This is my last blog post here because....

MY BEAUTIFUL NEW WEBSITE IS LIVE!!!!

Check it out at www.elisabethnaughton.com. From now on I'll be blogging over there, so if you happen to have a link to this blog site on your own blog or webpage, please redirect it to www.elisabethnaughton.com/blog/

In addition, if you have a blog feed to this addy, please switch it over to the new address.

My first post is already up on the new site...and I'm giving away first chapter booklets of MARKED to anyone who comments there TODAY. There are still a few hours left (I'm on west coast time!) so hop over and tell me what you think of the new site!

Okay, so I lied. I said I'd post the ARC winner of MARKED yesterday but didn't. I had a crazy busy day, so apologies.

BUT...because I'm feeling so generous (and got tons of work done yesterday), I decided to give away not one but TWO ARCs of MARKED!!!

Wendy (#7)

and

Dawn (#29)

email me at elisabeth@elisabethnaughton.com with your snail mail addys and I'll get your book(s) in the mail!!

If you didn't win, don't despair. Follow me on Twitter (if you aren't already) and pay attention because because I'll have more ARCs to giveaway there soon!

Thanks to all who entered and spread the word about MARKED. Keep talking up the book and series, please!

This press release went out yesterday and I thought I'd share:

DorchesterPublishing

02/03/10 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dorchester Announces Its New Pledge

Publisher Promises Fulfilling Reader Experience & Guarantees Satisfaction

New York, NY-Dorchester Publishing is proud to introduce its Publisher's Pledge program, a bold, new marketing initiative created to launch the careers of the next generation of genre superstars. A privately owned publisher of mass-market original fiction, Dorchester has a long, storied history of discovering the most exciting names in genre fiction, including Victoria Alexander, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Katie MacAlister and Lynsay Sands.

Next year marks the firm's 40th anniversary, which prompted the company to redouble its commitment to the discovery and nurturing of the needs of new authors, thus reinforcing its founding philosophy.

"Publisher's Pledge is a reaffirmation of the business model Dorchester has always prided itself on," stated Brooke Borneman, Director of Sales and Marketing. "Our strength has been identifying emerging voices and trends in the industry rather than chasing bestsellers. Our intent is to reestablish ourselves in the market as the publisher authors and agents turn to first to introduce new talent. Dorchester has proven countless times-through our innovative marketing, tireless dedication and willingness to take chances-that we are uniquely qualified for this special and vital niche. This program represents our commitment-our pledge, if you will-to everyone in the book publishing community."

Launching in April 2010, the Publisher's Pledge program will be supported by online and national print advertising; bookstore mailings; press release and ARC campaigns to media, reviewers, bloggers, retailers, libraries and consumers; lead features in bookseller, library and consumer e-newsletters; consumer contests and buzz campaigns through social networking sites; and a money-back guarantee for readers.

The first Publisher's Pledge title will be Barbara Monajem's Sunrise in a Garden of Love & Evil (April 2010), an erotically charged urban fantasy in the same vein as Charlaine Harris. Additional titles include Elisabeth Naughton's Marked (May 2010), a darkly sensual paranormal romance inspired by Greek mythology that will appeal to fans of Sherrilyn Kenyon; Christie Craig's Shut Up and Kiss Me (June 2010), a delightfully quirky romantic mystery that will appeal to fans of Janet Evanovich; and Erin Kellison's back-to-back debuts Shadow Bound (July 2010) and Shadow Fall (August 2010), the first two releases in a riveting post-apocalyptic series that fuses dark fantasy, science fiction, horror and romantic suspense.

Additional information about the books selected for Dorchester's Publisher's Pledge program will be available on www.dorchesterpub.com in March 2010.

***
Sweet, huh? Anytime I'm compared to Sherrilyn Kenyon, I'll take it. ;)

In other news...BookBinge gave STOLEN SEDUCTION an awesome review yesterday. Take a peek here.

And today I'm hosting the RomCom Forum. The topic is Getting Your Romance Fix. Hop over and say hi! I'm giving away books!

Also, the contest for an ARC of MARKED is still open through tomorrow. Winner announced on Saturday. Don't miss out on a chance to get a sneak peek at my new series. See post below on how to enter.

Today is your LAST day to enter my STOLEN HEAT Release Contest! I'll be taking entries up through 11:59 PST tonight! Don't miss out!


Today's final freebie guest author is Emily Bryan!

Award-winning author Emily Bryan learned much of what she knows about writing from singing. A classically trained soprano, she gleaned the elements of storytelling while performing operatic roles. She and her husband have lived in nine different states, but she now makes her home in the heart of New England. Emily is available for signings, readings and writing workshops. To schedule events or for more info, please visit www.emilybryan.com

Daisy Drake is leading a double life!

Daisy Drake never quite got over her childhood fascination with Lucian. Now that he's Viscount Rutland, she won't rest till she helps him find the Roman treasure he seeks. Whether he wants her help, or not!
By day, she's Lucian Beaumont's unwanted assistant. By night, she masquerades as the French courtesan Blanche La Tour, giving Lucian lessons in love. She needs to keep reading the real Blanche's very explicit memoirs if she has any hope of VEXING THE VISCOUNT!

“A refreshingly unconventional hero and heroine, an intriguingly different historical setting, and a surfeit of sizzling sexual chemistry all fall neatly into place in Bryan's latest splendidly sexy romance.”
—Booklist

“I’ve called Emily the queen of the first lines because they always made me smile and I'm eager to see what will follow as the story unfolds. This book is no exception….The adventure of a treasure hunt combined with the sensual teachings of a courtesan seen though innocent eyes, make this historical something to smile about.”
—Barbara Vey, Publishers Weekly

Please welcome Emily Bryan!

***
1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
I love to read sweeping epics. If a book can double as a doorstop, it probably has a place on my keeper shelf. I adore THE FAR PAVILIONS by MM Kaye, the Merlin trilogy by Mary Stewart, and just to toss in a classic, LES MISERABLES by Victor Hugo.
So what do those books have to do with the light-hearted, sexy romps I write? Not a thing. Except for their splendid characterization. One of my goals is to create characters who breathe on their own. When a reader finishes my story, I want them to be able to imagine my hero and heroine still off having adventures all by themselves.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
I’m hard at work on STROKE OF GENIUS, my summer 2010 release. It’s the story of Grace Makepeace, a Bostonian heiress who’s trying to snag a titled husband. Since she’s more at home in a library than a ballroom, she’s not likely to succeed. Until my hero, Crispin Hawke, a brilliant but cynical sculptor, steps in to make her fashionable. When she garners the attentions of a duke, Crispin begins to wish he’d been less brilliant at arranging Grace’s transformation. It’s a twist on the old Pygmalion myth—the one where the sculptor falls in love with his own creation—but Grace is not as malleable as marble!

Oh, and I have good tidings of romantic joy! I have a holiday anthology coming out September 29th this year. USA Today Bestseller Jennifer Ashley, Alissa Johnson and I have teamed up to bring readers A CHRISTMAS BALL. The characters in all our stories will be attending the same grand event (even though a few of mine do not have invitations!). But YOU are definitely on the guest list. Please visit www.emilybryan.com to try an excerpt.

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
“You kept me up all night.” is hand’s down the nicest thing a reader has ever told me. The best thing I’ve ever heard from another writer was, “You make me forget I’m a writer, too.”

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
I’m blessed to be able to write full-time now. I fiddle with my blog and emails till about 9 AM, then I turn on my writing music and get to work. I like to pick an instrumental movie soundtrack to write my stories to because there are no lyrics to distract me and a soundtrack covers a wide range of emotions. Plus when revisions come back, the music will put me right back into the world of my story. It’s like an autonomic response.

I break at noon for lunch and watch something on HG TV (I’m fascinated by people doing clever things with their interior design, but am quite satisfied with my white walls, thank you.) Then I head back to the world of my story. I aim for 10 pages a day. When I hit a wall, I spend 30 minutes on the treadmill, walk the dogs, or (as a last resort) do housework till the scene becomes clear in my mind. When my DH comes home from work, I’m home from work, too.

When I first started writing, I had a 40 hour a week day job as a banker. My DH says I enslaved people to debt by day and lust by night! Back then my page goal was 2 a day during the week. I’d jot down a couple paragraphs while I waited for my teammate to open the bank with me in the morning. I’d think about the scene I was working on if I got a minute during the day and after supper, I’d park myself in front of the computer and I couldn’t get up until I finished the 2 pages. On Saturday, my DH would clean and do laundry so I could write 10 pages, and on Sunday, I did 5. In this manner, I finished a 400 page manuscript every 4 months. It’s grueling, but totally doable.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
My goodness, I can’t limit it to just one. I’m like Ben Affleck in Shakespeare in Love when he bursts back into the theatre with a flourish of his cape. “Silence, you dog!” he says. “I am Hieronimo. I am Tamburlaine. I am Faustus. I am Barabbas, the Jew of Malta. Oh, yes Master Will, I am Henry the Sixth. What is the play and what is my part?”

I am every character I’ve ever written or read. We read to try on other people’s lives, to experience their triumphs and failures. Sorry, Elisabeth. I could never pick just one.

Thanks so much for having me here today. I’d like to offer a copy of VEXING THE VISCOUNT to someone who leaves a comment or question for me. Let me kick off the discussion by asking your readers a question.

Do you prefer alpha heroes or beta heroes?

First things first. A little light housekeeping...

I had one guest author who missed her day so we've rescheduled her for tomorrow. That means you have TWO more days to enter my big STOLEN HEAT contest (I'm extending it by a day). I will take entries for the contest up through 11:59pm PST Saturday, August 15, 2009. That ALSO means you get one more freebie guest author day, so check back on Saturday.

Have you entered the STOLEN HEAT contest yet? If not, get on it. Prizes include (just to refresh your memory):

1st Prize: $100 VISA Gift Card
2nd Prize: $20 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
3rd Prize: Autographed copies of the first two Stolen books:
STOLEN FURY & STOLEN HEAT

Go to Enter STOLEN HEAT Contest or click the link below:


And now, I'm thrilled to tell you who our guest author is today. Pocket author Karin Tabke!

For a long time, controlled chaos ruled Karin's life. Busy mother of four, owner of her own successful business and wife to a street cop, she harbored thoughts of twisting plots and hot romantic scenes. Now, with only one child left at home and hubby retired from law enforcement, Karin happily pounds out those steamy scenes at her keyboard.

Still semi-distracted by her adult children (Yay! no more phone calls from the high school!) and her husband now a successful football coach (Yay! No more worrying when he’s out on the street!), Karin turns out stories about hot cops, bold knights, and the women who bring them to their knees.

A full time writer, Karin draws on a lifetime of stories and backdrops that few outside of the law enforcement community ever see, let alone hear about. Controlled chaos now reins supreme through the pages she writes where hot heroes serve, protect, and pleasure from page one to The End.

Karin's latest release is MASTER OF CRAVING, book three in the Blood Sword Legacy series:

Eight mercenary knights, each of them base born, each of them bound by unspeakable torture in a Saracen prison, each of them branded with the mark of the sword for life. Each of their destinies marked by a woman.

‘Twas whispered along the Marches the demon knights who rode upon black horses donned in black mail wielding black swords would slay any man, woman or child who dared look upon them. ‘Twas whispered their loyalty was only to the other and no man could split them asunder, nor was there enough gold or silver in the kingdom to buy their oath. ‘Twas well known each of them was touched not by the hand of God but by Lucifer himself.

‘Twas also whispered, but only by the bravest of souls, that each Blood Sword was destined to find only one woman in all of Christendom who would bear him and only him sons, and until that one woman was found, he would battle and ravage the land...

…but the darkest secret whispered was that there was one among them whose violent craving for the one woman he could not have would be the spark that would set an entire region on fire, and nearly bring down a kingdom, with the aftermath to be felt for the next thousand years.

"Tabke's alpha heroes and strong-willed women captivate. Her third Blood Sword Legacy novel is a powerful battle-of-wills love story that resonates with the atmosphere of the era and simmering passion, betrayals and
politics that add depth to a stirring tale."
-- Romantic Times

"The third book in the Blood Sword Legacy series starts with a captivatingly gripping scene, and each new compelling scenario contains additional attention-grabbing circumstances.. Karin Tabke has created a rewarding masterpiece, one to be savored again and again."
--Amelia Singletitle.com

Please welcome Karin to the blog!!

***
Thank you Elisabeth for having me!

1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
I love dark, edgy sexy as hell reads. Hmm, maybe that’s why I write them?

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
I’m working on my first L.O.S.T., Last Option Special Team, book. The Dirty Dozen meets Mission Impossible with a slight paranormal element. No boundaries! It’s hawt! Look for it next June!

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
You made me laugh, you made me cry, you made me sigh. I can’t stop thinking about your characters.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
Manic. I write most days. I’ll write 20 pages one day, 4 the next and 20 again the next day, crash for a day then pick it back up. Primarily I’m a night writer. 11p.m. to 4 a.m. I am at my most productive. I love to write at night when the house is quiet.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
I’d be any one of my heroines, doesn’t matter which. And if you’ve read any of my books and know how scrumptious my heroes are you’d know why!

Find Karin at the following places:
www.karintabke.com
www.twitter.com/karintabke
www.facebook.com/karin.tabke
www.myspace.com/karintabke
www.MurderSheWrites.com
wanna say hello or ask a question? Karin@KarinTabke.com

A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER Free Read!
http://www.simonandschuster.com/giveaways/karin-tabke-free-download

***
Karin is giving away a copy of MASTER OF SURRENDER, book one in the Blood Sword Legacy series. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer the following question:

Who's your favorite alpha hero of all time?

Time is ticking. Only two days left to enter...


Today's guest author is Liane Spicer!

After teaching high school for twenty-two years, Liane Spicer ran away and embarked on a more adventurous lifestyle, living by the Tolkien motto: "Not all who wander are lost." Café au Lait is her first novel.





Liane's latest release is CAFE AU LAIT:

Londoner Shari Zamore’s carefully constructed world is falling down around her ears, so she runs away to her family's home in Trinidad where she encounters Michael Chancery, a stubborn, sexy man determined to make her face all the things she desperately wants to forget. Her plan is to love him, leave him, and then return to the life she left on hold. But Michael doesn’t give up easily, and he’ll use every tool in his sensual arsenal, every moment of each heated tropical night to convince Shari that her place is on the island…and that his heart belongs to her.

"… a steamy, hot romance... I loved this book because of its brilliant flavor, rich aroma and the way it perked up my spirits."
- Romance Readers at Heart

“Even if the reader has never set foot in the Caribbean, the sights and sounds, perfectly described in this book, will make you feel like you're there... throw in some unexpected drama, and you've got yourself an entertaining novel."
–Romantic Times Book Reviews

Please welcome Liane to the blog!

***
1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
My tastes run the gamut from the classics to romance, from thrillers to sci-fi, memoirs, biographies, the works. The exception is anything containing extremely graphic violence. There are two key elements in my choices, and genre isn’t one of them: one is story, and the other the quality of the writing. Reading has been a lifelong addiction and having spent most of my life immersed in books writing them seemed the next logical step. The impact of all those books on my own writing is visceral; I’m incapable of analyzing it.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
I’m working on licking my second novel into shape. It’s romantic suspense and although the main characters are from the Caribbean, the setting is Miami this time around.

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
My agent, Susan Schulman, was the second person to read my manuscript. (The first was a friend who read the first draft.) Susan said she loved the story and the writing and wanted to rep me, and I was floored because it was my first feedback from an industry pro. When she sold Café au Lait a few months later she said something along the lines of: “I’ve been in this business a long time and I can tell. You’re a writer. It’s what you do.” To date, her compliments are the ones I cherish the most.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
I fit it in when and where I can since I do have a day job. I’m a moody writer in the sense that I write when the mood strikes me, so I need to develop the kind of routine where I sit and write whether or not I feel like it. I’m working on finding that discipline.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
I’ve never wanted to be anyone else but I do admit that the Isadora Wing character from Erica Jong’s How To Save Your Own Life makes me rather envious of her free-spiritedness and lack of inhibition, what with her two lovers in the afternoon and her headlong dive into a love affair with a friend’s son. If I had to wear someone else’s skin it would be hers or that of someone like her – but only in my fantasies!

***
Liane has donated a copy of CAFE AU LAIT to one lucky commenter. To be entered into th drawing, simply answer the following question:

Whose compliments do you cherish most and why?

Three days left...don't miss out...


Today's guest author is Joy Nash!

Joy Nash loves to write her dreams - and sometimes, her nightmares! As a child, Joy loved books and harbored a secret desire to be a writer. She became an architect instead. Years later, giving birth to three children in less than four years caused something in her brain to snap. Now she creates buildings and romance novels. When not reading or writing, Joy's hobbies include brain-numbing movie binges, staring into space, and wishing her house was clean. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, kids, and a liver-spotted Dalmatian that she swears was a cat in a past life. Her latest release is A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC:

For Tori Morgan, family's a blessing the universe hasn't sent her way. Her parents are long gone, her chance of having a baby is slipping away, and the only thing she can call her own is a neglected old house. What she wants more than anything is a place where she belongs, and a big, noisy clan to share her life.

For Nick Santangelo, family's more like a curse. His nonna is a closet kleptomaniac, his mom's a menopausal time bomb and his motherless daughter is headed for serious boy trouble. The last thing Nick needs is another female making demands on his time.

But summer on the Jersey shore can be an enchanted season, when life's hurts are soothed by the ebb and flow of the tides and love can bring together the most unlikely prospects. A hard-headed contractor and a lonely reader of Tarot cards and crystal prisms? All it takes is A Little Light Magic.

“[A Little Light Magic is], much to my delight, thoroughly character-driven and features genuine lead characters who are simply remarkable despite all their normality... I am definitely on board for Nash's future contemporary releases.”
~ Lea Hensley, All About Romance (posted 8/09)

“I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Little Light Magic. I found myself a little sad every time I had to put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone!”
~ Kimberly Stephens, Once Upon a Romance (posted 8/09)

**

One lucky commenter will get a copy of A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC. Since Joy's book is a "beach" read, simply answer the following question:

What's your favorite beach to visit?

Four days left to enter...


Today's guest author is JD Tynan!

J.D. Tynan is the author of seven novels, including the award winners, Figuring it out with Grace, Who Killed Walter Dobbs? and Jill 9. She is a member of the Rose City Romance Writers, Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America and PNWA. Her novels have won the hearts of her fans, bringing her a wonderful feeling of accomplishment. She continues to write fun, exciting, sexy novels about strong, independent modern-day women. She currently resides in Vancouver, Washington with her two beautiful children.

Available now is JILL 9:

Jill Wallokowski was the first female meteorologist ever hired at Vancouver, Washington’s Channel 12 news station. She thought Wallokowski was a bit too much of a mouthful and changed her on-air name to Jill Walker. Unfortunately, it was a bad time to be named Jill Walker. Someone was traveling across the country and killing women with that name. There had been eight deaths already and the pretty meteorologist was targeted as number nine.

Ian Hamlin is the FBI agent charged with protecting Jill 9 and capturing the serial killer. Formulating a risky plan, he sets Jill 9 up as the unwitting bait in the trap to catch the killer. Complicating matters is the mutual attraction between Jill and Ian, as well as her relationship with Elias Webber, a rich, handsome man who wants nothing more than to take Jill away where he can keep her safe and make her his own.

"A well-written book with crisp dialogue, it makes for a fast read."
-Joanne Benham, Reader Views

Please welcome JD Tynan to the blog!

***

1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
I like suspense. I tend to read Linda Howard and Iris Johansen more than anyone else, but in my younger days I was hooked on Tom Clancy and John Grisham. I enjoy a good mystery and cat and mouse suspense, but I don't like gore. I prefer to write humorous rather than suspense, but my writing will always have a little mystery, even with my romantic comedies. It is just more fun that way.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
Currently I am working on editing two of my older manuscripts to get them ready for publication next year. One is titled Port Brisby, which I just adapted into a screenplay. My first ever. That was a great deal of fun and it made me realize that writing screenplays is also a passion of mine. It's a lot different than writing a novel, so I get some variety.

Also, I have two other original new projects in the works. The fourth installment from my Charlie Ford series will be my next project. I'm always working on something. There just aren't enough hours in the day. My next releases are due out in a few months, a romantic suspense called Good Gossip! And Charlie Ford Meets The X. Both are very exciting and I'm looking forward to their releases.

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
Any time someone says they stayed up til the wee hours of the night to finish one of my books is the best compliment out there. Or when someone says they love one of my characters. Just having people read my novels is a compliment in itself. I enjoy writing so much that even if no one read them, I'd still write. It's a passion.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
I try to write when the bug hits me and then edit and revise in between. Honestly, sometimes I go a month or two without writing (then I get to read!!) but I've always got something on the burner and I'm always, always editing something. I have so many manuscripts that need work, so there is always something to do. As for any kind of schedule, I just go with my heart and my head and when it's time to write...it's time to write!

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
That's an easy one. Charlie Ford. I'd be Charlie Ford. She's tough. She's sexy. She's a tomboy who faints at the sight of blood. She's everything I'm not, but it's so much fun to put myself into her world. She's just the greatest, funniest character I could possibly conjure up and if there was a way to slip into the pages of a Charlie Ford adventure, I'd do it!

***
JD has donated a copy of JILL9 to one lucky commenter. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer this question:

Who's your favorite funny character from TV, movies or books?

Only 5 days left to enter the STOLEN HEAT Release contest for a chance to win $100 VISA gift card and other fabulous prizes:


And now here's our Freebie day #27 guest author, Minnette Meador!


Somewhere between thirty and dust...red hair, blue eyes...six kids, one slightly used husband, and any number of pets from time to time...you find Minnette. She's a self-confessed wanttabe hippy... a wanttheirmoney yuppie... a pro musician and actress for 20 Years... a native Oregonian... a lover of music, beauty, and all things green and more often than not lately, a willing slave to the venerable muse. Minnette currently resides in Portland, Oregon with her husband, having replaced the children with one dog. The dog, Pierre, pretty much runs the show.

Her published works include:
Starsight, Volume I, II, III & IV, epic fantasy, (Stonegarden) (II & IV 2010 Release)
The Centurion & The Queen, historical romance (Resplendence)
The Edge of Honor, historical romance, (Resplendence)
Cup of Comfort for Single Mothers, (Adams Media) "Sunday Breakfast"
A Boy & His Wizard, children’s' book, (Stonegarden) (Nov. 2009 - w/a M. A. Smith)
A Boy & His Lizard, children’s' book, (Stonegarden) (Nov. 2010 - w/a M. A. Smith)

Today Minnette is going to give us a glimpse into her world and tell us about her upcoming work. And she's donating a copy of The Centurion & The Queen to one lucky commenter!

Blurb:
Centurion Marius is a tough leader to his men, despite the shame that drove him from Rome. Delia is sister to an uncaring Corieltauvi tribal king, warrior queen to her people. The last thing she expects is to find herself craving the touch of an enemy. Thrown into the clash between 80,000 angry Britons and 10,000 Roman soldiers, they find themselves on opposing sides, in love, and unable to stop the future. The revolution that sparked their desire...could now destroy them both.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY - "I was engrossed by The Centurion and the Queen, and didn't put it down."

(Please note: Today's drawing is open to U.S. residents only.)

Welcome, Minnette!!

***
1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
I love all kinds of books and probably every genre out there. I love sci-fi, fantasy, and historical romance, but I have a secret addiction to Nero Wolf novels. I own them all and read them over and over again. I’m also a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes and Lord Peter Whimsey. Some of my favorite books, however, are humorous. I’m a sucker for Terry Pratchert, Douglas Adams, Spider Robinson, Piers Anthony, and many others. I also enjoy the classics; Charles Dickens is still one of my all time favorite authors. I think they all influence my writing; I try to have a touch of mystery, romance, excitement, and humor in everything I write. That’s always what keeps me turning pages, so I hope my readers feel the same way.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
I’m working on a paranormal romantic comedy called KEENAN’S DILEMMA that I have not contracted yet. Keenan Swanson is your typical, everyday graphic designer. Well, except for the hundreds of pesky, prank-loving poltergeists that make his life interesting (in a Chinese curse sort of way). He finds his situation precarious yet manageable—until witty, smoking-hot coworker Isabella enters the scene and Keenan decides he wants her all for himself. With a horny succubus who has other ideas, a burly city cop determined to lock Keenan away, and an evil entity who’s hell-bent on using Keenan’s seed to create a living demon, the reluctant psychic realizes he just might not come out of this alive—or with heart intact. In November my very first children’s book, A BOY & HIS WIZARD is coming out with Stonegarden under the pen name M.A. SMITH. The sequel, A BOY & THIS LIZARD, will be out next year. Also coming out next year will be the next two books in the STARSIGHT series; STARSIGHT: THE RESTLESS SEED (a sequel), and STARSIGHT: THE GOD WARS (a prequel). I also have planned a YA sci-fi called ARPEGGIOS IN THE DARK about the first half alien/half human highbred who can kill with her voice…and doesn’t find that out until it’s too late. If there is time, I’m planning to work on a thriller paranormal called WY’EAST about a woman who becomes trapped in a strange Buddhist ritual on top of Mt. Hood. There are always many others…

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
The best compliment I have gotten is that a reader cannot put my book down. You live for that!

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
It’s sporadic at best. I try to do business stuff in the mornings and write in the afternoons and evenings. It’s hard to find the time, but I try to squeeze it all in. I don’t think I’ve slept for about three years now.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
Ok, this is going to sound strange, but I’d love to be Marius, the hero from THE CENTURION & THE QUEEN. He is brave, compassionate, but a kickass fighter and an incredible leader to his men. He is passionate about his beliefs, but not blinded by them. He changes when he needs to and does the right thing, even when it could mean his life to do so. He loves unconditionally and fights with every bit of strength he possesses for it. I just LOVE this character.

Visit Minnette on the web at www.minnettemeador.com

***
To be entered into the drawing to win a copy of Minnette's book, The Centurion & The Queen, answer this question:

What's your favorite Sci-Fi or Fantasy movie?

You have through Friday, 8/14 to enter...


Today's guest author is Leanna Renee Hieber!

Award-Winning author, actress and playwright Leanna Renee Hieber grew up in rural Ohio where she invented elaborate ghost stories at an early age. A scholarship to London and a focus in the Victorian Era set the stage for her Strangely Beautiful series. Her novella Dark Nest won the 2009 Prism Award for excellence in Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. Leanna is a member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA) the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) and the Horror Writers Association (HWA). She is very proud to be a co-founder of Lady Jane's Salon Reading Series. A member of Actors Equity Association (AEA), the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Leanna works often in television. When not writing or on set, she loves a good Goth club and adventuring about her adopted hometown of New York City, where she resides with her real-life hero and her beloved rescued lab rabbit Persebunny. Visit her at www.leannareneehieber.com

Leanna's upcoming release is THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER, which hits shelves August 25, 2009:

What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Hidden in the dark heart of Victorian London, the Romanesque school was dreadfully imposing, a veritable fortress, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met its powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadows, of the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She saw simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gift. This arched stone doorway was a portal to a new life, to an education far from what could be had at a convent—and it was an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death...

"Tender. Poignant. Exquisitely Written."
- New York Times Bestelling Author C.L. Wilson

"A strangely beautiful tale indeed! An ethereal, lyrical story that combines myth, spiritualism and the gothic in lush prose and sweeping passion."
- USA Today Bestselling Author Kathryn Smith

Preorder from Dorchester: http://tinyurl.com/sbdorch
Preorder from Barnes & Noble: www.tinyurl.com/strangelybeautifubn
Preorder Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/strangelybeautifulaz
Website: www.leannareneehieber.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/leannarenee
Mailing List: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/L_R_Hieber_News/

Please help me welcome Leanna Renee Hieber to the blog!

***
1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
- Historical novels, suspense and fantasy novels. My books are a blended breed of my favourite genres. I certainly had to immerse myself in Victorian literature to be able to think, create and write in the 19th century, however trimmed it may be for a modern audience. Blending Victorian vernacular with fantasy tradition feels natural and delightful to me.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
- I’m working on the rough draft of Book III in the Strangely Beautiful series and edits for Book II in the series, The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker, which releases May 2010. I’m also working on a short story for an upcoming horror anthology and my agent is shopping out a Historical Paranormal YA series. I’m keeping busy.

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
- I’ve had a continuous stream of readers/reviewers say they skipped meals and/or stayed up really late to finish The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker. C.L. Wilson’s cover quote with the word “exquisite” nearly made me cry when I saw it for the first time. When I met her she told me how much she meant those words and loved the book. For that to come from one of my heroes felt incredible. I’ve had the delight of hearing several reviewers say I maintain a sense of fairy tale enchantment throughout my book.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
- I write as often as I possibly can, in mad fits and starts, some weeks more productive than others. I need to have a chunk of uninterrupted hours to get significant work done and within that stretch I stay focused. My goal when I write is around 4 thousand words a session and I usually meet that.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
- Miss Percy Parker. Hers is the book of my heart, my love-letter to the world. Despite the myriad, terrible trials and unusual qualities I’ve given her, just to experience the magical waltz she has in the moonlit foyer of Athens Academy with Professor Rychman… Why that would be worth all the troubles in the world.

Thanks for having me here, Elisabeth! Can’t wait to dive into Stolen Heat!

***
Leanna has generously donated an advanced copy of THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER to one lucky commenter. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer this question...

What's your favorite historical time period to read (or learn) about?

Less than a week left to enter...

Today I'm thrilled to welcome good friend and very talented author Delilah Marvelle to the blog!

In her own words, Delilah says...

"I spent my youth studying various languages, reading voraciously, and playing the pianoforte. I confess that here ends the extent of my gentle breeding. I was a naughty child who was forever torturing her parents with countless adventures that they did not deem respectable. Confined to my room on many occasions due to these misadventures, I soon discovered the quill and its amazing power. The reason why I write romance and will continue to write romance is because it allows me to touch upon the subject of love on a much deeper, more intimate level. Many of the stories I write, many of the stories I will continue to write, will always revolve around love. And yes, gentle readers, it will also revolve around sex as I have no intention of becoming my parents and restraining my characters from what it is they truly desire to do. I challenge you, my readers, to let loose of those corsets that have been strung too tightly due to convention and enjoy 1830 to its fullest."

Delilah's latest release is LORD OF PLEASURE:

Once upon a time, Alexander William Baxendale, the Earl of Hawksford, was known to all of London and its besotted women as the Lord of Pleasure. Those days of frolicking, however, come to an abrupt end when he inherits not only the estate, but all of his father's responsibilities, including five, overzealous sisters and a not-so-proper mother.

When Alexander meets the beautiful Lady Chartwell, he once again finds himself yearning for days of old. Left penniless by her philandering husband, Lady Chartwell survives financial ruin by turning to scandal and becoming the Conductor of Admissions to a school that educates men in the art of seduction. Alexander knows that desperate times call for desperate pleasures, but if he's lucky, it may very well lead him to a hell of a lot more.

"With a twist here and a turn there, Marvelle delivers a delectable 'lessons in love' romance tinged with just the right amount of love, laughter and sizzle." -Romantic Times

"If you thought Mistress of Pleasure was perfect...then Lord of Pleasure is whatever exceeds that..."
-Romance Junkies

Welcome, Delilah!

***
1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
I love reading Edith Wharton, Jane Austen, the Brontes, Shelley, Moliere, Shakespeare, and boy could I could go on and on. I also love to read historical romances and any non-fiction relating to British history, though in particular 1830 London, England. I feel all of these help me create a world that is tinged with just enough history to throw me into the world I need to write about. When you surround yourself with enough of it, you begin to believe you are part of it. Seriously.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
I am currently working on a new series I cam currently calling the Scandal series. It's all very hush, hush right now, but when it's contracted you won't be able to shut me up about it. I have no current upcoming releases as of yet, but I hope to change that soon.

(UPDATE: Since Delilah's agent outed her this week in Publisher's Weekly, I think I can pass this on...Delilah's new series she spoke about above sold to HQN in a three book deal just this week!!! Congrats, D!)

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
Someone told me I was a dirtier version of Julia Quinn, LOL. I'll take THAT compliment any day.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
When the kids are in school, I write during those hours they're away. When they're home for the summer, I write very early in the morning like from 4 a.m. until they wake up. I admit, though, that my best writing is done when no one is in the house and I'm all alone as I like to talk as I'm typing and read aloud as I'm revising, literally doing voices (I have a theatre background...) to help me get into the characters and their world.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
Wow. What a great question! There are so many characters I would have loved to have been but I'd say the Fairy Godmother from Cinderalla kicks butt. To be able to grant wishes and happily ever afters to those around me is what I want above all else. (Which is why I write romance.)

***
Delilah has donated a copy of LORD OF PLEASURE to one lucky commenter. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer the following question...

What are your favorite books or stories from classical fiction?

Don't miss your last few chances to enter...


Today's guest author is Dorchester author Helen Scott Taylor!

As a child, when Helen didn’t pay attention her teachers accused her of being away with the fairies. Things haven’t changed much! Only now, the fairies are tall and sexy and they live in her stories rather than just in her head. Helen resides in South Western England near Plymouth with her husband, two teenagers, two Shih Tzus, and a cat who rules the household with a velvet paw. With the rocky cliffs of the Atlantic to the south and the windswept expanse of Dartmoor to the west, she loves to walk in the countryside while she plots her stories. She believes deep within everyone there’s a little magic.

Her latest release is THE MAGIC KNOT:






HE’S A BIKER WITH AN ATTITUDE

What woman wouldn’t be attracted to Niall O’Connor’s soft Irish brogue and dark good looks? But Rosenwyn Tremain must find her father, and she isn’t going to let a sexy, stubborn Irishman and his motorcycle distract her. Rose’s intuition tells her he’s hiding something, a secret even the cards cannot divine. Her tarot deck always reads true, but how can one man represent both Justice and Betrayal?

SHE’S A WOMAN ON A MISSION

Magic. Niall’s body tingles with it when he finds the woman snooping in his room. Rosenwyn might believe she’s a no-nonsense accountant, but her essence whispers to him of ancient fairy magic that enslaves even as it seduces. Her heritage could endanger those he’d die to protect, but her powers and her passion, if properly awakened, might be the only thing that can save both their families, vanquish a fairy queen bent on revenge, and fulfill a prophecy that will bind their hearts together with…THE MAGIC KNOT

“Taylor's wonderfully creative and lusciously sexy debut will cast its own magical spell over readers.”
—The Chicago Tribune

“This book is so well written that it’s hard to believe it’s Taylor’s first novel, as well as the first in a promising series of contemporary fantasy romances.”—Booklist *Starred Review*

Please welcome Helen to the blog!

***
Elisabeth, thank you for having me a guest today. I hope the second book in your series is flying off the shelves! What wonderful book covers. I especially love the sunset colors on Stolen Seduction.

Readers often ask me where I get my ideas for the fantasy worlds I create. I usually start with myth or folk law, such as the legend of the Irish Tuatha De Danaan—the noble Irish fairies who are descended from Greek gods—who appear in The Magic Knot. But one of my main sources of inspiration is the wonderful countryside and historic places in the British Isles and Ireland. I had a memorable visit to Ireland to research the area of The Wicklow Mountains before I wrote The Magic Knot. And the sequel, The Phoenix Charm, is set amid the valleys of Wales.

My fantasy world is contemporary set, but I love visiting historic manor houses and castles for inspiration. I’ve just arrived home from two weeks in the borderlands of Scotland. One of the things I love about the Scottish castles is how many of them are still owned and lived in by members of the Aristocracy. (Unlike in England where most are owned by The National Trust.)

My husband and I visited and looked around two historic properties just south of Edinburgh that are both owned by Dukes. Floors Castle (http://www.roxburghe.net/floors_castle_grounds_and_gardens/) is owned by the Duke of Roxburghe. This is an amazing place that took my breath away the first time I saw it. He and his family still live in one wing of the castle. While Bowhill House (http://www.bowhill.org/), is the home of The Duke of Buccleuch. I was told that not so long ago it was possible to travel all the way from Edinburgh to London without leaving The Duke of Buccleuch’s lands!

I notice on the Bowhill house website they are currently running a writing contest, open to all nationalities, in connection with The Muster, a Clan gathering they are having on September 26th. Check out the link on the right hand side of their website. (http://www.bowhill.org/)

To find out more about Helen’s books and read excerpts, please visit www.helenscotttaylor.com

***
Helen is donating a copy of THE MAGIC KNOT to one lucky commenter. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer this question:

If you could visit one place in the world, where would you go and why?

We're running out of time, so don't forget to enter...


Today's guest author is Lexi Ryan!

Lexi Ryan lives with her family in a small Indiana town. When she's not chasing after her young son or cheering on the Colts with her husband, Lexi enjoys losing herself in fun, sexy stories featuring mouthwatering men, smart women, and happily-ever-after. Visit the author's website at www.lexiryan.com

Lexi's latest release is STILLETO'S INC:

Where special powers and super sexy collide...these are not your brother's superheroes!

ISBN: 978-1-60777-142-5
Publisher: Ravenous Romance
Release Date: April 2009

Brains. Attitude. Beauty that brings men to their knees—if their Jujitsu moves don't do it first. The women of the private investigation firm Stilettos, Inc are not your average PIs. Each armed with a special power, there's no case the Stiletto Girls can't crack—until Specials start vanishing in growing numbers.

Darian Lorring is an agent for the Specials Intelligence Agency, a secret government organization of humans with special powers. His unit's latest mission is to track the Stiletto Girls and determine their role in the assassination attempts on the president. But it's hard to keep secrets from a Stiletto Girl. His best defense? Keep sex on the brain. And Darian will eat and breathe sex to protect his country...having Paige in his bed again is just an added bonus.

Empath Paige Sykes hopes solving the missing Specials case will answer unresolved questions of her mother's disappearance ten years ago. But one sexy, chauvinistic SIA agent continues to get in her way—and in her bed. How can she trust what she feels around Darian when his ability allows him to project emotions and physical sensations? How can she trust any man when her ex, Collin Raines, appears to be tied to attempts on the president's life?

"It is hard to touch on all the reasons I liked this book so much, as there are so many facets to the story. Suffice it to say that if you want something a little different with wonderful twists and turns along with some super steamy, passionate sex, this book will be right up your alley. Ms. Ryan is an excellent story teller and has a finesse in her writing that keeps the reader wanting more."
--BookWenches

"Humor, suspense and action are all a recipe for a dish that I didn't mind taking a bite out of. Throw in love scenes that get your juices flowing, in more ways than one, and you will be begging for more."
--ParaNormalRomance.org

Please help me welcome Lexi to the blog!!

***
First, I want to thank Elisabeth for having me today! Congrats on your latest release, Elisabeth. May there be many more!

An unexpected part of writing fiction (for me) is that readers want to know how much of the book is fictional and how much of the book is the writer’s life disguised as fiction. This is particularly interesting when one writes erotic fiction. To put an end to those questions, I’ve created a top five list.

The Top Five Ways Stilettos, Inc. Is Like My Life

5. Super Powers.

Like all Specials, the heroine of Stilettos, Inc. has her own power. Paige is a unique kind of empath, able to feel not only the emotions of those she touches but the physical sensations as well.

I, too, have super powers. My coffee-stained, spandex superhero costume has an M on the chest for Multi-tasker. My ability allows me to perform such feats as simultaneously cook dinner one-armed (because the baby is in the other), while talking on the phone with a distressed student, giving my dog a belly rub with my foot, all the while hashing out the latest plot problem in the back of my mind. This could explain why dinner is so frequently burnt.

4. Beauty.

The Stiletto Girls—Paige, Josie, and Chrissie—can bring men to their knees with their beauty alone.

I once walked into a room and had two men at my feet in under 60 seconds. They might argue they were just helping me collect the stack of papers and notebooks I dropped. I say, convenient excuse!

3. Skills.

Through their agency, Stilettos, Inc., Paige and her two partners work as private investigators, spies, and even government-contracted assassins.

Just this week, I’ve found my son’s missing left shoe, caught the dog peeing on the floor, and killed a spider. As they say, “Write what you know.”

2. The Ex.

Paige suspects her ex just might be crazy enough to be part of the plot to kill the president.

I suspect my ex just might be crazy.

1. Mind Sex.

The hero, Darian, has the ability to project emotions and physical sensations with the touch of a fingertip, resulting in some seriously naughty mind-sex.

Some nights, after a day of wielding my multi-tasking powers and wicked mommy skills, mind-sex is about all my husband can count on.

-------
All kidding aside, though my book may be far from autobiographical, I write about characters with whom I can identify. Paige carries the weight of a rapidly changing world on her shoulders—she feels solely responsible for caring for her ailing sister, solving the case of the missing Specials, and discovering what happened to her mother years ago. She struggles to share this burden with anyone else, even the man she falls in love with. She has to learn to trust Darian enough to let him help when she needs him most.

With or without the high drama, most women understand this feeling of carrying more than their narrow shoulders can bear. This drew me to her. Paige is also surrounded by good friends who love her and aren’t afraid to tease her to get her to lighten up a little, and I am lucky in that account as well.

How different can a character’s life be from your own? Do you like to identify with their problems or just the way they deal with and respond to them?

***
Thanks to Lexi for being here with us today and for the fun post! Lexi has donated an ebook coy of STILLETOS, INC to one lucky commenter. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer this question:

Is there any movie or book that's similar to your life? (you can be serious or humorous here).

Only a few days left to enter...


Today's guest author is the lovely Vivi Anna!

A BAD GIRL at heart, Vivi Anna likes to burn up the pages with her original unique brand of fantasy fiction. Whether it's in ancient Egypt, or in an apocalyptic future, Vivi always writes fast paced action-adventure with strong independent women that can kick some butt, and dark delicious heroes to kill for.

Once shot at while repossessing a car, Vivi decided that maybe her life needed a change. The first time she picked up a pen and put words to paper, she knew she had found her heart. Within two paragraphs, she realized she could write about getting into all sorts of trouble without suffering the consequences.

When Vivi isn't writing, you can find her causing a ruckus at downtown bistros, flea markets, or playgrounds.

Vivi Anna's upcoming release is DEMON DREAMER:

Submission is the only path to his salvation…

A Captive Souls story.

Born a seer, Kiara Brodie has always been feared for her power to see others’ fantasies. She’s fine with that—it keeps the men of her Irish Gypsy caravan at bay. She wants more than this transient life. A letter from her estranged father, summoning her to Louisiana, could be her long-awaited chance to put down roots.
She finds two half-sisters she never knew she had, and an old mansion haunted by a darkly sexy demon who inhabits her dreams. At night he whispers to her of carnal delight, enticing her on a journey of extreme pleasure—and pain.

Malvo knows just what to do with the curious woman who wandered into his lair behind the library bookcase—lock the door behind her and make her a lustful proposition she can’t refuse. He seeks to temporarily ease his lonely torment, but Kiara’s willing and wanton response opens his eyes to the possibility that she is his path to his own salvation.

If only she is willing to remain captive to his every sinful desire—forever…

Review:
RECOMMENDED READ – Ck2kwipsandkritiques
DEMON DREAMER is written as part of a trilogy but stands alone as well. The story’s conclusion brings all of the characters from the three novellas together so readers who insist on reading books in order may want to start with book one first. Vivi Anna ensures that readers will completely understand the issues of the Captive Souls series if one wants to start with her book first- as I can well attest to since this is my first read in the series. However, there is no doubt that once readers get a taste of Captive Souls, they’ll want to read all three of the stories!

Vivi Anna always delivers a scorching hot read and DEMON DREAMER is no exception! Whether one reads it as part of the Captive Souls series or as a stand alone, DEMON DREAMER is a must-read story. The sex is hot, the characters are spicy in temperament, and the plot is superb. What more can a reader ask for? Vivi Anna delivers yet another top-notch story and shows why she is among the best out there. Don’t miss out on DEMON DREAMER!
- Anne

Welcome, Vivi Anna!

***

1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
I love to read Urban Fantasy either adult or YA, a little bit of horror, and some scifi/fantasy.

Well, that’s what I love to write, so it’s a mirror thing.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
I’m working on an asofyet unpublished UF, and a quirky fun paranormal YA. My next release isn’t until December. The Bewitching Hour will release from Nocturne.

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
Years ago, a reviewer summed me up in one word…strength. She said my writing was so distinctive and so strong she could identify it anywhere. I’ve never forgotten that and it has always stuck with me.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
I’m usually up around 8 am, check emails, do blog posts etc, then I’m with my daughter for most of the day, around 5 pm, is when I hunker down to write. Then I write until 9 pm or so, then it’s put girl to bed, and then I might do some research or a few edits, then to sleep. I love my sleep.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
I’d want to be Kat from my Hell Kat books, because she takes no shit, is tough as nails, but will do anything for the people she loves. I like that.

***

Big thanks to Vivi Anna for being here today. In honor of her recent release, she's generously donated a DEMON DREAMER download to one lucky commenter. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer this question:

It's been said that demons are the new vampires in fiction. What do you think about the rising demon trend in books?

The countdown is on...


Today's guest author is the very talented Denise Agnew!

Suspenseful, erotic, edgy, thrilling, romantic, adventurous. All these words describe Denise A. Agnew’s award-winning novels. Romantic Times Book Review Magazine called her romantic suspense novels “top-notch” and her erotic romance PRIMORDIAL received a TOP PICK from Romantic Times Book Review Magazine.

Denise’s record proves that with paranormal, time travel, romantic comedy, contemporary, historical, erotic romance, and romantic suspense novels under her belt, she enjoys writing about a diverse range of subjects.

The fact she has lived in Colorado, Hawaii, and the United Kingdom has given her a lifetime of ideas. Her experiences with archaeology and archery have crept into her work, as well as numerous travels through the UK and Ireland.

Denise lives in Arizona with her real life hero, her husband. Visit her website at www.deniseagnew.com

Denise's latest release is UNDER HIS PROTECTION:

Heart of Justice, book 3
Erotic Romantic Suspense
Available June 2009 from Liquid Silver Books

SWAT sniper Trey MacGilvary likes his women wild and hot…
Trey’s adventurous streak once served him wrong, now it makes him dangerous to criminals and devastating to female hearts.

Englishwoman Olivia Scott’s quiet life as a librarian is about to fall apart...
With nothing more exciting to cogitate on than which video to rent on a Friday night and which pie to create for the local bake off, Olivia isn’t prepared for violence. When Trey rescues her from a man’s brutal attack, he vows she’ll be under his protection from that point forward. The enthusiasm and unpredictability of his life stirs erotic passions within her that threaten to reinvent the woman she always thought she was.

Trey attraction for the plucky, bookish woman boils sky high but he’s not in relationships for the long term. Still he battles with emerging feelings he never thought he’d have again for a woman. After all, she’s returning to England in six months. There’s no way they can forge a lasting relationship, even if they wanted to.

As a vengeful criminal resurfaces with revenge in mind and promises to harm everyone he loves, Trey’s skills as a sniper, a brother and a lover are tested. As danger closes around her, Olivia must find a core of strength she never knew she had, and capture a red hot passion she never hoped to find.

“With danger and action at every turn it makes this a hard story to put down. The hero is being torn in different directions, yet he doesn't let it pull his focus off the heroine. I like that the rest of the hero's family rally around him when trouble comes calling. Agnew does a good job of bringing the hero around to trusting in the love he feels.”
—Night Owl Romance

To read an excerpt of UNDER HIS PROTECTION, go here.

Please help me welcome Denise!

***
1) What kind of books do you love to read and how do those stories impact your own writing?
I love spooky books, books with a paranormal bent and suspense. Romance of course. I love stories that are big and have complexity. If you can give me all of that, I’m happy as a clam. I loved reading Poe and gothics when I was young. As a result, I tend to write with all the elements above. Sometimes I do write stories that aren’t quite as thick with complexity, when I feel like creating a story that is simpler.

2) What are you working on presently? What about upcoming releases?
I’m working on two things at once, which I haven’t done in a while. One is the first story in a werewolf trilogy. The other is a paranormal historical...the first in a series. My next release is COMBUSTION, a firefighter romantic suspense. The tentative release date is scheduled for sometime in August at Liquid Silver Books www.liquidsilverbooks.com. My current release is UNDER HIS PROTECTION, which is out right now at Liquid Silver Books www.liquidsilverbooks.com. It’s the third story in my HEART OF JUSTICE SWAT series.

3) What’s the best compliment you ever got on your writing or book(s)?
Oh, man. That’s a tough one. Probably that someone who never read romances read one of my books and absolutely loved the story. The fact that someone who actively didn’t care to read romances was thrilled with my story makes me feel its more about writing a tale people will enjoy than catering specifically to the idea of a specific genre.

4) What’s your writing schedule like?
It’s been nuts since February. I used to write about six hours a day, Monday through Friday. Now I’m lucky if I get in three a day. I got a puppy in February and he’s been sucking up some of that writing time.

5) If you could be one character from any book you’re read or written who would it be and why?
God, that’s a tough one. Holy rusted metal, Batman. I honestly don’t know. I’ve read so many books, trying to think of one specific character is virtually impossible. Honestly, I’m not sure I would want to be any of my characters, because I like my life as it is now with my husband and doggie. You could say a fictional life isn’t my perfect life...the one I have now is my perfect life and I wrote it for myself already.

***

Denise has generously donated a copy of PRIMORDIAL to one lucky commenter. To be entered into the drawing, simply answer the following question...

What book has had the biggest impact on your life?

Freebie Day #20 - Guest Author Kris Kennedy!

Only ten more days to enter...


Today I'm thrilled to welcome debut author and 2008 Golden Heart winner, Kris Kennedy!

Psychotherapist, wife, mother, and romance writer, Kris Kennedy succumbed to the power of writing about love and has never looked back. Her debut romance, a hot, sweeping medieval, came out May 2009 from Kensington, THE CONQUEROR, and garnered strong reviews from sites such as All About Romance (B+ “an impressive debut”), DearAuthor (a Recommended Read for May), and BookBinge (“stunning tale of betrayal and redemption”). Check out her website at http://kriskennedy.net, and be sure to sign up for her newsletter to get exclusive excerpts in advance of her next release, another sexy, even faster-paced medieval: THE IRISH WARRIOR!






THE CONQUEROR

After seventeen years of a civil war, things are about to change.

Reluctant hero Griffyn ‘Pagan’ Sauvage is single-minded in pursuit of his mission: overthrow England. He has vowed to reclaim his beloved home, lost seventeen years ago in a coup of the English crown, and wreak his vengeance upon the man who stole it, John de l’Ami. He veers from his quest only once, to rescue a brave and beautiful woman from a midnight abduction.

Guinevere de l’Ami, countess of Everoot since her father died two weeks ago, is equally committed to only one thing: redemption. One fateful night changes everything. A midnight rescue on the king’s highway results in a single night of unforgettable passion, making them risk everything for the despair-defying connection neither ever hoped to find.

Their explosive reunion, a year later, follows betrayal and a bloody invasion. Now cold vows of revenge, the lure of buried treasure, and the deadly enemy closing in threaten a love that could unite a realm, or bring it crashing to the ground.

“With her debut release, Kris Kennedy has given us a stunning tale of betrayal and redemption. … On the surface this would seem to be just another historical romance novel, but hidden in it’s depths are real treasures.”
--Book Binge 4.5/5 stars

“If you’ve been looking for a strong Medieval romance, The Conqueror is an impressive debut, indeed.”
--All About Romance, B+

Welcome, Kris, to the blog!!! We're so glad to have you with us.

***

The Potency of Reunion Stories
by Kris Kennedy

What is it about a reunion story? Both of Elisabeth’s first two books have reunion themes in them, as does my debut release in May, THE CONQUEROR.

Why is this a recurring theme in the romance genre? What's the hook, the thing that grabs readers over and over again? I mean, aside from the obvious: getting to say your best lines, the ones you always think of later. ;-)

As a first stop, I checked a few dictionaries. Hey! Writer here. I think dictionaries are fun.

At first, the pickings for ‘Reunion” were incredibly uninteresting. As in, barely able to keep my eyes open. “The act of being united again.” Got it. But then I got to things like ‘Rapprochement,” meaning a restoration of harmony. That’s better! What with ‘harmony,’ though? What’s that about?

I found concepts like affinity and compatibility. A meeting of the minds. (I wondered, how about the hearts?) But I think the thesaurus option I liked best was ‘attunement.’

We’re attuned when we are in union. We flex for each other. We sense the other, and shift in response. It’s not compromise so much as dancing, or a musical arrangement. We move for and with each other, and we becomes something we could never be alone.

In a romance, this attunement comes only after a suitably angst-y period wherein the hero & heroine can’t stand each other (but usually have really entertaining arguments.) It need not necessarily be a long stretch of time, just a suitably emotionally-packed period of darkness, discord, and incompatiblity. Inflexibility. Disbelief or mistrust of the other. And oneself.

In fact, I suspect this is what makes the reunion story so compelling—the ability to reach such heights after such lows. A reunion story draw us into both the dark and the light. Heroes doubt and betray not only the heroine, but themselves when they make choices that refute or ignore the connection, the attunement.

Now, all good romance—good fiction--does that anyhow, right? We get Black Moments, dark nights of the soul, errors and mishaps and plain bad decisions made for the worst of reasons. Our lowest, most frightened selves.

But in a reunion story, we get to try again. With the same person. We get a second chance.

And how often does that happen?, I thought wistfully.

Then I looked out the window and saw my husband. And I realized that sometimes, we get that chance every single day.

Reunion stories remind us there’s hope. Hello. Wake up. Try again. He’s right there.

Sometimes we need that reminder.

So, I’m off to get attuned with my husband, and maybe have some new heights today. And tonight. ;-)

How about you? Ever been given a second chance? Why did it matter? And how did it go?

One lucky commenter with their second chance story will win a signed copy of my debut medieval romance, THE CONQUEROR. I also have a First Chapter book to give away to a second commenter. So, let’s hear ‘em!