Location, Location, Location! by Sally Clements

/

When reading romance, the main hook is the characters. I like feisty heroines, who know what they want and go for it, and gorgeous, funny heroes. But for me, an element I always love in books of all types is a great location. One that pulls the reader out of their everyday reality, and transports them somewhere new, somewhere different.

Think back to your favorite books, movies and TV Shows – Wuthering Heights is made so much more by being set in the North York Moors, Sex and the City is unimaginable without New York as a backdrop, Twilight and Forks go together like milk and cookies, and the movie The Proposal really springs to life once the action moves to the wilds of beautiful Alaska.

My Under the Hood series is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and I’ve set stories in other places I love too…the West of Ireland, Paris, London, a Tuscan Island. I love the opportunity to explore locations through story, and I know many of my readers love to read them too. Great locations fire the imagination, add interest, and infuse the story with a little extra element that makes stories memorable. 

Have you got a favorite book location? 

Sally Clements writes fun, sexy and real contemporary romance, partnering hot heroes with heroines who know what they want, and go for it!

She is a full-time author, who lives in the Irish countryside, and when she isn’t writing can usually be found in traffic, driving ‘Mum’s taxi’.

Always a voracious reader, she considers writing for a living the perfect job—the only downside is saying goodbye to her characters at book’s end!

She needs a lesson in love, and he’s the perfect teacher.

Mechanic Melody Swan is looking for a man who can share her hopes and dreams, but she swore she would never lose herself to passion. When sexy Heath Starr agrees to temporarily sub in the Under the Hood garage for his sister, Mel sees the perfect opportunity to enjoy being with a man without becoming attached.

Heath came to Meadowsweet to photograph nature, not find a hookup, especially since his last relationship ended in disaster. He vowed he’d never break another woman’s heart, and in turn, protect his own. Still, when Mel offers to serve as his outdoor guide, he can’t refuse.

Mel may say she’s only looking for right now, but her body is speaking a whole different language. And Heath’s viewfinder is drawn to her time and again. When the two find themselves isolated in a rustic cabin, they could both break their promises if they aren't careful…

5 Things You Should Know About Identity Crisis by Jean Hackensmith

/

1. Identity Crisis is the second book in the B.K. Investigations series.  Book One, Checkmate, has received many rave reviews, including “Wow. Okay… so just… wow. This was one of the BEST suspense novels I’ve read in I don’t know how long…If I were a Hollywood executive, I’d option this book for a movie immediately. It’s really that good.” — Poppy, Long and Short Reviews

2. What this book is about: When rumors of how Dan Hamilton actually died reach the Cheyenne Chief of Police, Brian Koski is forced to resign his position as captain of the Sixth Precinct and go into business for himself as a private detective. His partner? A mahogany colored Belgian Malinois named Sinbad. A former NYPD police dog, Sinbad is vicious when need be and reliable to a fault unless a train goes by or there’s a thunderstorm, then chances are he will turn tail and run.

Brian’s first clients are Jeff and Melody Patten. He’s an explosives expert for a local demolitions company, she’s a stay-at-home Mom. Both are devoted parents to their young daughter, Angela. The problem comes in the form of one Collin Lanaski, an unstable ex-Air Force lieutenant and Angela’s second grade teacher, who suddenly starts insisting that Angela is his daughter; the same daughter who died in a tragic car accident four years earlier. What does Collin base this incredible revelation on? Dog tags and car seats. Brian is convinced the man has suffered a psychotic break. He’s delusional, and dangerous, and it becomes the P.I.’s job to protect Angela from a madman.

3. The canine character in Identity Crisis, Sinbad, is based on an actual dog that Chris Byrne from Stonehill Kennel (also a real guy who is an actual character in the book) sold to the NYPD.  When I asked Chris how I could make the dog in Identity Crisis unique and memorable, he told me the story that found its way into the pages of this book.

4. Besides Brian and Sinbad, one other character in Identity Crisis stands out.  Her name is Katrina Cordova.  She’s a psychic, but not your everyday psychic.  Not only are her visions accurate and detailed, but she has them only during thunderstorms.  It is her visions that lead Brian to a missing little girl.  While those visions are rather benign, another recurring vision of an explosion that will kill hundreds, perhaps thousands of people, is chilling to the bone.  These visions will become more detailed in each successive book in the B.K. Investigations Series, leaving Katrina and Brian to try and solve this ultimate attack on America by the end of the series.

5. Identity Crisis is available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Powells, and InkwaterBooks.com. Available in Kindle and Nook formats. Autographed copies are available through the author’s website at www.JeanHackensmith.com

I have been writing since the age of twenty.  (That’s 37 years and, yes, I’m disclosing my age.)  I am the proud mother of three, stepmother of two, and grandmother to twelve wonderful children.  I lost the love of my life, my husband Ron, in November of 2011 when he died in an accident at work.  He took my heart with him and, for a time, my desire to write.  Time, as they say, heals all wounds, and I have again discovered my passion for the written word.  In fact, I find it strangely comforting to delve into the intricate webs that are my character’s lives and immerse myself in their existence instead of dwelling on my own.

Next to writing, my second passion is live theater.  I founded a local community theater group back in 1992 and directed upwards of 40 shows, including three that I authored.  I also appeared on stage a few times, portraying Anna in The King and I and Miss Hannigan in Annie.  I am sad to say that the theater group closed its final curtain in 2008, but those 16 years will always hold some of my fondest memories.

My husband and I moved from Superior five years ago, seeking the serenity of country living.  We also wanted to get away from the natural air conditioning provided by Lake Superior.  We moved only 50 miles south, but the temperature can vary by 20-30 degrees.  I guess I’m a country girl at heart.  I simply love this area, even though I must now enjoy its beauty alone.  I love the solitude, the picturesque beauty of the sun rising over the water, the strangely calming effect of watching a deer graze outside your kitchen window.  Never again, will I live in the city.  I am an author, after all, and what better place to be inspired than in God’s own back yard.

9367012.jpg

When rumors of how Dan Hamilton actually died reach the Cheyenne Chief of Police, Brian Koski is forced to resign his position as captain of the Sixth Precinct and go into business for himself as a private detective. His partner? A mahogany colored Belgian Malinois named Sinbad. A former NYPD police dog, Sinbad is vicious when need be and reliable to a fault–unless a train goes by or there’s a thunderstorm, then chances are he will turn tail and run.

Brian’s first clients are Jeff and Melody Patten. He’s an explosives expert for a local demolitions company, she’s a stay-at-home Mom. Both are devoted parents to their young daughter, Angela. The problem comes in the form of one Collin Lanaski, an unstable ex-Air Force lieutenant and Angela’s second grade teacher, who suddenly starts insisting that Angela is his daughter—the same daughter who died in a tragic car accident four years earlier.  What does Collin base this incredible revelation on?  Dog tags and car seats.  Brian is convinced the man has suffered a psychotic break.  He’s delusional and dangerous, and it becomes the P.I.’s job to protect Angela from a madman.

12 Books to Have With You When Planning on Being Stranded on a Deserted Island by Holly Kerr

/

A few weeks ago I saw a picture of an author’s 10 favorite books – she had taken a photograph of them and then an artist had painted a watercolor of it.  It was beautiful, and I would LOVE for someone to do that for me!  (Hint hint, painting friends!)

But then I got thinking – what ARE my favorite books?

It’s impossible to pick just one.  That’s like asking a mother to pick their favourite child!  Ten seemed more doable, but still tough… 

So I asked myself this question – if I knew I was going to be stranded on a deserted island, what books would I take with me?

(I’m not sure if you noticed, but there are 12, not 10 books in my pic!)

All these books are well-read and well-loved.  I’m the type who rereads books and some of these books do look a little worse for wear!  If I do get a painting out of it, I hope the artist can make them look a little less read!

Here’s my list of 12 favorite reads and reasons why: 

In no particular order

Michael Grant – Gone

I know in the picture it’s called Hunger, but that’s because I let a friend borrow Gone and she hasn’t given it back yet.

This is my latest addition to my top list.  I found it last summer at a toystore while we were at the cottage, and it took me a day to read it, in between looking after kids and packing up for home! I seriously couldn’t put the book down, and on the 3 hour drive home, I stopped in the first Indigo I could find and bought the next 2 books in the series! 

 It’s a YA book about a town where everyone older 15 just disappears one day, and the kids that are left must fend for themselves and deal with their newly discovered powers.  There’s also a sinister evil apparition that is hell-bent on acquiring these powers.

It was the tag-line that sold me – If Stephen King had wrote Lord of the Flies.  ‘Nuff said.

A.C. Crispin – V

They made a miniseries out of this in the 1980s, about the lizard aliens who invade Earth to steal our water, hiding behind human faces.  Remember the scene of the lizard baby being born?  Or the alien commander eating a guinea pig?

This was the first sci-fi book I ever read when I was a teenager and it still has a big place in my heart.  So does Mike Donovan – the anti-hero hero of the book!

Emily Giffin – Something Borrowed

Even though I wrote a chick-lit book, (Baby! Baby? Baby?!), I was finding so much of the genre focused on characters that were really annoying and self-serving and selfish and…it’s difficult for me to read a book when I am constantly irritated by the main character.  So I stopped reading chick-lit for a while.  And then I picked up this book at an airport and it restored my faith in the chick-lit genre! 

Rachel sleeps with her best friend’s fiancé and it turns out to be a good thing. 

J.K.Rowling – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The only deliberation I had was whether to include this one or number 4 – Goblet of Fire.  I told myself only to pick one Harry Potter book.  If I was planning on being stranded on a deserted island, I would do my best to sneak the entire series into my bag!

Jilly Cooper – Rivals

Jilly Cooper is a British writer whose books are ‘gripping yarns’, set in glamorous settings and are chock full of adultery, infidelity and general betrayals.  My favourite of her books are the Rutshire Chronicles, featuring the devastating Rupert Campbell – Black.  Rivals is my top pick of Cooper’s books but any one of them are the ultimate beach read.

Jane Austen – Pride and Prejudice

I don’t feel I need to explain.  If you haven’t read it, it’s a must!  Plus, Mr. Bennett reminds me so much of my father-in-law!

Stephen King – The Stand

This is more thriller than horror and one of Stephen’s King’s best.  A plague has decimated the human population and small groups of survivors make their way to Colorado where there is an epic fight between good and evil. Classic.

George R.R. Martin – Game of Thrones

If you’ve seen the show you’ll understand why I picked this one.  It’s fantasy with dragons and gods and the three best characters are a little girl, a witty dwarf and a Kingslayer who is involved in an incestuous relationship.  And the main character is killed off before the end of the book.  If it’s not for you, than I won’t bother trying to persuade you to try, but it’s good!

Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games

The first one is the series is the best

Michael Critchon – Timeline

Time-travel, quantum physics and thirteen century France.  The movie was pretty sad, but the book is really cool

Margaret Atwood – The Handmaid’s Tale

I first read this in high school and it’s been a favourite ever since.  It was my first time reading about dystopian society and my first time focusing in the status of women in literature; two things that remain an interest of mine to this day

Katherine Neville – The Eight

It’s a mixture of historical fiction, medieval mystery and modern romance.  It’s hard to explain, but definitely a cool read.

So there are my 12 favorite books.  What about you?

Ask any writer and they'll tell you they have always wrote and Holly Kerr is no exception. She’s written stories about bunnies dodging cars and sisters dying, distracting the cute boy in class and dark plots to kill your best friend's husband.  Coming Home is her latest novel, a story about sisters who can’t get along and living in a small town, two things she knows more than a little about!  A self-professed geek, she loves anything to do with Star Wars, super heroes, Joss Whedon and Harry Potter. She also enjoys running, playing in the dirt and sharing a glass of wine with friends. 

1814364_orig.jpg

Loving your sisters is easy. Liking them is the hard part. 

Brenna Ebans always wanted more than what Hill n’Valley could give her, so it seemed a simple decision to follow her black-sheep sister Dory’s footsteps and leave Hill n’Valley in her rearview, hoping to locate their missing father. Leaving her sisters and her first love Seamus was harder than she thought, but she’s made a life for herself in Vancouver, started her career at a prestigious law firm, and has found the man of her dreams. But when she finds her husband Toby in a compromising position at work, she loses both her love and her job, and has nowhere to go but home. 

Youngest sister Cat has remained in Hill n’Valley, leaving a string of broken hearts—and ex-husbands—in her wake. She’s happy living in the family home, with the ghost of their dead mother to keep her company during the day, and her latest conquest—Brenna’s old boyfriend, Seamus—to keep her warm at night. And she’s less than thrilled to hear about Brenna’s return. 

But when tragedy strikes, it brings their father back to Hill n’Valley, and the sisters will have a lot of issues to resolve… 

Why I Write Victorian Romance featuring Author Kathleen Bittner Roth

/

Why do I write Victorian romance? I doubt there was a single circumstance that caused me to fall in love with that particular era. I tend to think that many threads ran through my life that created a tapestry woven around the mid-nineteenth century.

My mother was the first person to urge me to write romance set in a bygone era. She said I started spinning historical tales when I was about five-years-old. In Idaho, where we lived for a time, the Rocky Mountains were practically in our back yard. Pioneers braved impossible odds to cross over those craggy peaks. My imagination used that backdrop to invent all kinds of sagas by which to entertain my siblings. I had no idea I had the basis for love stories way back then, but I did understand the value of love—love of family, love in the little glances my parents gave one another when they thought we weren’t looking; the first loves of my older teenaged sisters.

I love to wander through old cemeteries and create stories out of the inscriptions on the headstones. Most of the graveyards in the U.S. don’t go back any farther than the eighteen-hundreds, so again, there was another stimulus for writing in the Victorian era.

And how about my mother’s influence? She read books. Lots of books. Romance and more romance. She didn’t care what I read, just so I read. And I did, from age appropriate Black Beauty, to Gone With the Wind (I was ten). I loved my mother’s gothic romances, written by the likes of Mary Stewart and []. It wasn’t long before I discovered Kathleen Woodiwiss. Need I say more?

For four years, my husband and I lived in Opatija, Croatia, a romantic seaside town made up of mostly Baroque-style villas. It was built in the mid-1800’s as a spa destination for Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elizabeth (she was said to be the most beautiful woman in the world at the time. 1837-1898).Hans and I lived an idyllic life there—until he fell ill.

We rushed him to Budapest, Hungary, to a renowned cancer center. Five weeks later, he passed away. I remained in the city, thinking I would stay long enough to sort out all the documentation the various governments required of me. Grief-stricken, every day I would walk around the city for hours on end. Soon, I fell in love with this visually stunning and romantic town, and I began making friends. Three months later, I returned from one of my walks with this powerful feeling that I had to write. And write I did! Once I started, there seemed to be no stopping me. Five books later, here I am, still living in Budapest and, in a period of less than six months, four of the five books I wrote will be released (the fifth releases in 2015).

The Seduction of Sarah Marks, my debut novel, is very special to me because I dreamed it in its entirety one night! I woke up filled with the essence of every character, and feeling as though I had just watched a really good movie. Despite the serious nature of not just one, but both the heroine and hero having suffered amnesia, the humor injected by the secondary characters had me giggling half the time. I do hope you enjoy Sarah’s and Eastleigh’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Here’s a description of the story and a little excerpt:

Description: When prim and proper Sarah Marks is stranded with no memory other than her name, she relies on Viscount Eastleigh to rescue her, but little does she know that the man and his wild and mischievous family are about to change her world forever.

Sarah shifted in her chair. “I’m wondering if this is at all proper.

“What? Stealing into my own kitchen in the middle of the night?” Eastleigh speared a thin slice of Stilton on the end of the knife and lifted it to her lips. “Eat.”

For pity’s sake. She was certain she had never done anything so unmannerly as to take food off a carving knife.

At her hesitation, he leaned closer and tugged at her chin until her lips parted. He slid the piece of cheese into her mouth. The rich, creamy texture nearly caused her to moan.

“That’s it. Good girl.” The timbre of his voice deepened, while at the same time, it took on a smoky quality. And his eyes—no mistaking the hunger in them. He speared another slice, popped it into his own mouth, and chewed slowly.

Oh, why was he looking at her like that? She wanted to say something clever to lighten the moment, but her frazzled brain came up with nothing.

Kathleen Bittner Roth creates passionate stories featuring characters faced with difficult choices, and who are forced to draw on their strength of spirit to overcome adversity and find unending love.

Her own fairy tale wedding in a Scottish castle led her to her current residence in Budapest, Hungary, considered one of Europe’s most romantic cities. However, she still keeps one boot firmly in Texas and the other in her home state of Minnesota.

A member of Romance Writers of America, she was a 2012 Golden Heart finalist. You can find Kathleen on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and her website at www.kathleenbittnerroth.com

He may be her savior... or what she needs most

England 1857

After a blow to her head, Sarah Marks awakens in a strange bed with a strange man and no memory of how she got there. Her handsome bedmate, Lord Eastleigh, tells her she’s suffering from amnesia and the best course of action is to travel home with him until she recovers her memory.

Lord Eastleigh has his own reasons for helping Sarah and keeping her close. Reasons he cannot tell her. As they struggle to restore her memory, their undeniable, inadvisable attraction grows—until Sarah finally remembers the one thing that could keep them apart forever.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

Q & A with Author Fran Clark

/

Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

I'm a singer-songwriter and a vocal coach. I've been performing professionally for well over ten years now. I realeased my second album in September 2013 and that was the first time I'd done a launch party. It was great fun but I was so nervous. I'm married to a musician and we have two sons, one a budding musician the other a budding swimmer.

What draws you to your genre?

I write in the genre of Women's Fiction which encompasses quite a range of styles and storylines. I believe Women's Fiction to be a story with a strong female protagonist, not on a mission to find love but on a journey to make life changing decisions. Although romance will feature it is really my character and plot that carries the story. Choosing subjects that will have an appeal to women readers is what drives me most, and I love to write about relationships.

How do you think you've evolved creatively?

Well writing is something relatively new for me. I am a singer-songwriter and my songs all tell a story but now I'm telling stories that are over 300 pages long! I think I'm more imaginative now, more ready to expand ideas and concepts. What I hope most of all is that my writing is improving as I go.

Tell us about the cover/s and how it/they came about.

The cover for Holding Paradise came from my original idea but it is the publisher's interpretation of that idea that you see on the front. It wasn't hard to agree. I loved the colors they suggested and it sets the mood for the book but there are so many aspects of the story that might surprise the reader if they have judged the entire story by the cover!

What do you think of “trailers” for books?

I never even knew book trailers existed until after I got my publishing deal. I toyed with the idea of having one and then changed my mind. Almost a year later and very close to publication I thought I'd give it a go. I didn't make the type of trailer that most other writers do, I took a chance with something different and I hope people will like it.

Fran Clark was born and currently lives in West London. Her first novel, Holding Paradise, is published in 2014 by Indigo Dreams Publishing. Fran is studying for a Creative Writing MA at Brunel University. A professional-singer songwriter and vocal coach, she recently released her second album of original songs. She is now working towards the completion of her second novel. 

On a grey and miserable morning in 2008, London businesswoman, Angelica Ford boards a plane and flies off to the blues and greens of her mother’s island in the Caribbean. Angelica is desperate. She is looking for a way to save her marriage and win back her daughter. A web of lies has torn a hole into her seemingly perfect world and she is convinced that only her mother, Josephine Dennis, can help her turn her life around.Josephine Dennis arrived in England by ship on a cold winter’s morning as a young mother joining her husband. She weathers a lifetime of secrets and betrayal, as she raises her family in 1960s London. A matriarch with strong family values, she told her children colorful stories to guide them through life. It is the wisdom of one of these stories that Angelica seeks. Josephine has one last story to tell – the story that could change both of their lives

How to Create Characters You Love by Aven Ellis

/
5312499.jpg

I love creating characters. For me, the best part of sitting down and drafting a new story is creating the characters I’m going to write about. When I first start thinking of a character, usually I think of his or her conflict and obstacles first. For Harrison Flynn, the hockey player hero in my new release Waiting For Prince Harry, I had his conflict first. What would it be like to be a famous professional athlete, but not have a formal education? Especially when your own parents are professors who value education above everything else? Even though he was financially secure, would he fear his future once hockey ended? I knew I wanted to explore that idea first.  But I didn’t quite know the rest of him yet so I went on to work on Kylie Reed, the heroine of the story.

For Kylie, I thought it would be interesting to have her explore her own fear of the future, which is really her internal fear of failure. Where Harrison is hot-tempered and lives in unorganized chaos, Kylie contains her emotions and is rigid in her organization.  To me, these two opposites come together and bring out the best in each other.

With conflict down, I began to fully sketch Kylie. I go into major detail here-what do they like to eat, what do they like to do for fun, favorite TV show, favorite drink, etc. I need to know these people like I know my own friends. While I was sketching Kylie, I decided to have her be obsessed with taking pop quizzes on her phone or in magazines. There’s always one in my Facebook feed, so I thought that would be a fun character trait. Then I thought about her age and who I would have a crush on--and that would be Prince Harry. He’s fun, athletic, spirited, and a gorgeous ginger. 

I took her crush a step further and thought what if she could find her own version of Prince Harry, but one who would inspire her, bring some chaos to her life, and make her want to live in the now? Then  I started thinking about the name for my hockey player and thought Harrison. Harry.  Kylie was waiting for her Prince Harry...and just happens to find him in the form of a professional hockey player...

Aven Ellis has been writing fiction since she was sixteen. She studied communications at a large Midwestern university, and after graduation, Aven worked as a reporter for a community newspaper, followed by a stint at a public relations agency. 

But writing about city council meetings and restaurant franchises was not as much fun as writing for young women trying to figure out their careers and potential boyfriends. So Aven got herself a job in television that allowed her to write at night. Connectivity is Aven's debut novel; Waiting for Prince Harry and Chronicles of a Lincoln Park Fashionista (New Adult romantic comedy) will be published next year.

Aven lives in Dallas with her family. When she is not writing, Aven enjoys shopping, cooking, connecting with friends on social media, and watching any show that features Gordon Ramsay.

Twenty-four-year-old Kylie Reed has always been a rule follower. Organized and cautious to a fault, her dreams for life are often filed away for future use—when she has a house, when she meets her future husband, when she has been at her visual display job at a chic Dallas boutique longer...Kylie always has a reason for living her life in the future, not in the present, and not living her life to the fullest and reaching her dream of becoming a fashion designer. 

The only exception to rules, of course, would be running away with Prince Harry—Kylie’s ideal man. A hot, fun ginger boy would be worth breaking all the rules for, of course. And Kylie is sure Harry just needs the right, centering woman to settle him down. But living in Dallas and not knowing Prince Harry make this a non-option.

Or does it?

Because when Kylie accidentally falls into the lap of a gorgeous ginger boy—yes, even more gorgeous than the real Prince Harry—all bets are off. Could this stranger be the one to show Kylie how to take a chance, to face her fears, and live in the present? And could this stranger be the Prince Harry she has been waiting for? Kylie’s life takes some unexpected twists and turns thanks to this chance encounter, and she knows her life will never be the same because of it...