Lucy Monroe's Blog, page 55
May 16, 2012
May 15, 2012
May Retro Release!
Watch Over Me Book 4 in The Goddard Project series
Trade PaperbackKensington Brava - June 2009ISBN-10: 0758229178ISBN-13: 978-0758229175
MISSION: IRRESISTIBLE
Super spy Mykola Chernichenko comes from a family of geniuses, and though he's no idiot himself, he'd rather be where the action is than analyze it to death. That's why his vacation has just been cut short by a call to get two of his siblings out of some serious trouble—while protecting a nerdy scientist who's latest project could change the world...and get her killed.
The guy who'd rather act than think guarding an egghead in a lab coat? Myk would appreciate the irony more if he weren't so busy trying to figure out how, exactly, to get under said lab coat. Because Lana Ericson just happens to be the hottest thing working the scientific method since, well, ever. Myk has a feeling Lana's laser-like focus would translate to something equally intense in the bedroom. And if she's as curious about him, Myk might just be willing to donate his body to science—each and every night...
Buy the book.
Contest Question:Please leave your answer in the comment section. Winners will be announced on Saturday. If you leave your email address in your comment I will contact you regarding the prize otherwise you may check back on Saturday to see if you are the winner and email me.
Kate Davies had a great interview posted last week on my blog. She talked about her
involvement in my Reader Fitness Challenge. What was the reason Kate explained for
getting involved with the challenge?
May 12, 2012
Weekly Contest Winners
Weekly Contest Winners!(Happy Mother's Day Weekend)
Watch Over Me
Congratulations CrystalGB you will receive a copy of Lucy's Monroe's Watch Over Me. Please email me with your name and address so I can get your prize in the mail.
52 Weeks of Romance from Lucy
Congratulations CatsMeow you will receive a copy of Lucy's Monroe's book Annabelle's Courtship. Please email me with your name and address so I can get your prize in the mail.
May 11, 2012
Guest Blog with Kate Davies
Q and A with Kate Davies
From food to fiction, Kate likes things spicy! She writes award-winning, bestselling contemporary romances available in both e and print format. When she isn’t writing about strong, sexy men and women, she enjoys cheering on her kids at sports, music, and academics, reading great books, spending far too much time on social media, and hanging with her hero husband. She’s also a fan of alliteration.
How did you get started writing romance?When my second child was born, we had just moved to a new city for my husband’s job, and we’d decided I would stay home with the kids. I was a bit lonely, a bit homebound, and more than ready for a challenge. So with two kids ages two and under, I decided it was the perfect time to write a novel. And though my previous attempts at writing had been in science fiction/fantasy, I chose to target romance.I searched for writer’s groups on the internet and discovered that Romance Writers of America had a chapter in a city about 20 minutes from where I lived. So I drove up to the next chapter meeting and kind of hung around the fringes watching everyone else. Within moments, a cheerful brunette bounced over and introduced herself, asked about me, introduced me around, and pretty much made me feel right at home. It was, of course, Lucy, who is like that with everyone. Because of her welcoming nature, I ended up joining the group, which was the best thing that could have happened to my infant writing career. I’ll always be grateful.
Why did you decide to participate in Lucy’s Reader Fitness Challenge?Last year, my husband decided to work on getting healthy. He cut out all fried foods, and began walking every day. Because I wanted to be supportive, I joined him in those efforts, and was exceptionally pleased to see within a few months I’d lost twenty pounds. Then, in November, I took a new job that interfered with both my exercise schedule and my dedication to healthy eating. (Candy on every desk! Treats brought in for holidays! Birthday lunches out with the crew!) Within just a couple of months, I’d gained every pound back. And this was while I was still managing to walk two miles at least four days a week.Lucy’s Challenge came along at just the right time. I’d been shocked at the weight re-gain, and determined to be more committed to my long term health. My goal in joining was to be more deliberate about what I eat, to focus on my health, and to find a support network to keep that goal in mind. So far, it’s been a great success in those areas! I’ve lost 9 pounds so far, and find myself walking past the candy dishes like little land mines all over the office. So thank you Lucy, and thanks to my awesome team!
What do you like to do in your free time? When I’m not working the day job (which I really enjoy, by the way), commuting between two cities 90 miles apart, or writing, I spend most of my free time with my family. Right now, it’s baseball/fastpitch season, and all three kids are playing again this year. And I *love* it. Nothing better than a warm summer day, a fast-paced, well-played game, and a fired-up crowd. I also love school concerts, coffee dates with my husband, reading a good book, and watching the few TV shows I can fit into my schedule.
What’s your most recent release?
Take A Chance On Me was released in print in February. Amazon
Accept no substitute…for love. The Lady Doth Protest Too Much Jessica Martin is determined to earn a permanent teaching position at Summit High School. That means hard work, dedication, and even volunteering extra time to direct the school’s Shakespeare play. Which leaves no room for romance—especially with a co-worker. She didn't factor in the school's sexy security officer and the delicious fantasies he inspires. Too Much Of A Good Thing Former cop Tom Cameron likes his job. Or he did, until the new substitute busted his orderly life right open. Now, he can’t seem to avoid her—deserted hallways, empty theaters, classrooms after dark—but he’s got too many skeletons in his closet to risk his heart again. Asking her out to distract her from the play’s, well, drama is a friendly gesture. Nothing more. The Course Of True Love Never Did Run Smooth Their chemistry could melt down the science lab, and before long they’re burning up the sheets off-campus. And uncovering raw emotions—a stark reminder that love isn’t in their curricula. When a troubled student goes over the edge, though, the need to stop a tragedy brings them right back where they started—face to face with fate. Warning: This book contains sexy encounters in classrooms, inappropriate use of school facilities, backstage shenanigans, and illicit activities on a ferryboat.
What are you working on right now?I’m thrilled to be hard at work on my first book for a new trilogy for Carina Press, out in spring 2013. It’s a sexy contemporary series set at a 10 year high school reunion, called THE GIRLS MOST LIKELY TO.
Here’s some early info:Ten years ago, they were on top of the world. But then the yearbook curse hit, and hit them hard. Kelsey, voted Most Likely To Succeed, found herself trapped by circumstances in a dead end job. Bree, voted one half of their high school’s Cutest Couple, learned the hard way that young love doesn’t always end up how you want it to. And Tess, senior year’s Life of the Party, has had zero time for fun since starting her event planning business.
But now it’s reunion time. One weekend. One hometown. One chance to break the yearbook curse and prove they really are The Girls Most Likely To…
Thanks for having me on the blog, Lucy! And thanks so much for the Reader’s Fitness Challenge!
From food to fiction, Kate likes things spicy! She writes award-winning, bestselling contemporary romances available in both e and print format. When she isn’t writing about strong, sexy men and women, she enjoys cheering on her kids at sports, music, and academics, reading great books, spending far too much time on social media, and hanging with her hero husband. She’s also a fan of alliteration. How did you get started writing romance?When my second child was born, we had just moved to a new city for my husband’s job, and we’d decided I would stay home with the kids. I was a bit lonely, a bit homebound, and more than ready for a challenge. So with two kids ages two and under, I decided it was the perfect time to write a novel. And though my previous attempts at writing had been in science fiction/fantasy, I chose to target romance.I searched for writer’s groups on the internet and discovered that Romance Writers of America had a chapter in a city about 20 minutes from where I lived. So I drove up to the next chapter meeting and kind of hung around the fringes watching everyone else. Within moments, a cheerful brunette bounced over and introduced herself, asked about me, introduced me around, and pretty much made me feel right at home. It was, of course, Lucy, who is like that with everyone. Because of her welcoming nature, I ended up joining the group, which was the best thing that could have happened to my infant writing career. I’ll always be grateful.
Why did you decide to participate in Lucy’s Reader Fitness Challenge?Last year, my husband decided to work on getting healthy. He cut out all fried foods, and began walking every day. Because I wanted to be supportive, I joined him in those efforts, and was exceptionally pleased to see within a few months I’d lost twenty pounds. Then, in November, I took a new job that interfered with both my exercise schedule and my dedication to healthy eating. (Candy on every desk! Treats brought in for holidays! Birthday lunches out with the crew!) Within just a couple of months, I’d gained every pound back. And this was while I was still managing to walk two miles at least four days a week.Lucy’s Challenge came along at just the right time. I’d been shocked at the weight re-gain, and determined to be more committed to my long term health. My goal in joining was to be more deliberate about what I eat, to focus on my health, and to find a support network to keep that goal in mind. So far, it’s been a great success in those areas! I’ve lost 9 pounds so far, and find myself walking past the candy dishes like little land mines all over the office. So thank you Lucy, and thanks to my awesome team!
What do you like to do in your free time? When I’m not working the day job (which I really enjoy, by the way), commuting between two cities 90 miles apart, or writing, I spend most of my free time with my family. Right now, it’s baseball/fastpitch season, and all three kids are playing again this year. And I *love* it. Nothing better than a warm summer day, a fast-paced, well-played game, and a fired-up crowd. I also love school concerts, coffee dates with my husband, reading a good book, and watching the few TV shows I can fit into my schedule.
What’s your most recent release?
Take A Chance On Me was released in print in February. AmazonAccept no substitute…for love. The Lady Doth Protest Too Much Jessica Martin is determined to earn a permanent teaching position at Summit High School. That means hard work, dedication, and even volunteering extra time to direct the school’s Shakespeare play. Which leaves no room for romance—especially with a co-worker. She didn't factor in the school's sexy security officer and the delicious fantasies he inspires. Too Much Of A Good Thing Former cop Tom Cameron likes his job. Or he did, until the new substitute busted his orderly life right open. Now, he can’t seem to avoid her—deserted hallways, empty theaters, classrooms after dark—but he’s got too many skeletons in his closet to risk his heart again. Asking her out to distract her from the play’s, well, drama is a friendly gesture. Nothing more. The Course Of True Love Never Did Run Smooth Their chemistry could melt down the science lab, and before long they’re burning up the sheets off-campus. And uncovering raw emotions—a stark reminder that love isn’t in their curricula. When a troubled student goes over the edge, though, the need to stop a tragedy brings them right back where they started—face to face with fate. Warning: This book contains sexy encounters in classrooms, inappropriate use of school facilities, backstage shenanigans, and illicit activities on a ferryboat.
What are you working on right now?I’m thrilled to be hard at work on my first book for a new trilogy for Carina Press, out in spring 2013. It’s a sexy contemporary series set at a 10 year high school reunion, called THE GIRLS MOST LIKELY TO.
Here’s some early info:Ten years ago, they were on top of the world. But then the yearbook curse hit, and hit them hard. Kelsey, voted Most Likely To Succeed, found herself trapped by circumstances in a dead end job. Bree, voted one half of their high school’s Cutest Couple, learned the hard way that young love doesn’t always end up how you want it to. And Tess, senior year’s Life of the Party, has had zero time for fun since starting her event planning business.
But now it’s reunion time. One weekend. One hometown. One chance to break the yearbook curse and prove they really are The Girls Most Likely To…
Thanks for having me on the blog, Lucy! And thanks so much for the Reader’s Fitness Challenge!
May 10, 2012
52 Weeks for Romance from Lucy Monroe!
Week 19's Featured BookAnnabelle's Courtship
by Lucy Monroe
E-book
Samhain Publishing - September 2007
ISBN 1-59998-539-X
Trade Paperback
Samhain Publishing - October 2008
ISBN-10: 1599987740
ISBN-13: 978-1599987743
Buy the book.
Contest Question
(Please leave your answer in the comment section. Winners will be announced on Saturday. If you leave your email address in your comment I will contact you regarding the prize otherwise you may check back on Saturday to see if you are the winner and email me.)
On Monday, Lucy posted a little extra about writing Annabelle's Courtship. What was one thing she stated as her reason for loving this book so much?
May 9, 2012
May 8, 2012
May Retro Release!
Watch Over Me
Book 4 in The Goddard Project series
Trade PaperbackKensington Brava - June 2009ISBN-10: 0758229178ISBN-13: 978-0758229175
MISSION: IRRESISTIBLE
Super spy Mykola Chernichenko comes from a family of geniuses, and though he's no idiot himself, he'd rather be where the action is than analyze it to death. That's why his vacation has just been cut short by a call to get two of his siblings out of some serious trouble—while protecting a nerdy scientist who's latest project could change the world...and get her killed.
The guy who'd rather act than think guarding an egghead in a lab coat? Myk would appreciate the irony more if he weren't so busy trying to figure out how, exactly, to get under said lab coat. Because Lana Ericson just happens to be the hottest thing working the scientific method since, well, ever. Myk has a feeling Lana's laser-like focus would translate to something equally intense in the bedroom. And if she's as curious about him, Myk might just be willing to donate his body to science—each and every night...
Buy the book.
Contest Question:Please leave your answer in the comment section. Winners will be announced on Saturday. If you leave your email address in your comment I will contact you regarding the prize otherwise you may check back on Saturday to see if you are the winner and email me.
Did you see Serena Zane's post last Friday? She shared a little of her journey to becoming an author. What is one story she has published prior to her latest release Dark Diamonds?
May 7, 2012
Writing Annabelle's Courtship
Annabelle's Courtship is this week's giveaway in my 52 Weeks of Romance, I thought it would be fun to reflect a little bit on how exciting it was to write that book for the sake of writing.
Is there anything sexier than a super studly, oh so stubborn Scottish laird? I sure didn’t think so when I was writing Annabelle’s Courtship. The thing is I had so much fun with that book, writing it just for me. Not for a deadline, not for a particular publisher, just because I’d dreamt up these characters and could no more hold back from telling their story than I could from breathing. Writing is like that for me, absolutely necessary.
I never realized how much so until some health issues made it difficult to concentrate on my stories. I’m not a super nice person when I don’t write and I’ve got a husband and family who will verify that for you without blinking an eye. They will also verify that to interrupt me when I’m writing the black moment is a very bad thing, but Hubcap doesn’t mind the consequences of certain types of scenes and I’m sure you know what they are. Ai, ai, ai…did I really say that?
But the truth? There were times writing Deal With This that I laughed out loud and man, my family appreciated that mood. Hubcap also got some special time ‘cuz you know Alan and Jillian are a bit flamboyant and theories have to be tested and all that. But I’m not just talking about gasp…can I say it…sex…I’m talking about emotion.
You’ve no idea how many discussions I’ve had with my own wonderful alpha hubby over a hero’s motivations and actions. Ian from Annabelle’s Courtship and Alan from Deal With This are no exceptions. I won’t tell you which one he identified with most easily, but I will say that many things may change over history, but certain truths about alpha men are not on that list.
Here's a question for you, it is obvious that when I'm writing, my mood tends to be brighter. How is your mood affected by your job? Are you doing what you love or does your job put you in a bad mood?
Is there anything sexier than a super studly, oh so stubborn Scottish laird? I sure didn’t think so when I was writing Annabelle’s Courtship. The thing is I had so much fun with that book, writing it just for me. Not for a deadline, not for a particular publisher, just because I’d dreamt up these characters and could no more hold back from telling their story than I could from breathing. Writing is like that for me, absolutely necessary.I never realized how much so until some health issues made it difficult to concentrate on my stories. I’m not a super nice person when I don’t write and I’ve got a husband and family who will verify that for you without blinking an eye. They will also verify that to interrupt me when I’m writing the black moment is a very bad thing, but Hubcap doesn’t mind the consequences of certain types of scenes and I’m sure you know what they are. Ai, ai, ai…did I really say that?
But the truth? There were times writing Deal With This that I laughed out loud and man, my family appreciated that mood. Hubcap also got some special time ‘cuz you know Alan and Jillian are a bit flamboyant and theories have to be tested and all that. But I’m not just talking about gasp…can I say it…sex…I’m talking about emotion.
You’ve no idea how many discussions I’ve had with my own wonderful alpha hubby over a hero’s motivations and actions. Ian from Annabelle’s Courtship and Alan from Deal With This are no exceptions. I won’t tell you which one he identified with most easily, but I will say that many things may change over history, but certain truths about alpha men are not on that list.
Here's a question for you, it is obvious that when I'm writing, my mood tends to be brighter. How is your mood affected by your job? Are you doing what you love or does your job put you in a bad mood?
May 5, 2012
Weekly Contest Winners
Weekly Contest Winners!
Watch Over Me
Congratulations ___________ you will receive a copy of Lucy's Monroe's Watch Over Me. Please email me with your name and address so I can get your prize in the mail.
52 Weeks of Romance from Lucy
Congratulations _____________ you will receive a copy of Lucy's Monroe's book The Sicilian's Marriage Arrangement. Please email me with your name and address so I can get your prize in the mail.
Reader Fitness Challenge - Week 4 Winners
If you are a winner, you do not have to do anything (except maybe thank your giver ). Your prize will be shipped (emailed in case of eBook) directly to the address provided on your registration form. Carolyn will be contacting prize givers with your mailing address this week.
Tammy BoyerFitness DVD by Lucy Monroe
Tisa AiKeyInvitation to Scandal by Bronwen Evans
Judy FlohrA Desperate Journey from Debra Parmley
Erin WestA Book from Kay Stockham
Sandy SeelyHer Cinderella Complex eBook from Jenna Bayle-Burke
Cindy NewlanThe Greek's Pregnant Lover from Lucy Monroe
Terms:
Prizes cannot be substituted or exchanged. If the prize is lost in the mail or customs, the giver cannot be held responsible and will not be shipping out replacement prizes.
Please do not contact me or the giver about not receiving the prize until a full thirty days have passed from today. I can't tell you the number of people who have contacted me over the years about a "lost" prize only to have it arrive the day after I asked my PA to take some of her very limited time in my office (I'm not Nora Roberts - my staff is small and all work very part-time) to look into it. Which is why I've had to follow in many other author's footsteps and institute the 30 day rule.
Congratulations to all the winners!
May 4, 2012
Guest Blogger - Serena Zane
Serena Zane lives with her husband and son in the Northwest. She works hard, and plays hard, spending her free time studying the Middle Ages in a re-creationist organization called the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc (SCA).; as well as writing her novels.Serena started writing at an early age with short stories, and poetry inspired by her mother, a strong independent woman who loves to help others, and writes as well. In 2009, Serena became a member of Romance Writer’s of America, and has been working on her craft with the wonderful members of the Olympia Chapter. Serena has written two Sweet Romance stories based around her experiences in the SCA, Moonlight in a Pickup Truck and Follow the Heart.
But, Serena fell in love with the idea of writing a contemporary action/adventure romance while she attended college to study Criminal Justice. After months of working on homework assignments late at night that made her want to turn on every light in the house, she decided it would be a great idea to take some of the ideas running through her head and commit them to paper. Combining both her knowledge of Criminal Justice and her love for all things paranormal, Serena has created several Paranormal Romance stories that have recently been published in Ebook form through Books To Go Now; and are currently available online including her best-selling Dark Warrior series and the Hunter Diaries series. She is looking forward to writing many more exciting adventures.Serena releasing her first full length novel, Dark Diamonds, book 1 in the Jewel series this weekend through SZ Publications and will be available on Amanzon.com and Barnes & Noble.com. To check out what Serena is up to via Twitter friend her @serenazane or check out her website: www.serenazane.com
