Monday 30 May 2016

Release Day & Giveaway: To Love a Libertine by Liana LeFey

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About the Book

9781633756526Title: To Love a Libertine
Author: Liana LeFey
Genre: Historical Romance

Both have secrets. Both have reputations. Both fear falling in love.

London, 1727. When Miss Eden Lowther catches the eye of Lord Percival Falloure, Marquess of Tavistoke, she’s delighted, for his wicked lordship is anything but boring. The canny coquette who declined five suitors the season prior sets out to capture the infamous “Terror of the Ton” for keeps, but the man she finds behind the façade isn’t at all what she expects.

Having suffered heartbreak and humiliation two years ago, Lord Tavistoke is wary of love. But once on the market, always on the market until wed or dead. Desperate to throw London’s single ladies off the scent, Percy looks to reestablish his rotten reputation with a rousing scandal. His mark: Miss Eden Lowther, a tearing beauty reported to have left devastation in her wake last Season. If anyone has asked for ruination, it is the heartless “Hellion of Holker Hall”…

Eden and Percy soon find themselves falling dangerously in love, despite their fears and her family’s objections. But love alone save them when a ruthless rival forces her hand.

Author Bio

Liana LeFey Profile Picture 1Liana loves to weave incendiary tales that capture the heart and the imagination, taking the reader out of the now and into another world. The glory and splendor of the 18th Century provides a lush, glittering backdrop for her fairy tale romances. It’s a time of sensuous lovers, passionate music, lavish royal courts and deadly intrigues.

Liana lives in Texas with her own dashing hero of nearly twenty years, their delightful progeny, one spoiled-rotten feline overlord, and several tanks of tropical fish. She’s been devouring historical romances since her early teens and is now delighted to be writing them for fellow enthusiasts.

Links

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Release Day Giveaway: Accidentally Compromising the Duke by Stacy Reid

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About the Book

AccidentallyCompromisingtheDuke_500X750Title: Accidentally Compromising the Duke
Author: Stacy Reid
Genre: Historical Romance

England, 1817. Miss Adeline Hays is out of options. Determined to escape marriage to a repugnant earl, Adeline plans to deliberately allow herself to be caught in a compromising position at a house party with the much kinder man she’d hoped to marry. Instead, Adeline accidentally enters the wrong chamber and tumbles into the bed of the mad duke.

Edmond Rochester, the duke of Wolverton, is seeking a wife to care for his two daughters. A young lady of sensibilities, accomplishment, and most importantly, one who he is not attracted to—a complete opposite of the bewitching beauty who traps him into marriage. But despite the lust he feels for his new duchess, Edmond is resolved to never allow them intimacy, refusing to ever again suffer the tormenting loss of a loved one.

Author Bio

Stacy Reid Profile PictureI am an avid reader of novels with a deep passion for writing. From an early age, I started writing short stories for pleasure. I knew the dozens of romance novels I devoured were onto something when I met my husband at fifteen and fell in love after a week!

Life got in the way and I stopped writing for years. Then at the age of twenty-six with a degree in Human Resource Management I decided to focus on my passion—writing. I especially love romance and adore writing sensually hot paranormal fantasy, historical and contemporary stories.

I live a lot in the worlds I create and I actively speak to my characters (out loud). I have a warrior way “never give up on my dream.” When I am not writing, I spend a copious amount of time drooling over Rick Grimes from Walking Dead, watching Japanese Anime and playing video games with my love—Dusean Nelson.

Some Random Things About Me
  1. I cannot swim, but I can float thanks to Melissa “Misa” Bourbon Ramirezand Gwen Hayes
  2. As a child I was so skinny my nickname was “Bag of bones”
  3. I love ice cream and I adore chocolate, but I hate chocolate ice cream
  4. I skipped many classes during high school to devour novels at the local library
  5. I love dogs and don’t trust cats . I’m told I was mauled by a cat when I was one year old, go figure
  6. I hate washing the dishes. If you were to torture me nail pulling would not work, but washing dishes will
  7. I have worn my hair boy-cut short seven times in my life
  8. I love when it rains
  9. I lived in a house for six years without doors and windows
  10. My absolute favourite TV series is AMC’s The Walking Dead

Links

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Friday 27 May 2016

Release Day Giveaway: Regular Sex by Kitty French

Author: Kitty French

Release Date: May 27 2016

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FY2BBY2


Length: 212 Pages

Price: £2.99/$4.31/Kindle Unlimited

Available exclusively to Amazon.

Blurb:

Get your hands on all of the Regular Sex stories from USA Today bestselling author Kitty French, available here for the first time in one binge read box set! 
Nine individual super sexy reads, a lucky dip of adult bedtime stories and blush inducing commuter reads, perfect for those times you just want a fabulous one night stand with no strings or cliff hangers. Very naughty, but oh so GOOD! 

1) The Commute ~ Jude & Stacy meet on the morning train. 
2) Never have Sex with you Ex ~ Reuben & Lizzie, method acting at its best! 
3) Do it like Magic Mike ~ Finn & Laurel, the escort & the mild mannered bank clerk. 
4) Meet Me by the Kama Sutra ~ Huey & Sylvie, quiet please in the library! 
5) Maid For You ~ Don & Cheryl, a birthday gift with a difference... 
6) #NSFW ~ Anderton & Jenna, a business meeting with a twist! 
7) Old Friends, New Lovers ~ Fox & Mabel. They know each other so well. 
8) A Lesson in Human Anatomy ~ Mr East & Jessica. A practical demonstration. 
9) The One Night Stand ~ Adam & Holly. Don't tell me your name... 
10) BONUS treat! Knight & Sleigh - The previously released Lucien Knight Christmas Novella, available for the first time in print only. Find out how the might viking spends his Christmas times with Sophie in a snowy cabin beneath the glittering aurora borealis. 

*Titles previously released individually and now available together here as one box set for the very first time. Also available in paperback - if you wanted to read Knight & Sleigh in paperback, this is the only way to get it.*

Author Bio:

USA Today Bestselling Author Kitty French is a self-confessed romance junkie. She loves to read it, watch it, but most of all, to write it. The Lucien Knight series topped the erotic charts on both sides of the Atlantic, and she’s gone on to also write romantic comedy under the pseudonym Kat French. Summer 2016 is set to be a busy one in the French household with a new release in May, June, and July! In addition to Regular Sex, look out for One Hot Summer in June and Melody Bittersweet and the Girls Ghostbusting Agency in July.
Kitty lives in the UK with her husband and their young sons.

Find Kitty on the web
Kitty's Blog 
Twitter: @kittysbooks
Facebook: Kitty's Facebook page 





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Thursday 26 May 2016

Author Interview & Giveaway: Waiting for You by Melissa Kate




About the Author:

Melissa Kate is a new author who lives in a small town along the coast in sunny South Africa. She writes for the pleasure of living in a new story and all the quirks and crazies that go with each character. A true romantic at heart, she loves the moment of falling in love. Her pet Beagle and maniacal lovebird keep her company while writing and often inspire senseless moments in her stories.

When she’s not furiously typing away on her laptop, Melissa can be found cooking or baking up a storm. Even she has to admit, she’s a pretty awesome chef. She has a small addiction with shoes which she attributes to her petite stature or as she likes to call it “Short girl problems”.

She balances her day job and conjuring up new romantic tales with a local personal blog with arb ramblings about her life in Durban. She’s been writing for years now, any bits that she can and she can't wait to share that with you!

http://www.melissakatebooks.com/

https://twitter.com/MelissaKate_1

https://www.facebook.com/melissakatebooks

***

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

I always start out with a basic plot idea so I can see the bigger picture. Individual scenes flow in the direction the characters take them, with a little corralling from myself of course. If I get an idea for a scene then I tend to jot it down on a post it and stick it in my plot book. It works like a charm because you often forget “grand” ideas that you get while driving or in the shower.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story? 

All the time! Particularly the hero when he wants the heroine but there’s a pace that needs to be set. The build up is what makes a good read.

What is your favourite food?

I love most spicy food but Portuguese is my favourite!

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Definitely morning person.

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

I love going to places with rich culture. My idea of a holiday is not sitting on a beach and roasting. I much prefer adventure and learning about other ideologies. I have wanted to see Dubai, Thailand, Bali… all of which I have visited in the last year. Greece and Italy are other destinations that are on my Bucket List

Do distant places feature in your books?

Technically yes because I am from South Africa and the home base in my books are in America. But nothing completely set in an exotic destination just yet – it’s still early days.

Do you listen to music while writing?

I listen to music before I start writing – it helps to put me in the mood or give me inspiration but I can’t work with ANY sort of background noises. I need the dead silence to hear my characters voices.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

This story is about Adam and Audrey who shared the latter part of their adolescence as neighbors. Adam is the quintessential playboy and Audrey is very much the girl next door. She’s liked him from afar and so gives herself up to him one night before she goes off to college. A misunderstanding between them leads Audrey out of Crystal Valley for years and when she returns, divorced and alone, the years apart force them together. Just as they start to find common ground again, Audrey’s past comes back to haunt her in a deadly way.

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

Wow so much! Getting published and seeing my name in print was just a pipe dream for so long. When you get rejected as much as I did, you can’t help but feel that you’re just not cut out for it. Misty from Fiery Seas Publishing gave me a chance and she changed my life. There is so much that goes into the process: Line edits, copy edits, marketing. I need an assistant just to keep me straight!



Is there anything you would do differently?

I believe everything happens for a reason and life events brought me right to this moment. I wouldn’t change anything.

Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?

I grew up reading Sweet Valley High and since then I feel in love with books. My writing journey I could say was influenced by Rachel Gibson who was my very first favorite romance writer. She writes with humor and heat and everything in between.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

Don’t give up. It’s not an easy road but it’s worth it. Put in the effort. Nothing in life is given to you for free. Work for it and your labors will come to fruition.

What are three words that describe you?

Loyal, drama-queen (that’s one word right?), Fierce

What's your favorite book or who is your favorite writer?

Way too many favorite books but my favorite authors are Jill Shalvis, Lauren Layne and Marina Adair.

List of previous books if any

None yet but there are a few upcoming books.

Any websites/places readers can find you on the web?

You can also catch me at:
Website: www.melisskatebooks.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/melissakatebooks
Twitter: www.twitter.com/melissakate_1
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/melissakate_1
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/melissakate1

***

Waiting For You 
Melissa Kate
Contemporary Romance
Fiery Seas Publishing, LLC
May 24, 2016

Book Description:

Audrey Kelly finds her way back home to Crystal Valley with her bruised pride and a shattered dangerous past mocking her rear view mirror. What she didn’t expect was to be face-to-face with Adam Parker, resident bad boy, sexy Navy SEAL and one of the reasons that Audrey ran all those years ago.

Audrey was the last person Adam had ever expected to see back in Crystal Valley. Over a decade ago, they shared a sizzling night together before he received the worst news of his life and he hasn’t seen her since…until she’d moved back unexpectedly. She was no longer the sweet innocent girl he once remembered, but Adam has his own problems without having to deal with Audrey’s ice princess recital, no matter how tempting the auburn haired seductress may be.

Sparks begin to ignite between them but can they accept Audrey’s past when it threatens to engage them in a dangerous twist? Can they save each other from themselves and stop running once and for all?

***

Giveaway:

5 ebook copies

2 print copies(US only)

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Wednesday 25 May 2016

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Otherworld Renegade by Jane Goodman




Otherworld Renegade
Otherworld Series Book Two
Jane Godman
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Harlequin Nocturne
Date of Publication: May 1st 2016
ISBN: 9780373009695 
ASIN: B015CJXYMO
Number of pages: 304
Word Count: 80 000
Cover Artist: Harlequin

Book Description: 

Claiming her felt like his destiny…but could prove to be his ultimate undoing.

Desperate to flee a horrific arranged marriage, Princess Tanzi turned to the only man who could help. Lorcan Malone, infamous necromancer, had vowed to come to her aid whenever she needed him. And even as they traveled from the mortal world into the fantastical Otherworld, Tanzi knew her true need ran deeper than just a rescue.

She was his enemy's daughter. A renegade like Lorcan had no business craving a Fae princess, one intended for a greater calling. Yet he was powerless to resist the pull to do more than protect Tanzi…

Harlequin | Amazon | BN | Kobo | iTunes | Google Play

***

Excerpt: 

“Trust me, Tanzi. If you need me, I will know.”

Those words, spoken by Lorcan Malone in the heat of battle, must have been a bit of Irish blarney. He probably didn’t even remember who she was, let alone recall their strange encounter on that fateful day. So why, in this moment—when she was in more trouble than she could ever have imagined possible—was she suddenly experiencing a fierce longing for the bad-boy necromancer with the twinkling blue eyes?

It’s called clutching at straws, she told herself. It’s what you’re doing right now instead of facing reality and finding your own way out of this madness.

“What are you thinking, my daughter?” Moncoya, exiled King of the Faeries, watched her face.

“I’m thinking that defeat has unhinged you. That you have finally done what others have whispered of for years and taken leave of your senses.” Never before had Tanzi spoken so boldly to him. Defiance was the trait her twin sister, Vashti, proudly exhibited. Tanzi had always been the acquiescent one. Until now. There were some things she could not bow down and agree to. This was one of them.

Moncoya’s perfect features hardened with fury. His blue eyes, so like her own with their sidhe ring of fire encircling the iris, lit with a brighter inner blaze. His fingers tightened on the arm of his chair so that his knuckles gleamed white in stark contrast to the black polish that decorated his perfectly manicured nails. Tanzi braced herself. His retribution would be swift and merciless. She couldn’t hope to match him in strength, but she might be able to outrun him.

The outcome hung in the balance for seconds that stretched into minutes. Then Moncoya laughed. It was a brittle, mirthless sound that set Tanzi’s teeth buzzing. She knew that laugh well. It had never boded well in her childhood. She didn’t imagine things had changed. Unexpectedly, he relaxed back into his seat.

“My child, you are overwhelmed by the honor I have arranged for you. I should have foreseen this.” He rose, draping a deceptively casual arm about her shoulders. “Walk with me a while.”

They stepped through a set of double doors straight onto a sand-and-shingle beach. The entire island, known locally as the Silver Isle, seemed to be made up of sand. Even the ocher-hued cliffs looked ready to crumble into grit at the touch of a fingertip. Ferns, wild fennel and coarse bamboo grasses clung determinedly to soil that was a combination of granule and dust. Tanzi thought of her father’s palace, of the precisely laid-out gardens leading down to the elegant lake. She glanced back over her shoulder at the beachside villa they had just left. Sea breezes and salt water had taken their toll on its elegance so that it had a faded charm she doubted her father would acknowledge. In comparison with the soaring, white marble palace she had called “home” for all her life, it was a shack. Moncoya was as out of place here as a diamond in a dung heap.

“You made sure no one followed you?” Moncoya withdrew his arm from about her shoulders as they walked along the water’s edge. Secrecy surrounded this hiding place. If he was discovered, he faced trial and inevitable execution.

“Of course.” Tanzi was offended at the question. Would he have asked Vashti the same thing? She doubted it. Yet we both trained with the Valkyrie. We are equally astute when it comes to warfare and subterfuge. It came back to the same weary argument. The same reason Tanzi had been summoned to be the recipient of his latest piece of “good news” instead of her twin. Moncoya viewed Vashti as the son he had never had. Tanzi’s only value to her father was as a pawn in the marriage stakes. Not this marriage, father. The sacrifice you are asking of me is too great.

“Tell me what has been happening at the palace in my absence.” Three months had passed since the cataclysmic battle that had forced Moncoya into hiding. It felt like three years.

“There is a peacekeeping council known as the Alliance in place. Each of the Otherworld dynasties has representation on it. The Alliance itself is led by Merlin Caledonius.”

Moncoya’s expression hardened further at the name. “That half-blood cur will pay dearly for his part in this.”

Merlin, the greatest sorcerer the world had ever known, was Moncoya’s half brother and the man who had brought about his exile. Cal, as he preferred to be called these days, had widened the existing gulf of hatred between the two men further by falling in love with and marrying the woman Moncoya had hoped to make his queen.

Tanzi paused, looking out across the turquoise waters toward the horizon. She drew a deep breath. “My father, you wrong him. He is man of conscience who is doing a fine job of uniting the dynasties…” Moncoya’s growl of rage told her she had gone too far.

“Am I, the greatest leader Otherworld has ever known, to be forced into hiding while he lives in luxury in my royal palace? Am I to endure the knowledge that he has stolen the necromancer star, the woman I chose as my own, from under my nose? Must I kick my heels in this backwater while you, my own daughter, take the seat that should be mine at this pathetic council table—” He broke off, his voice ragged. When he spoke again, his tone was softer, the words a caress. “But you know nothing of these things, my child. It is wrong of these men to ask you to involve yourself in their political machinations. They seek to trick you.”

Tanzi bit her lip. How could she explain it to him when he insisted on viewing her as a helpless dupe? Being part of the Alliance had brought her new life. Oh, she had been regarded with suspicion initially by many of the council members. She was Moncoya’s daughter, after all. They saw her as the spoiled brat sidhe princess who had been his consort—his puppet—in the past. Together with Vashti, she had blindly carried out his wishes. But things had changed three months ago on that battlefield. She had changed.

A pair of laughing Irish eyes came into her mind once more and she determinedly dismissed them. Cal and his wife, Stella, treated her as their equal, and with their help she was learning how to be the voice and conscience of her people. She was developing an understanding of compassion and democracy. Tanzi cast a sidelong glance at her father. She was learning that there was a way to rule other than Moncoya’s iron-fisted style.

“Let us leave this talk of the mongrel sorcerer for another day. I look forward to dealing with him when the time comes. This marriage I have arranged for you is the highest distinction ever to be bestowed upon a woman. Through this union, I will not only be able to come out of this undignified hiding and return to my palace, I will be the undisputed ruler of all Otherworld.” Moncoya’s lips thinned into a smile. “There will be no need for their puny Alliance when that day dawns.”

“And what of me, Father? While you become all powerful, what will I become?”

He paused then, perhaps considering for the first time the true implications of what he was asking of her. Such was his arrogance, she might have known he would not allow her feelings to influence him for long. “You will be revered above all others.”

She shook her head. “I will not do it.”

His face was set. The silken note in his voice made the threat even more menacing. “You have no choice.”

“By all the angels, Father, you cannot intend to force me into this!”

Moncoya’s lips smiled but Tanzi’s heart quailed at the look in his eyes. “Given the bridegroom I have chosen for you, might I suggest you refrain from speaking of angels in the future?”

***

About the Author:

Jane Godman writes in a variety of romance genres including paranormal, gothic and romantic suspense. Her Otherworld series is published by Harlequin Nocturne and she has a new series coming out soon with Harlequin Romantic Suspense. 2017 will see the publication of a new paranormal series for SMP Swerve.

Jane lives in England and loves to travel to European cities, which are steeped in history and romance—Venice, Dubrovnik and Vienna are among her favorites. Jane is married to a lovely man and is mom to two grown-up children.

Website: http://www.janegodmanauthor.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaneGodman

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Godman-Author/133131640171522

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6923685.Jane_Godman

***

Tour giveaway 

10 signed print copies
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Tuesday 24 May 2016

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Ambushing Malachi by Electra Gadjos




Ambushing Malachi
Wolvens, Eastern Province
Book One
Electra Gajdos
Genre: Paranormal Sci-Fi Romance
Publisher: Electra Gajdos
Date of Publication: December 29, 2015
ASIN: B019YRTR94
Number of pages: 118 pages
Word Count: 35,640 words
Cover Artist: Jay Aheer

Book Description:

An unexpected kiss starts a chain of events that will change his life…

Malachi Keen’s frustration grows as he hunts for his sister, Kiara. The search leads him to more trouble than just an irritating sibling when he finds himself in the embrace of a tantalizing stranger. What turns out to be a chance encounter will change his life forever.

Jez Baldovino owes a life debt to an influential Wolven. To pay up, she must complete what she thought would be a simple task – retrieve some stolen data. The situation quickly becomes complicated and she is forced to use a handsome, unsuspecting stranger.

Malachi realizes that not everything is what it seems; unknown enemies and a beautiful female determined to escape him was not in his plans for the day. His plans change when danger surrounds Jez. There is only one male that is allowed to hunt the woman who ambushed him with a kiss – him!

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/dY-W2L4Vlms

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon Canada | Amazon Australia | iBooks | BN | Kobo | Goodreads


***

Excerpt:

Using the empty service hallways, he took a direct path to his sister. He was almost to the latte shop when he was caught off guard by a pair of dainty hands wrapping around his forearm and pulling him through the back door of a busy restaurant kitchen.

He only caught a glimpse of the stunning woman with long blonde curly hair before she yanked his head down. When she licked the seam of his mouth, he naturally opened for her.

Then he closed his eyes in ecstasy, tasting the sugary sweet glaze of red berries coating her lips. He didn’t care what part of her he griped, as he pulled her body to his.

She placed a hand on his hip to steady herself, and her scent of wild apple blossoms sent possessive desires through him. A new sense of joy rushed inside his soul as his inner voice chanted, Mine! Mine! Mine!

He growled with displeasure when she took her candy-flavored lips away.

Her dazzling blue gaze met his. “Thanks, Lumberjack. I so needed that.” She used the nickname of the Grizzly Mountain Wolvens, who chose to live in the woods to be closer to their ancestors, the wolves.

She needed that? He needed her…forever. Malachi was sure he’d just found his mate.

She gave him a wink and took a couple of steps back from him.

He frowned, not wanting her to leave his side.

When he reached for her to bring her back into his embrace—where she belonged—he stumbled. His legs suddenly felt like lead.

He grabbed for the nearest dish rack for support. Each time he blinked, the lids of his eyes got heavier. Then he dropped to the floor.

His clouded mind tried to commit all the details of his mate to memory. Her almond-shaped blue eyes were so expressive, and her upper lip was thinner than the bottom.

His gaze traveled down the length of her body, noting the indent in her waistline that fanned out to the kind of hips a male could latch onto while mating.

She knelt at his side. “Sorry, Lumberjack.”

***

About the Author:

Electra Gajdos is from Winnemucca, Nevada and currently lives in West Michigan. She is a wife and the mother of two beautiful genius children. (Maybe not true geniuses, but a mother is always partial to her kids.) She won’t bore you with her childhood love of all things sci-fi and the game of chess. But she will let you know she once called the police to save a man from jumping off a three-story building. What she didn’t know was the man was a mannequin and part of an advertisement. No lie! Thankfully, it gave the police officer a good laugh for the night. This is just one her many good deeds gone wonky, and she looks forward to sharing more of them with you.

Chat with Electra at www.electragajdos.com

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/electra.gajdos

Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14816293.Electra_Gajdos

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Electra-Gajdos/e/B01A2985CS/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ElectraGajdos

@ElectraGajdos

***

Tour giveaway 

1 $25 Amazon Gift Card

3 copies of Ambushing Malachi

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Monday 23 May 2016

Guest Post and Giveaway: The Queen's Dance by Jamie K. Schmidt




Getting in The Mood: How to Write Every Day
By Jamie K. Schmidt

If you’ve got stories in your head just dying to be let out, the hard part of writing is finding time to write.  But at the end of the day, sometimes all I want to do is kick back with a glass of wine and watch Game of Thrones on HBO, read a book, or knit something soft and fuzzy.  And during the weekend, I’ve got my house to clean, chores to do, and time to spend with my family.  That’s not a lot of time left to write.  The best way I’ve found to clear out time to write is to schedule it in just like a doctor’s appointment and stick to it.  Finding that sweet spot, however, is the tough part.

Some writer’s set the clock an hour or so early to get their writing time in.  That’s just not me.  I’m not a morning person and I don’t wake up fresh as a daisy.  But it might work for you.  John Grisham used to write on a legal pad during the down time of his day job, on lunch and during train or bus rides.  I tend to take a long time to get going and then when I’m on a roll, I don’t want to hit the brakes just for a silly thing like my boss wanting a report on his desk by three p.m. However, if you’ve got some holes in your day, make sure you always have a notebook or an app on your tablet or phone to help jot down ideas and plot points.

Then, there’s what I do.  When I’m not on deadline, I write from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. every night.  This time slot works for me because dinner is done, my son is in bed and I don’t have anything else weighing on me.  If I didn’t get a chance to do it before eight, I can do it after ten – or put it off until tomorrow.

When I am on deadline those times get stretched:  eight to midnight and if that’s not cutting it, six to midnight (My family has to fend for themselves for supper that week and I do a lot of freezer meals and crock pot dishes.) and all day Sunday.

I’m also crazy.  Not everyone is going to have two hours a day.  But everyone does have some wiggle room in their schedule.  The key is finding it.  In some cases, you might have to give something up that you really enjoy – at least until the book is done.  For example, if I didn’t have my nights free – like if I had to work two jobs?  I would give up a portion of my sleep time and set that alarm clock earlier.  I’d do it in stages, though, so my body didn’t rebel.  A half hour for a few weeks and then build up to my two hour block.  The thought of having to do that is so unpleasant to me, though!  But you know what would be more unpleasant?  Not being able to write.

So if the getting up early didn’t work, I’d try something different.  Maybe I’d write during my day job’s lunch hour and my night job’s break and finish up with an hour before bed?  If I was a stay at home Mom and had to care for my children and domestic engineer there are no lunch breaks.  So maybe I’d look into play dates where, I’d trade off  with another Mom.  When the kids are at the play date, that’s my block of writing time for the week.  Or I’d take a five hour energy drink and put in an hour after everyone was in bed.  Or I’d talk into a microphone while we were going for walks and transcribe it later.  And I have to admit, I’ve also used the television for a ½ hour writing sprint.  I don’t know what it is about that purple dinosaur, but if it wasn’t for Barney, I wouldn’t have been able to take a shower for the first three years of my son’s life.

When I get my butt into the chair, utilizing the time so I’m not daydreaming  plotting in my head or dilly-dallying around on the internet researching is almost as important as finding time to write.  During the day, long before I sit in my writing chair, I decide what I’m going to work on that night.  I try to hit two thousand words, so it’s going to be either a scene or a group of scenes.  Then I let the back brain percolate on it for the rest of the day.  If I come up empty or have written myself into a corner, I write another section of the book.  One of my favorite things to do when I’ve got writer’s block is to write the final chapter – complete with THE END.  I find that motivates me to fill in the middle so I can have a finished product.

Finding time to write is a lot like finding time for yourself, in that a lot of writers put it low on their things to do list.  Some days are like that.  There are days when I’m going to bed with my son at eight p.m.  There are days when I’m writing past midnight when my fingers are still going strong, but my eyelids are closing.  Making an ironclad appointment will eventually make daily writing a habit and you’ll find yourself scheduling things around your writing time.

Here’s an excerpt from my newest release, The Queen’s Dance.  It’s a paranormal romance with shape-shifting dragons.

***

Margery was lying out in the sun again. She felt the heat press into her bones from the hard deck under her and the rays beating into her skin.

Bliss.

Listening, she could hear the creak of the deck chair and the splash of the waves. Where was Remy?

She wanted to open her eyes and sit up, but she didn’t know where they were. Would she be flashing all of Lake Champlain? Her hands inched around on the deck hoping to find her bikini. No luck. But she did feel a sheet balled up at the very edge of her reach. Snatching it, she wrapped it around herself and sat up and wobbled—she’d had tequila hangovers that didn’t feel like this. When her eyes adjusted to the sunlight, she realized she was alone.

“Remy?” she called. She didn’t feel up to standing, so she sat there on deck and wondered why she’d passed out. It had just been starting to get good, too. Margery touched her lips where Remy’s kisses had left their brand then smiled and hoped he didn’t think he’d frightened her.

While she’d gotten really cold, and the dark did remind her briefly of being a prisoner below deck with the pirates, that’s where the similarities ended. Margery knew Remy would never hurt her. She wasn’t sure why she’d passed out, but it had nothing to do with him. Concentrating, she tried to emerge into a dragon so she could fly around the lake, but pain jackhammered into her skull until she was retching bile over the side of the deck.

“Shit,” she gurgled.

She thumped back to the deck and closed her eyes until the pain went away, which took longer than she expected. Luckily, the sun’s warmth bored into her every pore, and the headache eased to a mild throb. Margery stretched and rolled over so she wouldn’t get sunburned.

Too bad she’d passed out. She didn’t quite get the politics of the consort thing, but if it was a choice between Remy, Casimiro, and a total stranger, her best bet was Remy. It didn’t have to be love, after all. Not yet, anyway. It would have been nice to have a night of mind-blowing sex and fall asleep cuddled up in a man’s arms. Ever since Casimiro did a number on her heart, Margery wasn’t too keen on letting that organ decide her bed partners. Her libido had good taste, and right now Remy would fit the bill. If she could stay conscious for it.

A big wave lifted the boat, and she clutched at the deck as the vessel swayed nearly to tipping. Then Remy launched onto the deck. He was fully dressed and not even dripping.

She squinted up at him. “How do you do that?”

“Did you have a nice night?” he asked, turning his back on her to go to the helm and raise the anchor.

***

About the Book:

The Queen’s Dance
The Emerging Queens Series, 
Book Three
Jamie K. Schmidt
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Entangled
Date of Publication: 5/23/16
Number of pages: 267
Word Count: 63,000
Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde

Book Description:

After newly shifted dragon Queen, Margery Cooper, is rescued from smugglers she has a choice to continue to hunt down the story that nearly killed her when she was an investigative reporter or embrace her royalty and build a court of protectors and studs.  Remy “Champ” Champlain is first on the scene and assigned her protector while she sorts out her affairs.  He wants nothing more to get back to his solitude and his small town, but as an unclaimed dragon he doesn’t get a choice.

The Queen is his responsibility until her court is formalized.  He wants to settle her down right away, but she has this wild hair up her Queenly butt to find out who is smuggling dangerous drugs into the country.

Sparks fly between them, but as she's a sky dragon and he's a water dragon, well she can't swim and he can't fly and those aren't the only differences they're facing.

***

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author, Jamie K. Schmidt, writes erotic contemporary love stories and paranormal romances.  Her Club Inferno series from Random House’s Loveswept line has hit both the Amazon and Barnes & Noble top one hundred lists.   She has two other series with Loveswept: Hawaii Heat, in which the first book Life’s A Beach is the perfect staycation to Maui, and The Sentinels of Babylon, about members of vigilante Motorcycle Club and their old ladies. Her dragon paranormal romance series from Entangled Publishing, has been called “fun and quirky” and “endearing.” Partnered with New York Times bestselling author and former porn actress, Jenna Jameson, Jamie’s hardcover debut, SPICE, continues Jenna’s FATE trilogy.

An avid knitter and jewelry maker, Jamie is never bored.  She can often be found with a mug of tea on the computer flanked by her little dogs & fluffy white cat.  You can follow her on twitter at @Jamiekswriter or on her author page on Facebook. When she's not writing or crafting, Jamie loves playing games, everything from board games to strategy card games, console and online MMORPGs.

Website http://jamiekschmidt.weebly.com/

Facebook www.facebook.com/jamie.k.schmidt.1

Twitter https://twitter.com/Jamiekswriter

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/jamiekswriter

Blog http://jamiekswriter.livejournal.com/

Amazon Page http://www.amazon.com/Jamie-K.-Schmidt/e/B00B7CKKO6

Pinterest http://pinterest.com/jamiekswriter/

***

Tour giveaway:

Enter to win a dragon coloring book -go to www.jamiekschmidt.weebly.com  and scroll down the first page and add your email address to the subscriber list.



Tuesday 17 May 2016

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Say You're Mine by Aliyah Burke




Say You’re Mine
Aliyah Burke
Genre: Interracial paranormal romance (wolves)
Publisher: All Romance eBooks
Date of Publication: May 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-943576-79-1
Word Count: 51k
Cover Artist: Erin Dameron Hill

Book Description:

One’s weakness is another’s strength.

Casimir Lars is the Alpha of the Tatra Pack. He fought hard to become the leader he is today. He refuses to show weakness or allow others to take advantage of him. He’s dedicated to his pack, strong and fearless, yet his life is thrown into upheaval when he has to track down a very specific woman: his wife.

Dyana Vance is a headstrong professional archer—not the type to trust blindly when a stranger shows up claiming to be her husband. There’s no denying the explosive chemistry she has with Casimir, but she isn’t pack and refuses to be bound by their laws.

Casimir is torn between his growing feelings toward her and what he believes is his duty to mate with a pack female. Dyana learns to deal with loss and discovery of something new. Death, plots, and undeniable passion all fly around this couple.

When he accepts what is to be, will he be too late or will his pride have pushed her away forever? Will she ever look at him and say you’re mine?

ARe | Amazon


***

About the Author:

Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She loves to hear from her readers and can be found on Facebook or Twitter at @AliyahBurke96.

She is married to a career military man. They are owned by four Borzoi, and a DSH cat. She spends her days sharing time between work, writing, and dog training.

For more information on other books by Aliyah, visit her website:
www.aliyah-burke.com

http://twitter.com/AliyahBurke96

https://www.facebook.com/Aliyah-Burke-283998078320168/

***

Giveaway:

3 ebook copies of It Was Always You by Aliyah Burke

Enter Here



Monday 16 May 2016

Author Interview: Cynthia E. Hurst

About the Author:

I grew up in Seattle, then earned a journalism degree from the University of Oregon. I worked at newspapers and magazines in the Northwest and the UK and also spent five years as a housing officer for British military families. I’m married to George and we have two sons and two grandchildren.

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

I have a brief outline – victim, killer and motive – but most things flow from there. My R&P Labs series is set in a laboratory, so there has to be a current project for my characters that ties in to the murder. With my Zukie Merlino series, it’s usually her snoopiness that sets things in motion.

Do your characters ever want to take over the story? 

Constantly, especially Mitch in the R&P books. Zukie and Lou are based on real relatives of mine, so with them, it’s easy to know what they’ll do and say.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Morning, definitely.

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

I dream of being able to stay in one place, since I’ve spent the last few years ‘commuting’ between Seattle and England.

Do distant places feature in your books?

No, both my series are set in Seattle, my home town, although the first half of ‘Pushover’ takes place in San Diego, which I’ve visited several times.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?


‘Uprooted’ is the 12th R&P Labs book and as the tag line says, it is a mystery involving ferns, fraud and Floridians. A pushy biologist from Florida attaches himself to the lab and then proceeds to get himself murdered, putting the staff under the police spotlight. I had been neglecting the R&P series for a while and I needed to decide if Virginia, one of my favorite characters, was going to retire.

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

Writing fiction is a lot more fun than journalism (I spent more than 20 years as a reporter, copy editor and columnist), but promoting your work is a lot harder.

Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?

I set my R&P series in a small laboratory because my parents worked in one and I spent a lot of time there as a child. So although I have no scientific ability, I know how a lab works. The Zukie series grew out of my Italian-American background.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

Read everything you can in your chosen genre and learn from other authors. Learn the basics of spelling, grammar and punctuation before you even think of publishing. You can’t build a house without a foundation.

What are three words that describe you?

Always cautiously optimistic.

What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?

I read mysteries constantly when I was growing up, and my favorite author has always been Rex Stout. I also love the off-the-wall humor of Carl Hiaasen.


Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book

A simple, lucrative project to grow ferns seems an attractive proposition for R&P Labs, but that’s before Florida botanist Grayson Quayle travels 3,000 miles to attach himself to the lab, bringing with him a pile of unwelcome personal baggage.

The R&P staff would like to see the last of Quayle, but it appears that they’re not the only ones. When arsenic from a scientific project is put to an unscientific use, Rob, Phil, Ellis, Virginia and Mitch find themselves involved in another criminal case, with a list of suspects including a wife with a grievance, an investigator with an agenda and a blackmailer with an unusual demand.


List of previous books if any

The R&P series: ‘Mossfire’, ‘Sweetwater’, ‘Shellshock’, ‘Angelwood’, ‘Boneflower’, “Childproof’, ‘Deamwheel’, ‘Icefox’, ‘Shotglass’, ‘Pushover’, ‘Bedrock’, ‘Four by Five’ (short stories).
Zukie Merlino series: ‘Zukie’s Burglar,’ ‘Zukie’s Witness’, ‘Zukie’s Suspect’, ‘Zukie’s Detective’, ‘Zukie’s Alibi’, ‘Zukie’s Evidence’.

Any websites/places readers can find you on the web

https://www.facebook.com/Cynthia-E-Hurst-377020378987807/

www.amazon.com/author/cynthiaehurst



Friday 13 May 2016

Author Interview: The Bluebells Chronicles by Laura Vosika


About the Author:

Laura Vosika, author of the Blue Bells Chronicles, is also working on several other novels and a non-fiction book on raising a large family. Past publishing credits include an essay in Glamour magazine.

Laura grew up in the military, visiting castles in England, pig fests in Germany, and the historic sites of America's east coast. She earned a bachelor's degree in music, and master's degree in education, and worked for many years as a freelance musician, private music instructor, and school band director.

She currently lives in Minnesota with six of her nine children, and assorted menagerie.

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

I let the story flow.  Then I go back and re-read and make sure it all hangs together and makes sense. 

Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

Always!  Parts of my books are very different from what I originally planned, because of this.  Angus, for instance, a Scottish inspector and mountain rescuer, was never in my plans.  However, one day, he simply walked in and sat down next to Amy, in Book Two, and I realized this is the cop from Book One!

What is your favourite food?

Anything loaded with lots of crunchy vegetables--Chinese, pizza, salad!

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Both

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

I once would have said Scotland, as my books are set there.  I still love going there, but my future dream is to finally get to Russia some day.  I've studied Russian in the past, my best friend was a Russian interpreter, and I currently work for and with a lot of Russian music teachers.  It just seems to be a part of my life.

Do distant places feature in your books?

Yes.  My books are almost entirely set in Scotland--and especially medieval Scotland.

Do you listen to music while writing?

No.  I usually find it way too distracting.  I like silence.  Sometimes, I think this is ironic, considering I'm a musician by trade.  Other times, I think that's exactly why it's so distracting to me.
.
Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

Westering Home is Book Four in what should be five books of The Blue Bells Chronicles.  The whole series tells the story of Shawn Kleiner, a modern American classical musician who has lifted his orchestra to great heights with his charisma and business skills.  However, he's also caused them, and his girlfriend, a lot of trouble, with his womanizing, drinking, gambling, and partying.  Finally, Amy has it, and leaves him abandoned in a medieval tower, while they're on tour in Scotland.

He wakes up in the wrong time, as does his cross-century twin, Niall Campbell.  They are mistaken for one another and caught in one another's lives. 

The entire series is, ultimately a story of redemption, as Shawn lives and fights beside the heroes of Scotland's Wars of Independence, before returning to Amy, a changed man--and yet, one who still has some decisions to make as to how far he'll go to save those he loves.

The book is available at Amazon

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

I've learned that writing is a lot of fun and a lot of work.  Publishing is even more work, and could easily consume 48 hours a day.  I've learned the sad truth that there's a lot of fraud and revenge and pay-for-reviews in the review system, and I've learned that writing has opened up a whole world of writers and readers with whom I've become friends.

Is there anything you would do differently?

No. 

Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?

My writing is heavily influenced by Margaret J. Anderson's In the Keep of Time, my love of time travel and historical fiction, and my own life as an orchestral musician.  Like Shawn, my protagonist, I played trombone.  I played semi-professionally for many years, and am quite familiar with his world, his instrument, and the music he knows.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

Find a writers' critique group.  Meet weekly to read your writing, receive critiques, and listen to others.

What are three words that describe you?

Mother.  I have nine children, the joys of my life.  Writer.  For obvious reasons.  Musician.  I have spent my life in music, I play about a dozen instruments, I teach private music lessons, I occasionally perform on harp these days, and in the past have done a lot of playing in everything from solo situations to big bands to full orchestras.  I also directed a school band for five years, and taught general music for three.

What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?

Oh, boy!  Just like with musical instruments, I can't limit it to one.  Tempo Rubato by Brendan Carroll.   The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson.  And the soon-to-be published novel The Feet Say Run by Dan Blum.  (I've read it because I'm publishing it.)

Excerpt of your latest release or coming soon book

Fluorescent lights glared down from a white ceiling.  White walls doubled their effect, washing the whole room in blinding white.  “I’ve died and gone to heaven,” Shawn muttered.  “Niall’s going to be so disappointed to find me here.”  He lounged in a spindly chair designed for discomfort, his legs in filthy breeks stretched in front of him. 

He’d shed the robe and bloodied chain mail.  They lay on the scarred, wooden table, under the huge
claymore and two short, vicious sgian dubhs, between him and half the Inverness police force, several of whom threw the items curious glances at regular intervals, while striving to appear only professionally interested.

“Someone’s called my mother?”  Shawn asked for the second time.  His lower leg burned.  He suspected he’d been sliced with one of the MacDougalls’ swords. “She’s here in Scotland?”

“Aye, down in Bannockburn,” said Inspector MacLean, with the short black curls and ruddy cheeks.  In contrast to the other cops, he wore jeans and a rumpled navy blue sweatshirt.  He stayed back from the table, against the wall.  “Amy’s on the phone with her now.”

“Perhaps that should be Miss Nelson to you,” Shawn said.

Inspector MacLean stared straight ahead, not answering.  But his lips tightened.

Shawn smiled.

“We must ask again,” spoke the man who must be the chief, “where you’ve been for a year?”  Beside him sat a middle-aged man Shawn had identified as Clive, with a well-padded paunch and thinning brown hair, reaching for a donut. But it was Inspector MacLean, standing calmly, avoiding his eyes, to whom Shawn’s gaze strayed over and over. 

“Mr. Kleiner?”

Shawn forced himself to look at the chief.  “I’ve spent about a quarter of the time at Glenmirril, and the rest at Stirling Castle, Cambuskenneth, Creagsmalan, Dundolam, and all over Jedburgh and Northumbria.”

The chief banged his fist on the table.  The coif slid off the hauberk to fall, clanking, against the sword.  “You mean to say you’ve been going around Glenmirril, which is packed with tourists every day, dressed like that!”  He indicated Shawn’s trews and stained, torn gambeson, over a medieval leine.  “With half of Scotland searching for you, and no one’s noticed?”

Shawn shrugged.  He looked again at the man who had hugged Amy and James.  The Inspector gazed at the far wall, his cheeks high with color.  Shawn looked back to the chief.  “No one noticed because I was there from June 1314 until early this morning, June, 1316.”


List of previous books if any
Blue Bells of Scotland
The Minstrel Boy
The Water is Wide

Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.

website: www.bluebellstrilogy.com
blog: www.bluebellstrilogy.blogspot.com
blog: http://gaelicwordaday.wordpress.com/
facebook: www.facebook.com/laura.vosika.author
twitter: www.twitter.com/lauravosika
publisher website: www.gabrielshornpress.com


Thursday 12 May 2016

Author Interview & Giveaway: The Vampire's Rival by S.J. Wright





About the Author:

S.J. Wright first began writing stories when she was twelve years old. She has been a cashier, a receptionist, a factory worker and has served a multitude of other roles over the years. Her favorite role has been that of a mother to her two sons.

The Undead in Brown County series takes place in Brown County, Indiana. She began writing the series in October of 2010. In February of 2011, she published her first novel The Vampire's Warden as an ebook on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Since then, she has released five more books in the series.

https://www.facebook.com/SJ-Wright-Author-112757705475522/
https://twitter.com/SJWrightAuthor
http://www.amazon.com/S.J.-Wright/e/B004O36Z0S
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/520196.S_J_Wright

***

Do you plan everything or just let the story flow?

I’m one of those authors who lets the story direct her. Planning out the book ahead of time sometimes creates a barrier to what might have been really promising alternative ways to tell the story.



Do your characters ever want to take over the story?

Often! My characters are headstrong and a few are quite impulsive. They demand that the story is their own.

What is your favourite food?

Pizza!

Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Morning person, absolutely.

Where do you dream of travelling to and why?

I would love to see Europe. I am especially interested in English history and the War of the Roses, so London would be a dream come true.

Do distant places feature in your books?

Almost every setting in my books is based in my home state of Indiana.

Do you listen to music while writing?

Sometimes. I find it helpful to listen to hard rock during exciting scenes.

Could you tell us a bit about your latest release?

The Vampire’s Rival is the sixth book in my series, Undead in Brown County. My main character goes through some serious changes in this one. For me, the character was growing a bit stale. I wanted to liven things up, change the situation for her. That definitely happened!

What have you learned about writing and publishing since you first started?

I’ve learned that there are tons of different aspects to self-publishing. You really have to be your own cheerleader, publicist, advertising manager and much more.

Is there anything you would do differently?

My first and second books were much more popular than the rest in my series, so I guess I would try to stick more to the formula I used for those two books as well as the marketing techniques I used back then.

Who, or what, if anything has influenced your writing?

My own personality. I’ve suffered from severe depression for most of my life and have found it hard to be myself in a lot of ways. These books helped change that. Although my characters can be irate and impulsive, it’s a reflection of the things I’d sometimes like to do myself.

Anything you would say to those just starting out in the craft?

Work it out in your head what needs to happen next in your book. Don’t be afraid to write something and have it turn out all wrong. You can always go back and change things. Don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself to be perfect. Just keep writing.

What are three words that describe you?

These days, I can probably be described as somewhat hopeful, excited about life and ready for new adventures.

What's your favourite book or who is your favourite writer?

My favorite book has to be The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory.

Blurb of your latest release or coming soon book

My next series, As the Wolf Runs, will focus on the adventures of two immortals. Kate Wood never expected to be in the position to be handed a sword and given the job of hunting down dangerous rogue vampires. And Alex, her friend and protector, is growing more and more attached and attracted to Kate as they work their way through the dangers of being vampire assassins. Can they survive together or will circumstances tear them apart?

List of previous books if any

The Vampire’s Warden
The Vampire’s Curse
The Vampire’s Redemption
The Vampire’s Release
The Vampire’s Consort
The Vampire’s Rival

Any websites/places readers can find you on the web.

https://www.facebook.com/SJ-Wright-Author-112757705475522/
https://twitter.com/SJWrightAuthor

***

The Vampire’s Rival
Undead in Brown County
Book Six
S.J. Wright
Genre: Paranormal romance
Publisher:  Read and Wright Publishing LLC

ASIN: B01E05LNK6
Number of pages: 107
Word Count: 32,000
Cover Artist: S.J. Wright
Amazon

Book Description: 

A surprise visitor shows up at Sarah and Michael's lake house in Indiana. His story is one that intrigues and frightens Sarah. What frightens her more is the growing attraction she begins to feel for this new vampire.

Can she choose between Michael and a vampire she barely knows? Or will that choice be taken from her?

***

Tour giveaway
3 digital copies (winner’s choice Kindle or PDF)


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tuesday 10 May 2016

Guest Post: The Crown of the Queen by Jeffe Kennedy


Guest Post
by Jeffe Kennedy


One of the most exciting aspects of THE CROWN OF THE QUEEN and THE PAGES OF THE MIND coming out, is that they are both from Dafne the librarian’s point of view. And she is easily the most universally beloved character. Sure, readers pick others as their favorites, but everyone seems to love Dafne. One reader told me “Ursula is my friend, but I am Dafne.”
And I recently realized why. Dafne is a bookworm.

Just like all of us.

I don’t care if you’re a reader or a reader and writer both – if you’re a writer who doesn’t read, I can’t even with you – then the joy of books and reading is a deep and passionate one. And as we grow older, perhaps with the increasing competition of all the flashy streaming Things, it seems like get less time to read. Or, let’s be honest, we don’t make the time to read because we prioritize other activities, a lot of them required by adulting.

But remember being a kid and spending an entire weekend reading books?? Those are some of my fondest memories of childhood.

I remembered something else recently. It was a social even that triggered this memory, because I had to put down a book I was loving and go talk to people. I like those people and enjoy talking to them, but I had the fleeting wish that I could do both – take my book to read and be with those people I like.
And the memory hit me that I totally used to do that!

As a kid I’d invite my friends over to read. Did anyone else do this? My two best friends in elementary school, Linda Ceriello and Monique LaForce, loved to read also. They’d bring over whatever they were reading (sometimes an extra book for back up) and we’d lie around on my bedroom floor and read. Sometimes we played elaborate games of pretend, too. We had a great version of bicycle Nancy Drew, which involved seeding and then discovering clues. But we’d also read for hours.

Somewhere along the way, this became an unacceptable practice. I blame the extroverts and the non-readers. It turns out that it’s rude to read when other people are in the room! You’re supposed to put down your book (or, who are we kidding? Your eReader) and pay attention to them.

I really want to know who made up this rule, though we know the answer. They did.

Well, I propose a revolution. We can call it Dafne’s Law! It would state that it’s perfectly acceptable to socialize by reading together. We could have quiet reading rooms at conferences, where you can go in, wave at people and soak up that lovely reader atmosphere. There could be a room adjacent for emergency conversations and book-squeeing.

Who’s with me?

***

The Crown of the Queen
A Twelve Kingdoms Novella
by Jeffe Kennedy


Dafne Mailloux, librarian and temporary babysitter to the heirs to the High Throne of the Twelve – now Thirteen – Kingdoms, finds it difficult to leave the paradise of Annfwn behind.

Particularly that trove of rare books in temptingly unfamiliar languages. But duty calls, and hers is to the crown. It’s not like her heart belongs elsewhere. But how can she crown a queen who hesitates to take the throne?

This novella will be part of a duology called For Crown and Kingdom, which will also contain a novella by Grace Draven called The Undying King

For Crown and Kingdom (The Crown of the Queen) will release on May 31, 2016 and will be available in digital format and print.

Buy links will be added to the bookpage once available:
http://www.jeffekennedy.com/for-crown-and-kingdom/

***

About the Author:

Jeffe Kennedy is an award-winning author whose works include non-fiction, poetry, short fiction, and novels. She has been a Ucross Foundation Fellow, received the Wyoming Arts Council Fellowship for Poetry, and was awarded a Frank Nelson Doubleday Memorial Award. Her essays have appeared in many publications, including Redbook. 

Her most recent works include a number of fiction series: the fantasy romance novels of A Covenant of Thorns; the contemporary BDSM novellas of the Facets of Passion, and an erotic contemporary serial novel, Master of the Opera. A fourth series, the fantasy trilogy The Twelve Kingdoms, hit the shelves starting in May 2014 and book 1, The Mark of the Tala, received a starred Library Journal review was nominated for the RT Book of the Year while the sequel, The Tears of the Rose was nominated for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Fantasy Romance of 2014 and the third book, The Talon of the Hawk, won the RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Fantasy Romance of 2015. Two more books will follow in this world, beginning with The Pages of the Mind May 2016. A fifth series, the erotic romance trilogy, Falling Under, started with Going Under, and was followed by Under His Touch and Under Contract. 

She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with two Maine coon cats, plentiful free-range lizards and a very handsome Doctor of Oriental Medicine.

Jeffe can be found online at her website: JeffeKennedy.com, every Sunday at the popular Word Whores blog, on Facebook, on Goodreads and pretty much constantly on Twitter @jeffekennedy. She is represented by Connor Goldsmith of Fuse Literary.