Jane Porter's Blog, page 21

Promise Me, Cowboy by CJ Carmichael

 

CJ Carmichael is my girl.  I met her back before my second son, Ty, was even born.  She and I were still unpublished authors attending a writer’s conference in Victoria, BC.  We met Barbara Dunlop that weekend and the three of us became fast friends.  CJ was the first of us to sell, and then Barb and I sold to Harlequin, too, soon after.  Every year for years CJ, Barb and I did a writer’s retreat together and I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for CJ’s support, encouragement, and great writing critiques.

I am so excited about her new release, Promise Me, Cowboy which just became available today on all major e-retailer websites!

Here’s more about Promise Me, Cowboy -

Sage Carrigan never meant to be the other woman. Unfortunately, bronco rider Dawson O’Dell neglected to mention he was married the night he invited her to his bed after they’d both placed first in their rodeo events. When his wife walked in on them – Sage was deeply hurt and humiliated. After an accident in the ring the next day, Sage decides she’s quitting the rodeo–and cowboys—to become a chocolatier in her hometown ranching community, Marietta, Montana. She’s doing just fine, but then Dawson shows up —five years later, with a little girl in tow. He’s here for the Copper Mountain Rodeo hoping to win big. But he’s also got plans of settling down with his daughter and buying a house—the very same one that Sage has been dreaming about. He says he’s here for her and he’s making lots of promises. But can he keep them?

To celebrate CJ’s release, I’m giving away a special prize pack which consists of a bundle of my favorite  CJ Carmichael novels, a Starbucks drink card and more fun reader goodies!  For a chance to win, tell me what you think of the blurb, or if you’ve already had a chance to read Promise Me, Cowboy, share your thoughts about the story! Contest ends Friday night and I’ll announce a winner on Saturday.  And do help me spread the word about this lovely story and this gifted wonderful friend of mine!

Original article: Promise Me, Cowboy by CJ Carmichael

©2013 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

5 Fab Authors & A Girls Night Out…With YOU!

I have fun news!  We’re having a party and you’re invited!!

If you’re in Orange County, please come join Beth Albright, Beth Kendrick, Anita Hughes, Suzanne Redfearn and myself for a fun girls night out on October 12th.  It’s going to be a great evening with food and drinks and lots of books!  We’d love to see you and the more, the merrier so bring your girlfriends too!

For those of you not in Southern California, I have fun news for you as well.  To help you share in our celebrations, I have a great stack of books from all wonderful author friends for a giveaway! The gift pack also includes a Starbucks drink card and more reader goodies.  For a chance to win, leave a comment and I’ll pick one winner on Monday!  Good luck!

Original article: 5 Fab Authors & A Girls Night Out…With YOU!

©2013 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Lilian Darcy: Anatomy of a Multi-Author Series

Hi everybody.  I’ve asked Lilian Darcy to share this incredible article she wrote for an Australian romance newsletter about Tule and Montana Born.  Lilian is one of Tule’s founding authors, and one of the most gifted writers I know.  You all know her already (or should!!) so here’s Lilian and the first half of her article on “Anatomy of a Multi-Author Series”

—-

Anatomy of a Multi-Author Series

by Lilian Darcy

When I told ARRA’s Debbie Phillips about the launch of a new mini‐series from a new imprint, Montana Born Books, by new boutique publisher Tule Publishing Group, she pricked up her ears. Could I possibly write an article charting the milestones in the process of bringing all this newness from its bud‐like idea stage to its full blown rose of publishing glory? (Okay, she may not have put it quite like this. But she did use the word ‘milestones’.)

Since it’s been an enormously fun and satisfying year of milestone passing, I happily accepted the assignment.

It began in February …

Milestone #1—The phone call

Jane Porter calls me from California. Jane is a good friend, so I’m smiling when I hear her voice. ‘I want to launch a publishing company’, she says. ‘Are you in?’

I think I’m in before she even gets to the word. We talk on the phone until my ear turns blue and I have to seek medical attention. The plan is ambitious. This will be a real publishing company, not simply a group of like‐minded authors publishing independently with some linked stories and branding (although, hey, that would be great, too). We will bring in experienced professionals in publishing, editing and marketing, as well as authors whose attitude and quality of work we can count on.

Honestly, I think my whole world feels different after this one phone call.

Milestone #2—The preparation

‘I want you to come over here’, Jane says in a follow‐up email. ‘I have Megan Crane and CJ Carmichael on board, and we all need to get together to talk about our story ideas, and about how this is going to work.’

Did I mention that Jane is a good friend? She has frequent flyer miles that she actually gives me to cover the airline ticket. We decide May will be the best time, so I naturally go straight to the most vital pieces of preparation—crossing the days off a calendar and shopping for clothes.

We do also brainstorm a lot via email about stories during these two months. We decide to create the Montana Born Books imprint, and to set our first few series of books in our fictional town of Marietta, Montana. (Because Montana is cool. I’ve been there now, and I know.)

We each throw in a bunch of ideas. Megan comes up with a big, single title mini‐series about three sisters who’ve grown up with the difficult parenting of their saloon‐owner and Vietnam vet father, Jason Grey, after their mother left town.  CJ creates a traditional ranching family, the Carrigans, while Jane also creates a ranching family, the Shanahans, on the adjacent property. I have a major women’s fiction trilogy in mind, following the lives of characters who’ve all been changed by what happened at the Marietta High School Prom in 1996.

Milestone #3—The brainstorming

May 1st arrives, and I fly across the Pacific to California. Jane meets me at LAX and nearly drives off the road about nine times on the way down to her house in San Clemente because we’re so busy talking.  Three days later, we fly to Kalispell, Montana, where CJ picks us up, after collecting Megan earlier in the day, and we drive to her cottage on Flathead Lake.

Now, some of you may have seen the pictures on Facebook, but I want to stress that we actually do work quite hard, despite appearances to the contrary.

First, we talk for a whole day, building our fictional universe. Where exactly is our town located? What’s the population? What’s its history? What stores and other buildings are there in Main Street? Who owns them? (Hint: When you read the books, watch out for mentions of a Jane Austen–inspired character, who’s a bit of a gossip‐monger.)

We go to bed very satisfied with our first day’s work, and then the next morning when we get up CJ says, ‘You know what? I don’t think our planned stories are closely enough linked.’

She’s right, we realise at once. We’ve each gone off on our own tangent, with the Carrigans, the Greys, the Shanahans and my tragic 1996 prom night. For our launch, we need something that knits our characters more closely together and celebrates our fictional town in a more vibrant way.

Milestone #4—The stories

‘How about a rodeo?’ I think this is CJ, too. She is so great at cutting to the heart of the problem and coming up with the right idea.

‘Full‐length stories?’

‘No, how about a novella each?’

As writers, you tend to know something is right when the sparks immediately catch fire. Within an hour, this morning, we’ve each come up with the basic bones for a story. The Title Fairy pays us a visit, which is close to being a Montana Miracle. She is a pretty temperamental creature, that one, and can withhold her creativity for months, sometimes.

Armed with titles, story ideas, linking threads and a whole lot of detail on our fictional world, some of us begin writing this very day …

**This article first appeared in the September 2013 issue of the Australian Romance Readers Association newsletter. Reproduced with permission.**

Look for Lilian’s free Copper Mountain Rodeo story, Rodeo Sweethearts on Amazon – Available October 8th!

Original article: Lilian Darcy: Anatomy of a Multi-Author Series

©2013 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Featured Author: Shirley Jump

Shirley Jump is a much loved, multi-published author of contemporary romance,  women’s fiction, and young adult genres.  Shirley hails from the Midwest  and is incredibly good at combining romance,  humor and gorgeous characters in stories that delight readers.  Shirley has a new book out now, The Sweetheart Bargain,  and it’s getting great buzz and terrific reviews so I’ve asked her to join us so my readers and friends can get to know her, and more about the new release.

 

Thanks so much for having me on the blog!! I was asked recently what influenced the writing of THE SWEETHEART BARGAIN. If I had a grandma like Greta, the bourbon-swilling, matchmaking, sassy grandma who puts my hero and heroine together in the book. My grandma wasn’t Greta exactly, but she was unforgettable, and I think her spirit is in all the grandmas I create. I wrote an essay about her years ago (that got picked up by Chicken Soup, and Woman’s World) and I thought I’d share that with you today to show you the kind of influence I had as a little girl.

MARKING TIME

I’m late. Again. My fancy digital watch, with an alarm and two built-in time zones, is losing twenty minutes a day. I’ve made three trips to the store this week and every time, forgot to buy a new battery. A mom on a constant schedule, I need an accurate timepiece, so I grab the only other watch I own, a delicate silver one my grandmother left me when she died.

Nana’s watch is small, with a diamond-encircled face and a sliver of a band. It’s beautiful and petite, just like she was. I’ve always loved it, but rarely wear it. It’s the old-fashioned, battery-free kind that needs winding each night. For me, a person who has trouble remembering to feed the cats, wearing a watch requiring any degree of upkeep is a bad idea.

The first few days I wear Nana’s watch, I keep forgetting to wind it and still end up late for everything. But by week’s end, its elfin face and ticking second hand are as familiar to me as the feel of Nana’s hand in mine when I was a child.

Wearing the watch wraps me in memories of Nana. She used to take regular walks around the yard, just to see the loganberry trees in bloom. After dinner, she and Grandpa would walk me down to the 7-11 for a packet of M&M’s. We spent countless afternoons strolling downtown, window-shopping and dreaming of things to buy and adventures we’d have someday.

Nana appreciated the value of time. Her son, Bobby, died when he was 8 in a tragic accident that left a measure of perpetual sadness reflected in Nana’s eyes. In 1976, Nana herself slipped through Death’s grasp when she had a brain tumor removed successfully. We celebrated the bicentennial of our country that year, cheering for the woman who was still here to sing silly songs and give advice on making potato salad.

Nana refused to waste a second of the extra time granted to her. She taught me piano, asked about every school day, and waded with me through boxes of photographs and memories, trying to imprint legacies on an eleven-year-old girl who couldn’t know then that time would ever feel short.

She laughed, she cried, she hugged, she kissed. She lived.

Years later, when she passed away, Nana left me the watch. In the busy-ness of my life with a husband, two kids, two cats, a dog, a job and a house, I often forget to slow down and really see the little things around me. Bread is store bought, self-scrubbing bubbles clean bathrooms, and my car is a mobile office between soccer games and Brownie troop meetings.

When Nana’s watch stopped one day — because I’d forgotten to wind it again — I was lost. The children and I were shopping, on our way to an appointment that seemed important at the time.

I stopped in the middle of Wal-Mart and looked around for a clock, muttering to myself, annoyed. The children started whining about missing some show on TV. Spying an opportunity, my son darted across the aisle to a toy and my daughter headed for some books nearby. I had melting ice cream in the cart, cranky kids and someplace I had to be. I didn’t need another frustration.

I tapped the watch with the futile hope that it would magically start again. When I did, a flash of memory slammed into me with the force of an electrical jolt. Nana, my mother, and I were strolling in the sunshine at a sidewalk sale. We bought a book for a dime, a drink from the soda fountain, and nothing else. Twenty-five years later, I still remember it as one of the best days of my life because every moment seemed to last forever.

I realized I’d been letting schedules and errands swallow those mini-moments in my own life, ruled by the ticking of a clock that weighed heavy on my shoulders. I abandoned the cart and joined my kids, bending down to see the toys at their level. I marveled at the latest Buzz Lightyear and a colorful new Harry Potter book cover. Hand in hand, the kids and I ambled through the aisles, poking at this toy, pushing the buttons on that one, dreaming of Santa and birthdays and days to come. We wandered by the pet department, made friends with a hamster and chatted with a parrot.

We arrived home much later, carrying a puddle of ice cream in the grocery bag, and one new goldfish. I’d missed my appointment, but it didn’t matter. After dinner, we explored our neighborhood on foot, hunting for squirrels and rabbits in the summer evening light. We fed the ducks at the pond, soared through the air on swings and played a rousing game of tag. When we returned home, we were exhausted but laughing. And we all had another happy memory to hang onto.

That night, while I turned the tiny knob to wind Nana’s watch, I realized why my grandmother had left me this particular piece of jewelry. Her legacy wasn’t a million-dollar home on a hill or a priceless art collection. Her gift was much simpler, one we often forget in our calendar-driven lives. She gave me the gift of time, wrapped up in a watch that needs daily attention, a continuous reminder that our days pass as fast as summer storms.

In its tiny silver face, I see Nana, and in the ticking of its second hand, I hear the running journey of my life. That’s when I turn off the phone, close the calendar and take the kids outside to greet the first daffodils of spring.

You can buy THE SWEETHEART BARGAIN in stores nationwide, and also at all online retailers like Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Visit Shirley’s website and her blog for more behind-the-scenes looks at her books and family!

~~

It’s been such a pleasure to have you join us, Shirley!  Thanks for sharing about your Nana!

Readers, do take a few minutes to visit Shirley’s website and learn more about her books.  I’m sure you’ll enjoy them immensely!  I’m kicking up the fun one more notch today by adding a giveaway!  One lucky winner will receive a book from Shirley’s backlist, a Starbucks drink card and more fun reader goodies.  For a chance to win, leave a comment.  Contest ends on Thursday and I’ll announce the winner on Friday.  Good luck!

Original article: Featured Author: Shirley Jump

©2013 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Featured Author: Stephanie McAfee

I met Southern women’s fiction writer, Stephanie McAfee, at Cat Blanco’s Book Exchange in Marietta, GA in July when I joined Stephanie McAfee and Beth Albright for an event.  I’ve introduced you to Beth Albright, and now it’s time to meet Stephanie.  And let me tell you, Stephanie is one fun–and funny–girl, too.

I’ve been impatiently waiting for a chance to introduce you to Stephanie, wanting you to hear first hand about her journey to getting published.  So without further ado, help me welcome the witty, engaging and extremely talented, Stephanie McAfee, to the JaneBlog!

Is there anything that has surprised you about writing or publishing your books?

Of all the things that surprised me, the response to the character of Ace Jones and the town of Bugtussle would have to be at the top of the list. People from all over the country have written things like, “This is so me and/or my best friend/sister/cousin!” or “Did you base these characters on people from my hometown?” And since Ace Jones is a little on the chunky side, many people have expressed appreciation for a character they can relate to on a personal level. So that’s all been really nice.

Was there anyone or anything that helped inspire you to be a writer?

That credit goes to my eleventh grade English teacher, Mrs. Carolyn Jackson. She ran her classroom like an army boot camp and we were all scared to death of her. To make matters worse, she was in my parents’ Sunday school class and never hesitated to let them know how I was doing. So after getting grounded a few times, I went to work in her class and soon discovered a love for literature that I might have otherwise missed. Toward the end of the school year, she read one of my essays to all of her classes as an example of great descriptive writing. I almost passed out. I’ve loved reading and writing ever since.

Do you have a writing schedule or any writing rituals to help you achieve your daily writing quota?

Well, I have a four year old and we’ve just moved from Florida to Colorado so I’m at a point where I can only dream of a regular writing schedule. But when I do sit down to work, Pringles and Diet Mountain Dew always help me get where I want to go.

Tell us about your new release in 2 – 3 sentences.  What do you personally love about this story? 

In Down & Out in Bugtussle, Ace Jones has just moved back to Mississippi from Pelican Cove, Florida, where her biggest dreams went up in smoke. She’s trying to put her life back together with the help of her friends, her trusty chiweenie dog, and her grandmother’s gardening book. I love this story so much because it’s all about finding peace after discovering the cracks in the crystal ball. I very much enjoyed writing it.

What do you love most about being a writer?  What do you hate?

What I love most about being a writer is getting to do what I love every day. And I love going to book events and meeting fabulous and interesting people. What I don’t love so much is the editing process because I’m terrible when it comes to that. I’m one of those people who can read jumbled letter and word paragraphs like a champ, which isn’t great for proofing and revising.

Title and author of the latest book you read? 

Stephen King On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. I’m not so much a fan of horror, but he is a master of the craft in every sense of the word. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read. Ever. I love it.

What’s your astrological sign?

Scorpio

If you could meet one person who has died, who would it be?  What would you want to discuss with him/her?

Oh, that would be my literary crush, Ernest Hemingway. And I would want to discuss him taking me out on a hot date for a Jack Rose. Shallow, I know. But that’s the truth. He was so handsome and intriguing.

Rock or country music?

I’m all about some rock-n-roll. I also have a crush on Kid Rock.

Last song you listened to? 

The Truth About Love by Pink. I think she’s the greatest.

~~

Stephanie, thanks so much for stopping by today and sharing with us!  Readers, please help me in making Stephanie feel welcome and do check her website to learn more about her books!  In celebration of Stephanie’s visit today, I’m giving away a book from Stephanie’s book list, a Starbucks drink card and more fun reader goodies.  Leave a comment for a chance to win.  Contest runs through Monday night and I’ll announce a winner on Tuesday.  Remember to check back next week to see who won!

Original article: Featured Author: Stephanie McAfee

©2013 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Marry Me, Cowboy by Lilian Darcy

I’m excited to tell you all that the second book in the Copper Mountain Rodeo series, Lilian Darcy’s Marry Me, Cowboy is for sale today at all major e-retailer websites!

Tule Publishing and Montana Born Books are dear to my heart, and I’m so pleased that Lilian, a close friend, is on this adventure with me. Lilian and I have been friends for years and she’s my inspiration when I need help with a story. She’s an awesome story teller and she creates such wonderful characters. You’ll love the way she weaves them into strong, emotional, yet realistic stories.

At the center of Marry Me, Cowboy is Tegan Ash, a beautiful and feisty barrel racer from Australia. Her dilemma, as her visa runs out, is how – or whether – to stay in the USA and continue to compete on the rodeo circuit. Lilian’s real-life experiences with Australia and horses lend a special authenticity to Tegan. I’m in awe of her talent and we are thrilled to be working with her at Tule Publishing!

Here’s more about Marry Me, Cowboy -

Champion barrel-racer Tegan Ash has nothing left to go home to in her native Australia and every reason to stay in the USA. But her visa is about to expire, and her prospective groom has called off their green-card wedding. Jamie MacCreadie doesn’t actually want to marry a woman he can’t stand, but his best friend and fellow rodeo rider Chet has just let her down and, somehow, he finds himself offering to do the deed instead. There’s no chance it could turn into the real thing, because they have nothing in common… do they?

Original article: Marry Me, Cowboy by Lilian Darcy

©2013 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Meet Me in Fresno Saturday!

The traveling has begun!  Seattle and Spokane last weekend, and Central California this weekend.

Ty Gurney, Mac and I are packing overnight bags as we’re heading to the San Joaquin Valley, with a 2 pm book signing Saturday afternoon at the Barnes & Noble, then a quick drive to my hometown, Visalia, for my 30th class high school reunion Saturday night at the airport Holiday Inn.

I love going home and I’m so looking forward to seeing readers, family and friends in Fresno, and then all  friends from high school Saturday night.

The book signing at Barnes & Noble will be very mellow–I’ll pretty much be hanging out at a card table–so drop by if you can.  No pressure.  No huge crowd.  No waiting for me to speak.  Just come say hello or give me a hug and pick up a signed copy of one of my Brennan sister books if you’d like.

Details for the signing - Saturday, September 21st, 2013, 2:00pm   Barnes & Noble 7849 N Blackstone Ave, Fresno, CA 93720

And just because Saturday night is my Redwood High Reunion, I’ve taken a trip down memory lane and am sharing a few pics from Spring of my senior year at Redwood.  My hair was definitely a lot darker back then…

With my brother, Thom.

Prom!

I’ve got a great contest to help me celebrate my weekend at home for one lucky reader:  If you’ve read The Good Wife by now, can you tell me which Brennan sister do you like best?  Is there a sister you like least?  Did reading The Good Wife change your opinion about the sisters at all?

Share your thoughts in the comment section below for a chance to win a $15 Amazon or B&N gift cerfticate, (winner’s choice), a $5 Starbucks drink cars, a signed copy of The Frog Prince, my hard to find book about a girl from Visalia, and lots of fun JP reader goodies and treats!!  Contest ends Sunday night with the winner announced Monday morning.

Do check back on Monday to see if you won and in the meantime, have a fantastic weekend.  With my Gurney boys in tow, I know I will!

Original article: Meet Me in Fresno Saturday!

©2013 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Featured Author: Beth Kendrick

I was trying to think when, and where, I first met Beth Kendrick…and I can’t.  I have so many great memories of her—tea with our librarian friend, John Charles…presenting together at a Scottsdale Library program, lunches and more teas, and then our great visit in Hawaii this summer when Beth brought her mom and son out for a week to Oahu, and I happened to be there, too, with my little guy.  Beth and her crew went surfing with Ty and his instructors and in less than a month, Beth will be here in San Clemente for my Orange County book party.  The party is going to be awesome…Anita Hughes, Beth Albright, Suzanne Redfern, and Beth Kendrick will all be joining me (and hopefully some of you!!) for a fun girls night out on October 12th, so save the date if you haven’t already!

But in the meantime, I’m delighted to feature Beth Kendrick here on my blog.   Her The Week Before the Wedding is a fantastic read—funny, smart, engaging.  And that’s not by accident.   Beth Kendrick is equally funny, smart and engaging.  Not surprised, as she’s armed with a PhD in Psychology!

So readers, without further delay, here is my friend and talented novelist, Beth Kendrick!

Beth, what do you love most about being a writer?

The delights of having canine co-workers cannot be overstated.

Tell us about your current release in 2-3 sentences.

Seven days, three rebellious bridesmaids, a dozen Stepford in-laws, two potential grooms who are hot like fire, and one bride-to-be on the ragged edge of sanity.

Emily McKellips is a wild child who’s grown into a worldly, responsible woman, and she’s facing a crossroads in her life as she tried to decide whether to embrace her free-spirited side or her sensible, serious side. I think every woman can relate to the struggle to achieve balance in adulthood without losing your sense of self. Leather mini-skirts or tweed suits? Minivans or motorcycles? It’s a quandary!

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What are you working on now?

THE CURE FOR THE COMMON BREAK UP*, which is actually a follow-up to THE WEEK BEFORE THE WEDDING. For those of you who’ve read WEEK, Summer the bridesmaid gets her own book. She goes through an excruciating break up and runs off to Black Dog Bay, a tiny beachside town known as “The Best Place in America to Bounce Back From Your Break Up”. As it turns out, bouncing back from your break up involves extended stays at the Better Off Bed & Breakfast, phantom dogs, and some very naughty behavior in a country club parking lot…  Oops, I’ve said too much.

*Cocktail recipe included. For real.

Name five items sitting on your desk.

The July issue of Architectural Digest (I’m in the process of decorating a very swanky fictional summer home), Chapstick, a crystal polar bear paperweight, assembly instructions for a Lego Coast Guard helicopter set, and approximately 18 pens.

What is your favorite thing about your book?

Emily, the bride-to-be, wears her future mother-in-law’s heirloom wedding gown for the big day, and I had a great time scouring the Internet for ideas. I ended up basing Emily’s gown on a tea-length Priscilla of Boston dress with an illusion bodice and a nipped-in waistline. Dress porn at its finest!

Action movies or chick flicks?

Chick flicks, ninety percent of the time.  “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion” + “Clueless” + “Mean Girls” = GENIUS!

But every once in a while, I need to switch it up and watch Hans Gruber and John McClane throw down in “Die Hard”. “Shoot the glass”, y’all.

What has writing taught you?

1. The value of simplicity. When you’re in the middle of a draft and everything’s stalled and falling apart, fight the impulse to add another subplot/character/story twist. Instead, try to pare your story down to its essence. Write down the goal, motivation, and conflict for each character, and try to re-focus on those core issues.

2. Don’t be afraid to fail sometimes. Failure is a byproduct of growth and learning. Not every idea is going to work out. But you cannot improve as a writer until you are willing to take a few steps outside your comfort zone. We learn from analyzing and fixing our mistakes (a.k.a. revising).

3. Always break in your brand new, super cute shoes BEFORE a book signing or conference. Otherwise, your feet will blister so badly, you’ll look like you need a skin graft.  Trust me.

First thing you do once you’re ready to face the world in the morning?

I read vapid celebrity gossip blogs every day before I start writing. Say it with me: it’s not procrastination; it’s part of the process!

Last thing you do before you turn in for the night?

Give my dog, Friday, a kiss on his giant noggin. He stays up with me, follows me around the house while I turn off the lights, and then settles down to sleep right next to the bed, where I will be sure to trip over him when I get up in the morning. Canine stalker love!

Favorite conference memory?

My very first conference was RWA 2002 (Denver, CO). I was a clueless, wide-eyed newbie who’d just sold my first novel to Simon & Schuster, and so I was invited to the publisher’s author dinner. I was all scared and shy, and I spent cocktail hour mumbling at my shoes and trying not to make eye contact with anyone. When we sat down for dinner, I ended up next to Kresley Cole, a charming and fabulous paranormal author who had ALSO just sold her first book and was ALSO feeling scared and shy. Kresley and I spent the whole dinner laughing and bonding (there may have been some red wine involved), and at the end of dessert, one of the editors asked us, “Are you two long-lost sisters separated at birth?”

A decade later, we are still besties. We always joke that we met at the kids’ table.

~~~

Beth, it’s been great to have you visit!!  Thanks for stopping by to share about your new release…and I can’t wait to see you in October when you come visit me, and meet all my wonderful Southern California readers and friends!

Readers, please stop by Beth’s website to learn more about her books.  In celebration of Beth’s visit today, I’m giving away a signed copy of The Week Before the Wedding, a signed copy of Odd Mom Out, a Starbucks drink card, and lots of fun reader goodies.  The contest ends Friday the 20th at midnight with the winner announced Saturday morning so do check back on Saturday to see if you won!

Original article: Featured Author: Beth Kendrick

©2013 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Seattle Sunday!

So excited to be back in Bellevue/WA! It’s been a great weekend so far. I met with my reader friend, Elisabeth Ringvard on Friday night and her awesome book club for a lively discussion and Elisabeth even made the Lauren Summer’s Chocolate Cake!

Yesterday I was with the Inland Empire Chapter of RWA for a great workshop and then went onto Auntie’s Books in Spokane for a fun booksigning! The staff is so warm and welcoming. Thank you, Linda for making my event so wonderful!

I am on the road this morning, leaving Ellensburg for the Eastside.  I can’t wait to see my friends in the Seattle area. I’ll be at these events today-

Sunday, September 15th, 2013 :: 2:00pm

The Good Wife

Sammamish Library – King County Library System

825 SE 228th Ave

Sammamish , WA 98075

Sunday, September 15, 2013 :: 5:30pm

The Good Wife

Release Party!

Via Lago

129 Lake St S,

Kirkland, WA 98033

Come join me if you can!

Original article: Seattle Sunday!

©2013 Janeblog. All Rights Reserved.

Tempt Me, Cowboy by Megan Crane

Most of you have heard me talking about Megan Crane, who also writes as Caitlin Crews, over the years.  Megan is one of my best and closest friends and I adore her.  We met several years ago when we were both writing for 5 Spot (Hachette) and shared the same editor.  We both also write for Harlequin Presents and share an editor there as well.  Megan is an amazing writer, a wonderful friend and a beautiful person inside and out.  I’m blessed to have her in my life and I’m thrilled beyond words that she joined me in my new adventure with Tule Publishing’s first imprint, Montana Born Books.

I’m happy to share that Montana Born‘s first book release is a yummy, sexy novella by Megan.  Tempt Me, Cowboy is available at all major e-retailers today and reader feedback is already pouring in!

Our Montana Born Street Team is working hard to help get the word out and put up reviews and we’ve had some great ones, including this lovely one from Romance Junkies who gave Tempt Me, Cowboy 5 Blue Ribbons and said “TEMPT ME COWBOY is a refreshing and fun tale full of sigh-worthy moments.  Although short on words, this wonderful story packs a big punch, nevertheless.  Megan Crane has a snarky quality to her voice that will produce a few chuckles.  If you are looking for a fresh, amusing and quick read, you will be delighted with TEMPT ME, COWBOY!”  

Wow!!  I just love that.  I’m super happy for Megan and delighted for Tule too!  Here’s more about Tempt Me, Cowboy–

Tempt Me, Cowboy – Megan Crane
Too much temptation…
Chelsea Collier wants nothing more than to save the old depot built by her railway baron ancestor and turn it into a museum—until it’s sold out from under her!
Jasper Flint made himself filthy rich in the Texas oil business by the age of 35. Now he wants a quieter life and building a microbrewery in Marietta, Montana is the perfect project.
Neither one of them knows what to do with the passion that explodes between them! But Chelsea knows a man like Jasper will never stay in one place for too long. Can he convince her that this time, he means to stay?

To celebrate Tule Publishing’s first release with Megan Crane, I’ve got a SUPER cool mystery prize that combines the very best of Megan Crane and Caitlin Crews, along with other yummy goodies for one lucky winner!  For a chance to enter to win, you have to do two things:

1 – Visit the Montana Born Books News page and leave a comment.

2 – Come back here and leave a comment letting me know what you think of our website or Megan’s book

That’s it!  You’ll be entered for a chance to win the mystery prize!  Contest ends September the 13th and I’ll announce a winner on Saturday!  Good luck and thank you so much for all your support.  My readers and friends are the absolute best!  xoxo

 

Original article: Tempt Me, Cowboy by Megan Crane

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