Yes, I do mean everyone. We never dated, but we did spend lots of time together as friends. Which is great since it lends the knowledge of how guys think.
August 29th, 2009 on 1:08 pm
Mine was Dennis in 8th grade. At the time he was shorter than me (hard to believe since I’m only 4′10” LOL). He had white-blonde hair and really light blue eyes. Every day, I walked HIM home. He would kiss me on the cheek, I would turn around and float home. He moved after 8th grade and I never saw him again. I don’t even remember his last name.
However, my inspiration for my stories is my husband David: my true love, my hero. Oh, and Jack Bauer (AKA Kiefer Sutherland):-)
I love your books, Rocki and can’t wait to read HUNT HER DOWN!!
August 29th, 2009 on 1:07 pm
My first crush was a boy when I was in daycare (so long ago I don’t recall much about him, just that there was a ‘him’). Finding a cute boy to crush on, though, was never a problem!
I am always fascinated with the question of where author’s get their ideas. Thanks for a great interview, Roxanne!
August 29th, 2009 on 1:04 pm
Hi Roxi!! Yes, more Bullet Catchers book!
Hehe, Bobby Sherman from THERE GOES THE BRIDES. Do you remember that show? LOL. It was on when I was a teen, maybe in repeats then, and gosh, I so loved him on that show! A few weeks ago I was wondering if they had the shows on DVD and with your question today I’m so dreaming of him now, LOL. He was so much my crush! I can’t hear music but I so pictured how it sounded. yes a teen crush here and still,
August 29th, 2009 on 12:50 pm
Awh, I am so eager to put my hands on your beatiful book now. How great that it started in truth. My sweetheart, a gorgeous half indian half italian fellow, wanted me to know how much he loved me, but he was a little shy. So, he took my diet coke when I wasn’t looking, dumped it out, cut out the bottom wrote I love you inside and quickly taped it back on where I wouldn’t notice. I rushed in, tipped up my ‘full’ diet coke and got a suprise. I almost cried when I saw what was inside. Then he came in the door with another cold drink for me and I lost it, cried all over his shoulder. He was such a sweetheart.
August 29th, 2009 on 12:18 pm
My first crush was in middle school, Chad Thompson. You know the guy who excels in every sport, plays drums in the jazz band and only has eyes for the cheerleaders, which was so not me, eons ago, lol.
August 29th, 2009 on 12:08 pm
I meant gasps… not gasped
sorry
Hawk
August 29th, 2009 on 12:07 pm
Rocki…he was gorgeous! When he walked into a room you didn’t have to see him enter…you know he was there by the gasped from the women around you who could see him.
Hawk
August 29th, 2009 on 11:52 am
I first met Chris at a Halloween party in college. I was a bit drunk and slightly belligerent. He was wearing stilts. I looked up at him and said “what are you supposed to be? He said: “On Halloween, everyone is something that they’re not. So I am tall.” We did date for a while, but things kept getting in the way. We remained best friends for years, though.
August 29th, 2009 on 11:36 am
Hi, Rocki! I already have HUNT HER DOWN and cannot wait to dive in! First guy I had that huge crush on who rocked my world with his dark hair, tanned skin, and the very memorable time he sat beside me on the bus and held my hand? His name was Mark. Oh how I fantasized! Oh the stories I wrote, even then, as a 14 yr old Harlequin Presents-reading fanatic! Mark was decidedly alpha in my imagination, and I was there for the taking. ROFL.
August 29th, 2009 on 11:31 am
Hi Rocki -
My first crush was Brent in the 3rd grade. He was blond and blue-eyed and so cute. Then his dad got transferred and I think he moved from DC to Oklahoma, which might as well have been the far side of the moon.
That left me to pine over Kevin and Keith, the identical twins in my 4th grade class (also blond and blue-eyed). They were also in my fifth grade class, so I crushed on both of them over the two years. Being that they were identical and I was 9 yrs old, they were pretty much interchangeable
Mike in the 7th grade, also blond and blue-eyed, was the hunk all the girls drooled over. He used to ask me for help on his algebra homework, but he only liked my mind ;-(
None of them have inspired my heroes, though. That honor belongs to my hubby, who I met in the 12th grade and have been with ever since. Ahhhh. He’s blond and blue-eyed, too.
The blonds do it for me.
August 29th, 2009 on 10:43 am
Hi Roxanne,
I’m sure if the real Mr. Gallagher read your novel, he would definitely be inspired by the oh so yummy sounding Dan Gallagher.
Thank you for such a great post to start off my blog browsing for the day
I think my biggest crush was probably when I was in 9th grade. There was this gorgeous senior who used to lean against the hallway and give me “the look”, the one that gives you butterflies and makes your toes curl, every day when I walked by him. In the end, he actually ended up dancing with me at homecoming, and completely made my night :).
I’m definitely looking forward to reading “Hunt her Down”, and looking a little closer at that gorgeous cover!
August 29th, 2009 on 10:18 am
Kristen…George? Srsly? xoxo
August 29th, 2009 on 10:18 am
Wendy - Do you have a picture? Good heavens they sound like an unlikely couple. My grandmother used to say “There’s someone for everyone.” LOL!
August 29th, 2009 on 10:17 am
Cheryl - et tu with the bad boys??? I guess so! Great to see you here, doll!
August 29th, 2009 on 10:17 am
Anne, you are the best. Thanks for stopping by and being such a loyal fan…and for sharing your heartbreaking story. So sad. But on happier note, I will be in Ohio in September - am keynoting the Central Ohio Fiction Writers conference on Sat, Sept. 19 - come if you can. I think the link is on my site, or google them. I’d love to see you there! I know Elaine Spencer from the Knight Agency is there taking appointments and several editors, too.
August 29th, 2009 on 10:03 am
I’d have to go with Devil in Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens, probably because I loved the heroine so much.
August 29th, 2009 on 9:41 am
His name was George. He was half-Scottish, half-Cherokee Indian. He had hair longer than mine, silver hoops in both ears and a penchant for racing motorcycles. He was my father’s nightmare and my first true love - and that’s all I’m going to say about that.
August 29th, 2009 on 9:40 am
Humm probably my Grandfather is my biggest “hero” he was a great “little” man. His nickname was Boweevil. He married a woman who was 500lbs if she was a lb and he was barely 120lbs. But they were cute together.In pictures I can just see the love in their eyes. He served in the Korean War,and he was there for me and my mom. He was handsome, remember Elvis in the Army? That’s what my grandaddy looked like.
A great post and I can’t wait to read this book!
hugs,
WendyK
August 29th, 2009 on 9:40 am
Rocki,
totally love the post. How fun to think of hero’s past. One that comes to mind was in junior high…a boy who didn’t quite fit into my straight laced school. I was in love with his long hair and rebel ways.
August 29th, 2009 on 9:38 am
Hi Rocki,
I can’t tell you how excited I am that HUNT HER DOWN is now out. I ordered it from my store and it should be there on Monday morning with the UPS shipments.
Learning more about Dan’s story this weekend is the perfect teaser. I know I will LOVE it as I have ALL of your books.
I have to say Deb’s story touched me. My eyes teared and I had goose bumps popping…why does it seem that too many really GOOD people die so young. I lost a very dear friend from high school when we were sophomores in college. She was killed when she fell from a train. She was taking a semester in Luxemburg, and was returning from Spain after a long weekend. Apparently she got separated from her group of friends and was returning alone. I never hear any specific details, but it was my first experience with death. Her parents gave me an antique jewelry box (of sorts) that they were going to give her. Of course, I still have it, and each and every time I look at it I remember Bridget. I, too, cannot fathom the loss of a child. Okay, sorry for the downer!
Geesh!
My first crush would have to be the little boy who lived next door until I moved away when I was 7. Buzzy Wright. I believe his real name was Ralph after his father and grandfather. Personally I liked the name Buzzy much better than Ralph. He and I did everything together. Easter egg hunts, picnics, skating on the pond in front of our houses…we have tons of pictures of us and our adventures. I moved away, we grew up, reconnected as friends in our late teens but alas he went his way and I went mine. He’s a doctor, married the last I heard.
I never lacked for crushes. I probably had a crush on a boy or two every year of my life until I married my hubby, and even now I (shhhh) have my obsession with Gerard Butler.
Did I read that you will be in Ohio? When and Where?
Take care. Thanks again for takingme under your wing in D.C. You have no idea what it meant to me.
Hugs, Anne
August 29th, 2009 on 9:16 am
Hawk! I like ‘em tall, but 6′6″ is waaaaay tall! And oh black hair and blue eyes. Is there anything better? Thanks for stopping by, kiddo!
August 29th, 2009 on 9:15 am
Karen - A Hungarian hero - hmmmm. Great potential there. Even a hot name - thanks for sharing!
August 29th, 2009 on 9:14 am
A paratrooper is just inherently heroic, adh. I agree - and you were lucky to have him for a grandfather. Thanks for posting!
August 29th, 2009 on 9:13 am
Kara, the wait is over! Hallelujah! And another one four weeks later - enjoy!!
August 29th, 2009 on 9:13 am
Toni, you kissed in first grade!?! You bad girl. How about Bobbie Faye?
She probably talked her way into her first kiss!
August 29th, 2009 on 9:11 am
Patrick Hensberry sounds like a cutie, Laura! Let’s just pretend he turned into a BC. I usually do very dark-haired heroes as a rule, but when I first wrote Dan, since he was based on this girlhood crush, I gave him lighter hair and I’m really glad I did. The look totally worked for him, in my mind, anyway.
August 29th, 2009 on 9:11 am
Ah, Yes, My hero of the past was a 6′6″ hunk of a man with long black hair and blue eyes that could make you melt from the warmth of them…He was a man that knew what he wanted….
{{;-D
Hawk
August 29th, 2009 on 8:52 am
Ooh Rocki–now you’ve done it! Brought back memories of Gyorgy (George) the boy I had a super-duper crush on in junior high. His family had just moved to the states from Hungary and he spoke very little English, but with his adorable accent, gorgeous green eyes and shy smile, he had all the girls eating out of his hand–moi included. I think my heart just skipped a beat again. Memories. What would we do without them?
August 29th, 2009 on 8:50 am
Hero from my past would be my grandfather. He was a paratrooper back in the day. Had a great sense of humor, loved his family and spoiled his grandkids. Doesn’t get any better than that.
Great question, Rocki! Brings back wonderful memories. And I can’t wait to read your newest book!
August 29th, 2009 on 8:36 am
Love the post and the insights into where you inspiration for characters come from.
It seems I’ve waited for Dan’s story forever! So glad it’s finally here. Can’t wait to read it. The BulletCatchers is one of my favorite series. Just hooked another friend on to it last week.
As for heroic hotties from the past, didn’t think I had one. However, all these childhood stories have me thinking about a certain bad boy way back in third grade…
August 29th, 2009 on 8:34 am
Oh, I think it would have to be my very first kiss, Tommy, in first grade. Who was brave enough to kiss me in front of the whole class (though I am pretty sure we didn’t realize it at the time–at least, I didn’t, because all I could think about was how incredibly cute he was: blonde hair, blue eyes. Great grin.) Alas, I think the relationship only lasted until the following recess where some cute redhead wanted to see what all that kissing stuff was about.
August 29th, 2009 on 8:27 am
I’ve loved reading about the Bullet Catchers on SBTB and now here this week. I’m definitely going in search of these books - they sound great!
What a great post. My crush in first and second grade was Patrick Hensberry. Great name, no? Blonde, blue-eyed, and adorable. I moved to another state in third grade, and never saw him again. So I’ll imagine him as bullet-catcher hot now.
Haven’t thought of him in years. My tastes turned toward dark haired men, and that’s who I’m married to now. I was always the one who liked the dark haired of the TV duos - Starsky and Hutch, The Dukes of Hazzard, etc., while my friends pined after the blondes.
August 29th, 2009 on 8:21 am
Let’s see, unforgettable hero? Devil in Lauren’s Cynsters, DEVILS BRIDE — & Jamie in OUTLANDER by Gabaldon . . . Her new release is Sept 22, AN ECHO IN THE BONE . .
August 29th, 2009 on 8:20 am
Tamara - I think Sweet Savage Love was my first and favorite, too. How can we thank those 70’s romance writers for introducing us to passion and brooding heroes with soft hearts buried inside manly chests. Sigh. Thanks for stopping by! (Is that Keith Urban in your pic, btw???)
August 29th, 2009 on 8:19 am
Hey Sue…have you googled Jimmy Shuller? Come on, admit it. We all have! I know that Borders is working hard to get the book shelved - I heard from so many bookseller friends about it. Thank you for having me here and for everything you so for the romance community. You are a goddess, and Jimmy Shuller missed out!
August 29th, 2009 on 8:17 am
Johnny Ray - I’d be delighted if my trip down memory lanes gets you to dust off an old manuscript and revisit it. Get to work, man!
August 29th, 2009 on 8:17 am
Nancy, I’m embarrassed to admit how many of my heroes were the result of girlhood crushes and ex-boyfriend inspiration. I didn’t get married until I was 32, so I consider all those years…RESEARCH. Maybe there is a story in there about your Sean!
August 29th, 2009 on 8:12 am
The one hero from the way back machine that will forever be etched in my memory is “Jared Northrup” from Lynn Lowery’s “Loveswept”. I must have been about 12 twelve or so when I first read it. That book and Rosemary Roger’s “Sweet Savage Love” were my very first grown-up romance novels. Wow…now I want to go into the “archives” and re-read them!!! Yep, that’s proof of an unforgettable hero!!
August 29th, 2009 on 8:08 am
Joanne - Thanks for going to Borders - you’ll love the updated layout. Roxanne’s stories are the best so don’t forget to grab the rest of her series too.
Rocki — Mine was Jimmy Shuller in kidnergarten — but then his family moved away . . . of course, this was prior pre-school & not sure if he realized I was a girl.
pjpuppymom - buy borders.com — you’ll get in a few days — not sure why your area would be out unless there were a rash of shoppers . . . definitely on it. Thanks for shopping us.
August 29th, 2009 on 8:06 am
Hi Rocki, This made me think of a novel I worked on and still need to finish. I went surfing and met a girl in the water only to be scared to death of a large shark we saw. After escaping we went to the bar–where else? Years later I used that memory as the starting point for the novel. I never saw that girl again and wonder what ever happened to her. This post made me think of it and how I need to complete the rewriting on that novel.
This is a great article, I enjoyed it very much.
Johnny Ray
August 29th, 2009 on 7:56 am
Awesome post!
(sighs) Ah, my first love, Sean Hudson. What a pretty, pretty boy he was. Definitely butterfly-inducing. I remember all the little moments I was sure he liked me back and yet it was not to be. (sniffles)
Though I do wonder what he’s doing now…there’s a story idea in there somewhere…(haz a ponder)
August 29th, 2009 on 7:48 am
Hey Patrick, consider that a lesson in understanding females. We value the truth. Thanks for stopping by!
August 29th, 2009 on 7:39 am
Sadly, my second grade hottie, Kerry, ditched me for bad boy Keith. Keith knew the truth about Santa Claus. I did not.
Still not sure I know the truth about Santa Claus…
August 29th, 2009 on 7:34 am
PJ - You are KILLING me. I have had just about one too many reports of the book not being stocked this week. Borders? Sue? Thoughts? I know it isn’t in Wal-Mart yet, as it somehow got scheduled to do get stocked on September 1. I think. Maybe it’s in now. You know how much of this business is out of our hands?
Anyway, I’m sorry you’ve been on a hunt for HUNT.
Thanks for sharing your crush - I don’t think too many of them grew up to be Dan, LOL!
August 29th, 2009 on 7:31 am
Oh, my darling, Deb. What an incredible and moving story. You gave me hope and chills and tears and a smile at the end. (Are you sure you’re not a romance writer?) How very, very sad that he died like that. I don’t know how a parent survives that…trust me, I have a 16 year old with a license and every night he’s out, I’m praying like a madwoman just to hear the garage door open. Thank you so much for giving us that beautiful glimpse into your past…and for all you do to get books into the hands of readers. I’m so happy you loved HUNT HER DOWN & I love YOU! xoxo
August 29th, 2009 on 7:28 am
Oh, no, Pearl. Jacob didn’t hold up after kindergarten, huh? So sad. But he gave you all those beautiful memories, and I bet he thinks of you today as “the girl next door.” Thanks for sharing!
August 29th, 2009 on 7:27 am
Cynnara - he sounds wonderful to me. My favorite line: that you’re thinking too loud for him to concentrate. That is SUCH a hero line of dialogue - great story. And combustible chemistry is the BEST!
August 29th, 2009 on 7:26 am
Hi Rocki! (waving) It was great seeing you in DC this summer. I can’t wait to get my hands on HUNT HER DOWN. I had planned to buy it at Borders when I was in Charlotte Tuesday but (sob) they didn’t get any copies. No problem, I told myself. I’ll just pick it up at Wal-Mart when I get back home. No copies there either! I am not a happy camper! Now I have to wait until Wal-Mart re-stocks next Wednesday. Ah, the joys of small town life.
Love all your inspirations for HUNT HER DOWN. My second-grade crush was Mark. He had sandy blond hair, twinkling eyes and an adorable smile. Best of all, he was madly in love with shy little me. (I have the notes to prove it) I saw him at a class reunion a few years ago. Alas, he did not grow up to be a Dan. I didn’t mention the notes. lol
Good luck at your book signing today. I hope you sell out! I think my sis-in-law and niece are planning to go. I am so jealous!
August 29th, 2009 on 7:25 am
Sharon - Butch, seriously? And you corrected the first declaration of love. We call that a fiesty heroine - thanks for sharing!
August 29th, 2009 on 7:24 am
I can’t think of an ‘heroic’ hottie… I had my share of crushes when I was a kid/teen, but none of them was heroic. Bah.
August 29th, 2009 on 7:12 am
Rocki, Love the back story of Dan’s book. As a lucky person who has already read it I can tell everybody that the book is smokin’ hot and definitely not one you will want to put down for a second.
I’ve had two instant attraction moments. One was in jr high with a guy named Terry. He wasn’t that handsome or anything but I took one look and my heart just knew this was one special guy. We stayed friends all during school and even dated some but we haven’t seen each other in years. At last report from a friend, Terry was looking just like his dad, meaning round and bald. lol
My second and biggest lightning strike moment is also my saddest. I had heard about Michael P. for ages from my cousin who lived in my hometown. He was a star football player, into all kinds of school activities and best friend to my cousins boyfriend. I always thought he would be too stuck up for me but he ended up being one of the most shy guys I’ve ever met. I finally got to meet him when I spent the night with a life long friend Jane and we sat behind him in church. He was notorious about being shy and she picked on him all during church and then would whisper to me to quit that,knowing all the time Michael could hear every word. I threatened to murder her right in church for that. Sorry God. After church I finally met Michael and he shook my hand, smiled his beautiful smile and said he hoped to see more of me. OMG. What a hunk he was and so nice. Evidently this wasn’t his normal reaction to girls because his brother, my friend and the rest of the crew were all standing there with their mouths hanging open and staring after him in amazement. What I thought would be Mr. Stuck Up was actually a very shy, very sweet guy. I was told over and over again that he just didn’t do that. lol Tickled me pink to think that I could draw the interest of somebody so special and who was as shy as I was!
Sadly Michael was killed in a car crash that fall when he was a senior in high school. He was one of five that was killed the crash. I was at a football game with Terry when it happened and as crazy as this sounds, I swear I know when it happened. We were walking around the football field and talking to friends. Terry said I just stopped and stared into space and got white as a ghost. The next thing I remember is Terry shaking me and asking what was wrong. I told him I didn’t know but it was bad. Very bad. I couldn’t get it out of my mind and found out two days later that it really was sweet Michael that had died. Somehow I already knew it was him before I ever heard the official news. Another cousin wrote me later and told me the news and told me what happened because she knew I had met him. I was heartbroken for a long time and still feel so sad when I think of him. The world lost a special guy that day.
I’m married now to my own special Michael. (I about freaked when I learned his name) We will hit our 30 year anniversary in November and I couldn’t love him more.
August 29th, 2009 on 7:07 am
Jacob! Definitely Jacob, my Kindergarten buddy and first love. At the time I didn’t know it but in hind sight he was my first true love. Blond, blue-eyed, he was the cutest of all the boys in Kindergarten and he was “my boyfriend” so I was the luckiest little girl in the world. I would loudly and confidently tell every family member or friend of the family that Jacob, the boy next door, was my boyfriend and we were going to get married and have babies. He lived next door so we always walked hand in hand to and from Kindergarten and he was the boy gave me my very first kiss (on the cheek of course) at age 4. A girl never forgets her first kiss! Ever…
(I saw him once when I was in my late twenties (while visiting mom who still lives in the same town where I grew up) and thought: “What was I thinking when I was 4?”)
August 29th, 2009 on 7:07 am
OMG, I know this one– Brian Buroker. I had the hugest crush on him through high school. He was smart, played football, and taunted me every day of high school. We’d be walking to our next class and he’d tell me to stop telling him to be quiet or that I was thinking too loud for him to concentrate. I’d turn at him and warn him that one day I’d take him out if he wasn’t careful, even if he was on the football team. In chemistry class, we were busy trying to see if we could set the other on fire without getting caught we were both antagonistic at each other, even though I’d have done anything to have him be romantic towards me just once. LOL
August 29th, 2009 on 7:05 am
Shawn? Carried a bicycle chain and was a bully? If he is in prison, I bet he’s toast with that name. Clearly torn between bad boy and Cyrano. Thanks for sharing!
August 29th, 2009 on 6:41 am
Rocki! No fair. The boy I had a crush on in second grade was a total bad boy who carried a bicycle chain and threatened people with it. I’m not making this up–the kid had issues. But he DID write me my very first love letter, and hid it in my blue dinosaur pencil box. It was anonymous, but I knew it was from Shawn because he attempted to steal it back and crumple it up before I could read it. I managed to keep hold of the letter, even when he waved the bike chain menacingly at me.
Man, I haven’t thought about him in years. I hope he’s not in prison.
August 29th, 2009 on 6:33 am
Second grade–Butch (and yes, he had a butch haircut
A blue-eyed blond who said he loved me. I, of course, corrected him. He simply liked me a lot–he was too young to know about love. He was a cutie–but, alas, that puppy-dog act just doesn’t work for me.
Hmm, I did marry a blond. Green eyes, not blue. And definitely not a puppy!
Have my copy of Hunt Her Down but will see you at your booksigning later today!
August 29th, 2009 on 6:26 am
Joanne - black hair just does it for me, too. I happened to notice that very boy you are describing in the car line waiting to pick up my seventh grade daughter the other day. I said to her, “Hey I thought you said there were no cute boys in middle school.” She kind of melted into the seat, turned red, and said, “Well, there’s *him*.” It must be in the genes!
August 29th, 2009 on 6:24 am
JoMarie - I love that story!! Can I just say that Steve Seaman will not, however, be a secondary (or hero) in any book! LOL. Miss you and thanks for stopping by!
August 29th, 2009 on 6:22 am
Cynthia - Wouldn’t you love to just know what Chris Gray looks like now? Maybe not, then you can just pretend he turned into a Bullet Catcher like I did. Plus, that’s a pretty hot name. Thanks for the comment!
August 29th, 2009 on 6:21 am
Erica - isn’t it amazing what crawls out of the woodwork…or explodes into your email box (depending on who it is) with facebook, etc. I’ve heard from a number of ex boyfriends in the past few years - and, of course, wrote a whole book about the concept of reconnecting on the internet called HIT REPLY. Thanks for the comment - hope you swoon with Dan!
August 29th, 2009 on 6:06 am
I’m heading to my Borders today (and hoping that they’re done with their reorganizing of shelves) and I’ve added Hunt Her Down to my tbb list.
Oh Dominick. 4th grade and he had BLACK hair and chewed gum in class and I thought he was all that & more! He was also dumb as a brick and so needy and all the girls thought that was an excellent quality. Fortunately he moved to a different school. I will not be hunting him down.
August 29th, 2009 on 6:05 am
Rocki - what a fabulous story about the various inspirations for this book. I love the idea of keeping a fortune cookie and its inspiring forture. Can’t wait to read what you’re latest book!!!
Cheryl
August 29th, 2009 on 5:58 am
Oh, it has to be Billy Davis in second grade. We ended up gong through high schol together but he never did it for me like he did one afternoon. Right before the bell rang. We were standing in line at the back of the classroom, Sister trying to corral twenty-five boys and five girls (yes, I’m not making that up!) and I saw Billy standing two desks away. His friend Steve Seaman was leaning into him, one hip propped on the desk as he nudged Billy with his shoulder. My heart started to pound. How did I know what was going to happen? The bell rang, Billy ran over to me and kissed me right on the cheek! In a flurry of plaid-clad bodies, I was swept into the hall and out onto the street for the long walk home. My cheek was on fire! I don’t think any other kiss has come close to being that startling and memorable. Sorry Jay (my husband) but you’re only seven once.
August 29th, 2009 on 5:49 am
It was 5th grade (many, many moons ago) and I had the thrill of sitting next to hunky Chris Gray. Light brown hair and big blue eyes. He liked to draw cartoons and he drew me some once in a while. Heart-melting yummy.
I don’t know where he is now or what he does, but now I’m curious….
I can’t wait to read Hunt Her Down!!
Cynthia
August 29th, 2009 on 5:40 am
Hi Rocki!! LOL re: Jimmy from elementary school. I hear you. I had a few crushes from decades gone by that I’ve since (re)discovered on sites like Facebook, and wow! Reality and my imagination are two very different things. (I think that’s good… but I guess it depends who you ask!)
Dan Gallagher sounds totally swoon-worthy. Can’t wait to read Hunt Her Down!
/waves at Sue!
August 29th, 2009 on 4:59 am
What a fun way to wake up on a Saturday - a personal introduction from Sue Grimshaw! Thank you, Sue, for inviting me to visit today. I know we’re going to have a blast, and maybe hear about some real life “potential” heroes!
xoxo
Rocki
August 29th, 2009 on 3:46 am
I have to say my grandfather from my mother side. He was a great man very dedicated to his family and always ready to give a hand to whoever was in need.