trueromance

Setting: New Orleans
Subgenre: Dark Paranormal
Hero: Max Savoie
Heroine: Charlotte Caissie

One sentence summary: Police detective Charlotte Caissie and shape-shifter Max Savoie thought they’d overcome all odds and differences to be together. . . now, it’s the past that threatens to tear them apart as Cee Cee calls on Max’s preternatural talents to find the serial killer who’s kidnapped a colleague’s daughter.

Scene you like most and would never cut: It was cut. Sigh.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Wearing a polka-dotted Doris Day dress while making kitchen small talk with her partner’s sweet Stepford wife. Funny the things you’ll do out of love . . . and guilt. “Ken and Barbie off to visit the family.”

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Heroine? Max accessorizes his Armani business suits with red high top sneakers. The way to Cee Cee’s heart is through a big block V-8.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Cee Cee’s an NOPD detective, so what’s she doing on stage at a strip club with the moniker Chili Pepper?

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Max is the prophesied leader of the New Orleans Shifter clan and a reformed mobster. So why is he letting his secret slip to outsiders and making deals to traffic human cargo?

What do you think readers will like best about this book: From page one to page end, it never lets you go. The pace is fast, the action furious, the suspense taut, the dialogue crisp and sometimes laugh-out-loud, and the romance hot, hot, HOT. And then there’s Max. Who could ask for a fiercer, sexier, more complicated, loyal and yet vulnerable hero?

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Jacques LaRoche, the muscle-bound Shifter owner/bartender at Cheveau du Chien who dispenses justice with a Louisville Slugger, has Max’s back and a soft spot for his friend’s human mate.

What’s next: Even though BOUND BY MOONIGHT wraps up Max and Cee Cee’s romance arc, the series continues with new heroes and heroines within the By Moonlight world. HUNTER OF SHADOWS will be available November 29, 2011 featuring a Shifter cop with a hidden agenda and a programmed assassin who complicates it on both professional and intimate levels, then Book 6 comes out in July of 2012, with Jacques LaRoche, because you asked for him.

The first four books in my By Moonlight series featured the same hero and heroine, which is common in urban fantasy but rare in paranormal romance. The next two By Moonlight books have a different hero and heroine in each book. As a reader, do like a relationship that carries over from book to book or do you prefer your happily-ever-after on the last page of each one?

About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? L.A. Confidential. Fabulous acting, smart dialogue, fascinating twists and turns. And Russell Crowe and Kevin Spacey.
2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? Any Dean Koontz book.
3. What’s the first book you remember reading? My mom used to read to me every night. Rutabaga Stories was my number one request, but for doing my own reading, Dr. Seuss was my go-to guy.
4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Cinderella. After I saw my name in print when my fractured fairy tale version of it was published in my elementary school newspaper, I knew all I wanted to be was a writer.
5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Yosemite Sam is my hero and Pepe LePew eez my lovair.
6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? Authors really like it when you come up to them at conferences or book signings or even in the checkout lane to talk to them, especially if you love to read, write or want to gush about their characters. Don’t be shy. It’s a privilege and a perk, not a bother to us. And we like to have our pictures taken with you, too.
7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? I still have my full time job as a 9-to-5 legal assistant to fall back on.
8. What do you do to unwind and relax? Netflix and a warm cat when there isn’t a sandy beach available. It’s more fun than exercising or cleaning house, which is what I do to get my creative muse kicked into gear.
9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Strong, flavored coffee, black, in my Keurig every morning…best Christmas present EVER!
10. What does love mean to you? Never having to say “Put the seat down” or “Hang up that towel.” Actually, it’s my grandson running down my apartment complex’s hallway yelling, “Grammy!” at the top of his lungs. That sums it up.
11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? Would hate all the restrictions of the Victorian era. I don’t even like underwire. I’m a 1940’s gal. All that big shouldered glam and hats!
12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? Price, so I can say, “The price is wrong, beeotch.”
13. Dog person or cat person? Fur, feather and fin person. Love ‘em all, have had them all…and still feed most of them on my 4th floor balcony.

Setting: Mirabelle Island, Lake Superior off Wisconsin’s north shore
Subgenre: Romantic suspense
Hero: Jonas Abel
Heroine: Missy Charms

One sentence summary: What would you do if the love of your life, your husband, a man who’s supposed to be dead and gone, shows up on your doorstep, bleeding from a gunshot wound?

Scene you like most and would never cut: Jonas and Missy have always had a very hot, physical relationship. Even when their marriage was falling apart, it was the one thing that always worked. So when Jonas, in anger, goes to Missy’s bedroom one night and sees her naked silhouette, bam! It’s not a nice, happy, successful love scene, but it’s so critical to the story.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Missy would never eat meat. She’s a vegetarian.

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Jonas’s mother died when he was six and so he traveled the world with his military father. As a result, Jonas can speak German, Spanish and several Arabic dialects.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: She owns a small gift shop that specializes in earth friendly gifts on Mirabelle, a small tourist island, the wedding destination of the Upper Midwest. She also makes a lot of the jewelry she sells in her shop.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Jonas is an FBI agent who’s been deep undercover for several years. He takes his job a little too seriously, which is a part of his journey in this book.

What you think readers will like best about this book: I think they’ll like the entire book, but if the ending doesn’t make readers both cry and laugh, then I haven’t done my job!

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: I’ve received a couple of reader letters asking when I’m going to write about Garrett Taylor’s three brothers. He’s the Mirabelle Island chief of police and the hero in my 2nd Mirabelle story, Next Comes Love. I’ve written about his youngest brother in The Pursuit of Jesse, just out this July. But Christian and Drew are still percolating.

What’s next:
The Pursuit of Jesse, Her Sure Thing, and Redemption at Mirabelle, the 5th, 6th and 7th Mirabelle stand alone books, come out back to back this July, August and September. I’m currently working on a Navy SEALS novella with a large group of authors, to be part of SEAL of My Dreams, due to be released on 11/11/11. And I’ve got a proposal in with Harlequin for 2 more Mirabelle stories, so I’ll be keeping busy!

About Me:
What’s my favorite movie of all time? Romancing the Stone and The Princess Bride generally run neck and neck for first place, but Pride and Prejudice (Kiera Knightly version) and Phantom of the Opera run close seconds.

What’s my favorite kind of story to get lost in? Since I would never dream of writing a historical romance, they’re the easiest stories for me to sink into.

What’s the first book I remember reading? Oh, that’s a tough one. Probably a Nancy Drew mystery. Although it wasn’t long after that I graduated to Harlequins!

What’s my favorite fairy tale? I’ve always loved the story of The Ugly Duckling. I had three sisters who were 8, 10 and 12 years older than me, so I think I identified with that baby swan!

What’s my favorite cartoon character? Oh, oh. Haven’t watched cartoons since my kids were little and I’m not sure South Park qualifies. I really liked watching the Rugrats with my kids when they were little and Angelica Pickles was probably my favorite character. From when I was a kid, though, and I’m dating myself here, I drooled over Johnny Quest!

What’s something I’d like to tell your readers? I love you guys. I wouldn’t be able to do this without every single one of you!

What would my occupation be if I were no longer a writer? I have an undergrad degree in accounting, so I’d very likely jump back into business.

What do I do to unwind and relax? Watch moves, walk the dogs, read, garden.

Tea or Coffee? And how do I take it? I love coffee with cream, but all that caffeine isn’t good for me. I drink tea. Black is my favorite, but I like green, too.

What does love mean to me? Love, to me, means accepting a person in his/her entirety. We all have flaws, but they’re part of what makes us, us.

Which era would I least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? I’m not crazy about wearing dresses, so I’d dislike just about any pre-1960 era from a fashion standpoint. I’m actually pretty happy with today’s fashions. So eclectic just about anything goes!

What name have I been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? Oh, I love this question! Names are so important to me. For a long time I wanted to use the name Jamis, but the perfect hero, a horror writer, showed up for that one in THEN COMES BABY. Now I’d love to find a character to match the name Dixon. Haven’t quite figured out who he is yet.

Dog person or cat person? Both. I have two dogs and two cats. There are times when only my dogs’ devotion will do. And other times when a cat’s purr in my ear is just the ticket!

Question –
As I mentioned earlier, I have proposals in for books 8 and 9 in my Mirabelle Island series, that will hopefully come out in 2012, so I’m very curious about this. Do you ever get tired of reading a series written by the same author? What makes you stop reading a series?

Hi again!

First of all thanks to everyone who voted for RISK NO SECRETS and naming it co-winner of the Reader’s Crown for best Romantic Suspense. Here’s a link http://www.cindygerard.com/excerpt_may2010.html where you can read an excerpt from RISK NO SECRETS to get a feel for the book. Sophie and Wyatt’s story (book 5 in the Black Ops Inc series) was a very special story for me to write. Star crossed lovers, action, adventure … all the things that made this book a joy to write.

Second, congratulations to Brenda Novak, too! Can’t think of anyone I’d rather share the title with. This is a real thrill for me also, because it’s a repeat. Yup. Last year, WHSIPER NO LIES also won the Reader’s Crown for best Romantic Suspense. Makes me very, very happy and proud.

And finally, since I just blogged here at Border’s True Romance a couple of weeks ago and talked about my upcoming release, WITH NO REMORSE, (check it out the July 6th post) I thought I’d break away from the norm and offer up a topic near and dear to MY heart and I’m thinking the hearts of many of you reading this post. So here it is:

CHOCOLATE – IN THE NAME OF SCIENCE!
Now this is a study I could really get into. I recently read that one hundred and fifty women in London will be eating chocolate every day for a year, as part of a research study into the health benefits of cocoa.

Okay – first things first. Where was I when they were asking for volunteers? If there’s anything I can relate to, it’s chocolate.
This study is being held at the University of East Anglia and the purpose is to determine whether compounds in chocolate can cut the risk of heart disease specifically in women with type 2 diabetes.

Since I am a woman and since heart disease is a huge issue with women, I’m liking the idea that FINALLY doctors are incorporating not only innovative studies but studies most women can really get into. I mean, who can’t get into chocolate? And in the name of science? It’s win win all the way.

The kicker: Doctors have cautioned that the general population, and especially diabetics should not start eating large quantities of chocolate unsupervised, as it also contains lots of sugar and fat, which worsen diabetes and promote weight gain.

Chocolate promotes weight gain? Hmm. Who’d a thunk it?

Back to the study. Cocoa, the main ingredient of chocolate, is a rich source of compounds called flavonoids, which have been shown to decrease risk factors for heart disease. Generally the process of making chocolate from cocoa destroys the majority of these compounds, however, a Belgian chocolatier has developed a specially formulated chocolate bar for the study with extra flavonoids and added soy, which is also a rich source of the chemicals.

The study is hoping to show that adding flavonoids to the diet of the 150 subjects, provide additional protection from heart disease and give women the opportunity to take more control over reducing their risk of heart disease in the future and possibly improve the level of protection against heart disease over and above that provided by conventional drugs.

We all knew that chocolate was good for us, right? It elevates moods, makes the mouth happy and looks so pretty in those gold foil boxes with pretty ribbons. I’ll be anxious to see the results of this study. In the meantime, I’ve already initiated my ‘chocolate kiss a day’ plan and I’m happy to report, I’m feeling better all ready.

Seriously, my mother suffered from heart disease for many years. I suspect all of us know someone special who has had type two diabetes or other heart related medical conditions. I’m trying very hard to take care of my heart – and no, not just with chocolate although chocolate does make my little heart sing. I’m attempting to exercise more, eat less saturated fats – you know the drill.

So my question is, what about you? Young, old, or in between, we all face the potential of dealing with some level of heart disease. What are you doing to protect your heart? And if you aren’t doing anything, don’t you think it’s time you start?

And while we’re asking questions? Is the anything … anything at all that is going to keep you from rushing right out tomorrow and buying your copy of WITH NO REMORSE? Gosh, I hope not

Harlequin will randomly select 3 commenters to winners a set of the six books! Valid only in USA.

Watch how the covers have changed over the years and get an exclusive sneak peek at how a Harlequin® Blaze™ cover is made, and all the fun behind the scenes at the photo shoot!

Extra Innings by Debbi Rawlins
One sentence summary: The book is an Encounters, a trio of novellas revolving around three minor league baseball players hoping to be called up to the Majors and the three women who challenge them more than the game.
Tell us one quirky thing about your heroine? Naturally I like all three women, and choosing one I like the best feels too close to naming a favorite child. That said, Tori tickled me. The woman has no concept of censorship. Bless her, she says all the things I wish I could.
What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing? One hero is an enigmatic short stop, another is a bad boy pitcher who’s already pitched in the Majors, and the third a heartthrob first baseman.
What you think readers will like best about this book? The stories are fun and fast paced, with the heroines achieving what few of us mere mortals can.

If you had the chance to go out with a celebrity, be it a sports figure, movie star, singer, anyone, who would it be, and what about him or his profession do you find attractive? This is just between you and me. of course

About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Hard to choose just one, but I’ll pretty much see anything Bruce Willis does, and I’ve watched Pretty Woman and Pride and Prejudice an obscene number of times.
2. What’s your favorite cartoon character? I had a ridiculous crush on Johnny Quest.
3. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? Anything to do with animals
4. What do you do to unwind and relax? I love to read, grow flowers, not to be confused with weeding, play with my dogs and annoy my cats.
5. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? Any time before women wore pants would have been a deal breaker for me. If I ever wear a dress again it’ll because someone held me down and sprayed it on.

Hotshot by Jo Leigh
One sentence summary: He shattered her heart once, can she dare to let him get close enough to do it again?
What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Sara is an Air Force Captain
What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Luke is an Air Force Pilot
What you think readers will like best about this book: The passion and the redemption.

Have you ever reconnected with a guy from your past? Was it disappointing or did it change your life?

About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Too many to name, but some are Raiders of the Lost Arc, Love, Actually, Sin City, Broadcast News
2. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Rocky & Bullwinkle
3. What do you do to unwind and relax? Hang out with my pets.
4. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? Least: Upper Palaeolithic. So few really great handbags. Most: 1930s-40s. Of course, I’d want to be as tall and gorgeous as Kate Hepburn while I’m there.
5. Dog person or cat person? Both. We have four dogs and five cats, all rescues!

Too Hot to Touch by Julie Leto
Scene you like most and would never cut: I love the final scene where the hero has to use skills he disapproves of in order to get the heroine back. She’s brought him to his knees. That’s always fun.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: My heroine would never be caught saying, “Well, officer, you see, I lied about who I was and I’m actually a fence dealing in stolen goods.” It’s all true, but she’d never say it.
Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? My hero is not quirky. He frowns at quirky. Unless it’s the heroine, in which case he embraces it. Heroine: I think the fact that she lives a double life is fairly quirky.
What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: She’s a fence, meaning she moves stolen goods for her adopted brother, who is a thief. But she’s also an art expert.
What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Alex would never be unemployed! His family owns an auction house in Madrid and he runs it.
What you think readers will like best about this book: I think the readers will love the subtle references to a certain legend regarding a mask-wearing bandit who made the ladies swoon all over colonial California. And they’ll love Alejandro, because he’s the quintessential tall, dark and handsome hero.

Readers always seem to love spin-offs and sequels. How many is too many?

About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Star Wars, or what George Lucas wants us to call now “A New Hope.” This story ignited my imagination in ways that directly led to me becoming a writer.
2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? The kind that is well-written and emotionally compelling. It can be anything, but it’s the writing that grabs me and takes me away.
3. What’s the first book you remember reading? Misty of Chincoteague, about the wild horses. I distinctly remember that book.
4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? The better question is what is NOT my favorite fairy tale. I adore fairy tales.
5. What do you do to unwind and relax? Ha! I wish I could say I escape to my vacation home in the south of France, but honestly, I usually try to find a Criminal Minds or NCIS marathon to watch on television. I do love to travel, though.

Cowboys Like Us by Vicki Lewis Thompson
One sentence summary: When an injury ends Logan’s pro baseball career, he heads to the Last Chance Ranch and discovers that Caro Davis makes him forget all his troubles!.
Scene you like most and would never cut: When Logan’s thrown from his horse into a patch of wildflowers and ends up with them in his hair.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “My glass is half empty.”
Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Logan can juggle cocktail shakers.
What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: She’s a bartender.
What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: He was a pro baseball player and now has to figure out what to do with his life.
What you think readers will like best about this book: COWBOYS LIKE US is about resilience — finding new dreams when old dreams die.

About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Anything starring Colin Firth.
2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? A swashbuckling adventure in which I picture Colin Firth as the hero.
3. What’s the first book you remember reading? THE SECRET GARDEN, which I now picture starring a young Colin Firth.because guess what? The boy in that book is named Colin.
4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Beauty and the Beast, which I’d love to see enacted by Colin Firth.
5. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? I love you all almost as much as I love Colin Firth

The Braddock Boys: Travis by Kimberly Raye
One sentence summary: A sexually frustrated wedding planner meets the ultimate Texas bad boy (oh, and he’s also a vampire).
Scene you like most and would never cut: They’re like my babies. I love them all!
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “I can’t do that”. Holly is the ultimate wedding planner and she wants to make dreams come true for her brides.
What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: He’s a working cowboy who trains horses. Very good at what he does because of his vamp senses. Can communicate telepathically with the animals and understand their primal instinct.
What’s next: I’m currently working on the last book in the Braddock Brothers series—this book features Colton and will finally give the brothers closure on the tragedy that destroyed their family. Oh, and I’ve just discovered Twitter. I’m becoming a major Twitter whore.

What’s your favorite hero type? Cowboys? CEOs? Cops? Vampires? Which type of man really floats your boat?

About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? The Terminator. The romance was skimpy, but those few moments were smokin’ hot!
2. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? It’s so comforting to know that I’m not the only hopeless romantic out there.
3. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? A baker. I love to bake goodies in my spare time. (Cupcake Wars here I come!)
4. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Neither. I’m a diet coke fanatic and yes, Brenda, it is possible to consume an entire six pack in less than three hours.
5. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Regency. Too many rules. Most? The Wild West. No rules!

Undeniable Pleasures by Tori Carrington
One sentence summary: In UNDENIABLE PLEASURES, the third and final book in the Pleasure Seekers miniseries, bad boy Jason Savage from RECKLESS PLEASURES is all over over a special case involving a difficult federal witness…along with sexy club owner Jordan Cosby, who has ‘pleasure’ written all over her…
Scene you like most and would never cut: Oh, that’s a tough one! Each scene is so tightly connected to the next if you were to cut one, the entire story might unravel. But I know that’s not what you mean. Hmm…in this case, I’d have to say one of my personal favorites is when Jason and Jordan indulge in a hot and heavy hallway make-out session at his grandmother’s house and she catches them. Instead of scolding them, however, she merely asks they not get anything on the rug…and points out there is a perfectly good bedroom nearby. Few things are more satisfying than when a character – secondary or otherwise – surprises you….
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “No.” Well, at least not to a perfectly good proposition from a perfectly yummy proposition maker. Too suggestive? Well, then, let’s go with “Single With a Cat.” Of course, this is before she’s put in protective custody and ends up spending more time in her apartment in two weeks than she has in the past two years and one of her friends gives her a black, long-haired female named Cleo to keep her company. Then again, by book’s close, it appears she’s not going to be single for very much longer, either….
Tell us one quirky thing about your hero and heroine: She loves breakfast cereals…the sweeter and more kid-like the better. He loves to cook…the more complicated and gourmet the better. A match made in Food Network Heaven…
What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: An inactive Marine, he’s one of the original six partners of Lazarus Security, which usually handles more important cases than Jordan’s… But as luck would have it, this particular one turns out to be one of his most important to date….
What you think readers will like best about this book: The interplay – sexual and otherwise - between these two strong-willed, independent characters. She’s the ultimate bad girl to his irresistible bad boy. They’re lucky to make it out alive, much less in love. Also the fact that it’s intimately tied into stories that have come before.
What’s next: RED-HOT SANTA, Harlequin Blaze Uniformly HOT! available December 2011. While UNDENIABLE PLEASURES is the final book in the Pleasure Seekers Miniseries, I’m thrilled to report Lazarus Security stories will continue, beginning with RED-HOT SANTA, which features Jason Savage’s younger brother Jackson and Jackson’s longtime best friend Maxine McGuire…who decides she wants to take “friends with benefits” to a whole new hotter level….

When did you first discover the hotness that is Blaze? Have you been with the line since the beginning? Or are you just now picking up the awesome titles?

About Me:
Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Tony and I are both coffee fiends. Rare is the time you’ll find us without a cup at our elbows. I do tea every now and again, usually green. In the summer, I’m also a huge fan of frappes, a favorite of our comedic mystery gal pal Sofie Metropolis, who drinks ‘em all year long. For info on all of our titles, visit us at toricarrington.net. For fun and easy Greek recipes, go to sofiemetro.com.

Setting: A small town in west Texas
Subgenre: Contemporary Romance
Hero: Slate Calhoun
Heroine: Faith Aldridge

One sentence summary: A young woman travels to a small town in Texas looking for her long lost twin sister and gets caught up in the craziness of a bunch of matchmaking townsfolk who refuse to believe that she’s not her twin.

Scene you like most and would never cut: The Parade of Queens. Who wouldn’t love a float filled with homecoming queens and a bunch of huge Styrofoam guns?

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Faith would never talk bad about anyone. She’s one of those people who finds the good in everyone—even the zany people of Bramble, Texas.

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Heroine: When Slate Calhoun starts to get angry or upset, he daydreams about warm Mexican beaches. Faith Aldridge smothers animals with too much concern and love, which caused her childhood pet rabbit to die of a nervous condition.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Computer programmer, but she doesn’t like it. She wants to be a teacher.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Bramble High football coach. But the pressure is getting to him because he hasn’t won a state championship. And we all know that’s not going to cut it in Texas.

What you think readers will like best about this book: I hope they like the love story between a sweet, sheltered woman from the big city and the golden boy of Bramble, Texas.

What’s next: Faith’s twin sister, Hope’s, story. Make Mine a Bad Boy is out June 1! It takes up right where Going Cowboy Crazy leaves off—at Slate’s and Faith’s wedding. After her childhood sweetheart marries a twin sister she didn’t even know she had, Hope Scroggs is forced to look elsewhere for her happily-ever-after. She just doesn’t plan on finding it with The Bad Boy of Bramble, Texas.

Discussion: Going Cowboy Crazy is a story about the ups and downs of being part of a close-knit community. I grew up in a bigger city, but my neighborhood was like a small town—there was the nosy neighbor who spied on people from her living room window, the cranky little old man who yelled at me for riding my bike on the sidewalk, and the cute boy next door who would always catch me doing something stupid like kissing trees.

Do you have any funny stories about the people in your community? Past or present?

The funniest story will win a trip to Bramble, Texas via their imagination and a signed copy of Going Cowboy Crazy. Disclaimer: Bramble is a fictional town, so this was merely the author’s lame attempt at being cute.

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? My Fair Lady. Anything with romance, singing, and cockney accents has my vote.

2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? A love story with a lot of laughter.

3. What’s the first book you remember reading? Fun with Dick and Jane. I wanted curly blond hair like Sally and a cat named Puff.

4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Beauty and the Beast. Doesn’t every woman want a man with a little beast inside?

5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Elmer Fudd. Thewe’s just something about him I find vewy attwactive.

6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? Reading soothes the soul. If you don’t read me, read someone.

7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? Kindergarten teacher. I taught for sixteen years and loved every second of it. Kids are the funniest people alive.

8. What do you do to unwind and relax? Read. Play golf. Ride bikes. Ride on the back of my husband’s Harley. (Did you think I was just going to say ride on the back of my husband? Actually, I do that too.)

9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Herbal tea with a drizzle of honey.

10. What does love mean to you? God’s unconditional gift.

11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? Okay, I know it’s weird that I would want to strap myself in a corset. But I would suffer through stomach cramps and lack of oxygen just to play Scarlett for a day and sit out on the lawn of a big plantation with a mint julep in one hand and a hot southerner in the other. Mercy!

12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? Shantelle LeFoote. Actually, I just made that up. But it does spark the creative juices.

13. Dog person or cat person? I’ve had dogs and cats. I love them both. Right now, I’m without animal. I lost my dog, Bear, and am still in mourning. Sniff.

Setting: Ohio and Kentucky, both in suburban settings, and then a private lake.
Subgenre: Contemporary romance
Hero: Dare Macintosh
Heroine: Molly Alexander

WHEN YOU DARE
One sentence summary:
In my brand-new back-to-back trilogy, three private mercenaries who never let business get personal are about to discover that love is the riskiest game of all.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
I don’t want to do a spoiler, but when Molly first meets Dare’s good friend, Chris, I smiled the whole time while writing it.

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero?
I got the idea for Dare after watching Taken with Liam Neeson. In that movie, he’s so focused on the hunt for his daughter that whenever he finds other poor women caught in trafficking, by necessity he passes them by. That left me appalled. I created Dare specifically so he *wouldn’t* leave anyone behind. J

Heroine:
A few of Molly’s situations as a writer were derived straight from my own experiences. I won’t say which ones, but I will say that I hope no readers recognize themselves in the story!

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:
She’s a suspense writer, very successful, and has recently gotten a movie deal.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:
He’s a private mercenary with far-reaching influence and incredible contacts.

What you think readers will like best about this book:
Well, as with all my stories, I hope it’s the romantic relationship, specifically how Dare and Molly both match up, and how they conflict. Relationships are complex. I’d never want to write one that was a straight shot to love, since all couples have issues they have to work out.
I hope readers find the story romantic, heartwarming, and a reaffirmation that love conquers all.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: (answer only if applicable)
I get a TON of letters and emails from readers asking me to write stories for Joe’s children, from Say No to Joe? (and someday, I hope to!) and an almost equal number of requests for more L.L. Foster stories – something I hope to work on soon!

What’s next:
The next book out is Trace of Fever in June and then Savor the Danger in July. I’m currently working on another book that will be related to the series, titled A Perfect Storm. I only have tentative dates on that, but so far, I think it may be my favorite of the series!

I’m hoping this series will become a new favorite for my readers, but I’m curious – out of the books I’ve already published, what’s YOUR favorite? Why?
Is there a book for a specific character that you wish I’d write, that I haven’t yet gotten to?

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time?
Hmmmm… I LOVED A Perfect Get Away. Timothy Olyphant is just too delicious. But I also really loved A History of Violence, the Kill Bill movies, and the Bourne trilogy.

2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?
Romance if it’s reading. And really, I don’t read anything else! My current favorite TYPE of romance is anything in the Kresley Cole Immortals After Dark series. Yummy mega alphas! It’s action or horror if I’m at the movies. J I’m not much for drama or chick flicks.

3. What’s the first book you remember reading?
I don’t remember the title, but it was a historical, and it got me hooked. It was incredibly intimate – that’s what struck me the most. Being character driven, and all about the relationship… it was incredible! The earliest author I remember reading is Catherine Coulter, and her early historical trilogies blew me away! The Sherbrook series is still one of my all-time faves.

4. What’s your favorite fairy tale?
Beauty and the Beast. I love it when a woman is smart enough to see the heart of a man over his appearance. We all age, we all change. But if you fall in love with the character, not the character’s appearance, then the love never ends.

5. What’s your favorite cartoon character?
Oh, this will tell oodles about me, I’m sure, but I’m totally enthralled with Archer! For those who don’t know, he’s a very sexist, self-centered, highly-qualified and lethal super-spy with a lot of mommy issues (which account for him being so sexist). Archer gets it done, and he cracks me up to boot!

6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers?
I have NO control over reissues or when/if a book is released in audio or as an ebook, or other formats. I do have a list on my site that tells you all the books related in a series, and I show you the covers so you can tell which is a reissue. You’d find that on my site – www.LoriFoster.com – under the left hand menu, Booklists, and then Related Books and Series.

7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer?
I have the greatest respect for teachers. I’m not sure I’d be any good at it – because I believe teaching is a talent - but I adore young people, and I love sharing thoughts and ideas, so maybe I could make it as a teacher. I’d give it a try!

8. What do you do to unwind and relax?
Movies, movies, movies! I probably see 2 movies a week. It’s the only time I’m not plotting or going over dialogue, or finessing a scene. Even when I try to sleep, I often end up going over the book in my dreams. It’s insane.
I also love to take walks, to get outside with nature. Hocking Hills in Logan, Ohio is a favorite getaway! Hubby and I have an RV that we park near a lake in the summer. Taking walks in the evening, or following the trail through the woods, is a good way to unwind.

9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
Coffee!!! I set the timer so that coffee is done by 5am, and then I hope I sleep that late. I drink decaf, so I’m not a caffeine junkie. I love the smell, the taste, the warmth… it wakes me better than caffeine ever could! I drink mine with a little sugar and creamer, but *really* strong.

10. What does love mean to you?
Trying your best, but understanding that neither of you are perfect. Accepting his faults and knowing he’ll accept yours. Being supportive when you can, explaining why not when you can’t. Sharing… everything. Your thoughts, your fears, your worries and responsibilities. There’s a wonderful sense of security in sharing love.

11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most?
Oh geez. Well, most eras had their wealthy dressing up far more than I like, but luckily for me (ha!) I come from such humble beginnings, I’d have been a field hand, indentured servant, or a maid or something like that, so I guess it wouldn’t have mattered. LOL. Seeing anything in the Renaissance (so fussy!) gives me the willies. I live in my jeans.

12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet?
After 80+ stories, I think I’ve used them all. Names have never mattered all that much to me. I think of characters in a scene, I start writing, and whatever names lands on them just sticks. That’s not the best strategy though, because I’ve slipped up a few times and used the same name in different books. Readers will write and ask me if the characters are related. But they’re not, and it’s so embarrassing!

13. Dog person or cat person?
Both! I adore all animals. They keep us humble and grounded, and give so much love. I currently have one little doggie and three big kitties who are sooo entertaining. Hubby and I also care for a dozen or so feral cats. We started with one feral cat who showed up years ago in the winter. She wouldn’t let us anywhere near her, but we could see she was hungry. We fed her and put out warm bedding… and a few months later she brought us a litter. We do our best to catch the kittens, so we can get them up to date on shots and get them fixed, but one always escapes us, and that one will inevitably bring us more. :::sigh::: But we’re doing our best! Every so often, a cat we’ve never seen before will join the group. I think word has gotten out that we’re “the place to be” for lots of fresh food and water, and warm shelter.

Funny stories – in our efforts to catch the cats, we’ve trapped a few really po’d raccoons, and even a few skunks. Yes, we got sprayed. Twice. And yes, raccoons can be scary! We take care to relocate the critters in a safe way. It’s sort of hilarious to get up in the morning and see a snarling raccoon in a cage with eight or nine cats lazing around the cage, watching with varying expressions of “told you so.” The possum are the messiest, but luckily they don’t stick around long.

I adore old musicals. Whether it’s “My Fair Lady,” “The Sound of Music,” “West Side Story,” or my all-time favorite “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” there’s something about a feel-good musical that holds up to the test of time. Not to mention, the songs get stuck in your head and it seems perfectly normal to randomly burst into song. I’ve been known to sing “Bless Your Beautiful Hide” to my kids, especially when they drive me crazy.

One of the reasons I love “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” so much is because it’s based on love at first sight and recognizing the good heart that lies beneath a rugged exterior. The heroine Millie is faced with seven brothers who haven’t a clue how to win the heart of a girl, but each is eager to prove himself. While she teaches them good manners and how to be a gentleman, her own husband learns a thing or two about what women really want.

When my editor suggested that I switch time periods from medieval Ireland to medieval Scotland, I envisioned a family of warrior brothers. In many ways, it reminded me of the Pontipee Brothers from “Seven Brides”—a group of strapping men, each yearning for the love of his life.

Like the musical, my heroine Nairna returns to a Scottish clan sorely in need of a woman’s touch. And although they married seven years earlier, Nairna and Bram only spent one night together before he was taken as a prisoner of war. They hardly know each other at all, and yet they’re drawn to rediscover the love they once shared.

Claimed by the Highland Warrior is my homage to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, although I created only four men. Like the Pontipee Brothers, I named them after the alphabet, but not necessarily in order of eldest to youngest (Alex, Bram, Callum, and Dougal). Something also happened to the women of the clan, which leaves Nairna surrounded by male Scots sorely in need of taming. And with all of that testosterone, she’s quite eager to bring the women back!

In order for her to rekindle the lost love with her husband, she’ll have to help Bram face the scars of his imprisonment and discover the man beneath the damaged hero.

To celebrate the new MacKinloch Clan series, I’m offering up a $25 Borders gift card and two signed copies of Claimed by the Highland Warrior to three random commenters. Just tell me your favorite Broadway musical and you’re entered to win!

Next for the MacKinloch Clan, SEDUCED BY HER HIGHLAND WARRIOR! Available on July 19, 2011.

Michelle Willingham’s website: www.michellewillingham.com
Michelle Willingham’s Facebook : www.facebook.com/michellewillinghamfans.

Beverly Barton, a beloved, kind and gracious author, sent in the post below for her new book coming out tomorrow, April 26th. She was looking forward to chatting with readers. Sadly, she passed away, but we wanted to honor her memory and fans by posting what she had written.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Beverly Barton died suddenly on April 21, 2011, of heart failure. Beverly was a sixth-generation Alabamian and Southern belle with a classic drawl and timeless persona. Everyone who met her was instantly charmed by her warm personality and dazzling smile.

Since the release of her first book in 1990, Beverly became a two-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s Maggie Award, was honored twice with RWA’s National Reader’s Choice Award, and became a recipient of the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. Her books have been featured by both the Rhapsody and Doubleday Book Clubs.

John Scognamiglio, Editor-In-Chief, Kensington Publishing, and Beverly’s long-time editor, said, “Beverly Barton was more than just my author, she was also my friend. From the very first time that we talked on the phone, after I had done my first deal with her agent, we just clicked. She always made me laugh and smile and there was nothing I loved more than brainstorming ideas with her. I’d send her an email with a thought for a possible book and she’d email me back with her thoughts, and back and forth, and back and forth we would go until we had a story that we were both really excited about. Everyone who met Beverly – staff at Kensington, bookstore buyers, reviewers, readers instantly fell in love with her. We’re all going to miss her.”

DEAD BY MORNING

Setting: Most of the scenes in DEAD BY MORNING take place in the Southern U.S., in Tennessee & Georgia. A few scenes take place in England and in the Bahamas.
Subgenre: Romantic Suspense
Hero: Derek Lawrence (former FBI profiler)
Heroine: Maleah Perdue (Powell Agent)

One sentence summary:
Realizing that no one connected to the Powell Agency is safe, Maleah and Derek work frantically to uncover the chilling legacy of lies and brutal vengeance that lead them to a killer who has been hiding in plain sight.

Scene you like most and would never cut:
The final scene between Maleah Perdue and convicted serial killer Jerome Browning at the Georgia State Prison. Maleah walks away emotionally wounded, but the winner in Browning’s manipulative mind games.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
Letting a man tell her what she could or could not do.

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero?
Derek isn’t the type. Nothing “quirky” about him. He’s a wealthy lady’s man. Sophisticated, intelligent and dealing with heavy emotional baggage from his past.

Heroine:
Maleah isn’t the “quirky” type either. She’s smart & tough & independent. Her major flaws are talking too much and an inability to trust others, especially men.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:
Maleah is an agent for the Powell Private Security and Investigation Agency. She’s highly trained in martial arts, a crack shot, and an expert investigator.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:
Derek Lawrence is independently wealthy due to a trust fund. He worked for a number of years as an FBI profiler, then worked freelance and now is on the Powell Agency payroll.

What you think readers will like best about this book:
I believe my readers have come to expect two things from my books – unforgettable characters — a hero and heroine they like and want to root for and a terrifying villain — and a strong suspense/mystery plot that keeps them guessing

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
Although Griffin Powell (billionaire owner of the Powell Agency) has appeared in many of my novels and was the hero of The Murder Game, readers have bombarded me with requests for this larger-than-life character to be given another book where he is the hero and his wife Nicole is the heroine.

What’s next?
I’m giving readers what they’ve asked for and writing a new book for Griffin and Nicole, a story that has been in the back of my mind for years. The third installment in my Dead by trilogy, Dead by Nightfall will be released in early December 2011.

About Me:

1. What’s your favorite movie of all time?
Pride and Prejudice (all versions)

2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? Either a great romance – I still read Harlequin Presents by my favorite authors who have been around for years – or a great mystery. I’m a huge fan of James Patterson’s Women’s Murder Club novels

3. What’s the first book you remember reading? Charlotte’s Web

4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Beauty and the Beast

5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Snoopy from Peanuts

6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? I’d like to tell my readers how very much they mean to me, how much I appreciate them and hope that the books I write will continue to be among their favorites.

7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? I cannot imagine being anything else. But since I dabble with decorating and have always loved to cook, then perhaps I’d be an interior designer or a chef.

8. What do you do to unwind and relax? I watch movies, especially old movies from the thirties & forties and early fifties. I read for pleasure. I spend time with friends, going out for lunch and a little shopping. And nothing is better than quality time with my family, husband, children and grandchildren.

9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? I like both. I start my morning with coffee, cream & sugar. When I’m dieting, I use milk & Splenda. I switch over to tea in the afternoon, hot tea in winter and iced tea in summer. I drink hot tea plain, nothing added. Iced tea, I add lemon. I’m one Southerner who doesn’t drink sweet tea.

10. What does love mean to you? I believe that there is nothing more powerful than love. Love can perform miracles, move mountains, change hearts, save souls, heal the wounded, give hope, and vanquish hatred. Romantic love grows stronger with time, survives hardships, and is steadfast and loyal. After a lifetime together, a couple’s youthfully passionate love matures into a love that is deeper and richer and more beautiful than they could have ever imagined.

11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Probably Elizabethan times where a woman’s rank dictated what she was allowed to wear, even the colors she could use in her clothing choices. And between Underclothes and Over Clothes, women often wore more than a dozen articles of clothing, many times more than that. Can you imagine!

12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? I honestly can’t think of a name. Sometimes a character names herself or himself instantly, but often the character appears in my mind and I have to search for their name, taking hours, days or weeks. But the moment I hear the name for that character, I know it.

13. Dog person or cat person? I love all animals, but I’m definitely a dog person.

Setting: London and England, 1819
Subgenre: Regency historical
Hero: Tristan, Duke of Castleford
Heroine: Daphne Joyes

One sentence summary: Castleford is diverted from following pleasure’s path to hell when an unexpected inheritance makes him cross paths with Daphne, and his fascination with her leads to a pursuit, to a seduction, to danger, and to mysteries that she would rather keep as secrets.

Scene you like most and would never cut: My favorite between the two main characters comes after Castleford first calls on Daphne and she has the temerity to refuse to receive him. Let’s just say he does not take it well, and doesn’t stand down. There are also a series of scenes among him and his friends that I love, and my favorite may be when they have a “guy” party while he burns the bed in which he has led a dissolute but very pleasurable life.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “Being a woman, I need some man to take care of me.”

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? He only performs his ducal duties on Tuesdays.

Heroine: She has established a rule in her household that no one pries into anyone else’s life or past.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Daphne owns a business called The Rarest Blooms that grows flowers and plants that are sold in London. She also takes women into her home who are on their own and in need of support, either due to family issues or because they are running away from something.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: He is a duke. That means he has duties in the government, and he also has considerable estates and finances to manage. If he were going to be employed, he might become a private investigator. He has shown a tendency in the series to be very talented at poking his nose into other people’s business.

What you think readers will like best about this book: It is an angel and the sinner story at heart, and I think reader’s like those. I also think they will like the understated but very present humor, and Castleford’s distinctive way of looking at the world.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: As it happens it has been Castleford! I have been getting lots of emails from readers ever since he showed up in the first book of The Rarest Blooms series, Ravishing in Red. Some have also been asking about Katherine, a woman who has played a secondary role in the series, but I resolve her story in this book too.

What’s next: I am beginning a new series and am working on the first book, that I expect to be published in the spring of 2012. No title yet, and I am superstitious about discussing my stories until they are almost finished, so I am going to leave it at that.

When you have been in significant relationships, has it been a case of like minds attracting, or opposites attracting? Which kind of attraction do you think works best in life? In romance novels?

To celebrate the release of Dangerous in Diamonds, I will be giving a signed copy of any book from my backlist to two people who comment. (I am sorry, but the two in one trade printing of By Arrangement and By Possession, and the Tapestry anthology, are not included as choices because I no longer have author copies of them.) My booklist can be found at www.MadelineHunter.com

Setting: A summer camp for supernatural teens in Fallen, Texas
Subgenre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Hero: Derek Lakes and Lucas Parker
Heroine: Kylie Galen

One sentence summary: For 16 years, Kylie Galen tried to figure out who she is, only to discover once she got to Shadow Falls Camp that she doesn’t even know what she is.

Scene you like most and would never cut: Oh, this is hard because there are several scenes I really love in Born at Midnight—such as Kylie’s heart-rending breakthrough with her mom, or her discovering the identity of her ghost stalker and especially the romantic scenes with Derek and then with Lucas. But I’d probably go with the scene where Kylie offers her vampire roommate Della her blood.

“Will it hurt much?” Kylie asked as she held out her arm and ran a finger down the blue vein showing through her pale skin.

The scene shows the strength of friendship and Kylie’s willingness to accept others for who and what they are, even though the thought of a vampire drinking blood—especially her blood—makes Kylie squeamish. It’s a turning point in their relationship and a pivotal moment for Kylie, who has finally accepted the other campers as friends. Because as she starts to accept them, she really starts to accept the supernatural part of herself. I cried when I wrote that scene.

Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Kylie may only be sixteen and is having a major identity crisis but she is no push-over. She’d never back down from a bully or give in to peer pressure. Although she’s a little foggy about a lot of the things happening in her life, she’s crystal clear on these points.

Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Heroine: Well, Kylie sees dead people. Does that count as quirky? She thinks it pretty quirky. LOL.

What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Kylie is sixteen years old, and for the summer, at least, her only job is attending the Shadow Falls Camp and trying to identify her inner supernatural. She’s also going through a huge identity crisis. While Kylie’s situation is different, I think in many ways we are all searching for who we are.

What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Derek, who’s half-fae, and Lucas, who’s a werewolf, are also teenagers. Their jobs are attending the Shadow Falls Camp and learning how to deal with their supernatural gifts.

What do you think readers will like best about this book: Good question. I think my novels are mostly known for two things: My humor and my character depth. For readers who have read any of my humorous romantic suspense novels, they’ll still see my “quirky” sense of humor. It’s blended into a plot with lots of paranormal atmosphere and teen angst, but I can’t stop being funny. I also think the readers will find my ensemble cast of characters to all be likeable and so relatable. Every character in Born at Midnight has a story to tell. Each person’s personality is different and unique. From the shapeshifter, who can be snarky and moody because he’s spent his entire life changing forms and doesn’t have a good sense of self, to the vampire who has to hide her identity from her own family because she knows they would never understand and therefore she feels a bit like a monster herself. Then there is the witch who is dyslexic and lacks self-esteem because she can’t seem to get her spells right.

The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: (answer only if applicable) I probably get the most reader mail about Jose from Shut Up and Kiss Me, one of the humorous romantic suspense novels I wrote for Dorchester as Christie Craig. I loved writing that book and had planned to write several more books set in Precious, Texas. But then I signed a new contract with a new publisher for a new series. So, while I’d still like to do Jose’s story, it may take me a while.

What’s next: This year, I’ve been writing two new series for two new-to-me publishing houses. It’s been a busy year and that will continue for a while. In August, I have the release of Don’t Mess With Texas, Book One in Hotter in Texas, my humorous romantic suspense series from Grand Central Forever under my real name, Christie Craig. In October, Awake at Dawn, Book Two of the Shadow Falls series I’m writing as C.C. Hunter for St. Martin’s Griffin, will release. I’m currently working on Book 3, Taken at Dusk, for Shadow Falls and, once that’s done, I’ll start on Book Two of my Hotter in Texas series. Like I said, busy year, but I love every minute of it!

Thanks again Borders for having me here today to talk about Born at Midnight. I’ve had a blast. Now, I have a question for everyone to ponder. Because my book’s premise and theme is about identity crisis, and discovering who and what you are, I want to know . . . are you who and what you thought you’d be when you were sixteen, eighteen, or twenty? And if you are that young, do you know what you want to do or what really makes you happy?

I never ask a question, I’m not willing to answer, so here’s my answer: I didn’t have a clue of what I wanted to be—what made me happy—until I was in my twenties. I didn’t try my hand at writing until I was twenty-three. And while writing is something I always see myself doing—it’s a true passion for me—I personally think that life is a journey of self discovery. Who knows what other paths I’ll find myself on? I mean, I’m never thought I’d venture into writing young adult and this is one path I’m so glad I found. So what about you?