Romance Weekly: April 8, 2014

I wasn't going to blog this week because I'm so behind on updating my website with my new releases, but when I saw this week's questions I just had to do it. Thanks Joanne Guidoccio for these. 

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

First of all, if a producer was interested in one of my books I'd need medical assistance to stop the palpitations. But once I could breathe again, here's what I'd say:  An International rock superstar lands in rural Newfoundland where a reluctant virgin and a 97-year-old fan help him come to grips with his true self. 

2. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in the movie version?

Interesting. Asher Corbin is a character who is in all of my novels to date. In the first book, his personality was more akin to Russell Brand. But over the series he's evolved. By the time we see him in 21st Century Rake he's a much better version of himself. In the novel, he's mistaken at one point for Ian Somerhalder. However, I think I'd prefer a Brit to play him. Perhaps we could have Ian, Kit Harington (Jon Snow from The Game of Thrones) and Jim Sturgess (loved him in Across the Universe) battle it out. And because everyone loves eye candy, let's look at all three!

Jim Sturgess. Pros for Asher: He can sing. 

Pros for Asher: This is who Grace thought Asher was for a moment. 

Pros for Asher: British and hot. But Grace is a geek, and there's no way she wouldn't recognize Jon Snow. Is there? 

Oh. Yea. Other characters. Grace. I think Olivia Wilde could do a good job on Grace. She could carry off the smart, wise-cracking side with a hint of plain Jane and also be believable as the object of Asher's desire, especially when she dresses up. Here's a couple of examples of how I see Grace's two-sides. 

Simple every day Grace. 

Grace all dressed up for the ball. 

3. Does the storyline of your novel compare with any films out there?

It would be a stretch. I suppose it's a bit of a Notting Hill vibe, with the celebrity and the normal, kind of bumbling commoner. But Hugh Grant recognized Julia Roberts' character from the get go. It takes Grace a while to figure out who Asher is. But at this point, Notthing Hill is the only movie that pops to mind. 

Thanks for some great questions this week. I had fun looking at cute boys. :) Now pop on over to Kim Handyside's blog and see the hotties she has posted. SPOILER! Michael Fassbender! Yum. Also, thanks for the promo for my book Kim. You're awesome! 

Romance Weekly: April 1, 2014

1. How do you find the appropriate setting for the story, or does it find you?

Everything I write is set in Newfoundland. It's my home. And I happen to think it's one of the most beautiful and romantic places on earth. Right now my Heart's Ease series is set in a community that lives in my mind. When I created it, I was combining some of my favourite things about various communities I've seen. But I've also found a real life place that's pretty close to my vision. (I'm not gonna share! I want to buy a house there someday so I'm keeping it my secret oasis!) Of course, my characters find themselves in other places besides Heart's Ease. Miami plays a role in Hard as Ice. And St. John's is pretty prominent in Play Me. But my settings come from my heart. 

Ah yes. You might wonder sometimes why I write about Newfoundland when this is what it looks like here on April 1. I wish this was an April Fools joke. Alas, it is my reality. 

2. What is your support system for your writing? Family, friends, other writers?

I am blessed to have so many supportive people behind me. My husband is without a doubt my biggest supporter. Without him I wouldn't have been able to quit my job to focus on writing as a full-time career. It's because he believes in me. He reads everything I write.  And he helps me keep going. I'm also very lucky to have my family.  They might not always understand why I do what I do, but they have my back no matter what. Then there are all the friends that help me. My editor is one of my best friends. So is my cover designer. And I also have some dear friends who watch the wee one for me so I can write during the week. Then there are the other writers I know. I belong to an awesome group of local writers called the "Scribe Wenches" and they rock my world. My crit partner, the fabulous medieval Scottish romance author Kate Robbins, is a fellow wench. I call her the Queen Wench, since she's one of the founding members. I've also come to meet plenty of other authors online who help. A couple of groups I belong to online that need a shout out are "Chick Lit Goddesses", the "B.I.C.H.O.K" group, and our own merry band of Romance Weekly authors. 

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

I have to be honest. I haven't received any bad advice. I think there's merit in everything someone suggests. While I might not act on every little thing, there's normally something that I can think about. Boring answer. Sorry. But there it is. 

Now, get your clicking finger ready to take a tour around the Romance Weekly loop and see what all 24 of us had to say this week. You can start right here with Eden Ashe. :)

Romance Weekly: March 25, 2014

Annnnndddddd here we go again! Sorry I'm low on preambles these days. Busy days and nights. But I love answering these questions, and flipping through all the links to see how the rest of my fellow romance authors are answering. HINT: You should too!

1. How does your writing impact your inner life?

Writing keeps me sane and happy. I've always written something, even as a little girl. I feel that my writing lets me explore ideas and situations that I wouldn't normally encounter. And sometimes, my writing offers me a "do over" for some regrettable events in my life. I also feel that I'm much more engaging and witty on paper than in real life. It's funny because when I'm with a group of friends they'll often say "That's the best you can come up with? You're a writer." To which I think, yea. I'm a writer. Not an orator. It takes me a while to come up with the right words. 

2. How do you hope your books affect your readers?

The biggest compliment anyone can give me it to tell me that my novels made them laugh, and made them happy. I'm not out to write thought-provoking, debate worthy fiction. I want to create an escape for readers. To give them a mental break from serious thought and let them just have some moments of light-hearted escapism. I hope I succeed. 

3. Has anyone ever told you your book changed their life? If so, how?

Never. And to be truthful, I'm not sure if my books should make people change their lives. The romance I write about is the "fairy tale" scenario. Real life, real love, is messy. And complicated. And likely has a bit of heartache involved. My novels are more  charming than gut-wrenching. If anyone ever tells me that one of my books has changed their life, I'd love to know how. :)

BING! Another week, over and done. Be sure to pop over and visit LaNora Mangano and see what she had to say this week! 

Romance Weekly: March 18, 2014

Without any mucking around this week because I'm face and eyes into edits (three books releasing in three weeks time!) 

1. Who is your favourite author (other than yourself) in your genre, and why?

I enjoy so many romance authors that it's very hard to peg just one. I spent a lot of time thinking about how to answer this question, and then I asked myself, why do you write romance? Which author inspired you the most? The light came on. Without a doubt, it would be Julia Quinn. Her regencies are fun and witty, her romance is fresh and light, and absolutely charming, and her characters are people you would want to be friends with. For me, Julia's Bridgerton series exemplifies what a wonderful, compelling romantic series of novels should be. Plus, I hold an extra soft spot for Ms. Quinn because of my grandmother. Nan introduced me to Julia Quinn shortly before she passed away. We both loved What Happens in London and I dearly wish she had lived to read the rest of Julia Quinn's novels. They might even have replaced her favourite authors. 

2. What is your favourite book by them and why?

Easy. Ten Things I Love About You, which is the last book in her Bevelstoke series. This short series was just three books, and the final book in that series remains one of my favourite novels. You see, I have a weak spot for compelling secondary characters. And in What Happens in London we meet the charming and funny Sebastian Grey. "Ten Things I Love About You" not only tells Seb's story, but also holds a big reveal that's a very exciting treat for devoted fans of Quinn's regency world. (Which I won't spoil by telling you!) I think it's because of this book that I knew that my own charming modern-day rake, Asher Corbin, deserved his own novel.

3. What about their style inspires your writing?

I alluded to it about. I love the charming, witty dialogue of her characters. I love that they focus on the relationships of the characters, and the interactions of characters readers have already met. Her world building is incredible, to the point that other regency writers sometimes borrow from her world. I would love to think that I'm taking what I've learned from reading Julia Quinn's historical novels and bringing it into my contemporary romance world building and characters. 

Now, I'd love to stick around and write more, but editing waits for no writer. Or is it no deadline? Regardless, please pop on over and visit Carrie Elks and follow the links to see what all 18 of us Romance Weekly writers had to say this week. 

Attention lovers of Paranormal Romances!

Like your romances with a cast of fantasy characters? Vampires. Shifters. Werewolves. Witches. Fairies. If you like your romance with a rich cast of fantasy characters and elements, then here's your chance to pick up TEN novels for just .99 cents. 

Pick it up today before this awesome sale ends. Plus, you'll be helping out my fellow Scribe Wenches, J.E & M. Keep. I'd suggest reading "The Warlord's Concubine" first. But then again, I'm a little biased. 

Click here to go straight to their Amazon link! 

Romance Weekly: March 11, 2014

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1. When someone finds out you're an author, how do you handle the statement "I have a story you should write?"

That's actually happened to me a few times. I love it. :) I think everyone has a great story to tell, so my advice is always, put your thoughts to paper, and let me know if there's any way I can help you. I think if people feel passionately about a story, they should try and write it themselves first. Even if they don't think they are a writer, they'll be able to capture the essence. Then, if they want to proceed, find someone with stronger writing skills to help flush it out. 

2. Do you write what you read?

I read everything, so it's hard to answer that. Oddly enough, I don't read a lot of contemporary romances. But I read a lot of Newfoundland fiction, romance novels in general, and fantasy novels. I think my brand of contemporary has some elements from all the things I read. My favourite romances to read are Regency romances. Perhaps that why I haven't finished mine. I'm so intimidated by my favourite authors! 

3. People often mistake the lifestyle of a writer as glamourous. Give us the scoop. What about your lifestyle would shock your readers?

This question is awesome because I lead the most non-glamourous life known to man. Much of my writing is done in my car while the baby sleeps in the backseat, or stood at the kitchen counter while the baby tosses food around the place. As a full-time writer, full-time mom, something has to give, and in my case, it's housework. I seriously need a days notice before friends come by just so my hubby can help make sense of our chaos. I would love a house keeper. That's my dream. I know I'll have made it as a writer the day I can pay someone to clean our house. 

And there you have it. Another week of confessions. :) Now why not pop over and visit JJ Devine and see what's non-glamourous about her life. And for the record, her answer to question three could be another of mine. 

Birthday Giveaway for McKenzie Evans!

My author pal Jeanne McDonald had an awesome idea to celebrate the birthday of her character in "The Truth in Lies", McKenzie Evans. She's rounded up a bunch of authors, including yours truly, to not only share the event, but to give away a copy of our books. Be sure to enter the rafflecopter draw below. The more entries, the better your chance of winning! 

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In celebration of McKenzie Evans' birthday: The Truth in Lies is on sale from March 11-13, 2014 for only $0.99 on Amazon

Summary 

Life is a sequence of choices. Some are deliberate, others are forced upon you. This was a lesson that McKenzie Evans knew all too well. After the miscarriage of her son, she made the hard decision to leave her absentee boyfriend and move in with her former college roommate, Olivia Hamilton. That’s when she was introduced to Andrew Wise, a brilliant attorney, working for his family’s law firm in Sarasota, Florida.

To McKenzie, Drew became her salvation. He had a way of understanding her when no one else could. The closer they became, the more McKenzie found herself falling in love with Drew. He was everything she ever dreamed of in a man, and for the first time in her life, she felt truly alive. There was only one problem. Drew was dating Olivia.

With the help of fate and circumstance, Drew and McKenzie journey down a path of unrequited love and denied feelings. In the end, they must make a choice between their hearts or their consciences. In this one decision they discover that there’s always a glimmer of truth to a lie, that there’s a fine line between love and friendship, and sometimes you have to risk everything to gain everything. 

Enter for your chance to win many great prizes!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author 

Jeanne McDonald began telling stories at the ripe young age of five, when her mother considered the truth to be a lie due to her extensive embellishment to the retelling of an event. She wrote her first short story when she was twelve years old, and at the age of sixteen she tried her hand at poetry. She reconnected with her love for writing in 2010 thanks to the encouragement of a dear friend. 

Her passions include a "mild" Starbucks addiction, music, reading, movies and romance. When she is not spending time with her family, she can be found writing, chatting with her friends or diligently working toward her bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. 

A proud Texan, she currently resides in the Dallas/Fort Worth area with her family. 

Contact Information 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Email

Romance Weekly: March 4, 2014

Here we go again! Thanks to Meggan Connors for this week's questions. 

Do you have a recurring theme in your work, either intentional or unintentional? What is it and why do you think you chose that theme?

If my books have a theme, it's totally unintentional. I'm wracking my brain right now trying to even think what it might be. Oh. How about fun? Yea. Falling in love can be fun. Sure, it's also full of lust, and self-doubt, and questions, and a little conflict. But without fun, what's the point? All of my characters recognize in each other something that just clicks. Something that makes them comfortable to be themselves, in all their odd ways. Something that makes it okay to laugh at one's self, and laugh in the moment. 

Do you carefully plot your stories, or do you plot as your write? Why do you think this particular ethos works for you?

Hahahahaha. I'm a total plot as I go gal. I learned my lesson with pre-plotting with my most recent draft of 21st Century Rake. In my head I had it all worked out. It was going to be a high concept book, and this would happen, and then this, and then this. Of course, what that did was keep me hijacked for about three months as I struggled to find my way through the book. The moment I stopped thinking about what was supposed to happen, and just followed my gut and let the characters tell their story, then everything just fell in to place. I wish I could make an outline, and then sit down and follow it to a T. But I can't. For me, each scene I write provides the inspiration for the next. If I go into a scene with expectations and my characters don't behave, I have to let them go. Sounds funny, I know. But sometimes I'm writing stuff and I'm surprising myself by what comes out. Let's just chalk that up to a scattered imagination that likes to think on its feet. 

Is there a particular genre (within Romance) that you could never write? Why?

I'll never say never. My only current rule (and rules are meant to be broken, right? Just ask Elsie Walsh!) is that my work needs to have a Newfoundland connection. That opens me up to all sorts of sub-genres. I think this is a deadly setting for a paranormal romance, and there's certainly enough material for an intriguing romantic suspense. As for historical romance, well, my languishing Regency novel is a sure sign that I have more in mind than just contemporary romances. I think I'd have a hard time writing erotica, just because I find my sex scenes the hardest to write. But that doesn't mean I'm ruling it out. Hopefully I have a long writing career ahead of me, so who knows what I'll try my hand at before all is said and done. 

And there you have it. Another week of quick entertainment for you. Now why not hop on over to Katie O'Connor's blog and see what she had to say to these same questions. See you next week! 

Romance Weekly: February 25, 2014

What is your writing process like?

This is a pretty difficult question for a person who's a bit willy-nilly about how I write. Of course it starts with an idea, a very rough idea. I read about things that might be relevant to the book, I spend a lot of time thinking about scenes both before and after I've written them, and I always wait to be surprised by what my characters get up to on the page. 

From a day to day process of writing, it's much more planned. With a toddler in tow, when I can write depends a lot of when someone is willing to spend the day with him. I'm very lucky to have friends and family who love to take him off my hands for a while. One great thing is that he is now getting better at occupying himself, so that means I can stand at the kitchen counter and get some work in as well. Before having a child I thought I needed to "gear up" to write. I needed large chunks of time. I needed the right writing environment. Now I just write when I can. Oh, everyone is quiet? I'll write a paragraph. Oh, you're going to the supermarket honey? Take the baby. I'm going to write. 

Of course, this shift has been a bit difficult for me. I'm a start to finish writer. I like to set out to write a book and then a few weeks later have a draft done. I wrote the first draft of Play Me in a weekend about 12 years ago. I wrote Against Her Rules in 11 days. Hard as Ice. 2 months. And now, 21st Century Rake has taken 5. FIVE MONTHS! 

Still, I'm working to figure it all out. Here's hoping book 5 comes sooner!

Do you listen to music to enhance your writing?

I like background noise of all sorts when I'm writing. I think it stems back to my former work as a journalist. Newsrooms are busy places. Loud places. And yet, we have to produce with a tight deadline. I crave public places to write. Coffee shops, cafes, even our local museum. So when I'm writing at home, as I often do, I need music to fill the empty space. 

My choice in music depends on the scene. If it's a romantic scene, I want romantic music. I love going to Songza and just putting on a random playlist. In fact, that's where I get most of the music I listen to while writing. I find the mood I'm trying to capture in a scene, and find a playlist that suits. It's perfect for me. 

What two songs best describe your overall body of work?

This is a hard question, because there are songs that I've played over and over while working on particular books, but there's never an overlap. So I'm going to cheat, or perhaps take the easy way out, and just share the two songs that I've been playing a lot of lately while I finish 21st Century Rake. 

First, 2CELLOS version of With or Without You by U2. It's hauntingly romantic and has served me well with this story. 

And second, Sean McCann, formerly of Great Big Sea has a new album out. His song "Help Yourself" has really helped me figure out Asher in some scenes. 

And now that I'm done, why not pop over and visit awesome author Dani Jace and see how she answered these questions? 

See you next 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! 

Cover Reveal: Kate Robbins' Promised to the Highlander

I'm so excited to share some news with you today about my pal, Kate Robbins. A while ago I told you about her debut novel, Bound to the Highlander. It was a great book and it's eating up the charts on Amazon. As great as that first book was, it doesn't hold a candle to the second in her Highland Chiefs series, Promised to the Highlander. As one of the few people who have had the privilege of reading Promised to the Highlander, let me tell you that this is one book you're going to want to read when it comes out. Her hero, Fergus, is simply swoon-worthy. And Nessia is a heroine you'll love to root for. Alas, that time is not yet.

HOWEVER, today Kate is sharing with the world her cover, and an excerpt. Keep reading below to see what all the hype is about.  

Promised to the Highlander, Blurb

Nessia Stephenson's world was safe until a threat from a neighbouring clan forces her to accept a betrothal to a man whose family can offer her the protection she needs. The real threat lies in her intense attraction to the man who arranged the match—the clan's chief and her intended’s brother, Fergus MacKay.

When powerful warlord Fergus MacKay arranges a marriage for his younger brother, William, he has no idea the price will be his own heart. Fergus is captivated by the wildly beautiful Nessia, a woman he can never have.

 When the feud between the MacKay and Sutherland clans escalates, Nessia, William, and Fergus all must make sacrifices for their future. Longing and loss, honour and duty. How can love triumph under such desperate circumstances?

Promised to the Highlander, Excerpt

“For a man who isn’t eager to meet his future wife, you’ve got quite a set of nerves there lad,” Fergus said to William.

William straightened his linen shirt and smoothed his tunic as he glared at Fergus. Yet, the comment was absorbed and William ceased his pacing to sit on a chair near the fire. Fergus watched his brother adjust his belt again. The young man wore his usual dress but had taken greater pains today to perfect his appearance. Fergus glanced down at his linen shirt and sleeveless leather tunic. William’s long hair was tied at his nape while Fergus’s was left hanging loose. He recalled having to take extra pains upon his betrothal. Thankfully those days had passed and he needn’t worry overly anymore. A young lass would surely find William’s neat, respectable appearance appealing. He hoped so, but before he could dwell on it further, a servant entered and announced the arrival of Thomas Stephenson, his daughter Nessia and several of their clansmen.

William sprang to his feet and crossed the floor in a few quick strides to greet them. He continued to fidget as Fergus sauntered up from behind.

“Thomas! Welcome. We thought we’d have to send out a search party soon,” Fergus said as the stout man turned the corner leading into the great hall.

“Aye, the road was a bit rough with a wagon in tow,” Thomas said. The man’s brow was streaked with sweat and he looked weary from his travels.

“We’ve had a lot of rains this harvest there’s no doubting that,” Fergus said. In truth he would have gone searching himself had another hour passed. Earlier that day he’d heard more rumours about Ronan Sutherland. Apparently, the lad had agreed to his father’s suggestion and would commence his campaign in the coming days. Fergus sensed William stiffen beside him as Thomas began the introductions.

“Fergus, William, this is my brother Neville and these three are my sons, Colin, Robert, and Camden my youngest. And this is my daughter, Nessia.”

Fergus acknowledged each man in turn. When the introduction came to the girl and his gaze fell on her, his breath caught in his throat. With black hair and bright blue eyes she stood proud before him with her chin lifted and all the regal confidence of a noblewoman. She displayed no fear or reservation at all, something which was unusual in most men he met, but more so in a woman. The gentler sex usually cowered before him—not this lass. 

Fergus stared at the girl, his heart drumming. His guts clenched as if he’d been punched. He had to force himself from moving toward her to touch her hair which looked like spun silk, for surely it could not be real. Fergus remembered his brother then and tore his gaze from her to find William eyes wide and his jaw slacked. An unexpected pang ran through him. 

When he turned back it was to find her still staring at him, seemingly unabashed for staring openly at a man. A bold one, then. Fergus’s drew his brows together. What did she want?

About Kate Robbins

Kate Robbins writes historical romance novels out of pure escapism and a love for all things Scottish, not to mention a life-long enjoyment of reading romance. Her journey into storytelling began with a short screenplay she wrote, directed, and produced which was screened at the 2003 Nickel Film Festival in St. John’s, Newfoundland. She has also written and directed several stage plays for youth. 

Kate loves the research process and delving into secondary sources in order to give readers the most authentic historical romance possible. She has travelled to Scotland and has visited the sites described in her Highland Chiefs series.

Promised to the Highlander is the second of three books set during the early fifteenth century during the reign of James Stewart, first of his name.

Kate is the pen name of Debbie Robbins who lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada with her hubby, the man-beast, and her two awesome boys, the man-cubs.

You can find Kate online at the following:

Into the Highland Mist

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

Blog Hop: Writing Process #thisishowwedo

Last week my awesome author pal Kate Robbins tagged me to do a blog hop. Now as you know, I'm not a great blogger in terms of consistency. Perhaps she did it to make me blog? Who knows. Anyhow, I have to answer the following questions about how I write. This should be fun! 

What am I working on?

Right now I'm trying to finish the fourth book in my Heart's Ease series. Books two and three are with my editor, and I can smell the ending to book four, 21st Century Rake, I'm that close. I'm launching all three novels at once, so there's a fair bit of crazy work happening these days. 

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

To the best of my knowledge I'm the only one writing contemporary romances set in Newfoundland, which is different. Stylistically, I'm not sure. I'm sure I have my own voice, and I try to keep the stories moving with humour and real characters. I also like to have the sexy bits be sexy. But I don't think that's very different that what others are doing. So let's go with setting, shall we? 

Why do I write what I do?

I write romance because I believe in the stories. I also believe people want to escape from the reality of life sometimes and there's no better way to do that than in the pages of a book. When my grandmother died, romance novels are what helped me come back to the real world. I joke that I read my way out of grief one duke at a time. I write contemporary because I think it's easy for us to forget that romance is possible in our world, and romance isn't a time of the past. It's around us every day if we are lucky enough to have the right person there beside us. 

How does your writing process work?

Ha. If only I knew! I'm what the writing world calls a pantser. As in I write by the seat of my pants. When I sit down to write I know nothing other than the book with end with the thing all romances need—a happily ever after. Against Her Rules began with Cam being a roughneck in my head. He was going to work in oil. And then boom. He showed up on the page and all of sudden I just knew he was an artist. So imagine writing sixty thousand words that way, never knowing for sure where it's all going. Of course I have a general idea that starts to form, but nothing is for certain until the words come out. Now that I'm smack-dab in the middle of a series there is a bit more planning, but I'm always surprised with what comes out. 

Now for the practical side of the process. I write when I can. With a toddler around, it's difficult sometimes to stay on track. I'm completely at the mercy of my hubby, my family and some awesome mom friends who watch out for baby Bam-Bam. I write in my car, in my bed, on my sofa, in restaurants, at the museum. I write whenever I can get a chance. The problem is that it really takes me a while to get revved up. When I'm in my grove it's nothing to bang out a thousand words an hour. But when I'm trying to find the groove, it's more like three hundred an hour. So you can see it really depends. 

Getting that draft done is always the hard part. After that it goes to my editor, the fabulous A.E. Cummings (who will no doubt read this post and tell me to go back in and edit something because there are bound to be typos and mistakes and she's very keen that I come off all professional, God bless her woollen tights!). I also send it to my crit partner, the awesome Debbie a.k.a Kate Robbins. Once I edit after their feedback I then send the books out to some beta readers who tell me if it sucks or if I'm good to go. From there I format, proof, proof, edit, proof, reformat, read, proof, go blind from starting at the screen, and then upload. Phew. Maybe that's the hardest part? 

So there you have it. Blog hop almost complete. Except for the tagging, of course. I now tag...

FERN RONAY

Fern Ronay authors the ChicagoNow.com blog Stop and Blog the Roses, which was a finalist for CBS Chicago's Most Valuable Blogger Award and a Babble 100 nominee. She has contributed to other sites such as The Chicago Reporter, ChiTownDailyNews.org, Zootoo.com, ChicksInTheHuddle.com, and ChickLitShorties.com, where she won the August 2010 Extra Shorty Contest and also served as a judge for the October 2010 contest. Her fiction has appeared in the literary magazine Killing the Angel (Issue 1 – 2012). Fern is also an on-camera reporter for the online news website Chicago3Media.com and co-hosts a local legal talk show titled Ms. Esquire as well as a show titled Behind the Book that serves as an homage to Oprah's book club. She holds a B.S. in Accounting from Lehigh University and a J.D. from Boston College Law School. She has finished her first novel and is currently working on her second. She describes herself as a Manhattanite, originally from the great state of New Jersey, now living in Chicago with her husband and fat cat, Magoo, as well as an avid reader, eater and runner.

Romancing the Rock

When I was in my twenties and living in other parts of Canada, there was nothing I enjoyed more than bringing my friends home to Newfoundland. I couldn't wait to show the place off with visits to George Street (hot Nfld guys), Cape Spear (the most easterly point in North America) and Signal Hill (great for parking with the boys you meet on George St.) What I loved more than anything was that those friends fell in love with Newfoundland too. 

When I started writing romance, I couldn't imagine a better setting for my stories. There's such a mix of urban and rural cultures, and I love the juxtaposition between the two. Over the years I've submitted to traditional publishers and received the subsequent rejection letters. I often wondered if it was the location. I even thought about changing it, but in the end, I know who I am as a writer. I'm a Newfoundlander, and for me, the greatest compliment I think a reader could ever give me is to feel compelled to learn more about this awesome rock in the sea. That's why I decided to self-publish Against Her Rules. This novel wouldn't be the story it is if it were set anywhere else. 

I believe without great characters, especially the supporting cast, and a setting ripe for romance, a novel just can't flow. One of the most interesting things that's happened since publishing Against Her Rules is the feedback from my fellow Newfoundlanders. They're surprised they are enjoying a romance set here. I guess if you live in a place you can't always see the beauty. I sometimes wonder if I hadn't lived away for so much of my adult years if I would see it myself? But I'm so glad I do. 

One of my favourite passages in the novel has nothing to do with the romance—it's the reaction my hero, Cam, has when he first spots the Heart's Ease Inn. Here's an excerpt: 

At first glance you’d think this was a desolate place. Its isolation and the sparse landscape made you think of loneliness. But then subtle things stood out. The blue jays fighting over seeds in a feeder shaped like the sun. Crisp white sheets flapping in the air, despite the mist, the clothesline dancing in the wind. Even the way all the tips of the small juniper trees pointed in the same direction.

Looking toward the water, the view was breathtaking. White caps formed on the waves, and still he could see gulls riding them out with ease, as if this was their own personal surfer's nirvana.

Shutting off the engine, he stepped out and took a deep breath. The wet, cool air filled his lungs. He smiled. This might be a good project after all.

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

Progress Report!

It's official. I suck at blogging. Maybe I should have taken the advice I got at the Romance Writer's of America conference to heart and just scrapped my blog. But I just can't do it. I love my little blog. And why haven't I been blogging? Because, dear friends, I've been writing like a fiend. Since my last post, I've written Book 2 of the Heart's Ease series, and I've written Book 3. I'm currently working on Book 4. 

My plan is to launch all three of them at once, so I've been in a bit of tizzy working on those goals. August was a bit of a rough month. I was settling in to the routine of being a working from home Mom, and the wee babe just wasn't happy with Mama spending time at the computer when she should have been playing in the grass with him. But since then I've gotten super lucky. A friend takes him two days a week, sometimes three, and now his Nanny also takes him for a while each week. Plus, I have another baby-mama pal that I sometimes do some baby-sharing with. That's when she takes mine for a couple of hours, and I take hers for a couple. That's fun, let me tell ya. It made me realize that I am not meant to be a childcare provider.  

The time both boys sat on me and pinned me to the floor was an indication that I shouldn't be left alone with two one-year-old's for any length of time.  

So when we look at my progress since my last post, here's the outcome: 

Productivity B+ 

Blogging F

Motherhood A+ 

Baby-sharing B- 

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!  

I'm going on tour—a Blog tour!

You know how in the movies about a writer they go on a whirlwind tour, hitting up lots of cities and visiting bookstores across the continent? Yea, well, that's not quite the life of a self-published author with an ebook. :) These days authors, whether they are traditionally published or have gone the independent route like me, tend to do what's known as a blog tour. 

Here's how it works. Other authors, reviewers, or people generally interested in reading that have a blog of their own host the author. Sometimes they interview them, other times they might invite the author to guest post, and sometimes they'll just review the book. Over the next month or so I'm lucky enough to have some great bloggers doing just that for me.  

The tour kicks off tomorrow when I'm interviewed by historical romance author Kate Robbins! I can't wait to see it, and I can't wait for you to check it out. Don't worry, I'll post a link for you.  

Let the tour begin!  

Oh my goodness...I'm a published author!

Less than 24 hours ago, my first novel went out into the world for all to see. It was much faster than I thought. When I uploaded it on Tuesday evening I thought it would be at least a week or so before I would get notification. And yet, yesterday afternoon I received notice of my first sale. (Great for me, not so great for my Mom, who wanted to buy the first copy.) 

I have so many emotions running through me right now. Excitement, of course, to have something I've worked so hard on be out there for you all to read. Then there's nervousness, especially about people like my parents and relatives reading the sexy bits! And one of my biggest emotions of the day is plain old-fashioned giddiness. I honestly don't know if I'm coming or going today. My brain is all-a-whirl. The lack of sleep isn't helping either. Even if I was able to sleep through the countless thoughts running through my head, we also have a dog living with us for the next few weeks. Between the dog, the baby, and the book, the last couple of nights have been rather draining.  

But let me say that I am so happy. If you've been reading my blog since the beginning you know what a journey this has been for me. I still can't wrap my head around the idea that my first novel is not my regency romance, as I'd planned so long ago, but rather a contemporary romance that I wrote in 11 days!  

I am so thankful for those of you who have already bought a copy of Against Her Rules. I hope you enjoy it. And I would love it if you shared your thoughts on the book.  

In the next couple of weeks some amazing writers and reviewers will be hosting me on their blogs, asking me questions about the novel. I hope you follow along with my blog tour.  

Now, I'm off to have a celebratory glass of wine with my biggest supporter, my dear husband Reg. It's a big week in our house! 

Cover reveal for Against Her Rules

I received a lot of really fantastic feedback from a lot of you when I asked you to help me choose my cover. In a democracy the cover with the highest number of votes would win. I guess I'm more of a despot, since I choose to incorporate the feedback from some of you that suggested I keep the title large, but change up the bottom image to be bolder, and thus more eye catching. After having my wonderful designer pal Crystal McLelland make that change, we both thought the result was fantastic. And so I present to you the official cover of Against Her Rules. ​

In other book news, I'm hoping to receive what I hope is the final edit from my good friend and editor Anne Cummings in the next day or so, and once I make her suggested edits, it should only be a matter of uploading the book and it will be ready for your reading pleasure... at least I hope pleasure it what you get from it! It would be terrible if it gave you reading hives or something! 

​In the next week or so I plan on blogging a bit more to share with you the publishing journey of Against Her Rules, and I'm hoping by early to mid-June to have the great joy of telling you how you can read this little contemporary romance of mine. Who knew when I set myself to the challenge of writing a novel in 11 days that this would be the end result? Exciting times ahead! 

PS: Can anyone tell me where the photo from the bottom of the cover came from? Here's a hint: I took it. ​