Welcome fellow English Tea Rose author, Jennifer Ann Coffeen!

Welcome, Jennifer!

I have been so excited to put up your post - I purposely do not read the guest author posts until the day they are due to appear. I try to refrain and read them for the first time along with my visitors. That way I am fresh to ask questions as I go along. But this one, I was very tempted to read as soon as you sent it to me! I love picking up snippets of history, and now I think I've waited long enough, don't you? ;)

“The French Blue diamond must be destroyed.”

While the plot and characters of my new regency romance Priceless Deception are all a figment of a (very) overactive imagination, the infamous French Blue diamond is not. The real story is just as fascinating as a good novel and begins with one of the largest jewel thefts in history.

In September of 1792, Paris was the last place you wanted to find yourself. The streets were still wet with blood from the Terror, and the French Revolution raged on. While King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, found themselves under house arrest, all the palace riches had been moved to the Garde Meuble for protection.

The night of September 16th, thieves climbed up the building’s colonnade and crept inside an open window. Among the priceless gems stolen that night were the 140.5 carat white diamond called the Regent; the Hortensia, a pale orange-pink 20-carat diamond; and a heart-shaped blue 67-carat diamond known as the French Blue. It was a shocking theft and the French countryside was endlessly searched for any sign of the jewels.

Less than a year later both the Regent and the Hortensia were discovered hidden in a Paris attic, but the French Blue was still missing. One of the chief suspects was a man named Guillot who had escaped to Great Britain. Many believe he took the French Blue to London, where he tried to sell it in 1796 to cover his debts. No one knows what happened after that, Guillot ended up in prison and the diamond was lost.

It wasn’t until 1812 that a mysterious blue diamond appeared for sale by a jeweler named John Francillon in London. The diamond was quickly purchased by an anonymous buyer (some claim it was the Prince Regent), and disappeared once again, resurfacing in the hands an American named Henry Phillip Hope. Enamored by the jewel, Henry renamed the French Blue after his family, and the historic gem became known as The Hope diamond.

www.JenniferAnnCoffeen.com

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&keyword=Jennifer+Ann+Coffeen&x=11&y=14

Blurb:

“The French Blue diamond must be destroyed.” Haunted by the words of her dying father, Lady Madeline Sinclair arrives for the London Season with more than parties and the latest fashion on her mind. She has sworn a vow, and the beautifully headstrong and fearless Madeline will allow nothing to distract her…until she meets the infamous Lord Colin, Duke of Douglas, a man known for his scandalous past engagement. With a dark grin and stormy eyes, he threatens to make her forget her duty, along with her manners.

Bound together by the mysterious diamond, Madeline and Colin soon succumb to the passion raging between them, even as the diamond eludes their grasp. But the true threat lies in the hands of an enemy whose dangerous obsession with the past has the power to destroy them both.

Excerpt:

“I promise not to hit you again,” she replied, forcing a light tone. “If you promise not to throw me to the ground and—”

“And?” One eyebrow shot up.

“Provoke me.”

He laughed then, a full, rich sound that seemed to drop the tension from his face. He was more recognizable now, and Madeline felt her shoulders relax.

“I am sorry,” she added. “My behavior that day was unforgivable. I do hope we can start over as friends, Lord Douglas.”

She held out her hand, the small warning bell in her head quickly silenced.

“It would be my pleasure.” He took the offered fingers, bending slightly to press them against his lips. Not a trace of impropriety, but a sigh caught in her throat all the same, and she held it there, no longer breathing.

In the back of her mind she knew this was not a good idea. She knew perfectly well she should invent some excuse, run straight back into the ballroom and discuss Lady Farris’s flowers. She didn’t move.

“And since we are already intimately acquainted, I must insist you call me Colin.”

“Colin,” she said, finally exhaling so the name rushed out in a breathless tone. She wildly searched her mind for something else to say but never managed a word.

Colin pulled her to him, the kiss as much a surprise as her own response to it. Madeline’s body instantly betrayed her, melting against the strong arms that held her until she had lost all sense of her earlier outrage. The world fell away, leaving nothing but Colin’s searing lips blistering her own—and the faint smell of lilacs.

Fascinating blog, Jen - I never knew the story of the Blue Diamond. I love the inspiration behind your story and I'm off right now to get my copy. Don't you just love writing historical? The story ideas based around real events is endless! Great excerpt, I am sure there will be lots of comments!

Jen is waiting to hear from you!

Nearing the end...

I am coming close to the end of my Paying The Piper blog tour and wanted to extend my thanks to all those of you who have followed me all the way. I am absolutely overwhelmed by your support and input. The tour has been fantastic and with only a few days left to go, I am getting excited about announcing the winner of my contest.

I will be giving away my entire backlist of FIVE full-length novels & one novella - I can't wait!!

One lucky winner who has followed me and commented throughout will win the bundle BUT I will most definitely be giving out books to others as well. You have made me laugh, smile and ponder so much, how can I not repay that??

Here are my remaining appearances:

Wednesday 28th September

Shelley Munro's blog

http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog/

The Book Boost Blog

http://thebookboost.blogspot.com/

Thursday 29th September

Rebecca Rose Blog

http://authorrebeccarose.blogspot.com/?zx=3f7534654345eec7

Friday 30th September

http://fallenangelreviews.com/

See you there!

Rachel x

Welcome my good friend and fellow Wild Rose author, Joanna Aislinn!

It's so nice to welcome back Joanna to my site! Is this your second or third time, Joanna? I find it so funny to compare our pictures, we truly are cyber sisters! Okay, well, over to you - enjoy your visit!

Thanks so much to the wonderful authors here who get the ‘pay it forward’ concept and created an opportunity for me to do the same.

I, Joanna Aislinn, am a lover of reading. Writing—specifically editing—messed with the pleasure part of my passion; I can no longer get through a story without my pesky internal editor interrupting the flow. These days I’m crafting sequels to my debut novel, No Matter Why (The Wild Rose Press) and planting the seeds for my first historical or paranormal/contemporary, assuming I can decide how I want to handle this latest story idea! In the meantime, I’m learning all I can about promo, the ever-changing publishing world, social media and building my brand. Don’t ask how I work a day job, manage a home and raise two boys, a husband and two cats! (That may be auto-pilot.) Thank God for Fran Fine and tennis: these keep me sane! J.

I come to you a year and nine months into having been blessed enough to be offered a contract which I was very happy to accept. Loved my editor (the wonderful Vicky Reed) and truly enjoyed the experience of seeing my story go from submitted manuscript to ready-to-sell copy. (Seeing my cover—courtesy of the amazing artist Rae Monet*,—and holding a hard-copy of my dream are experiences I can’t seem to word.)

Beyond all else, these past months have been an incredible and major learning experience. I’m grateful for where I am and how I got here. But: if I could travel in time and do this debut thing again, I might change my approach. Armed with the knowledge and perspective only hindsight brings, this is how I’d consider doing things differently:

1. I’d wait before querying. No Matter Why started out as flashbacks from another story. Its sequel is complete (and tentatively entitled No Matter What). Because stories often take their own course, what should have been part three of a trilogy is now slated to be a spin-off, showcasing characters who showed in part two. What originally started as a spin-off seems to taking on life as Part three, a romantic suspense (and currently untitled).

Why would I wait? Because I learned one book is enough to get started, but having a list of releases to follow it is better, even more so if I choose to self-publish. Among the reasons Bob Mayer and Amanda Hocking are becoming household names in multiple writer homes.

2. I’d write more up front. This is an extension of (1). Once promotion begins—which, by the way, I learned should have started WAY before the book released—life as a writer changes. As Rene Rocco of Lyrical Press recently taught at a workshop: The difference between a writer and an author is this: an author writes for publication (and publication is an animal unto itself).

If you eked out time to write before being published, expect to have that much time less once you’ve reached that goal. Don’t fool yourself thinking you’ve reached the finish line, either. Being published is the beginning of a whole new world, folks—one in which an author’s success is pretty directly related to how much effort one puts into getting effective word out to the penny (okay dollar) public.

Making that coveted time to create new products has been my biggest challenge since I finished that first sequel. Don’t know how those authors who rely on income from their books do it. My kids are older, and somehow need my time and attention more than when my biggest job was keeping a constant eye on them. The day job has gotten busier. I bring paperwork home. Hubby is always around and likes to chat. And now I’m also supposed to…

3. Establish myself as a brand and create an ever-growing social media presence and possible fan base by connecting with a virtual world of folks who are working at doing the same. At present, I blog. I interact with Facebook friends. I GET the amazing power of Twitter. I love making new online friends and getting to know people all over the world.

BUT: it takes time to do the social media stuff. People like the phenomenal Kristen Lamb, social media expert and author of We Are Not Alone: The Writer’s Guide to Social Media, breaks this other education I need to gain, along with this other thing I have to do, into manageable chunks. (Try her books. She also recently released: Are You There Blog? It’s Me, Writer. You will be changed for the better. Both are available in digital and print versions.) Oh, and I love blogging, but that takes time, too. So does taking some time to reciprocate by visiting your friends’ blogs and by reading the great recommendations for blogs they make. And each has the potential of unlocking another education of its own. (Yes, I just made myself dizzy too…)

4. I might skip the website simply because my blog functions very much like one. Wordpress makes life very easy for free. (I did, however, build my own website—another thing I chose to learn—and feel that I put so much work into it, I hate putting it to bed. Letting go is not always my best skill.)

5. I’d promote in a whole different way, based on what I’m learning via (3). And I’d get into Twitter much, much sooner—like, the second it popped onto the virtual map. It’s an incredible, mind-boggling tool whose power is beyond my mere human comprehension (and fodder for a future blog post—stay tuned!).

6. Oh! I almost forgot: I’d write more.

Here’s where I hang out in the virtual world. Hope to see you there!

Twitter and Facebook

My blog (Currently, new posts release Tues and Thursdays—most of the time, anyway!)

My website (I like to think it’s very pretty and romantic, lol)

Short Blurb for No Matter Why: Trust and stability are empty words to Carrie Norwell. Her brothers were murdered; her father died upon arrival at the scene. Five years later, her heart remains impenetrable. Billy Jay Eldridge believes Carrie is the right girl but is clueless his noble career aspirations will be the biggest obstacle to getting Carrie to accept what she wants and needs most. How will Billy Jay win her closed-off heart? (Read an excerpt! J)

*Before I forget: Rae Monet is an author too! Learn about her works here!

Thanks again to this wonderful group for having me today!

Until next time,

Joanna

Great post, Joanna! There is so much we can learn from hindsight. I, too, feel immense pressure to keep up with promo and actually produce some worth writing. I am often running backwards and feeling stressed. Not good. Once my current WIP is done, I have decided to stop committing to things so readily. That's another thing - women are people pleasers!!

Comments?

Welcome fellow Wild Rose Press writer, Jannine Corti-Peska

Welcome, Jannine! I am really looking forward to what you want to share with us today. Please pull up a comfy chair, cup of tea (or coffee!) and enjoy your time here. I love host guest and it's great when visiting authors have some interesting articles in between the interviews. Okay, over to you!

My Muse Took An Extended Vacation

I haven’t met a writer yet who hasn’t lost her muse at some point in her writing career. Often stress plays a huge part in sabotaging our creative mind. Whether it’s family related, job, finances, or simply a bad day, our muse can cut out on us without notice.

Since I began writing 30 years ago, my creativity has stalled three times. But the most recent began nearly 4 years back when I left a publisher amid controversy that exploded and spread like wildfire throughout the internet writing community. After that, I had difficulty creating anything resembling a plot. And my heroes or heroines usually suffered through an identity crisis.

After Carina and the Nobleman, the first book in my medieval psychic sisters trilogy, was released in January 2009, I was faced with writing book two. I had already written Carina years before, so a little rewriting and editing was all I did before submitting. This book was set in Italy, my comfort zone. But book two, Charlotte and the Gypsy, took place in a Gypsy camp in Andalusia. I knew absolutely nothing about either of these subjects. For the first time, I doubted every word I wrote and couldn’t keep the facts straight. I researched heavily as I wrote, which I normally don’t do. No matter how hard I tried to summon up ideas, it seemed as if I faced the same blank page every day.

Seven months later, I completed the book. (I’d never taken longer than 3 months to write a full-length novel.) During those long months, I pulled my hair out one strand at a time, wondering if I was the same person who wrote Charlotte and the books published under my name. After stepping away for a few weeks before reading the entire story, to my surprise, book two wasn’t bad at all. It sold and was released in early 2010.

Now on to book three, or so I thought. In researching Callie and the Knight, my muse took a hike. I turned over every rock (figuratively, of course), checked under the beds (shouldn’t have, found an army of dust bunnies), constantly returned to my computer (a big mistake, 1000s of emails and packed files to go through), and finally I threw in the towel…well, more like the pen and paper. I’d have thrown my computer, but thankfully my common sense shouted, “NO!!!”

Now what? Why was I having such a difficult time thinking up a viable story? Besides the fact that my mind had been cluttered horribly, book three is set in medieval England. Way out of my comfort zone. I’m used to weaving stories set in the same period but in Italy. So I decided to put it aside and pull out three manuscripts to edit and polish. Because they’d been on floppy disks, I had to retype them onto a flash drive, which was time-consuming, but it helped to reacquaint me with the stories. To my absolute shock, one sold in July 2010. The other two, the first two books in my Italian medieval series (The Lily and the Falcon and Surrender to Honor) sold in a two-book deal in September 2010. The month prior, I’d resold Charlotte and the Gypsy to a different publisher.

Okay, now I can concentrate on Callie and the Knight. It didn’t happen. As before, I dragged my feet. You’d think all that editing and rewriting would have tickled my muse. That was when I realized, she’d gone on a very long vacation without me. When 2011 arrived, I gave up and turned to another manuscript I’d written years before, Dante’s Flame, book three in my Italian medieval series. I submitted it, and two months later it sold. Wow, I must be good at editing and rewriting. Okay, now I was ready to get to Callie and her story. I really had to finish up the trilogy and not leave my readers hanging. The end of the book brings the three sisters together to learn about their past. I didn’t want to leave it like a TV series that ended without tying up all the loose ends. I tried everything I could think of to convince my muse to come back to me. The damn stubborn twit stood in the distance and folded her arms across her chest like a defiant child and wouldn’t budge. Then she took off again.

Fine. I’ll work on something else. At that time, my editor asked if I’d like to participate in an anthology titled Love Letters. I jumped on the invitation, eager and ready. A short story was the perfect way to get back into writing a book from scratch. Ha! You guessed it. I struggled to come up with a storyline. The first three-quarters of the story was more painful than having a tooth pulled, but the medieval Italy setting was a big help. By the time I finished and turned it in (10,000 words over), lo and behold, my muse sauntered back, relaxed, tanned and excited to dive into a new book. And she came back wiser. I finally saw the reason I kept putting off Callie’s story. She and her knight weren’t ready to tell it. My muse isn’t back 100%; she’s tripped a few times, but it doesn’t matter. I really missed her and was relieved to have her with me again.

The fact that I had sold four full-length novels in nine months wasn’t what nudged my muse. There were several reasons, one life-changing.

1. Yes, Callie and her knight needed more time. So did I. Medieval England is out of my comfort zone. Once I came to terms with that, I could move on, knowing I will write their story one day. Just not now.

2. I turned to researching Tempt Not My Heart, book four of my Italian medieval series. I should be ready to begin writing next month. I’ve been jotting down scenes that pop into my mind. Ahhh, I feel at home already.

3. My biggest challenge, and the most disturbing to me, was the strangling hold my guilt and frustration had over me because I’d done nothing about my weight or my diabetes. But my renewed enthusiasm and resurgence of those much needed creative juices came when I began to lose weight in February and continued to lose a lot more since. My blood sugar is under control for the first time in 15 years (I was taken off one of my meds.), my blood pressure is great (cut back to half a pill a day), and my cholesterol is where it should be. My energy level is high. I don’t nap anymore. I get out of bed early without wishing I could just crawl back under the covers and sleep all day.

What I’m trying to convey here is, an attitude adjustment goes a long way to free your mind (or at least ease it) of the worry and stress weighing it down. No longer am I burdened with the guilt I mentioned above. Neither am I fighting with my once non-existent willpower. The self-destructive person I was just nine months ago is gone. I’ll be 60 next year. I’m proof that it’s never too late to change what doesn’t work for you, be it a personal issue, ideas for a story you’d like to write, or merely seeing there is an upside to life. I’m not saying it’s easy. We all cope in different ways. But you’ll never regret your journey down the new road with a rejuvenated you.

As for my muse? We’re still getting reacquainted, but she’s no longer a stranger.

Buy Link for The Lily and the Falcon:

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_138&products_id=4616

Website:

http://www.jcortipetska.com/

Wow, what a fantastically inspiring account, Jannine! I'll never moan about my missing muse again - and four books sold in nine months?? You must be thrilled! I'm sure my readers and visitors will have LOTS of comments, lol!

Comments?

The Paying The Piper Tour continues...

Thank you all so much for your wonderful support, comments and kindness on the first week of my Paying The Piper tour! I have really enjoyed it and can't wait to continue later today at Desmond Haas' blog.

There have been familiar faces, visits from friends and most fun of all, visits and comments from readers and followers of my books that i've met for the first time. I really am enjoying myself! Okay, as promised here are the appearances I am making from today until Friday.

Saturday 17th September

Desmond Haas blog

http://www.desmondhaas.com

Monday 19th September - PAYING THE PIPER LAUNCH DAY!!!

HoneyBee Promotions Party

http://honeybeeauthors.blogspot.com/

Sara-Jayne Townsend

http://sayssara.wordpress.com/

Tuesday 20th September

Sharon Buchbinder's blog

http://www.sharonbuchbinder.com/blog/

The Book Imp Blogspot

http://thebookimp.blogspot.com/

Wednesday 21st September

Katriena Knights blog

http://www.katrienaknights.blogspot.com/

Sharon Donovan's blog

http://sharondonovan.blogspot.com/

Thursday 22nd September

Ella Jade's blog

http://ellajadeauthor.blogspot.com/?zx=6898deb3f8c50767

Autumn Jordon's blog

http://autumnjordonsnotes.blogspot.com/

Characters & Coffee

http://charactersandcoffee.blogspot.com

Friday 23rd September

Lilly Gayle's blog

http://lillygayleromance.blogspot.com/

Emma Lai blog

http://emmalaiwrites.blogspot.com/

Of Ink & Quill

http://ofinkandquille.blogspot.com

Phew-wee!! That is quite a line-up, isn't it? It's going to be a challenge just to keep up with me, lol! The list of names toward the Grand Prize of a copy of each of my first five novels keeps on growing with the winner in the lead with four visits and comments so far. Everything to play for!!

My fabulous friend, Cathie Dunn is here with her debut novel...

Cathie lives in Edinburgh and is one of my favourite people! We have yet to meet face to face (although I'm sure we will one of these days) but have forged a fabulous friendship on line. We just recently swapped first chapters to see how we get on as critique partners. I anticipate a great working relationship!

I am halfway through Cathie's debut Wild Rose Press release, Highland Arms and so far all I have to say is....Oh, Rory you lovely, Scottish piece of lushiness!! ;)

Hmm, maybe I should just concentrate on the interview!

Rachel, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to share my writing life on your fabulous blog.

Guess I’ll jump right in...

I’m a writer of historical fiction and romantic adventure set in Scotland, England and Normandy.

I wrote my first story in my mid-teens - a Regency romance about a young, impoverished girl travelling the length of Cornwall to a rich stranger’s manor to look after his sick child. Of course, the plot came straight from a Victoria Holt novel!

Over the years, other stories followed, never completed. A move to Aberdeenshire in the late ‘90s gave me new impetus - here I suddenly lived in a country with a fascinating history. To improve my writing and research knowledge, I took various historical study courses (e.g. Scottish Studies, Tudor Studies) and completed a Certificate in Creative Writing from Lancaster University. But it wasn’t until two years ago that I completed my first manuscript, a romantic Scottish historical. Highland Arms is now published from The Wild Rose Press.

1) Which authors inspired you to write?

I fell in love with historical fiction and romance when, in my teens, I read Victoria Holt, Georgette Heyer and M.M. Kaye. The vivid settings, flawed characters and suspenseful storylines got me hooked.

Lately, I’ve admired the works of Sharon Penman, Elizabeth Chadwick and Blythe Gifford. All three have the wonderful talent of vivid historical storytelling.

2) Describe your writing space?

I have converted our spare bedroom into my writing office (with hubby’s help!). The walls are covered with photographs of castle ruins, landscapes and historical maps. A sheepskin rug under the desk keeps my feet snug and scented candles help me escape reality. Sometimes I use medieval or Scottish folk music to get me into the mood but at other times I find it distracting.

The window overlooks a stable yard and, less than two miles in the distance, the Pentland Hills rise up high.

Sometimes, when I’m hidden away in my little office and hubby is out walking, my cats join me, jostling for a space on my lap or the desk. A cup of green tea or glass of wine complete the set-up.

3) Tell us about Highland Arms, your recent release?

Highland Arms is a romantic Scottish adventure which was great fun to write as I know the region around Glencoe / Ballachulish so well. Set shortly after the failed 1715 rebellion, Highland Arms tells the story of Rory Cameron, a Highlander hellbent on another uprising, and Catriona MacKenzie, a Lowland lass desperate to escape her scheming brother. But they are both closer to danger than they think when her curiosity leads her to discover a plot against him. A race for their lives ensues.

4) Treat us to an excerpt!

With pleasure! Excerpt from Highland Arms:

Yes, she’d just have to convince Auntie Meg—and Rory Cameron—that she simply had to stay.

Her mind made up, she rose and wrapped a thick blanket around her shoulders. As her bare feet touched the wooden floor, she hissed at the chill. With no maid to call upon, she left her room and went downstairs in search of the kitchen. The thought of a warming cup of tea raised her spirits. Then she’d continue to set her plan into motion.

She pushed the kitchen door open and stopped short. Standing by the mullioned window, in front of a large bowl overflowing with water, was Rory Cameron. He turned as he heard the door.

Catriona caught her breath, and grabbed the handle, letting go of the blanket.

Water dripped over his head and down his torso, trickling in small rivulets over his kilt held by a broad belt with a round silver buckle in a Pagan design of interlacing swirls. The light curls of hair on his tanned chest glistened with moisture. His shoulder-length hair was unbound, falling softly over taut muscle. A dry smile told her she was staring at him. Again.

She swallowed hard. “I...” She stuttered. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Cameron.” She averted her gaze to her feet. “I was just looking for a pot of tea. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

The insufferable man laughed as he grabbed a piece of cloth and began to pat himself dry. “I don’t think you did.” He shook his head, sending strands flying before rubbing it vigorously. “And it’s Rory, remember?” He grinned. Catriona stood rooted to the spot. Words failed her. Her mouth went dry.

“But tell me...” He went on. “Do you always venture into the kitchen so early? If so, you’d better get dressed next time.”

Transfixed by his mocking gaze, her cheeks heated as she became aware of her own state of undress. What an impression was she giving him with her hair falling loosely over her shoulders, and the blanket barely covering her modesty?

Oh, dear God, the blanket!

5) What comes first, plot or characters?

Oh, that’s an interesting question. For me, it’s the location and the plot. I take my inspirations from some incredible places I’ve visited.

Take Highland Arms as an example. The setting had to be Glencoe / Ballachulish in the Highlands which is my favourite corner in Scotland. The dramatic scenery and history was simply too tempting to overlook. I developed an outline of the story - patriotic Highland smuggler meets curious Lowland lass - and only then did I work out the characters.

Rory, my smuggler, was a far tougher nut in the original version but my fabulous editor at The Wild Rose Press helped turn him into a more likable guy. Catriona, the lass, had to endure so much at the hands of her brother that I decided her character was more sensitive than feistier females in novels of similar setting or era. But her curiosity which leads her into danger makes up for it.

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

Yes, I was halfway through a medieval historical, now part one of my ‘Anarchy’ trilogy, when I hit the wall. I didn’t know where the story was heading. So after much deliberation I put the manuscript aside and focused on a new story - Highland Arms was born. Only last year, after I secured a contract for Highland Arms, did I return to the ‘Anarchy’ story to suddenly find the path clear. It all went smoothly from then on, in an entirely new and more adventurous direction (and gaining inspiration for two sequels).

It’s important not to give up on a project but to take a break and cast your mind away from it - and from that wall. The more you try force yourself into finding a way through it the less likely you are to succeed. A break, even a new project, provides plenty of chances to approach it later with a fresh mind. You’d be surprised at the result.

7) What is next in line for you?

The ‘Anarchy’ project began seven years ago when I lived in South Wales where I joined a re-enactment group, the Knights of Longshank. The fun of such events, and my newly-acquired skills as an archer, combined with the stunning Welsh/English Borders landscapes, inspired a 12th century story that takes the characters from England to Normandy. I’m currently in the process of editing and hope to find a home for it soon, ideally through an agent.

Currently on the backburner is another Scottish romantic adventure set on the Isle of Mull early on during the Wars of Independence.

8) Where would you like your career to be in 5 years?

I’d like to find an agent and have my trilogy, and other works, published. I’d love to write full time, not just on the side. My day job is manic and I often have to stay late and work weekends over the summer so my writing suffers during that time. Here’s hoping... :-)

9) Where can we find you?

These links are good places to start:

Website: www.cathiedunn.com

Blog: http://cathiedunn.blogspot.com

Twitter:

http://twitter.com/#!/cathiedunn

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cathie.dunn1

Facebook Highland Arms: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Highland-Arms/126843920719546

Highland Arms is available in e-book format from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Thank you for having me here, Rachel.

You're welcome, lovely lady! Fantastic interview and where you live sounds absolutely gorgeous. I am thirty-seven years old and yet to visit any part of Scotland - shameful! Maybe I should make a New Years resolution to go there in 2012. Hubby and I could definitely do with a weekend away... :)

If I could be anyone i'd be...

Beyonce!!!

I expect you are wondering what this post is about...well, it is in support of my writer friend, Talli Roland's launch day for her new release, "Watching Willow Watts". Talli is Canadian but lives in the UK and she came up with this fabulous idea to get all her friends involved.

The reason Beyonce is my 'girl crush'? Sexy, talented, kind and happy...

Willow's impersonation of Marilyn Monroe is a bit part of the story so Talli asked us all who we'd like to be, here's the blurb:

For Willow Watts, life has settled into a predictably dull routine: days behind the counter at her father's antique shop and nights watching TV, as the pension-aged residents of Britain's Ugliest Village bed down for yet another early night. But everything changes when a YouTube video of Willow's epically embarrassing Marilyn Monroe impersonation gets millions of hits after a viewer spots Marilyn's ghostly image in a frame.

Instantly, Willow's town is overrun with fans flocking to see the 'new Marilyn'. Egged on by the villagers -- whose shops and businesses are cashing in -- Willow embraces her new identity, dying her hair platinum and ramming herself full of cakes to achieve Marilyn's legendary curves.

But when a former flame returns seeking the old Willow, Willow must decide: can she risk her stardom and her village's newfound fortune on love, or is being Marilyn her ticket to happiness?

Link:http://www.amazon.co.uk/Watching-Willow-Watts-ebook/dp/B005JE2IJI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316015784&sr=8-1

So what about you??

Rachel x

Welcome fellow Wild Rose Press writer, Alyson Reuben!!

Welcome, Alyson, so glad to have you here today! First and foremost, i have to say how much i love your cover - it beautiful! Who was the wonderful Wild Rose artist? I really think they have some of the best artists in the business. Gorgeous!

Enjoy your time with me, on with the questions...

Thank you so much for having me as your guest, Rachel!

1) When and why did you decide you wanted to be a published author?

I've wanted to be an author ever since 2nd grade, when a guest author came to my grade school to speak about writing his children's books. I penned my first story that same day — about a little girl and her puppy. I wish I still had a copy of it, so I could show my daughter who also likes to write. But it's long gone. All through junior high and high school I wrote short stories, complete ones and many incomplete ones, which I do still have filed away in my many dog-eared notebooks. Starting out so early gave me plenty of time to develop my own writing style and 'voice'. Of course, I had no clue the path to publication would be so long. It would be many years and several stories later that A BEAUTIFUL CAGE would be accepted. On the positive side, although I queried to a few agents, the story was accepted almost right away by the Wild Rose Press and I didn't have to wait long to find a home for the story.

2) What is the best and worse thing you have learned from an editor/agent?

Somewhere along the line, I developed a misconception of editors, so that even the mere thought of one reading through my story intimidated me, which is probably why it took me so long to submit. I imagined them with red pens in their hands swashing them through the air like swords, ready to hack my story to pieces. Boy, did I learn my lesson about that! Nan Swanson, my editor at TWRP, while very professional, was also kind and gracious. She gently steered me through the edits, which really weren't hard at all. The one thing she taught me that I can't believe I hadn't already learned was overuse of the word 'that'. Now I always re-read through my paragraphs looking for unnecessary 'thats'. She's been a tremendous help to me.

3) Favorite author/s?

I’m taking the coward’s way out of this one! *grin* I love classic authors like Jane Austen, Charlotte Bronte, and Margaret Mitchell. As for modern authors… there are so many! I can't really pick and choose, and I’d be afraid of leaving someone out.

4) What is your typical day?

The weekdays find me rising at 6 a.m. with my daughter and husband, helping them get off to school and work. Equipped with coffee, I head upstairs to my office and start work. Usually, I take care of internet business first - blogs and such. I drink more coffee. Then I start writing. I take a lunch break, drink more coffee, and follow it up with round two of writing. When my daughter comes home from school, I stop again. Throughout the evening, at random points between ball games and community/family functions, I pop in and out of cyberland. Then, at night, when everyone is in bed, I begin writing all over again. I always tell people I'm a speed reader, which is true. However, I’m NOT a speed writer. I wish I could churn out chapters as fast as other authors I know, but I can't. And I always do a gazillion edits. No, before you ask, I'm not a perfectionist... not really. lol

5) Share your blurb or short excerpt from your latest release with us.

A BEAUTIFUL CAGE

Wanted by the Gestapo, Rebecca Bloomberg is on the run for her life. Sheltering in the home of a reporter who writes absurd lies for a Nazi propaganda newspaper is hardly an ideal solution. Irresistibly drawn to the man, she dares not trust him, until she discovers his journalist position is a mask for involvement in an anti-Nazi resistance ring.

Gustav Von Furst has done all he can to perfect his mask. Neither his family nor his close friends know the truth. Hiding a Jewish girl is the most foolish risk, yet there is something about her that makes him want to protect her.

Eager to forget the outside world, Rebecca and Gustav are caught up in a private world of forbidden passion—until unexpected danger lands on their doorstep and they’re faced with a decision that will change everything. Will love demand a sacrifice too great to give?

Find it at The Wild Rose Press :

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_145&products_id=4606

Also at Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Cage-Alyson-Reuben/dp/160154958X/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1314806158&sr=1-3

Excerpt:

Splaying his hands across her bottom and mid-back, he pinned her tight.

She froze, motionless, staring up into his shadowed face, into eyes that glittered in the low light. How did he manage to look both irritated and roguish at the same time?

“Let me go, I—” But the words were smothered in her mouth as his lips plunged down over hers. She pushed at him, but he was unmovable. And with each passing second his lips ravished hers, she grew weaker, reserves fading. Even while she thumped his shoulders with her fists, her traitorous mouth opened wide for him.

At what point had she started losing control of her life? Was it when she lost her family? Lost James? When she was assaulted in the alley? Or when it was decided she must stay inside the von Furst home?

Well, there were some things she could still control. And this was one of them. With that resolve, she shot up on tiptoe, angling to bite his lips, digging her fingers into his back. She was going to take control of this kiss, dammit, whether Gustav liked it or not.

6) Who would you cast to play your hero & heroine in a movie?

I've often envisioned A BEAUTIFUL CAGE as a movie, down to the songs: Pain, by Three Day‘s Grace, Again, by Flyleaf, and Far Away, by Nickelback. But I haven't really thought of anyone in particular for the character roles. It wouldn't be easy to find a man of Gustav's powerful Nordic qualities. And Rebecca would need to be on the delicate side and yet carry a very strong screen presence. She’d have to embody sensitivity balanced by an inner strength.

7) Did you plan this book? Or write it as it came?

Both. I did a lot of research on the facts and history during pre-WWII Germany, the Holocaust, and on the resistance movement. I had to carefully plot the 'intrigue' sections. But for the character’s development and their romance, I went with my gut and just wrote.

During my best writing moments, I enter a 'zone', which is sort of daze that lets the characters write their story through me, like a channel of sorts. During less than ideal moments, mostly when I have to be precise and historically accurate, I concentrate on details, which doesn’t allow for as much flexibility.

8) What surprised you the most when you became a published?

Um... that would definitely be the promotion end of things. Before becoming seriously involved in publishing, I had no idea that so much promo would be necessary. Some of it I really enjoy, like being a guest here today, other parts I find to be difficult, mainly because they take away from the time I'd rather use for writing. But as every author knows, the promo is as important as writing the story. And as I grow acclimated to this end of publication, it’s becoming easier.

9) Do you have a dedicated writing space? What does it look like?

I have a home office that’s filled with both antiques and contemporary pieces. My glass desk is very modern, in an ‘L’ shape. Handy baskets separate scrap paper, pencils, pens, watercolors, charcoal, and other art supplies. In one corner of the desk is a small stack of books — a Webster’s dictionary and thesaurus, Writer’s Market, a Gregg’s Reference manual, and a baby name book (for characters and the meaning of their names). On the wall to my right, hangs one of my paintings - an acrylic still-life of fruit. An antique (mid 19^th century) tapestry hangs on the wall above my computer. On the other side of the room, a brocade fainting couch reminds me I have to take a break sometimes, although, in reality, my husband uses it more than I do! Above it hangs an aged lithograph of Civil War-era southern belles gathered around a piano.

I also burn candles for fragrance and ambiance. My favorite is spiced pear.

10) What’s next for you?

I'm currently working on two stories, because bouncing between two projects gives me a chance to view each one with fresh eyes. Also, it gives me enough variation to prevent 'writer's block'. A Beautiful Tempest (sequel to A Beautiful Cage), is about Rebecca's American family during WWII. The main characters are her cousin Anna and a man she meets overseas, Holden Ellsworth. The second story, Castles We Build, deviates from a classic romance, and takes place during the roaring twenties.

You can find me at….

My website: http://www.alysonreuben.com

My blog: http://www.abiteofreubensandwich.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=100001136916696

My Facebook author page (please ‘like’ me!): http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Alyson-Reubens-Author-Page/107423069337260

Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/alysonreuben

Alyson, thank you so much for answering my questions so fully, I am obsessed with the era of A Beautiful Cage and will download a copy asap. Off to link up with you on FB & Twitter, right now!

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