Beth Andrews's Blog, page 4
September 19, 2012
Ellen Hartman Winners
The winners of THE LONG SHOT and OUT OF BOUNDS by Ellen Hartman are:
Louisa and Cathy P!
Congrats, ladies!! Please send your information to me through our Mailroom button at the top of the page 
September 12, 2012
Botox, Bieber, McDonald’s, and Science
I’m thrilled to welcome back Super Author (no, really, she’s super *g*) Ellen Hartman to the lair!
I have a scientific discovery to share with you. I didn’t do the science, but I tested the conclusion and here it is: if you pretend to smile, you’ll actually feel happy.
I had a paper route when I was ten and started babysitting soon afterwards. What I really wanted was a steady paycheck, so the second I turned sixteen, I applied for my first real job at McDonald’s in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania. That job brought my first unrequited crush. It was on my manager, the aptly named Mr. Mark Paradise—he was almost twenty years old, with Bo Duke’s golden curls, who could resist? During my time at McDonald’s, I learned many valuable lessons, including these gems memorized from my boss’s managing phrase book:
“If there’s time to lean, there’s time to clean.”
“If you fake a smile, you’ll actually be happy.”
The first one is obviously true. Although I’d offer that it’s equally true that if there’s time to lean, there’s time to read a book, to write bad poetry about cute managers, or to check in on the Romance Bandits blog.
That second managerial axiom, though, sounds ridiculous. How can pretending to smile actually make you happy? (Especially if you’re a sixteen-year-old girl suffering an unrequited crush on a guy who has no interest in her beyond the question of whether the cash in her register drawer balances at the end of the shift.)
Turns out Manager Mark Paradise was not only swoon-worthy, he was smart. There’s real science to back him up. You all know that Botox injections make it impossible to stop smiling, right? (Google “worst Botox faces” if you’re unfamiliar with this phenomenon.) People who have had Botox injections have these permanent, slightly frozen smiles. Scientists in Wales gave a quiz intended to uncover anxiety and depression to women who had received Botox and to women who hadn’t. What they found was that those women who’d been chemically treated to create permanent, fake smiles were actually happier than the un-Botoxed ones.
Fake smiles = real happiness.
It’s science*.
Last winter, when I was starting the first draft of my current Superromance, Out of Bounds, I was feeling blue about a number of things. If you’ve ever written a Superromance, you’ll know that “blue” is not the optimal mental starting point. Supers are driven by serious, realistic emotional conflict. I was staring down 75,000 words worth of intense emotional exploration. Happy was far away and funny was even farther, but this book needed funny scenes. I’d already sketched out a pet for the heroine, an adorably evil Schnoodle. This semi-feral, half-Poodle, mutt-with-a-heart-of-gold named Angel deserved an author who could write funny stuff. But how could I force myself to write funny scenes if I was stuck feeling blue?
I decided to tap into the fake-a-smile science.
Fortunately for my forehead, I live in the middle of nowhere and there aren’t any Botox providers listed in our yellow pages. Plus, I’m afraid of needles. So the injected smile route was out.
So how did I do it?
Okay, pause for a confession: at this point, I’m reconsidering writing this blog. When you find out where I found my fake happiness, it’s possible you’re going to lose all respect for me. (That is, if the Bo Duke reference above didn’t already do me in.)
Here goes nothing.
Justin Bieber made me happy.
No laughing! (I hear you Arcade Fire fans snickering. Stop it.)
Have you listened to Bieber sing? Here, try “One Less Lonely Girl.” Say what you will, but that is one happy song. Some might say fake-happy, but all of the science-minded people like me (along with all those women in Wales getting Botox) know by now that fake doesn’t matter when it comes to smiling. I downloaded a bunch of music by the Biebs and threw in a little Taylor Swift. Then I put on my headphones, shut down the real world, and wrote.
And you know what? The Romantic Times review for Out of Bounds called it a “fun read” which just goes to show you that everything Manager Mark Paradise ever said is brilliant and perfect, just like him.
No.
It goes to show that Justin Bieber really can fix everything that’s wrong with the world.
No.
It goes to show that sometimes, faking a smile will lead to the real thing. I’m going to keep this little bit of science in my back pocket. I have the feeling it will come in handy this winter.
What about you? Any bits of folk wisdom you’ve found to be surprisingly true? Any secrets to feeling happy? Want to share your embarrassing unrequited love stories? Or maybe just post a few of your favorite Bieber lyrics. (Hee.) Feel free to share in the comments.
Ellen is giving away two sets of books today – that’s two chances to win THE LONG SHOT and OUT OF BOUNDS!
*Note: I may have been kind of broadly interpreting the results of the Botox study because I wanted to blog about Justin Bieber, Mark Paradise, my writing process, but it’s a real study. You can read about it here in Scientific American.
August 20, 2012
New Chit Chat
time to update my Chit Chat page on my website. On my Chit Chat page I share what music I’m listening to, what books I’m reading, things I’m currently loving, what I’m watching, what I’m looking forward to and which of my recipes I’m craving, so I thought we could do another Chit Chat post here in the lair Here’s what I’m currently…
…Listening to:
Closer To Fine by Indigo Girls
Found Out About You by Gin Blossoms
…Reading:
Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield
All the magazines that are starting to take over the corner basket in my living room
…Loving:
My new DVR. I haven’t actually watched anything I’ve recorded yet, but I’m having fun pushing that little red “Record” button *g*
Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman. Love her show on Foodnetwork and her blog (which was how I found another Foodie Blog I adore, Joy The Baker *g*)
…Watching:
Recently saw The Odd Life of Timothy Green which I loved and War Horse, which I basically bawled through
…Looking Forward To:
Football season!
Hockey season!
But mostly, I’m looking forward to Back to School Season (and I’m not ashamed to admit it *g*)
…Craving:
Pico de Gallo (from The Pioneer Woman)
5 whole Plum (roma) Tomatoes
1/2 whole Large (or 1 Small) Onion
3 whole Jalapeno Peppers
Cilantro
Lime Juice
Salt To Taste
Chop up the tomatoes, onion and peppers to a small dice, add chopped cilantro to taste, stir together. Squeeze lime over and add salt to taste! Can’t wait to make this with some fresh Roma tomatoes from our garden
Tell me what you’re currently:
Listening to
Reading
Loving
Watching
Looking forward to
Craving
August 1, 2012
Meet Beth Andrews
How long have you been writing, and how has your writing changed over time?
I’ve been writing for ten years (which doesn’t seem possible, especially considering when I started writing, my youngest was five years old) and sold my first book five years ago. Well, I think most writers grow and “find” their voice after they get a few manuscripts under their belts, and that certainly happened to me, but what changed the most from when I wrote my first (currently-under-the-bed-will-never-see-the-light-of-day) book is that my stories became more real. Maybe even a bit dark as far as the themes go and the issues that my characters have to deal with – but I always try to remain true to my characters and they often find the humor and silver-lining in situations.
What drink does Sven bring you when you’re hiding in the cave?
I’m currently obsessed with iced coffee. Obsessed with…addicted to…let’s not quibble. I make my own using a recipe I found on The Pioneer Woman (I have decided Ree Drummond and I should be best friends for life) except I tweaked it a bit to suit my tastes. I add half and half (Yes. I said it. Half and half. Don’t judge.) and a little bit of fat-free sweetened condensed milk. Oh. My. So good. I think I’ll have Sven bring me one right now. Oh, Sven…
Who do you enjoy writing more — hero or heroine?
This varies for me but usually it’s one or the other and changes depending on the story and how well I know that character. However, I really enjoyed writing both Nora and Griffin in my August release, ON HER SIDE, the second book in my The Truth about the Sullivans’ trilogy. I fell hard for Griffin when he had a short scene in book one, UNRAVELING THE PAST, and when I started ON HER SIDE, Nora came alive for me. I had such a ball writing that book!
Favorite thing you’ve researched?
Oh, boy, that’s a tough one. I love, love, love research. I’d have to say that so far, the most interesting to me was researching vineyards and wineries for my Diamond Dust trilogy. Great stuff and fabulous trips to local wineries where I drank wine, had a behind-the-scenes tour, asked dozens of questions and drank more wine.
What’s in your writing cave to inspire you?
The RITA flag that was on my table at the Literacy Signing in Orlando and, of course, RITA herself (complete with the Mickey Mouse ears Tawny made her) are there for daily inspiration. For my current WIP, the first of a new series coming out next April, I made a collage to keep me on track. It’s the first time I made a collage for a story but it was so much fun, I’m definitely going to do it again!
Please visit my website to check out excerpts and more information about The Truth about the Sullivans and my other releases. Or you can find me on Facebook or drop me a line at: beth@bethandrews.net. As always, wishing you Happy Reading and enjoy your time in the lair!
July 31, 2012
Alison Stone and Summer Fun
Please help me welcome Alison Stone to the lair. I first met Alison when I attended my first Romance Writers of America chapter meeting in Buffalo, NY and I’m thrilled to have her with us today!
Squeezing Every Last Bit of Fun Out of Summer
I love summer. I live in Western New York where summer can arrive as late as June and slip away come late September. But for the months in between, we have the most glorious weather. In order to squeeze as much fun out of the warm months as we can, we:
1. Take an adventure. My two youngest and I hopped onboard an Amtrak train to New York City. We visited the American Museum of Natural History (think Night at the Museum, I know my kids did), American Girl Doll Store, Coney Island, and the New York Aquarium. To complete our visit, we walked for miles around Brooklyn enjoying the development along the water as well as a carousel ride in DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass). As a suburbanite, I was fascinated with the number of restaurants, businesses and entertainment all within walking distance. I never grew tired of the view of the Lower Manhattan skyline and the Brooklyn Bridge. We put a lot of miles on our sneakers and created a lasting summer memory.
2. Become tourists in our own backyard. After we got home from New York City, I promised my kids we’d continue our summer adventure closer to home. Last week I took them to an amusement park I had frequented as a child. As I watched them ride the Pirate for the third time, I felt like I had traveled back in time. I vividly remembered riding that exact amusement on a school field trip years ago. However, now I’m happy to stand on terra firma and watch. Other adventures on our list include local parks, historical sites, and natural wonders. Did I mention I live within a short drive to Niagara Falls?
3. Hang out in our own backyard (literally). One of my all-time favorite activities is to hang out in my own backyard. Years ago we put in a swimming pool. Some people might call us crazy—we only have about three, maybe four, good swimming months. (But remember the part about squeezing every last bit of fun out of the summer?) There’s nothing better than grabbing a book and sitting poolside and watching my kids swim. Inevitably, when the green winter cover goes on in early fall, my youngest will look out longingly at the pool and say, “I can’t wait for summer.”
Ah, but for now, there’s still more summer ahead of us.
What do you do to enjoy the warm summer months? Speaking of lounging by the pool with a book, one lucky person who leaves a comment will be selected at random to win the ebook format of my debut novel, Random Acts.
I’m thrilled to announce my second release, Too Close To Home, due out August 7th. Here is the blurb:
They say you can never go home. If you do, better watch your back.
Ten years ago, after her father’s gruesome death was ruled a suicide, Kathryn McNabb left her hometown, vowing never to return. And never to let anything—business or personal—break her heart.
Now an overachieving manufacturing engineer, she thrives on order, control and solitude. But an unexpected inheritance makes her the co-owner of the company her father founded, forcing her to face the ghosts of her past. Including Ben Nowak, childhood friend, secret crush, and son of the man who ruined her father.
Ben hadn’t planned on returning home either, but with his own father’s death it falls to him to continue the family legacy. When he learns Kathryn plans to sell the plant out from under him, his quest takes on new urgency—Midport Industries is the main source of jobs in town.
Butting heads strike sparks of attraction that entangle business and pleasure into a hopeless knot. And someone is watching. Someone with a darker reason to prevent the deal from going through. Someone desperate enough to kill…
Warning: Beware of the shadows, disgruntled employees, and childhood crushes all grown up.
BIO: Alison Stone graduated with a degree in industrial engineering from Georgia Tech. After working in Corporate America for a number of years, she retired to raise her young family. Soon the writing bug bit. After years of conferences, critique groups and writing, Alison achieved her dream of becoming a published author. She claims it was easier to earn her engineering degree. Too Close to Home is her second novel. To learn more about Alison Stone please visit www.AlisonStone.com. She’s also chatty on Twitter @Alison_Stone.
July 20, 2012
Bromance
This weekend, my family and I plan on (finally!) seeing Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. I loved the first Sherlock Holmes with Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law. The humor, the action, Sherlock’s brilliance in solving the mystery…it was all fabulous fun! But my favorite part was the love story.
After all, I am a romance writer 
But I’m not talking about the romance between Sherlock and Irene or even the one between Watson and his beloved Mary. What I’m talking about was the clear and heartfelt affection between Sherlock and Watson. These two men are as close as brothers who, though they often disagree, would risk their life to keep the other safe. And while Watson wanted to move on with his life with his new fiancée, he just couldn’t force himself to walk away from Holmes. Not completely. Just as Holmes couldn’t imagine his life without his trusted sidekick and did everything in his power to dissuade Watson from leaving (luckily, he came around in the end and even helped Watson get Mary an engagement ring *g*)
I love when friendship between men is portrayed so well! Nora Roberts does an excellent job of this, especially in books like her Sign of Seven trilogy about three lifelong friends who are destined to fight a horrible evil. Another favorite is the bond between the men of Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters and Tall, Dark and Dangerous series.
What are some of your favorite ‘Bromances’ in books, movies, TV and/or real life (Matt Damon and Ben Affleck? Matthew McConaughey and Lance Armstrong?)?
July 11, 2012
Luscious winner
The winner of a copy of Amanda Usen’s latest release LUSCIOUS is:
Sandyg265! Congrats!! Please send your snail mail info to me at: beth@bethandrews.net or through the Contact button above.
July 3, 2012
Amanda Usen on True Love and Homegrown Tomatoes
Today I’m thrilled to welcome author and chef Amanda Usen to the lair! I met Amanda a few weeks ago when I gave a workshop in Buffalo, NY, and I knew right away you’d all find her as smart, witty and as much fun as I did *g* Here’s Amanda:
True Love and Homegrown Tomatoes
My husband is a fantastic gardener, and his favorite thing to grow is heirloom tomatoes. He grows different kinds every year. This year we are waiting on Orange Jubilee, the Charlie Chaplin, Chocolate Drop, Gooseberry and Brandywine. The names are almost as much fun as the tomatoes, and my husband can’t resist the more unusual varieties. Last year, he had a ball offering friends samples of his Cream Sausage and Black Seamen tomatoes. Seriously, who could resist?
Each year we discover a new favorite, although Orange Jubilee and Brandywine always make it into the mix. I also love the Yellow Currant (so tiny and cute), Black Pearl (like a cherry tomato but darker, and sweet as candy) and Rainbow (as pretty as it sounds).
It’s an unspoken rule in the household that we don’t buy any tomatoes at the grocery store or even at the farmers’ market. We wait for our tomatoes…although I want them now! I can’t wait to sit on the back porch with a glass of wine and eat grilled bruschetta until I absolutely cannot hold another bite. It is our simplest summer pleasure, but it feeds my soul. I can taste the sunshine on the tomatoes and basil. The juicy tomato water soaks into the bread, adding flavor. The kiss of salt, pepper and grill char add mystery. Garlic gives it bite…and a little bit of risk. It’s best to know who you’re going to kiss when you’re eating bruschetta!
Since my husband and I are both chefs, I always use our recipes in my books. It makes the research easier, except when my husband is cooking and I say, “Wait! I want to measure all of your ingredients for my blog!” So far that has only happened while he was making chimichurri http://amandausen.wordpress.com/chimichurri/ but I plan to nab his meatball recipe soon.
Since Luscious, my second culinary romance, is set in Italy, I put grilled bruschetta on my characters’ menu. It couldn’t be easier to make, but somehow it transcends the simplicity of its ingredients. Grilling the bread does something magical. No fancy-schmancy chef stuff in this recipe. If you can slice bread, tomatoes, basil and garlic and operate a grill, you can have your very own simple summer pleasure. Note: For a truly Luscious experience, enjoy the bruschetta with a glass of Arrowhead Spring Vineyards 2010 Chardonnay. I helped harvest and crush the grapes for that vintage while doing research for the book! Here’s the recipe:
Luscious Grilled Bruschetta
1 baguette
Enough tomatoes to make 2 Cups, seeded, diced
5 good leaves of fresh basil or 1 t pesto
¼ clove of garlic mashed with ¼ t salt
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Use a serrated knife to slice the bread into ¼ inch ovals, on the bias. That means set your knife up at a 90 degree angle to the bread, and then twist the knife about 30 degrees to the side and start sawing.
Brush the bread with a little bit of olive oil, then sprinkle it with salt and pepper. Heat the grill.
Next, make what we refer to in my house as “tomato glop.” Dice your tomatoes, leaving as many seeds as possible on the cutting board. Fold the basil leaves into a tiny package, and slice it across one way to make thin ribbons. Then slice across the other way to chop. Use a Chef’s knife to mince your garlic and smash it into a paste with the salt. Mix the tomatoes, basil and garlic in a small bowl.
Grill the bread until each side is marked.
Top each slice of bread with the tomato mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Eat. Mmmmmmm! Summer lovin’!
I know, I know…it sounds too easy. It is. I hope you’ll try it and tell me if you like it as much as I do.
Thanks so much to the Romance Bandits for hosting me today! I love sharing books and recipes. For the chance to win a copy of Luscious, leave me a comment and tell me your simple summer pleasure. Margaritas on the deck? Ice cream on the porch? Water balloons in the yard? I’d love to hear from you!
Amanda Usen knows two things for certain: chocolate cheesecake is good for breakfast and a hot chef can steal your heart. Her husband stole hers the first day of class at the Culinary Institute of America. She married him after graduation in a lovely French Quarter restaurant in New Orleans, and they spent a few years enjoying the food and the fun in the Big Easy. Now they live in Western New York with their three children, one hamster, two guinea pigs, a tortoise and a new-to-them beagle. Amanda spends her days teaching pastry arts classes and her nights writing romance. If she isn’t baking or writing, she can usually be found chasing the kids around the yard with her very own luscious husband. If you want to chat about romance, writing or recipes, please visit her blog Writer. Chef. Romantic. http://www.amandausen.com where you can find recipes for many of the yummy dishes in her books. She can also be found on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/amandausen and Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/AmandaUsen
Luscious Blurb
Eat, play, love
Plain old ice cream just isn’t going to cut it. To beat these blues, chef Olivia Marconi needs the good stuff: rich, creamy tiramisu gelato. And no place better to get it than Italy. But a fresh start is nearly impossible with Sean Kindred dogging her every move. She’s been burned by his too-hot-to-handle antics before. Though there’s no denying the man can still get her all fired up. Could a weeklong affair finally turn into something more lasting…or will it all go up in flames?
June 26, 2012
Unraveling the Past Winner
The winner of a copy of Unraveling the Past is…
Gail Nichols!
Congrats, Gail! Please send your snail mail info to me at: beth@bethandrews.net (or through the Mail Room link above) and I’ll get your book out to you right away.
Thanks to everyone who helped me celebrate the launch of UTP!
June 20, 2012
Unraveling the Past Launch Party
Time for another launch party in the lair! UNRAVELING THE PAST, my latest book for Superromance, and the first story in The Truth about the Sullivans trilogy, is available now. Yay! Here’s the back cover copy:
How do you work for a guy who took the job you wanted? Every time Captain Layne Sullivan runs into Chief Ross Taylor, she struggles with that issue. It doesn’t help that he’s a by-the-book cop who expects everything done his way. It also doesn’t help that he’s hot. Ignoring that little fact is impossible–she’s tried!
Then Layne’s world is turned upside down when human remains are discovered…and the case has a personal connection. Suddenly she’s glad Ross is so thorough, because he’ll get to the truth. And his search brings them closer, fueling the attraction that’s out of control. As secrets and lies from the past surface, Layne’s biggest challenge is fighting for a future – with Ross in it.
And this is the Dear Reader letter I wrote for UTP:
Writers are often asked where we get our ideas. The truth is, I have no clue how I come up with my stories. Sometimes it’s from something I see on TV, others it’s a line or two from a newspaper article or even lyrics from a song. All I know is that my books usually start with a character, one who grabs my attention, who has some fatal flaw they need to get past or an emotional wound that needs healed. Once I have that character in mind, I focus on writing a story that pushes them to grow and change and earn their Happily Ever After.
It wasn’t that way with The Truth About The Sullivans trilogy. As a matter of fact, the premise for all three stories came from one simple quote: The truth will set you free.
It’s a simple concept, but also one that can be very powerful. At least, that’s what I found out when I wrote these stories. I had to know what would happen if three sisters discovered their mother, the woman they’d thought had abandoned them, had actually been murdered.
The answers surprised me. For Layne Sullivan, the eldest daughter and heroine of Unraveling the Past, discovering what really happened to her mother meant a complete reevaluation of everything she’d always believed. It also meant facing some hard truths about herself, the resentments she’s held onto all these years and her ability to forgive—others and herself.
Writing three books based on this one idea challenged me and (I like to think) helped me grow as a writer. But one thing didn’t change – my commitment to making my characters as ‘real’ to my readers as they are to me *g*
(If you’re interested in a couple of quick excerpts of UTP, eHarlequin has one up here: http://www.harlequin.com/store.html?itemid=26025&cid=416 And I have one up on my site here: http://bethandrews.net/unraveling-the-past/)
Since the trilogy is all about the truth, I’m wondering what you would choose: Truth? Or dare? Anyone picked dare only to wish they’d chosen truth? One commenter will win a copy of UNRAVELING THE PAST!
