trueromance

Setting: Chicago in the year 2024
Subgenre: YA paranormal
Hero: we’ll see!
Heroine: Zoë

One sentence summary:
All Zoë has to do is master her dragon shape shifting powers, keep from revealing her nature to her best friend (and still stay friends), survive boot camp for dragon shifters, figure out guys and save her kind from the Mages’ diabolical plan to eliminate all shifters.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
I love the scene with Zoë’s first kiss. Yum.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
Zoë is a fundamentally honest person. What really eats her up is the need to keep her dragon shifting nature secret from her best (human) friend. She feels like a liar and a fraud and I think that says a lot about the kind of person she is. On the other hand, what finally brings her dragon shifting powers to the fore is her desire to protect that same friend from a bully.

Tell us one quirky thing about your heroine?
She likes to draw dragons. She’s, in fact, pretty compulsive about it.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:
Zoë is 15 and a high school student. She’s trying to figure out what to do with her life – other than be the Wyvern, the only female dragon shifter who has special powers, and generally be a dragon shifter defending humans everywhere like her dad and the other Pyr. I like that Zoë is trying to find a balance point between her life as a dragon shifter and her desire to be a normal human teenager.

What you think readers will like best about this book:
I hope they’ll like Zoë! I had a really good time with her and her story.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
Well, this is the launch of this series. I hope that by the time all three books are published, readers might be wanting to know more about the guy dragon shifters who are Zoë’s pals. That’s Nick, Garrett and Liam. I’m starting to get curious about the boys myself.

What’s next:
WINGING IT, book #2 in The Dragon Diaries, will be out in December. It has another gorgeous cover and is another action-filled story. The final book in this trilogy will be out next June. You can read about both, right here http://www.thedragondiaries.com At the same time, Dragonfire, my adult paranormal romance series is continuing with Dragonfire #7 coming out in January 2012 and Dragonfire #8 coming out in October 2012. You can read about Dragonfire right here: http://www.deborahcooke.com There are a lot of dragons in my office right now!

Question –
If you could be any kind of shape shifter at all, what would you like to be – and why?

About Me:
What’s my favorite movie of all time?
THE FISHER KING.

What’s my favorite kind of story to get lost in?
A romance, preferably one with paranormal or fantasy elements.

What’s the first book I remember reading?
It must have been a book of fairy tales.

What’s my favorite fairy tale?
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Because love conquers all, just the way it should.

What’s my favorite cartoon character?
Bugs Bunny. I like how he’s always one step ahead of his opponent or competition – wouldn’t it be great that way and be funny too?!

What’s something I’d like to tell your readers?
Thank you for reading my books.

What would my occupation be if I were no longer a writer?
It changes every day. Today, I’m thinking I’d be a pastry chef. (Me, hungry? Why do you ask?)

What do I do to unwind and relax?
I knit. A lot.

Tea or Coffee? And how do I take it?
Tea – and I’ll have mine naked, please.

What does love mean to me?
To me, a great romantic love means that the two people are more together than they could ever be apart. A great romantic love makes us more than ourselves, so the union is greater than the sum of the parts.

Which era would I least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most?
I don’t think I would have enjoyed the Renaissance much. I think the role of women – and their perceived place in society – changed a lot in that era, and not for the better.
I would have loved to have lived in the 12th century. I used to write medievals – as Claire Delacroix – and just love the period for its drama, history, romance and eye candy.

Dog person or cat person?
Dog. The Queen Bee wouldn’t have it any other way.

Books from the Dragonfire series:

Setting: New York City in an alternate universe
Subgenre: paranormal romance
Hero: Dragos Cuelebre
Heroine: Pia Giovanni

One sentence summary:
A dragon chases after a thief, falls in love, and learns how to say please…sometimes.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
I would never cut the beguilement dream, in which Dragos intends to trap Pia but finds himself ensnared, not only with his own beguilement but also with her.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
“Can I have cheese on that steak burger?”

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero?
Dragos is OCD about his hoard. He knows every item down to the smallest detail, including the year stamped on every one of his coins. And he has a lot of coins.

Heroine?
Pia is not quite vegan. She will eat honey, if it has been responsibly harvested, and yes, she does background checks on the brand.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:
Pia used to be a bartender and now she’s unemployed. Even as I type this, she’s wondering if she should start job hunting.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:
Dragos is the CEO and majority stockholder of Cuelebre Enterprises, a multi-billion dollar international corporation. He is also Lord of the Wyr demesne, which is a full-time job all on its own. Even as I type this, he’s wondering if he should take a vacation.

What you think readers will like best about this book:
I hope readers like the humor and suspense. These characters really came alive for me. They just about danced off the tips of my fingers and onto the page, and I had so much fun writing the repartee between Dragos and Pia. I hope readers enjoy reading about them as much as I have enjoyed writing about them.

What’s next:
The second book in the Elder Races series, Storm’s Heart, comes out August 2, 2011, and the third, Serpent’s Kiss, is released October 4, 2011. My wonderful agent Amy Boggs at the Donald Maass Literary Agency has also finalized details on a second contract. I’m very excited to follow this series through book six, and I’m already plotting storylines for possibly beyond!

I have a question for readers and I am excited to read their answers. What is the story that no one has told but you would like to read?

Two lucky commenters will win a copy of DRAGON BOUND!

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time?
I don’t have a favorite movie of all time. I’m too fickle. But the last movie I got really excited about was Avatar.

2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?
I love the kind of story that has several things going for it—suspense, humor, sensual tension, a kick-ass fight scene. I adore being surprised, and when a book can surprise me, I fall in love with it.

3. What’s the first book you remember reading?
The very first book I remember reading is The Little Red Hen. I was about four years old, and I loved that book. I carried it everywhere, and tried to read it to my parents and older sisters. I seem to recall they got pretty sick of it. But I could never figure out why.

4. What’s your favorite fairy tale?
Erm, this may be a bit of a different take on the question, but right now I would have to say anything written by Patricia A. McKillip. Her prose is lyrical, and her stories are like fairy tales, only new.

5. What’s your favorite cartoon character?
I have quite a fondness for She-Ra, Princess of Power. My daughter had all the dolls, along with a She-Ra castle, sword and cape. We saved the world several times when it did not know it was in peril. You’re welcome.

6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers?
I adore hearing from readers about how they’ve interacted with a story I’ve written. It makes my day when I hear from someone that they really enjoyed Dragon Bound. I love finding out I was able to give someone the kind of pleasure I feel whenever I get lost in a book. I hope to continue providing that kind of pleasure to readers for a long time to come.

7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer?
I have a Masters in Library Information Science, so I would be a librarian working with books and the public, hopefully as a reference librarian. Working at a reference desk can be very demanding, but it can also be very rewarding as well. And reference work can be like playing trivial pursuit in a library, which is a great game to play in one of my favorite places in the world.

8. What do you do to unwind and relax?
Read! And sometimes, for a change of pace, I might switch out books and read something different than usual. I have two dogs I like to spend time with, and I love going for walks near water. I’m also a General Hospital fan (I Google for spoilers!), and I play online Scrabble with friends. I haven’t had the opportunity to travel much lately, and I’m hoping to get back to that. I have a passport that’s going through withdrawal. Even as I type this, I’m thinking maybe I need to go on a vacation.

9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
I love both coffee and tea. Usually I drink plain black coffee, although I enjoy it with cream and sugar as a dessert drink. I have to drink my tea with a splash of milk, and occasionally sugar (and very occasionally lemon).

10. What does love mean to you?
I think at its finest, love is a decision. All the emotions of being in love can feel amazing and wonderful, and it’s easy when everything is going well, but the most important expression of love is how we choose to act when we’re feeling selfish, or when we’re tired or sick, angry or hurt, or abandoned and endangered. That’s when we are capable of amazing things like self-sacrifice, true caring and generosity. I think that’s when stories become really memorable and haunting.

11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most?
I would have been a very unhappy Victorian. All those suffocating layers of clothes, the corsets, and knick-knacks everywhere, unable to take a deep breath and not able to move freely for fear of knocking something over—just the thought makes me feel very claustrophobic.

But I think I might have quite liked the Regency era. The styles seem looser, more flowing, and very feminine. But I would only like to live in the Regency era if I had a lot of money, and a butler.

12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet?
Phaedra. And I think I might have found a fit for it.

13. Dog person or cat person?
I am a both person. I love animals. I have had cats, and I now have two dogs. Sadly, I probably won’t have another cat because of family members with allergies. But I do love them.

Setting: New York, NY
Subgenre: Paranormal
Hero: Ulrich “Ric” Van Holtz
Heroine: Dee-Ann Smith

One sentence summary: Yankee wolf tries to figure out how to catch and keep the Confederate She-wolf of his dreams.

Scene you like most and would never cut: The softball scene during Fourth of July weekend. Wild dogs versus wolves and cats…it was a blast just writing it!

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “I love sitting around, talking about feelings! Please, tell me what makes you cry. So we can bond—like sisters!”

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Ric gets really insulted anytime someone suggests he may be using canned anything in his food. Like the entire Van Holtz Pack, he takes his culinary skills very seriously. Heroine: Dee’s love of Big Betty…the bowie knife her daddy got her for her birthday when she was ten. She can’t imagine going anywhere without Big B. So she doesn’t. It makes airplane travel a little difficult, though.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Dee would say that Killin’ is her business and business is…well, you know how that goes. But really she’s a protector. She protects her kind, shifters of all species and breeds—no matter how annoying she may find them as human beings. And sometimes protecting others means doing things no one else is willing to do.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Ric has multiple jobs. He’s the executive chef of one of his family’s high-end restaurants, a pro hockey player on a shifter team, a business man, and Dee’s supervisor at the Group. The organization that protects shifters within the United States.

What you think readers will like best about this book: I think they’ll enjoy the way Dee and Ric interact. Considering how different they are and the differences in their backgrounds, I think they mesh together really well. It’s fun to watch them flirt as only wolves can.

What’s next: I’ve started work on Pride #7 (no title yet) and finished up my next dragon story under my G.A. Aiken name, THE DRAGON WHO LOVED ME and a dragon novella in the anthology SUPERNATURAL with Larissa Ione, Alexandra Ivy, and Jacquelyn Frank. After that I start on Dragon #6.

The last few months have been so busy with work, plus I just got a new dog that needs lots of attention. When that happens, when the stress begins to take over, I rarely read romances or any fiction for that matter. Instead, I read lots of non-fiction, especially true crime like Helter Skelter or the Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. I don’t know why this relaxes me…or perhaps it simply distracts me. Whatever it is, it works. And although I’m sure it’s something I should examine more closely—perhaps with a therapist—if it helps, it helps.

So on that point, what do you read when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed? Do you find yourself delving deeper into your romance favorites? Or doing a complete 180 and reading something out of left field?

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time?
The Godfather. I have multiple lists in my head of favorite movies. Favorite action fantasy, favorite sci-fi, favorite horror, etc., but anytime I think of the one movie I still haven’t gotten tired of, that I love quoting, that I adore the characters, etc.—it always comes back to The Godfather.

2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?
Fantasy. Nothing like a little sword & sorcery to help one escape the drudgery of their day.

3. What’s the first book you remember reading?
I can’t remember the name of it, but it was a picture book about ducks. Beautiful drawings, but kind of a sad story. I think the hero duck dies… But the first romance I read was Ashes in the Wind by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. I was 12 and bought it at the church bazaar, which is really strange since it’s the quintessential 70s romance, including forced seduction, girl pretending to be a boy, the evil temptress cousin, etc., etc. I was 12! The last book I read before Ashes was a Nancy Drew. That’s quite a leap.

4. What’s your favorite fairy tale?
I don’t have one. But I was never really into fairy tales growing up and my mother didn’t read them to me. But I’d started reading on my own pretty early and I read about poor ducks dying on a frozen lake.

5. What’s your favorite cartoon character?
Bugs Bunny. He was just so cool! He could sing, dance, do imitations, and was the one-liner king!

6. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer?
I’d probably still be an editor in a marketing department.

7. What do you do to unwind and relax?
Watch “Law & Order” or “The Closer” and play solitaire. Not exactly exciting but it works for me at the moment.

8. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
Neither. I hate coffee AND tea. Ice-cold water or Coke with a lot of ice is my thing.

9. What does love mean to you?
Acceptance for who you are. If you have to start changing who you are to make someone else happy…it’s not love.

10. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most?
Whenever the Puritans ran around. Those clothes do not look comfortable and I hate the idea of being all buttoned up and the universe knows I’m not exactly known for my prim and proper behavior. My most favorite is middle ages and Renaissance. I just don’t get tired of those gowns.

11. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet?
Malachai! I’ve loved that name since I saw Children of the Corn in the 80s. Of course, Malachai doesn’t make one think of a romantic hero but a religious zealot. So the name goes unused but I do still love it.

12. Dog person or cat person?
Absolutely dog. After my dog of fourteen years passed in December, I recently got a new guy from the pound. A four-year-old grey and white pit with one blue eye and one brown. He’s a total love bug and I adore him. However, I really do love big cats, too. Lions, tigers, cougars, etc. That’s why I enjoy writing about them so much.

Welcome to Last Chance by Hope Ramsay

Setting: Last Chance, South Carolina
Subgenre: Contemporary Romance
Hero: Clay Rhodes
Heroine: Jane Coblenz

One sentence summary:
With bad guys on her trail, Jane uses her last dollar to buy a ticket to Last Chance, South Carolina, where she encounters a town filled with lovable and quirky characters, not to mention Clay Rhodes, a sexy country and western musician who’s determined to rescue her, whether she thinks she needs it or not.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
The emotional high point in the story comes when Clay confronts Jane about her past. Clay knows something terrible happened to Jane when she was seventeen. In fact, the local police chief is convinced that Jane was involved in a murder, but the chief, who is also Clay’s older brother, can’t prove his theory. Clay wants to believe in Jane’s innocence, but he also trusts his brother. He’s horribly conflicted and he’s scared that learning the truth about Jane’s past might change the way he’s coming to feel about her. When Clay finally gets the truth out of Jane, he’s really surprised by it. Of course I can’t divulge Jane’s secret because it would be a huge spoiler.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
Jane is the walking embodiment of the power of positive thinking, so she would never fall into pessimism without a huge push. She committed to “manifesting” a better future for herself and she works hard at reaching her goal. She has her moments of doubt, of course, but she refuses to give into them. Instead she unfailingly finds the silver lining in every gray cloud — until the climax of the book, when her faith in the future is challenged to its core.

What celebrity is your hero like:
Clay is a successful musician so I have always imagined him looking like Trace Adkins or Tim McGraw. From an artistic standpoint, though, Clay’s music has a big emotional punch like the music of David Wilcox or James Taylor.

What celebrity is your heroine like: Jane looks a little bit like Jennifer Garner. But beyond that, she’s her own self. She has a beautiful singing voice that’s somewhere between Dolly Parton and Leeann Womack — what I think of as a real bluegrass voice. She hails from West Virginia and she’s also a coal miner’s daughter.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:
Jane has a dream of becoming a country and western singer, but in the meantime she makes her living as a beautician. She arrives in Last Chance without a job, but that’s quickly remedied when she takes a job as the manicurist at the Cut ‘n Curl, the local beauty shop owned by Ruby Rhodes, Clay’s momma. You can just imagine what fun I had writing the beauty shop scenes, where the gossips, church ladies, and unrepentant matchmakers come together to meddle in the private lives of Last Chance’s younger set.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:
Clay is a musician. But when his girlfriend dumps him for the lead singer in Clay’s band, Clay walks away from Nashville. He’s discouraged about his future at the beginning of the book. He’s come to Last Chance to figure out what comes next. In the meantime he’s sitting in with the local country and western band, playing organ on Sundays at church, and helping out at his uncle’s hardware store.

What do you think readers will like best about this book:
I’m sure readers will love the quirky town of Last Chance, South Carolina and its cast of busy bodies and matchmakers. And, of course, there is the loveable eccentric who owns the miniature golf course right outside of town dedicated to the Lord, called Golfing for God. The putt-putt place is a character unto itself.

Aside from the quirky town and its inhabitants, I think readers will fall in love with Clay’s best friend, Ray Betts. Ray suffered a brain injury in a car accident when he was a teenager that has given him an unusual view of the world. Ray is determined to help Clay find the perfect woman, and his attempts at matchmaking are both sweet and amusing. He’s my favorite secondary character.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
Well, since this is my debut novel, I haven’t heard from many readers, yet. But I’m sure that as the series goes on, readers will want to see Last Chance’s police chief, Stone Rhodes, find his way back to love. Stone is a widower and a single father struggling with his grief. In CHRISTMAS IN LAST CHANCE, the fourth book of the series, Stone will meet someone who helps to melt his cold and lonely heart.

What’s next:
There are four Last Chance novels in the works.

The next book, HOME AT LAST CHANCE, features Tulane Rhodes, a NASCAR driver, whose sponsor has painted his car pink and put a snuggle bunny on its hood in order to advertise Cottontail Disposable Diapers. Tulane’s contract also requires him to officiate at baby-changing races that the good ol’ boy finds humiliating and embarrassing. When Tulane blows off one of these appearances, his sponsor sends Sarah Murray, a prim little market researcher to keep him in line. Sarah quickly learns all of Tulane’s embarrassing secrets, then proceeds to bond with the church ladies of Last Chance in their quest to rebuild the putt-putt place right outside of town. Tulane’s career is in Sarah’s capable little hands, while his thoughts are stuck on those bodacious S curves Sarah’s got hidden underneath her tailored business suits. . . HOME AT LAST CHANCE will be available in the fall of 2011.

Two more Last Chance books are scheduled for 2012 — LAST CHANCE BEAUTY QUEEN and CHRISTMAS IN LAST CHANCE.

Last Chance is not a real place, of course, but it was suggested by a little town in South Carolina where I spent my summers, swimming in a black-water river, fishing for catfish, and learning a lot of life lessons from a village of good people with solid values. There is something golden about the summer memories of early childhood, when we’re free to discover and learn. My childhood summers gave me so many ideas for wonderful stories. I’d love to hear some of your stories of special times in your childhood and how your parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends, or distant kin made them special. Come share your memories and stories with me, I’d love to hear them.

Four lucky commenters will get free copies of WELCOME TO LAST CHANCE.

Setting: Mainly in the Pacific Northwest, current day.

Subgenre: Paranormal

Hero: Talen Kayrs is a vampire prince and soldier. Talen is a leader who believes in fate, and yet pretty much thinks the world should follow his lead. The idea of anyone ignoring fate, or even worse, not following his plan, is truly unthinkable to him.

Heroine: Cara Paulson is a single mother and scientist. She survived a bad childhood with wits and courage. The idea of either fate or an arrogant vampire dictating anything about her life is ridiculous. That is, until Talen touches her.

One sentence summary: FATED is a deeply sexy good-versus-evil vampire story with a unique twist—the vampire race is on the verge of extinction, and only one woman has the power to save it!

Scene you like most and would never cut: It’s hard to choose just one. Talen is pretty much an alpha through the entire book, and a scene arrives where he chases Cara through the house. They’re having some fun, but the sexual tension is still full on. She finds out the big, bad vampire is ticklish. He’s hot, he’s dangerous, and she realizes her heart is in true trouble…because she actually likes the guy.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: She’s a plant physiologist and is only happy when there are live plants, flowers and trees around. So she’d rather never be underground. Of course, that’s exactly where she ends up.

What celebrity is your hero like: Ronon Dex from Stargate Atlantis

What celebrity is your heroine like: Audrey Parker from Haven

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be
doing: She’s a plant physiologist because science is ordered and controlled.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be
doing: Talen is a soldier, the head of strategic planning for the entire vampire world.

What you think readers will like best about this book: FATED is a sexy, steamy romance mixed with some genuine warmth. Of course, there’s a lot of action too.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Katie is a young lion shifter in FATED who’s in love with the leader of the lions. Readers keep asking when Katie’s story will be told. It’s coming.

What’s next: CLAIMED is book two and features the romance between an arrogant vampire king and a feisty geneticist. The release date is November of this year.

For more about my books, excerpts and releases, please visit my website: www.rebeccazanetti.com

In FATED, Talen believes in fate and Cara believes in science. Do you believe in fate?

Please leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of FATED. I’d like to give away two copies today. Thanks so much for stopping by!

DARK PASSAGES: Tristan & Karen
Book 4 in The Brethren Series

Setting: Lake Tahoe, California and Las Vegas, Nevada
Subgenre: Paranormal romance/vampires
Hero: Tristan Morin, a Brethren vampire
Heroine: Karen Pierce, a human

One sentence summary:

An unexpected road trip leads to unexpected danger when vampire Tristan Morin must defend himself and the woman he loves against a sadistic, ruthless enemy.

Scene you like most and would never cut:

I love the way this book opens: with Tristan and Karen making love for the first time. By this point in their relationship, they’ve known — and resisted — each other for years, and are finally giving in, throwing all of their inhibitions aside. It’s a different kind of love scene from anything I’ve written to date because it’s more a physical surrender for them than an emotional one. They’re ripping clothes off, shoving each other into walls; everything is fierce and passionate and harried. And the whole time, Tristan’s struggling not to bite Karen, feed from her, because he knows if he does, then he’ll be emotionally and psychically bound to her. He’s terrified of that kind of vulnerability with anyone, but especially with Karen, and he’s fighting it tooth and nail. (Pardon the vamp pun!)

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:

Karen isn’t one to back down from a challenge or a fight. She doesn’t give up easily, especially when in pursuit of something she wants, believes in or knows is right.

What celebrity is your hero like:

Chris Evans. I think Tristan definitely shares the same sort of devil-may-care charisma and sex appeal that he exudes on-screen. Evans is a strikingly handsome man, but he has a boyish charm as well, traits I definitely envisioned for Tristan.

What celebrity is your heroine like:

Jennifer Lawrence, the young actress from “Winter’s Bone.” I imagine Karen has that same appealing contradiction of stoic outer beauty and inner strength. Jennifer is from Louisville, my home town, and the first time I saw her photo, I thought, “Put another five years on her, and that’s Karen to a T.”

What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:

Karen is a registered nurse specializing in the field of oncology. She and Tristan met at a hospital in Reno while he was going through a medical residency. It’s her background in cancer treatment that lands her the job as the only human living at the Brethren compound in California, because it uniquely qualifies her to administer care to those vampires suffering from the enigmatic and ultimately fatal disease that has taken the life of Tristan’s mother.

What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:

Tristan is a doctor. Though this wasn’t necessarily by his choice, it’s a career he enjoys and at which he excels. When he’s focused on his work, he’s able to put aside other distractions in his life — like his attraction to Karen.

What you think readers will like best about this book:

I hope readers connect with the characters. Tristan and Karen are both filled with this relentless passion for each other, but it’s an attraction they struggle against throughout the story. It isn’t until they find themselves in danger — their lives, as well as their love, on the line — that they’re forced to admit their feelings to themselves, and each other.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:

Technically, I have written about these characters, but they’re definitely the ones readers ask about the most. I’ve received countless emails begging for more books focused on Brandon and Lina. They were the central characters in “Dark Thirst,” the first book in The Brethren Series, but then faded into secondary roles in subsequent books. It continues to amaze and delight me that readers have connected so strongly with them, and that they have garnered such a broad fan base. Which brings me to…

What’s next:

“Dark Vengeance,” the next novel-length installment in The Brethren Series will be released in electronic and trade paperback this summer. The story comes full-circle, with Brandon and Lina again taking center stage in the lead roles.

In “Dark Vengeance,” Brandon Noble thinks the worst is behind him and is ready to begin a new life with the woman he loves. Lina Jones is more reluctant to let bygones be bygones, but agrees to try for Brandon’s sake. But just as they look forward to a promising future together, a ghost from their past returns — one who’s hellbent on revenge.

You can find out more about me and The Brethren Series by visiting online: www.sarareinke.com. Friend me on Facebook, or become a “Tweet peep” on Twitter for your chance to win exclusive prizes throughout the year!

I’m giving readers the chance to revisit their favorite characters from my Brethren Series. If you had the chance to see a new story centering around favorite fictional characters, who would they be?

3 signed copies of “Dark Thirst” and “Dark Hunger” to 3 random commenters

Happy Sunday!

Hope you had a marvelous weekend & got lots of reading done?
Congrats to all our winners - please email me, SueG, sgrimsha@bordersgroupinc.com, include your mailing address so we can send you your book!

Sunday - Sue’s Stash - US only -AngieG

Sunday Author winner w/Tina Martin:
And now for the giveaway: Two commenters (chosen at random) will win autographed copies of my new novel, ANOTHER MAN’S TREASURE. Two people (chosen at random), who order SECRETS ON LAKE DRIVE now through January 31st will win $25 Borders gift cards. All you have to do is send your proof of purchase to my email: tina@tinamartinbooks.com. Contest ends January 31st.

Her book winners are: Danielle G; Diane

Monday Julia - LSU Reader

Tuesday with Vicki - Terri; Estella; SharynL

Wednesday Sophie’s winner - LauraC; JessicaC

Thursday & Carolyn’s winner - Cricket; Mindy Holt; TracyD

Friday w/Sue Ellen - SuzyR; LauraH; JohannaJ

Saturday w/Christie - PamK

Congrats all!

Wanna know who’s on this week?

Sunday, 2/16 thru Tuesday 2/18, countdown with SEP, aka, Susan Elizabeth Phillips for her New hardcover release - CALL ME IRRESISTIBLE!

Wednesday with Monica Burns

Thursday & Sabrina Jeffries

Friday Laura Moore!

Sat & the awesome, Karen Marie Moning & her New Release, Shadowfever

See you there!
Happy Romance,
SueG

Kate Douglas kate@katedouglas.com
www.katedouglas.com
www.katedouglas.com/eroticromance
(full chapter excerpts of all my books at my website)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/katedouglas.authorpage
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Twitter: www.twitter.com/wolftales

There’s nothing quite like the holidays to bring up the stress levels, and the end of 2010 and beginning of 2011 haven’t been any different for us this year. We’ve had a pretty wild few weeks—I finished writing CrystalFire, my last book inThe DemonSlayers series from Kensington Zebra, and the next day my husband and I left on a quick trip to Hawaii to visit our son Jon and his family, then back home in time for Christmas at our daughter’s and then Jon’s surprise birthday party after he and his family got to the mainland right after Christmas. They blew in with wild weather—high winds and heavy rains and lots of snow—enough for all the grandkids to come up to Dabba and Bompa’s house for sledding on our hill. All this, of course, accompanied by the inevitable head colds that always seem to hit us this time of year (take a deep breath, now!) and, to top it all off, the release of Wolf Tales 11.

Yep, sandwiched in among all the other stuff going on, my 20th Chanku story has hit the stores. With eleven novels and nine novellas out so far, readers are down to the final stories for my first generation Chanku. (Still no word on whether or not my publisher will pick up the second-generation series I’ve proposed) And I, of course, am dealing with the really powerful emotional impact now that all the books are finished (the final story—Wolf Tales 12—is already in production after copy edits) and I won’t have a reason to spend my days thinking of new trouble for Anton or Adam, Mik and AJ or Oliver, Bay or Jake or any of the others to get into.

All of these characters, but most especially Anton Cheval, have filled my waking thoughts (and quite often my nighttime dreams, as well) for over six years now, since I first wrote my tales of the Chanku for Changeling Press as an online serial. That serial morphed into Kensington’s bestselling erotic romance series after launching their new Aphrodisia line in January 2006. Believe me, after living with all of these “real-to-me” characters for so long, it’s flat out weird not to have a reason to spend more time with them.

The thing is, I don’t actually plot my books before I write them, but I do spend a lot of time thinking about the characters, what they’re dealing with and how their relationships within the pack change and develop with each story. Or, I did. Now when Anton pops into my head I need to gently remind him that he needs to find something else to do because I need that space in my imagination for the new characters and the new series.

It’s not easy—Anton is damned persistent! But, I do have a new series brewing, one that will start with a novella in the Aphrodisia line, tentatively called DREAM CATCHER, that’s scheduled to release in March 2012. The novella will introduce MacArthur Dugan as a brilliant young post-graduate student who becomes involved with an amazingly sensual woman who may—or may not—really exist. Back to those imaginary friends, right? Move over Anton and make room for Mac!

I actually had an imaginary friend as a child—Peter Gary had to have a place set at the table each night, and he was my constant companion. I’d love to know I’m not alone. Have you ever had an imaginary friend, one so real to you that you thought of him as a flesh and blood acquaintance? I bet I’m not the only one. I would love to hear who kept (or keeps?) you company—the ones no one can see but you.

GIVEAWAY - one book to one lucky commenter below - good luck!

Setting: Regency Ireland
Subgenre: historical-paranormal
Hero: Aidan Douglas, Earl of Kilronan
Heroine: Cat O’Connell

One sentence summary: Lord and thief race to unravel a mysterious diary’s dark secrets while struggling against a dangerous passion.

Scene you like most and would never cut: Aidan’s cliff-climbing scene. For me, this part of his character is tangled up with his continuing effort to live up to his dead father’s expectations even as the horrible truth about him unfolds. It’s always difficult for a child to reconcile the love they have for a parent with the anger they might feel for that parent’s sins. Something Aidan struggles with throughout the book.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “Rescue me, you big hunky strong man.”

Your hero, is he a boxer or brief kind of guy: In 1815, he’s commando all the way.

Ancillary character you had the most fun with: Jack O’Gara, definitely. Aidan’s wise-cracking cousin tried desperately to take over every scene he was in. I had to beat him back with a stick to keep him in line.

Your heroine’s favorite hobby: Breaking and entering

Your hero’s favorite hobby: Cliff-climbing for reasons stated above.

What you think readers will like best about this book: I hope readers come away loving these characters and this world as much as I do.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: I’ve had readers ask what happened to Dangerous As Sin’s Brodie MacKay. Someday I would love to write his story.

What’s next: The second book in the Heirs of Kilronan trilogy, LORD OF SHADOWS is due to hit stores in July 2011 with the third book whose title is TBA releasing in January 2012.

There’s only three more days until the New Year! My resolution for 2011 is to exercise regularly—according to my doctor, typing doesn’t count. What’s your resolution for the new year? And did you follow through on the one you made for 2010?

Comment and you’ll be entered to win a copy of EARL OF DARKNESS along with an extra little bonus gift I couldn’t resist. Thanks again for letting me come and chat with you. It’s been a pleasure!

Where is your series set? My heroine runs a vintage clothing store on Sixth Street in Austin, Texas.

Tell us about your hero: Glory’s had one main guy, her sire Jeremiah Campbell who calls himself Jeremy Blade these days. But she’s also attracted to her former bodyguard Rafael Valdez and rock star Israel Caine, who she mentored when he was turned vampire against his will.

Tell us about your heroine: Glory St. Clair is a curvy vampire who was bloating the day she was turned over four hundred years ago. So she’s never been able to lose those last fifteen pounds or so. She’s an independent woman who struggles to make her own way, keep a steady boyfriend and stay safe in today’s world.

Can you give readers a one sentence summary? Real Vampires Have More to Love is book six in the series and finds Glory the target in a race for a billionaire’s inheritance.

What is the scene you like most and would never cut? Just one? I enjoyed letting Glory finally really connect with her friend Valdez who suffered as her bodyguard through five books. This one gave him a chance to approach her as a sexy guy. Their interaction had sparks flying.

What would your heroine never be caught dead doing? Wearing horizontal stripes. Glory is very conscience of her figure flaws and dresses to make the most of her assets.

What celebrity is your hero like? I let my fans decide this one and Gerard Butler seems to win out. Put him in a kilt and he’s Blade.

What celebrity is your heroine like? I’m lucky that my female fans relate so much to Glory that they are her. Tough to put a star there since she’d have to gain a few pounds but maybe Scarlett Johanssen.

What is your heroine’s occupation? She’s a shop owner, specializing in vintage clothing. She’s always struggling to make ends meet.

What is your hero’s occupation? He has a wide variety of businesses, including a casino and real estate. Being ancient, he’s wealthy.

What do you think readers will like best about this book? That Glory finally has a chance to be with another guy but discovers who her soulmate really is.

Who is the person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet? I’ve had some requests for backstory. How some of my characters got turned vampire. One of the reader favorites is Florence da Vinci, Glory’s best friend.

What’s next? Book 7 in the series will be out in August, Real Vampires Don’t Wear Size Six. Glory gets a visit from the dark side and there’s hell to pay.

I wonder if readers think Glory’s size twelve (okay, fourteen if there’s no elastic or spandex involved) is such a big deal. She’s very conscious of all the tiny (size six) friends around her and really had a tough time when she visited Hollywood, land of the perfect. For a lot of us a six is not only impossible, it’s demoralizing to think about and, frankly, makes me reach for chocolate. How do we cope with the pressure to shrink to model thin standards?

Gerry loves to hear from fans at gerrybartlett.com, on twitter and facebook. Giveaway - set of the first three books in her Real Vampires series to one random commenter!