trueromance

Authors Are Busy, Busy People!

This month Harlequin releases the first book in my 3-book BABIES IN THE BOARDROOM series, THE BABY PROJECT. The two books that follow, SECOND CHANCE BABY and A BABY ON THE RANCH, will be released in May and June. To say that I’ve been busy over the past few months would be classic understatement.

THE BABY PROJECT is an incredibly touching story of Whitney Ross and Darius Andreas. Darius lost his mom one January and his father the following December. But Whitney’s husband committed suicide. Worse, he killed their two-year-old daughter too.

One would think that would make for an incredibly depressing story, but the resilience of the human spirit is an amazing thing. Not only do both Darius and Whitney realize life goes on, but also they inherit joint custody of Darius’s half brother Gino…a six-month-old baby.

Has there ever been a better/worse situation for a woman who’s lost a child to be in? Whitney Ross doesn’t know. But it’s impossible not to fall in love with gorgeous dark-eyed, dark-haired Gino.

And she also discovers it’s impossible not to fall in love with serious, driven Darius.

But are they meant for a happily ever after or will being Gino’s guardians actually put them at odds?

I love this story so much that I wanted to see it get into the hands of as many people as possible…which is why I’m so busy!

But it’s fun busy. Not only have I gotten to write blogs for such great sites as Borders.com, but also I’ve had the pleasure of teaching online classes, sharing my knowledge with the writers who will be penning the books we’ll be reading a few years from now. There is no greater high for me than meeting the wonderful writers who attend my classes.

I’ve also written prologues for each of the three books in the BABIES IN THE BOARDROOM series. Prologues that will only go live on my website about three weeks before each book’s release. I call them What Came Before. It’s a way for me to show readers who the heroes were before they stepped onto page 1 of each of the Harlequin Romances. You’ll laugh at some aspects of their What Came Before. You’ll cry at others. But isn’t that what a journey in a novel is all about? Deep, wonderful emotion that fills your soul and lets you know you aren’t alone.

After I got done with the prologues I decided to fast forward thirty years and write the Happily Ever After romances for the babies of BABIES IN THE BOARDROOM. You want to talk about fun! How cool is it that writers can bend space and time and create stories about events for babies! They’re longer than a short story and shorter than an anthology, but they’re also tons of fun to read. Just for pleasure. Just for the joy of seeing that the Happily Ever Afters of my characters really are happily ever afters.

As you can see from the above, a writer’s life isn’t merely about writing books. There’s a lot of PR work that goes into our jobs. I squeeze a lot of side writing in between doing dishes and laundry, volunteering at the local hospice, taking care of my son, nurturing my marriage and being part of a very large family. I always said I hated to be bored and this career keeps me hopping! But after hearing all that there is a question I’d like to ask you…

Do you read extra content? Is it worth it for an author to write prologues that don’t find their way into the printed books? Do you want to read the spinoff stories of secondary characters…especially since they’re free?
Or are you happy with books ending without extra things like prologues, short stories connected to the main book or short stories written about secondary characters?

THE BABY PROJECT, 4/11, Harlequin Romance, part of the BABIES IN THE BOARDROOM trilogy.

Setting: Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland
Subgenre: Romantic Suspense
Hero: Max Ridgeway, successful businessman
Heroine: FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy

One sentence summary: FBI Special Agent Samantha Kennedy has survived hell once…but when her lover becomes the target of a sadistic killer, she knows that she will have to face death again if they are both going to live through the nightmare surrounding them.

Scene you like most and would never cut: Very early in the book, Samantha races into a fancy party, desperate to find Max. When she sees him, things between them get hot and heavy—fast. For Samantha, this scene is incredibly important. She’s falling apart on the inside and being with Max is the only thing that actually makes her feel sane.

So it’s hot, it’s a bit wild, but that scene shows readers how much Samantha is struggling in the wake of her attack.

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

Samantha is a computer genius. She’s got a load of degrees and far more technical knowledge than most of the FBI agents working in the field. But…Samantha is a behind-the-scenes type of girl. She’s not the guns-blazing heroine who can take out a killer without breaking a sweat. She’s scarred inside, and she’s struggling to face her fears.

What celebrity is your hero like: Joe Manganiello(from HBO’s True Blood). Like Joe, my hero is handsome in a wild, rough way. Sexy.

What celebrity is your heroine like: Gillian Anderson (Oh, yes, let’s go back to my X-Files fan days!)

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Samantha works in the FBI’s Serial Services Division—it’s her job to track and apprehend serials—killers, rapists, and arsonists. Sam’s a computer genius, so normally she works behind the scenes. But, this isn’t a normal case for her.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:
Max Ridgeway owns a very successful construction business. He’s a hard worker, a self-made man, and a guy willing to fight to the death for those he loves.

What you think readers will like best about this book:

DEADLY LIES is a hot, action-packed read. I hope readers really enjoy the relationship between Max and Samantha, and I also hope that readers enjoy the action scenes in which Samantha and Max hunt down the killer. I love writing scenes about tracking killers!

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

I tend to be asked most about two characters from my Deadly series—Keith Hyde, the man who is the Serial Services Division, and Jon Ramirez a tough, ex-sniper with a very dark side.

What’s next: In July, my next paranormal romance will be released by Kensington Brava. NEVER CRY WOLF will take readers back to my Other paranormal world. Lucas Simone is the alpha of the LA wolf pack—he’s tough, he’s dangerous, and he knows how to kick serious butt. He’s also exactly what Sarah King needs. She has a price on her head, and Lucas is the only person standing between her and death.

All of my “Deadly” books are romantic suspense novels with a dark edge. Some of the characters have very painful pasts, and their stories aren’t always easy. The books are full of death and danger, but love is also always there to balance things in the end (because we are talking romance!). I’m curious…what’s your take on dark books? Do you enjoy sliding into the darker tales? Do you have a dark side of your own?

Three commenters will be randomly selected to win copies of DEADLY LIES.

Setting: 16th Century Scotland
Subgenre: Scottish Historical
Hero: Drew MacAdam, aka Andrew Armstrong
Heroine: Josselin Ancrum

One sentence summary: When Josselin Ancrum, a Scottish war-orphan-turned-spy for Queen Mary, suspects the “Highlander” Drew MacAdam isn’t who he claims to be, the two are drawn together by fate and swept up in their growing desires and the designs of their warring queens, until they uncover the terrible secret that binds their souls.

Scene you like most and would never cut: Drew teaches Josselin how to play the new sport of golf! It’s a scene full of intimacy as Drew enfolds her in his arms to guide her swing and childlike joy when Jossy finally sinks her ball. I never realized until I wrote the scene what a sexy game golf could be!

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Jossy would never say, “But I’m a lass—I don’t know how to use a blade.”

What celebrity is your hero like: James McAvoy is who I envisioned as Drew MacAdam. I loved James’ hunky body in “Wanted,” his soulful eyes in “Atonement,” and his intense passion in ShakespeaRe-Told’s “Macbeth.”

What celebrity is your heroine like: Reese Witherspoon is my Josselin Ancrum—cute rather than beautiful, small but strong, spunky, smart, and undaunted, like Elle in “Legally Blonde.”

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Jossy starts out as a tavern wench, but since she’s able to read, Queen Mary hires her as a spy where her cover is operating a beer wagon.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Drew is an accomplished swordsman, but since he has no taste for blood, he prefers waging war and revenge on the golf links.

What you think readers will like best about this book: I think readers will enjoy the comic repartee between the characters and the book’s many surprises. I love to do what’s unexpected to keep the story fresh.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: I get a lot of requests to write about the offspring of the Warrior Maids of Rivenloch, a trilogy I wrote under the pen name of Sarah McKerrigan.

What’s next: I’m currently working on a historical romance inspired by “The Canterbury Tales” and set in Scotland!

If I weren’t a romance novelist, I might be a professional matchmaker. I love to “cast” my books by pairing up actors I’d like to see together. In the past, I’ve matched Josh Holloway with Uma Thurman, Adrian Paul with Angelina Jolie, Philip Winchester with Winona Ryder, and in Seduced by Destiny, I’ve paired up James McAvoy and Reese Witherspoon. If you were writing a romance, who would you cast as the lead couple?

If you’d like a chance to win the pewter Celtic thimble that Drew gives to Josselin in Seduced by Destiny, register at www.glynnis.net/KiraMorgan and you’ll be automatically entered in my monthly sweepstakes! I’d also be delighted to be your friend on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kiramorganauthor.

2 commenter’s 2day will randomly be chosen to win a copy of Seduced by Destiny - US only — good luck!!

Another great addition to the Soul Screamers series! This series just keeps getting better and better if that is even possible. Rachel Vincent is Is a force to be reckoned with. She takes her Soul Screamers to a whole new level.

My Soul to Steal picks up a few weeks after My Soul to Keep leaves off. In this book Nash and Kaylee are on a break because of Nash’s addiction to frost. Kaylee is unable to come to terms that he is doing better and she is not ready to start-up the relationship once again. Now enter Sabine, who just happens to be Nash’s ex-girlfriend from two years ago, transfers to their school. I know, I know I was “Oh My God” as well. Sabine is literally Kaylee’s worst nightmare and it just so happens Kaylee is number one on her list.

This installment keeps you interested from the first few pages. Honestly, Vincent never brings you a dull moment. I can’t help but feel attached to these characters from the beginning of the series. You get a chance to watch them grow and become the persons they were meant to be. In this book Kaylee took the lead. I loved how strong she has become from the previous books. I actually did scream GO KAYLEE when she slapped Sabine but I wont say why. I also admired the fact that she didn’t give into the pressures that Sabine was dishing out.

Kaylee is trying to trust Nash. I totally understood the whole trust issue, but sometimes I wanted to yell, ” Are you serious? He loves you! Why are you over thinking this?”. Nash, well, he is really trying to move past his addiction and to make things right between Kaylee and him. The way he spoke to her, I melted at those certain parts. What really brought me to tears is when Todd had a heart to heart with Kaylee. It must have been so hard, but I understood the confusion and anger on Kaylee’s part. I also felt for Todd having to be so bluntly honest but then again that is a part of life.

Not only can Vincent keep your mind wondering, she can also make you see the world she has blessed us with. My Soul to Steal was so much more than what I was expecting. I couldn’t put it down if my life depended on it. I needed answers and I needed them now. Vincent doesn’t tease she leaves the best cliff hangers for what will hopefully come soon in this wonderful series. If I could read, If I Die, right this minute I would truly be in heaven. I am looking forward to the next installment in this series plus so many more to come by this wonderful author.