Tag: reading
Blogguest, C.C. Hunter
by sue on Apr.10, 2011, under Book Chat
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?
About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time? Oh, that’s too hard. I love romantic comedies and movies with suspense and a touch of humor, such as Lethal Weapon and Bird on a Wire. Okay, I just realized both of those are from the Eighties and starred Mel Gibson. LOL. There aren’t too many movies with suspense, humor and romance being done but my favorite TV show of the moment is Castle—love it! Recent romantic comedy movies I’ve seen and really enjoyed include The Bounty Hunter and Letters to Juliet.
2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? Definitely something with a romance storyline. Genre doesn’t matter—it can be YA, contemporary romance, whatever. As long as there is a good romance storyline in there, I’m hooked!
3. What’s the first book you remember reading? Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White. I truly loved that book! This may surprise a lot of people, but I always thought of Charlotte’s Web as being a romance between Charlotte, the barn spider, and Wilbur, the pig. Sort of a cross-species relationship thing. I guess I really like that cross-species relationship thing because my new book, Born at Midnight, has a lot of them. LOL.
4. What’s your favorite fairy tale? Hmm. That’s a tough one. I’d probably go with Cinderella. It had a courageous heroine, a smokin’ hot hero, a fairy godmother and some bad guys in the form of a wicked stepmother and two obnoxious step-sisters. Plus, a happy ending. Who could ask for more?
5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Pepe le Pew. And the female cat he has a crush on. I have a thing about skunks. (See, I told you I had this cross-species relationship thing. LOL.) Just wait until Awake at Dawn. I have a special scene with a skunk who actually sticks around for awhile.
6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? First, I’d like to thank them for all the support they gave me when I was writing my humorous romantic suspense novels for Dorchester Publishing as Christie Craig. So many of you have written me to ask when those books will be back in print. All I can say is soon. My next Christie Craig novel, Don’t Mess with Texas, will be out in August. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy my Shadow Falls series as C.C. Hunter just as much.
7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? Hmm. Well, I’ve worked as a photojournalist for several years and my photographs have appeared nationally. But if I weren’t a writer, I think I might be a stand-up comic. I love to make people laugh with my books. I also love to make people laugh and get them to think, when I’m doing a workshop or giving a talk. So, being a stand-up comic sounds perfect.
8. What do you do to unwind and relax? Read a good book. Drink a good glass of red wine. And above all,—laugh about something. In my family, we have a saying: If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. I really think that’s true, too. So the best way I know of relaxing is to enjoy a good laugh about whatever stressful thing I have weighing on me at the moment with family and friends. I love to get together with my girlfriends where we will inevitably end up giggling over silly things, just like we did when we were teenagers. I also think laughter keeps us young, too.
9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Coffee, definitely. I prefer it with cream. And so does my cat, Skitter—he generally tries to share my first cup with me in the morning.
10. What does love mean to you? Love means acceptance to me. None of us are perfect but sometimes we are perfect for each other.
11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most? I think the one I’d have liked least would be the Victorian era because of the corsets. Have you seen those things? LOL. As for my favorite, I’d go with the present. Give me a soft, well-worn pair of jeans and I’m happy.
12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? How about Sue Grimshaw? LOL. Hmm. I usually come up with the characters’ names after I create the characters, so I can’t answer this one. But now you’ve got me thinking. LOL.
13. Dog person or cat person? Both. We have four rescue kitties and a dog in my house right now. Plus, there’s a stray rabbit we took in. I didn’t know there was such a thing as a stray rabbit, until one basically followed my son home.
Free! Free! Who says nothing is free? On March 15, Turned At Dark, a short story introducing the Shadow Falls series, will be available at http://us.macmillan.com/bornatmidnight. On March 29, the same release day as Born at Midnight, my short story Turned At Dark will be released as an ebook on Borders.com, how cool is that?
Blogguest - Cheryl Ann Smith!
by sue on Apr.06, 2011, under Book Chat
Setting: England
Subgenre: Regency
Hero: Nicholas Drake, Lord Stanfield (Duke)
Heroine: Evangeline Winfield (aka Eva Black)
One sentence summary: A beautiful spinster rescues courtesans from sexual servitude and matches them with husbands; until all goes awry when she crosses a duke after stealing away his mistress and he vows revenge.
Scene you like most and would never cut: I love the scene at the end when Nicholas solves their biggest conflict. It’s both fun and emotional!
Thing your heroine would never be caught doing/saying: “You’re right, Nicholas. You’re always right.”
Tell us one quirky thing about your hero/heroine: The hero only sees things in black and white and what he says goes. The heroine thinks she knows everything about relationships, though she’s never been courted or kissed.
What is your heroine’s occupation: Courtesan rescuer/Matchmaker
What is your hero’s occupation: Duke
What do you think the readers will like best about this book: The way the hero is kind of a jerk in the beginning of the book and changes through his relationship with the heroine. And of course, the love story!
What is your favorite movie of all time? I can only have one? I love Where the Red Fern Grows. The ending is so sad! I cry every time I watch that movie! I also like, The Sound of Music and The Phantom of the Opera with Gerard Butler. He’s so dreamy!
What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in? Historical romance, of course!
What’s the first book you remember reading? Outside of the little first reader books you get in school, I’d have to say the Little House on the Prairie series or the Nancy Drew books. That’s looking way back!
What’s your favorite fairy tale? The Ugly Duckling. I love to root for the little underdog.
What’s your favorite cartoon character? My favorite is the coyote from the Road Runner cartoons. It didn’t matter how many times the anvil fell on his head, he kept trying to catch the road runner!
What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? Make sure you have the right date for PJ day at school before you send your kid off on the bus in his Grinch pajamas!
What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer? Ice cream taste-tester. I’d need bigger pants, but I’d sure love my job!
What do you do to unwind and relax? Watch true crime shows and take vacations.
Tea or coffee? And how do you take it? Tea with lots of sugar.
What does love mean to you? If your husband can see you every morning with your sticky-up hair and no make-up, and still come home after work, that’s love.
Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion wise and why? Most? Do the eighties count? Mall hair and parachute pants…really? Okay, I’d say my least favorite would be the 18th century, during the days of three story tall powdered wigs and hoops that make you walk through doors sideways. I’d kind of like the fifties. I’ve always wanted my own poodle skirt!
What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? Hortense. But somehow I don’t think that would pass inspection with my editor. But you never know….
Dog person or cat person? Both. We have two cats and one dog.
Okay, now for the question: Which do you think would make a more interesting heroine in a romance novel, a virgin or a courtesan, and why?
Cheryl Ann Smith
The School for Brides, 4/5/11
The Accidental Courtesan, 10/11
Blogguest, Elaine Coffman
by sue on Mar.30, 2011, under Book Chat
Setting: Scotland,1515
Subgenre: Time Travel
Hero: Alysandir Mackinnon
Heroine: Isobella Douglas
One sentence summary: When Isobella Douglas said she would have to go back in time to find the perfect man, she and her twin find themselves in ancient Scotland, in the company of a meddlesome ghost.
Scene you like most and would never cut: When the twins suddenly appear in Scotland, in the midst of a clan battle, and meet the ghost of Black Douglas for the first time.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: “I don’t believe in ghosts.”
What celebrity is your hero like: A cross between Mr. Darcy and actor Clive Owen in “Arthur”.
What celebrity is your heroine like: The headstrong Anna, played by Deborah Kerr in the King and I.
What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Isobella is an archaeologist with a minor in Celtic Studies, who envisioned going on a dig in Scotland.
What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: Alysandir is the chief of the ancient Clan Mackinnon, on the Isle of Mull- a man who never wanted to be the clan leader or to take the title from his dead brother.
What you think readers will like best about this book: The wonderful possibilities that exist in a time travel orchestrated by an unforgettable ghost.
The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: Actually, this book is the result of two requests that I’ve received the most over the years. One, was to do another series on the ancestors of the characters in my seven book Mackinnon series. The other is, to bring back the ghost of Black Douglas, who first appeared in THE BRIDE OF BLACK DOUGLAS. Careful what you ask for!
What’s next: Right now, I’m writing THE LORD OF THE BLACK ISLE, a book on Isobella’s twin sister, Elisabeth, who was about to start her last year of residency at Johns Hopkins when she was yanked back in time.
Who doesn’t love a romantic fantasy or a meddlesome ghost? The Ghost and Mrs. Muir has always been a favorite movie of mine, and the idea of time-travel held so much appeal, that I could not resist writing my own ghost stories. I’m delighted that my wonderful editor, Deb Werksman, is giving the ghost of Black Douglas the opportunity to work his magic in the other books planned for this new Ancestors of the Mackinnon’s series—although I firmly believe Black Douglas had a hand in persuading her.
Blogguest, Gwen Hayes + Giveaway!
by sue on Mar.18, 2011, under Book Chat
Where is your series set?
Serendipity Falls is a fictional coastal town. It seems like an average small town but it’s really a hotbed of paranormal activity. I have set a few of my adult romance short stories in the same town as well.
Tell us about your hero:
Haden Black is breathtakingly handsome, of course. And he’s a little whimsical and a lot dangerous. He’s in town for a dark purpose and everyone he lets in his life is in danger.
Tell us about your heroine:
Theia Alderson is hard to define. On the surface, she’s almost paralyzingly shy and quiet. Beneath that, she’s actually a free spirit trapped in a careful mind. She’s been raised with very little freedom, but inside her is a reckless heart. As a result, she is very conflicted almost all of the time—trying to please her father and learning to be true to herself are two things very at odds with each other. And then she meets this devastatingly handsome boy….
Can you give readers a one sentence summary?
A dark, twisted fairy tale of romance, danger, and cupcakes.
What is the scene you like most and would never cut?
Theia’s first kiss was a joy to write. I’m glad it went so well for her.
What would your heroine never be caught dead doing?
Theia would never be caught dead doing a lot of things—until she ends up doing them. She wants to please her father so badly that she quashes a lot of her natural instincts to be daring and have fun. Even wearing jeans is a power struggle.
What celebrity is your hero like?
Haden isn’t like anyone out there—he’s a hunky, goth mashup of Jack Skellington, Willy Wonka, and Mr. Darcy. Throw in a little teen Christian Slater, too.
What celebrity is your heroine like?
Theia resembles Rebecca Herbst from General Hospital when she was a teenager in the 90s. I don’t usually picture celebrities as my characters, so this is hard.
What is your heroine’s occupation?
Right now, Theia is a high school student and a very talented violinist. I’m not sure that’s the career path she wants though, it’s more her dad’s wish for her. We’ll have to see (if she lives through this) what direction her path will take.
What is your hero’s occupation?
Haden is a high school student, too. He’s very charismatic and well loved by the people where he’s from. I think he’ll be a good leader if he doesn’t let the darkness eat his soul first.
What you think readers will like best about this book?
Probably Haden. He’s fairly irresistible.
Falling Under is about a lot of emotion, longing, and angst. I hope it catches something in people’s hearts. Growing up is so hard—learning who you are, who you love, how to love. I think the story will resonate with adults as much as teens.
Also, by the ARC reviews, readers seem to be enjoying the fact that there are no vampires, werewolves, or fey in this paranormal book.
Who is the person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet?
That would easily be Madame Varnie.
What’s next?
My keyboard is currently smoking from the sequel writing. I’ve tentatively named it After the Fall, but we’ll see if the title sticks. It’s the continuing story of Haden and Theia and will be released in 2012.
After that, I’d like to work on another YA series set in Serendipity Falls. You can keep up with any further shenanigans by visiting my website www.gwenhayes.com .
In FALLING UNDER, Theia really struggles with finding a balance between pleasing everyone and being true to herself, which I think is a struggle for a lot of women. I know for me, it wasn’t until I was almost thirty before I decided it was okay to put my own needs first once in awhile. What advice would you give the teenage version of yourself about growing up? And if you’re still a teen or still struggling with your inner-teen—what’s one thing you can do today to be a stronger person?
Two lucky commenters will win a copy of FALLING UNDER!
Blogguest, Cornelia Amiri + Giveaway!
by sue on Mar.17, 2011, under Book Chat
Setting:
In ancient pre-Roman England
Subgenre:
Paranormal/Erotica/Romance
The Wolf and The Druidess is my Celtic take on a Halloween werewolf tale. Mystical and magical the story’s set at Samhain rather than Halloween and instead of a werewolf the hero is the Celtic god Gwydion, a wolf is one of his shape shifting forms.
Hero:
Gwydion, the Celtic wizard god, he’s tall, muscular, has long blonde wavy hair, and blue eyes. He wears a gold torc around his neck, and is often garbed in an open white, gold-speckled druid robe revealing the bronze skin of his muscular chest.
Heroine:
Seren, a druidess, with long flame red hair, usually garbed in a white, gold-speckled robe and she often plays with the hood, pulling it over her head or pushing it back.
One sentence summary:
A god leaves the Otherworld and even risks his life … for love.
Scene you like most and would never cut:
I’ve always loved to read about cattle raids so my favorite scene is a cattle raid scene:
“No, he is in danger,” Seren snapped.
“It is our only chance. If we lose milk and beef, the entire tribe could starve during the winter.” Hywell shook his head.
“What harm could possibly befall me? The Silures cannot hurt me if I turn them to ice, first,” Gwydion said.
“My mother would not warn me unless the threat was real,” Seren said. “I myself sense danger, but it may not be from the Silures. You must be careful.”
“Seren, he is a god,” Hywell said.
“Yes, what could happen to me?” Gwydion said.
Rather than answer, she peered into Gwydion’s eyes. “Swear to me, you will take heed.”
“Yes, I will return to you unharmed.” Gwydion pulled his wand from the pouch tied to his side and brandished it high. “I am ready.” He swirled the ash stick, decorated with Celtic spirals, through the air in a sweeping motion.
“Foes of the Ordovices
Your raid is condemned.
I forbid your flight.
Winter’s embrace,
Shall halt your escape,
Frozen like ice.
For the tribe to find.”
A blue light with the power of a lightning bold shot from the wand. Gwydion knew everyone in the village could feel the surge, and he noticed Seren and Hywell had clung to each other during the mighty blast.
“It is done,” he said to them.
“Now you must shift into wolf form,” Seren said to Gwydion as she released her hold on Hywell.
After Gwydion eased off his horse, his body blurred from one form to the next as his limbs shortened and his flesh shifted into a pelt of white fur. The wolf stood before Seren once more.
Hywell gasped. “Gwydion, do not get too near the cattle, you will spook them.”
The wolf nodded, and as he darted off, Seren goaded her horse into a hard gallop. Hywell followed.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
“The tribe can take care of themselves.” or “The dead are gone. They don’t matter anymore.”
She would never make either statement as her duty as a tribe druidess always comes first above her own wishes and needs. She serves the tribe, it’s more than her job it’s part of who she is. Also she believes the ancestors must always be honored. The first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is greet the ancestors. And the book is set at Samhain, the Celtic New Year, and the main purpose of the Samhain feast is to visit with and honor the departed ancestors.
What celebrity is your hero like:
The closest I can think of is Brad Pitt in that he’s divinely handsome. Gwydion looks most like Brad Pitt in the movie Troy.
What celebrity is your heroine like: I feel the closest is Emma Stone but Seren’s hair is a brighter red where Emma Stone’s is auburn.
What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing?
Seren’s professional level is the same as a chief or king. She’s the tribes’ druidess, so she’s well educated and trained in everything from doctor, judge, teacher, religious leader, bard, and even advisor to the chief.
What is your heroes occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing?
Gwydion is a god, and in Celtic mythology the deities all had jobs or duties, and he actually is a druid for the gods as Seren is a druidess for her tribe so they share the same profession.
What you think readers will like best about this book:
Readers who like Celtic/Romances will love it as the story springs from ancient Celtic/mythology. Paranormal/Romance readers who like werewolf or shape shifter stories will love the unique Celtic twist to this one. Those readers who like a good romance will love the intense connection and the red hot love scenes between Seren and Gwydion.
The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
I’ve been asked at Celtic festivals if I’ve written anything about the ancient Irish hero Finn McCool, so I probably need to write something about him.
What’s next:
Since today is St. Patrick’s Day and I write Celtic/Romances, I felt it was the perfect day for me to guest blog. You probably do know that on St. Patrick’s Day, at least in the United States, anyone who doesn’t wear green gets pinched. But you may not have known that it was King Tighernmas (Teernmas) of Tara, who brought the color green to the emerald Isle. Through trade with the Phoenicians, he obtained dyes to create green, yellow, and blue and introduced those colors to Ireland between 900 – 1534 BC, as his reign fell somewhere in that timeline. He also enacted sumptuary laws on the numbers of colors worn by the different classes. Six colors to the highest of society, kings, queens, druids, five for the chieftains, four for land owners who offered hospitality, three for warriors, two for peasants and one for slaves. By using plaid the Irish and other Celts wore multi-colors, three to six, at one time. So under Tighernmas’s law slaves or servants wore solid colors, peasants wore checkered patterns, and plaid for higher classes.
Please post comments on my question which is, other than wearing green, what are you planning to do today to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Another great reason to comment is I am having a blog contest to giveaway an autographed paperback copy of Queen of Kings (set in bronze age Ireland, the legend of Macha Mon Ruad the only woman listed as a High King of Ireland) and The Wolf and The Druidess. I’ll draw the winner from the comments, so please include an email address in case you win. Also please visit me at http://CelticRomanceQueen.com
Blogguest, Jacquelyn Frank & Giveaway!
by sue on Mar.14, 2011, under Book Chat
Setting: Ebbany and the space between the Three Worlds
Subgenre: Paranormal/Fantasy/SciFi Romance
Hero: Bronse Chapel
Heroine: Ravenna, Head Priestess of The Chosen Ones
One sentence summary: Bronse is a super elite soldier for the Interplanetary Militia (IM) who begins to dream about a woman with abilities that have the potential to save his life, if only he heeds her warnings!
Scene you like most and would never cut: When Ravenna exposes to Bronse that there is much more to her abilities than he realizes.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying: Turning her back on the other Chosen Ones.
Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? He doesn’t have anything quirky! He’s very straight-laced. Heroine: Ravenna’s key quirk might be the way she deals with her sometimes-obnoxious brother, Kith.
What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: She is the Head Priestess of The Chosen Ones
What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: He is the Commander of the First Active Extreme Tactics Force for the Interplanetary Militia.
What you think readers will like best about this book: The super hot soldiers and their dogged loyalty to one another. The troubled and powerful Chosen Ones are also very compelling.
The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: (answer only if applicable) Jasmine from my Nightwalkers series. But actually, I just finished book six in the Nightwalkers series, entitled Adam, and she’s the lead heroine. It’s due out in November 2011.
What’s next: Seduce Me in Flames. Due out July 26th! The adventures of the IM soldiers continue as we learn more about the Three Worlds!
If you could create your own world, what would be the most peculiar thing about it? Anyone who comments becomes eligible to win a signed copy of Seduce Me in Dreams!
About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time?
Avatar. I just love the imagination and all the boundaries it stretched.
2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?
Strangely enough, I am a sucker for fictionalized stories about Queen Elizabeth I or anything about the Tudor dynasty. I try to imagine what it must have been like, how hard it must have been to be a powerful woman back then.
3. What’s the first book you remember reading?
Go Dog Go!
4. What’s your favorite fairy tale?
Beauty and the Beast of course.
5. What’s your favorite cartoon character? Calvin and Hobbes.
6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers? To read the FAQ on an author’s website BEFORE writing to them. It’s kind of annoying to be asked questions over and over that are clearly answered already.
7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer?
I’d probably work in an animal shelter.
8. What do you do to unwind and relax?
Watch HGTV. I’m addicted to Mike Holmes, a knight in shining overalls!
9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it? Neither. Hot Cocoa, made with milk not water!
10. What does love mean to you?
It means someone understands exactly who I am and wants to be in my life anyway.
11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? The Wild West perhaps. It all depends on the ‘class’ of clothing you are talking about. Most? Elizabethan. All the jewels and wealth spent to adorn clothing…it makes up for the corsets and panniers.
12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet? LOGAN. I love that name. But ever since Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine…it’s going to be hard to work it out.
13. Dog person or cat person?
Umm. Cat. Like…nine cats worth of a cat person. Possibly eleven soon. I never make it through kitten season unscathed it seems. And if you get one kitten, well, it needs another to play with you know…
Blogguest, Jennifer Ashley + Giveaway!
by sue on Mar.12, 2011, under Book Chat
Primal Bonds
By Jennifer Ashley
Setting: Austin, TX
Subgenre: Paranormal Romance
Hero: Sean Morrissey (Feline Shifter and the Guardian for his Shiftertown)
Heroine: Andrea Gray (half Fae, half Lupine Shifter)
One sentence summary:
When Feline Shifter Sean Morrissey agrees to mate-claim the half Fae half Shifter Andrea Gray, sight unseen, he gets more than he bargained for.
Scene you like most and would never cut:
The Shifter ladies badgering Sean in his front yard to tell them what kind of underwear he’s wearing. Sean settles the bet in a fun way.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
“I know my place and keep to it.” Yep, she’d die first.
Tell us one quirky thing about your hero?
He’s a biker who can make computers do anything he wants.
Heroine
She likes buying the hero underwear.
What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:
Andrea is a waitress at Sean’s brother’s bar.
What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:
Sean is the Guardian of his clan and his Shiftertown—his sword sends the souls of deceased or dying Shifters into the afterlife.
What you think readers will like best about this book:
Sexy biker Shifters in a warm, close-knit family.
The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
Dylan Morrissey (Sean and Liam’s father).
What’s next:
For Jennifer Ashley:
The next Mackenzie novel: The Many Sins of Lord Cameron (August 2011, Berkley)
The next Shifter novel: Wild Cat (Jan 2012, Berkley)
For Allyson James
The next Stormwalker novel: Shadow Walker (June 2011, Berkley)
Plus a Stormwalker novella: “Double Hexed” in the Hexed anthology (June 2011)
About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time?
Toss up between Chocolat and Pirates of the Caribbean #1
2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?
Mystery novels
3. What’s the first book you remember reading?
On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder
4. What’s your favorite fairy tale?
Cinderella
5. What’s your favorite cartoon character?
Bugs Bunny
6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers?
I love fan mail! Keep sending it!!!
7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer?
Musician or dollhouse builder
8. What do you do to unwind and relax?
Play guitar, build dollhouses and miniature settings, read, hike, or watch a really good TV show.
9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
Tea. Iced. No sugar. Love blends.
10. What does love mean to you?
Caring deeply for someone for who they are, not what they do.
11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most?
Least: About the 1770s. The panniers and big hair look so uncomfortable.
Most: the 1920s. Easy clothes, short hair, cocktails, and cool cars.
12. Dog person or cat person?
Both. But I have only cats, because my cats are cat people.
Readers: What’s your favorite kind of Shifter? And why?
One winner will receive any book from my backlist under any name (Jennifer Ashley or Allyson James). Backlist titles are here:
http://www.jennifersromances.com/NewSite/seriesorder.html
Blogguest, Molly Harper + Giveaway!
by sue on Mar.10, 2011, under Book Chat
Setting: Grundy, Alaska
Subgenre: Paranomal Romance
Hero: Cooper Graham, the taciturn naked werewolf in question.
Heroine: Mo Wenstein, a Mississippi transplant seeking peace and quiet far away from her intrusive hippie helicopter parents.
One sentence summary:
A girl moves to Alaska, meets a surly werewolf, helps him resolve his pack dysfunction, finds her place in life.
OR
Northern Exposure meets The Wolfman, with a dash of Stephanie Plum.
Scene you like most and would never cut:
Mo and Cooper’s first love scene. My romances are usually pretty mild in that department. But Mo and Cooper are very intense with each other and while I was writing, the character gave me more to work with. I think this is a family web site, so I’ll spare the details. But I was really proud of how it turned out. It’s the first one I’ve written that made my mom say, “Yeah, I’m not comfortable reading this.”
I was so proud!
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
Mo would never pretend to be something she’s not. Of all of the characters I’ve written, she is by far the most comfortable with herself. She’s confident, kind, smart and a little bit of a badass. She won’t change that to make someone else happy.
Tell us one quirky thing about your hero? Heroine:
Mo was raised by hippies, but rebelled by eating junk food and choosing to go to public school. This led to a summer job at a local drive-in, where she developed considerable skills in the kitchen.
What is your heroines occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:
As I mentioned, Mo has some serious kitchen skills. She was selling newspaper inserts when she lived in Mississippi. On her first day in Grundy, she has lunch at the local saloon and is witness to the cook nearly taking off his thumb performing a stupid knife trick. While the cook is recuperating, she takes over his duties and makes a place for herself in the community.
*The stupid knife trick was inspired by my brother, Matt. He’s a trained chef. He has the scary expensive ceramic knives. He got through culinary school unscathed, but while he was cutting a plastic Coke bottle in half for some project, he sliced open his hand and severed a tendon. He had to have two surgeries to fix it. I have now warned my family that when they do something that memorable, it will end up in future books.
What you think readers will like best about this book:
The quirky humor, the endearing secondary characters and the white-hot chemistry between Mo and Cooper.
The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet: (answer only if applicable)
A lot of readers seem to want Dick Cheney, the vampire from my Nice Girls Don’t series, to have his own title. As much as I love him, he’s definitely a background character. And he’s so schmoopily in love with Andrea, that there wouldn’t be much of a romantic conflict to write about.
What’s next:
The sequel to HOW TO FLIRT, called THE ART OF SEDUCING A NAKED WEREWOLF, will be released on March 29, 2011. I’ve just finished the fourth novel in the Nice Girls vampire series, which will be released in March 2012. And there will be two “spin off” titles to the Nice Girls, set in Half-Moon Hollow, which should be released in 2012.
For the readers, do you consider yourself exclusively vampire or werewolf readers? Or are you willing to read about both types of creatures?
Giveaway for 3 US commenters chosen randomly below - good luck!
About Me:
1. What’s your favorite movie of all time?
It’s hard to choose, but I really love the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.
2. What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?
Oddly enough, children’s novels. I remember finishing the first Harry Potter book and feeling so hopeful and happy, like anything was possible. I felt the same way when I was kid, reading Roald Dahl.
3. What’s the first book you remember reading?
It was one of those Serendipity children’s books.
4. What’s your favorite fairy tale?
Beauty and the Beast. It’s one of the few in which the “princess” works to save the prince.
5. What’s your favorite cartoon character?
Scooby Doo!
6. What’s something you’d like to tell your readers?
7. What would your occupation be if you were no longer a writer?
That’s a scary thought. Other than a tragic stint as a telemarketer, I’ve never had a job that wasn’t related to writing in some way!
8. What do you do to unwind and relax?
I had a massage about a month ago. And afterward, as I warmed up the spa shower, I checked my Blackberry for frantic, “Where the hell are you, woman? How long does a spa day take?” texts from my husband.
My hands were slippery from the massage oil, the Blackberry shot out of my hands like a bar of soap, landing right in the shower. I spent the rest of the day replacing my fried phone and trying to track down my contacts’ information.
This is why I don’t try to relax. It’s dangerous.
9. Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
I like herbal tea. And if I drink coffee, it has to be half sugar and cream. It’s painful for my Dad, the black coffee drinker, to watch me make myself a cup.
10. What does love mean to you?
11. Which era would you least like to have lived in, fashion-wise and why? Most?
The 70s. I look back at the photos of my mom and dad, and the fabrics alone make me want to cry.
Probably the 40s. The clothes were so elegant, and the designers seemed to know what to do with a “curvy” gal.
12. What name have you been dying to use as a lead character, but haven’t found the right fit yet?
13. Dog person or cat person?
Dog. I have two dachshunds named Pigwidgeon and Crookshanks.
Blogguest Hope Ramsay + Giveaway!
by sue on Mar.10, 2011, under Book Chat
Welcome to Last Chance by Hope Ramsay
Setting: Last Chance, South Carolina
Subgenre: Contemporary Romance
Hero: Clay Rhodes
Heroine: Jane Coblenz
One sentence summary:
With bad guys on her trail, Jane uses her last dollar to buy a ticket to Last Chance, South Carolina, where she encounters a town filled with lovable and quirky characters, not to mention Clay Rhodes, a sexy country and western musician who’s determined to rescue her, whether she thinks she needs it or not.
Scene you like most and would never cut:
The emotional high point in the story comes when Clay confronts Jane about her past. Clay knows something terrible happened to Jane when she was seventeen. In fact, the local police chief is convinced that Jane was involved in a murder, but the chief, who is also Clay’s older brother, can’t prove his theory. Clay wants to believe in Jane’s innocence, but he also trusts his brother. He’s horribly conflicted and he’s scared that learning the truth about Jane’s past might change the way he’s coming to feel about her. When Clay finally gets the truth out of Jane, he’s really surprised by it. Of course I can’t divulge Jane’s secret because it would be a huge spoiler.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
Jane is the walking embodiment of the power of positive thinking, so she would never fall into pessimism without a huge push. She committed to “manifesting” a better future for herself and she works hard at reaching her goal. She has her moments of doubt, of course, but she refuses to give into them. Instead she unfailingly finds the silver lining in every gray cloud — until the climax of the book, when her faith in the future is challenged to its core.
What celebrity is your hero like:
Clay is a successful musician so I have always imagined him looking like Trace Adkins or Tim McGraw. From an artistic standpoint, though, Clay’s music has a big emotional punch like the music of David Wilcox or James Taylor.
What celebrity is your heroine like: Jane looks a little bit like Jennifer Garner. But beyond that, she’s her own self. She has a beautiful singing voice that’s somewhere between Dolly Parton and Leeann Womack — what I think of as a real bluegrass voice. She hails from West Virginia and she’s also a coal miner’s daughter.
What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing:
Jane has a dream of becoming a country and western singer, but in the meantime she makes her living as a beautician. She arrives in Last Chance without a job, but that’s quickly remedied when she takes a job as the manicurist at the Cut ‘n Curl, the local beauty shop owned by Ruby Rhodes, Clay’s momma. You can just imagine what fun I had writing the beauty shop scenes, where the gossips, church ladies, and unrepentant matchmakers come together to meddle in the private lives of Last Chance’s younger set.
What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing:
Clay is a musician. But when his girlfriend dumps him for the lead singer in Clay’s band, Clay walks away from Nashville. He’s discouraged about his future at the beginning of the book. He’s come to Last Chance to figure out what comes next. In the meantime he’s sitting in with the local country and western band, playing organ on Sundays at church, and helping out at his uncle’s hardware store.
What do you think readers will like best about this book:
I’m sure readers will love the quirky town of Last Chance, South Carolina and its cast of busy bodies and matchmakers. And, of course, there is the loveable eccentric who owns the miniature golf course right outside of town dedicated to the Lord, called Golfing for God. The putt-putt place is a character unto itself.
Aside from the quirky town and its inhabitants, I think readers will fall in love with Clay’s best friend, Ray Betts. Ray suffered a brain injury in a car accident when he was a teenager that has given him an unusual view of the world. Ray is determined to help Clay find the perfect woman, and his attempts at matchmaking are both sweet and amusing. He’s my favorite secondary character.
The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
Well, since this is my debut novel, I haven’t heard from many readers, yet. But I’m sure that as the series goes on, readers will want to see Last Chance’s police chief, Stone Rhodes, find his way back to love. Stone is a widower and a single father struggling with his grief. In CHRISTMAS IN LAST CHANCE, the fourth book of the series, Stone will meet someone who helps to melt his cold and lonely heart.
What’s next:
There are four Last Chance novels in the works.
The next book, HOME AT LAST CHANCE, features Tulane Rhodes, a NASCAR driver, whose sponsor has painted his car pink and put a snuggle bunny on its hood in order to advertise Cottontail Disposable Diapers. Tulane’s contract also requires him to officiate at baby-changing races that the good ol’ boy finds humiliating and embarrassing. When Tulane blows off one of these appearances, his sponsor sends Sarah Murray, a prim little market researcher to keep him in line. Sarah quickly learns all of Tulane’s embarrassing secrets, then proceeds to bond with the church ladies of Last Chance in their quest to rebuild the putt-putt place right outside of town. Tulane’s career is in Sarah’s capable little hands, while his thoughts are stuck on those bodacious S curves Sarah’s got hidden underneath her tailored business suits. . . HOME AT LAST CHANCE will be available in the fall of 2011.
Two more Last Chance books are scheduled for 2012 — LAST CHANCE BEAUTY QUEEN and CHRISTMAS IN LAST CHANCE.
Last Chance is not a real place, of course, but it was suggested by a little town in South Carolina where I spent my summers, swimming in a black-water river, fishing for catfish, and learning a lot of life lessons from a village of good people with solid values. There is something golden about the summer memories of early childhood, when we’re free to discover and learn. My childhood summers gave me so many ideas for wonderful stories. I’d love to hear some of your stories of special times in your childhood and how your parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends, or distant kin made them special. Come share your memories and stories with me, I’d love to hear them.
Four lucky commenters will get free copies of WELCOME TO LAST CHANCE.
Blogguest, Lydia Dare + Giveaway!
by sue on Mar.08, 2011, under Book Chat
Setting: Scottish Highlands 1817
Subgenre: Paranormal Regency
Hero: James Maitland, Baron Kettering
Heroine: Blaire Lindsay
One sentence summary:
Lying dormant and imprisoned inside a castle in the Scottish Highlands for two decades, vampyre James Maitland is finally awakened by the arrival of a battle-born witch, Blaire Lindsay, who could have the ability to save his life-after-death.
Scene you like most and would never cut:
I think the scene I like the best is when Blaire accidentally interrupts James’ bath after she frees him from the bowels of the castle. She goes to take him some clothes and stumbles upon him, fully undressed. Battle-born Blaire is supremely confident and strong, and has always been much more comfortable fighting with men than talking about fripperies with women. But she immediately finds herself discomfited by the stranger and unable to put two feet together in front of her and walk without catastrophe. That’s a mere prelude to the havoc he’ll wreak on her life.
Thing your heroine would never be caught dead doing/saying:
Blaire would never be caught dead practicing feminine arts like sewing or flirting. She’s born to battle, after all.
What celebrity is your hero like:
James is very charming and suave. He’s comfortable in his skin and has long ago buried his past demons. He reminds me a bit of Robert Downey Jr. Strong, with a dark past but utterly unflappable now.
What celebrity is your heroine like:
I totally see Blaire as a Kate Beckinsale type. Beautiful and dangerous all rolled into one. She isn’t a girly-girl, yet she captures a man’s interest and holds it like nothing else.
What is your heroine’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should she be doing: Blaire is a member of the Còig, a coven of Scottish witches. As their strongest member, she finds great sport in besting the men in her hometown and in her family. She’s a fighter born and bred, which is lucky for both her and James when his past begins to catch up to him.
What is your hero’s occupation, or if unemployed, what should he be doing: A hold over from the Elizabethan era, James Maitland, Baron Kettering, is a gentleman through and through. Though his circumstances force him to take the life source of another in order to survive, he’d never bite a woman to whom he has not been properly introduced.
What you think readers will like best about this book:
This book has a twist at the end that changes the lives of all the characters. I think readers will like the outcome and I can’t wait to see how they feel about it.
The person that readers want you to write about but you haven’t yet:
It’s funny, I get requests all the time to write about Prisca Hawthorne’s very non-paranormal brothers. All of them played a role in The Wolf Next Door, but they aren’t werewolves or vampyres, just regular Regency bucks. We’ll have to see if there is a future for the brothers Hawthorne at some point.
What’s next:
I’m finishing up the vampyre trilogy which starts with It Happened one Bite and then goes on to tell the stories of two more gentlemen vampyres and the witches they can’t seem to stay away from.
The Còig is a tighly-knit coven, and each witch has a special power that is hers alone. They are all friends and closer than sisters in a lot of ways. Do you have a friend or group of friends you’d do anything for? And if so, what makes your bond so special?
Sourcebooks is giving away 5 books to randomly chosen commenters.
