Eleven months!

I was chatting with an old friend today about blogging and she asked me a question about my blog. It wasn't until I popped on to tell her what font I use (that's the kind of things people with blogs chat about!) that I realized my last post was ELEVEN MONTHS AGO! 

Where did time go? What have I done in that time? Well, to be honest, I didn't do a whole lot of anything for most of the time. I tried to write. But my mojo had gotten up and stormed out the door in diva fashion. Luckily, we went on a trip to England in October and while I was there I started to feel the strings of stories wanting to be told. 

In October I wrote a Christmas short story, A Kiss Worth Chasing. That's now on offer for free to anyone who signs up to my mailing list. See the box to the right of this post? You can sign up over there! 

Then in December I chatted with my print publisher, Flanker Press, and we made a deadline for book 5 in the Heart's Ease series. Between then and now I wrote a novel, flew my editor down work with me, set it to Flanker, set it up as an ebook and am now preparing for it's release next week. In between all of that my son and I battled wicked chest infections, and on the day the book was sent to the printer, I ended up in hospital having emergency surgery. I'm fine. :) 

So that's it for 11 months. I'm going to try my best to blog a bit more regularly. I know. I know. If you follow my blog you know I've said that many times in the past. But hey, at least I keep trying. 

So tell me in the comments. What have you done these past eleven months? 

Romance Writers Weekly: July 14, 2015

I'm so not into sports, however, I love being motivated by music, so I think I can manage today's question with ease. Susan Scott Shelley asks:

A player's walk-up song (aka Entrance Theme), whether he's heading to the pitcher's mound or the batter's box, can tell a lot about him. What song would you choose for yours?

I honestly can't imagine me "walking up" to any place that requires music (I've already gotten married so that's taken care of). So I'm doing a little creative interpretation of the question. Because for me, "walking up" in the professional sense means sitting at my keyboard and feeling the groove to write. 

Alas, this means multiple songs, because I'm very much inspired by music. But it depends on the piece I'm working on. I'm currently working on several projects but the two that seem to be the most greatly impacted by music are Alpha Wars and the fifth book in my Heart's Ease series. So that's what I'm sharing today. 

Alpha Wars

First up, my alter ego, Hannah Hunter. I'm loving this series about Irish shifters, especially the bad boys. I'm a die hard traditional music fan, so when I started thinking about the Faoladh and the Conroicht, I had no trouble imagining big burly men who love to lift a pint and sing sad Irish songs. Here's a song I've listened to a lot while writing this one, sung by The Navigators, one of my favourite Newfoundland bands. 

 

Book 5 of Heart's Ease

I'm positive I've posted this before, however, nothing has changed. I was driving one morning listening to Newfoundland's own Tom Power who graces our national radio program, CBC's Radio 2 Morning. And on comes this song by Whitehorse. Bam. My hero came to life as I listened. I mean, come on.  "I'd don't have much, but I've got the good stuff." That lyric sums Will Walsh up to a T! It's my power anthem for this book, without a doubt. 

And because this book is starting to take up a lot of my headspace, it gets two songs! "I don't know where and I don't know when, but I know  we'll be lovers again." Atta boy, Passenger. This is Will's softer side. The side no one sees but our heroine. 

So there you have it. My "walk-up" songs. Now let's go see what my friend Betty Bolte has chosen. I'm always stoked about musical posts. I mean, come on. Romance writing and music? What a perfect combination. 

Also, if you've read something by me and think you know a song that sums up the feeling or mood or whatever, feel free to share it in the comments.

Romance Writers Weekly: May 26, 2015

Okay. I've clearly fallen off the blog wagon. But since my darling critique partner and fellow Newfoundlander Kate Robbins is back with the Romance Writers Weekly gang this week, I figured I'd follow my advice to her and get back to it as well.

If you've found your way here from my pal J.J. Devine, thanks for keeping up the hop. This week we're talking about how to feels to be an author, which is the most awesome job in the world, by the way. So without delay, here we go.

1. Describe that moment you first felt like a true author (not just an aspiring one).

That's a great question, and to be honest, I'm not sure. Perhaps it was at the Romance Writers' of America national conference in Atlanta in 2013. Against Her Rules had been out for about a month, and I had paper copies to give out in the goodie room. To see my book there in a room full of swag and samples and books from some of my favourite authors was pretty awesome. 

2. Name three authors who you inspire you.

Just three? Well, here we go.

Bella Andre - I was in the dark about self-publishing until I read about Bella's success. So I credit her pioneering with giving me the confidence to do it myself.

Julia Quinn - My favourite romance writer (and that's saying a lot because I love so many writers.) But it was Julia's What Happens in London that really got me seriously thinking about writing romance. I love the wit and the humour in her stories. She does things with dialogue that I aspire to. 

Christi Caldwell - Follow this author on Facebook and you'll see something amazing. She is a busy mom (twin toddlers and a child with special needs) and she's totally present in her kids lives. And still... STILL.... the number of books this woman produces is astonishing. I wish I had an inch of her energy and dedication. 

3. Describe your favorite fan moment (either you as the fan or one of your readers approaching you as a fan).

I can't pick one. Every time I meet a fan (it still freaks me out a little that I have fans!) it's amazing. I love getting emails from people who have just discovered my books, or from people anxious for the next. There's nothing guaranteed to perk up my day than a great new email. But I love going to readings and signings and meeting people who are excited to read whatever it is I'm working on. Readers are the best! And there's no way I can have a favourite because they have all made me feel like an author. Thank you!

And now, dear friends, let's hop on over to Susan Scott Shelley to see her answers. Have a wonderful week, and I'll try my best to be back next week. 

Self-publishing in the digital age

“Please note: This article was originally written for the Writer’s Alliance of Newfoundland and Labrador’s quarterly publication: WORD. It appeared in the Spring, 2014 issue. ”

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E-books. Love them or loathe them, there’s no denying the impact they’ve had on us authors. Let’s skip over the debates around how we like to read and the fate of brick-and-mortar stores. Instead, let’s talk about the very real impact e-books have had on our ability as authors to make a genuine, real-life, livable wage as a writer.

Digital publishing has stripped away all the reasons why authors could not realistically make a living self-publishing. For the career-minded author who is interested in approaching their writing career as a business, the road to independence is paved with—well, not gold, not for all of us—but with the potential for financial stability if not all- out success.

There’s been considerable debate in the self-publishing community about earnings and sales. For the most part, we hear the success stories of the now rich and famous like Hugh Howey and Bella Andre. And we also hear the tales of woe from those who have not seen that success. The problem is that none of the booksellers have offered quantifiable data on the state of the self-publishing industry in the digital age. That puts the onus on authors to try and piece together actual evidence of what we think we know of whether it’s possible to live off the wages garnered from self-publishing.

Two recent reports are setting the indie publishing tongues ablaze with their findings, not because we are surprised but because we are finally seeing some evidence of what we believe to be true.

What are these “truths?" First, that genre fiction, especially those that can be serialized, are the current moneymakers. Second, that there are authors out there making a living wage as full-time writers.

In January, romance author Beverley Kendall released her 2013 Self-Publishing Survey. While she is the first to admit that her data is likely to have a higher number of romance authors as respondents since that is her genre, what’s significant is this finding: more than forty-eight per cent of her 822 respondents reported incomes over $10,000 for 2013. Twenty-four percent reported more than $50,000 for the year. She also made a correlation between earnings and number of books published, showing that the more books published, the higher the earnings. I’d like to insert a cheeky duh! here. Still, these findings are based on a small pool, and rely on self reporting.

In February, Hugh Howey released what might be the first earnings report based on analytical data. I’m not an expert in the science behind it, but Howey claims that he was approached by an author with coding skills who had developed some way to pull and analyze public data from Amazon. Howey’s report is full of tidbits on the self-publishing industry, and again draws the genre-fiction- equals-success conclusion, citing romance, mystery/ thriller, and science fiction/fantasy as the biggest sellers. His findings on revenue are very similar to Kendall’s. And bringing the two ideas together, marrying genre fiction with earnings, Howey says the data shows that “Indie authors are earning nearly half the total author revenue from genre fiction sales on Amazon.” 

This is where I make my full disclosure. I’m not making a living as a self-published author—yet. However, I’ve spent the past year researching, writing, planning, writing, editing, writing, learning, writing and basically working my fingers and brain to the quick to see if I can find some of the success that other authors in my genre (contemporary romance) are experiencing. That said, I know of at least one local erotica writer who recently told me that the household rent and bills are now being covered monthly by the income from her indie publications. That’s one person locally I know. (I suspect there are more out there, but it’s my experience that genre writers in this province hide themselves away in fear of stigma. But that’s another article.) I also met dozens upon dozens of others in this genre this past summer at the Romance Writers of America national convention.

Now that I’ve painted such a rosy picture and you’re wondering how to get in on this great opportunity, let’s talk about just how hard it is to self-publish and why it’s not for everyone.

I’ve devised a checklist to help you determine if self-publishing is for you:

Are you capable of writing three or more novels a year?

“Publish or perish” was never more true than in the self-publishing industry. You must be a content creator. And not all of us are. Self-publishing is a business. Not an art form.

Are you capable of either creating your own covers or paying someone who is skilled at cover creation to do this for you?

There’s nothing that screams amateur faster than a terrible cover. It takes more than knowing Photoshop to make a cover. If you don’t have the skills, pay someone who does.

Does the idea of marketing make you sick to your stomach?

If you have a checkmark next to that question above, self-publishing isn’t for you. Unless you’re prepared to take a big dose of Gravol and do it anyway. If you don’t sell your book (and by sell, I mean create buzz) no one else will. There are thousands of indie authors out there trying to find readers. A savvy indie author keeps up on current marketing trends, and isn’t afraid to promote.

Are you a multi-tasker?

Some of the most successful indie authors I’ve met work all day, every day. At the RWA Nationals, Bella Andre said her day begins with writing her daily word goal. Then it’s on to marketing. Cover creation. Editing. Talking with her editor. Meeting with her audio book team. And the day goes on.

It comes down to this. Self-publishing isn’t just about being an author. It’s about being a business owner. You need to do so much more than write, although that’s what you should be doing the most. You need to determine what’s worth the cost and what isn’t. Find ways to reach new audiences. Maintain your current readership. Juggle the business of publishing with the art of creating. 

Personally, I can’t see the traditional publishing industry disappearing. They offer a valuable skillset to the authors who need them. Frankly, I’d hate to see them disappear. Likewise, small digital presses have their merits as well. A good friend of mine, also a local romance author, is published by one of these small presses. It’s perfect for her. It’s not for me. And the beauty for us as authors in today’s publishing environment is that we have more options than ever at our fingertips to find our niche for success.

If you’re curious about self-publishing, I’d love to have a chat. Feel free to contact me. And if you’ve already started your indie journey, I’d love to talk with you, too. I believe the strength of this publishing option lies in our willingness to share our knowledge. 

Romance Weekly: November 11, 2014

Before I begin today I just wanted to take a minute to remember in the blogiverse the sacrifice of so many men and women who have given their lives, their health (physical and mental), their courage and their time to keeping us safe. Thank you. 

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This week we're back to the good old three questions, and we have Eden Ashe to thank for it. Without further fanfare, let's get down to it. 

1. How much free reign do you give your characters during a story?

As much as needed to get the story out there. Mind you, I do have a pretty solid idea of who the main characters are so they don't get up to too much trouble in my head. 

2. Have your characters ever done something so out of the blue that not only changed your story, but changed the tone and maybe even the genre you were originally going for? (Like your contemporary romance turned into a spicy paranormal)

Not yet. I'm a pantser writer for sure, but a lot of the story already exists in my head. I know what has to happen, it's what goes on in the middle that can be surprising. Still, I think I keep my head pretty nailed in my genre so it doesn't get out of hand. 

3. Do you have one character in your head that is sort of boss over all the rest? Or do you decide who to work on and when?

I write the story from start to finish, and often the only points of view I use are the hero and heroine. Or in the case of my Forever Geek trilogy, just Jillian. I'm the boss of them all. 

Short answers this week, but sadly, I guess I keep too tight a reign on everyone to have any big secrets to spill. The only time a character went in a different direction for me was Asher during his first appearances in Against Her Rules. Look how that turned out. He became hero of his very own book (21st Century Rake!)

So let's hop on over to the ever-fun Christy Carlyle and see if she's the boss of her characters. 

Cover Reveal: Geek Groom

Sometimes I need a swift kick in the pants to get something finished. Such is the case with Geek Groom. It's nearly finished. So what better way to ensure that I get it done than to show off the cover, and promise you that it will be available before the end of the month. 

I know. I"m nothing if not silly.

I wish I had a blurb to share with you, but alas, I'm too busy writing the book to write about the book. Instead, I thought I'd share a few of my favourite quotes with you.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, this is the continuation of Jillian and Evan's story that I started with Geek God. 

Finally, a huge thanks to my bestie, Crystal McLellan, for not only designing yet another amazing cover for me, but for letting me hang out with her in her studio while she did the photoshoot. The rings are hers. The dice are mine.

I hope you enjoy!

“When I was a little girl there were a lot of things I imagined I’d be doing in the months leading up to my wedding. Going for a mani-pedi. Check. Trying on a million gowns. Check. Choosing a china pattern. Check. Groping the hairy legs of what I hope are men while trying to determine which one is my clearly up-for-anything groom. Nope. That was most certainly not on the list. ”

— Jillian Carew, Geek Groom

“My love, your family would have to be pretty bad to stop me from wanting to spend the rest of my life with you. Like, lich-king bad. Demon-spawn bad. And even then, I could be swayed to the dark side because you’re a pretty fine temptress.”

— Evan Sharp, Geek Groom

“I know, girls. I know all too well that feeling that hits you in the stomach the first time you lay eyes on him. It doesn’t go away. Sometimes he’ll be putting milk in the fridge and I’ll look at the way his shirt pulls taut across his back. It’s swoon-worthy. But nothing, not his arms, his face, his hair—not even his ass—is as remarkable as the man he is inside. And he’s all mine.”

— Jillian, Geek Groom

Romance Weekly: September 9, 2014

We're back to three questions time here on the good old RW blog hop. Thanks to Beth Carter for this week's gems. I think I'm most interested in seeing everyone's answer to the third question this week. If you've landed here from Collette Cameron's blog, you've seen hers and I wish I'd come up with that answer myself. Ah well. Let's get going, shall we, and see what I can come up with.

1. What’s your favorite aspect of novel writing? Dialogue? Setting? Conflict? Narration? Explain.

This is easy. Dialogue. I love the banter between characters. Maybe it's because I talk a lot myself, (and to myself!) but I think so much character is revealed through what they say. And what they choose not to say. So I suppose what I like writing best is dialogue both spoken and in the mind. Here's an example of what I mean from my current WIP, Geek God (available for pre-order I might add!) 

_______

“Oh. What’s up tonight?” Please let that have sounded casual. Just because my head is screaming: What? You’re not staying?

“Dungeons & Dragons.”

You know when your face reacts before you have a chance to get your shit together? That’s what’s happening right now. I think my eyes might have even bulged. I want to sound cool, but I can’t help myself.

“Adults play D&D?”

“Plenty of us do. What do you think happens to the kids who played it in their parents’ basements when they grow up?”

“They grow up?” My cousin played that game when he was a teenager. He and a group of his nerdy friends all hanging around a table rolling dice and talking about orcs and not letting girls play. Nerds. Geeks. Whatever. I wondered now if he still played.

“And how is it any different than still playing video games?”

“It’s totally different.”

“It’s not. It’s way more social than hanging out home alone with just a TV and console. I’m hanging out with people, talking, eating, drinking and having fun.”

What’s curious in this discussion is that he’s not getting angry or embarrassed. He seems to have no problem with admitting that he does this.

“How does it work?”

“What do you mean?”

“Your game. How does it work?”

I don’t know if I’m asking because I want to know, or if I’m just trying to keep him here a bit longer. One thing is certain. It’s clear that he’s not interested in me that way. If going and playing a geek game with his geek friends seems better than hanging out with a woman who’d done her damnedest to look as sexy as she can, then I’ve already lost this battle.

He might look like God’s gift to women, but clearly there’s a very good reason why he’s single.

What if he’s gay? Maybe Dungeons & Dragons is code for an all-male orgy.

_____

2.How do you choose the setting for your plot? Are they always similar settings or does it vary? (i.e., small town, big city, castle, etc.)

There's no secret about my setting. It's always Newfoundland in some way. Even if I have my characters travel a lot (like Jack and Daphne in Hard As Ice) my books are Newfoundland stories. I mean, look at this. How can I NOT write about this setting? 

3.I’m a big six-word memoir fan. (Hemingway even wrote one.) Describe your writing day using just six words.

“Moments of insanity. Hours of despair.”

And there you have it. Another week here and gone. Be sure to pop over and see Carolyn Spear's answers. Her six word answer is also very very true. Also, I think her website is beautiful! If you think so, you should tell her. 

Romance Weekly: August 12, 2014

Welcome friends to another week of Romance Weekly. I love Tuesdays. Why? Because I love popping around to see what all my fellow RW pals are saying. I also love the comments they leave. And I love having the push to blog, because let's face it, I suck at it most of the time. If you're popping over from Meggan Connors' blog, what do you think of her alien encounter at Starbucks idea? I think it's great! 

Now, on to our questions of the week! 

1. Does humour help or hinder you in your creative process?

I try not to think about it. I like it when readers say they laugh while reading my books, but I honestly don't try to set out to write funny things. Certain situations or phases might strike one reader as funny, while another might laugh at something else. I like that there's humour in my writing, but it's not deliberate. If I had to think about being funny, it would definitely hinder my process. Plus, I'm not funny in real life. At all. I'm much better with the written word than the spoken. Trust me. 

2. What is a favorite go-to book or movie you use to unblock a problem in your writing?

It depends on the piece I'm working on. When I was stuck on Asher's story in 21 Century Rake, I listened to Sean McCann's "Help Yourself" album a lot. With Geek God, I got a bit obsessed with The Mindy Project (and I'm now in love with Danny Castellano), which helped because it showed me that even smart girls can be stund (that's a Newfoundland word ya today!) sometimes. But for the most part, I don't go in search of things to help. Rather, I talk it out with my fellow writers or hubby. And I just keep writing scenes until something makes sense to me. 

3. What’s the most inspiring book you’ve read this week or month that’s generated a new idea?

LOL. My last inspiration came from the Dungeons and Dragons Players Handbook. Seriously. Cause I play it weekly, and one night as I lay in bed wondering why I was stumped with a WIP, a new idea came to mind. And it's totally based on my real-life geek existence, and D&D. That's where the Forever Geek trilogy idea came from. 

Admittedly, my answers this week are kinda blah. Great questions, I just didn't have earth shattering answers. Still, I love my Tuesday blogging and the pals that go with it so instead of skipping out because of lack-lusted answers, I just barrel on. :)

See you all next week. And in the meantime, pop over to one of the newest members of the Romance Weekly clan, Xio Axelrod, and see her answers to these questions. I think this might be her very first week blog hopping with us! Yay Xio! 

Passionate Kisses: Allie Boniface

When I was approached about joining this awesome group of romance authors for the Passionate Kisses boxed set, I really had no idea just how many wonderful authors I was going to be working with.

Today I'm excited to have Allie Boniface here sharing some of the images that she thinks best sum of her work. And just like I have a bit of a fascination with icebergs, Allie loves lighthouses. That speaks to my Newfoundland heart. 

Book? Beacon of Love

Inspiration? Every lighthouse I've ever visited

Lindsey Point? Small coastal town with plenty of secrets...

Lucas? Hunky handyman

Sophie? Precocious news reporter 

Romance? Sensual to steamy

Next? Inferno of Love, book 2 in the series! 

Allie? Teacher, writer, music-lover, workout devotee and chocoholic 

Click on Allie's boots to learn more about her!

Announcing the Passionate Kisses Romance Box Set!

I've been dying to share this news with the world, but of course, had to wait until all the pieces were in place. But I can now tell you that Against Her Rules is part of an upcoming contemporary romance box set. You'll have to wait till June 23rd to get your hands on it, but hey, that gives us lots of time to talk about it!

We're calling our set Passionate Kisses: Ten Sizzling Contemporary Romances. I have to say that I'm in love with the cover. What do you think? 

I'm thrilled, and let's be honest, a little humbled, to be part of this set with so many awesome authors. In the meantime, if you're book blogger/reviewer and would like to get your hands on an ARC copy (we would want a review ready to go on launch day), we have a signup form here. I believe we're talking the first 100 registrants. 

So that's my news. It's been a wild couple of weeks full of planning, and I imagine the next month will be equally as busy. I'll be sure to pop on and share more news with you as we proceed, :) 

Sarah Hegger: The Bride Gift

The lovely Sarah Hegger

A huge welcome to Sarah Hegger today. Sarah is one of the awesome authors responsible for the Romance Weekly blog I do each week, and she's just released her debut novel, The Bride Gift. 

I had a chance to sit down with Sarah this week and ask her about her awesome historical romance. Why not take a look at our conversation!

Click on this cover to go to Amazon.com 

Welcome Sarah! Can you tell us about “The Bride Gift” in two or three sentences? (I love this question because it forces us to get to the heart of the story.)

The Bride Gift is essentially about a woman trying to control her destiny in impossible circumstances. She finds her champion in just the sort of man she swore she would never marry. She learns that life does not always give you what you want, but with a bit of courage, you can get what you need.

Tell us a bit about your hero, Guy. Is there anyone you could compare him to?

Guy of Helston was a great character to write. Totally non-verbal, he’s big and bad and a total warrior on the surface. Beneath that is a man of honor and integrity who will do anything for those he loves. I suppose he is most like Wolverine from The X-Men.

Who would you cast to play him in the movie version?

It’s a bit predictable, but Hugh Jackman comes the closest.

Yum! Although I think your hero on the cover looks like Jake Gyllenhaal. What is it about him that stirs Helena, your heroine?

His sheer alpha maleness gets to her at first. And then she discovers the gentle man beneath that and she’s a goner.

What do you like best about your heroine?

I like the contrasts. Demure on the outside, but she has a mouth on her like a soldier. She looks like a damsel in distress, but has the heart of a true warrior. 

Who would you cast to play her?

Kate Hudson, only with long, long, long hair.

Was there anything in this book that surprised you when you were writing it?

I’m such a planner that I don’t often get surprised by my books as I write them. But the ending, and I’m not going to give away too much. I had an entirely different idea planned, but Helena wouldn’t go there.

This is your first novel. Can you tell us a bit about how it came to life?

It started years ago as a novel called Forgotten Bride. I never managed to finish it and last year, I was clearing through old files and discovered it again. It has changed a lot from that first draft. In Forgotten Bride, Helena was just that. She was married at a young age to a man who put her in a castle and went on with his life. When he decided it was time to discover her again, Helena was not happy and barred him from his own castle. That was the seed and the rest of it germinated from there.

This is how it ended up:

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, willful 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.

What’s the allure of the early 12th century for you?

I write both historical and contemporary. What I like about the historical writing is that fantasy element. There is something unashamedly romantic about knights and ladies. The reality was very different, but that’s why I write romance. I get to build the fantasy.

Who is Sarah Hegger and what can we expect next from you?

I have another medieval coming out in September this year called Sweet Bea. It’s the first in the Sir Arthur’s Legacy Series. Next year, my three contemporary novels, The Willow Park Romances, will hit the shelves. There is more detail on all of these on my website.

This is the official bio and it’s pretty much who I am.

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 Draper, Utah 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.

She is always delighted to hear from you. Sarah can be reached at any and all of the following places:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

I’m a big fan of dialogue. Can you share a quick snippet of one of your favourite dialogue passages with us?

This passage is right in the first chapter and is how Helena discovers she is married.

Her shoulders slumped suddenly, as if the weight became too much to bear. All the fight seemed to rush out of her on a sigh. “I have been so worried about you. I thought you might be dead.”

Her voice quavered on that last sentence, and Guy’s guts tightened. Sweet Jesu. Please, no tears. He couldn’t abide the tears.

“There now, sweet Nell.” Roger lowered himself onto the bed beside her. He gathered the girl into his arms. “Whist now, Nell. All is not lost and I came as fast as I could. Hush now, sweeting.”

Guy shifted his weight, uncomfortable at witnessing such a private scene.

Her eyes flew to him. Her mouth dropped open. “Who are you?”

Guy would as lief be strung up by his toes than answer her question. This was Roger’s idea, not his.

“Er, Nell.” Roger drew back from her gently. “May I present Guy of Helston?”

“The ‘Scourge of Faringdon?’”

Guy clenched his fists. The name was like a curse he never escaped.

“Nell,” Roger admonished, “he does not like to be called such.”

“Then he should not have earned it,” the lady snapped. “What is he doing in my bedchamber?”

“He is your . . . husband.”

 Where can we buy The Bride Gift?

The Bride Gift is available now on Amazon.

Thanks so much Sarah for stopping by! I can't wait to see your next book out in the world!

Romance Weekly: May 20, 2014

I can't believe this is my first blog for for May. Not sure how things went off the rails, but here I am, back again and ready to join those awesome authors who make up Romance Weekly. This group of romance authors have been so helpful to me, not only in getting me to blog, but in all the support they offer. So a big shout out to you all today. Also, thanks to Carolyn Spear for today's questions! 

1. If someone could observe you writing without you knowing they were there, what strange practices would they catch you doing?

First of all, stop creeping around and watching me work! If I'm in public, it's fair game, but if I'm working in my car, as I often am, then you're either peeping in my window, or worse, lurking in my backseat! Just stop! Okay. Now that I've got that off my chest, here's what they'd see. I make faces when I'm writing so that I can describe my characters. I also tend to play with my hair a lot. I spent too much time online looking at pretty clothes and underwear so my characters can look nice. And I bite my lips. 

2. Other than a creative outlet, how does writing benefit you?

It keeps me sane. I wonder what I'd do if I didn't write? There are so many stories and voices in my head that if I didn't let them out on paper, who knows what I'd be like. Perhaps I'd walk around talking to myself all the time. I love writing, and my style of writing (Pantser) comes from me creating a form of self-entertainment. I'm always surprised by what my characters are saying and doing, and it keeps me interested. When I was a teenager and writing teen romances, I wasn't writing them for my friends. I wrote them for me. Because I wanted to read the story I was writing. It might be cliche to say that if I didn't write, I wouldn't be me, but I think it's true. 

3. How do you feed your muse?

I live life. It's that simple for me. I do what I always do. Hang out with friends, talk to people, pay attention to the world around me, escape to books and movies. I have sad moments and happy moments. And all of that messy business of life gives me the experiences and motivations to develop characters that are real and stories that are surreal. 

So there we have it. Another week is done. Now pop on over to see how the lovely J.J. Devine answered these questions (and check out her book right here!) 

Romance Weekly: April 29, 2014

1. What is the most unusual thing you've ever done in the name of research while writing your book?

The most unusual thing I've ever googled while writing was "Can you have sex while suffering from a concussion." Turns out the answer is yes. My google search history is full of crazy things. Because I write contemporary romance, I haven't really had to do anything too odd. It's my search history that gets most of the oddities. Other fun searches have included "Best songs to strip too" and I also google a lot of fashion things since I'm not really a stylish gal myself. 

2. Name a non-fiction book you've read for research that you wouldn't have read otherwise (not including writing craft books.)

I've read a lot of history books in general for grad and undergrad school. When I started working on my regency novel, I had a pretty good grasp on a lot of things since that was the period I studied. But I did order an awesome book called What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew. The title still bothers me, but I won't get into it now. It was a useful book to really get into the day-to-day life of the eighteenth century.

3. If you could travel anywhere to do research on a book, including back in time, where would you go?

Without a doubt I'd go back to 1815. I'd start in London, try and weasel my way into a ball, finagle an invite to a country house gathering and then book passage on a ship and make my way to Newfoundland. 

Click on the cover to go to Amazon. :)

Fun questions this week thanks to Dani Jace. And I'm super excited to pass the blog hopping torch this week to Collette Cameron. You know I'm a sucker for a good regency. Here's another book now to add to my TBR pile. :)

Romance Weekly: April 22, 2014

1. What  ages are your characters?

Depends on the book. Sometimes they're in their 20s, others their 30s. It depends on the story, honestly. And then there's my current work-in-progress about Aunt Ida, which takes place on her 98th birthday. In Play Me we have a romance between an 85 and 82 year old, even though it's not the primary story. I think characters come in all shapes, sizes, and ages. Everyone has a compelling story to tell.

2. What special things or places inspire you to write?

The obvious place is Newfoundland, of course. But conceptually, the act of falling in love inspires me. The subtle things that transform attraction into something deeper. I find it interesting when people fall in love with surprising partners. Maybe it's because my husband, who I now know is my ideal match, is so far off the kind of guy I was attracted to in my early 20s. I find it interesting that our soul mate can be so far removed from what our brain, and libido, ever imagined. And yet, there's that moment when something deep in your soul goes "BING!" the moment you meet them. That's what inspires me. Finding that moment. 

3. What is the one message you hope women will receive when they read your stories?

That romance doesn't have to be over the top gestures, although it can be that too. Romance can be the way a man holds your hand. It can be that joke he tells that only you find funny. It can be a simple gift of candy, or a lavish display of chivalry. Romance is what speaks to your heart, whether it's simple or complex. Sometimes I think we're all expecting flowers and chocolate and fancy dinners and jewellery as the ultimate "romantic" gestures. I know I do, when it comes to flowers and fancy dinners. But I've learned over time that there's more to love, and romance, that just those things. And I hope my characters show my readers just that.

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Now, how about clicking this link here and going to visit Katherine Givens to see how she's answered these questions. And don't stop there. Follow the whole Romance Weekly gang and show them so love. :)  By the way, isn't her book cover beautiful??? If you click the book cover, you'll go to Amazon's page where you can buy her book. I haven't read it yet but I'm about to pick it up. I'm a sucker for a beautiful cover. 

Romance Weekly: April 15, 2014

It's that time again. Thanks to all the Romance Weekly authors for making this a reason to blog. I haven't blogged this faithfully ever. The main reason why I do it is because I love these questions. :) So without further adieu, let's begin.

1. Who is your favourite character you've written, and why? 

Ohhhh. That's a hard one. I love Aunt Ida. Love her. She's a combination of so many strong elderly people I've had the privilege to know in my lifetime. But I think Asher is my favourite main character to date. When I imagined him while writing Against Her Rules he was going to be the bad guy. The one you cringe reading about. But a funny thing happened in that first scene, where he was lying naked on the bed totally wounded. Instead of coming off as a creep, I took pity on him. By the time he appeared in the next scene, I was giving him more story than I'd planned. And when that book was over, I knew that he'd get a book of his own. Oh, not the next book. He had some reforming to do first. But when Against Her Rules ended I knew just what kind of girl he'd end up falling for. Now that Asher has had his own book, I don't know what I'll do about him. He'll have cameos for sure. But maybe, just maybe, he and Grace will get a novella of their own at some point. (In case you're wondering, Asher is the same character from last week's post that I posted all those dreamy pictures of!)

2. Do you prefer to write your hero or heroine?

I have no preference, honestly. I enjoy all my characters. If I wasn't enjoying writing them, then that would be a sign to me that there was something wrong with them. Daphne from Hard As Ice had a moment where I was tempted to just toss her out. But a bit of story storming with my crit partner and we found out what my block was so I could move on. And I'm glad I kept her. She's awesome. :)

3. What are the three things you can't write without?

Hmmmm. There was a time when I thought I needed an environment to write. I needed coffee, or the sun or a certain chair. But honestly, now that writing is my career, my needs for writing are much more practical. 

1. My laptop or iPad: I wish I was a pen and paper writer, but I'm not. I'm a typing kinda gal. So without the tools, there's no writing happening.
2. A babysitter: If there's no one around to watch the wee one, then there's no writing happening. Period. I'm eagerly awaiting the day when the sight of Mommy at the computer doesn't induce meltdowns. But we're not there yet. 
3. Focus: Sounds silly, doesn't it? But there are times when I have items one and two, and still don't produce a thing. Why? Because my mind isn't focused. I'm thinking about blogs, or the news, or the conversation happening at the table next to me. Until I can find my inner-focus, nothing happens. 

And there you have it. Another week, another insight, I suppose. Now hope on over and visit the delightful J.J. Devine and see how she answered this week's questions. And if you have the time, follow the whole blog hop (all 21 of us this week).

Romance Weekly: February 18, 2014

Do you like to read romance novels? Wouldn't you like to know more about your favorite authors? Well you came to the right place! Join the writers of Romance Weekly as we go behind the scenes of our books and tell all..... About our writing of course! Every week we'll answer questions and after you've enjoyed the blog on this site we'll direct you to another. So come back often for a thrilling ride! Tell your friends and feel free to ask us questions in the comment box.

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This week's three questions are great. I've decided to use Against Her Rules for this post, since it's the only novel that's currently out in the world. But no worries, I'll talk about the others soon. 

How did you get the idea for your book?

Against Her Rules was a mad-dash Nanowrimo creation that came to life in it's first draft in just eleven days. Because I write by the seat of my pants, I had no idea when I sat down to write it just what was going to come to life. The only thing I knew for certain was that it was going to be set in Newfoundland, and my hero was going to be a hot Scotsman. In fact, when I first started writing Cam worked in the oil industry. But from the moment he popped onto the page, I knew he had the soul of an artist. How could I made him a tycoon? Plus, I didn't think Elsie would fall for an oil baron. Still, as I dug into the novel, I realized that this was going to be a series. I couldn't create a town like Heart's Ease, and a place like Elsie's Inn and just give it one book. I knew as I wrote certain characters that I was creating people that I would revisit time and time again.

How did you decide on the title?

With great difficulty. Sometimes titles pop into my head before I even start writing. And other times, the book is alive for eons and has no name. In the beginning I was going to call it Heart's Ease. I think that's the title I used in my pitch to the publisher. Then, once I'd decided it was going to be a series, I started playing around with different Heart's options. I think for a while Heart's Temptation was on the table. But once Crystal (my cover designer) and I started working on the cover, it came to me. I just looked at the picture of the couple, imagined that I was watching Cam and Elsie kiss for the first time, and it just made sense. Against Her Rules was born that day in May. 

What motivated you to get the book completed and published?

Rejection. When I heard back from the publisher I'd pitched it to, and they weren't interested, I was dejected. And then I started to learn more about self-publishing. After a sleepless night spent reading and researching this new publishing opportunity, I made up my mind. I was going to publish it myself. Why? Because I believe in my stories. And I believe others will enjoy them. And perhaps most of all, it was finally a way to fulfill another of my life's ambitions. It's amazing what having a infant that you want to spend as much time with as possible will motivate you to do. And for me, it was made possible by awesome friends, and the most supportive husband a gal could wish for.

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So there you have it. My answers for this week's Romance Weekly. Now I'd strongly encourage you to pop on over to LaNora Mangano's blog to see how she answered these same three questions. It never ceases to amaze me how every author has travelled a different road to get to our common destination. 

See you next week! 

Great Scot! Bound to the Highlander is one hot read.

Author Kate Robbins

In case you don't know, there's more than one romance writer here in Newfoundland. My pal, and awesome author, Kate Robbins, recently released her debut novel, Bound to the Highlander. It's the first in her planned Highland Chiefs Series, and let me tell you, if you like your highland romances with a good dose of political intrigue, historical realism, and a smokin' hot hero, then Bound to the Highlander is for you. 

Bound to the Highlander, or BTTH as we like to call it, delves into the heart of James MacIntosh, head of his clan and ally with the new Scottish King. Aileana Chattan discovers she’d bound to this Laird, and it’s not a bond she’s looking forward to since she is not a fan of the new King, or of James’ politics. Still, there’s a smoldering bond between them that can’t be denied. 

Click here to go to Amazon and get your copy of Bound to the Highlander

James is a highland hero you won’t soon forget. And Aileana is as modern a woman as she can be for her period. When you put them together, you get a larger-than-life story that’s as big on conflict as it is on love.

Kate Robbins is on a whirl-wind blog tour and I'm so happy that she agreed to pop on to my little old blog here for a quick chat. So let's get to it. 

Tell me how you first conceived the idea of BTTH.

I was listening to two friends talk about Gerry Butler and Hilary Swank's meeting on a lovely country road in Ireland [in the movie PS I Love You] and just started writing James and Aileana's first meeting.

What five words would you use to describe James?

Arrogant. Cocky. Driven. Holyhellahot. Strategic.

Holyhellahot. I concur! What five words would you use to describe Alieana?

Headstrong. Loyal. Intelligent. Passionate. Honourable.

This novel is very much what some might call an old school Highland Romance. How do you think BTTH differs from a lot of new highland romances out there?

Hmmmm. In the sense of time frame it's different, but I think most Highlander Romances strive to weave in the political/social/religious climate which is what I've worked hard to achieve. So readers of Scottish romance might see a new century to learn about, but I hope I've delivered on all the essentials.

I write about Newfoundland because I write what I know. Does that addage "Write what you know" come into play in your work? And if so, how?

Yes, very much so. I've always been fascinated with Scotland, right from my teenage years and the first Highland Romance I read by Johanna Lindsay, A Gentle Feuding. I've acquired so much material on Scotland and have now visited twice to see the places I've set my stories in up close and personal so to speak. I'd love to spend more time there in the future.

If you had to cast someone to play James, who would it be? 

My vision for James MacIntosh is the late Andy Whitfield. He looked and sounded exactly how James is in my head. Imagine my surprise on my return flight from the UK in September when I ended up sitting beside Andy Whitfield's doppleganger! I'm certain he must has thought there was something wrong with me. And I'm certain I did not actually drool. o_O

Side note: I had no idea who Andy Whitfield was so I had to google it. When I saw him, I had to share him with you! You're welcome. :)

Andy Whitfield

What's it like being a romance author in Newfoundland?

Well, as you know there's not too many of us here so it's been an interesting experience so far. I've had to virtually leave the province to find romance writer associations like Romance Writers of America (RWA) and the chapter closest to me, Romance Writers of Atlantic Canada (RWAC).

I'd love to meet more romance authors here and maybe expand knowledge of the genre in this province. I'm fairly certain there are others here just as there are many romance readers here. Would be wonderful to bring more Newfoundland romance authors and readers together.

When can we get our hands on the next book?  

I'm currently editing book two, Promised to the Highlander, and hoping to have it all pretty and polished to send off to my publisher by the end of October. I work full time so I am in a constant state of juggling my time. Hopefully I'll have some good news to share sooner rather than later.

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So there you have it. A little insight into Kate's mind when she was writing BTTH. It's currently available as an e-book at Amazon.  

And finally, if you love that brooch on the cover of the novel, Kate is giving one away at the end of her blog tour. All you have to do to enter is comment on my post, or over on her website: Into The Highland Mist

Daily words and other things

Wow, I'm a terrible blogger. I just came back from the Romance Writers of America conference in Atlanta, and there were all kinds of handy morsels of information handed out. One of those was, if you're not blogging regularly, don't blog. Well, I don't know about that. I like to use my blog to keep me accountable. Being a deadline oriented writer and all, it's very helpful for me to have a public forum to say "Here's what I need to accomplish, and here's how I'm doing." It didn't work so well for the Regency... yet... but it worked out great for Against Her Rules.  

So here's what I'm now holding myself accountable for.  

1. A daily word target of 5000 (this may change if I find I'm missing that target too often)
2. Three novels ready to come into the world in October. Yes, you read that correctly. THREE! In October. All the the Heart's Ease series.  
3. A Christmas themed novella (shorter novel) ready for a November release. 

So how am I going to do all of this? Well, I met some very inspirational self published authors at the RWA event, namely Bella Andre, Barbara Freethy, Liliana Hart, and Tina Folsom. They gave so many workshops and were willing to share their advice, followed by a "Go do what I say" warning. So I'm going to do what they say. And see if it works.  

Thanks ladies for the inspiration, and for sharing your wonderful knowledge. And thanks to those of you who read my blog, and my novels. There'll be a lot more Heart's Ease in our future.  

Let the writing begin

Now that Against Her Rules is out in the world, it's time to get back to work. I have several projects in the pot, as they say, and now just need to get cracking.  

First up, of course, is the second book in the Heart's Ease series. Daphne meets her match in this book, although I'm still trying to figure out who that might be. Aunt Ida will be front and centre again, and we'll get to see what happens when she finally takes her trip to Scotland.  

My second project is one that long-time blog followers know all about. I haven't given up on the regency romance. I'm contemplating giving it a read this week, and seeing if I'm inspired to move on. Part of me would love to have a draft of it complete before I head off to Georgia next month for the Romance Writer's of America national convention. 

And thirdly, I've recently pulled out an old manuscript that I'd submitted to Harlequin many many years ago... 2002 to be exact. I've given it a read through and think that with some modernization, it could be ready to go out pretty quickly. My big question with this one is if I should self-publish it like I did with Against Her Rules, or shop it around to some publishers. In today's market, it's hard to know what to do.  

The upside of self-publishing is that I'm in control of everything. The edits, the story, the cover, the marketing. My success or failure is all up to me. The downside of self-publishing is also that I'm in control of everything. It leaves a lot less time to just sit back and devote all my time to writing. Ah, the double-edged sword.  

Anyway, if you have any suggestions on which project you think I should be devoting the lion's share of my time to, feel free to comment. One thing I know I need to do is set myself a deadline. I accomplish nothing without a firm goal. I'd like to have book 2 in the Heart's Ease series out by October, but if one of the other two projects rises to the top, then you might see one of those instead. 

Don't you just love a vague future? I do!