Romance Weekly #LoveWriteChat

Welcome back, everyone! If you've just landed here from Kim Handysides' website . . . Howdy! This week's revealing questions are brought to you by Dani Jace. Let's jump right on in. 

1. What is the most unusual thing you’ve ever done in the name of research for a book?

Ok. This is a bit embarrassing and sad, but I don't think I've ever done anything crazy for the sake of research. Although, since I've never been arrested (Yay me!) but my character is, my friend, who happens to be a lawyer, offered to take me through the booking process so I could get a feel for what happens. I just might take her up on that offer here real soon.

2. Name a nonfiction book you’ve read for research that you wouldn’t have read otherwise.  Not including writing craft books. 
Here's a book I read to help me with the writing of ASSASSIN P.I. It's called, The Everything Private Investigation Book: Master the techniques of the pros to examine evidence, track down people, and discover the truth, by Sheila L. Stephens. It would have been a wonderfully helpful book . . . if my character played by the rules. Since Jack doesn't mind breaking the law, it wasn't as valuable as it could have been for me. 

3. If you could travel anywhere to do research for a book, including back in time, where would you go?
I'm a SoCal girl, born and raised. To be totally honest, I've lived in my hometown my entire life and my exploits out of town are sadly lacking. I just don't seem to have a single adventurous bone in my body. Right now, all my traveling revolves around my son's soccer tournaments. It's not like I haven't done a bit of traveling myself, but if I could do it all over again? I'd kill to take a year or five off from life and just travel the world. I'd visit the East Coast, England, Paris, Italy, Greece, and of course, go back to Ireland and Costa Rica. Since I'm not very observant, I'd definitely have to plan extended vacations in each of these locations. Armed with a tape recorder, and my handy journal, I might actually be able to focus on the finer details of life, rather than just how petrified I'd surely be to be so far out of my comfort zone. As for which era I'd visit, I'm fascinated by the 1920's - 1940's. Hey, what girl doesn't like to swing dance?

Thanks for stopping by! Next up on the tour is Amy Jarecki. 

Cover Reveal: The Call by Patricia Hudson

It's that time again! I've got another talented Soul Mate author to share with you. Patricia Hudson's new romance, The Call, is all set to take Amazon by storm on April 23rd and she's here today to give y'all a sneak peek at her gorgeous new cover. Let's show her some love! 

Available April 23rd on Amazon

Book Blurb

Is it witchcraft or madness? Angharad Jones heeds the call and relocates to Wales hoping to discover her heritage. She is unprepared for the battle of power unleashed upon her arrival.

Angharad, a successful author, seeks answers to explain the visions plaguing her since childhood. In a drastic move to uncover the mystery behind her visions, Angharad moves to Wales, the one place her mother refuses to talk about.

While renting a cottage in Fishguard, she meets Rhyse Williams, the handsome Chief Inspector, who is investigating the death of two students found naked and bound together on the beach below the cliffs surrounding the village; the same two students in Angharad’s vision. Their attraction to one another is immediate and intense, but can she trust Rhyse or will he run for the hills when she tells him about her visions. It is all unleashed when Angharad discovers that Rhyse is part of the call. Are they destined for love or betrayal? Murders are uncovered, spells are cast and love is found. The battle of power between good and evil begins.




About Patricia Hudson:  Patricia Hudson was born in Wales, U.K. As a young girl she moved to America with her family and currently resides on a small horse farm in central Illinois, with her husband, David, two dogs, and her beloved quarter horse.

She has written seven books: Stolen Hearts released in 2013. The Call, Love on the Double T, Love's Deception, and The Exchange to be published in 2014. Also in production are The Circle, and Jana Morgan, PI.

Join her on www.facebook.com/AuthorPHudson
Tweet on www.twitter.com@AuthorPHudson

Wow, talk about prolific! I wish I had an ounce of Patricia's energy (and focus). I wish you all the best of luck with your book sales, Patricia. I hope you'll come back and see us soon! 

Romance Weekly: #LoveWriteChat

It's time for your weekly dose of Romance! If you've just arrived here by way of Gemma Brocato's website . . . Welcome. I hope you'll enjoy your stay and visit again soon. This week's questions come from my friend, Rebekah Ganiere, whose paranormal novel, Dead Awakenings, is taking Amazon by storm.

Who is your favorite character you've written and why?
Oh, dear. I don't think I can pick just one. As much as I love the heroes and heroines that I write, my favorite characters are by far the secondary characters. They get to say and do whatever they want, often without any repercussions. Max, from Redemption For Liars, is one such character. She's old, cranky, and speaks her mind, especially when dealing with her sister, Lou. Here's a little snippet of a conversation between the two sisters.

Max bellowed from the kitchen, “If you ask me, you’re better off without that sorry excuse for a man. Never did like the son of a bitch. It ain’t right for a husband to go gallivanting around and leave his wife and child alone for weeks on end.”

“Maxine,” Lou chided, appalled by her statement.

“Some things are better left unsaid, but I have to agree wholeheartedly with my crass sister.” 

Max interjected. “What she needs to do is get laid. One quick, good roll in the hay would make her forget all about that jackass." 

Lou slapped her hand down on the table. “Holy hell, Maxine. What has gotten into you today?” 

“It’s this job. It’s driving me crazy.” Max grabbed a skillet and slammed it down on the stove. “Or maybe it’s you. Not sure which, but when I decide, I’ll let you know.”

See? Wouldn't it be cool to not worry about filtering your words? Max is my hero!

Do you prefer to write your Hero or Heroine?
I'm not sure I really have a strong preference, but I do enjoy writing the hero's reaction to the heroine. Since I'm a girl, and thus am not privy to the inner thoughts of my man, I'm often left pondering what in the world goes on inside his head. What is he really thinking when he looks at me, raises his eyebrow, and cocks his head to the side? Is he plotting all the ways he'll ravish my body later, or is he simply wondering why in the hell I'm blocking his view of the t.v.?

Jack, my anti-hero from Assassin P.I. is fun to write because the entire story has a 1940's flair to it. Jack refers to women as dames or dolls and is the epitome of an old-fashioned gentleman. I love watching Angie get under his skin to reduce this big, strong man down to a pile of mush when confronted with the woman he loves. I can't help it. I'm a romantic at heart, and love living in a fantasy world of my own creation. I get to shape and mold my brooding heroes into whatever I want them to be. Yep. Definitely enjoy writing the hero.

What are the three things you can't write without?
Inspiration - I've discovered that my muse is incredibly lazy and fickle. She's often MIA and needs to be duct taped to a chair.

Or perhaps it's me who needs to be duct taped to the chair. Just don't tell my hubby I said that, or he'll be tempted to really do it.

Peace and quiet - I find it really tough to write when my hubby or kids are making noise. I probably should go ahead, bite the bullet, and buy those noise canceling headphones my husband suggested.

The perfect song piped into my ears - My current favorite songs come from the Sherlock, Series 3 soundtrack. 

Well, that's it for today! Next up on the Romance Weekly Blog hop is Jami Denise.  http://www.jamidenise.weebly.com/blog.html. 

See y'all on Thursday when Patricia Hudson reveals the cover of her new book. 

Cover Reveal: The Bride Gift by Sarah Hegger

Today I have the distinct pleasure of unveiling the stunning cover for THE BRIDE GIFT, the upcoming debut from fellow Soul Mate author Sarah Hegger. You may recognize her from the Romance Weekly blog chats. Without further adieu, I'll let Sarah tell you all about her new book! 

Coming Soon: May 14th, 2014

Book Blurb

It’s 1153 in the period dubbed ‘The Anarchy’, King Stephen and Empress Maud are not the only ones embroiled in a fierce battle of the sexes.

Determined to control her own destiny, wilful Helena of Lystanwold has chosen just the husband to suit her purposes. But, when her banished guardian uncle attempts to secure her future and climbs through her bedroom window with a new husband by a proxy marriage, she understandably balks. Notorious warrior Guy of Helston is everything Helena swore she would never marry; a man who lives by the sword, like the man who murdered her sister.

This marriage finally brings Guy close to his lifetime dream of gaining lands and a title. He is not about to let his feisty bride stand in his way. A master strategist, Guy sets out to woo and conquer his lady.

Against a backdrop of vengeance, war and betrayal, Guy and Helena must learn to forge a united front or risk losing everything.

This is my very first cover and it marks one of those milestones for me as a writer. I’m still struggling to get past my name on the cover. Feel free to tell me what you think. Or drop by and see me on:  

Website     Facebook     Twitter

About Sarah Hegger: Born British and raised in South Africa, Sarah Hegger suffers from an incurable case of wanderlust. Her match? A hot Canadian engineer, whose marriage proposal she accepted six short weeks after they first met. Together they’ve made homes in seven different cities across three different continents (and back again once or twice). If only it made her multilingual, but the best she can manage is idiosyncratic English, fluent Afrikaans, conversant Russian, pigeon Portuguese, even worse Zulu and enough French to get herself into trouble.

Mimicking her globe trotting adventures, Sarah’s career path began as a gainfully employed actress, drifted into public relations, settled a moment in advertising, and eventually took root in the fertile soil of her first love, writing. She also moonlights as a wife and mother.

She currently lives in Salt Lake City with her teenage daughters, two Golden Retrievers and aforementioned husband. Part footloose buccaneer, part quixotic observer of life, Sarah’s restless heart is most content when reading or writing books.

Thanks, Sarah! Please come back to visit us when your book is released. We'd love to help you celebrate!  The Bride Gift is set to hit Amazon on May 14th, 2014. 

Romance Weekly - #lovewritechat

Welcome back for another fun-filled edition of Romance Weekly. Each week, a group of romance writers will answer three questions for your reading pleasure. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to travel from blog to blog, learning more about our eclectic group of authors who span the globe. And don't forget to leave a comment. We love comments.

This week's questions come from author Joanne Guidoccio. You can learn more about Joanne's books on her website:
http://joanneguidoccio.com.

Ready? Here we go!

1. Scenario: A Hollywood producer is interested in your book. Can you come up with an enticing logline (plot summary of 25 words or less)? 

Here's my logline for my current work in progress, Assassin P.I.

The vigilante justice business gets mighty complicated when the killer you’re tracking . . . turns out to be you.

2. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? 

Gerard Butler has always been my inspiration for down-on-his-luck assassin Jack Gaines. Jack is an old-fashioned kind of guy, who values justice above all else. Unfortunately he's living in a corrupt city where the cops are as dirty as the streets. Think Chicago, circa 1940's.

Gerard Butler has got the right amount of alpha male sex appeal that will make the ladies swoon, balanced with the acting chops that would allow him to pull Assassin P.I. off.

And did I mention that he's damn sexy? He just might be yummy enough to help everyone forget that his character is a serial killer. And a little bit of eye candy never hurt anyone.

When it comes to Angie's character, I picture Monica Bellucci in the role. When I first started looking for inspiration, this photo immediately grabbed my eye. She's got the whole wide-eyed innocence act down pat, which is the perfect description of my Greek goddess, Angie.

Angie is a gal who knows how to use her good looks and charm to get anything she wants. As a burlesque performer-turned Gal Friday, it's a skill that served her well. Especially when it comes to dealing with her ex-lover, Jack. Whenever the two are together, the flame is reignited.

Too bad she's setting Jack up.



3. Does the storyline of your novel compare with any films out there?
Someone once compared the storyline to Dirty Harry meets Dexter. I'm not sure if that's an accurate depiction, but I love the comparison. Vigilante justice at its finest!

That's it for today. Now it's time to head on over to Collette Cameron's website to see how she answered these questions. And while you're there, check out the cover of her upcoming book.  http://blueroseromance.com.

See y'all next week! 

Cover Reveal: The Earl's Enticement by Collette Cameron

YAY! It's Thursday! And that means . . . . I can finally reveal my new weekly feature: 

Each week, I'll shine the spotlight on a fabulously talented friend. We'll be talking books, romance, and who knows? Maybe even the topic of sex will pop up every once in awhile. Check back each week for another mind-blowing cover reveal, saucy interview, or book release party.  

My very first Thursday Talent guest on the blog is fellow Soul Mate author Collette Cameron, whose Regency-Scottish Historical Romance is set to hit Amazon on May 28th. She's an award-winning, best seller and she's here today to give us a sneak peek at the cover of her new book. Isn't it hot, hot, HOT? Here's Collette with the inside scoop.

Hits Amazon May 28th. 

Book Blurb

She won’t be tamed. 

A fiery, unconventional Scot, Adaira Ferguson wears breeches, swears, and has no more desire to marry than she does to follow society’s dictates of appropriate behavior. She trusts no man with the secret she desperately protects.

He can’t forget.

Haunted by his past, Roark, The Earl of Clarendon, rigidly adheres to propriety, holding himself and those around him to the highest standards, no matter the cost. Betrayed once, he’s guarded and leery of all women.

Mistaking Roark for a known spy, Adaira imprisons him. Infuriated, he vows vengeance. Realizing her error, she’s appalled and releases him, but he’s not satisfied with his freedom. Roark is determined to transform Adaira from an ill-mannered hoyden to a lady of refinement.

He succeeds only to discover, he preferred the free-spirited Scottish lass who first captured his heart.




A bit about Collette
Award winning, Amazon best-selling, and multi-published historical romance author, Collette Cameron, has a BS in Liberal Studies and a Master's in Teaching. A Pacific Northwest Native, Collette’s been married for thirty years, has three amazing adult children, and five dachshunds. Collette loves a good joke, inspirational quotes, flowers, the beach, trivia, birds, shabby chic, and Cadbury Chocolate. You'll always find dogs, birds, quirky—sometimes naughty—humor, and a dash of inspiration in her novels. Her motto for life? You can’t have too much chocolate, too many hugs, or too many flowers. She’s thinking about adding shoes to that list.

Connect with Collette:  Website   Blue Rose Romance Blog   Twitter   Facebook

You can connect with Collette on Goodreads, LinkedIn, and Google+ too. Go to her website for the links, her email address, and mailing address.

Thanks Collette for being my first Thursday Talent guest! We'll see you soon! 

And I hope I'll be seeing you all again next week when Sarah Hegger reveals her debut book cover. While you anxiously await next Thursday, pop in on Tuesday for another Weekly Romance Chat with yours truly. See ya later! 

Romance Weekly - #lovewritechat

Welcome back for another fun edition of Romance Weekly! If you've visiting by way of author Kim Handysides, thanks for popping in. I hope you'll enjoy this stop on the tour. For those who don't know how this works, each Tuesday I'll answer three questions about my writing life. At the end of my post, I'll add a link to the next author on the tour. Follow the links to meet lots of new authors. You've finished the tour when you wind up back on my website. If you like to tweet, you can use the hashtag: #lovewritechat.

This week's questions come from author Shannon Kennedy. You can check out her books for young adults at: www.shannonkennedybooks.com or her mainstream cowboy romance books at: www.josiemalone.com.

Photo courtesy of Natural Kid Pix

How do you find the appropriate setting for the story or does it find you?
Good question. I'm not really sure. Redemption For Liars is set in a small town similar to the one I grew up in, or the one where my father grew up. Assassin, P.I. is set in a larger city filled with corruption, ala 1940's Chicago style. The settings just seemed to fit for the stories I was trying to tell. Since I've lived in the same city my entire life - in a whopping total of 4 houses - developing a strong setting can be difficult for me. You would think, based on how obsessed I am with taking photos of gorgeous landscapes, I would use my own photos for inspiration, but I haven't yet. I'd love to travel more, to experience new locales, so I have a richer base of knowledge to draw upon for future stories.

What is your support system for your writing, family, friends, other writers?
In the beginning, my mom was my biggest supporter. She endured hours on end of brainstorming
sessions, slashed away at my typos with her handy red pen, and encouraged me to keep going despite all those pesky rejection notices. Now that mom is gone, my family and co-workers have picked up where she left off, acting as my sounding boards, whether they want to or not.

Along the way to publication, I've met several fabulous writers who've been kind enough to lend their support and expertise. Among them are Dianne Gardner, Rebekah R. Ganiere, and my teacher-writer peeps from the Inland Area Writing Projects: Sharon, David, and Cindy.

More recently, I've joined Rom-Critters, an online critique group for romance writers, and Romance Writer's Weekly, a co-op of writers working together to build up their online reputations and inspire each other to greatness.  I also have a wonderful support system built in with my Soul Mate Publishing authors. My Soul Matey's graciously share advice and help each other with promotion.

P.S. I love you all! 

What is the worst writing advice you ever received and how did you deal with it?

I don't think I've ever received any bad writing advice, however I've been told:

"Your storyline sounds just like this movie I watched last night."

It drives me CRAZY! (You know I'm talking about you, sis. Love ya anyways.)

I try to smile, thank the person, and then go right back to writing. Even if my storyline is slightly reminiscent of a movie or book, I'm confident that my stories are strong enough to stand on their own. After all, it's about the unique spin you put on the tried-and-true. Just look at all the famous Romeo & Juliet remakes. Grease and West Side Story both tell the same basic storyline, yet they were very successful in their own right. I try to remind myself that my story is unique, despite a few general similarities.

Well, that's it for this week's installment of Romance Weekly. Let me direction your attention to the ever lovely, Sarah Hegger. http://sarahhegger.wordpress.com. Sarah writes both medieval romance and contemporary romance. Her debut novel hits Amazon this May. Enjoy the rest of your tour!