trueromance

ENJOY : )

ROYAL MOCHA CHOCOLATE CHIP CHEESECAKE

Ingredients:
2 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
2/3 c. sugar
3 T. coffee liqueur
2 eggs
1 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided
1 ready-to-use chocolate cookie crumb pie crust

For Garnish:
Whipped cream
Instant coffee crystals

Directions:
Mix cream cheese, sugar and coffee liqueur at medium speed with electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs; mix until blended. Stir in 1/2 cup of the chips. Pour into crust. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 c. chips. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool. Refrigerate three hours or overnight.

Garnish with thick, sweet whipped cream sprinkled lightly with instant coffee crystals.

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Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

2 chicken breasts, cooked and cubed
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1 pkg. (10 - 16 oz.) frozen broccoli, thawed & drained
Durkey’s French fried onions
1 egg
1 cup Bisquick
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cheese

Mix together chicken, soup, 1 cup of cheese, and broccoli,
Spread in 8×12 casserole dish or equivalent. Sprinkle fried
onions on top. Mix together egg, Bisquick, and milk. Pour
over top of casserole. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top.

Bake at 425º for 30 minutes.

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Coconutty Oatmeal Cookies
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups flaked coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts (or pecans)

In large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in coconut and walnuts.

Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart onto greased baking sheets. Flatten slightly. Bake at 350 for 11-14 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks. Store in an airtight container. Yield 5 ½ dozen.

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Beef and Cabbage Soup

1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/2 head medium cabbage, rough-chopped
2 ribs celery, sliced
1 large onion, rough-chopped
1 (16 ounce) can kidney beans
1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes
1 (32 ounce) carton beef broth
1/2 tsp garlic powder
several bay leaves
salt and pepper to taste

Brown ground beef and drain. In a large stock pot, combine remaining ingredients and add ground beef. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat and cover, simmering for one hour or until vegetables are tender. Remove bay leaves before serving.

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Three Ingredient Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Combine the peanut butter, white sugar and egg. Mix until smooth.
Drop spoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 6 to 8 minutes. Do not overbake! These cookies are best when they are still soft and just barely brown on the bottoms.
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BROWN SUGAR MEATLOAF

Ingredients:
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
garlic powder to taste
6 slices white bread, cut into cubes 1/2 cup milk
1 egg
3 tablespoons yellow mustard, divided
1/2 cup ketchup, divided
3 tablespoons brown sugar

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, thoroughly mix ground beef, onion, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Mix in bread, milk, egg, 2 tablespoons mustard and 1/4 cup ketchup.
3. Press the meat mixture into a 9×5 inch loaf pan. In a small bowl, stir together remaining mustard, ketchup and brown sugar; pour on top of the meat loaf.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours or until done.

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Simply Good Salad

1 small box jello (strawberry, cherry and lime are all good)

1 small can (11 oz) mandarin oranges, well-chilled, undrained

whipped topping

In refrigerator dish, dissolve jello in one cup boiling water. Stir well so that powder is dissolved. Add undrained mandarin oranges and stir until combined. Refrigerate until set. Top with whipped topping to serve.

If desired, you can substitute sugar-free gelatin and sugar-free whipped topping for a “lite” version.

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COOKIES ‘N CREAM PARFAITS

In a tall parfait glass, place one scoop of your favorite ice cream. Crumble some cookies of your choice (good way to use broken pieces), and add enough cookie pieces to cover ice cream. Top with a little of your favorite syrup. Repeat. Top off with whipped cream, nuts, sprinkles, candy, cookie pieces…whatever you like. Just be sure to put a cherry on top : )

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E-Z BEEF FAJITAS: In large skillet, brown one pound ground beef along with 1 coarsely chopped onion and 1 coarsely chopped bell pepper. Drain grease and add one 14.5 oz. can “Mexican Style” diced tomatoes. If desired, add extra cumin, chili powder, red pepper flakes & etc to taste. Heat through, stirring well. Spoon desired amount into center of each pre-warmed tortilla. Top with shredded cheese and sour cream. Fold tortilla to form fajita.

Seduce Me by Robyn DeHart
Ever since I was a little girl I’ve been enchanted by history. The thought of being an archeologist and digging up antiquities tempted me. I could sit and imagine the old tombs, ancient relics and hidden treasures that were just waiting to be unearthed by my hand. And then I grew up and realized that such a job would involve actual digging around in an underground crypt or a bug-infested room and I was cured pretty quickly of that fantasy. But the fantasy endured and I found myself falling in love with movies like Romancing the Stone and Indiana Jones and The Mummy. The combination of romance, intrigue and adventure was intoxicating and I couldn’t get enough.
These romanticized fantasies are what ultimately led to the idea for my Legend Hunters series. What if I wrote about a group of men who, like so many in the Victorian era, had a fascination with ancient myths and legends? What if I set the group against the typical backdrop of a gentleman’s club that so many historical romance readers are familiar with. Sure they could meet in their club and smoke their cigars and drink their brandy, but they could also study maps and ancient texts and there could be a secret room where the most dangerous of the antiquities could be kept for safekeeping. Thus Solomon’s and my Legend Hunters were born.
So when I started brainstorming which popular myths I wanted to write about, of course the first one I thought of was Pandora’s Box. How could I write a romantic adventure novel without the legend, which is so steeped in lore? And it has such a naughty connotation to it; I knew it would be a veritable playground of material for me.
The legend of Pandora is the Greek equivalent to the Biblical Adam and Eve. We have a woman who is tempted with the things of the world and she brings about man’s fall. With Pandora, there were a few versions of the story, but one in particular that I liked, said that when she opened the box she released all the terrible things into the world, famine, disease, greed, hatred, etc. and then slammed the lid closed leaving one thing remaining in the box – hope. I loved the image of that and the possibilities. The what ifs ran through my mind like proverbial wild fire. I knew though that for my own Pandora’s Box, I needed these plagues, so to speak, to have a tangible form. And so I created the cursed bracelets of SEDUCE ME.
Enter the heroine and hero of the book. Esme Worthington fancies herself a scholar of all things Pandora’s Box and would like nothing more than to hold the antiquity in her hands. But when her fascination gets her kidnapped, she’s not prepared to come face-to-face with her life’s ambition nor the handsome devil who rescues her. Fielding Grey has been hired by Solomon’s to retrieve the fabled box and the last thing he’s interested in is saving a damsel in distress. But when it comes down to it, he can’t walk away and leave Esme with the wastrels who’ve taken her, especially when she’s manacled to a dungeon wall. The problem is, once she’s in his protection, he can’t keep his hands off her.
Once these two got on the page together, the sparks flew, and I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard while writing a book. Esme is a handful and she definitely keeps Fielding on his toes. And boy do they get into a lot of trouble. They have to hide from a criminal mastermind while trying to discover the secret to undoing an ancient curse (because wouldn’t you know that the moment Esme is alone with the box, she has to take a little, tiny peek inside…) There’s also murder and mayhem and enough chemistry to make the pages singe.
Let me seduce you with my tale of love, passion and adventure. And then don’t forget about DESIRE ME, the second book in the Legend Hunters series, which is all about the lost city of Atlantis and is also in stores now.

Giveaway - $20 Borders Gift Card to one lucky commenter!

Readers’ Crown Best Novella: “Catch of the Century” in Four Dukes and a Devil
By Sophia Nash

Where Do Writers Get their Ideas?

It’s the question that universally makes many writers break into a cold sweat—or at least stammer like a fool for awhile. I never really knew how to answer the question until I finally figured out that most writers of fiction think in a different manner than normal people.

My agent summed it up best recently after a meeting when she said, “Sophia, you come from another planet.” I think she meant it as a compliment. I hope.

So how do most writers think? Well, amid the general chaos of thoughts that batter everyone’s head, writers tend to hit the pause button when situations arise and/or people say something out of the ordinary. Then our imaginations unleash an explosion of “what ifs.”

Here is an example: During lunch one day, a friend mentioned that a person he knew always “refused to eat anything with eyes.” Like any author on the hunt for fresh ideas, I immediately dove into my purse to retrieve an idea notebook, and scribbled in the entry.

The next day, while writing the first book in a new historical series for Harper Collins, I was pondering the traits of one character. He is a handsome gentleman, who has a fascination with horticulture and nothing pleases him better than his spectacular gardens. He is, of course, a villain.

The “what ifs” began: what if this character also refuses to eat anything with eyes. But, he is a horticulturalist, which means he would more likely only eat things with eyes since he prizes all plants. Now, while I fully realize Regency England might be too early in history’s time line for a lord to practice the ultimate Atkins diet, this is exactly the kind of irony I love. It proved impossible to ignore the host of turning points a character trait such as this one would offer in an unfolding story.

In my short story in “Four Dukes and a Devil,” which was lucky enough to win the 2010 Readers Crown for best novella, there are many instances of standard writer’s imagination run amok.

It included a snake bite. Only this time, it came full circle.

I’ve seen a snake swimming next to me in a lake. I’ve watched them rattling their tales in the woods, and I’ve examined them, sunning themselves near alligators in the Florida Everglades. And each time, I envision the entire disaster unfolding, complete with newspaper headlines: Swimmer Struck by Water Moccasin Drowns, Hiker Dies from Cottonmouth Bite, Idiot Writer Gets Too Close to Florida Coral Snake and Dies from Imagination Gone Amok.

This reoccurring snakebite nightmare fantasy was the inspiration behind a key chapter in the novella. What if a woman is bitten but isn’t sure if it’s a venomous snake or not? What if the hero doesn’t know either? What if they both assume the worst? What if a host of tried-but-not-true treatments ensues? What if their friends invade, adding to the general chaos? Yes, this is a classic form of a writers’ daily “what if” game.

By now you might be playing many readers’ favorite game. The “when is the writer going to get to the point of this story” game—the part where she tried to make it sound mysterious by saying something about the snakebite idea, “coming full circle?”

Last night, I met a true heroine. A woman who had overcome not only cancer, but, yes, two deadly bites from a rattlesnake several months ago. One of the most fearless women, she hiked the canyons of California alone and came within striking distance of a huge rattler. What did she do? She turned around and knew she had only a minute or two before collapsing. She ran and then dragged herself to the road, where a motorist found her unconscious. She spent weeks in the hospital, experienced multiple organ failure, her leg and arm turned black, and she nearly died.

The questions poured out. How did she feel, escaping death? Would she ever dare hike the canyons again? Amid the extreme gratitude she felt, she said she wanted to live life to its largest potential. She wasn’t waiting around for anyone or anything. And yes, she did go to the spot again and confront her past. How can a story like hers not fail to inspire a writer to examine the fragility of life? The silent “what if” questions arose all through the long night when I was alone.

Can you guess what sort of heroine is featured in my next book? Perhaps a plucky countess who escapes murder by a rotter of a horticulturalist who only eats things with eyes? A woman who has the courage to confront her past and live for the future? OK, I’ll work on it . . . I never said the well of story ideas was not murky at best.

What are some of your favorite stories you’ve experienced or heard from others? Help me start the “what if” game to strain the muck from my writers’ well of story ideas.

GIVEAWAY: 3 books from my backlist to 3 random replies.

I’m a closet cowgirl.
I like to look pretty but underneath I need to be tough, and I need to be able to hold my own. Personally. Professionally.
I’m not the only girl in my family with this need for gritty toughness. It’s a family trait, inherited from Depression era grandparents who had to fight hard to make their dreams come true. My Texas grandfather had big dreams, too, and it fell to my quiet, articulate, educated grandmother to help him turn his dreams into reality.
My grandfather was handsome. My grandmother was not. But Grandpa knew something about my grandmother Elizabeth that not everyone knew—she was smart, she was exceptionally loyal and she worked very, very hard.
So Grandpa married Elizabeth and swept her away from her books, her music, and her family to a remote drought stricken valley in California. And there, with her assistance, he started his first company. My grandmother, while pregnant with her first child, became his office manager, accountant and receptionist.
She learned to ride horses to help with the cattle roundups on the ranch.
She was his co-pilot on long cross country flights when he flew his own plane.
And she did all this in the forties and fifties, combining the roles of wife, mother, business partner into the role of capable woman.
And then in the early sixties when my handsome Texan grandfather died tragically on the Parkfield ranch during a roundup, my grandmother who majored in college in French and PE, rolled up her sleeves and took over my grandfather’s construction company, and assumed management of the three cattle ranches.
I love this about her.
I love that she was plain and practical and yet had fallen in love with a gorgeous, swashbuckling Texan. I love that once my grandmother took over the company, she became chairwoman of the board, and continued to work into her 90’s.
went to the office every even into her 90’s.
And on a very personal level, I love that my immensely practical grandmother always, always believed in impractical me.
From the time I was a little girl, I knew this strong, quiet, seemingly unemotional woman absolutely adored me. Why? I still don’t know. But how lucky I was. How lucky I still am.
And this is why I write for women, and this is why my new release, SHE’S GONE COUNTRY, is such a special book for me. It’s an ode to Texas and family and handsome, rugged ranchers. It’s also an ode to strong women, remarkable women, like my late grandmother Elizabeth, who do what they have to do with grace and spirit and humility.
Were you close to your grandmothers? Did either of them play a significant role in your life? I’d love to hear about the women in your family, and have 5 special Texas themed prizes to give away to those who share.


Giveaway: for 5 lucky commenters - signed copy of SHE’S GONE COUNTRY tucked in a fun Texas theme tote bag filled with Texas cookbooks, BBQ stuff and more.

Captured by Desire – Kira Morgan
Setting: 1500s Scotland
Subgenre: Historical Romance
Hero: Rane MacAllister
Heroine: Florie Gilder

One sentence summary: When the queen’s jeweler, Florie Gilder, claims sanctuary for a crime she didn’t commit, huntsman Rane MacAllister is charged with preventing her escape, leaving him torn between duty and desire when he begins to fall in love with his spirited captive.

Scene you like most and would never cut: When Florie’s time in sanctuary is running out, Florie steals Rane’s bow, threatening to shoot him in order to flee. Rane is forced to trust that her love for him outweighs her desperation, and he disarms her with nothing more than the power of his words and a confession from his heart. That scene can still give me a lump in my throat.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “Sure, I’ll do whatever you say.”

What celebrity is your hero like: Philip Winchester, star of “Crusoe.” Want a special treat? Check this out:

What celebrity is your heroine like: Winona Ryder, beautiful but mischievous, like a darling elf.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Florie Gilder is apprenticed to her goldsmith stepfather, the jeweler to Mary Queen of Scots.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Rane MacAllister is the sheriff’s huntsman, but he poaches game on the side to feed the poor.

What you think readers will like best about this book: I think readers will enjoy the high-spirited blend of genres. I call Captured by Desire an action-mystery-adventure-comedy-romance.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: I’m hoping it’s Josselin, the spunky little lass at the end of Captured by Desire, because she’s the heroine of my next book, Seduced by Destiny!

What’s next: Seduced by Destiny is coming out next spring!

I like writing about simple folk, people whose names aren’t recorded by history, but whose self-sacrificing actions are nonetheless heroic. Who are the unsung heroes in your life–a favorite teacher, a parent, a kind neighbor?

If you’d like a chance to win the gold vermeil necklace featured on the cover of Captured by Desire, come to www.glynnis.net/KiraMorgan and enter my monthly sweepstakes! And I’d be delighted if you’d friend me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/kiramorganauthor .

Today we welcome the finalists from The Readers’ Crown Contest! These talented authors were selected by readers who judged their books as the best in romance fiction.

They will be chatting with us about the stories behind their books, what’s next in their series,
and other fun things, such as what they do when they aren’t writing. The folks at RomCon (www.romconinc.com) will be giving away $10 Borders gift cards to 3 lucky commenters today!

2010 Readers’ Crown Finalists:

Short Contemporary Romance -
Unexpected Gifts by Holly Jacobs
The Sheriff of Horseshoe, Texas by Linda Warren

Her So-Called Fiance by Abby Gaines
No Ordinary Cowboy by Mary Sullivan

Short Contemporary Romantic Suspense/Adventure -

Here Today, Gone to Maui by Carol Snow
Beyond The Code Of Conduct by KM Daughters
Better Than Bulletproof by Kay Thomas
Christmas Guardian by Delores Fossen

Long Contemporary Romance -

Sunset Bay by Susan Mallery
Double Play by Jill Shalvis
Hard & Fast by Erin McCarthy
Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James

Long Contemporary Romantic Suspense/Adventure

Seeing Red by Susan Crandall
Wild Heat by Bella Andre
Defender by Catherine Mann
For the Love of Pete by Julia Harper

Short Historical Romance -

In the Masters Bed by Blythe Gifford
The Conqueror’s Lady by Terri Brisbin
A Storm of Passion by Terri Brisbin
The Viscount Claims His Bride by Bronwyn Scott

Long Historical Romance -

Captive of Sin by Anna Campbell
A Bride in the Bargain by Deeanne Gist
The Lone Texan by Jodi Thomas
To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt

Romance Novella -

Weekend Tigress in WINTER HEAT by Jade Lee
This Wicked Gift in THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS by Courtney Milan
My Lady Below Stairs in A CHRISTMAS BALL by Emily Bryan
UNDEAD MAN’S HAND, in Out of the Light, Into the Shadows by Erin McCarthy

Paranormal Romance -

Finding the Lost by Shannon K Butcher
Burning Alive by Shannon K Butcher
My Forbidden Desire by Carolyn Jewel
Ties That Bind by Keena Kincaid

Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements -

Tainted by Julie Kenner
Witch Fury by Anya Bast
Amazon Ink by Lori Devoti
Bound by Sin by Jenna Maclaine

Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Futuristic/Time-Travel Romance -

Beyond the Rain by Jess Granger
The Hunt by Anne Marsh
A Highlander of Her Own by Melissa Mayhue
Lord of the Highlands by Veronica Wolff

Erotic Romance -

Mona Lisa Darkening by Sunny
Beloved Vampire by Joey Hill
Into the Lair by Maya Banks
Sweet Persuasion by Maya Banks

Best First Book -

The Hunt by Anne Marsh
Knight of Desire by Margaret Mallory
Mistress by Mistake by Susan Gee Heino
Mastering the Marquess by Vanessa Kelly

& now the Winners:

Short Contemporary Romance Winner - Abby Gaines! for The Groom Came Back

Short Contemporary Romantic Suspense/Adventure Winner - Sheri Whitefeather for Protecting Their Baby

Long Contemporary Romance Winner is Carly Phillips for Lucky Break!

Long Contemporary Romantic Suspense/Adventure Winner is Cindy Gerard for Whisper No Lies

Short Historical Romance Winner is Robyn DeHart for Seduce Me!

Long Historical Romance Winner is Jennifer Ashley & The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

Romance Novella Winner is Sophia Nash & Four Dukes and a Devil in CATCH OF THE CENTURY

Paranormal Romance Winner is Jory Strong for Ghostland

Urban Fantasy with Romantic Elements Winner is SJ Day for Eve of Darkness

Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Futuristic/Time-Travel Romance Winner is Sandra Hill & Viking Heat

Erotic Romance Winner is Livia Dare for In the Flesh

Best First Book Winner is Mary Sullivan for No Ordinary Cowboy

Starting on August 15, 2010, we’ll have visits from each of the contest’s winners–so be sure to stop back by!

So, tell us know, which of these marvelous authors are you anxious to try? One random commenter will win a $10 Borders Gift Card — start now!

Happy Romance!

HIS DAKOTA CAPTIVE (Jenna Kernan)
Setting: Dakota Territory 1884
Subgenre: Western Historical
Hero: Sky Fox
Heroine: Lucie West

One sentence summary: Former Sioux captive returns to the Dakota Territory to try and make peace with her past but is taken hostage by another former captive, who is determined to secure her help in saving an innocent man from the hangman’s noose.
Scene you like most and would never cut: Their first meet is pretty spectacular with lots of prickling awareness that Lucie has learned to heed and that drives her to run from the threat she knows Sky poses.
I also love the scene when Sky finally gets her alone (after kidnapping her) to deliver a message from the Sioux warrior who once captured her, explaining that he wants her back. Sky gets an earful, including the revelation that she hates her captor for not letting her go before she was ruined and for saving her from slavery so that she is indebted to him for her life.
The scene where Sky Fox finally reveals why he had to flee from his tribe and return to the white world is a very moving and powerful one as well.
But my personal favorite is when Sky calls Lucie beautiful. Lucie’s chin was tattooed during her captivity so anyone who looks at her knows exactly what befell her. She believes the fang-like marks have destroyed her chance to put the past behind her and rejoin the white world. But Sky does not come from that world, having been raised as the adopted son of a Sioux warrior, so he truly feels the marks enhance her beauty. She calls what she believes is his bluff with a challenge that if he finds her so appealing why won’t he kiss her? He does, and in that moment they are both lost…and found.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: At the beginning of the story, Lucie would never, under any circumstances, ever return to the Sioux warrior who once held her captive. But later she does just that. I love setting a character up to do something that runs totally against their grain. But I don’t want to give too much away…
What celebrity is your hero like: Picture Hugh Jackman with Paul Newman’s stunning blue eyes. Pretty picture, no?
What celebrity is your heroine like: Reese Witherspoon with strawberry blonde hair. I also picture Kate Hudson looking something like Lucie West.
What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Her facial tattoos make work a challenge, to say the least. Lucie has taken a job as a matron at an Indian School, where she hopes to find acceptance and meaningful work. But that doesn’t go quite as planned…
What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Sky captures wild mustangs, trains and trades them. At this time in history many thought that killing mustangs was a quick and easy way to make Sioux Indians stay put, so Sky is in this business to try to save a tiny part of the world that is dying before his eyes.
What do you think readers will like best about this book: I think readers will enjoy seeing two people, who have led very difficult lives, finally find someone who can love and understand them and who they can love.
The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: The hands-down, most requested follow-up story has been for Lucie West. My readers loved her parents’ struggle to recover her in High Plains Bride and became very worried over what became of Lucie. So I hope they will be pleased with her story. After that, my most popular character has to be Nicholas Chien, the shape-shifting playboy timber wolf from my first paranormal romance, Dream Stalker. Nick will have his own story in March of 2011 from Silhouette Nocturne. I’m not sure of the title yet, so readers will have to check my website at www.jennakernan.com for more on that.

What’s next: When a lady’s companion finds herself facing prison over a crime she did not commit, her flight lands her in the household of a small town sheriff who has mistaken her for the housekeeper he is expecting to give his daughter a real old fashioned Christmas…but she can’t cook! Western Winter Wedding Bells, Harlequin Historicals Christmas Anthology is out in October 2010.

And for reader discussion: Who is your favorite Western TV or movie character: Clint in The Outlaw Josey Wales, Gary Cooper in High Noon, Michael Landon as Little Joe Cartwright, maybe Rodney A. Grant in Dancing With Wolves or Sam Elliot in ANYTHING? Perhaps you like unique characters like Dustin Hoffman in Little Big Man, Morgan Freeman in Unforgiven or Al Swearengen in the series Deadwood.

Let me know because I’ll GIVEAWAY three FREE books to randomly chosen responders!

Setting: Georgian London (1730’s)
Subgenre: Historical Romance
Hero: Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire
Heroine: Temperance Dews

One sentence summary: A mysterious aristocrat enlists the aid of an impoverished widow to hunt for a killer in the slums of St. Giles.

Scene you like most and would never cut: Weeelll, there’s a rather shocking scene that takes place in a seedy bordello.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Yes, my lord.

What celebrity is your hero like: This is going to sound odd, but he reminds me of Jason Isaacs playing Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies. Only, you know, not so evil.

What celebrity is your heroine like: Temperance is very reserved and practical, but there’s a lot going on underneath the surface. Perhaps Elizabeth Moss.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Temperance manages a home for orphans in the slum of St. Giles.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Lord Caire is an aristocrat, so naturally he doesn’t have to do anything so debasing as make money, but he does enjoy translating Roman poems—the more risqué ones, of course.

What you think readers will like best about this book: I think they’ll like the clash of personalities and ideals between Temperance and Lazarus, and the mystery and excitement of the chases through the London slums.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Believe it or not, I’ve already gotten mail about Temperance’s brother, Winter Makepeace. People, the first book just came out!

What’s next: In February 2011 I continue the story of Maiden Lane with Notorious Pleasures. The heroine is Lady Hero Batten who has just become engaged to the perfect man…and then she meets his imperfect rake of a brother.

Wicked Intentions is the first book in my new Maiden Lane series. What is your all-time favorite romance series? I’ll be giving away the first two books in my last series, To Taste Temptation and To Seduce a Sinner, to one lucky commenter!

Setting: Southern Mississippi

Heroine: Monica Davenport. When it comes to profiling killers, she’s the best in the business. But when it comes to her personal life, Monica doesn’t allow many people to get too close to her. She puts all of her energy into her job. Then Luke comes around and starts to push right through her defenses…

One sentence summary:
When a killer begins turning his victims’ worst fears into reality, FBI agents Monica Davenport and Luke Dante must face the darkness from their past if they hope to stop the Watchman.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
At the beginning of DEADLY FEAR, a team of FBI agents slowly advance on a cabin nestled deep in the woods. The mood is tense and dark. During this prologue, the tone of the book is set for the readers. Actually, the prologue sets up the all three of my Deadly books. Keith Hyde, the man who creates the Serial Services Division in the FBI, is shown as he chases after a serial killer. Without this scene, the book just wouldn’t be the same!

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
In horror movies, you always see the heroine running out into the night—minus any sort of weapon—as a killer stalks her. Well, this would NEVER happen with Monica. Monica always keeps her gun close, and she’s also not the type to run away from anything or anyone. The killers are the ones who run—from her.

What celebrity is your hero like:
Bradley Cooper. (Though this may be due to the fact that Bradley Cooper is my favorite actor right now.)

What celebrity is your heroine like:
I think of Monica as a dark-haired Gillian Anderson. Reserved, but intense. (And, yes, I still am a total fan of The X-Files.)

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:
Special Agent Monica Davenport is a profiler for the FBI. She works for my fictional Serial Services Division (the SSD), and she spends her days and nights tracking killers. It’s certainly not an easy job (and definitely not one I could ever do), but it is one that she feels compelled to perform.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:
FBI Special Agent Luke Dante is the newest member of the SSD. For Luke, the victims always come first. He’s an FBI agent because he wants to save lives. He’s a bit of a risk-taker, so he has to be careful and reign in his wilder side as he works cases with the SSD.

What you think readers will like best about this book:
I hope that readers will enjoy the chemistry between Monica and Luke. Though my hero and heroine are opposites in many ways, these two characters have been drawn to one another for years. Luke let Monica get away from him once, and he’s determined not to make the same mistake again.

I also hope readers find themselves drawn deeply into the suspense plot. It’s a dark story, one that explores the fears that humans try to hide. Sometimes we succeed in hiding them, but other times, our fears become too apparent to others.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
I have been very busy writing for the last year—so I can happily say that I have written most of the stories that readers were requesting. (I love being able to say that!) However, there is one FBI agent that I am hoping to write more about. Jon Ramirez is an ex-sniper who appears in DEADLY FEAR. The guy has a troubled past, and he’s spent too many years lining up kill shots. I think it may be time for him to get a happy ending.

What’s next:
In February of 2011, the second book in my DEADLY series will release. DEADLY HEAT is the story of Special Agent Kenton Lake. I loved writing DEADLY HEAT because my heroine, Lora Spade, is a firefighter. Just doing the research was a thrill for me! She is an incredibly strong heroine, and I had such a great time incorporating her firefighting skills into the story.

Since my book focuses so much on fear, I’d love to know which books or movies scare the commenters. Have you read a book that made you leave all the lights on at your house? Did you see a movie that had you nervously looking over your shoulder for days? Share with me, and one commenter will win an autographed copy of DEADLY FEAR.

It’s been a pleasure answering these questions—thank you!

Cynthia Eden
www.cynthiaeden.com
www.twitter.com/cynthiaeden

Deadly Fear, Cynthia Eden

Between desire and love there are some things that can’t stay buried, even in the deep of the ocean.

Many thanks to Sue Grimshaw and Borders for letting me have an opportunity to post to their readers about my new book, Siren’s Call. Tomorrow is going to be the day my first mass market title debuts and I’m so excited I just can’t sit still, LOL.

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Devyn Quinn. Since 2007, I’ve written several titles for Kensington under their Aphrodisia imprint. Readers familiar with Aphrodisia titles are aware these are some pretty steamy books that really push the boundaries. My style is very dark and devious and downright dirty, so imagine my surprise when I received an email from my agent saying that Lindsay Nouis at NAL was looking for some darkly themed submissions.

Since that was right up my alley, I quickly wrote up a proposal and chapter for a vampire/slayer series I’d had in mind and sent if off. An answer soon came in from the editor. She liked my style of writing and saw potential in the proposal…But she wanted something differently dark.

She wanted mermaids.

Now picture Devyn sitting there scratching her head. How had a vampire series morphed into mermaids? I emailed my agent back to make sure I was reading the note correctly.

Correct, says my agent. Dark mermaids.

Well, as someone who lives in the desert and has never seen the sea (a nice mud puddle after a rain is as deep as the water gets around here), I was stymied. I knew nothing about mermaids, their lore, legend and I hadn’t even seen The Little Mermaid. What did I know about mermaids? The short answer was nothing.

Still, I am one determined cuss when presented with a challenge so I quickly went online and began to research popular lore. Armed with what I thought was a good angle, I wrote up the proposal and sample chapters and sent them back in. My agent soon got back to me with an answer from the editor. The news wasn’t good. Other writers were already using some of themes I had touched on and the editor wanted something else that didn’t use those elements.

Curses, thinks I. Foiled again.

So I dug a little deeper into mermaid lore (and there isn’t that much to work with, folks, these being mythical creatures and all…) Finally I hit upon the lore of the Assyrian mermaid and their goddess, Atargatis. Pretty soon a new story was boiling in my head.

I rewrote and resent the proposal. Once again the wait for an answer began. A week passed. Finally an answer came in. The editor liked the idea, but wanted some changes to the chapters to clarify some points.

By this time I pretty much figured I was well on my way to getting a turn down for the series. I went ahead and rewrote the chapters as requested, adjusted the lore a bit and sent the package back to my agent for forwarding. My initial hope wasn’t so much to make the sale, but perhaps the editor would be interested enough in my work to look at other proposals at a later date.

The weeks passed. And passed. And passed some more.

As much as a writer hates it, getting a rejection is disappointing. I had gone ahead and put the proposal out of my mind when my agent called. NAL had just made an offer for a three book series chronicling the lives and loves of my three mermaid sisters, and their search for their lost world even as they attempt to keep their secrets while living among humans.

Holy cow, Batman! You could have knocked me down with a feather. I was so shocked I burst into tears when my agent hung up and cried for the rest of the day. (Good news tends to do that to me) And, to tell the truth, I was more than a little scared. Writing a proposal and a few sample chapters is one thing. But writing a whole series about a world I’d just made up was one scary prospect. I didn’t have a clue of where to begin. After a few days of panic, I sat down and began to write. Slowly the story of Tessa Lonike and her sisters, Gwen and Addison, began to take shape on the page…

And that is how Devyn Quinn became acquainted with mermaids.

As I continue to write the series (Siren’s Surrender, book 2, will be released 2/11/2011) I’ve come upon some really great pieces of sea lore and other sea creatures, such as the Nyx, which I will be introducing in book 3.

Oh, and as for the vampire/slayer proposal. It did sell to NAL after all, and the first book will debut in Summer 2011!

So here’s a question for readers: What is your favorite bit of sea lore and why do you find it fascinating? Are you crazy for Poseidon, or do you really believe that Atlantis existed?

Give away 5 copies of Siren’s Call to 5 lucky randomly chosen commenters! Good LUCK!