LOVING LORD ASH (The Duchess of Love #3) by SALLY MACKENIZE

After his attempt at misguided honor leaves him married to the evidently faithless Jessica, Kit, the Marquis of Ashton, summarily dumps his new wife at his country manor for eight long years. During this time rumors on both sides circulate to discredit both Kit's and Jessica's reputations with one another. Kit is faced with the fact he is now 30 and still has no heir to carry on the family name, so he decides to visit his wayward wife at Blackweith Manor and see if they can come to terms with the sad state of their marriage and possibly have her agree to give him his heir and spare.

Jess, the Lady Ashton, having been relegated to her exile of Blackweith Manor, is coming to her wits end. Ash never allowed her to explain the compromising position her found her in and has not once since he left her there at the manor, seen her. Jess is left to her designs with her unconventional but protective staff and her paints. 

When to everyone's surprise, Kit appears at Blackweith Manor, he yet again finds his indiscreet wife in another compromising position and decides a divorce is in order. Not wanting to be tossed aside, Jess faces Kit with a proposition that brings the pair to Town and at the mercy of Ash's family. Will the stubborn Ashtons be able to clear their heads and their emotional baggage in time to save the love that they obviously feel for each other or will they succumb to rumor and innuendo? Reading LOVING LORD ASH by Sally MacKenzie will answer those questions and so many more.

Aside from wanting to smack both Jess and Ash upside the head multiple times in LOVING LORD ASH, this story by Sally MacKenzie was entertaining and engaging. This is actually the first Sally MacKenzie book that I have read and I am very eager to go back and read the first two books in The Duchess of Love series. Having been a frequent flyer on wings of Murphy's Law, I truly feel and understand Jess' predicament. Having always felt like an outsider being the groom's daughter, Jess must overcome her feelings of inadequacy in order to fight for her place in Kit's life. As much as Kit wants to truly tell Jess how he feels, he has that devil sitting on his shoulder throwing all the bad in his face. At age 30, Kit must mature enough to open his eyes and not listen to that devil.

~KIMBERLY~

SPOTLIGHT ON STEPHANIE JULIAN ( Liberty States Fiction Writers, Create Something Magical Conference Author) & Giveaway

WELCOME TO BOOK OBSESSED CHICKS SPOTLIGHT ON AUTHOR STEPHANIE JULIAN. FIRST I HAVE TO SAY THAT I ADORE THIS LADY. I WAS INTRODUCED TO THIS TALENTED AUTHOR A FEW YEARS AGO AND I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT MY ENTIRE GROUP OF BOC LADIES LOVE HER. SHE ALWAYS HAS A SMILE ON, IS ALWAYS SO INFORMATIVE AND LOVES WHAT SHE DOES, AND SHE EVEN HELPS MAKE EMPANADAS WHEN NEEDED. 

Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi, I’m Stephanie Julian and I’m an erotic romance writer.  I’m married to a great guy, have two sons who are growing into men way too fast and I spend most of my days sitting in front of a screen typing and dreaming. Life’s pretty good.

When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer?

It’s all I’ve ever wanted to be, except for a brief period in third grade when I wanted to be an archeologist and dig up ruins in Italy. I’ve been a professional writer since graduating from college when I got a job at a newspaper. I left after seven years full time to freelance and that’s when I started writing romance.

Tell us about your upcoming work?

Over Exposed is the third book in the Salon Games erotic romance series.

When the cameras are off, the real action begins.

Greg Hicks is a Hollywood power player. For years he’s enjoyed the perks that come with being a top director and producer: the influence, the wealth…the women. But none of his many conquests have ever possessed the incredible sensuality of the young woman he once watched lose all inhibition in front of his camera.

Sabrina Rodriquez’s life is far from a Hollywood dream. Refusing to make the same mistakes as her unlucky-in-love mother, she’s focused on her first real job and avoiding all distractions, especially those of the male variety. Yet a man as compelling as Greg is difficult to ignore. And the desires he awakens are even harder to quench.

While a winter storm rages, a night at Haven Retreat leaves Sabrina’s and Greg’s temperatures rising. As Greg introduces Sabrina to the pleasures of voyeurism and exhibition, she unleashes his most decadent passions—and his creativity. But having Sabrina as a muse isn’t enough. He wants her to take a starring role in his bed…and in his heart.

http://www.amazon.com/Over-Exposed-Salon-Games-Novel-ebook/dp/B00GYA5820/ref=pd_sim_kstore_5

Do you have any mentors? Heroes?

I’ve been a reader nearly all my life. I started when I was five and haven’t looked back. The writers who made me want to become one include Laura Ingalls Wilder and Carolyn Keene, HP Lovecraft and Stephen King, Kathleen Woodiwiss and Bertrice Small.

Can you tell us your favorite character from your books so far and why?

The one I’m writing right now. Seriously. I believe you have to be in love with your hero(es) to write a good romance so whoever I’m writing now is the one I love the most.  And right now I’m writing Tristan and Adam, two very hot Alphas. Tristan has a bit of a chip on his shoulder and Adam…well, Adam is a hard ass.

Was it difficult for you to get published?

Absolutely. I spend four years writing and submitting and revising and getting rejected before I sold my first book 11 years ago. I had a few near misses, which break your heart, before I sold two sweet romances to Avalon. Then I totally changed direction a few years later and sold an erotic romance to Ellora’s Cave and I haven’t looked back.

Who are your favorite authors/reads?

The writers on my autobuy list include Nalini Singh, Lora Leigh, Abigail Roux and JR Ward.

  

Hobbies?

Reading. Running. Riding bikes (the foot-power kind) and watching Reading Royals hockey with my hubby. Music. Hard rock concerts where you’re out of place if you don’t have a tattoo. Broadway shows with my mom. Reader cons. And more reading.

Tell us a bit about your workshop(s) at the conference?

For the serious part of the day, I’m doing the Ultimate Submission workshop with Judi Fennell breaking down the dreaded queries and synopses. For the fun part of the day, I’m doing three reader panels: Building the Alpha Hero, Romance Family Feud and Dirty Pictionary.

 Do you have any favorite TV shows?

I watch a crapton of TV. Like, every night my DVR gets a workout. This season, I’m loving The Blacklist and SHIELD and the Walking Dead and Arrow and TeenWolf (oh Stiles, I love you. And Daddy Argent, be still my heart) and Castle and Community and The Neighbors and, oh my God, I’m loving Bitten, the show based on Kelley Armstrong’s Otherworld series. I also love Girls and True Detective and Supernatural (I’m a Dean girl, all the way) and Justified and Lost Girl and who would have ever thought Ichabod Crane would be hot, thank you so much Sleepy Hollow. And how can I forget Dancing With the Stars, So You Think You Can Dance, Finding Bigfoot, Faceoff, Ancient Aliens and Unearthing America. And when I’m not watching one of those, I’m watching hockey. I did say I watched a crapton of TV.

What’s next for you?

The third book in my Salon Games series will be released in July. Over Exposed is Greg’s story and, wow, I love Greg. He’s one of my all-time favorite guys. He’s got a dirty mouth and he’s a little older and a little more confident and he’s wonderful. In June, I’m planning for the release of my next Indecent serial, An Indecent Affair, so keep an eye out for that. And later this year, I’ll have a new Forgotten Goddesses book. And maybe even a new Lovers on the Fringe.

What would you like readers to know about you?

You can find me at all hours on Facebook (even when I shouldn’t be there) at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephanie-Julian/52545546702 and I love Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/stephaniejulian/. Check out my Stuck in the Middle board (yummy). I love to go to cons and talk to readers and talk books so I hope to see you all at one!

Hey all, don't forget to either comment here or over at the Book Obsessed Chicks Facebook Page for a chance to win any digital copy of Stephanie's backlist...... 

THE BRIDE SAYS MAYBE (THE BRIDES OF WISHMORE #2) by CATHY MAXWELL

Tara oh Tara, how impetuous you can be. Having made Tara Davidson's acquaintance in the first THE BRIDES OF WISHMORE book, THE BRIDE SAYS NO by Cathy Maxwell, we find Tara to be somewhat spoiled and headstrong. Why, this lady ran away from London on the cusp of her wedding because of her refusal to marry a man she did not love. Lucky for her sister Aileen, who happily ended up with Tara's would-be groom and a perfect match in the end. In the second installment of  THE BRIDES OF WISHMORE series, THE BRIDE SAYS MAYBE, Tara is still "in love" with horse master extraordinaire, Ruary and she will stop at nothing to convince him  that she is the woman for him... Oh but wait! Ruary is engaged to be married to a local girl. So the plot thickens...

Once again the Earl of Tay, substandard gambler and even more deficient father, has brokered a marriage for his daughter. This time the groom in question is Annefield's neighbor, Breccan Campbell who has paid the Earl for the "privilege" of his lovely daughter's hand, but Tara is still in love with Ruary, the common horse expert who even does business with Campbell. She is clearly opposed to any union with her wealthy neighbor, even if it will get her rogue of a father out of his financial straits. Breccan Campbell is known interestingly as the " Beast of Aberfeldy" and he is no simpering man of the ton. Breccan Campbell is a force to be reckoned with and he knows that Tara is going to be quite the challenge to win over, but he is completely up for that.

I must say that going into a story where I was in DISLIKE of the heroine was quite an interesting proposition for me. This is where the unique talent that author Cathy Maxwell has comes into play with her plot twists and her distinctive sense of humor, which inevitably melts the ice around that DISLIKE. It certainly doesn't hurt to have a uber awesome alpha hero like Breccan Campbell as well, who is now one of my permanent Book Boyfriends. This book has it all, adventure, a touch of mystery and a fabulous romance between this seemingly unlikely pair. It is such a pleasure to see such a spoiled little lass like Tara see the light, especially when such a strong and entertaining Breccan is the one to show Tara that light. Grab your copy of THE BRIDE SAYS MAYBE... and your copy of the BRIDE SAYS NO  for that matter. I promise, you won't be disappointed.

~KIMBERLY~

SPOTLIGHT ON MELINDA LEIGH ( Liberty States Fiction Writers, Create Something Magical Conference Author) &Giveaway

Welcome all to Book Obsessed Chicks Spotlight on author, Melinda Leigh. Once again, Liberty States Fiction Writers, Create Something Magical Conference was where I met this amazing lady. See? Such a great conference for expanding a reader's horizons. Melinda is one seriously awesome lady. She is an Audrey Hepburn with the mind of a Steven King if you get my drift. Melinda has graced the Book Obsessed Chicks book club meetings along with her buddy, author Rayna Vause and I have tempted her with my potent Sangria. Without further ado! Welcome Melinda Leigh

1. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

  Hi everyone!  I'm the author of bestselling romantic thrillers, including SHE CAN RUN, my debut International Thriller Award nominated book. I'm also a mom, a wife, and a martial artist. I have a fondness for rescue animals and British comedy.

2. When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer?

  Like all the best things in my life, I became a writer by accident. When my kids were small, I was reading 3-4 books a week because it was the only activity that didn't wake them up from their afternoon naps. One day my husband suggested I try writing a book instead of reading one. I liked the idea. It wasn't for several more years until I'd try to write as a serious career option, but I was hooked.

3. Tell us about your upcoming work? 

SHE CAN HIDE releases March 18. It's the 4th book in the SHE CAN series and is all about trust. Can a woman who's already been betrayed learn to trust again, even if her life depends on it?

4. Do you have any mentors? Heroes? 

  I just saw Red 2, and I now want to be Helen Mirren when I grow up.

5. Can you tell us your favorite character from your books so far and why? 

  Wow. I can't chose. When I'm immersed in a book, those are my favorite characters. It's the writer's version of Love The One You're With. 

6. Was it difficult for you to get published?

 I started seriously trying to get published in 2007, signed with an agent in 2009, and sold SHE CAN RUN in 2010, so I'd have to say I got very lucky. Good fortune aside, I have a business background, so I approached getting published like any other business venture. Start with a quality product, study the market, and be persistent. I spent a lot of time learning the craft of writing because I still feel that the absolute most necessary element is writing a solid book.

7. Who are your favorite authors/reads?

  Harlan Coben, Lisa Gardner, and Kendra Elliot are my go-to authors for a fabulous read.

8. Hobbies? 

  I've been into martial arts for about twelve years. The sport requires a  mental and physical concentration that provides a killer workout and totally clears my mind. You really have to pay close attention when someone is swinging a fist or stick at your head.

9. Tell us a bit about your workshop(s) at the conference?

I'm giving the Panic-Free Pitching workshop because I feel like everyone can present themselves well if they can just relax. Pitching shouldn't bring on an anxiety attack. it's simply one professional talking to another. Writers need to understand that agents and editors wouldn't have jobs without writers.

10. Do you have any favorite TV shows?  

I don't have much time for TV, but lately I've been watching The Following, Grimm, and The Big Bang Theory.

11. What’s next for you? 

  I have two more projects in the pipeline. A short

 story that should release in April and the 3rd installment in my Midnight Series, which will hopefully release in fall 2014.  Right now I'm working on the first book in a new series.

12. What would you like readers to know about you?

 I love when readers contact me.  I'm active on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. Don't hesitate to contact me.

Melinda is giving away, winner's choice of any of these in digital. Please leave a comment here, or on the Book Obsessed Chicks Facebook Page to be entered

AMANDA MCINTYRE'S KINNISON LEGACY SERIES ( BOOK 2) ~ RUSTLER'S HEART ~

OUT TODAY!!!!! 

Summer on the ranch just got hotter...Book Two of The Kinnison Legacy

Orphaned by tragedy, Rein Mackenzie was taken in by his benevolent uncle at the Kinnison ranch alongside two others abandoned at a young age. Now, he and his ‘brothers’ carry on Jed Kinnison’s dream of making the ranch a haven for those who need hope. But when a woman arrives claiming to be related to the Kinnisons, she brings danger—not only to his heart, but to those he calls family.

Liberty’s presence is a surprise to the family she’s never met, and while she yearns to belong, she knows her presence is a reminder of their painful past. Fearless, she dives in, losing her heart to the ranch, to the community, and to an unexpected summer fling.

But when dangers from her past catch up to her, they may cost her everyone and everything she has come to love.

BOOK 1 IN THE KINNISON LEGACY

Rugged, quiet, hardworking, Wyatt takes his position as head of the Kinnison family seriously. But the scars of betrayal by the women to whom he once trusted his heart now prompt his stark, simple game plan, and no one in hell is going to convince him any differently. What matters most, besides the welfare of his brothers, is to manage the ranch left to him and never risk his heart again to something as foolish as love—but after meeting Aimee, Wyatt begins to realize that a man should never say never to a determined second grade teacher.

When vivacious, resilient Aimee Worth loses her twin sister in a tragic accident, she makes the choice to live out her sister’s dream of teaching in the small mountain community called End of the Line, Montana, never suspecting she’d meet her Mr. Right in the middle of nowhere—he just doesn’t know it yet. Used to challenges, her spirit shatters the perceptions that have kept him isolated from living life beyond the ranch, proving to him that when it comes to love, the greatest risk is not taking one.

SPOTLIGHT ON TERE MICHAELS (Liberty States Fiction Writers, Create Something Magical Conference Author) & Giveaway

HELLO TO ALL AND WELCOME TO MY SPOTLIGHT ON AUTHOR TERE MICHAELS, WHO IS ACTUALLY A NEW AUTHOR TO ME. I WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL A TASTE OF ALL THE VERY TALENTED AND DIVERSE  AUTHORS WHO ATTEND THE LIBERTY STATES FICTION WRITERS CONFERENCE. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE INTERVIEW AND STICK AROUND FOR THE GIVEAWAY AT THE END.

 1. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself? I am a Jersey girl – sans the accent and hairspray and Sopranos stereotyping! I’ve lived in the metro NYC area for my entire life, except for a few months out in LA. Love it here, love Manhattan, love living in the burbs a few miles away. I’m happily married to a very smart and funny man; we have a rapidly growing teenage son and three spoiled cats. It’s a very good life. 

2. When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer? I was little – before kindergarten even. I read early (thank you Sesame Street!) and my mom got me a subscription to a Disney magazine for kids. When she explained that people wrote stories for a living, I was in. Never wanted to do anything else.

3. Tell us about your upcoming work? Right now I have a few irons in the fire but I am hard at work on a new series. Being a huge comic book fan, I decided to tackle the “hero” genre – think Batman more than Superman – and combine it with my other love, romance! I love the world-building, I love writing an origin story. And of course, the love story. It’s so much fun.

4. Do you have any mentors? Heroes? I really respect Bishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama – their words have inspired me on many levels, as a person. I think John Green’s connection to his fans is amazing. My mentors? Are my friends. I have some truly extraordinary people in my corner, helping me navigate this maze called life!

5. Can you tell us your favorite character from your books so far and why? That’s a hard one! I love all my characters but I do have a serious soft spot for Griffin (Love & Loyalty, Duty & Devotion). He has none of the traditional grumpiness of my characters. He’s funny and smart and loyal – and hopeful. I really adore that about him. My love for him might have been born out of the fact that he took me so long to “birth” – someone to tangle with Jim? Someone to make him believe in love? I went through several versions until one day he showed up, with his askew glasses and his charm. He’s the best.

6. Was it difficult for you to get published? I have been very blessed in my career. The first book I ever completed was Faith & Fidelity; I sent it to the publisher and they accepted it. It all happened very quickly and for that, I am very grateful.

7. Who are your favorite authors/reads? I don’t have much time to read these days, unfortunately. I enjoy YA books, especially dystopian stories. Currently I’m reading the Maze Runner series. I am always first in line for the next installment of the Black Dagger Brotherhood – bless J.R. Ward! Dean Koontz influenced me a great deal when I was a teenager, as did Jane Austen. My favorite last year was “The Night Circus” by Erin Morgenstern, which we read in book club. What a magical book!

8. Hobbies? I love taking walks in my local park. Movies – I’m a movie junkie! I enjoy my monthly book club a great deal. Oh and Sims! I love the Sims.

9. Tell us a bit about your workshop(s) at the conference? I am doing two – one is on Tropes We Love with Damon Suede and Kate McMurray. It’s about all those lovely plots we fall for and can’t stop reading; doctor/nurse, amnesia, on the run, secret baby! I can’t wait. The other is the Narrative Journey of the Relationship. I realized that you can take Joseph Campbell’s iconic Hero’s Journey and apply it to the romance of a story, to create the structure - the journey, the learning, the resolution. I played with it on paper then thought – this is so helpful! The stronger the bones of the journey, the stronger the emotional punch for the reader. It helped me – I hope it helps the attendees as much!

10. Do you have any favorite TV shows? I enjoy Glee, Arrow and Law & Order reruns, now and forever!

11. What’s next for you? I’m working on my new series as well as another anthology – this one is for the holidays. Expect another installment of my self-pub series with Nate & Sean, whom I love writing. And there are a few other projects for 2015 I’m already working on that I am very excited about. Perhaps even some more Matt & Evan? We shall see. (You can’t see but I’m totally smiling and winking!)

12. What would you like readers to know about you? Oh gosh – that I love talking to them. I love writing stories they enjoy. That I write for them and for me – because after my family, nothing makes me happier than this career I’ve carved out for myself. Writing has been my dream since childhood and to be able to do it now? There won’t be enough years for me to pay forward all the wonderful blessings I’ve received.

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SPOTLIGHT ON DAMON SUEDE ( Liberty States Fiction Writers, Create Something Magical Conference Author) &Giveaway

WELCOME TO BOOK OBSESSED CHICKS SPOTLIGHT ON AMAZING AUTHOR, DAMON SUEDE. NOW I AM TRYING TO REMEMBER WHEN I ACTUALLY "MET" DAMON THE FIRST TIME, BECAUSE IF YOU LIVE IN THE NEW YORK AREA, DAMON IS EVERYWHERE. I'VE SEEN HIM AT LIBERTY STATES, THE BOOK EXPO, RT.. HE IS QUITE A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH. EVER SINCE DAMON SUEDE'S FABULOUS READ, HOT HEAD, THIS TALENTED WRITER HAS AN AWESOME FOLLOWING OF LOYAL READERS AND FANS AND IN RETURN, DAMON IS SIMPLY AWESOME WHEN IT COMES TO THOSE FANS.

Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

I grew up in Texas, raised by a wacky, loving family who    raised me to be a kind of free-range disco vigilante…            fighting crime and seducing hot bohunks. I graduated high school  at 16 and hightailed it to NYC because I‘d known   from the age of seven that THAT was my home. LOL For     realz. Everything about the city called to me. I had been a   song-n-dance kid; I had a freak voice and did a bajillion     shows, a lot of Shakespeare and musicals, weirdly.               showbiz drove me like a demon. I lived and breathed it. 

When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve always been a casual writer going back to early              childhood, but while doing a show in London in the early 90s, I realized that I should be writing and directing for a    living which led to life as a commercial playwright, which  in turn got me sucked into the Hollywood sausage factory. Back in 2010, I wrote my first romance on a literal dare from an author friend. Hot Head became a surprise bestseller     and set me free to write fiction full time.  I haven’t looked   back! 

Tell us about your upcoming work?

Well, I’m finishing a category length romantic suspense, sort of blue collar meets blue blood which has been a blast to write. I’ll be wrapping that soon. The sequels to Bad Idea and Horn Gate both loom later in 2014, but I have to fit them into my schedule. And Hard Head (the sequel to Hot Head) has taken way longer than intended but it’ll be coming sometime in the not too distant future. Then I’ve got my steampunk for which I’m still trying to steal time. Work to do…work to do!

Do you have any mentors? Heroes?

Sheesh. Many. I think every artist stands on big shoulders.

Can you tell us your favorite character from your books so far and why?

Ack! No way. That’s like picking a favorite kid out of a big family. I love each of my characters for different things and those are always changing. I love Griff for his vulnerability. I love Trip for his creativity. I love Jillian and Rina for      their humor and loyalty. I love Mrs. Anastagio for her         prudence. I love Isaac for his obstinacy. I love Ox for his    patience. I love Dante for his shamelessness. I love Silas     for his hunger. I love Ziggy for his courage. I love Scratch    for his indelible monstrosity. I could never pick a favorite. 

Was it difficult for you to get published?

It’s gonna sound awful, but…no. This is where I’m a            terrible example for young writers. I wrote Hot Head in six weeks. I sold it in two days. Elizabeth North at Dreamspinner literally read it in a single sitting and called with an offer immediately, for which I will always be grateful. I never had the anxiety many authors go through. Then again, I      had been writing professionally for 20+ years at that point, so maybe I’d earned my bones a bit. LOL 

Hobbies?

·         Reading: I read like a woodchipper and books are easily one of the biggest items in my budget. You         name it, fiction, history, politics, science, lit crit.           Reading saves my life daily. 

·         Two-stepping: every weekend I can get my ass into Wranglers and boots. 

·         Terrible movie marathons: that is to say I have a     collection of thousands of godawful DVDs and will       willingly wallow in Pia Zadora or barbarian                  exploitation film festivals.  Anything that’s corny and  rotten that was made with affection. 

Tell us a bit about your workshop(s) at the conference?

I’m doing a couple things. I have a reader panel on popular tropes that I’m doing with Tere Michaels and                      Kate McMurray which will be looking at the way certain     classic story patterns persist and why. Then I’m doing a     writer track panel called Indelible Dialogue, to help writers who want to pump up their character’s  convos. Because  of my background in film/TV/theatre, I come with a big      bag of tricks and some useful warnings that keep saving   my bacon on the page.

Special mention, my boyfriend Geoff Symon, who is a         forensic investigator, is teaching a class on Forensics for     Fiction. He’s been watching (and helping) me for years,      and he’s worked up a fantastic syllabus to help genre          authors get the CSI right and beef up the crime in their      work. 

Do you have any favorite TV shows?

I don’t watch much TV. Trouble is, I worked in TV/film for too long to enjoy most things. I see all the bolts and             sutures. I can’t watch network TV at all, but we tend to be binge watchers with cable titles

Game of Thrones is pretty damn fabulous, probably              because Martin has serious chops as a TV writer and knew exactly what he was doing in there. A BBC show about       vampires called Ultraviolet, which only ran for one season, more’s the pity. And I’ll do I, Claudius marathons anytime you give me half a chance. LOL 

What’s next for you?

After I finish this category, my boyfriend and I are gonna    take some kind of weeklong vacation. Not sure where yet, but I know that my laptop won’t be making the trip. I’m    headed to Rainbow Bookfair in April and then RT down in New Orleans in May, and then BEA at the Javits Center     come June. 2014 is shaping up to be a fab year. 

What would you like readers to know about you?

That I am grateful beyond words or measure. Writing           romance has been one of the most joyful, liberating              experiences of my life. I love reading so much, that the        chance to write books that people dig seems like an             overwhelming blessing. Stories are how the world invents  itself, how we change our lives on the micro and macro       scales. SO thank you for reading and midwiving the future into existence, one dream at a time. 

DAMON AT RT2013 IN KC. 

BIO:

Damon Suede grew up out-n-proud deep in the anus of       right-wing America, and escaped as soon as it was legal.    Having lived all over, he’s earned his crust as a model, a messenger, a promoter, a programmer, a sculptor, a singer, a     stripper, a bookkeeper, a bartender, a techie, a teacher, a     director… but writing has ever been his bread and butter.

Though new to gay romance, Damon has been a full-time writer for print, stage, and screen for two decades. He has won some awards, but counts his blessings more often: his amazing friends, his demented family, his beautiful            husband, his loyal fans, and his silly, stern, seductive       Muse who keeps whispering in his ear, year after year. Get in touch with him at DamonSuede.com.

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SPOTLIGHT ON CARIDAD PINEIRO ( Liberty States Fiction Writers, Create Something Magical Conference Author) &Giveaway

HAPPY MONDAY ALL AND WELCOME TO MY SPOTLIGHT ON AUTHOR, CARIDAD PINEIRO. IT'S BEEN A FEW YEARS NOW THAT I MET CARIDAD AND SHE IS A WONDERFUL AUTHOR. SHE IS ALSO ONE BUSY LADY ALWAYS PUTTING HER HEART AND HER TIME INTO HELPING OUT WITH THE LIBERTY STATES CONFERENCE COMING IN MARCH. HER PARANORMAL TALES ARE SOME OF MY FAVORITES. ENJOY THE Q&A... 

1. Can you please tell us a bit about yourself? 

  I’m a Jersey girl who loves to travel, cook and write.  I love to spend time with family and friends and fell in love with romance novels after reading Shanna by Kathleen Woodiwiss.

2. When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer? 

  In the fifth grade, my teacher assigned a project:  to write a book that would go into a class lending library.  I started writing and by the time the book was due, my mom had to help me type 120 pages!

3. Tell us about your upcoming work? 

  I’ve got a bunch of releases!  My contemporary romances, The Perfect Mix and To Catch Her Man, will be out in March and April. I’m also working on the next work in The Calling\Reborn vampire novels, a novella titled Vampire Reborn.  It’ll be out in mid-March to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the first book in the series.

4. Do you have any mentors? Heroes?

  I have my fabulous friends in the Liberty States Fiction Writers and also my buddies in the upcoming Lucky 7 Bad Boys Contemporary Romance Box Set and the Dangerous Dozen Romantic Suspense Box Set.  It’s been fabulous working with them to develop these box sets and find out more about them.

5. Can you tell us your favorite character from your books so far and why? 

  Definitely Diana Reyes and Ryder Latimer from The Calling\Reborn Vampire Novel series.  I just love them because they are full of heart, determined and strong, but also vulnerable.  Even after a dozen books, I lover exploring their relationship and how it’s developing.

6. Was it difficult for you to get published? 

  I took me about five years after finishing my first book to sell it.  It was a very exciting time and I quickly sold another eight books.  Unfortunately, that publisher closed our line and I was left without a home.  It took me another 3 years after that to sell another book, but I did because I never gave up.  I guess that’s what I want to impress on aspiring authors, namely, that there will be ups and downs but you should never give up.

7. Who are your favorite authors/reads? 

  I love romantic suspense, but I also love contemporary romances.  I have lots of favorites, too many to name!

8. Hobbies?  Besides reading?

  I love to cook and to travel, but I hate to fly.

9. Tell us a bit about your workshop(s) at the conference? 

  I am offering a workshop with Elisabeth Staab and Stephanie Julian on “How to Build an Alpha Hero.”  We had done a workshop last year on world building and what was fun about it was that we let the attendees try to build the world.  It was amazing because I think that people realized all the ways that a story could evolve and the many choices that we have to make as authors when we decided to write a book.  I’m hoping people will also be fascinated by the man choices we have to make to build a hero and craft a story around him.

10. Do you have any favorite TV shows?

  I have so many!  I actually watch TV as I write.  Some of my favs are NCIS, Almost Human, The Big Bang Theory, Blacklist, The Mindy Project and Castle.

11. What’s next for you? 

  I have a number of books to re-release this year, plus some new books in The Calling\Reborn vampire novels.  I also have The Shattered on my list, the next book in the Sin Hunter series.  I’ve wanted to write it for some time, but because of the complexity of the mythology and the twist I want to introduce, it’s been tough to find the time to write it.

12. What would you like readers to know about you?

 I love hearing from readers!  They are one of the best things about being a published author.

Caridad on the web: http://www.caridad.com/

GIVEAWAY ALERT

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PLEASING THE PIRATE by SHARON CULLEN

Here is one of those titles that does not quite do the book justice. The title seems to be a bit light when in fact, this story has so much more substance than the title implies. PLEASING THE PIRATE by Sharon Cullen is a wonderful tale of what desperation will make someone do. Scottish lass,  Mairi McFadden has stowed away on a pirate ship after being sent by a trusted acquaintance who tells Mairi that pirate Captain, Phin Lockwood, will help her find her brother Grant. Grant McFadden has been away from his home and people in Scotland since the uprising with the English. He is now branded a traitor to the crown by the King.

Dashing pirate, Phin Lockwood was on his last mission, but this mission was one too many, for his luck ran out when he is captured and tossed into a dungeon in England. Convinced that he is going to his death when summoned into the King's presence, Phin is given a conditional reprieve with the help of affluent friends. The terms of his release are to find the traitor, Grant McFadden and give him over to the crown. Now determined to save his own life, Phin will do anything to bring Grant McFadden to justice, even use a wee Scottish lass as bait. 

What Phin does not count on, is this wee Scottish's lass' resolve to find her wayward brother and bring him back to Scotland to care for the people he abandoned on his quest for his hatred against the English. Mairi's strong will is an attraction for the pirate who has seen it all and when Mairi makes an indecent proposal to Phin, the lass has Phin's head spinning.

PLEASING THE PIRATE by Sharon Cullen is an adventure with intrigue and romance. Phin Lockwood has so more more to lose than just his life if he fails in his mission for the King. he is strong, intelligent and committed. Mairi is a fish out of water at first, with her skewed view on the English in general brought about by the injustices done to Scotland and her people and by the brother Grant, whose hated borders on insanity. When Mairi sees first hand that Grant was not all correct in his estimation of the English, especially those who have opened their hearth and homes to her, she begins to think her brother may be fighting the wrong fight. Mairi is no simpering female. She resolves to right injustice, even if it means the loss of her only family. Both Phin and Mairi are such fabulous characters and they play off each other so well. Their stark differences in upbringings only add to their plights and make the ending all so sweeter than expected. 

PLEASING THE PIRATE is the fabulous follow-up to THE NOTORIOUS LADY ANNE by Sharon Cullen and can be read as a stand-alone, although it's so much more fun to know more about all those characters by reading their beginnings. I highly recommend this historical romance. I enjoyed it and I think you will too.

~KIMBERLY~ 

SPOTLIGHT ON LAURA BRADFORD ( Liberty States Fiction Writers, Create Something Magical Conference Author) &Giveaway

HI ALL AND WELCOME TO BOC'S SPOTLIGHT ON AUTHOR LAURA BRADFORD. YES, SHE WRITES AMISH TALES AND WHEN I FOUND THIS OUT, I HAD TO HAVE HER ON THE BLOG, I HAVE A FASCINATION WITH ALL THINGS AMISH. LAURA WILL BE ONE OF THE FEATURED AUTHORS AT THIS YEAR'S LIBERTY STATES CONFERENCES AND I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING HER.

Can you please tell us a bit about yourself?

I’m Laura Bradford (the writer, not the agent).  I write in the cozy mystery genre under my own name, as well as my pen name, Elizabeth Lynn Casey.  While my focus at this time is mystery, I also have a few romance novels under my belt—one of which was recognized as the Reviewer’s Choice Winner for Best Harlequin American of 2010 by Romantic Times.

In addition to writing, I’m an avid reader who lives in New York with her family. 

When and how did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Originally, back when I was ten, I fell in love with the notion of writing books during a playdate with a friend. We’d played Barbie’s during the first half of a particularly rainy day and were looking for something different to occupy our time. My friend pulled out stacks of plain white paper, a box of crayons, and some pencils and our imaginations took over. Before long, we were writing children’s books and I was hooked.

I still have that book…and the one I wrote on its heels. Sometimes I even bring them with me when I go out on signings.

Tell us about your upcoming work?

On March 4^th, the third book in my Amish Mysteries—SHUNNED AND DANGEROUS—will release with Berkley Prime Crime/Penguin Publishing.  This series is written under my name, Laura Bradford.

After that, my next release will be on August 6^th when the ninth book in my Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries—TAKEN IN—hits store shelves. This series is written under my pen name, Elizabeth Lynn Casey.

Do you have any mentors? Heroes?

My first true writing mentor was my editor at the first newspaper I worked for as a college intern. Art taught me about leads, interviewing, and just about everything a writer needs to know.  I learned more from that man than I did in any of my writing classes in college.  As a result, I modeled one of the characters (a newspaper editor, no less) in my first-ever mystery series, The Jenkins & Burns Mysteries, after Art.

                I can also probably consider Mary Higgins Clark one of my mentors, even though I’ve only met her once (and that was long after I saw her as my mentor). It was her book, A CRY IN THE NIGHT, that convinced me I wanted to write mysteries.

Can you tell us your favorite character from your books so far and why?

That’s a tough one simply because I’m grown rather attached to all of them.  But I’ll try to narrow it down for you.

In my Amish Mysteries, I’d have to say it’s probably Aunt Diane. She’s the voice of reason character, I guess, and I adore her.  That said, I love writing Detective Jakob Fisher (former Amish), too. Having grown up Amish and then choosing to leave, his presence (as a law enforcement official) in the same town brings with it a lot of grief and tension. How he gets through it, with the help of my main character, Claire, is what I envy most about him.

In my Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries, I’d have to say Leona Elkin. She’s a sixty-something with a whole lot of sass and I rarely know what she’s going to get into from book to book until she starts talking in my head. Fun!!

Was it difficult for you to get published?

I sent my first book to a then-brand new independent print publisher in 2004. I had seen an ad in a writer’s magazine about this company and discovered that they were in the hunt for potential mystery series.  I sent my manuscript to them and waited six long months for a response. When they did, they said they liked the premise but my characters needed more depth. For a few months, I wasn’t sure how to do that, but once I figured it out, I resent and they gave me a contract. I wrote 3 books for them (all of which had book club rights picked up by Harlequin’s Worldwide Mystery) before making the decision to stop that series in the hope of getting in with a NY publisher.

I did just that with, first, the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries, and the Amish Mysteries. During that time, I also wrote and sold four romances to Harlequin American.

I hope, one day, to branch off into women’s fiction, as well.

Who are your favorite authors/reads?

I absolutely love Linda Castillo’s Amish Thrillers. Each one is better than the one before—which is a true measure of a good writer, in my opinion.

And I love Maggie Barbieri’s Murder 101 series.

  

Hobbies?

I love to travel when possible, and read every chance I get.

Tell us a bit about your workshop(s) at the conference?

STORIES THAT SELL is a writer’s track workshop that fellow author, Jenna Kernan, and I have put together utilizing movie clips to bring home the aspects all stories need in order to be attractive to a publisher.

With my background in contemporary romance and cozy mystery, as well as Jenna’s background in paranormal and western romance, I think we can bring a lot to the table to help our fellow writers in their pursuit of publication.

 Do you have any favorite TV shows?

I’m not a huge TV watcher, never have been. However, I’ve come late to the party on a few really good shows (oh how I love DVD collections) like Dexter and Castle.  Beyond that, I’m a die-hard Survivor watcher and a bit of a closet HGTV junkie.

What’s next for you?

I just finished writing the tenth book in the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries and the fourth book in my Amish Mysteries. Over these next few months, before I start on the fifth Amish book, my goal is to draft a proposal for a women’s fiction novel that’s been churning inside me for quite some time.  Wish me luck!

What would you like readers to know about you?

I love to get letters and emails from readers…and I do respond!  You can email me at: laura@laurabradford.com

If you just want to check in from time to time and see what’s happening (in terms of the next release, upcoming events, etc.), you can do that on my website:  www.laurabradford.com. There, you can sign up for my e-newsletter, read first chapter excerpts from each of my Amish Mysteries, and even download a printable book list with all of my titles—Amish and otherwise.

On Facebook? I have an author page where I occasionally host little giveaways for my fans, so be sure to stop by and “like” my page!

Oh…and if you’re curious about the Southern Sewing Circle Mysteries (under my pen name, Elizabeth Lynn Casey), you find out information about those books on www.laurabradford.com and/or www.elizabethlynncasey.com .

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