My first guest writing for new UK romance imprint, Embrace Books...

So thrilled to welcome Maggi Andersen here today - she writes for new UK romance imprint Embrace Books. Initially eformat with the possibility of going to print, Embrace seems to be growing with popularity amongst authors and readers alike. Maggi's book, The Reluctant Marquess was one of their debut releases on Valentine's Day.

Take it away, Maggi!

The Elegance of the Georgian Period

Hi everyone, Because of the release of my Georgian romance, THE RELUCTANT MARQUESS, with Embrace Books, I thought I’d blog about the beautiful Georgian period.

Maggi Andersen

Taking an interest in fashion and interiors was very much the order of the day in Georgian times. Entertaining was becoming more popular and print books containing designs and architectural models were available to the public for the first time. As the century progressed, the style became lighter and lighter in terms of colors and decoration and eventually became Regency style.

Influences on Georgian decoration

• • Palladian style - especially Inigo Jones' s architecture
• • the Grand Tour - it was highly fashionable for the upper classes to take a tour round Europe, particularly Italy, for two or three years
• • the Orient

Historical Influences

• • 1714 George I on the throne
• • 1748 Pompeii discovered
• • 1813 Pride and Prejudice written by Jane Austen
• • 1837 Queen Victoria crowned

Examples can be found at:

• • Bath - particularly The Royal Crescent
• • The Geffrye Museum, London E2 - has rooms showing the development of Georgian style
• • Sir John Soane's Museum, London WC2
• • Syon House, Brentford, Middlesex - the Long Gallery designed by Robert Adam
• • 28 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh - a whole square built by Robert Adam and purchased by The National Trust for Scotland.
• • The Georgian House, 7 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh.

My source: Lifestyle.co.uk

THE RELUCTANT MARQUESS a Georgian Romance

Maggi Andersen lives in the Australian countryside with her husband, a lawyer and their cat. She is a multi-published author of Georgian, Regency and Victorian romances, Contemporary Romantic Suspense and Young Adult novels.

Author Website: http://www.maggiandersenauthor.com

A country-bred girl, Charity Barlow always intended to marry for love like her parents. She suddenly finds herself married to a marquess, her new husband an aloof stranger determined to keep his thoughts and feelings to himself. She and Lord Robert have been forced by circumstances to marry, and she feels she is not the woman he would have chosen to marry given a choice. He makes it plain that marriage is merely for the procreation of an heir, and once that is achieved, he intends to continue living the life in London he enjoyed before he met her. Charity may then return to the country. While Lord Robert pursues his own interests, Charity wanders the echoing corridors of St Malin House, when she isn't thrown into the midst of the clever and mocking Haute Ton. She's not at all sure she likes them, as they live by their own rules which seem rather shocking. She's not at all sure she likes her new husband either, except for his blue, blue eyes, the panther-like way he walks and the hot expression in his eyes when he looks at her that sets her pulses racing. He is a rake and doesn't deserve her love, but neither does she wish to live alone. Lord Robert appears quite willing to do his duty, but Charity demands love and affection nothing else will do. Will he ever love her?

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Reluctant-Marquess-ebook/dp/B004NBY2EW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=A24IB90LPZJ0BS&s=books&qid=1297574707&sr=1-1

Publisher Buy Link: http://www.saltpublishing.com/ebooks/reg/

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxf73B12dL8

Excerpt:

The footman knocked on a solid oak door.

‘Enter.’

She stepped with trepidation into the room to be embraced by warmth. A fire blazed in the baronial fireplace where a liver-spotted spaniel lifted its head to study her. After a thump of a tail, its head sank to its paws again, lulled back to sleep by the heat. Above the fireplace, the painting of a hunting scene featured several dogs. Two tall china spaniels flanked the fireplace mantel. The heavy oak beams across the ceiling, and walls covered floor to ceiling in shelves of tomes made the room seem snug. Charity rushed over and crouched on the Oriental rug beside the animal, giving it a pat. The dog’s tail thumped harder. ‘You’re a nice fellow, aren’t you?’ Her stiff cold muscles loosened, and the icy pit at the base of her stomach began to thaw. Maybe she could be happy here. She loved dogs.

‘Welcome to Castle St. Malin.’

A man rose from behind a massive mahogany desk strewn with papers in the corner of the room. He crossed the room to greet her. He was not her godfather. She caught her breath. He was tall, his dark hair drawn back in a queue, and there was something of the marquess’ haughty demeanour about his handsome face, but she doubted he’d yet reached thirty.

‘Thank you.’ Charity could only stare at his attire, her gaze locked on his gold silk waistcoat as he bowed before her. He was in mourning, for black crepe graced the sleeve of his emerald green coat. With a sense of foreboding, she curtseyed on wobbly knees. ‘Where is the marquess, if you please?’ She looked around hoping her godfather might pop out of somewhere, but the room was otherwise empty.

‘I am the Marquess of St. Malin. My uncle passed away a short time ago.’

‘Oh. I’m so sorry.’ What she feared was true. Charity had an overwhelming desire to sit and glanced at the damask sofa.

He reacted immediately, taking her arm and escorting her to a chair. ‘Sit by the fire. You look cold and exhausted.’ He turned to the footman. ‘Bring a hot toddy for Miss Barlow.’

Charity sank down gratefully, her modest panniers settling around her.

‘I find the staff here poorly trained,’ he said. ‘I don’t know what my uncle was about.’

‘Why did you send a carriage for me?’ she asked, leaning back against the sofa cushions. ‘I wouldn’t have come had I known.’

‘I thought it best to sort the matter out here and now.’ He rested an elbow on a corner of the mantel and stirred the dog with a foot. ‘Shame on you, Felix. You might accord Miss Barlow a warm welcome.’ He looked at her. ‘My uncle’s dog; he’s mourning his master.’ He raised his brows. ‘Notice of my uncle’s passing appeared in The Daily Universal Register.’

‘We don’t get that newspaper in my village.’

‘You don’t? I wasn’t aware of you until the reading of the will. Then I learned of your parents’ death from my solicitor. I’m very sorry.’

‘Thank you. I’m sorry, too, about your uncle.’

‘My uncle fell ill only a few months ago. He rallied and then …’ The new marquess’ voice faded. He sighed and stared into the fire.

‘You must have been very fond of him,’ Charity said into the quiet pause that followed. Though, if she were honest, she felt surprise that the cool man she remembered could have provoked that level of affection.

He raised his eyes to meet hers and gave a bleak smile. ‘Yes, I was fond of him. He always had my interest at heart, you see.’ He sat in the oxblood leather chair opposite and rested his hands on his knees. ‘I am his acknowledged heir, and the legalities have been processed. I’ve inherited the title and the entailed properties. The rest of his fortune will pass to another family member should I fail to conform to the edicts of his will.’

‘His will?’ Charity gripped her sweaty hands together, she couldn’t concentrate on anything the man said. Her mind whirled, filled with desperate thoughts. With her godfather dead, where would she go from here? Her heart raced as she envisioned riding off along the dark cliffs to join a theatre troupe, or become a tavern wench.

‘This must be difficult for you to take in, and I regret having to tell you tonight before you have rested. But I’m compelled to move quickly as you have no chaperone and have travelled here alone …’

She raised her chin. ‘There was no one to accompany me.’ She would not allow him to make her feel like a poor relation, even though she was quite definitely poor. And alone. She hated that more than anything. What had her godfather left her? She hoped it would allow her some measure of independence and wasn’t just a vase or the family portrait.

The footman entered, carrying a tray with a cup of steaming liquid. Charity took the drink and sipped it gratefully. It was warming and tasted of a spicy spirit. She found it hard to concentrate on his words, as her mind retreated into a fog and her eyes wandered around the room. She finished the drink, which had heated her insides, and allowed her head to loll back against the cushions. Her gaze rested on her host, thinking he would be handsome if he smiled. She was so tired, and the warmth of the fire made her drowsy.

The book looks and sounds great, Maggi! Please tell us more about your experience with Embrace Books as I am sure many of my readers will be considering submitting to them in the future. Turnaround times, submission needs etc are all of huge interest!

Comments? Questions?

Guest number 5 on the Romantic Suspense Tour - Marie-Nicole Ryan!

Great to have you here as part of the Romantic Suspense Tour, Marie-Nicole! Why don't we get started?

1) Where do you write?

I write in a small office in my bedroom. I used to have an entire room, but I’ve downsized and only have a one bedroom apartment. I’ll soon be moving (again) to a two bedroom apartment, and it’ll be a relief to have a designated office again.

2) What is the best & worst part about the writing process for you?

The best part is living through my characters and doing things I’d never dare to do in real life. The worst part is slogging through the middle of a book to get to the HEA.

3) When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I always considered myself a write, although some of my teachers dared to disagree.

4) What is the best & worst advice you’ve received about writing?

The best advice was to join Romance Writers of America. The worst—can’t remember any bad advice. If I received any, I must’ve disregarded it and dismissed it entirely.


5) Which comes first? Plot or characters?

Quite often I’ll get a tiny germ of a story premise, then the characters best suited to that idea are developed. Quite often they come together.

6) What is a typical day for you?
Would that be a good writing day or a bad one? LOL Actually that’s hysterical laughter. I get up, dress, feed my dog and take her out for a walk…every day. After that there’s room for digression. I read the small local paper, then check my e-mail on my mini while I watch the local news on TV.
After that in a perfect world, I’d head to the tiny office and write for three to four hours. But since I’ve spent the last year decluttering and moving to another state to be of help to my elderly mother, my writing muscles are almost as flabby as my butt’s. I’ve just joined the Y and will be working on the aging body muscles. Hopefully my writing muscles will take a hint.

7) Where do you see your career in five years?

It’ll be a dim memory if I don’t get off my butt and focus on my current WIPs.

8) What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love antiquing, even though I don’t have room to buy any more. I love going out to lunch with friends. And I love to watch TV.


HOLDING HER OWN,

Pretending to be newlyweds is a dangerous game…particularly when you’re falling in love.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Caitlin Chaney believes in doing things strictly by the book, and she’s determined to prove her father’s position in the federal government has nothing to do with her new appointment. To her way of thinking, Agent LeFevre is a screw up and bound to trash her operation and career.
Agent Jake Lefevre is used to running undercover ops his way, and he’s not too happy with his new boss, Caitlin Chaney, an FBI accountant, whose undercover experience is limited at best. He needs a partner who can hold her own, not a prima donna.
Jake and Caitlin’s cover as newlyweds at a New Orleans casino is tested from the very beginning as they learn to live together and convince everyone else they’re madly in love. Their mission to investigate money laundering is almost compromised from the moment Jake discovers Caitlin’s boss and CFO is someone he loved as a teenager.
Warning, this title contains the following: hot naked sex, shower sex, an evil voodoo priestess, grisly remains in the bayou, graphic language, and violence.

Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/Holding-Her-Own-Marie-Nicole-Ryan/dp/1605042854/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235003767&sr=1-1&tag=533633855-20


Web site: http://marienicoleryan.com
Blog: http://marienicoleryan.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/MarieNicoleRyan.author

Wow, Holding Her Own sounds as though it has everything, LOL! Tell us more about working with Samhain - I love learning how different publishers work.

Questions? Comments?

Historical Romance with Maggie Dove

The first thing that strikes me about Maggie Dove's books is their covers - BEAUTIFUL!!! How could you possibly resist books with covers like these? I couldn't and loved Angel of Windword. I haven't bought my copy of Call Me Duchess yet which is the novel Maggie is here to promote but intend to by the end of the day.

Enjoy this sneak peek into Maggie's second historical romance with Eternal Press...

Blurb: Grippingly suspenseful and romantic, CALL ME DUCHESS is one young woman’s stunning journey to find love in 1870s London while a dashingly handsome chaperone, a heinous villain, and her own lofty aspirations stand in her way.

Left penniless by their father, Marguerite Wiggins and her sisters must find husbands during the London season or find work as governesses by season’s end. Determined to become the next Duchess of Wallingford, Marguerite must make the difficult decision between following her heart or attaining her lifelong dreams and ambitions as a depraved rapist seeks to make her his next victim.

Excerpt

Ah, the London Season—how glamorous, how debauch!

Staring at his image in the gilded mirror on top of the marbled staircase, the nobleman adjusted his black mask over his eyes and smiled with approval while surveying the fine-looking picture he presented. As usual, his appearance was faultless. There was not a hair out of place. It was time to make his grand entrance, but he couldn’t help but linger a while longer as he looked over the banister at the massive ballroom below.

The magnificent Bentley House boasted the most exquisite of ballrooms, and tonight the festooned and tinseled room did not disappoint. What would the London Season be without the Dowager Duchess of Wallingford’s annual masquerade ball, held every year at the commencement of the Season?
He had looked forward to it for months.

His heart pounded with anticipation as he slowly descended the staircase, his keen eyes surveying the magical grandeur before him.

There she was now—the bejeweled and crusty dowager, dressed in black silk and lace, smiling at her doting son, the Duke of Wallingford. The duke’s escort, Lady Lorena Bonner, giggled and blushed while speaking to Lord Christopher Jackman, who looked more enamored by her than ever.

Entering the room, the nobleman recognized Lord and Lady Hardwood and their delectable daughter, Samantha, from last year’s Season. He accepted a flute of champagne from one of the numerous silver trays being passed around by uniformed waiters. He glanced at the dance floor and noticed the Countess of Salesbury waltzing with a young dandy while her aged husband watched silently. And was that not the exquisite Marchioness of Albester in lively conversation with the Earl of Deville? Where were their other halves? No doubt enjoying a lovers’ rendezvous in the terrace while their spouses conversed for all to witness.
The nobleman smirked, remembering how the four had scandalized the ton with their blatant behavior last summer. But that was last year’s gossip. He wondered what tidbit this year would bring.

The marchioness called him over, but he could not go and speak to her now. He pretended not to notice, for he had more pressing matters at hand. The nobleman was not interested in the guests he recognized. He was more fascinated by the guests he had yet to meet.

Looking to his side, he observed a large group of young ladies standing by the north wall. So many of them! Giggling and hoping they’d be noticed. This year’s pretty pickings—such beautiful, dainty flowers just waiting to be plucked. Where would he start? Knocking back the champagne with one quick gulp, he headed toward them.

The London Season—how glamorous, how debauch, indeed! The time of year when the upper crust departed from their country manors and brought their young daughters to London to partake in the marriage mart, all anxiously hoping the young debutantes would meet eligible bachelors from good families such as theirs.

He wondered which one he would rape tonight.

Bio:Born in Havana, Cuba, Maggie Dove is a happily married housewife and mother of two, who has lived in the U.S. since she was five. As the granddaughter of a famous Cuban writer and publisher, writing is in her blood. Her family owned one of the oldest newspapers in the Americas. She’s had twenty-six of her letters to the editor published in The Miami Herald. ANGEL OF WINDWORD is her first novel, and the first of the WINDWORD trilogy. CALL ME DUCHESS, the prequel to ANGEL OF WINDWORD and the story of two characters from her original manuscript, is set in 1870 England. At this time, she is writing her third novel, THE ENGLISH MARQUESA. The last of the Windword Trilogy is set in 1870 Spain and it also involves a member of the Kent family.

Welcome fellow Eternal Press author, C. L. Shore!

Welcome to my site, what a beautiful author pic! I am so glad you are visiting today, i have so few Eternal Press authors and love hearing how you are all getting on. As Seeker of Truth is your debut novel, I am thrilled to host you and let me readers learn more about you.

OK, on with the interview!

What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?

That is easy, finding time and staying on task. I have a very busy day job, so finding quiet time to write is a challenge. I’ve found the best way is to do some writing immediately after getting up in the morning for about a half hour. Sometimes, if I do have time to continue, I have a hard time moving beyond 1000 to 1500 words in a session. I need to think about where my characters are and what they are doing and how the action would proceed.

How did you come up with the idea for Seeker of Truth?

Originally, Seeker of Truth started out as a mystery around a running event. The Indianapolis 500 Mini-Marathon is a race that attracts thousands of runners. “The Mini”, as it is known, kicks off the start of the Indy 500 race season. In fact, the original title for Seeker of Truth was “The Mini Murder”. However, my daughter said it reminded her of gnomes! I had to agree with that.

Once my protagonist, Sister Lucie started to evolve , the novel was all about the characters and the relationships among them. My husband and I came up with the idea of the psychic nun, and it grew on me. I wanted her to have the experience of a committed love relationship, so she is a widow and experiences the presence of her deceased husband , Mark, from time to time.

Were you surprised when Eternal Press categorized Seeker of Truth as romance?

I was a little surprised. But Seeker of Truth contains several romantic themes that come together in the plot. The paranormal romance between sister Lucie and her Mark I’ve already mentioned. Mark’s former detective partner, Jed, is extremely protective of Sister Lucie. Charlene, the murder victim has a romantic past that figures in the solution of her murder.

Here’s one excerpt:

Sister Lucie decided to take a walk around the apartment. Her neck was a little stiff, probably from nervous tension. She rolled her shoulders a couple of times. I guess I was so tense that I didn’t move much while reading those first pages. A book fell from the bookcase onto the floor with a soft thud. She scrambled over quickly to its resting place and picked it up, Look Homeward, Angel. Maybe Mark was agreeing with her.

She opened the volume’s front cover, and an old Polaroid photograph fell to the floor. She picked it up and cautiously fingered the edges. Mark’s gaze met hers. She lay on the edge of the bed and held the photo in her hand, just below the level of the mattress. The picture had been taken on a trip to Michigan about six years ago. Mark stood with his back to a grove of trees. The glint of sunshine sparkling on blue water was in the background. Mark gazed into the camera with his beautiful smoky-gray eyes. “Thank you, Mark,” Sister Lucie said, looking down at the photograph. “I’m so lucky to have known you, let alone love you and have the experience of being loved by you. I’m so lucky.” She rolled over on her back. Dusk had fallen long ago, but every light in the apartment was on. She held the picture above her head, and then pressed it to her heart. “Thank you, Mark,” she said again. She closed her eyes.

Here’s the cover blurb that captures a brief synopsis of the story:

Detective Jed McCracken is tempted to dismiss his first phone call of the week as a prank, until he realizes he's talking to his late partner's widow, Sarah. Jed hasn’t spoken to her since her husband’s death and is shocked to discover that Sarah is now Sister Lucie. She’s distraught over breaking news about the murder of a former fellow nun and intent on finding her killer. Together, they rekindle their lost friendship while untangling a network of deception, lust and greed. Although they appear to be closing in, the killer proves elusive, prompting Jed to persuade Sister Lucie to bait a trap.

Will Sister Lucie outwit the murderer…or become his next victim?

This book sounds like a brand new experience to be C. L.! I love the idea of a nun as a protagonist, great stuff. I wish you all the luck in the world with sales, fantastic idea...

Comments??

And on with the Romantic Suspense Blog Tour - Jess Anastasi

Hi Jess,

Happy to welcome you to my humble abode! It's great to host another Noble Romance author, this publisher seems to be growing at an astonishing rate and I plan to submit something to them by the end of the year too. Sexy, sexy cover - bet your thrilled! Shall we get on with the interview? Here goes...

1) Where do you write?

At my kitchen table. It's not so bad though, because I accidentally, over a years, morphed the dining area into an office. We still use one end of the kitchen table to eat at, obviously, but the far end by the window is my permanent workspace.

2) What is the best & worst part about the writing process for you?

The best part is coming up with an exciting new idea, meeting the characters and seeing them through the story. Writing, I love. Editing, not so much. Re-thinking sentence structure and punctuation makes my head hurt!

3) When did you first consider yourself a writer?

I think from very early on, I always considered myself a writer in some capacity. I always kept a journal and used to write snatches of scenes that would pop into my head, and bad, angst-ridden teenage poetry. But it wasn't until the year after I left high school, still aimlessly wandering, not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, that it hit me I wanted to write books.

4) What is the best & worst advice you’ve received about writing?

The best advice I ever got was to be disciplined (which I never actually implemented until these past couple of years) and persistent. I can't honestly remember any really bad advice. Usually if someone told me something I didn't think was quite right, I tend to forget about it. I have enough trouble remembering the things I need to remember, without keeping bad advice in mind, lol.

5) Which comes first? Plot or characters?

It always happens different. With Dead Reality and Sanctuary, it was definitely a matter of plot first. With Severance and the rom sus I'm working on at the moment (titled Night Fall for the time being) the characters came and brought the story with them.

6) What is a typical day for you?

I don't know if any day is typical, I just take it as it comes. I get up, deal with kids, help out in the shop my parents own, deal with the kids some more and then once they've gone to bed, I'll do some writing.

7) Where do you see your career in five years?

Hopefully with a whole stack of published books behind me! And probably writing full time once the kids get to school.

8) What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Depends on my mood. Watch a DVD, knit, crochet, do yoga, go for a run on the treadmill (cause who runs outside anymore?) Bake cookies. Avoid cleaning…

BLURB:

FBI Special Agent Ella Waverly is wrapping up one last assignment before heading off on her first holiday in five years. But flip-flops and cocktails are the last thing on her mind when she meets the new team leader, Special Agent Bryce Lain, and finds out her holiday is being scuttled for an undercover assignment.
Agent Lain is gorgeous, the kind of gorgeous that guarantees he’s an arrogant jerk. The news that he’ll be her partner in the dangerous mission is almost enough to make her head explode. Before the day is out, Ella finds herself at Little Palm Island Resort in Florida, masquerading as a contestant on the latest reality TV show – Lord Bachelor. The bachelor in question, a disgraced British peer, is suspected of raping and murdering several women back in London.
As humidity frizzes her hair beyond the help of any type of de-frizzing, smoothing, glossing product, Ella tries to wrangle working against nineteen husband-hungry bimbos, one suspected serial killer and one seriously hot agent who’s trying everything he can to get under her skin.

Noble Romance Publishing Author Page: http://www.nobleromance.com/BrowseListing.aspx?author=130

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=jess+anastasi

LOL! We have quite a few similarities, Jess...

The avoiding cleaning, the non-typical day around the kids and part-time work and funnily enough because it's winter, i am writing on the far end of our dining table too! I am lucky enough in the summer to have a cabin-type office which i LOVE!!!

OK, over to you guys! Comments?

Wild Rose Press Editor Q&A

As I am still waiting for Vonnie Mann to arrive, I thought I would pass on a fantastic opportunity to my reader and writer friends alike! One of my fabulous publishers, The Wild Rose Press are holding a two day Q&A session at weekend.

This is your chance to discover more about the publishing house and its likes and dislikes as well as getting to know a few of their lovely and generous authors (me included, LOL!). If you'd like to check out what is going on, you need to join the Yahoo group, here is the link:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheWildRosePress/

Hope to see you there!

Rachel x

Stephanie Taylor is here to promote My One True Love...

Stephanie is here for a quick visit, to post the blurb and excerpt from her latest release, 'My One True Love'. LOVE the cover!

Over to you, Stephanie...

My One True Love, by Stephanie Taylor, available now from Purple Sword Publications!

Love or contentment. What would you choose?

Seven years ago, Liz Henley left her fiancé without a backward glance to live a bigger life anywhere but in Oakley. Now she's back, with a new fiancé, ready to tie the knot on Valentine’s Day in the town she grew up in. But one thing stands in her way: her first true love, Jason Kenyon.

Jason Kenyon has never really gotten over Liz, but he doesn't let that stop him from being the best park ranger he can be. When he sees the body of a female go sailing past him during an avalanche, he doesn't think twice about trying to rescue her. It isn't until they're both back at Jason's cabin that he realizes the body is none other than his almost-wife, Liz.

Torn between his love for Liz and his duty to return her, Jason has to make a decision. Does he take her back to her new fiancé or fight with all his might to get back the woman he never stopped loving?

EXCERPT:

“I can’t believe you. Patrick is a good man who doesn’t deserve to be hurt, but I’m willing to stop my wedding to be with you. Yet, you still refuse to give an inch.”

“Something tells me if I give you an inch, you’d take a mile. Isn’t it the way it’s always been?” Anger pulsed in his jaw.

“No!”

“And if I don’t give an inch, you’ll go running away, the same way you did before. Anything to avoid giving up what you’ve envisioned for your life. Have you ever thought maybe you’re wrong? Maybe the fancy city life isn’t for you, and you might be happier here living the way your mother lives?”

“I hate this town!”

“Hate it so much you’d get married here?”

“I never said the landscape wasn’t beautiful,” Liz argued, but she knew he made a valid point, and she hated it even more. "My family's here. It was easier this way. You know they can't afford to travel to Baltimore."

“Your family’s here, Lizzie. I’m here. You’ve gotta make a choice.”

“I don't know how to choose, Jason. I have a career and friends—a life—in Baltimore. Here, I have…" She trailed off. "How can I just walk away?"

“Everything isn’t always going to go your way. You might end up married to Patrick after all. Have two point five kids in the future with a white picket fence around your mansion on a hilltop. But you won’t have one thing, Lizzie.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?”

“Me.”

Great excerpt! Wishing you lots and lots of sales!!

Comments?

Rachel x

The first review is in!!!!!!

Just popping in for a brief moment to share the first review of Getting It Right This Time with you - I am absolutely thrilled to announce Night Owl Reviews have given in 4 1/2 stars and a Top PIck!!!!!

Happy, happy, happy, Rachel!!!!

Here's the review link:

http://www.nightowlromance.com/nor/Reviews/Tigger9-reviews-Getting-It-Right-This-Time-by-Rachel-Brimble.aspx

And of course, here's the buy link ; )

http://www.lyricalpress.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=3_25&products_id=296

See you soon!!

Rachel xx

Welcome one of my loveliest cyber friends Cate Masters!

Hi Cate,

It is so lovely to have you visit with me again! I feel as though we haven't spoken in such a long time so it is great to be able to catch up and find out what you have been up to. From the book cover, it looks as you are as prolific as ever with a new release, Surfacing. Can't wait to hear all about it - love the cover!

Over to you, m'dear...

1) Who is your favourite author and why?

First, thanks so much for having me today Rachel! Hm, I have a terrible time choosing favorites. I love so many authors, in so many genres. If I had to name just one, it might be T.C. Boyle – he writes everything from literary to historical to fantasy/speculative, and does it exceptionally well. But my bookshelves (and now my hard drive) are filled with a wide variety of authors.

2) When did you first consider yourself a writer?

First seeing my name on the front of a book cover was an amazing thrill! But I don’t know that I ever consciously labeled myself a writer. I just knew that I’ve always loved to write, everything from poetry to journalism, though fiction’s my real love.

3) Describe your writing space?

Definitely in need of some feng shui, lol. I’ve been trying to organize better, tossing notebooks of ideas into a basket, and filing articles related to stories in folders. Sometimes I have to escape the disarray, though, and just carry my laptop to another part of the house. :)

4) What are you reading now?

The books on my night table are threatening to topple over! Titles from David Sedaris, Angie Fox, Susan Gourley, Gena Showalter, Stieg Larsson and many others. Wish I could absorb them through osmosis!

5) How many books have you written? Which is your favourite?

Due to years and years of not being published, I had quite a backlog of stories sitting around, taking up space on the hard drive. It caught up with me these past two years, during which I’ve had 14 releases, ranging from shorts to full length novels. Two more novels are contracted, another I recently subbed to a publisher. A few others are still languishing on the hard drive, but those likely won’t see the light of day, unless I revise them extensively. :)

My favorite’s always the one I’m writing now. I actually have several in the works, and I’m very excited about them!

6) What comes first, plot or characters?

Wish I were a better plotter, but mostly I’m a pantser. Characters lead the way, and sometimes in strange and wonderful directions that surprise me. Though I love it when characters hijack a story, I’m trying to train my brain to think ahead a bit.

7) Do you ever suffer from writer’s block?

Sometimes, but that’s why I work on a few stories at once. If I run into a wall on one, I switch to another. I believe writer’s block is the story’s way of letting me know I haven’t fully addressed something. By not focusing on it too keenly, it usually comes clear. Sounds like a contradiction, but it’s true, for me at least.

8) What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

Sleep, lol. And spend time with my family. I used to have all sorts of hobbies, but they’ve fallen by the wayside, unfortunately. My poor garden is now a weed patch.

9) Tell us about your latest book?

Surfacing’s a really fun novel. It combines my love of music and fantasy.

Here’s the book blurb: AJ Dillon is trouble. The former lead singer of an indie band has no home, no money and no future. His grandfather is the only relative willing to take another chance on him. AJ arrives in Weeki Wachee, Florida, with his guitar, a few clothes and a bad attitude. The only good thing about Weeki Wachee is the ocean -- the one place AJ feels at home.

Grandpa lines up a job for AJ at Weeki Wachee Springs, where beautiful women perform as mermaids. Grandpa says real mermaids exist, but AJ doesn’t believe – until he meets Cassiopeia. She helps his passion for music resurfaces. But greedy Chaz finds out about her, and threatens to kill them if AJ doesn't go along with his plan to make a fortune with a real mermaid show. Can AJ save Cassie, even if it means losing her?

You can view the trailer, read reviews and an excerpt, and even see who I’d cast in the movie roles for Surfacing at http://catemasters.blogspot.com/2007/12/surfacing-contemporary-fantasy.html

10) What’s next for you? I just entered a new urban fantasy called Dead to Rights in the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest, so I’m nervously awaiting those results! In April, Whiskey Creek Press will release The Bridge Between, a mainstream novel set in my NJ hometown. In June, Lyrical Press will release Rock Bottom, a fun contemporary romance novel. I’m also awaiting word on a few other fantasies subbed to publishers. And as always, my WIPs outnumber the time I can spend on them, lol.

Thanks again for having me as a guest Rachel! I hope your readers will check out my blog at http://catemasters.blogspot.com, and I’d love more followers on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cate-Masters/89969413736?ref=ts

Surfacing sounds great, Cate! Is this your first book with Whiskey Creek Press? I wish you all the luck in the world with sales.

Cate is waiting to hear from you, folks!

A huge welcome to Eternal Press writer, Christi Barth!!

Welcome, Christi! So great to have a fellow Eternal Press author visit with me. And I love your blog topic, do you mind if I write my own on the same subject elsewhere? You've inspired me, girlfriend, LOL!

Take it away...

Conferences – scary or sensational?

Recently, a chaptermate sent out a few very pointed questions about conferences. In her follow up, she said this will be my first time attending the RWA National conference so I need to learn as much about the process as I can. It struck me that other people might be wondering if the expense and travel is worth it.

In a word, YES. Writing is a lonely, solitary business. In my (non-writer) circle of friends, they’ll listen to a maximum of five minutes of writing related comments from me before their eyes glaze over. They’re proud of my accomplishments, but don’t want to hear the day to day details. There certainly isn’t a proverbial water cooler at which to exchange writing rants and gossip by my laptop. A conference is a chance to share and learn and listen and let it all hang out. For a few glorious days, everyone cares about your sagging middle, POV issues and query letter trauma. Sympathy and advice flow freely, mingled with laughter and ear-to-ear smiles. It feels like home.

Validation is so important in this business. When you struggle to squeeze in writing pre-dawn or post-nightfall around a day job, it is hard to remember that your writing is also a career. In fact, if measured in blood, (emotional) sweat and tears, a much more serious career. Networking often feels close to impossible. A conference closes that gap. Agents and authors are not just approachable, but warm and encouraging. Every moment is a celebration of you as a writer. Last year I had dinner with Donald Maass, agent extraordinaire. How? By plopping myself into the only empty chair at an eight-top and diving into the conversation.

Can it be scary to walk into a ballroom filled with 2,000 people you don’t know and decide where to sit? Sure – for about a second. Then you remember that much of the room feels the same way. Talk to strangers at meals. Make sure to chat with the people on either side of you at workshops. Yes, multi-pubbed authors still attend workshops! Strike up a conversation while waiting in line at book signings. Like many other life experiences, you get out of it what you put into it.

As fabulous as RWA National is, it isn’t the only conference worth attending. Many authors actually prefer smaller, regional conferences because that grant even more access to agents and editors. Small or large, in your neighborhood or two states away, I’d venture to say attending a conference is a must. Maybe you’ll learn how to strategize a series. Maybe you’ll pitch your book straight to a publisher and get a request. Maybe another writer will help you plot through the muddy pothole into which your WIP has fallen. Or maybe you’ll make a lifelong friend and critique partner. Does my chapter mate need to ‘research’ the process beforehand? Nope. Just show up and go to every possible thing you can with a smile on your lips and a pitch in your back pocket. It’s that easy!

Act Like We're In Love

When two people make beautiful music together onstage, can their love survive once the curtain falls? Linnea Larson is willing to do anything to keep her family's Minneapolis dinner theatre from going under. Anything, that is, besides accepting a date from the Hollywood hunk her father hired to inject a dose of star power into their production of Guys & Dolls. It's a toss up whether his greatest claim to fame is playing a superhero on screen, or a super stud off screen. Neither fact convinces her he's got what it takes to share her stage. And thanks to a life long pact with her best friend, she never dates actors.

Luke Powell has fame, fortune, and an endless string of women, but also a lingering dissatisfaction with his picture perfect life. Looking for a change, he escapes to his theatrical roots. What he finds are wary cast mates, a nervous best friend convinced the show will ruin Luke's career, and an adorable costar who stubbornly refuses to go out with him. Suddenly singing and dancing aren't the only challenges he'll tackle over the summer. Far from the spotlights of Hollywood, can he find happiness in the footlights of a tiny theatre?

Despite Luke dragging her into his daily paparazzi nightmare, Linnea can't deny her mounting attraction to his irresistible charm. And even if she's crazy enough to chance getting involved, their fling would have a guaranteed expiration date. He's leaving at the end of the run, and she's tied to her family's theatre. Why risk the inevitable heartbreak? Their job is to act like they're in love, but will they decide it's worth the leap to fall in love for real?

Great post, Christi! I lost my conference 'virginity' last year when I attended my first Romantic Novelists Association (UK RWA equivalent) conference in July. I knew one person, who I travelled there with, and that was it. Nervous was not the word to describe the chabbering mess I was when I arrived, LOL!

But within an hour, i felt as if I'd come home and three days later didn't want to leave. Loved it, loved it, loved it!

Comments??

Continuing the Romantic Suspense Tour with S R Claridge - welcome!!

Loving being part of this tour and the main reason is all the new romance authors and publishers i am finding out about! Please share more about Vanilla Heart Books and how you chose them as a publisher, what they have taught you etc. I love hearing about people's editing experiences!

OK, on with the interview...

1) Where do you write? Primarily upstairs in my office area… but when the weather is nice, I grab a notebook and pen and sit in the sun and write. It’s refreshing to get off the computer for a while and actually handwrite some pages.

2) What is the best & worst part about the writing process for you? The best part is when the creative juices are flowing and my fingers can’t keep up with the thoughts and ideas culminating in my head. The worst part is the hours and hours and hours spent promoting and marketing when I’d rather be writing.

3) When did you first consider yourself a writer? I have written all my life, but I didn’t feel like a true “writer” until I signed my first publishing contract.

4) What is the best & worst advice you’ve received about writing? The best advice I got was to remember that the literary field is subjective … meaning what one publisher or agent likes, another will dislike. This helped me put rejection in perspective and not take it personally. I can’t think of terrible advice I’ve received in the field of writing… I guess I’ve been blessed with supportive and encouraging people.

5) Which comes first? Plot or characters? Characters.

6) What is a typical day for you? Get the kids off to school. Do promotional work until around noon, then write until the kids get home from school. At night it’s time for blog postings and more promo work.

7) Where do you see your career in five years?
I see the “Just Call Me Angel” mystery series in full-swing with maybe 5-6 books released. Perhaps another couple books like NO EASY WAY.

8) What do you like to do when you’re not writing? When I’m not writing it’s chore time… run errands, get caught up on laundry, clean the house, etc.

NO EASY WAY by S.R.Claridge BOOK BLURB

Swerving with the kind of deliberate precision only blind rage can empower, the black pick-up crushes Kansas Oil Tycoon, Lou Martin Miller, leaving Miller’s widow with an impossible choice: Cover the sin that lead to her husband’s death and conceal the identity of his killer, or risk the destruction of her family. She carefully weaves a net of protection around her family, but the day she dies it begins to unravel, leaving her grandson, Tom, and his soon-to-be-ex-wife, Kate, in grave danger.

Missing evidence, mistaken identity and manipulation leave private investigator, Stephen Braznovich, trapped between white lies and dark lusts, as he races to piece together a family secret before the next victim falls prey to deep-rooted revenge. The trouble is anyone who gets close to the truth winds up dead.

On the verge of an unwanted divorce, Tom must decide between a confession that could save his marriage or lie to save himself. Tension mounts as Tom and Kate’s lives hang in a twisted balance of crossed lines and misunderstood motives, all pointing to one simple truth. There is No Easy Way.

BUY LINKS

VHP Author Page

http://www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com/S.R.html

Amazon Paperback Edition

http://tinyurl.com/23tpk6a

Amazon Kindle US Edition

http://www.amazon.com/No-Easy-Way-ebook/dp/B00452V850

Smashwords Multiformat (Kobo, Sony, Diesel, B&N ebooks, iPad, etc)

http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/25512

The book sounds great, SR and I LOVE your cover! Your life sounds so similar to my own and I couldn't agree more about the precious writing time taken up with promo. It really is a double-edged sword, if you don't promote, you don't sell but if you do, you can stop creating new stuff and people will stop looking for you. So, so difficult!

We're waiting for your comments...

Rachel x