Margery Scott's Blog, page 6
November 16, 2013
Spotlight Saturday – Loving the Earl by Sharon Cullen
Welcome to Spotlight Saturday, a new feature on my blog. Each week, I’ll spotlight a book that I’ve either read and enjoyed or is in my TBR pile.
Title: Loving the Earl
Author: Sharon Cullen
Genre: Historical romance
Description:
In Sharon Cullen’s sizzling novel of scandal and seduction, a headstrong beauty is pursued across Europe by London’s most notorious rake.
Having vowed never to wed again, widowed viscountess Claire Hartford is about to do the unthinkable: travel unaccompanied across the continent in search of a lover. Her adventure begins sooner than expected, when she meets a magnificent cloaked stranger on her ship’s gangplank. He is Lord Blythe, a man whispered about in London’s ballrooms and drawing rooms, a scandalous rogue hell-bent on seduction.
Nathan Ferguson curses the day he agreed to look out for his best friend’s wayward sister. The charismatic earl is traveling to Paris to uncover the truth behind his father’s death, but his desire for Claire threatens to be his undoing. From France to Italy, on a journey of passionate discovery and danger, Nathan is honor-bound to protect her—from himself most of all. What can he offer Claire? Only love, as he sets out to prove to the woman of his dreams that she belongs to him—body, heart, and soul.
Advance praise for Loving the Earl
“Loving the Earl is charming and fast-paced. It’s filled with passion, intrigue, a resourceful heroine you’ll love, and a delicious hero you’ll fall in love with. An absolute delight!”—New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jacquie D’Alessandro
“Sharon Cullen is a natural-born storyteller. Her twists and turns will keep you turning the pages.”—Margo Maguire, bestselling author of The Highlander’s Desire
“With its bad-boy hero and spunky heroine, Sharon Cullen’s Loving the Earl is sure to please readers looking for more than the typical Regency come-out story. Intrigue and romance fuse seamlessly in this adventurous romp that takes the reader from Dover to Paris to Venice and finally to a sigh-worthy happily ever after.”—Shana Galen, author of True Spies
Excerpt:
Lord Blythe leaned halfway out of the carriage to grab the door and slam it shut before he lurched to the opposite seat and collapsed into it, his chest heaving, his glare ominous.
Several heartbeats of silence passed. Claire began to fidget until she finally blurted out, “I told you I was going to escape.”
“That you did. You didn’t tell me you were going to render Marchant’s servant unconscious in the process.”
She looked away and chewed on her lip for a moment. “I thought he was you.”
Blythe barked out a laugh and ran a hand through his hair. “I have that to be thankful for at least.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “You left me locked in a room in a brothel. What did you expect me to do?”
“What any sensible woman would do. Stay there until I came to fetch you.”
Her back teeth came together and fiery anger snapped through her. “So I was to bide my time until you saw fit to finish gambling?”
“Yes.”
“I am not your luggage, my lord. I don’t sit in a closet until you decide you need me.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I put you there to keep you safe and that was not a brothel. That was Marchant’s residence.”
“You could have fooled me.”
He leaned forward. “And what would you know about brothels, my lady?”
Buy links: Amazon Barnes & Noble Random House
Author bio:
Sharon Cullen is the author of the historical romance, THE NOTORIOUS LADY ANNE, LOVING THE EARL, and PLEASING THE PIRATE (available February 2014). She’s also published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance and contemporary romance.
Her other job descriptions include chauffer, laundress, cook and mediator to her three very busy kids, her husband and two dogs. She lives in southwest Ohio with her brood although her dream is to someday retire to St. Maarten and live on the beach.
If you’d like to find out more about Sharon and her books, you can visit her website. She’s addicted to social networking so you can find her on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter. Friend her! Like her! Follow her! She’d love to hang out with you and talk about her passion—books.
The post Spotlight Saturday – Loving the Earl by Sharon Cullen appeared first on Margery Scott.
November 14, 2013
Friendship and Family, with Virginia Kelly (with Rafflecopter giveaway)
I’m excited to have my new friend and fellow Entangled Ignite author Virginia Kelly on my blog today. Virginia’s latest book, In the Arms of a Stranger, has just been released and is available at all major e-tailers.
Here’s a little about Virginia:
An RWA Golden Heart® finalist, Virginia Kelly’s first book was published as To the Limit and finaled in several contests such as the Holt Medallion, The Golden Quill and The Aspen Gold.
Virginia has always loved adventure novels, but romance is at the core of her stories—romance with the adrenalin rush of danger. Against the Wind, a full-length novel, and Dancing in the Dark, the prequel novella to In the Arms of a Stranger, are about dangerous men and the adventurous women willing to take a chance on them.
Traveling is a passion that came early in life. Her first airplane ride was a trip over the Andes Mountains in Peru at the ripe old age of two months. Her travels provide the settings for her novels, whether it’s a fictitious Latin American country based on Peru, the country of her birth, or Florida and the American South where she now lives.
A graduate of the University of Alabama with a master’s degree in Library Science, Virginia is an academic librarian. She tries to include a librarian in all of her books as either the heroine or as a minor character. Having taught high school and college, she has a great appreciation for teachers and often uses that as the profession for her heroines.
Welcome, Virginia. The blog is yours. Take it away!
Friendship and Family: a Novella and a Novel
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, most of us start thinking about friends and family and reunions. We reach out and make plans in an effort to connect over good food, memories and thanksgiving. But what about friends and family in fiction?
When I wrote IN THE ARMS OF A STRANGER, my latest release, I created characters whose backgrounds didn’t all fit into the book. Friends and family are left out for purpose of moving the story along. It’s clear that Abby Price, the heroine, has a brother and friends. We meet them, if only briefly. My hero, JP Blackmon, also has a family and friends; they just didn’t fit into the story.
As I developed JP, my ex-soldier turned CIA operative, into a full-fledged character, I had questions. Why did JP join the Army? What or who started him on that journey? The answer was a friend from his home town.
I grew curious about this friend. As I sat by my window one very rainy day, I “met” Matt Kincaid. Matt and JP were close even though Matt’s a bit older, so it was natural for JP to follow Matt into the Army. Suddenly, I had to write Matt’s story. I write romance so I had to have a heroine for Matt. Well, if JP and Matt were friends, what about JP’s family? He has two sisters. One, Janey, fit the bill perfectly. She’s had a long-time crush on Matt who was going to take her to senior prom. Problem: he was called up and had to leave. Like JP, Matt moved from the Army to the CIA. When he did come home for visits, he kept his relationship with Janey friendly. He decided that his life and job simply wouldn’t be good for her.
When Janey learns that JP is missing, she decides to confront Matt to ask if he can help her find out what’s happened. She waits for him when he returns from an overseas operation. Under normal circumstances, Matt would have explained that there was nothing he could do and would have sent her home. But fate intervened.
Remember, I’m sitting by my window watching it rain as I wrote the story. There’s a flooding rain in my characters’ hometown, too. So now, Matt and Janey are trapped together. She’s stronger and more determined than Matt ever imagined. He can’t tell her much about her missing brother, but before he knows it, he’s giving her that prom night they missed. And their long simmering attraction explodes in DANCING IN THE DARK.
IN THE ARMS OF A STRANGER completes the story arc of the question raised in DANCING IN THE DARK: what happened to JP Blackmon? In a way, the stories complete each other, complete the circle of friendship between JP and Matt.
And isn’t that what friends and family do? They allow us to get together, to rehash old stories, tell new ones, and complete the circle that is made up of family and friends. I wish you, your family and friends happy memories.
In the Arms of a Stranger
A dangerous man on the run…
Wounded and accused of treason, CIA operative JP Blackmon is on the run from his own agency and desperate to clear his name. When he finds out his old partner is dead, he’ll do anything to get to the truth…including using his partner’s widow.
Finds a vulnerable woman looking for answers…
Abby Price wanted nothing more than a family and a safe home. But her late husband kept big secrets from her—secrets that got him killed and has government agents watching her every move. And she’s started fearing for her life. The only man who can help her is a mysterious stranger who suddenly appears out of nowhere. But can she trust him?
Together they discover a passion worth dying for.
As danger stalks them at every turn, unexpected passion flares between JP and Abby. But the last thing either wants or needs is more complications. Romance? No. Way. That would involve trust—something neither is willing to do. But in the end, sharing their deadly secrets is their only hope for survival…their only hope to hold onto the love they’ve just begun to share…
Excerpt:
“Is JP your real name?”
He smiled, and she realized she hadn’t seen one of his real smiles before. This one lit up his face, made his eyes laugh. There was devilment in the smile. “I don’t know you well enough to tell you that yet.”
Yet?
The look of him, the timbre of his voice, as if he really would know her well enough to—
Her breath caught. She couldn’t look away. That well?
She wanted to frown, to be outraged. But his eyes… Good heavens, his eyes. Everything about him, from his short dark hair, to his smile, to his broad shoulders, he was all captivating male.
Instead, she laughed. It was a totally unexpected reaction. She’d never reacted to anyone the way she did to JP. If that was his name…
And what came out of her mouth next was a total surprise. “When do you think you will?”
In the Arms of a Stranger is available from Amazon
Barnes&Noble and iBooks
Thanks so much for spending this time with me, Virginia.
You can learn more about Virginia and her books here:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest
Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!!!
The post Friendship and Family, with Virginia Kelly (with Rafflecopter giveaway) appeared first on Margery Scott.
November 12, 2013
Why should you read romance? Ask Eve Devon
Please help me welcome fellow Entangled Publishing author Eve Devon to my blog today. Eve’s lastest book, The Waiting Game, is available now at all major e-tailers.
Eve, the blog is yours! Take it away!
Margery, thank you for having me on your blog today. Here’s a little bit about me to introduce myself to your lovely readers:
I write sexy heroes, sassy heroines & happy ever afters…
Growing up in locations like Botswana and Venzuela gave me a taste for adventure; my love for romances began when my mother shoved one into my hands in a desperate attempt to keep me quiet during TV coverage of the Wimbledon tennis finals!
As an adult, still hooked on romance and mysteries, I worked in a library to conveniently continue consuming books by the bucketload, until realising I was destined to write contemporary romance and romantic suspense myself.
I’m now happily settled in the UK, a book-devouring, slightly melodramatic, romantic fiction-writing sassy heroine with my very own hero husband.
The Benefits of Reading Romance
by Eve Devon
There are so many great reasons to love reading romance. From picking one up to read as an escape from our super-busy, often-fraught lives to making it a treat for surviving those super-busy, often-fraught lives! Also great is that they come in a variety of genre to suit our mood.
Whether you like your romance steamy or sweet, served up with a slice of historical accuracy, or set on a spaceship bound for a distant planet, romance novels are really only about one thing: navigating a relationship.
I’ve been reading romance from the age of eleven and during the (I’d like to say two but unfortunately it’s closer to three!) decades that I’ve been reading them, I’ve come across a lot of naysayers. Some of whom have been keen to point out that reading romance leads a person to unrealistic expectations of love—that people who read them get caught up in chasing after a Happy Ever After that doesn’t exist.
Well, I think the complete opposite! I’ve yet to meet a person who has read romance from an early age who doesn’t have an extremely realistic understanding of romance, love and relationships.
Because no matter if you’re reading about cowboys in the outback, billion dollar boardroom negotiators, life and death hostage situations or bone-chilling and shape-shifting/vampire romance, the relationship between hero and heroine is never as straightforward as girl meets boy, they fall in love and live happily ever after.
These books demonstrate characters having to work hard to get their relationship. They have to overcome obstacles and learn to compromise. They have to face their flaws and then they have to open their heart and take a risk on another person. Nothing easy about any of that, right?
What you take from reading these books is the knowledge that if you want a romantic relationship to work in real life, you are required to do the same!
The human element of two people interacting and navigating their romance is the realistic part—the part I find enthralling. Any exotic setting or fictional world is just extra fun.
Writing romance is just as much fun. Discovering my hero and heroine’s reaction to each other within the situation I have placed them in is fantastically exciting and getting to share that journey with readers is incredibly rewarding.
In my debut romance The Waiting Game, the hero and heroine definitely have their fair share of obstacles to overcome in order to be together. But as they face the worst of themselves it is courage they need to show them a way forward.
Blurb:
Five years ago a madman stalked her. Kidnapped her. Tattooed her.
When security expert Cameron Dexter—the man Brooke Bennett once loved—appears unexpectedly at her door with terrifying news, the former musician discovers she can no longer hide from her past. After five years, her vicious kidnapper is out of prison and on the hunt—for Brooke.
Now he’s returned to complete his art.
Cam failed to protect Brooke once before. Now he’d rather die than let her be captured. With her life at stake, Cam vows to keep her hidden and safe. Brooke, however, is done with running. Unlike Cam, she wants to stand and fight. Emotions both old and new roil between them, but addressing their heated past must wait. Together they set a trap in London to catch a killer.
But they soon discover the enemy wears many faces…
And waiting is no longer an option.
Buy links:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CK55RFG
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-waiting-game-eve-devon
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-waiting-game
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-waiting-game/id642292747
Where you can find me:
Website: www.EveDevon.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EveDevonAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EveDevon
Thanks so much for visiting with me today, Eve. Wishing you the best of luck with The Waiting Game.
The post Why should you read romance? Ask Eve Devon appeared first on Margery Scott.
November 11, 2013
Remembrance Day/Veterans Day
This was forwarded to me in an email, so rather than forward it to my friends, I decided to post it here. I don’t know who the original owner is, but I’d like to thank him/her for this message. It’s a shame we only think of these brave men and women one day a year.
It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.
It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the VETERAN not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.
It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.
It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.
It is the VETERAN
who salutes the Flag,
It is the VETERAN
who serves under the Flag,
ETERNAL REST GRANT UNTO THEM, O LORD,
AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.
We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.
God Bless them all!
The post Remembrance Day/Veterans Day appeared first on Margery Scott.
October 31, 2013
It’s Nano Eve with Catherine Chant
Are you ready? No? And furthermore, you’ve never even heard of Nano? Well, you’re in luck. Author Catherine Chant is here today to tell you all about it.
Thanks for stopping by, Catherine. The blog is yours.
Prepping for NaNoWriMo
by Catherine Chant
NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is a 30-day challenge to write 50,000 words. Participating can be a lot of fun, even if you don’t make the 50K word count. I haven’t “won” the challenge yet, but I’ve made progress on several projects over the years just by joining in the fun. Last year I managed about 25K in a new manuscript that I’d been dragging my feet on, so I considered that a great success!
They call NaNo a challenge for a reason. Keeping up the momentum to write over 1000 words every day for 30 days can be exhausting, but it’s not impossible to get 10,000 or 20,000 or even the whole 50,000 words on paper if you do a little planning or “pre-writing” in the days leading up to November 1.
Don’t worry, this isn’t cheating. 
You aren’t writing your book. You’re making plans for what you want to write. Here’s a short list of what you want to have in mind when you set out to tell a story. I cover several more items in my workshop “Avoid the Rough: Turning Your Story Idea Into a Workable Plot,” (Nov 3-22, 2013 at OIRWA, http://www.oirwa.com/forum/campus/#NOV4), but this is a good starting point going into the NaNoWriMo challenge.
1.) You need a main character. Seems obvious, but it’s important to flesh out this character a little bit before you start writing. How else will you know what she’ll do in a particular situation? You don’t need to know her life’s story or what she likes for breakfast or even have a name yet, but you do need a sense of what makes her interesting and unique. Why? Because your main character is a major portal into the story. If you place an interesting character on page one, you’ll grab the reader.
So what makes a character interesting? Think about the people you find interesting. For starters, it’s usually not about the looks so forget hair color and eye color. That’s superficial, unless it’s crucial to the plot (ie: Legally Blonde wouldn’t have made sense with a brunette in the lead). Instead, it’s what’s inside you should focus on. Think about personality traits, quirks, unusual professions or interests your character is involved with. Try to play against stereotypes and gender roles. Try for something unexpected.
A girl in a futuristic world who hunts with a bow and arrow to keep her family alive, a teen who can shoot lasers from his hands but has trouble navigating his first crush, the daughter of a fake spiritualist who can talk to ghosts but wants no part in the family séance business. If you’ve read The Hunger Games, Gone or Haunting Violet, these main characters may sound familiar. What they don’t sound is ordinary. So try to find something exceptional about your main character that you can build on in the story.
2.) That character must want something. One of the ways you can help flesh out your main character and find those out-of-the-ordinary characteristics that help her stand out is to think about what your character wants over the course of the story. Maybe just start with asking what does she want out of life?
Katniss Everdeen wants to survive the Hunger Games and keep her family safe. Sam Temple wants to figure out why everyone over the age of 15 disappeared from his hometown. Violet wants out of the phony séance business and to live an honest life.
When you have a character’s goal in mind, it can help you brainstorm the type of person who will be most challenged in going after such a goal. Which leads to the third most important thing you need to start you story.
3.) Something stands in the way. Conflict. This is what will drive your story forward and keep the reader turning the pages. You don’t want your main character to get what she wants too easily or the story will be boring. Challenges, setbacks and obstacles make for tension-filled reading. Will she make it? Will she get the prize?
So as you’re thinking about your main character’s story goal, also think about who or what stands in the way. For Katniss it’s the games themselves, the other competitors, but also the Capitol who runs everything. For Sam it’s the evil force behind the FAYZ, as well as a group of violent kids who want to rule everyone else. For Violet it’s her mother, her situation in life/the time period/expectations of Victorian society, and confusion about her psychic gifts.
Once you have a character, a goal and conflict in mind, it will be much easier to brainstorm different scenes that make up your story. For example, when you think about the character, think about ways in which you can “show” who that character is to the reader through different situations. When you think about the character’s goal, think about the steps the character needs to take to reach the goal. What sort of actions might that character take? What sort of events will challenge the character and give you conflict?
And speaking of challenges, don’t look at NaNoWriMo as a 50,000-word insurmountable goal. Instead, take it scene by scene and day by day. Those small word counts add up. Even if you don’t make the 50,000, you’ll still make progress and will be moving forward on your project if you do a little bit at a time. Isn’t that what’s most important?
Thanks so much for the tips, Catherine. Doing as much planning for Nano as possible makes the challenge so much easier.
Catherine’s books are available here:
Wishing You Were Here: http://www.amazon.com/Wishing-Were-Here-Soul-Mates-ebook/dp/B00AG15MJC
Pursued by Evil: http://www.amazon.com/The-Vampire-Diaries-Pursued-Novella-ebook/dp/B00G7OVSZ4
Here’s a little about Catherine:
Catherine Chant is an RWA Golden Heart® finalist and the author of the young adult time travel romance WISHING YOU WERE HERE (Soul Mates #1) as well as the Kindle Worlds Vampire Diaries novella “Pursued by Evil,” available now at Amazon.com. She teaches multiple online writing classes each year for RWA chapters and other writing organizations. You can learn more about Catherine at her website or connect with her via Twitter or Facebook.
I’m off now to get my coffee and start plotting. Anyone want to join me?
The post It’s Nano Eve with Catherine Chant appeared first on Margery Scott.
October 27, 2013
Release Day – Her Rocky Mountain Guardian
I’m so excited to announce the release of my first book from Entangled Publishing, a short romantic suspense entitled Her Rocky Mountain Guardian.
An unforgivable disappearance…
Four years ago, Jennie Brooks and Sheriff Brae Colton were engaged to be married—then Jennie disappeared without a word.
Leads to a mysterious reunion…
Brae hated Jennie for deserting him just as they were set to begin their life together. But when he finds her badly injured in a hit and run accident on a snowy mountain road, he can’t deny the love he’s never forgotten—until she regains consciousness with no memory of her identity, or what they once shared.
Where love holds the key to everything…
Brae wants to know why Jennie’s come home. Despite everything, she’s still the woman he fell in love with in high school—the woman he’s falling for again. But when the bullets start flying, his first priority is to protect her and catch her would-be killer. And if they can’t find a way to restore her memory soon, they may both end up dead.
Buy links:
Amazon Barnes&Noble iTunes Kobo
Follow me on my blog tour – dates and locations are in the sidebar – and be sure to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway. You might be the lucky recipient of a hand-made knitted afghan or a $10 Amazon or B&N gift card.
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October 15, 2013
Guest author – Linda McLaughlin
I’m so happy to have Linda McLaughlin, author of Lady Elinor’s Escape, on my blog today. I must admit I haven’t read many Regencies, but those I have read, I’ve enjoyed. The research, though, prevents me from even thinking about writing one
Welcome, Linda. Take it away.
The Enduring Appeal of the Regency Era by Linda McLaughlin
The Regency period has been popular with readers for some time now, I’m happy to say, since I also love the period. I was very sorry when the traditional (sweet) Regency romances disappeared from New York publishing about ten years ago, so I was happy to see the genre survive as e-books. Here are some of the reasons I love this period.
1) The Clothing. The high-waisted gowns are both simple and elegant and look relatively comfortable, unlike the tightly corseted styles of the Victorian period. No bustles, no crinolines, and not as many ruffles. The colors are subtle, in part because aniline dyes hadn’t been invented yet, so manufacturers were still limited to natural ingredients. The gentlemen’s suits were elegant without the frills and bright colors of the Georgians, but not as drab as the requisite black suit of the Victorian period. And wigs and powdered hair were thankfully out of style, except for footmen and the legal profession.
When I went on a Regency tour of England some years ago, we all got to dress up in Empire-style gowns and dance at the Bath Assembly Rooms. It was a lovely experience, and reminded me of the Assembly Room scenes in the movie version of Jane Austen’s Persuasion.
2) The Architecture. Late Georgian architecture (often called Federal style in the US) is simple yet elegant, owing its inspiration to the classical world of the Greeks and Romans, with attention paid to symmetry and proportion. I find the style both beautiful and soothing, without the clutter and fussiness favored by the Victorians.
3) The manners and witty banter. Many Regency novels fall into the “comedy of manners” category, in the style of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. This makes the books just plain fun to read, and to write.
I enjoyed researching and writing my traditional Regency romance, Lady Elinor’s Escape, though I like all historical periods.
What is your favorite period or setting for romance?
Thanks to Margery for hosting me on her blog today.
Linda McLaughlin
Lady Elinor’s Escape
by Linda McLaughlin
Sweet Regency Romance
Lady Elinor Ashworth always longed for adventure, but when she runs away from her abusive aunt, she finds more than she bargained for. Elinor fears her aunt who is irrational and dangerous, threatening Elinor and anyone she associates with. When she encounters an inquisitive gentleman, she accepts his help, but fearing for his safety, hides her identity by pretending to be a seamstress. She resists his every attempt to draw her out, all the while fighting her attraction to him.
There are too many women in barrister Stephen Chaplin’s life, but he has never been able to turn his back on a damsel in distress. The younger son of a baronet is a rescuer of troubled females, an unusual vocation fueled guilt over his failure to save the woman he loved from her brutal husband. He cannot help falling in love with his secretive seamstress, but to his dismay, the truth of her background reveals Stephen as the ineligible party.
Buy links:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00CHSNEII
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lady-elinors-escape/id645217449
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ladyelinor039sescape-1169382-160.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lady-elinors-escape-linda-mclaughlin/1100559263
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/lady-elinor-s-escape
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/312406
Here’s a little about me:
Linda McLaughlin grew up with a love of history fostered by her paternal grandmother and an incurable case of wanderlust inherited from her father. She has traveled extensively within the United States and has visited Mexico, Canada, & Australia. A lifelong dream came true with a trip to England where she was able to combine sightseeing and theater with research for her novels. A native of Pittsburgh, she now lives in Southern California with her husband.
Her first book was Worth The Risk by Lyn O’Farrell. Now Linda writes historical and Regency romance. She loves transporting her readers into the past where her characters learn that, in the journey of life, love is the sweetest reward.
Linda’s American historical, Rogue’s Hostage, is part of the Romance Super Bundle: ten full-length novels by ten authors for one low price, available at most e-book retailers.
Find me online at:
Website: http://www.lindamclaughlin.com/
Blog: http://flightsafancy.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/linda.mclaughlin.1806
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/lindamclaughlin
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont
Thanks so much for visiting, Linda. Please come back any time.
The post Guest author – Linda McLaughlin appeared first on Margery Scott.
October 7, 2013
Location, location, location – a poll
No, I’m not talking about how important location is in business and real estate. I’m talking about my new project.
Now that I’ve put the finishing touches to Zane, the last novella in the Morgans of Rocky Ridge historical western trilogy, and it’s out in the world, it’s time to choose a new project. Like most other authors I know, I have dozens of half-finished manuscripts, basic plot outlines in dozens of computer files, and tons of half-baked ideas scribbled on pieces of paper and stuffed in a drawer. They all have one thing in common. They’re all romance novels. Nothing wrong with that except that right now, I want to stretch my writing wings, to try a new genre.
So, I’ve planned out a new series. A suspense/thriller with an FBI heroine. No longing looks between the main characters. No kissing. No sex – at least not that I’m planning, but you never know
But now I need your help. All I know so far is that the main character’s name is Megan. She doesn’t even have a last name yet. She has just been promoted and is heading to a new assignment. But where? There are so many options. I’ve set up a poll. Cast your vote for where you think Megan should go. The poll will close next Sunday, October 13th, and I’ll narrow it down to the top three, then make a decision. I’ll let you know where Megan is moving to next week.
Where will Megan live and work?
Memphis, TN
Honolulu, HI
Boston, MA
Anchorage, AK
Phoenix, AZ
Los Angeles, CA
Louisville, KY
Las Vegas, NV
San Antonio, TX
Denver, CO
pollcode.com free polls
The post Location, location, location – a poll appeared first on Margery Scott.
September 26, 2013
Annie Seaton and her Dangerous Desire (with giveaway)
I’m thrilled to have Entangled Publishing author, Annie Seaton, back to my blog (see her previous visit here).
Welcome back, Annie. The blog is yours.
Margery…thanks for having me on your blog. It is a pleasure to be here.
I’d like to tell you a little bit today about my characters and how they develop. I’d love to be able to say that I am a very organized and structured writer and that my characters are well planned and well thought out as I plan the plot structure of my story.
But alas, no matter how hard I try to be a plotter and think my book out it just doesn’t work for me. I can have a plan but once I get into writing my characters take over and direct the story development and their personalities.
My stories always begin with my characters and sometimes a setting. I already have a good understanding of their motivations and their personality quirks before I begin writing. They are usually based on a combination of people I have met over my life and I take a little bit of this and a little bit of that, and throw it into the melting pot. Then my characters drive the development of the plot and their personal growth.
It may be hard for a non-writer to understand that, as they may say but the author is writing the story, but for me it is a very much a part of the creative process. It is like zoning out and becoming a part of the story.
I loved writing the development of Gracie in Dangerous Desire. I enjoyed the gradual reveal of her true character. From an innocent, dressed up as a vamp to revealing she was not so innocent after all! There are many surprises in store for the reader…and Jake the smouldering hero as well. Jake is a flawed character and we see his growth as he helps Gracie search for her missing sister.
Thanks for having me visit and I hope you enjoy reading Dangerous Desire.
Annie’s Bio
I live with my husband, and ‘Bob’ the dog and two white cats in a house next to the beach on the east coast of Australia. I sit in my writing chair, gazing at the ocean and writing stories. Our two children are grown and married and I love spending time gardening, walking on the beach and spoiling my two grandchildren. Always fascinated by all things romantic I have found my niche in life writing romance novels, ranging from contemporary to paranormal with a foray into steampunk!
Dangerous Desire is the third of nine books I have contracted with Entangled Publishing. My debut full length novel, Holiday Affair, a contemporary romance set in the South Pacific was released as part of Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence line in March 2012 and has been a best seller on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The sequel Italian Affair will be released in June 2013, followed shortly after by Outback Affair. I have more books being released in 2013 with Entangled Publishing in the Bliss, Entangled Suspense and Covet imprints.
Blurb:
A desperate search…
Schoolteacher Gracie James has never seen more danger than her seventh grade classroom, but when she goes searching for her missing sister, she’s thrown into a world of sex, crime…and passion. Following a hot lead, she sneaks onto a stranger’s boat—and gets caught. Their one-sided conversation convinces her of two things. One: the guy is seriously sexy. Two: he knows something about her sister. Oh, yeah. And did she mention he’s sexy?
Excerpt:
If the conservative parents at the little outback school where she’d taught kindergarten for the past two years could see her now, she’d probably be out of a job. Skintight, red, sparkly dress, four-inch heels, and heading for a party on a tycoon’s yacht. The butterflies in her stomach confirmed for her, she was way out of her comfort zone. Even shopping for the clothes this afternoon had made her nervous.
This was so not my scene. Not at all.
Of course, she wasn’t going to try to board the yacht and join the party just yet. She was going to check it out before she decided on her next move. Gracie swallowed and put one hand to her throat, trying to dislodge the fear stuck in there like a lump of stale bread. It was much easier dealing with snotty noses and tying shoelaces than skulking around a marina with million-dollar boats docked along each boardwalk.
Dangerous Desire has just been released this week and is available at:
Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and iTunes
Annie loves to hear from readers at: annieseaton26@gmail.com
Her website is http://www.annieseatonromance.com/
and her blog is at http://annieseaton.blogspot.com.au/
You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AnnieSeatonAuthorand Twitter
https://twitter.com/annieseaton26
Don’t forget to enter Annie’s contest (see below) or go to her blog to enter.
Thanks so much for visiting, Annie, and best of luck with your new release.
The post Annie Seaton and her Dangerous Desire (with giveaway) appeared first on Margery Scott.
September 24, 2013
Guest blog – Kim McMahill
Please help me welcome Kim McMahill, author of Shrouded in Secrets, to my blog today.
Thanks for joining me, Kim. The blog is yours. Take it away!
Embrace Adventure
Embrace Adventure – it’s the name of my blog, my goal in life, and the catalyst behind most of my writing. I grew up in Wyoming, which is where I must have developed my sense of adventure and love of the outdoors. Since leaving Wyoming I’ve enjoyed many opportunities to see the world and have lived amid some of America’s most stunning landscapes. I started out writing non-fiction, but my passion for exotic world travel, outrageous adventures, stories of survival, and happily-ever-after endings soon drew me into a world of romantic suspense. Along with writing adventure novels I have published over eighty travel and geographic articles, and contributed to a travel anthology and cookbook.
My latest undertaking is Shrouded In Secrets, and I’m so excited to finally see it in print. The book has been an intense labor of love and I truly hope that readers will agree that the results merit the years of effort. I read through mountains of material (much of which I didn’t understand not being a scientist or archeologist), encountered creative and emotional setbacks, but persevered and couldn’t be more pleased with the finished product.
The story begins with a horrifying incident in a remote jungle in Peru, launching a suspense-filled international adventure. I’ve been to all the countries visited in the book, except for Peru, though not necessarily to the specific region of each particular scene. That’s where research and creative license come into play. It’s always my goal to describe places in a manner that transports readers to a myriad of exotic locals, and as much firsthand knowledge as possible, can’t hurt. But with this novel, I also take on a larger, more complex cast of characters than ever before. I hope I have done them justice and given them the depth and relatable qualities they deserve. So, without further ado, here’s a quick taste of the adventure to come.
United by a common mission, bonded by tragedy
The massacre of an unarmed South American village, destruction of one of the greatest manmade wonders of the world, and multiple museum thefts ignite a desperate scramble to locate a deadly group of terrorists. An international team led by the ruggedly handsome, but emotionally scarred CIA agent, Cash Luker, scours the globe in an attempt to keep ahead of those striving to bring thirteen mythical relics together. As Cash’s team closes in on those responsible for the devastation he must conquer past demons in order to save the woman who has captured his heart and prevent destruction of legendary proportions.
EXCERPT
A smart and cautious man would backtrack out of the cavern and return with help and materials to shore up the ceiling before removing the parcel, but patience was not one of his virtues, and he had never been accused of being the careful sort. One hard yank and the bundle would fall, but the motion might bring the whole cavern down upon him. Whether it was just weak with age and rotted timbers, or intentionally unstable as a last hope of protecting the sacred relic, it didn’t really matter. Bottom line, Cash possessed no desire to be buried alive.
Visualizing the concern etched on Olivia’s face, he decided to play it safe for once in his life. He took one step away from the dead end, but halted as a barrage of noise penetrated the cave. Despite the distortion of the earthen walls, Cash recognized the sound of automatic gun fire, and his team hadn’t brought those types of weapons on this excursion.
Cash yanked the closest timber and caught the bundle as it fell. The ceiling groaned and rocks dislodged in a hail storm as he ran toward the first pit. He cleared the hole with room to spare, landed on his feet and kept running, hunched over. The sound of gunfire grew louder as he neared the sharp turn in the tunnel.
As soon as he rounded the corner, he was forced to lie down and shimmy forward. He pulled himself along the ground with one arm while holding his prize tight to his side with the other. He scooted past the second pit and slowed as he reached the exit. He set the bundle down, planning to retrieve it once he neutralized the threat. At the moment, he needed his hand on his gun more than the rotted leather wrap.
He was in a vulnerable position. If he just stuck his head out, it could very well get shot off, but he had to do something. Inching closer to the mouth of the cavern, the gunfire stopped, leaving an eerie quiet. He strained to hear sounds to clue him in on the situation, but silence ruled.
Suddenly the slack went out of the forgotten rope tied around his waist, tightening, forcing all the air out of his lungs, propelling him into motion. The momentum yanked him out into the daylight in a blur, dislodging his gun somewhere in the process. The speed in which he was being drug up the steep hill, across the rocks, brush, and cacti on his belly grew with each painful moment. Cash struggled to retrieve the knife from its sheath at his side, but found accomplishing the task impossible as his body bounced over the rough terrain with the rope cutting into his skin.
He abandoned all attempts to reach his blade and covered his head with his arms as he sped toward a sturdy shrub. Branches snapped and flew through the air as he scraped over the bush. Blood ran down his hands and forearms, but at least he successfully protected his skull. Fumbling, Cash finally managed to free his knife. He sawed frantically at the taut rope, realizing the mule pulling him was running full out for the lip of another steep gorge.
The ultra-strong high-tech filament line gave way, and his body skidded to an abrupt halt. He glanced up in time to see the mule disappear over the ledge, dust and rocks flying up behind frantic hooves as the terrified animal fled the danger.
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For more behind-the-scenes trivia and updates, please follow me on twitter. For information on my other adventure novels visit my website, or to Embrace Adventure, check out my blog.
Buy Links::
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Publisher
Thanks again for visiting today, Kim. Wishing you much success.
The post Guest blog – Kim McMahill appeared first on Margery Scott.
