Susan Hanniford Crowley's Blog: From Nights of Passion Blog, page 255

Cover Reveal! Beleaguered ~ Book 3 of Time Enough to Love

This week I revealed my beautiful cover for Beleaguered, the third and final book in my serial novel, Time Enough to Love.  So of course I wanted to share it with all the Nights of Passion readers as well.

Here’s the blurb for Beleaguered:

When death holds sway in the world, can even the greatest love survive?

Finally in France, Alyse and Thomas return to their roles as courtiers to Princess Joanna. Their passion for one another continues to smolder hot and deep—until one fateful encounter changes everything.

During a formal banquet, Alyse must share an intimate dance with Geoffrey, her first love. His searing touch proves Alyse’s love and desire for him is as strong as when they first met. Tormented by this revelation, Alyse is bitterly torn between the love of her life and her love for her husband.

Into this agonizing situation, the disaster of the Black Death rears its head, decimating the princess’s retinue and threatening all their lives. Alyse, Thomas and Geoffrey must try to save the princess from the ravening disease but at a dire cost to themselves. With her world plunged into chaos, Alyse struggles with her feelings for both of the men she loves. But which love will survive?

Beleaguered is set to release on July 11, 2014.  I’m so excited!  I hope you’ll be there for the release party!  And if you’d like to know the story from the beginning, Books 1 & 2, Betrothal and Betrayal are currently available on Amazon.

Next week I’ll be reporting from my annual Writer’s Retreat sponsored by my local RWA chapter, Chesapeake Romance Writers, about the virtues of a group writing retreat.  There really is strength in numbers!

Have a happy Memorial Day and a productive writing/reading week!

Filed under: Beleaguered, Jenna Jaxon, Promotion

Return from RT in New Orleans

I have so much to say and so much to show about Romantic Times Booklovers Convention.  It was in New Orleans this year and I’ve always wanted to go back to New Orleans.  I was in the French Quarter at the Marriot on Canal Street.  RT is the ultimate readers convention for the readers of romance.  Everyone gets piles of free books and swags, there are contests, and hunts, workshops, panels, author chats, a giant book signing and loads of parties.  I want to thank Gerri Brousseau for her photos and Sage Spelling for her photo of the Soul Mate Publishing Event.  My technology failed me - iphone camera, camera, and netbook mid convention.  Here is a collection of the excitement that is RT.

 

I personally found Mardi Gras World where they store the floats for Mardi Gras fascinating.   I didn’t take enough photos there.  The first photo is of Gerri Brousseau who took a lot of photos for me.  The next one is me. I’m wearing the oversized shirt that has the cover of my new print book Vampire King of New York on it.  The picture of me with the dragon was at Heather Graham’s wonderful masquerade. I want to thank Romantic Times Booklovers Convention for making me a garlic free dinner at this banquet. The next photo is of the Soul Mate Publishing event “Paranormal and Magic in New Orleans”. The room was filled with people getting psychic readings, tarot card and Ouija board readings.  I heard the Ouija board said one Soul Mate author we will not mention will be getting married again.  That is me sitting on the floor while waiting in line for the masquerade.  I will have to do a close up photo of my mask.  It was a masterpiece.  The Jazz band played at Mardi Gras World and I could not help but take photos of more figures of the famed figures there.

Next week I will share a special meeting.

-Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

Vampire King of New York, now in print as well as ebook at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Filed under: romance

Release day: Reflection

The Perfect Blend of Romance and Suspense

 

I love writing and reading romantic suspense because not only does the suspense provide instant tension in a story, I love the push-pull-tug-of-war of romance.

Will the hero and heroine get together?

Will they overcome the conflict and live happily ever after?

In my debut romantic suspense, REFLECTION ( A Whitney Steel Novel ), my heroine, reporter Whitney Steel is investigating an alleged human cloning project when she meets up with the hero, undercover FBI Agent Blake Neely, who is searching for his own answers. Everything from this point on focuses on Blake and Whitney discovering whether or not the villain has produced the world’s first cloned human.

The relationship between the hero and heroine evolves because of the suspense.

So what is the perfect blend of romance and suspense? In my opinion — a kick-ass heroine, a hot FBI agent, sizzling romance, murder, and lots and lots of mayhem!

Blurb

Florida investigative reporter, Whitney Steel, has lived in the shadow of her legendary father long enough. To prove herself she needs to find the “Big” story. She found it. Now it may kill her. After receiving a lead pointing to the world’s first cloned human, now a small child, Whitney vows to unravel the truth. However, sifting through the facts proves to have dangerous results, including death threats and murder. When she’s nearly killed, but is saved by undercover FBI Special Agent, Blake Neely, he refuses to let her get in the way of his own objective — at least not right away. Caught in a lethal game between a billionaire obsessed with genetic perfection, his hit man’s thirst for retribution, and a Colombian drug lord fresh out of prison determined to make Blake pay for his twin brother’s death over a decade ago… Can they save an innocent child before it’s too late? Faced with tough choices, with deadly consequences for many — Whitney soon realizes that sometimes a story becomes more than just a story.

Amazon:  www.amazon.com/Kim-Cresswell/e/B00B5LKAXA

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/kim-cresswell

 

Reflection is a deeply emotional romantic suspense that starts bold and holds you captive to the very end.” —New York Times Bestseller, Dianna Love

“Action packed from page one…an impressively laid out passionate thrill ride!” — InD’Tale Magazine ( http://www.indtale.com )

“I was looking forward to reading about Whitney and Blake. I anticipated a Booth and Bones relationship (from the Bones TV Series) and I wasn’t wrong…this book is definitely worth reading.” — Quality Reads UK Book Club

 

About the Author

 

Kim Cresswell resides in Ontario, Canada. Trained as a legal assistant, Kim has been a story-teller all her life but took many detours including; working in legal and adult education before returning to her first love, writing.

Her debut romantic suspense, REFLECTION, has won numerous awards: RomCon’s 2014 Readers’ Crown Finalist (Romantic Suspense),  InD’tale Magazine 2014 Rone Award Finalist (Suspense/Thriller), UP Authors Fiction Challenge Winner (2013), Silicon Valley’s Romance Writers of America (RWA) “Gotcha!” Romantic Suspense Winner (2004) and an Honourable Mention in Calgary’s Romance Writers of America (RWA) The Writer’s Voice (2006).

LETHAL JOURNEY was a finalist in RomCon’s 2014 Readers’ Crown and From the Heart Romance Writers (FTHRW) Golden Gate Contest (2003).

Her action-packed suspense and thrillers have been highly praised by reviewers and readers. As one reviewer said, “Buckle up, Hang on tight!”

Kim recently entered the true crime writing arena. Real Life Evil – A True Crime Quickie (two short stories) was published in January 2014. You can read her latest true crime stories in Serial Killer Quarterly, a new quarterly e-magazine published by Grinning Man Press.

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Kim-Cresswell/e/B00B5LKAXA

Website:  www.kimcresswell.ca

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/KimCresswellBooks

Twitter:  @kimcresswell

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6898395.Kim_Cresswell

Filed under: romance

My RT Experience by Gerri Brousseau

As you know from my blog last week, I went to RT Booklover’s Convention in New Orleans last week. If you are a writer and wondering if this is an event you should attend, I would, without hesitation, say yes.

First of all, a visit to New Orleans was at the top of my “Bucket List” so I was very excited to be in this amazing city. On Tuesday I took a walk down Bourbon Street and couldn’t help but be filled with excitement when I saw this familiar land mark.

I soon discovered that authors I didn’t even know were quick to step up and say hello and invite me to join them. I made new friends from as far away as Australia.

Yes you can expect to stand in line for events, but you would do the same at Disney. Here is what I have found about RT. You will meet other writers, some of whom have achieved celebrity status, such as Lee Child, E.L. James, Heather Graham, and Charlaine Harris. I was excited to meet them and also excited to meet writers that I have been Facebook friends with for a long time, but have never met face-to-face.

The conference organizers set up quite a few events for us, such as a visit to Mardi Gras World, where the floats are stored. They took us on a wonderful Mardi Gras parade where we followed a jazz band past amazing floats and right on into a huge banquet where they served us delectable Louisiana cuisine such as Shrimp Creole and Crawfish Ettouffe right on down to Bread Pudding and Bananas Foster. Even breakfast was delightful with Eggs Benedict NOLA style, served on the most delightful crab cakes. I attended the “Saints and Sinners” party, and the wonderful Mardi Gras costume ball given by Heather Graham.

I was so proud to be part of Soul Mate Publishing who provided wonderful swag bags for us to give to our readers. The Soul Mate “Sisters” met early to stuff the bags with swag which ranged from pens to flash drives containing some of our books. The day of our Reader’s party arrived, and although we all were experiencing a case of the jitters wondering if anyone would actually attend, once the doors opened and the crowd flooded in, all worries were gone. We had an amazing turnout for our paranormal party which featured Tarot Card readings, Ouija boards and three psychics.

Another fun event planned for the authors was a Pub Crawl. Let’s just say, “What happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans.”

The workshops were informative, but the reader’s parties were where it was at. Meeting the readers made this conference so much fun.

Finally, the day of the Giant Book Signing rolled around and it was mind boggling. Some of the celeb authors mentioned above gave out wrist bands and the readers were called in batches to line up for books. It was wild.

That night Harlequin threw an amazing party to close the convention.

Even though the schedule was full, I managed to make time to get out and wander about. I saw many of the sites of the French Quarter.

If you are wondering if RT is something you should attend, I would say YES. Not only will you have a wonderful time, you will make many important contacts and be motivated beyond anything you could imagine. Next year’s RT will be in Dallas, TX. Will I be there – without a doubt. Will you?

Filed under: romance

When Is It Enough?

Title: Is it Ever Enough

I’ve recently had the opportunity to get back to reading for pleasure (although it is sprinkled in with my reading for the day job) and as one of the critters in a critique group pointed out earlier this week, it is awesome to have the opportunity to read those great authors, but they so often also highlight where we as writers may fall short. Not on purpose of course but I will say reading has changed since I’ve begun to write. I’ve become more tolerant of some things and less tolerant of others.

Still, this short exchange sparked thoughts in me and a conversation with my husband about when I’ll ever feel it is enough. When I’ve reached a level of writing that I will consider myself on par with other writers I admire. The sad answer is that I don’t know if I will ever consider myself on par with my favorites, but the silver lining in all of this is that the practicing of my craft will never end and my hopes to improve will continue with it.

To me, writing is a passion, but admittedly in its current state it is a hobby because I don’t have the time to dedicate to it full time. I’ve debated on whether I would still have this hunger to keep growing and improving if it wasn’t a hobby and I hope the answer would be yes but until I’ve stepped in those shoes I won’t completely know. Either way, for now I know I want to get better and as such I must keep challenging myself, pushing the envelope with my scenes, asking myself if there is enough conflict or description and deepening my world building and characters’ personalities.

What about you writers out there? Will you ever be on par with those you admire? What do you do to keep that fire lit beneath you?

Happy Writing this week!

Filed under: Toni Kelly, What inspires you?, Writer's Life