Isabel Roman's Blog, page 13

Interview! Kate and the Kid by Anne Rothman-Hicks and Kenneth Hicks

Anne Rothman-Hicks was born in New York City and, except for a brief exile to the suburbs imposed by her parents, she has lived there all of her life, the latter part of which she has shared with her co-author, Kenneth Hicks, and their three children.Website  Facebook author page

 
1. At any given time do you work on only one story at a time and maybe plot out the next one or are there many ideas racing around your head?At any one time there are many different ideas running around in our collective heads – some half-finished, never finished or completely vague -- and we talk about them on our morning (or sometimes afternoon) walks through the streets of our neighborhood in New York City.  Ideas tend to pop up from the most unlikely sources.  For example, we wrote a children’s book called Stone Facesafter finding a stone on a beach on Cape Cod that looked like a laughing man’s head in profile.  We have another ‘tween book in the works called Splotch!based on an image that appeared on the sidewalk.  In Splotch, a boy is not allowed to have a dog, but when he uploads a picture of a dog image onto his computer, the image comes to life and becomes a humorous thorn in his side.  Kate and the Kid originated after hearing a story told by a friend who had become attached to a child but was not allowed to adopt.  All of these ideas are tossed back and forth between us until a book emerges.

2. Is there a genre you haven't written in but would like to? Or wish you could write in? We are glad that you added “or wish you could write in.”  If we could write like Stephen King, we would definitely write horror, but not being able to execute that genre nearly as well as him, we have stayed away from horror.  We could say the same thing about science fiction and the writing of Kurt Vonnegut, whom we greatly admire.  That being said, if we got an exciting idea, we might give any genre a try.  So far, we have published mainstream, mystery/suspense and ‘tween books.  We hope to complete in the next year or so a book called Minister.  It will have several parts that together span the lifetime of Daniel, the main character.

3. Do you add an element of romantic suspense in your stories? We have romance in most of our books.  Even our ‘tween novel, Things Are Not What They Seem, has a young and very unlikely couple who are holding hands at the end of the book.  In Kate and the Kid, Kate’s relationship with her boyfriend, Roger, is threatened as she becomes more and more involved in trying to help a little girl named Jenny.  Roger thinks that Kate is making a big mistake, as do all of Kate’s friends.  Kate does not want to lose Roger, but she develops a bond with Jenny that is not easily broken either.  This provides a significant amount of tension in the novel.  In our mystery/suspense book, Mind Me, Milady, the main character begins to become involved with a guy, but is worried that he might be an actual suspect in the rapes and murders that have been occurring on New York’s Upper East Side.  The definitely adds an edge of suspense to the romance.

4. Say you have unlimited funds: What kind of writing office/cottage would you create for yourself? This may sound very strange, but we doubt that we would change a thing.  We both love living in New York, so we would not care to have a writing spot anywhere else in the world (although in August, we might be temporarily enticed to a beach house in the dunes of Truro on Cape Cod in Massachusetts!).  Ken works at a small table set up in a corner of our bedroom with a window next to him where he looks out from time to time to check on our local mockingbird and a kestrel that occasionally perches on the water tower across the street.  Anne likes to work in a favorite chair in our living room with its big windows and lots of airy space, as well as a door out to our terrace, which is nearly as large as the inside of our apartment. 

5. If you could turn your novel into a TV show, which novel or series would you do? Where would it be set? Network TV (ABC, NBC, CBS), Cable (AMC, BBC, Lifetime) or Premium Cable (HBO, Showtime, Starz)?Wow.  Talk about a fantasy!  Kate and the Kid would be a movie (one and a half hours) on cable or premium cable.  Our novel Mind Me, Milady, would work well as a series with the recurring main character being a female lawyer who is somewhat conflicted between wanting to make big bucks and also trying to help people who really need a lawyer.  She does some matrimonial work, which seems to provide a plenitude of plotlines!  We have another book coming out in the summer called Praise Her, Praise Diana, which (in our fantasy) could easily be a show on premium cable unfolding in about six one hour segments to complete.  It is a very involved plot with multiple characters and different threads of action, including romance, revenge, and murder, not necessarily in that order!

6. Finally, tell us about your latest release!Kate and the Kid is about a young woman (Kate) who has just lost her job and had a major fight with her boyfriend and is tricked into taking care of a sweet but emotionally damaged six-year-old girl (Jenny) who only communicates with adults through a doll she calls “Miranda.”  Kate and Jenny are two lost souls who begin to bond after an eventful night of babysitting, including a picnic in Central Park during which they are chased by a drug dealer who turns out to be Jenny’s father (or so he claims).  Kate’s growing involvement in Jenny’s predicament causes complications for Kate and for Jenny and the people in their lives.  Essentially, this novel tells the story of the transforming effect of love on the lives of Kate and Jenny and others around them as they help each other to heal, grow, and navigate the difficult and sometimes dangerous world of New York City.


 Buy link: Amazon

Excerpt:  Like any kid sleeping in an unfamiliar place, Jenny was up at first light. She crept into the living room and sat cross-legged within a few inches of Kate’s sleeping form. When Kate stirred, Miranda’s plastic face was pressed gently against her cheek.
Smack.
“Hi, Katy!” Miranda said in her high-pitched voice.
“Hi, Miranda!” Kate replied in the deepest basso tones she could manage without harming her vocal chords.
Jenny giggled. Miranda danced with delight on the mattress.
“Say it again!”
Kate sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.
“Hi, Miranda! Wasamatta?”
Jenny giggled harder than before, but Kate noticed that Jenny had changed her clothes again. Her pink shirt had a bright yellow flower on it, which matched smaller yellow flowers on her pink shorts. Miranda wore a new matching outfit also, yellow with a touch of pink.
“Girls,” Kate said very seriously now. “You didn’t go out on the fire escape again, did you?” The answer was obvious, both from the downcast look on Jenny’s face and from the fact that Miranda also turned away in apparent shame. “Please, no more walking on the fire escape? Okay? Please? Will you promise me that?”
“Yes, Katy,” Miranda said sweetly. “And Jenny promises too.”

Anne and Kennet will be awarding a $40 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner during the tour! a Rafflecopter giveaway

#BookBlast The Rebel Cowboy's Quadruplets by @Tina_Leonard

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Tina will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to TWO randomly drawn commenters during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour. Remember, the more stops you visit and comment, the better your chances to win.

REBEL WITH A CAUSE?

Justin Morant can't believe he answered an online dating ad! Turns out, beautiful Mackenzie Hawthorne is looking for a ranch foreman, not a husband. Good thing, because marriage isn't in the injured bull rider's future. Justin is happy to take up the cause of saving the Hanging H ranch—and then there's the bonus of playing stand-in father to the sexy single mom's four angelic newborns.

Mackenzie doesn't know what miracle brought Justin to Bridesmaids Creek, Texas, but she'd be a fool to fall for the hunky cowboy who wears his rebel status like a badge of honor. Justin's a natural with her daughters and a whiz at ranching…yet one day she knows he's going to gallop off into the sunset. Unless, of course, the marriage-minded townspeople get their hands on him!

Now enjoy an excerpt:

Justin slept off and on, dozing in the room with the babies. It was weird how much he found himself enjoying taking care of them. As a man who’d never been interested in having children—not one bit—he was surprised by how Mackenzie’s four little daughters tugged on his heartstrings.

He hated the idea of leaving them—all of them. And, somehow, he even hated the idea of Frog staying behind to take his place. Or any of the three men Ty was bringing on to replace him, for that matter.

The only reason he was leaving with Ty was because Ty had brought him here in the first place. He owed it to him out of a sense of brotherhood. Ty wouldn’t ask him if he didn’t need him. Mackenzie didn’t really need him—not like Ty did.

He needed to talk to Ty a bit more, dig into the mission to settle the questions in his mind. But the thing that unsettled his mind the most was how much he hated the idea of three men he didn’t know all that well roaming around the Hanging H and falling for Mackenzie and the girls.

Just as he was beginning to fall for them.

Whether he liked it or not, that was the truth. Justin closed his eyes as he rocked in the chair. The tiny night-light sent a soft glow over the room. An occasional baby snuffle or sigh reached him, the sound somehow comforting and not intimidating at all, not the way he’d thought it would be. During his wilder, crazier rodeo days, the idea of a family had been distinctly unappealing.

Mackenzie was recently divorced. No doubt the last thing she wanted was another man in her life. He couldn’t blame her if that was the way she felt.

At dawn, when Betty Harper appeared in the nursery, Justin felt strangely rested. He smiled at Jade’s mother. “Good morning.”

“Go get some rest. I’ll take over from here. Mackenzie said the babies didn’t even move last night.”

He felt like he hadn’t, either. In fact, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so relaxed. “I thought I was awake all night. I didn’t even realize Mackenzie came in the nursery.”

Betty smiled. “I checked on you at five. Everybody was sound asleep, which is a first for the girls. They probably feel comforted with a man’s presence around. Babies do that sometimes. You have a nice deep voice with is probably soothing to them.”

She disappeared from the room. Justin rose and stretched. Haven peered up at him from her blanket, and he had the uncanny notion that she was watching him. Did babies see anything at this tender age?

“Hello, little one,” he said, approaching her crib. Gently he picked her up, held her close. “Good morning to you, too.”

He kissed the top of her head, breathed in the sweet baby freshness of her skin, the scent of baby powder.

“Hi,” Mackenzie said, her voice soft.

He turned and saw she was wide-awake and looking refreshed. “You’re up bright and early.”

“I got a lot more sleep than I have since before I became pregnant.” She came to take Haven from him, and he smelled an entirely different smell: strawberry shampoo, delicate floral soap, sexy woman.

His heart did one of those funny flip-flops he’d gotten used to feeling around her.

“Thanks for watching them last night.” She gazed up at him. “I think I slept so well because I knew you were standing guard.”

Oh, boy. There went the heart. “It was no problem. Part of the job.”

“Not part of the job I hired you to do.” She looked at him funny.

He backed up a step when he realized he was staring at her pink, glossy lips. “It’s the job Frog and Fellows are applying for.”

“That’s Ty’s bright idea. And by now, you know Ty can be a bit of a squirrel.” She smiled. “Babysitting isn’t part of your job description. But thank you.”

Warmth expanded in his chest at her smile. He wondered if he’d ever met a woman he was so blindingly attracted to—and decided in a hurry that was a terrible thought to have about his boss. Definitely a dead end. There was no way on this planet he had any business being attracted to her.

“I’m going to get some coffee. You want a cup?”

“No, thank you. You go on.”

He nodded and turned to leave.

Turned back around, met her gaze. Started to say that sitting up with her daughters hadn’t been work; he hadn’t done it because of Frog and Friends. He’d done it because he’d wanted to. Wanted to make her happy, help her out.

But it was a bad idea to make such a confession. No purpose to it at all, and he didn’t do anything unless he knew the purpose.

Shutting his stupid yap tight before it could say weird, mushy things, he left.
Where to Buy: Amazon
Barnes and Noble

USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author Tina Leonard has sold over 2.6 million copies of her titles. She has made the USA Today Bestseller, Waldenbooks, Bookscan, and Ingrambook lists, and has written and contracted seventy-one books and special projects. Her work has been published by Harlequin, Samhain Publishing, Robinson Scarlet, and most recently Random House Loveswept contracted for a single title trilogy project, Hell’s Outlaws. Leonard was chosen to be among the first authors published for Robinson’s Scarlet line, writing four single title novels for that imprint. Not long after, she sold on proposal to Harlequin American, where she has since written several popular series, most notably the Cowboys By The Dozen, Morgan Men, and Callahan Cowboys series. Her newest single title project, HOTTER THAN TEXAS, was published in March 2013. Leonard is known for her fun sense of humor, endearing communities, snappy dialogue, and memorable characters.

Join Tina at www.tinaleonard.com
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#Excerpt for Ash Rising by @MelissaFoxWords

After being rationed books by my parents like most kids get rationed candy, I turned to writing to tide me over between fixes. I love to get lost in a captivating, exhilarating story, whether reading or writing. Nothing is better than being drawn into a story so deeply you don't realize you're turning a page until you've reached the end, and the characters live on in your heart and mind long after the cover has been closed.
Having lived in the suburbs of the Mid-West, desert of the Southwest, and foothills of the Rocky Mountains, I’m now on an island in the Puget Sound with my husband and dogs.
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Blurb: Infiltrating an international drug cartel is the dangerous chance of a lifetime for Asher Beaulieu of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Falling in love while running the op isn’t part of the plan, but he never had much use for plans anyway. Shrouded in deception and surrounded by temptation, his charmed life explodes in betrayal and tragedy.
Ash rises from the flames a guarded, wary shadow of his former self. His past comes to revisit him, along with an annoying American DEA agent, who forces Ash to reclaim his courage and character before facing another chance at love—and an even deadlier threat.
DEA Special Agent Emmaline Justice is determined to be recognized for her work, not her sex. She doesn’t have time for an intriguing, wounded RCMP inspector. When the contacts she cultivated over long months of an international undercover investigation keep showing up dead, Emma must use her instincts as both an agent and a woman to determine Beaulieu’s role in the case and in her life.
One woman tore him apart. Another is brave enough to put him back together—if his past doesn’t kill him first.Excerpt: S

She hadn’t realized she’d slowed her determined pace until she heard his deep voice from behind. Emma closed her eyes and stole a second to shore her defenses. She stopped and turned, took a small step back when she found him too close for comfort. Definitely too close to maintain the recent determination to keep her distance.
“Yes, Inspector? What can I do for you?” At least her tone sounded detached and professional.
His gaze roamed her face as he opened his mouth, but he shut it after a brief pause. Heavy brows lowered with his frown. “What the hell was that back there?”
“I’m not sure I follow.” She fought to keep a cool tone. He was close. And, damn it, even more compelling. Personal. He smelled good. Bet he tasted even better.
Ugh, stop!
His mouth twisted impatiently. “Not the questions—I get those. The fingering your blouse thing.”
His finger traced her top button, and her breath caught when the tip rasped across bare skin in the process. His gaze flared at the reaction before narrowing, and the corners of his mouth tipped up. Emma took a step back so he no longer touched her.
“What was the fondling your lip thing?”
He cocked an arrogant brow, and she brought her thumb up to demonstrate, rubbing the pad against her bottom lip before sucking the tip into her mouth and pulling out with a pop. She definitely didn’t mistake the flash of heat in his expression before his features went hard with affront.
“I did not suck my finger.” His marvelous eyes narrowed and head tipped when she imitated the cock of his arrogant brow. “Maybe you just wanted me to. Is that it?”
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#Guest: Elliot K. Carnucci is a Big, Fat Loser by Catherine DePino

Catherine DePino has sold thirteen books for parents, teachers, and children to mainstream publishers. She self-published her fourteenth book, Elliot K. Carnucci is a Big, Fat Loser: A Book About Bullying because she wanted to give it a wider forum. Her background includes a BS in English and Spanish education, a Master’s in English education, and a doctorate in Curriculum Theory and Development and Educational Administration from Temple University. The author worked for many years as an English teacher, department head of English and world languages, disciplinarian, and curriculum writer in the Philadelphia School District. After this, she worked at Temple as an adjunct assistant professor and student teaching supervisor.
Catherine has also written articles for national magazines, including The Christian Science Monitor and The Writer.
For many years she served on the board of The Philadelphia Writers’ Conference.  She holds membership in the Association of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Her new self-help book, 101 Easy Ways for Women to De-Stress, Reinvent, and Fire Up Your Life in Retirement,appeared on the market in March, 2014.
Links Website Facebook Author Page Fire Up Your Life: 101 Ways for Women to Reinvent Themselves
Where to Buy: Amazon

 
1. At any given time do you work on only one story at a time and maybe plot out the next one or are there many ideas racing around your head?
Usually when I work on one story, I throw myself into it, giving it my full attention until the final edit Then, after I complete the book, I start thinking of another idea for a book, sometimes fiction, sometimes non-fiction. I enjoy writing for different age groups. Elliot K. Carnucci is a Big, Fat Loser: A Book About Bullying targets middle school kids but has something for everyone. Elliot is a ninth grader who faces harsh bullying from his classmates. The child of divorced parents, he lives atop his dad’s business, a funeral home in South Philadelphia.
I’ve had parents and grandparents tell me they enjoyed reading about Elliot. There’s a sub-plot involving Elliot’s quirky grandmother, Nonna. To the surprise of the entire family, she falls in love with Armand, a walrus-faced plumber. I tried to interject humor throughout the book even though it’s about a serious subject. Readers need comic relief with such a heavy subject. Also, some seniors who like oldies music told me they enjoyed walking down memory lane with Duke, the school custodian and Elliot’s mentor.

2. Is there a genre you haven't written in but would like to? Or wish you could write in?
I’d like to try writing paranormal books for teens involving the Tarot. I’ve read Tarot cards for many years and find it fascinating. It’s the kind of thing people either love or hate, but for me, it’s fun and has opened up a whole new world. I’d like to write a book using psychic phenomena as a backdrop, but for now I’m concentrating on bully prevention (fiction and non-fiction), and grammar/writing improvement. I’ve written five books about bully prevention, three for children, one for parents and family members to help children cope, and one for teachers to use in mandated bully prevention programs. I’ve also recently published a grammar book to help adults improve their writing and speaking abilities. Before that, I wrote grammar books for teachers to use with their classes. All of my grammar books use a holistic approach that links grammar directly to writing. I’ve found that learning it in isolation doesn’t work.

3. Do you add an element of romantic suspense in your stories?  I interjected a romantic element in Elliot K. Carnucci is a Big, Fat Loser when Elliot started liking his classmate Rosalie. All the boys at school were in love with her, so it was highly unlikely that she would give Elliot a second look. Many readers were surprised when she did. There’s also romantic suspense involving Elliot’s grandmother and her boyfriend. Will she marry him and become Angela Carnucci Cacciatucci or live in the funeral home forever with Andrew, her funeral director son, and Elliot, her grandson?

4. Say you have unlimited funds: What kind of writing office/cottage would you create for yourself? 

I’d have my very own writing studio in my Ocean City, NJ, seashore house with white wicker furniture and splashes of colorful flowers. I’d pipe in oldies, jazz, and classical music and write to my heart’s content.


5. If you could turn your novel into a TV show, which novel or series would you do? Where would it be set? Network TV (ABC, NBC, CBS), Cable (AMC, BBC, Lifetime) or Premium Cable (HBO, Showtime, Starz)?
If I could turn Elliot into a TV series, I’d want it to be on cable. It would chronicle Elliot’s and his friends’ success in helping other bullied kids turn their lives around. Of course, the setting would be in the funeral home where Elliot lives, with plenty of spooky hijinx to excite both kids and adults. We’d also learn more about Elliot’s mother, Rayna, who has recently moved back to the east coast from the west coast where she launched a career in commercials. Will his mom and dad get back together or will they stay divorced? Will Elliot’s grandmother Nonna stay with Armand, or is the marriage doomed to fail because she’s a totally liberated woman who won’t let a man tell her what to do? The series would also feature Elliot’s friends, Roy and LeBron, who stood by him when the other kids looked the other way while he faced cruel acts of bullying.

6. Finally, tell us about your latest release!
Out of all the books I’ve written, Elliot is my favorite protagonist. Although some may consider him nerdy, he has an endearing side in that he’s a true friend and he does whatever he can to help others in need. He shows this when he helps Anna Santiago, a girl who once made fun of him at school. At her father’s funeral, Elliot reaches out to her and comforts her.
Although Elliot is brutalized by a few bullies at his school, he perseveres in trying to find a solution to his problems. I consider him a true hero. I’ve used a high school as a setting for my story because that’s where I worked all my life, first as a teacher, and later as a department head.  I know the inner workings of schools and aimed to reflect that in the story. I’ve found that most school families have their share of loving, compassionate workers who go out of their way to help students. Mr. Boardly, the school custodian and Elliot’s greatest ally, works with Elliot to help free him of his bullying issues. By the way, I I patterned Mr. Boardly on Scotty, a caring custodian I knew who always had time to help kids and teachers in any way he could.
I’d love it if you’d write to me at my website, www.catherinedepino.com  to let me know what you thought of the book. If you have any comments or questions, please send them my way. It will make my day.

Catherine will be awarding a $20 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Be sure to comment!
Blurb:     The kids at Ralph Bunche Middle School love to pick on Elliot Kravitz-Carnucci. He struggles with his weight, looks like a geek, makes top honors, and lives above the Carnucci Home for Funerals in South Philadelphia with his distant, workaholic father and Nonna, his quirky, overbearing grandmother.    Since his parents divorced, he splits spending his time with his funeral director father and his mother Rayna, who dreams of becoming the queen of commercials on the west coast.    At the hands of his peers, Elliot experiences a series of bullying episodes that escalate from entrapment in a school supply closet to a brutal “swirly” (head dunk in the toilet) that lands him in the hospital emergency room.    Elliot has a small circle of loyal friends and a mentor named Duke, an aging school custodian, who root for him to overcome his bullying issues so that he can enjoy his life as a teenager and a budding singer/performer. Can Elliot win his fight against the nasty bullies, or is he doomed forever? Read this funny, sad, and crazy book to find out.
I pounded the inside of the musty supply closet until my knuckles turned blue. Did anybody even have the key?            What if they don’t come? What if I’m trapped here all night?            I could hear loud voices and laughing, so I knew Kyle Canfield and one of his friends from the basketball team were there, waiting to see if I would cave in and plead for mercy.            The bell blared. Classes changed. Kids stampeded through the halls. Then, silence.
Finally I heard someone shout, “I’ve got the key, Doc.”             “Thanks, Duke,” Doc Greely, the assistant principal, said to Mr. Boardly, the man who’d sprung me loose.
Mr. Boardly, the head custodian, better known as Duke, offered me his arm, and I stumbled out of the closet. He was as thin as his mop handle, but all muscle–no flab like me. A scruffy white beard covered half his face.            He slammed the closet door shut and bolted the lock. “One of the hall guards reported noise coming from this area. We came as soon as we heard.”            Duke patted my shoulder. “Let me know if I can help, Elliot.” I could hear his keys clanging as he walked down the hall humming “Duke of Earl,” that old sixties song he loved. That’s where he got his nickname.
“Up to their old tricks again, Elliot?” Doc asked on the way to his office.

Today's Guest: J.D. Spikes with her new release The Possession

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding winner's choice of two ebooks from Lachesis Publishing (http://lachesispublishing.com/) to a randomly drawn winner via the rafflecopter at the end of this post.

Daphne Wentworth is almost seventeen, definitely a red head, and most likely the tallest girl in her class, which is awkward to say the least when it comes to dating boys in her school. But she doesn’t have to worry about school for the next two months since she’s spending the summer at her aunt Dwill’s lighthouse in Maine.

What she does have to worry about is seeing ghosts in the lighthouse cemetery, having strange dreams, and hearing the voices of star-crossed lovers who lived two-hundred years ago. And then there’s a local boy named Zach Philbrook who works for her aunt. He’s too gorgeous for his own good. He’s also very tall, with midnight black hair, and the most beautiful indigo blue eyes Daphne has ever seen.

Zach is treated like an outcast by the local teens in town. He’s Micmac and therefore not “one of the gang”. Daphne can’t help being drawn to his strength, especially considering that he’s had to live his entire life dealing with ignorance. But the local teens aren’t the only trouble-makers in town. As Zach and Daphne get closer, the lighthouse ghost lovers begin haunting them. When Daphne and Zach try to figure out how to fight them, the spirits get bolder and more dangerous. So how do you protect yourself from something that isn’t really there?
Where to Buy:
Amazon
Lachesis Publishing

Enjoy an excerpt:

It wasn’t the first time a good idea had come back to bite me in the ass, but I was afraid it might be the last.

The plan had seemed harmless enough. I never intended things to get so out of hand, and I certainly hadn’t expected Zach to get involved. No, wait. If I’m going to tell this tale, write it down so it’s never forgotten, I must tell the truth—the whole truth.

I should start at the beginning . . .

I had always resisted being a redhead.

“My hair is brown,” I’d declare, “with red highlights.”

When you were one of six heads that spilled out onto the sidewalk every morning though, the sun unmercifully spotlighting the fact that you varied in shades from the red section of the crayon box, you eventually had to let that notion go. When I was twelve—we were only four heads bobbing off to Catholic school at the top of the hill by then—Mom tried to soothe me by pointing out my hair was auburn.

Auburn. I’d liked the sound of that. It wasn’t red, it was auburn.

Auburn sounded regal and refined.

So did Daphne Wentworth. That’s my name, but I can tell you truthfully I’m neither regal nor refined. I favor t-shirts and jeans and my battered sneakers. I usually have a basketball in my hands. Or a softball bat. I’m tall, always have been. Do you know what it’s like to go through school like a giraffe above the crowd? Above the boys?

But I digress.

My point is, I’m not at all what you’d expect from my name. And what happened to us last summer, what waited at the lighthouse, in that small copse of trees, well . . . you’d never expect that, either.

Not in two hundred years.

Jeanine Duval Spikes is a spinner of romantic tales with a touch of the supernatural. Lifelong research and experience with the paranormal infuse her stories with ethereal spirit, while her belief that love conquers all suffuses them with heart.

She is a paranormal investigator with a small local group, aspiring to help those in need by advancing this exploratory field both spiritually and scientifically. When not writing, you can find her cooking, gardening, horseback riding, or forever getting lost in secondhand shops. The mother of two grown sons, she lives in Rhode Island, the Ocean State, with her very own hero-husband Tim, and two crazy cats. She is the proud recipient of the Jo Ann Ferguson Service Award for selfless assistance and dedication to fellow writers and the craft.

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#Interview with Becky Wicks @bex_wicks: Before He Was Famous

Becky Wicks is a HarperCollins author going indie! Itchy feet has led her to live and work all over the world since leaving England at age 21, including NYC, Sydney, Bali, South America and Dubai. Right now she’s scribbling the second book in the HotFlush series in Vietnam, and will soon be in Vancouver if any hot Canadian men want to make her a cup of tea?
Becky has also written three funny travel books about her time in Dubai, Bali and South America (HarperCollins). Her first book, Burqalicious - The Dubai Diaries, her second book, Balilicious - The Bali Diaries and her third, Latinalicious -The South America Diaries are out now as ebooks.
Becky has also written a comedy romance with author Sarah Alderson under the name Lola Salt, called The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (not Croft) which should raise a giggle or two... think Bridget Jones if Jackie Collins had written it!
Follow her on twitter and her blog.Facebook author pageGoodreadsGoogle+



At any given time do you work on only one story at a time and maybe plot out the next one or are there many ideas racing around your head? You can’t stop the ideas! I’m constantly bashing things into the notebook app on my phone when I’m out and about – just snippets of overheard conversation, or ideas for character traits I see in strangers, or song lyrics that make me think beyond the song and further into a story. As a writer you see and hear everything as a potential element of a book… and this is something that can worry people, haha! I worked constantly on Before He Was Famous for five months, but the whole time I was planning book two and three, making sure I had a solid foundation and making even more notes. You never really switch off when you scribble for a living!
Is there a genre you haven't written in but would like to? Or wish you could write in? I would love to try historical fiction one day, although I’m always impressed with the amount of research people have to do for these books. It’s crazy. It must take a looooooong time to write something so accurate about a bygone era – kudos to anyone with the time and patience! I’d love to try a ghost story one day too; something romantic.
Do you add an element of romantic suspense in your stories? Of course. I find it incredibly dull when a hero and heroine get together and have the best sex ever having only just met. We can dream of it happening in reality, but it rarely does, and in books, where’s the satisfaction for the reader who was rooting for a couple from page one if they’re having it off by page 20? A few people have written in their reviews for Before He Was Famous that they were beyond frustrated with Noah and Chloe for denying themselves each other for so long… and that by the end they were tearing their hair out, maybe even hating the characters. But most of them finished the book. Without that suspense there wouldn’t have been a journey and in holding the characters back, the reader begins to care whether or not they’ll finally come to their senses. If you care about a character, even if you hate him/her, I’m happy!
Say you have unlimited funds: What kind of writing office/cottage would you create for yourself? Oooh I’d be in a tall tower, right at the top, with a view of the ocean and maybe some cliffs so the crashing waves could add a touch of drama! I know it’s cliché but there’s a reason why so many writers love to write by the ocean – it’s so calming and kind of infinite when you look out at open water. It’s almost like looking at a blank canvas and calling inspiration in from the heavens!

If you could turn your novel into a TV show, which novel or series would you do? Where would it be set? I’d love to turn Before He Was Famous into a movie…and there’s another book I wrote with author Sarah Alderson under the pen name Lola Salt that would be so fun to see turned into a movie, too. It’s called The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft (not Croft) and we had such a laugh writing that together. We imagined Gemma Arterton in the lead! It’s about a woman who travels the world delivering mysterious packages and we set it in Bali, Africa, Dubai and some other random places. That would be an interesting tour schedule for sure

Finally, tell us about your latest release! Before He Was Famous is the story of Noah Lockton’s rise to fame and how it affects his relationships – namely his with Chloe, who’s been his best friend since childhood. I wanted to explore the consequences of instant fame; you know, the inevitable stress and panic, the users orbiting you like satellites, the old-friends who forgot you but suddenly want a piece of what you’ve earned. We see people’s private lives splashed over everything these days, and for the people involved it can’t be nice seeing and hearing nasty things about yourself, along with all that praise from your crazy fans. I got to thinking how mad it all must be and wove the love story into that. I really hope people enjoy the ride!

Blurb:

Falling in love with your best friend isn’t always a great idea, especially when he’s Noah Lockton - the sexiest, most famous new talent on the planet. When 21-year-old small-town photographer Chloe Campbell is offered the chance of a lifetime – to join her celebrity childhood friend Noah on tour as an exclusive blogger for a New York magazine – she’s certain both have put what happened four years ago behind them. But his eyes still burn; his voice is still a jackhammer to her heartstrings; all his songs are about her. Is it possible that that night still haunts them both?
The music industry is a machine, spinning hype and rumors as much as his records. It’s not just Noah’s girlfriends who’ve got it in for Chloe (there’s no stopping the Twitter-obsessed, cat-loving pop-star Courtney Lentini for starters). Pretty soon, the jealousy and media frenzy surrounding these so-called-friends takes a life-changing turn and it seems making love means making enemies at every turn. When tragedy threatens to pull the final curtain on their relationship, both Chloe and Noah must make a choice. As much as this world leaves them starstruck, is living their dream really worth living without each other?
A story of lifelong friendships, love and hope, set in a world of celebrity, fame and social media gone very, very wrong. Where to Buy: Amazon

Excerpt:


I see the scar on his right shoulder from where he fell off Jack's homemade sled one winter and tumbled roly-poly style right into a rock. It's a thin, shiny white line. I resist the urge to touch it. He's undoing me, again, lying here beside me in a literal bed we made ages ago but have since refused to lie in. How does he do this?
'I guess she knows it, even if you don't,' he whispers.
'I do,' I say, and inside I'm screaming. We're not doing this; we're not. This is dangerous. But he climbed in next to me and now it's the strongest, aching urge to keep him here, to have him holding me again and to never let me go. The guilt surges through me, along with the fear. 'So, she broke up with you?' I manage.
'I guess so,' he replies, scanning my cuts with his eyes.
'She really liked you, Noah,'
'Yeah, well, maybe I'm just an asshole.'
I realize my hand is still in his hair and I retract it quickly. He grabs it, holds it against him. You're not an asshole I'm thinking, but for some reason I can't say it. It would be like admitting something else; like the fact that he's an asshole to every girl who likes him, but never to me. And then I'd have to really think about why that is and that's not something I'll ever be comfortable with at all, even though his eyes are like maps and his words are like anchors and his songs are like personal messages and I love all that.

Becky will be awarding an eCopy of Before He Was Famous to a randomly drawn commenter at each stop during the tour, and a Grand Prize of an eCopy of Before He Was Famous , as well as a print copy of Latinalicious, Becky's last travel memoir (HarperCollins) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. (International winner)  a Rafflecopter giveaway

#BookBlast Aleshia Robinson @lovegodtattoos

Aleshia Robinson was born in Chicago, Illinois and enjoys writing edgy inspirational fiction, traveling, decoupaging, empowering women in the sex trade and providing clean water for mankind.
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Blurb:

Love, God & Tattoos is a series of young adult novels written by American author Aleshia Robinson. The story chronicles the spiritual journey of 21 year old Alcatraz, a troubled tattoo artist, and her struggle to have a positive relationship with God and herself.
ALCATRAZ THE LOST PEARL Fifteen year old Alcatraz is being chased. Born and raised in a loving family, she suddenly finds herself fending for her life on the streets of Los Angeles. Consumed with anger, hurt and confusion, Alcatraz turns to the spiritual realm to find life’s answers. While experimenting with pagan spells, Buddhist chants, and yoga sutras, she continually encounters a spirit who claims He is God. The Truth she learns from this spiritual quest introduces her to the unexpected world of divine healing, acceptance and unconditional love.
ALCATRAZ THE RIGHTEOUS PEARL After two years of spiritual searching, Alcatraz has finally decided who the One true God is for her life. But trouble soon follows. Being rejected by her new found religious organization because of her appearance and discharged from the tattoo shop for her beliefs, Alcatraz is forced to enter the Hollywood adult entertainment life with her best friend Kuriko. The nightmares she experiences living on the dubious streets of Los Angeles causes her to struggle to keep her faith.
KURIKO THE DAMAGED PEARL Alcatraz has desperately wanted to learn more about the mysterious past of her street-smart Japanese best friend, Kuriko. Now her wish has come true, but not in the way she expected. Kuriko handed Alcatraz a black bamboo box before the tragic accident. Inside, Alcatraz finds the diary of a nineteen-year-old girl's struggle with sex trafficking, powerful men, abuse, betrayal, and surprisingly, a burning desire to know God. After two years of living with the secretive, over-protective high-dollar prostitute, Alcatraz learns the dark truth of Kuriko's inhumane journey. Now she wishes the past could have been buried with her best friend. 


Excerpt:

Unfulfillment, boredom and anxiety overcame me every time I wasn’t tattooing someone. While I was in creative mode I was fine but as soon as I stopped it was like life wasn’t worth living anymore. My mood could change instantly. I masked my pain very well with alcohol. If it wasn’t pomegranate margaritas from The Geisha Room then I drank hard liquor at the Roxy or wherever we were that night. On the outside girls envied me for my mad abilities, but on the inside I cried myself to sleep at night like a little, insecure baby. No matter how hard I tried to party and tattoo my way out of my problems, I couldn’t let go of the pain of my parent’s death, my rape and being plucked from Valeo Academy into this Hollywood life on my own. All of those seeds were ever present in the soil of my heart waiting to be tended to. I didn’’t know how to process the pain except to pretend like it wasn’t there. Alcohol allowed me to flee from my problems gracefully and to fit in with people who made me feel loved, accepted and worthwhile.
Where to Buy: AmazonBarnes and NobleAppleKobo 
Aleshia will be awarding a print copy of the Love, God & Tattoos Bundle (US and Canada only) to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Ultimate Kill by @KristineMason7

 I didn’t pick up my first romance novel until I was in my late twenties. Immediately hooked, I read a bazillion books before deciding to write one of my own. After the birth of my first son I needed something to keep my mind from turning to mush, and Sesame Street wasn’t cutting it. While that first book will never see the light of day, something good came from writing it. I realized my passion and found a career I love.

When I’m not writing contemporary romances and dark, romantic suspense novels (or reading them!) I’m chasing after my four kids and two neurotic dogs.
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When the past collides with the present, the only way to ensure the future lies in the ultimate kill… Naomi McCall is a woman of many secrets. Her family has been murdered and she’s been forced into hiding. No one knows her past or her real name, not even the man she loves. Jake Tyler, former Marine and the newest recruit to the private criminal investigation agency, CORE, has been in love with a woman who never existed. When he learns about the lies Naomi has weaved, he’s ready to leave her—until an obsessed madman begins sending her explosive messages every hour on the hour.
Innocent people are dying. With their deaths, Naomi’s secrets are revealed and the truth is thrust into the open. All but one. Naomi’s not sure if Jake can handle a truth that will change their lives. But she is certain of one thing—the only way to stop the killer before he takes more lives is to make herself his next victim.
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Excerpt:
How many narcissists does it take to change a light bulb?
One.
He holds the bulb while the world revolves around him.
“DID YOU FIND her?” He glared at the man he’d overpaid to find the one thing that belonged to him. Rage simmered in the depths of what most men might consider a soul. Not him. Essence, the nonphysical aspect of a person, that which survived after death and all of the other metaphysical, intangible drivel of poets and priests…that kind of shit was for pussies. He had one life to live and he’d live it to the fullest.
With her.
Carl Blackborne, the former CIA agent and the investigator he’d forced into his employment, shifted his gaze to the desk. “I’m sorry, sir, but…no. That’s not to say that I didn’t discover any new leads,” he quickly added.
He followed Blackborne’s gaze and looked at the handcrafted replica of the first ship ever built by his great-great-grandfather. Made of gold, and worth over three hundred grand, the piece had been in the family for five generations. “It’s lovely, no?” he asked the investigator and touched the ship’s golden mast.
Blackborne blinked. “Yes. Truly one of a kind, sir.”
“If you break down what’s in your savings and life insurance, it’s worth more than you are.”
“I…I don’t know how to respond to that.”
He ran a manicured finger along the golden stern and wondered if the ship would become damaged if he slammed it against Blackborne’s over-sized head. “Of course you don’t.”
“Sir, if I may, I’ve exhausted—”
“Do you know how old my great-great-grandfather was when he built his first ship?” he asked and touched the life-like sailor standing at the helm of the golden ship. From what he’d been told, his forefather had been a ruthless son of a bitch. He didn’t emulate the man, nor did he worship him. He didn’t have to. Not when he was better than him. More powerful. More coldblooded. More merciless.
“No, sir, I—”
“He was twenty. Twenty,” he repeated, sliding his gaze to Blackborne. “By the time he was twenty-five, he was worth over one million dollars. That was in the mid-1800s. By today’s standards, he would have been worth over twenty-five million. Amazing, no?” He waved a hand, and leaned into his chamois-soft leather office chair. “Over the past one hundred and fifty years, his company has endured many ups and downs. Right now, under my rule, it’s up. I’ve had the foresight to take this company to new places. Literally. My planes, ships and trucks are worldwide. I’ve made this company a household name. Now that’s amazing shit.”
Blackborne rubbed the back of his neck. “Truly amazing, sir. But if you’ll let me explain my new leads.”
He folded his hands and rested them on the luxurious, handcrafted desk. Made of six different kinds of exotic woods, like ebony and Carpathian elm, it too was worth more than Blackborne. “By all means. It’s not like I don’t have anything better to do with my time. Right, Ric?”
Ricco Mancini, his aide-de-camp and most loyal confidant, sat stone faced, his focus on the investigator. “All the time in the world. I see no reason why Blackborne shouldn’t waste yours.”
Clearing his throat, Blackborne nodded. “Understood. Sorry, sir. I’ll make this quick. When I was investigating her past, I came across family lineage that might be of interest. I thought that maybe—”
“How is this a new lead?” Blackborne wasn’t the first investigator he’d hired, and based on the others, he could rattle off the woman’s family tree by heart. Hell, he’d stripped that tree of its leaves and snapped the branches until she no longer had a family.
“Well, it’s not exactly a lead, just a new avenue.”
“My trucks travel down avenues all the time,” he said, finished with Blackborne and their conversation. He’d had high hopes for the investigator. During his previous employment with the CIA, Blackborne had been known to successfully track terrorists and international criminals. Diabolically brilliant men who had the means to hide and, if they’d wanted, never be found. And yet Blackborne couldn’t find a simple woman? Fucking useless idiot.
“I’m not interested in hearing about avenues—at all,” he said. “I paid you a lot of money to bring me—”
“I told you I wasn’t sure if I could find her,” Blackborne countered, his voice rising.
His rage went from simmering to boiling.
No one interrupted him.
No one dared to shout at him.
He slid his gaze to the two men flanking the office’s double doors. Santiago Ramirez, the Columbian he’d taken under his wing over fifteen years ago glared at Blackborne’s back. So did Santiago’s counterpart, former Russian heavyweight boxer, Vlad Aristov. He looked to Ric, whose mouth tilted in the subtlest of smiles. Knowing that the chance of this conversation ending well was slim to none, the sadist would enjoy Blackborne’s faux pas.
“She’s obviously changed her name,” Blackborne continued without apology. “Covered up paper trails. She has no immediate family, her friends and associates have no idea where she moved to…I’ve bribed several IRS officials and even they couldn’t help me. That’s why I thought if I could—”
“Pull up her family tree?” he asked with an easy smile that in no way matched the raw fury constricting his chest. “It’s a brilliant plan. I wish my other investigators had the foresight to come up with such a unique idea.”
“Thank you, sir.” Blackborne relaxed and grinned, obviously not understanding sarcasm. “I appreciate the compliment.”
He looked to Ric and caught the laughter in his eyes. “What would you need for this brilliant plan of yours?” he asked, transferring his attention to the investigator.
“More money and, of course, more time.”
His last four investigators had given him the same request. They’d eventually come to him empty handed and wound up dead.
“I suggest we expand the scope and not just focus on her family,” Blackborne said, his tone enthusiastic. “The friends and associates I checked with…these were people who knew her, or rather knew of her, when she was in her early twenties. As you know, she went off the grid around the time she turned twenty. I think if I go back further, say into her childhood, and find people she was close to, then maybe—”
He raised a hand. “No.”
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Review #NCIS season 11

I've made it no secret I'm a fan of NCIS. But this year I was very disappointed, and yes heartbroken, that Ziva (
The first several episodes showed a couple temporary agents. Of those, the only memorable ones were Vera and Coast Guard agent, Abigail Borin. Either one would've been a fine addition to the cast.

Overall, this season I found extremely uneven. Extremely. Only a handful of episodes were cohesive and actually stood out.

I could say a lot about the additional of Agent Bishop, and how I consider her a Mary Sue character, but I'll simply say: It's my opinion that the Bishop character doesn't fit the dynamic already established between the cast and characters.

Though this once was my favorite show, I give this season only 2.5 stars. I hope they find a better footing next season.

#BookBlast: A Lady Never Lies by @StephBurkhart

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Stephanie will be awarding a $25 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Jocelyn Dunkirk is not your typical Victorian lady. She dresses in leather, wears goggles and is not afraid to get a little grease under her fingernails. Gentlemen avoid her like a dirty rivet.

Richard Windsor, the Prince of Wales, travels through time to claim Jocelyn's heart, but if it isn't one challenge, it's another. He determines to be a constant, steady presence in her life, hoping to prove he'd make a worthy husband.

Jocelyn's facing a bucket full of problems. The Prime Minister wants her to assist in ending a coal strike before it cripples the nation while her father attempts to recover from a serious injury. Will Jocelyn's dedication to her country and family ruin the one chance she has at love?

Enjoy an excerpt:

Jocelyn stood, glaring at Richard and Edmund. Richard's face betrayed his anxiety. Well, she was anxious, too.

Edmund crossed his arms and looked at Jocelyn. "Do you want me to leave?"

Jocelyn's gaze landed on Richard. His blue eyes blazed with an intensity that burned her and she realized they needed to talk -- alone. She drew in a breath and crossed an arm over her chest resting her hand on her shoulder and rubbed the knot. Deliberately, she turned to face Edmund. "Yes, I think that's best."

Edmund glared at Richard with an expression of warning, then departed.

"Thank you," Richard said. He held his ground.

Jocelyn maintained her pose, studying him. He appeared healthy, still muscular, yet breathless. He held his hands at his side, flexing his fingers.

"How's your father?" he asked matter-of-factly.

"I've never seen him so incapacitated."

"What happened?"

She let out a long breath, resolved to tell the truth. "The last week, your ring would grow hot, then cold, then hot again. Today it became unbearable. I took it off and when my father went to pick it up, some ash from his cigar caused it to explode."

He took a step toward her. "I'm so sorry--"

She held up a hand. "Don't come closer. It doesn't matter. All I'm concerned about is my father."

"What about us?"

"There can't be an us."

"Why not?" His brows knitted.

Where to Buy: Amazon
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Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire. After serving 11 years in the US Army she currently calls Castaic, California her home. Stephanie was married in Denmark in 1991 and has two young sons. She adores chocolate, is addicted to coffee and enjoys early morning walks. She's also an assistant den leader for her son's Cub Scout den and is a Boy Scout mom. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance and has two children's books published with 4RV Publishing.

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