Showing posts with label Contemporary Romance Author. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Contemporary Romance Author. Show all posts

Monday, July 15, 2013

This Week's Special Guest - Tory Richards

Tory Richards describes herself as a grandma who likes to read and write smut. She's also a mother, daughter, aunt, sister, friend and author. After losing her soul mate of seventeen years, and retiring from Disney, she moved in with her daughter and her family. Sharing her woman-cave with four felines whose main goal in life is to get as much hair onto everything that they can. So far they're doing a stellar job!

Tory has been writing since the dawn of ages, which for her began in 1955. She discovered at the ripe old age of ten that she liked writing stories, beginning with pen and paper until receiving her first manual typewriter at thirteen. Shortly after boys and life got in the way and her typewriter and many unfinished stories got pushed to the back of her closet.

The years went by, blah, blah, blah, until the day arrived when Tory bought her first computer. She took up writing again, updated many of her yellow-paged stories, and submitted to a publisher after her family encouraged her. She just wanted to shut them up, really! And the rest, as they say, is history. Tory's first book Cupid's Arrow, under her real name Debbie Wallace, was on the publisher's best sellers list for two consecutive months! The end.

WEBSITE   ***   BLOG   ***   TWITTER   ***   FACEBOOK   ***   AMAZON


Hi folks!

I’m so happy to be here! July 15th marks the release of my 20th ebook, Bishop’s Angel.  When my first book became published in 2005 I never dreamed that I would reach this milestone. I don’t believe it’s a goal any writer sets, as who knows what life will bring, or what kind of distractions get in the way. During the years that followed 2005 I’ve had a best seller, attended the 2009 Romantic Times Book Lovers Convention,  bought and sold several homes, traveled to Europe, experienced the joy of becoming a grandmother twice,  lost my mom and hubby, retired from Disney, and moved in with my daughter and her family.

Even though Bishop’s Angel is book #20 for me, I have two other books coming out this year. My next one is Burning Hunger, book #3 in a trilogy I hadn’t really planned. It began with A Perfect Fit, and continued into a second book, Surrender to Desire. Too many readers had written me after reading A Perfect Fit, asking for stories on the other two brothers in book one.  If you haven’t read any of the stand alone, erotic romances, the Evans brothers, Beau, Blake and Chaz,  are triplets. The heroines in the first two books are ladies with curves.

My first paranormal, The Mating Ritual should also be out later in the year. But I’m here to talk about Bishop’s Angel today.  In celebration, from 7/14-7/16 ONLY, get a free copy! Details on how are below.

1 – sign up for my newsletter, you can find the form at the top of the page on my blog - http://www.toryrichards.com/

2 – like my new facebook fan page,


3 – leave your email addy, and a comment telling me you’ve done both, on the Bishop’s Angel release day post on my blog - http://www.toryrichards.com/


After ten years of sacrificing everything for his country as a Navy SEAL, Bishop is looking for salvation, and a little something more permanent in his life.

Angel, a pretty kindergarten teacher, thinks she's just what he needs. Their chemistry is instant, and explosive, only Bishop has trouble letting go of his commitment to his country.

It's up to Angel to prove there's room for her in his future.

BUY THE eBOOK   ***   READ THE EXCERPT   ***   WATCH THE VIDEO

Excerpt –

“The police are on the way, ma’am. Where is the intruder now?” the operator asked.

Angel listened for a moment. “He’s still in the kitchen.”

“Is the intruder male?”

“No, no!” Angel said, and then quickly lowered her voice when she realized she’d spoken too loud. “I don’t know if it’s a woman or a man.” She’d been too afraid to look when she had the chance. Movement coming from the kitchen told her the intruder was still there, but for how long? She was crouched at the end of the couch, too afraid to turn around, frightened that at any moment she would be discovered. “Please hurry!”

“They’re on their way. Stay calm and—”

 “I think he’s in the room with me!” Angel’s eyes rounded with fear when she sensed someone moving up behind her.

“Ma’am stay on—”

Angel knew the intruder was behind her now. She stood up, whipped around and slammed her phone into the side of his head with a piercing scream. All she could make out was a tall, dark outline.

“What the fuck—” a male voice boomed.

Angel let out another scream and slammed her hands against a massive chest, shoving him away from her as hard as she could. Her only thought was making it back upstairs to the safety of her room until the police arrived, but the second her palms landed on the man’s rock-hard chest she knew she was in trouble. He stumbled back but she had a feeling it was due more to her catching him by surprise than the force of her push.

She scooted around him but suddenly his hands were on her, and for a moment they struggled against each other. Angel was hyped up on adrenaline and a strong sense of survival, and she used her nails and teeth on the naked arms and powerful hands trying to subdue her. It gained her enough freedom to make it to the stairs but halfway up she found her ankle being grabbed, she fell, and then she was pinned beneath a heavy weight.

“No!” she cried out, struggling wildly against him. But she was no match for his superior strength and the honed muscles she felt beneath her hands. In no time his hands had wrapped around her wrists, and she was pinned against the stairs.

“Who the hell are you?” he demanded, his face too close to hers.

“Who the hell are you?” Angel demanded right back, twisting beneath him. It was then she felt cool air in places that she shouldn’t, reminding her that all she had on was a thin night-shirt and a pair of bikini panties. Judging by the super hard pecks she felt pressed against her breasts, her shirt had come undone, too. An insane thought crossed her mind, why he wasn’t wearing a shirt.  She wiggled wildly, unintentionally scraping her nipples across his flesh.

“Stop before you get hurt!” he growled. In an effort to subdue her he pressed his body against hers.

“Then get off me!” Angel hissed, arching her body in an effort to throw him off her. His muscled thighs and powerful legs flexed against hers, easily holding hers still.

“Not until you tell me who you are,” he grated in a rough voice.

His warm breath slapped her in the face. “I live here,” Angel said without hesitation, glaring up into his shadowed face. She was aware there was no way he could see her because it was too dark.

“The hell you do.”

How did he know that? “The police are on their way so I suggest you let me up and get out of here.” Her energy was beginning to wane. He was too strong and big, and the longer they remained like that, the more she began to feel uncomfortable with their intimate proximity.

“Good. Then we can get to the bottom of this.”

That wasn’t the kind of response an intruder would make if he were caught in someone else’s house. Maybe he was delusional or something. Angel decided to switch tactics. “These stairs are hurting me,” she said weakly.

Things grew still between them and she sensed his silent contemplation, as if he were wondering if he should believe her. She whimpered a little for good measure.

“Okay, I’m going to let you up, but don’t try anything stupid,” he warned.

The second he released her and lifted off her body, Angel got to her feet and dashed the rest of the way up the stairs.

“Son of a bitch!” he cursed behind her.

Angel slammed and locked her bedroom door in his face. She didn’t know what she hoped to accomplish, except to get away from him until the police arrived. What was taking them so long? She ran to one of the windows and opened it. Maybe she could push out a screen and—

Without warning her bedroom door was kicked in. She screamed and made a beeline for her connecting bathroom.

“Oh, no, you don’t.”

A muscular arm wrapped around Angel’s waist and she was lifted off her feet. “Let me go!” She wiggled and kicked, very much aware that her butt was against a very intimate part of his body. Burning heat replaced the fear flowing through her blood because his cock wasn’t as flaccid as it should have been.

“Look,” he slammed her down onto the bed and for the second time she found herself pinned beneath his superior strength. “Before this goes any further I think we need to talk.”

“You can talk to the police,” she panted, twisting beneath him.

“I intend to,” he said without hesitation. There was a confidence in his tone that surprised her.

Without warning he reached up and turned on the reading light at the head of the bed. How did he know that was there? Meeting eyes the color of blue topaz, everything in Angel froze, including her breath. Oh God, I know those eyes! She didn’t know the man personally, but she knew of him from the pictures on the fireplace mantle downstairs. He was Diana’s older brother, and Navy SEAL Bishop Strong. Suddenly everything made perfect sense.

After six years, he’d finally come home! 

Buy links      SMASHWORDS  ***  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE 



Thank you for having me today!

Tory

Monday, August 15, 2011

Special Guest Erin Nicholas

This week our special guest over on our Tiki Hut Blog, is Samhain Publishing author Erin Nicholas. 

Erin has been reading romance since her mom first let her into her book cupboard when Erin was about fourteen. LaVyrle Spencer, Julie Garwood, Debbie Macomber... they took Erin's 'happily ever after' ideas from animated princesses to real people in the real world.

She's been writing romance almost as long. Many a family car trip was spent with her head bent over a spiral notebook in the back seat. She'll confess that her very first attempts at fiction were fantasy and paranormals, influenced by her father's love of the Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and the original Alice in Wonderland. If Harry Potter had been around, Erin's sure he would have been on the bedtime story shelf as well.

But it wasn't long until Erin started writing about true love and that's where she's been ever since.

She's so thrilled to be able to share these stories with you and hopes that they make you smile, sigh, maybe even choke up a little. Most of all, She hopes that they help you believe in magical things like first kisses, the spark of passion, and the power of true love.

Erin loves to hear from readers! Please write her at Erin@ErinNicholas.com

WEBSITE   ***   BLOG   ***   FACEBOOK   ***   TWITTER 


The End

I’ve made no secret of the fact that the Dark Moment (the moment when all seems lost) is my least favorite part of a book to write. It takes me forever and I’m usually way too nice the first time (and the 2nd. At least.) My second least favorite part to write is the end. It’s hard because I want it to be good, to linger in the reader’s mind, to be true to the characters. But it’s bittersweet. The End means the book is done, in my books it means they’re together and starting their happily ever after. But it also means the book is done. The characters don’t need me anymore. They’ve figured it out. We say goodbye.

Especially Sara and Mac’s book, Just My Type. This is the third book in the Bradford series. There are three Bradford siblings. So I knew going in that it was the last book of the series.

Needless to say, it took me forever to write that ending. And I never was totally happy with it. I think because I didn’t want it to end. I’m like that as a reader too. I love when the couple gets together but I also hate that it’s all over with. As an author it’s almost worse. Usually I have my next project ready to go. It helps with the pain of the end of my relationship with these characters to start getting someone else together. But I still miss them.

Especially at times like this. It’s been well over a year since I typed that The End but now I get to revisit those characters with blurbs and interviews and blog posts for the print release (August 2). Sigh. I really think I need to write some more of these guys…

Until then, though, here’s how the whole thing starts (I like beginnings… not endings ). And I’d love to give an e-copy of any of the Bradford books to one lucky commenter this week!


JUST MY TYPE - Book 3 in The Bradfords Series by Erin Nicholas

Secretly wanting her—no problem. Her not-so-secretly wanting him—big trouble.

There's only one problem with the woman Jason "Mac" Gordon wants: his best friend's little sister is off limits. Way off limits, and too young and innocent for the likes of him. From past experience, he's learned to hide his not-so-nice preferences from the nice girls he seems to attract. That definitely includes the woman he's always thought of as a sister. At least until recently.

Sara Bradford always gets what she wants - which is partly Mac's fault. After all, he helped spoil her. So she has no intention of taking his no for an answer on anything - least of all his refusal to sleep with her. He thinks she's too innocent? Fine. She'll simply get un-innocent and show Mac that she wants him - the good, the bad and the nipple clamps.

When Mac's plan to drive her away works too well, he's forced to follow her to a tropical paradise, determined to make sure she doesn't find her wild side with anyone but him. Once she gets a real taste of what he likes, he's sure everything will go back to normal.

That's until he discovers a slight kink, er, flaw in his logic...

Warning: Contains hot sex at the beach, kinky online shopping - and yes, cotton-candy-flavored body powder does exist.

BUY THE BOOK   ***   BUY THE eBOOK ***   BUY IN KINDLE   ***  READ THE EXCERPT


Excerpt:

Mac settled down into his chair and pushed the chair next to him out for her. “Want me to stay over and answer the phone until Tuesday?”

She swiveled on her chair seat to look at him, gauging the motivation behind the offer. She knew he didn’t mean it like that. He’d slept on her couch before.

“Yes,” she said simply.

“I will,” he told her lifting his glass. “But you have to buy Twinkies.”

Mac’s favorite food. Normally, she would roll her eyes and joke about his propensity for junk food. But she was in a mood tonight. She leaned over and put her hand on his hard, flat stomach.

“How do you keep these so tight with all those Twinkies?” She rubbed her hand back and forth over the warm, white linen of his shirt.

Mac seemed to freeze. And stop breathing. His eyes were locked on hers and she felt a current zing between them. She’d never touched him like that. They’d held hands, even hugged before and she’d touched his arms, back, shoulder, even face once, but never his chest, or stomach, or lower.

“Sara?” His voice was definitely hoarse.

“Mac.”

“Move your hand.”

She slid it downward and Mac shot back, tipping his chair onto its back legs and throwing him off balance enough that he stumbled to his feet, knocking the chair over.

“Hell, Sara!” he swore. Straightening to his full height and glaring down at her he demanded. “What the hell was that?”

She blinked at him, trying for innocence. “You said…”

“I didn’t mean that!” he snapped.

“Well, why not? I certainly wouldn’t mind doing it.”

He gaped at her and she almost laughed. She’d never seen Mac flabbergasted like this.

“You wouldn’t mind doing what exactly?”

Maybe he thought—or hoped—she was talking about something else. She had to make this clear.

“Putting my hand on your…”

“Okay,” he interrupted, throwing up his hands. “Enough. You’re obviously drunk.”

Instead of looking up and arguing his statement, Sara’s eyes found the object of conversation almost right in front of her. And he looked interested in what she was proposing.

Mac had an erection. Right there. Front and center. Unmistakable.

“You sure you’re not interested?” She looked directly at the tent in his pants.

He quickly righted the chair, sat and dropped his napkin in his lap. “Knock it off.”

“What? You’re telling me you’ve never thought of it? Ever?”

“Of having your hand down my pants at your brother’s wedding? No, I can honestly say I haven’t.” He wouldn’t look at her.

“So when have you thought about having my hand down your pants?”

He opened his mouth, shut it again, shifted in his chair, frowned. “Stop it.”

She scooted her chair closer. “Mac, honestly. Have you ever thought of us together?”

“Sure. We’re together all the time at Sam’s, at the Center and the hospital.” He still wasn’t making eye contact.

Sara touched his knee and he nearly jumped out of his chair again. She smiled. She was no dummy. She had a Master’s degree in psychology and was a licensed Social Worker in Nebraska. She studied people. She’d watched the two people she knew best—her sister Jessica and her brother Sam— fall in love with their spouses. She’d seen the effect that intense attraction had on people and how they acted until they admitted the attraction and did something about it.

“I’m talking about naked, you and me.”

“Of course not,” he answered quickly. Too quickly. He was scowling again. “You’re a kid, like a sister to me.”

He was lying. He had to be lying. Before she could think it out any further and potentially chicken out, Sara slid from her chair to Mac’s lap, cupped the back of his head in both hands and kissed him with all she had.

Monday, November 15, 2010

This Week's Special Guest Erin Nicholas

This week's special guest at the AuthorIsland Tiki Hut is Erin Nicholas. We're a stop on your blog tour to celebrate the anniversary of her first published novel NO MATTER WHAT, which btw, is a finalist for an EPPIE, along with her novel JUST RIGHT!

Erin has been reading romance since her mom first let her into her book cupboard when Erin was about fourteen. LaVyrle Spencer, Julie Garwood, Debbie Macomber... they took Erin's 'happily ever after' ideas from animated princesses to real people in the real world.

She's been writing romance almost as long. Many a family car trip was spent with her head bent over a spiral notebook in the back seat. She'll confess that her very first attempts at fiction were fantasy and paranormals, influenced by her father's love of the Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, and the original Alice in Wonderland. If Harry Potter had been around, Erin's sure he would have been on the bedtime story shelf as well.

But it wasn't long until Erin started writing about true love and that's where she's been ever since.

She's so thrilled to be able to share these stories with you and hopes that they make you smile, sigh, maybe even choke up a little. Most of all, She hopes that they help you believe in magical things like first kisses, the spark of passion, and the power of true love.

Erin loves to hear from readers! Please write her at Erin@ErinNicholas.com

Visit Erin at her Cyber Home

Welcome Erin!


Since November is the anniversary month of my first published book, I decided to go on a tour and chat and give stuff away!

The “theme” (I use the term loosely) is Writing Romance Is Like…
And every blog stop has a different comparison that will give you some insight into who I am, how I write and my slightly weird sense of humor. Oh, and you can win stuff! Every commenter gets entered for a chance at a book from my backlist. And if you really want to have some fun: follow me around to all the stops on the schedule (on my website) get the answers to the questions (on the form on my site) and then e-mail them to me by December 15th to get entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com or MyBookstoreandMore.com. Come join the fun!!

And now, the 6th stop on the tour:
Writing Romance is Like… Dieting

Dieting. Yuck. I’m actually one of those people who have been convinced that terms like “lifestyle change” or “food intake moderation” are better. “Diet” conjures all kinds of bad images for me (and makes me want to run, not walk, to the nearest Twinkie!)

I’m dieting right now for the umpteenth time in my life (seriously, umpteen is the number I’m up to). Losing weight isn’t really the problem. Though I have noticed that as I get older it definitely gets harder (not to mention that I pretty much despise exercise. I like walking, playing with my kids, shooting hoops, even a rec game of volleyball. And dancing! But I hate exercise—so I never call it that g). Anyway, I’ve lost weight. A number of times.

The problem is—all together now—keeping it off.

That’s right. Keeping the weight off is the challenge. Because initially it’s super fun to see the numbers going down, discovering new lighter recipes that actually don’t suck, and buying new clothes. Oh, and seeing someone you haven’t seen in awhile—“Wow, you look amazing!” are four words I’ll never tire of hearing, how about you? ;)

But then a plateau. You’re doing everything the same but the scale isn’t moving. You’re tired of yogurt. If you have to walk one more minute on the treadmill you’re going to die of boredom. While you feel so much better and buying that smaller size jeans is really always fun, it’s hard to get back to that “this is gonna be great” phase.

Writing is like that for me sometimes. Finishing a book is wonderful, getting an acceptance from an editor is awesome, talking about the new book, getting reader comments, seeing the cover… all of these things are fun! Exciting! Easy to get up about!

Then, inevitably, I once again have to face the computer screen. And it always starts out blank. It’s not always easy to be up knowing I have 250-some pages to go. Knowing that my characters need depth and my plot can’t be contrived and making it fresh and entertaining and maybe even a little meaningful can be daunting.

But I have to just start typing. There’s no other way for the story to get there. You can’t end if you don’t begin. You can’t expect the scales to go down if you don’t start paying attention to what goes into your mouth. And you can’t expect words and characters and chapters to just magically appear—you have to push the keys on your keyboard.

It’s always about choices: fruit or candy bar? Sofa or treadmill? Writing or checking Twitter?

It’s tough to keep up sometimes. It’s tough to think “this is gonna be great” every minute. But it’s also about goals. It’s about knowing where you’re trying to get to—just like dieting. And it’s about appreciating where you are and the fact that writing is as important to my health (my mental and spiritual health for sure) as eating well and being at a healthy weight. Steady. Every day. Focus. Commitment. Those are things that make dieting and writing work.

Join me at the next stop on my blog tour: Samantha Sommersby’s blog: http://immortalitybites.blogspot.com/ on November 18th!

And now a little blurb, from Just Like That, (the brownie discussion -- perfect for a dieting post, yes?

Danika frowned at that. “They have not been duds.” They’d all been nice, sweet guys. Unassuming, undemanding…un-lots of things. Just the way she liked them.

“Maybe not duds,” Abi said, gently. “But they’re…vanilla cupcakes.”
“What?” Maybe it was the tequila. The conversation just kept getting crazier.

“You love fudge brownies,” Abi said. “But you’re dating vanilla cupcakes. They’re not bad, but you don’t crave cupcakes.”

Carmen’s grin was huge and Danika groaned.

“That’s a perfect analogy, Dani,” she said. “You’ve got to find a fudge brownie.”

The thing was, it was a good analogy. It was scary how close her sisters had just come to the truth. It wasn’t like she was picking cupcakes on accident. She knew her weakness was fudge brownies. And therefore trouble. A great brownie could make her throw all her discipline away, forget her goals and plans. Even a not-so-great brownie—because, after all, even a bad brownie was still a brownie—could make her lose control, decide the pleasure was worth the consequences.

“So I’m supposed to only date men who make me think of food?”

Abi grinned. “Men who make you think about indulgence and devouring and…licking all over.”
“Exactly,” Carmen said, her eyes twinkling. “It’s like your life is a bakery and you have everything to choose from. But you go for the vanilla cupcakes, even though you could have a brownie and that’s what you’d really like and what would completely satisfy you.”

Her life was a bakery. Terrific.

“I like cupcakes.” Danika knew she sounded grumpy, but she was feeling grumpy. And judged. And criticized.

She hated when her sisters were right. Her boyfriends were no more exciting than cupcakes. They were good, just not…worth not fitting into her favorite jeans for.

“Cupcakes are fine,” Carmen agreed. “And for some people that’s it. Their favorite thing. The thing they go crazy for. But not for you.”

“You have to find a fudge brownie,” Abi agreed. “A big one.”

LIKED THE EXCERPT??? CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK

More on Erin
www.ErinNicholas.com
NineNaughtyNovelists.blogspot.com
ErinNicholas.blogspot.com
http://samhainpublishing.com/authors/erin-nicholas

Monday, June 14, 2010

This Week At The Tiki Hut - Tim Smith

This week at the AuthorIsland Tiki Hut, we welcome author Tim Smith who stops by to talk about his hot new romantic comedy just released with eXtasy Books called THE SWEET DISTRACTION.

Tim is the author of five novels, including two contemporary romantic comedies with eXtasy Books. His first three adventure novels have won critical acclaim and several awards. He is also a freelance photographer and works in Dayton, Ohio as a case manager for adults with special needs. When he isn't devoting time to writing, you can find him in The Florida Keys, doing research in between parasailing and seeking out the perfect Pina Colada.

VISIT WEBSITE *** LinkBUY THE BOOK *** READ THE EXCERPT

***

I’m pleased to return as this week’s guest blogger on Author Island to share my new release, “The Sweet Distraction.” Let me tell you a bit about my newest romantic comedy. The main character, George Sullivan, is a writer of thriller novels and he’s about as far down in the dumps as you can get. His last few books haven’t sold very well, he drinks and gambles too much, he’s drifting through life on auto-pilot due to a bad break-up and he’s desperate for success. His agent arranges for him to write the memoir of notorious mob boss Vito Pasquale, who is a big fan of George’s books, and George realizes this could be the big break he’s always wanted. Simple, right? Not a chance. You just know love will get in the way, in the person of the Don’s beautiful but spoiled daughter, Cookie. Cookie is accustomed to getting what she wants and pursues George, but he resists because he fears how her father might react. What happens? Read the book to find out if love triumphs or if George winds up in the middle of Lake Erie in a cement overcoat for fooling around with the Don’s daughter.

This is a very humorous, sexy romance. I had a lot of fun writing this one, and I hope you have as much fun reading it.

I’ll now take your questions.

Tim Smith

WIN- Leave Tim a comment or question here at the Tiki Hut this week and your name will go in the hat for a free download of his first romantic comedy with eXtasy books, ANYWHERE THE HEART GOES. Please leave your email address, so we can contact you if you are our winner!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

This Tuesday At The Tiki Hut - Renee Reeves

Today's special guest at the Tiki Hut is Renee Reeves.

Renee Reeves was born in Stuttgart, Germany but raised in the US. On her mother's side, she is Irish and English and on her father's side, she is German and Irish. Ever since she was a little girl she has loved to read. Her mother, always supportive, made it a point to take her to the library as often as she wished and to get her to each and every school book fair. She would come home with bags of books and would gobble them up in only a few days. She would sit against her pony’s stomach when she was lying down in the pasture and read a book while her pony napped.

Reading, along with horses, was and still is one of the great loves in her life and that love turned into a desire to write. Renee is now married and her husband told her if she wanted to write a book then do it. So she did and is now a published author.

Her first book, NIGHT ANGEL, was just recently released. It is a contemporary about an ex-con, Nick Evanoff, who has turned his life around and now owns a horse sanctuary. He meets Morgan, an abused widow, who has moved to Montana for seclusion and things go from there....;) Renee is now working on 2 paranormals.

Leave Renee a comment today and your name goes in the hat for a copy of NIGHT ANGEL!

***

Motivation…Finding it and keeping it.

By Renee Reeves


I don’t know about anyone else but I can find story motivation just about anywhere. A walk out to the barn can spark scenes and images galore. A day trip can immerse me in my own imaginative world, or motivation can hit me when I’m doing nothing more than sitting in a chair gazing out of the window. Most of the time that motivation comes from me wondering, ‘what would I like to be doing now if I were someone else?’

A day trip to a SC church ruin (yes, I know Night Angel is set in Montana!) and staring at a boring hotel wall was how the characters in Night Angel came about. The scene in Night Angel when Nick first sees Morgan is very quiet and peaceful—straight from the SC church ruins. But after that scene I wondered, ‘what now? Now that he’s seen her and wants her, what should their story be?’ I decided both Nick and Morgan just had to have extremely traumatic and horrific previous lives in order to fit together and it took me a while to decide on what those lives should be.

So, finding motivation is simple for me, but keeping it is another matter entirely. I am one of those highly emotional people. My emotions dictate how I am going to feel every single day and right now my emotions are in an uproar because my mother is fighting advanced cervical cancer. Being her fulltime caregiver is physically and emotionally exhausting, not to mention extremely stressful, and really leaves no time for me to manage those characters and scenes bouncing around in my head. At times I am even too tired, or, if I really want to be honest, too depressed to get on the computer and type. During those times I find the storylines in my head to be an annoyance because I know I have to get them out and on paper, or the computer, before they disappear…and, at times, the motivation to do that is NOT there. But, if I ignore them and do nothing I give nasty ole guilt the ability to worm it’s way into me because I know I am wasting not only time, but also talent, scenes, imagery, and what may be a story and characters that some reader out there might really love.

So, how do I handle difficult writing/motivation times like those? I guess I can say at times I get mad and take it out on my characters, putting forth my own depth of emotions in their fictional lives. At times it works and at other times I read over what I wrote and think, ‘ugh…what in the world was I doing to them? They don’t deserve this!’ I also try to use writing as an escape and handle it little by little, maybe one word or one line at a time, and eventually, for a short period of time, I am able to lose myself in the lives of my characters, or at least use them for an emotional outlet.

So, my question to readers is, how do you handle stress or lack of motivation in your own life?

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

This Tuesday At The Tiki Hut - LuAnn McLane


Joining us at the Tiki Hut today to celebrate her new release, REDNECK CINDERELLA and her 50th birthday is our favorite redneck romance writer, LuAnn McLane.

LuAnn writes for Signet Eclipse, an imprint of New American Library. Although she still enjoys penning sensual contemporary trade-sized romances, she now also writes romantic comedy in mass market including DARK ROOTS AND COWBOY BOOTS, DANCING SHOES AND HONKY TONK BLUES, A LITTLE LESS TALK AND A LOT MORE ACTION, and her most recent REDNECK CINDERELLA.

Raised by her widowed father, Jolie Russell could keep up with any man - that is, until wealthy and sexy land developer Cody Dean struts into her life.Cody buys the Russell farm with an impossible-to-refuse multimillion-dollar offer, then relocates Jolie and her dad to the Copper Creek Estates. But the country club atmosphere isn't ready for Jolie's kind of country. As her two worlds collide, Jolie wonders how she can ever hope to capture Cody's heart without giving up her grits.

LuAnn lives in Florence, Kentucky, just outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. When she takes breaks from writing, she enjoys long walks, watching chick flicks with her daughter and tries to keep track of her three active sons. She loves to hear from her readers. You can reach her at luann@luannmclane.com.

Visit LuAnn's Myspace for excerpts of the new book!

Welcome LuAnn and a super happy birthday to you!!!

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Dark (okay gray) Roots and Red Boots!

I’ve been whining about it for a few weeks and on March 3rd it will be official: I turn 50! Yes 50! I’m old enough for AARP and to join The Red Hat Society… both wonderful organizations mind you but for those of you who know me, well, I like to do things a little differently. So, instead of a red hat I bought red cowboy boots and I plan to go down kicking and screaming! I don’t mind turning 50… if fact I am proud of my age but it is a wake up call that I need to make my bucket list and start checking it off! There are just a few things (okay a lot of things) I’ve always wanted to do and places I’ve always wanted to see. As of March 3rd, 2009 I will have the list ready and I will make every effort to accomplish each and every one! So, here are a few things I want to do and or see. Oh and if any of you want to join me or have connections with people who can help me accomplish any of my goals send me an e-mail and we will hook up. I am also open to suggestions of unforgettable things you all have seen or done that should be on my list. So here is just a sample in no particular order:

1. A ride on the back of a Harley (hopefully with a hot guy driving)
2. White water rafting on the Gauley River
3. A trip to Australia (Aussie men are so sexy… not that it has anything to do with it. (Okay maybe a little)
4. A trip to Tuscany, Italy (to eat the food and drink Chianti)
5. An Alaskan Cruise
6. Swimming with dolphins
7. Making the New York Times (you all can help me with that one!)
8. Attending CMA Fan Fair
9. A sunset cruise in Hawaii
10. A Hot Air Balloon Ride in California Wine Country

Okay any other suggestions? Anyone want to join me? Jump on in!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

This Tuesday At The Tiki Hut - Kay Stockham


This Tuesday, our special guest is Kay Stockham. Kay sold her seventh completed manuscript to Harlequin Superromance on February 11, 2005, and eight months later hit the Waldenbooks Series Bestseller List with her debut. In the time since she's contracted an additional nine stories to Superromance, as well as a novella featured in THE POWER OF LOVE with Berkley Publishing.

A HOLT Medallion, Book Buyers Best and RITA finalist, Kay is a happily married wife of seventeen years and mother of two who now makes her home in southern Ohio. For more information on her books, fabulous contests, excerpts and book trailers, surf to her website or friend her over at myspace.

Recently, I asked Kay about how her series the Tulane's of Tennessee came to be. Here's what she had to say......


Two years and a few months after I sold to Harlequin Superromance, I went to RWA's national conference to meet with my editor. I had a couple books under my belt, a couple releases in the works and a great idea percolating in my head. So, in our one-on-one meeting I decided to do the unthinkable as a rookie author--I pitched five books.

That's right. Even though I hadn't been published all that long, I had a great idea for a series. Even more surprising? My editor loved it and wanted to see more.

Putting together the proposals took some work. Since I was so new, the senior editor didn't want to contract all five stories at one time so the series was broken down into two three-book contracts.. But wait a minute, I said five books, right? Before I confuse anyone, the extra book was actually my December 2007 release A CHRISTMAS TO REMEMBER. ACTR was included in the first contract along with the first two books of my proposed series the Tulanes of Tennessee. Months passed, my editor moved to a new line and I was handed off to another. If you know anything about publishing then you know this is a normal occurrence. But what did it mean for my series? What if the new editor didn't like where I was headed? I admit, I had some scary moments but things worked out perfectly in the end.

I've been asked how I came up with the name, the setting etc. The setting was easy--I love Tennessee. Yes, I'm an Ohio gal and I was raised in Kentucky, but my family has made quite a few trips south to the gorgeous mountains of Tennessee. If you've never been--go. You won't regret it. (Note: Make sure you take a drive to Cade's Cove. Beautiful! Pick a sunny day, blast the radio and hit those windy roads!)

As to the name... When I was fleshing out my proposals Katrina made her appearance. My family was safe and accounted for, but on television I watched as frantic parents evacuated their children from Tulane University. Yes, my Tennessee family was named after that school and those kids because as a mom I felt the terror those parents were going through in trying to locate their children. So, in honor of them, my Tulane family was born.

On March 10, book three of my Tulanes of Tennessee series hits the shelves with HER BEST FRIEND'S BROTHER. Each of the stories stands alone so if you haven't read the series so far, no worries. You can still order ANOTHER MAN'S BABY and HIS SON'S TEACHER online (or you just might win them here at Author Island!). Also, mark your calendars because in September, 2009, SIMON SAYS MOMMY will showcase the eldest brother, Ethan, and in spring of 2010 the baby of the family, Alexandra, will wrap things up.

RT gave HER BEST FRIEND'S BROTHER 4.5 stars which designates it as a "Keeper" and they also chose it as a RT Top Pick. To say I'm thrilled is putting it mildly. Although I'd never compare a book to one of my children, I feel like a proud parent and I hope you'll pick up HER BEST FRIEND'S BROTHER and give it a look. For a sneak peek, go to my website to view the trailer and read an excerpt.

I've put a lot of time and thought into this series. Even though I thought I knew my characters pretty well when I pitched them, they've given me a lot of surprises. The Tulanes are honorable, sexy, down-to-earth and yet go-getters. And best of all? When they find love, they do everything in their power to keep it. I'm writing the last story now, and yeah, I'm going to miss them. *sniffle*

So, that's how I broke a rookie rule and pitched five stories at once. I'm hoping some of you have been following along with the series and have questions. If so, please post them here. And if you haven't, well, there's no time like the present to get started reading. I think DeNita has come up with a great contest and I hope you'll play along!

God bless,
Kay
--Kay Stockham
The Tulanes of Tennessee series-Five stories, five ways to fall in love!
HER BEST FRIEND'S BROTHER, March 2009
SIMON SAYS MOMMY, September 2009
http://www.kaystockham.com/
Friend me on Facebook & Myspace!

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

This Tuesday At The Tiki Hut - Kimber Chin

This Tuesday's special guest at the Tiki Hut is Kimber Chin. Kimber writes sexy contemporary romances set in the business world. A business gal herself, she is tired of seeing business folks described as emotionless bores, especially as many of the people she works with are one step away from the looney bin. It takes a special type of crazy to spend days in a 100 square feet cubicle.

This cynical gal had her world tilted when she fell in love at first sight. 15 gloriously happy years later, she cautions single women that slick talking salesmen will do anything to keep their favorite customers satisfied.

Every week, Kimber Chin posts a short story and a photo of a man in a great looking suit on her website and every month, she gives away her favorite eBook read the previous month.


And since we have a holiday weekend coming up, Kimber is going to share a special romantic short story for us! Welcome to the Tiki Hut, Kimber!


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Thanks so much DeNita! I enjoyed writing the Halloween short so much,I thought I'd share a Thanksgiving one,an exclusive for Author Island readers...


LURED BY PUMPKIN PIE by Kimber Chin


It was a big pie.


And there was only one of her. Undecided, Elena stood in front of the display.


“Could I buy a slice?” she tried.


“No, Madame.” The dark eyed clerk shook his head. “It is a wonderful pie, too exquisite to hack into pieces.” He made jerky chopping motions with his hand.


It was a wonderful pie. The pumpkin filling browned oh-so-lightly. A few flakes of the pastry dotted the doily, a testament to its lightness. It would taste… her mouth watered at the thought.


But it was a big pie.


On the other hand, today WAS Thanksgiving. At least in the States. She always had pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. And she didn’t have to eat it all.


But to waste such a pie. That was surely a sin.


“Salute Marcel,” a deep voice rumbled from behind her. “Oh, good, there’s one left. I’ll take the pumpkin.”


The pumpkin? Her pumpkin? The clerk slid the wire rack out. “Wait.” She stopped him.


“Madame? You wish the pie?”


“Mademoiselle,” she corrected. Why? She didn’t know. “I…” She did want the pie, at least a taste but it was so big and this man, he… She should give it up.


But only if he was worthy of such a pie. She turned. To judge him. Big feet in black dress shoes. Long legs in black dress pants. A thin torso. Too thin. She frowned. Wide shoulders in a suit jacket. Firm lips pressed together, twitching. Her head tilted back more. Laughter lines etched out from brown sparkling eyes. Her toes curled.


Yes, he was most certainly worthy.


“Mademoiselle? You wish the pie?” the clerk repeated.


The handsome stranger tilted his head, repeating the question silently.


“I do wish the pie but,” she sighed, smelling the cinnamon, ginger, and cloves, “Monsieur may have it.”


“No, no,” the man protested. “You were here first. It is yours.”


She WAS there first but “I can’t eat all that. All I wanted was a slice.”


“Then that is decided.” Feeling the loss, Elena didn’t appreciate his cheerfulness. “Marcel, wrap it up.” He approached the counter, pulling bills from his wallet.


Elena stepped towards the door.


“Wait, Mademoiselle.” A big arm wrapped around her shoulders. “You can not go before you get your slice.”


“Monsieur Largent, you wish me to slice?” The clerk’s bottom lip communicated his disapproval.


“I wish Mademoiselle to slice. Tonight. At my parents’ table.”


“I couldn’t.” It was tempting. To taste the pie. To not be alone on Thanksgiving. “I don’t know you.”


“Marcel knows me.”


A dark head bobbed. “Monsieur Largent is the finest of men. He buys many pies.”


“Thank you, Marcel.” The man laughed. “For vouching for my pie buying abilities. I’m sure Mademoiselle…”


“Elena,” she supplied.


“Elena,” he made it sound even more musical, “is suitably impressed. She will not be able to resist me, my offer, or especially the pumpkin pie. What say you, Elena? Yes?”


It was insane. She didn’t know him. He could be lying. He could have no parents. He could…He opened the box, and the wave of spices hit her.


“Yes.”

$

For more Kimber Chin short stories, contests, and men in suits photos, visit her site http://businessromance.com/ .