Jan Romes's Blog, page 10

Rockin' it!

Anyone else have a thing for rocks? I didn't realize until today that I may have a rock-fetish or a mild obsession. (lol)


(In case you're wondering the plant is the start of a butterfly weed bush)



Maybe it's their strength that fascinates me, or how great they are under pressure.




I might've got carried away with the rocks. They're everywhere - outside and in the house.  




Betcha didn't know...the scientific study of rocks is petrology. (I didn't know it either)






Maybe in another life I was a geologist! (?)






Or maybe I'm just weird. (Proudly weird, that is!)




And then there's this! My not-so-subtle rock! :)




Guess what's hiding in the rhubarb?


When I'm not collecting rocks, I'm writing rockin' romance! ♥ You can check out my books at:


www.authorjanromes.com

or
My Amazon Page

What has Carol Rose been up to?

What has Carol Rose been up to?
Carol Rose
Carol Rose constantly makes me laugh on Facebook and Twitter. Her posts are sometimes snarky, sometimes steamy, sometimes delicious, and always a treat! She’s been on my blog before and I thought it was high time to bring her back to find out what she’s been up to.
Welcome, Carol!


Before I toss questions at Carol, here’s a little bit about the woman who drives the Texas highways and byways in a hot, bright yellow Honda S2000 convertible. Carol has written thirty books! She’s won numerous awards, including a final in the prestigious Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award. During the day, she’s a therapist. After hours, she can be found tapping away at her computer, creating characters and throwing them in all kinds of situations.



Now, let’s find out about those characters and situations...
Carol, you’ve been a busy gal. You've recently published your Blue Collar Boys series. Care to share the amazing cover art? 



Can you share some of your favorite passages from the books?


I love when in Smooched, our hero, Case Thompson, challenges the heroine, ER Dr. Merritt Morgan, to work with him on an architectural salvage job, so he can get to know her and judge whether she’s safe to introduce to their niece.

“Case started to say something and then stopped. He swallowed and then said in a deliberate way, “I don’t know you, Doctor. I can’t remember if Annie made her remarks about just her father or her father and you—“
Before he could finish, the woman who looked so much like his dead sister-in-law, put her flattened palm on his desk and leaned forward a little. “Then get to know me, Mr. Thompson. Give me a chance to show that I loved my sister—despite our unfortunate estrangement after our mother died—I loved Annie and I mean absolutely no harm to her child. I’m not trying to take her from you, either. Unless, you refused to let me get to know her…”
Case looked at her beautiful flushed face, getting a wonderful, evil idea. At least, he knew some people—those who didn’t have an orphaned nine year-old niece to protect—would call the idea evil.
“I’m a busy man. I don’t have time for tea parties and dinner meetings. If you want me to get to know you, you’ll have to go where I’m going.”
“I don’t mind that,” she said swiftly, straightening from his desk.
“You might not think so. I do architectural salvage, doc. I don’t work in a bank.” Case knew he sounded condescending, but the beautiful witch wasn’t going away. Tough measures were called for. He wasn’t sure if she really just wanted to get to know Kaylie or if she had a more devious agenda, but there was no way she was waltzing into Kaylie’s life without him checking her out. If he didn’t make himself available to her, maybe she’d just go away.
“I don’t care, really. I’ll hang out with you on jobs, if need be.”
Case looked at her, scanning up her body in snug, undoubtedly expensive jeans to a fine-textured jersey turtleneck shirt that clung to her shapely form.
“Lady,” he couldn’t help the laughter in his voice. “We don’t hang out on these jobs. We work.”
“Then I’ll work, too. Just get to know me, Case, because I can’t not know my sister’s child any longer.”
“You’ll go on salvage jobs? You’ll actually work.” He knew she could have no idea. “It’s dirty, doc. Really dirty.”
Stubborn determination shone from her classic features. “I know how to work. You have no idea what I face in the ER all the time. If going with you on the salvage jobs is the only way to get to know you—to prove to you that I’m not a threat to Kaylie—I’ll go on your salvage jobs.”




There are parts of writing that come easy; others, not so much. What parts give you fits? What parts seem to be a breeze?

Plotting is the biggest challenge for me and I’m kind of a stickler about getting the structure of a story right.
Characterization is way easy for me. It doesn’t take much to send my brain off running.




Bits and pieces of us show up in our characters. Is there one common trait of yours that seem to carry from character to character?


I tend toward characters that are really smart—in different ways—and I’m prone to write characters that are emotionally sensitive(Insert cheesy smile emoticon here).

Are you hard at work on another series?

I’m actually trying something really new and if I succeed with it, it will become a series. I’m writing an Amish romance, entitled Amish Renegade. I might not have ventured into the new territory, however, if I’d realized how much research it would take…




I’ve told my readers about you. I know I’ve only skimmed the surface. Can you expand on who you are – Carol Rose the wife, mother, therapist, and author? Maybe say a few words about Texas for those of us who aren’t Texans?

I know this will be heresy for some, but I’ve never really identified with the Texas character—and I was born here. (Apologies to those who love Texas heritage). I love words, however, and I love relationships. Writing romance is a natural for me. I’m fascinated by the written language. I remember waking in the night when a very young child. I then shared a bedroom with my three older brothers and so as not to wake anyone—I must have been about five—I took a book, going into a short hall where I could close the doors and turn on the lights to read.

It’s been a pleasure having you on my blog, Carol. Come back anytime.
If you’d like to follow Carol, you can find her here:





Website:  carolrosebooks.com

Blog:  carolrosebooks.com/blog

Twitter: @carolrosebooks

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/carol.rose.author

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



 

WILD GOOSE CHASE ♥

From The Wild Rose Press and Jan Romes comes...
WILD GOOSE CHASE! 





My excitement has been building the past few months in anticipation of sharing Olivia and Dezz's story with you. They're a unique couple - like-minded nerds who love the written word. You'd think their mutual interest would've drawn them together. Nope. It didn't. Instead of navigating and enjoying the familiar, they become fiercely competitive. Olivia and Dezz's troubles started in kindergarten and kept going into adulthood. Born and raised in Iowa, they take a job in the Big Apple working for Brilliance Magazine. Olivia's angst with Dezz heightens to the point of madness. In the mix is their boss, Magda Mattsin, who has had enough of their bickering. To fix their situation (or not), she sends them on a two-week road trip. Separately they're to find fourteen serendipitous things to enchant their readers. 


Did I mention there's a ton of chemistry brewing too? (Much to Olivia's dismay) And so sets the stage for plenty of conflict, humor, serious issues, and a resolution that just may give you that moment of "ahhh" when you reach The End.    


Photo courtesy of Kim Stapf

 
Wild Goose Chase  is my 20th published book! I can remember when I was desperately trying to get my bearings with book #1. Now here I am at #20. I'm grateful for my publishers, my readers, my family and friends who said 'go for it' and who match my excitement with each book, and The Lord who unlocked the potential and continues to guide me every step of the way.


In celebration, I'm giving away some great prizes: 


1 - $25 Amazon Gift Card
1 - $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
4 - $10 The Wild Rose Press Gift Cards
2 - e-copies of my very 1st book - One Small Fib
2 - e-copies of Lucky Ducks




** To enter to win, all you have to do is leave a comment saying hello or anything else you'd like to say to me (just keep it clean...*grins*). Please make sure I can find you either by leaving your email address, Twitter name, or Facebook link in case you win one of the prizes. On Monday, May 16th at 12:00 noon (Eastern Standard Time), I'll be drawing names and I will post them here. **


Thank you for being part of my excitement!! ♥♥





Photo courtesy of Kim Stapf

Here are the links to find WILD GOOSE CHASE...
The Wild Rose Press -- http://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/3817-wild-goose-chase.html?search_query=Jan+Romes&results=7
Amazon -- https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Goose-Chase-Jan-Romes-ebook/dp/B01DHAUQRQ?ie=UTF8&keywords=Wild%20Goose%20Chase&qid=1462824844&ref_=sr_1_4&sr=8-4
Barnes & Noble -- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wild-goose-chase-jan-romes/1123611430?ean=2940157863975









 

Cold Feet Fever by Maureen Fisher

Today I happily welcome author Maureen Fisher with a guest blog about her newest book - COLD FEET FEVER!






Thank you for hosting me on your blog, Jan

 

COLD FEET FEVER

A Romantic Crime Mystery with Tons of Humor


 

Secrets and Crime Have Never Been So Much Fun—or So Romantic!

 

A bad boy gambler with a lazy streak and commitment issues:

Owning Kinki, Atlantic City’s first paranormal nightclub, isn’t as easy—or as much fun—as Sam Jackson anticipated. Someone’s trying to shut him down before he opens, he’s on the verge of bankruptcy, and his matchmaking granddaddy has hired a sexy event planner with a mysterious background, bossy disposition, and criminal ties.

 

A mortician-turned-event-planner with big secrets:

A job as event planner offers single mom, Katie Deluca, her last chance to escape her past. Turns out party planning is more difficult than organizing funerals. Plus, the nightclub owner, although perfect for awakening her sensuality, couldn’t be more wrong for the stability she craves.

 

Forced to collaborate, they overcome obstacles and fight crime:

Katie is the one person who can salvage Kinki—and heal Sam’s emotional wounds. Together, they tangle with a goofy dog, exploding trucks, an unfortunate synchronized swimming episode, homicidal thugs, a corrupt building inspector, disappearing corpses, a kidnapping, and the threat of live cremation, all to deliver a kick-ass grand opening.

 

Excerpt

 

With growing desperation, Katie managed to pry her purse from Rex’s jaws. He registered his disapproval with another howl ending in an eerie, wolf-like falsetto.

She prayed the couch’s occupants were far enough along in their bliss to ignore the interruption. Purse to chest, she silently backed away. She’d reached the main office when a man’s drawl flooded her entire body with apprehension.

“Much as I hate to break the mood, darlin’, I’d better check up on Rex. I don’t trust him near the pizza.”

Before Katie could flee, or dig a hole for herself, or better still, throw herself out the window, Sam Jackson, playboy and, if she believed the Internet gossip, all-around heartbreaker strolled out of the alcove. Buttoning an amber silk shirt the same color as his eyes and wearing a Stetson, he halted and scrutinized Katie across the gleaming expanse of conference table.

The grainy newspaper photos she’d studied online didn’t come close to doing justice to his masculine glory. Everything about him screamed sexy, from that chiseled jaw and those sculpted lips, to his streaky blond hair framing a face that belonged on the big screen.

Fortunately, pretty packaging didn’t interest her in the slightest. Nope. The man was a degenerate who enjoyed booze, gambling, and women, not necessarily in that order.

As he closed in, his gaze took a long, leisurely tour of her body before settling on her mouth. He exuded a hint of cologne, all woodsy and spicy and delicious, not that she cared. Was it her imagination, or did his expression hint at amusement?

“Howdy, ma’am. I apologize if my dog scared you, but I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong office.” His voice was a little raspy, steeped in moonlight and magnolias.

Katie cleared her throat. “I’m in the right place, thank you.”

One side of his mouth kicked up a notch. “You must be here for our job fair. Try Room 204. That’s our HR department. In that outfit, you’d make a perfect Dracula’s Lair attendant.” A broad grin creased his cheeks, causing the corners of his eyes to crinkle.

“No, but thank you anyway.” Katie studied his face. “It’s obvious you didn’t touch base with your boss this morning.”

“Really? And all this time I believed I was the boss.”

 

Inspiration for Cold Feet Fever

 

I first met bad boy Sam Jackson as the younger brother of my hero in Fur Ball Fever . Sam is smokin’ hot, charming, and a serial womanizer. He’s also a deadbeat, gambler, and the bane of his brother’s existence. I enjoyed writing about Sam so much, I decided he deserved his own story. At the end of Fur Ball Fever , he buys a nightclub with his gambling winnings, triggering the premise for my next book, Cold Feet Fever.

 

What could be more fun than tormenting a player like Sam by including a woman who would drive him crazy while breaking down all his barriers? So I threw in a bossy event planner his eccentric Granddaddy Hiram (who also happens to be his business partner) hired to keep him in line. Since I delight in torturing my protagonists, I then proceeded to make Sam’s life a living nightmare by adding as many roadblocks to a happily-ever-after as I could think of.

 

About Maureen Fisher:

 

Transplanted from Scotland to Canada at the tender age of seven, I now live with my second husband in Ottawa, Ontario. After spending eons in the I.T. consulting world, I grew weary of  wearing snappy power suits, squeezing into panty hose, and fighting rush hour traffic. I made a life-changing decision—I would write books. Not dry, boring, technical treatises, but fresh, funny romantic suspense novels.

How do I spend my time? Besides writing, I'm a voracious reader and volunteer for an addiction family counseling program. In addition, I’m a bridge player, yoga practitioner, seeker of personal and spiritual growth, pickle ball enthusiast, and an infrequent but avid gourmet cook. My husband and I love to hike, bicycle, and travel. I've swum with sharks in the Galapagos, walked with Bushmen in the Serengeti, sampled lamb criadillas (don't ask!!!) in Iguazu Falls, snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef, ridden an elephant in Thailand, watched the sun rise over Machu Picchu, and bounced from Johannesburg to Cape Town in a bus called 'Marula'.

 

Where to Buy Cold Feet Fever:

 

I hope you check out Cold Feet Fever. Better still, I hope you pre-order your copy while the price is discounted.

 

Amazon:

US: http://amzn.com/B01EU99QHYCanada: http://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01EU99QHYGreat Britain: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01EU99QHYUniversal Link (all countries): http://myBook.to/CFF

Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/632653  orhttp://bit.ly/1WsD3D0

 A Paperback edition will also be available May, 2016
Maureen Fisher's Contact Information
Website: http://booksbymaureen.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaureenFisherAuthorTwitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMaureenGoodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/845094.Maureen_Fisher






















































































































































































                    








 




 




 




 

White Sheets & Rosy Cheeks by Katie Mettner

Today Katie Metter is visiting my blog. She’s a prolific writer of inspirational and romantic suspense with 20 published books under her belt. Her current work of heart – White Sheets & Rosy Cheeks – is enrolled in Amazon’s Kindle Scout program where readers can nominate it for a publishing contract. It’s a newer program so I thought it would be great to ask Katie how it works. I have a few other questions in store for her as well. 

  
Welcome, Katie!
I’m sure you can guess the first question, Katie. Can you explain Kindle Scout for those of us who know very little about it?
Sure, I’d be happy to. I would love more people to start scouting JKindle Scout is a program through Amazon that allows authors to upload their book to be ‘scouted’ by readers like you. It has to be a never before published work of 50,000 words or longer. All the major genres and sub-genres are represented at any given time.
Each “campaign” lasts for 30 days, and during that time the author needs to get as many readers to nominate your book as they can. Kindle Press (which is what Amazon’s imprint is called) is looking for marketable titles that garner a lot interest from readers during those 30 days. That is why they have the authors answer questions about their work, and they publish the first 5,000 words of the story, so the reader can get a real feel for it.
Once you find a book you are interested in nominating, you click the ‘nominate me’ button and it will go up on your nomination board. You can have 3 books at any given time on that board. If you remove one book to put another on, then you’ll be giving up the first nomination. Why is that important? Because if the book is chosen by Kindle Press to be published, and the book was on your nomination board at the end of the 30 day campaign, then you’ll get a free early copy of the book before it goes live on Amazon! So basically, you get free books just by nominating.
(Remember, books are in all stages of their campaign at any given day, so if you see two are ending in 2 days and you want to nominate them, you can, just go back and put the two you removed from your nomination board back on once the first two have finished their campaign).


 
White Sheets & Rosy Cheeks sounds like an interesting read. The title piqued my interest right away. Can you share the blurb and one of your favorite passages from the story?
I’ll share the little bit longer blurb than you’ll get on the Kindle Scout page.
Dr. Salvador Brennan left the earth a lonely and regretful man. Given a chance to right his wrongs, he returns to Bearsfield, Wisconsin, to manipulate two broken hearts into the greatest love story of all time, from beyond the grave.
The first step is convincing his nephew, Eli Sheets, to leave his life in Michigan and move to a tiny town in Wisconsin. Having put the plan in motion before he died, he bequeathed his rundown house to Eli, with the hope that time had healed his wounds. Eli and his three-year-old daughter, Molly, arrive on a late spring afternoon, and Uncle Sal wonders if Eli sees the peeling paint and sagging porch as a way to put the past behind him. When Eli meets his next-door neighbor, Diana Forrester, does he catch a glimpse of his future?
Initiate Operation Molly.
‘Ghostie’ befriends Molly, and together they teach Eli and Diana that the yellow brick road is paved with acceptance and forgiveness. Waiting at the end of the road is a love that will heal their broken hearts, and bring them together, forever.
 
The first 5,000 words of the story are on my Kindle Scout page, so I’ll let your readers head over there to read an excerpt and get a good feel for the story. For now, I’ll post one of my favorite parts of the story because it’s short. This is an exchange between Eli and Molly, and let’s not forget, Dorfy.
Molly held my hand as we walked up the stairs and I opened the door, ushering her in. She grabbed her My Little Pony sleeping bag and pillow and spread them on the couch, then jumped in the bag and waited for me to zip it up. Once she had her little body comfortable, I went to the door and let in Dorothy, who was scratching at it. She jumped up on the couch, worming her way down into the sleeping bag until all you saw was her snout sticking out.
“Dorfy is disgusted dat you forgetted her,” Molly scolded and I chuckled, my head shaking.
“Tell Dorothy I’m sorry.” I kissed her goodnight and made her promise to go to sleep even though we were outside. Her eyes closed before I finished my sentence, and I knew she wouldn’t wake anytime soon.
 
What would you like the readers to know about your characters?
The characters in White Sheets & Rosy Cheeks are special because they let you experience falling in love all over again, even though they’re both over thirty.
Eli Franklin Sheets is the district Administrator for Bearsfield Schools. He moves there when his long lost uncle, Dr. Salvador Brennan, left him a house after his death. Eli is looking for a fresh start after losing his wife three years earlier, after the birth of their daughter Molly. He’s not necessarily looking for love as much as he’s looking for a way to make new memories without being constantly reminded of the old ones. He thinks a new home and a new job, hundreds of miles away, might do that.
Diana Forrester is the editor and publisher of the Bearsfield newspaper. She lives next door to the house at 617 South Beltrane Avenue, and she was a good friend of “Bud’s” before he died. She was more than surprised when a man showed up claiming to be his nephew, considering Bud told her he had no family. Diana is intriguing because she is confident and strong when it comes to her work and in the community, but when she’s alone with Eli she becomes submissive and weak. She’s not looking for love, now or ever for that matter, but she has a hard time staying away from the man and his little girl next door.
Molly Leonora Sheets is Eli’s 3-year-old daughter. She’s clairvoyant and because of that, she is the only one who can see her ghost friend, “Ghostie Dan”. Molly is sweet child innocence that makes you wish you had a 3-year-old in the house again. She’s super protective of her daddy, but aches for the love and attention of a woman.
Uncle Sal is just plain fun. You’ve never met a ghost quite like him. He has a serious story to tell, but in the process, he makes you laugh and helps us see that sometimes we can’t leave things up to chance. Sometimes we have to do a little orchestrating to get things right.
Dorothy, or Dorfy as Molly calls her, is Diana’s little dog.  Why am I mentioning her? Because she’s awesome, and who doesn’t love a dog that looks like Toto, but is called Dorothy? J 
Even though you treat your readers to some lighthearted moments with your characters, at the root of each story is a powerful message. I assume it’s the same with your new book. What can we expect from White Sheets & Rosy Cheeks?
White Sheets & Rosy Cheeks is a little bit different from most of my books because it’s a more upbeat, lighthearted contemporary romance. Of course, I couldn’t leave it at that, so you’re right, there are some hidden parts of the character’s lives that they must find a way to reveal to each other if they want to find happiness. That said, the reader can expect to fall in love with the characters immediately, and they’ll want to find out what the reasons were that Uncle Sal left town without a trace. This is a fun, flirty, summertime read it by the light of the fireflies kind of book with just enough mystery to keep the readers on their toes.




Can you direct us to where we can nominate your book?
Scouting is surprisingly simple. As long as you have an Amazon account, you go to www.kindlescout.amazon.comand White Sheets & Rosy Cheeks is listed under romance. While you are there, you can scout books in other categories and nominate up to three. This is the direct link to White Sheets & Rosy Cheeks if you want to go right to my page. White Sheets & Rosy Cheeks on Kindle Scout




 
I know while you’re eagerly awaiting the results of the Kindle Scout program, you’re busy clicking away at the keyboard with another great story. Can you say a few words about you’re working on now?
You know me well, Jan. I’m always working on something JMy current WIP is the second book in the Kupid’s Cove series titled “Me & Mr. I.T.” This particular series takes place in Maui and Honolulu and features characters who work for Kupid Enterprises.
Eliana Monroe is head marketing director for Kupid Enterprises. She’s all thumbs when it comes to technology, though. Maltrand KeKoa, or Mr. I.T. as they call him at Kupid Enterprises, knows everything there is to know about computers. When money and equipment start going missing, Gideon Armstrong, owner of the resorts, asks Ellie and Mr. I.T. to go undercover at his resort in Honolulu to find the thief.
The problem? They’ve had a crush on each other since two months ago when Mr. I.T. found Ellie after having a little too much to drink. She made an offer he had to refuse, even though he wanted nothing more than to agree.
What ensues is a comedy of errors involving a fashion show, wedding bands, a Frisbee, a baby, a thief, a kidnapping, and a confession.  Through it all, the question remains for Ellie. Will Me & Mr. I.T. ever be more than friends?
You’ve recently released Magnificent Agony. Can you tell us a little bit about this story?
I think Tobi Helton said it best in her review of Magnificent Agony. “Once again, Katie Mettner has taken to writing a true to life story that confronts life, death and struggle in faith and other people around you.”  When I first came up with the idea for Magnificent Agony, I wanted to write a book that did three things. I wanted to highlight the struggles families go through when they have someone in their family who has mental disabilities. I wanted to portray life, and death, intertwined in a way that made the reader sad, but also helped them see the other side of death, how it teaches us to live. The third thing I wanted to highlight was how communities come together when tragedy strikes. I wanted the reader to remember the town of Magnificent and the way they supported Eve when she needed them most, so when tragedy struck in their own town, they were one of the first to step up and help.
Here is the blurb for Magnificent Agony:
Eve Darling has learned one very important lesson in her twenty-six years; life never goes according to plan
The night of her high school graduation her heart was bursting with hopes and dreams for the future, but the universe had other ideas. Instead of New York and culinary school, she stayed in Magnificent, Wisconsin. Barely an adult herself, Eve was irrevocably tasked with becoming a mother to her big brother, Davis, the man with the heart and mind of a five-year-old boy. Now, eight years later, she’s become a successful entrepreneur, chef, and businesswoman. All of those responsibilities came at a price and her personal life was payment. No one was more acutely aware of that than she was.
And then, with one phone call, everything changed.
‘After life organizer’ Abraham Von Sallage was like no funeral director Eve had ever met. He was young, charming, witty, and had a unique perspective on life, because his business, was death. They both carried burdens society couldn’t, or wouldn’t, acknowledge, and in those burdens, they found an instantaneous connection. That night, as Abraham stood in the doorway of her cooking school, she saw hope in his eyes.
And then her world crumbled.
An inexplicably cruel twist of fate calls into question everything she knows about life, and death. With her soul adrift in guilt, she clung to the only person she could trust to save her from the agony her life has become. Shrouded by grief, it would take the love of one man, and the resolve of an entire community, to show her just how magnificent life can be.



 Thank you for being here today, Katie, and for sharing what’s happening with your career! I wish you much success with White Sheets & Rosy Cheeks! I know it’s worthy of a publishing contract with Amazon and I hope everyone else feels the same. And good luck with Magnificent Agony as well.
You can follow Katie here...
 
Website & Blog : Katie Mettner Author
Facebook: Katie Mettner Author
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatieMettner
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5443295.Katie_Mettner
Pinterest: Sugar's Ballroom
 

Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! An Interview with Lisette Brodey!

Lisette Brodey
I'm pleased to have author Lisette Brodey on my blog today with an interview. She's a prolific writer who pens stories with strong lead characters and interesting plots. Her book Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! is an enjoyable read. Molly is an independent, down-to-earth woman who's afraid to give her heart to the wrong man after having her heart broken. That's the core story but there's so much more that Lisette puts Molly (and the reader) through. It's an adventure that will have you smiling, laughing, and feeling Molly's angst.

Amazon

On with the interview...

Molly's a fun, engaging character who's brutally honest - mostly with herself. When you were inspired to write her story did you already have her personality nailed down or did she surprise you as you went along?

I knew she was a strong-willed, funny, and loving woman who wasn't going to settle for Mr. Wrong just because others referred to her as picky. I also knew she was steadfast in her pursuit of finding true love and refused to be swayed by popular (or in Molly's eyes, unpopular) opinion. That was the starting point. Almost immediately, Molly revealed herself as over-analytical and self-deprecating, not only in her quest to find love, but also in her everyday life.

Dating isn't easy. It's especially hard when well-intentioned friends/family think they have the perfect person picked out for you. Can you tease us with a little bit about one of Molly's dates (either about the person they thought would be perfect or about the date itself?)

When Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! begins, Molly's days of allowing people to set her up are long over, but that doesn't stop the meddlesome town socialite, Naomi Hall-Benchley (the "she-Devil"), from trying. As Molly is systematically thwarting Naomi's efforts, she meets Alan T. Cressman. Molly finds him attractive, yet a bit socially awkward. She's also consumed by the fact that he uses his middle initial every time he says his own name. She soon learns he does so to distinguish himself from his father, Alan C. Cressman, but she's still unsure about him. When Alan brings flowers to Molly's office at the Swansea Herald, she happily receives them, but isn't too happy when her co-worker and friend points out that they came directly from a funeral home. Stalwart in her efforts to give him a chance, Molly is determined to get past the flower blunder. But what happens next is an entirely different story!

There were some twists and turns in Molly's story. Did you know those ahead of time?

As with most of my novels, I know how the book will end, but I don't know all of the nuances and twists. I remember one particular day when I was writing and one of Molly's suitors gave her some news that shocked me. I never saw it coming. I thought to myself, 'Wow, that's interesting,' and I kept on writing. I do love it when characters throw curveballs because that's exactly what real life does. Also, there was one character who was created just to bring levity to one scene yet ended up being a far more important part of the story.

Despite the lighthearted nature of the book, it wasn't an easy one to write. I kept meticulous notes regarding the time frame of the events. When one woman has four romantic interests at once, things can get complicated fast - for both the author and the characters. Looking back now, I probably couldn't tell you precisely which twists were planned and which were not.

Molly has a great friend, Randy, who's an awesome secondary character. He keeps her sane throughout the year-long romp to find Mr. Right. Would you like to say a few words about him?

Randy is a gay man who believes he also has found his Mr. Right, Kyle. Hilarious and every bit as snarky as Molly, Randy is also a deeply caring friend. He would do anything for Molly (whom he calls "Molly Rose"). What makes their friendship even more important is that Molly has decided to keep her girlfriends out of the romantic loop because their "helping hands" helped her to lose the man she was once engaged to. Determined not to let past mistakes repeat themselves, she chooses Randy as her sole confidant while he confides the ups and downs of his relationship with Kyle.

Could you share a teaser about the end without giving anything away?

Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! takes the reader on a year-long romp through Molly's mind and a joyride through her life. Her dating life, town secrets, a group of quirky, crazy characters, and Naomi's machinations collide head-on at a holiday gala that will change the social landscape of Swansea forever.

As the New Year rolls in, Molly gets earth-shattering news. Can she go on? Will life ever return to abnormal again?

If you'd like to read Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! it's on sale (Amazon Kindle) for just $0.99 until May 8th. You can find it here:
  http://myBook.to/MollyHackerKindle

You have a lot to offer the reading world, Lisette. Before you go could you say a few words about your Desert Series since you've recently published the third book in the trilogy?
Thank you, Jan. That's a great compliment coming from such a prolific and talented author as yourself.
The Desert Series is a YA Paranormal trilogy, but that's just a label. To more accurately describe it, the Desert Series (Mystical High, Desert Star, and Drawn Apart) takes place in a dying desert town in the Southern California desert called Mystekal. The entire series spans a time frame of six years. While this is a paranormal series, it's more accurately three coming-of-age novels with real-life issues that mix with paranormal elements. I cover many topics in the novels: friendship, divorce, mental illness, bullying, parental abandonment, true love, soulmates, death, and much more.
Thanks so much for being here today, Lisette! It was great having you and you're welcome to come back any time.
Thank you, Jan. You are always the most gracious hostess. Good luck with your newest novels, I'd Rather Be Growing Grapes and Wild Goose Chase.
To follow Lisette Brodey, you can find her here:
Website/Blog:  http://lisettebrodey.com
Molly's site:  http://mollyhacker.com
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/LisetteBrodey
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/BrodeyAuthor?ref=hl
Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2774659.Lisette_Brodey

I'd Rather Be Growing Grapes!

I'D RATHER BE GROWING GRAPES!  What an unusual name for a romance novel. I'm sure most of you thought the same thing. The tentative title had been Bachelor No More. As the story and characters developed, I'd Rather Be Growing Grapes grabbed me and wouldn't let go. That may sound a bit melodramatic, but it's true. You'll notice the pink heart on the cover says 'A Romance Novel'. I had Deborah with Tugboat Design add that information so there wouldn't be any confusion. It's a love story, not a guide for growing grapes. *grins*


Written in the vein of The Bachelor or The Bachelorette, it is more than just drama and chemistry. It's also about letting go of the past in order to have a future. Beau and Sabrina take part (or rather, were coerced into participating) in a bachelor-to-husband charity fundraiser with all proceeds going to the less fortunate. For that reason alone they couldn't say no even though they feel the chance of finding true love stands at zero. 


 
As the writer, this book is an experiment to see how readers feel about no actual love scenes. There are a few steamy moments though. If you read Beau and Sabrina's story, would you feel comfortable giving me feedback? I would love to hear any and all comments (negative or positive). I believe your take on things will help me grow as an author. Thank you in advance!

Here's the blurb:




Sabrina Kerrigan is a sassy, independent woman whose fiancé ditched her a week before they were to be married. Since then, she gives all her attention to a backyard filled with flowers and a spindly grape arbor. Her meddling twin, Lilith, thinks Sabrina's had enough time to grieve the relationship that wasn't meant to be. Lil registers her to be one of twenty-one bachelorettes who will vie for one guy's heart in an event called Pick Me. Sabrina is furious at Lil for immersing her in what is sure to be three weeks of nonstop chaos. The only reason she agreed to take part is because the three-thousand dollar entry fee goes to charity. The minute Sabrina arrives at the hotel a  case of mistaken identity sets the chaos in motion.


Millionaire winery owner, Beau Reinholt has had the worst luck with women. He seems to pick those interested in his money not him. His best friend, Marco Santaguida, the director for Pick Me, cons Beau into being this year's bachelor. Beau agrees on one condition - the women aren't to know his true identity until he either falls in love or finds extreme-like with one of the candidates. Everything goes smoothly until he meets Sabrina Kerrigan. She ticks him off right away. She also turns him on. The more Beau tries to focus on the twenty other women the more he's drawn to the one who says she doesn't want any part of him.


Can two wounded people tune out the noise going on around them to listen to their hearts?




You can find I'd Rather Be Growing Grapes on Amazon --


  http://www.amazon.com/Id-Rather-Be-Growing-Grapes-ebook/dp/B01CLOBSMG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1457278474&sr=8-1&keywords=I%27d+Rather+Be+Growing+Grapes

Author Cathrine Goldstein

Author Cathrine Goldstein is visiting my blog today. Welcome, Cathrine!


I'd like to thank Jan Romes for having me on her blog today! I am so excited to be here and to talk about my new release, THE COUPLING, Book 2 of THE LETTING series. THE COUPLING is available February 15, 2016 on Amazon and your favorite romance book sites!
I write what I call, gritty romance. Sure everyone loves a happy ending, but the path to get there isn't always paved with roses...

To start, I'd love to tell you a little bit about THE LETTING series.
The inspiration for THE LETTING series came from spending a summer at a camp in Upstate New York with my family. Walking through the deep woods, we were attacked by mosquitoes. I turned to my husband and said, "I've lost so much blood, it's like a bloodletting! Wait...that would be a great concept for a YA dystopian series." I ran back to our little cabin in the woods and began THE LETTING.


Blurb from THE LETTING:
What if the Devil doesn't know he's the Devil? This is the question Veronica "Ronnie" Billings poses to Phoenix, her sworn enemy, the leader of the Peaceful Revolution, and the one she loves.
Kidnapped by Phoenix's rebels, Ronnie learns how wrong she has been. She had no idea that her patriotism was wasted on a corrupt government. Ronnie was proud to be a Leader; taking hundreds of harvested girls to the Letting facility. After all, she was saving them from future Couplings and bringing them to the safety of the New World. Or so she thought...
Confused, Ronnie realizes the only way to discover the truth is to trust her heart. Together, Phoenix and Ronnie devise a plan to stop their corrupt government and preempt the dangerous rebel coup which is approaching. But when their plan goes awry, will Ronnie be strong enough to save Phoenix, her country, and herself?


Book 2 of THE LETTING series, THE COUPLING, continues the story of Ronnie and Phoenix. The focus is on their tumultuous relationship, and their herculean efforts to save their world. This one is a little more steamy...although still Y.A. ;)
Excerpt from THE COUPLING:
     "Phoenix?"     "Trust me, Ron."     I nod, my hands suddenly shaking. He takes them into his hand and lifts them to his mouth. He kisses my fingers softly.     "You're grieving right now -- I would never take advantage of you. But..."     I take a deep breath.     He lets go of my hands and reaches out toward the still unbuttoned top two buttons of my shirt. The collar lays open, and his fingers trace the hollow of my throat. "You look gorgeous in my shirt."     His eyes are locked on me, and I feel overpowered but safe all at once. There's a strange ache in my body, answering to the hunger in his eyes.     "It is by far the most beautiful you have ever looked."     My eyes dart up as he reaches out to touch the next button. He studies me as he slowly begins to unbutton. My entire body warms, and I bite down hard on my bottom lip. He abandons my button to run his fingers across my lips once more. I try to remember to breathe.
Blurb from THE COUPLING:
In Ronnie Billings' dystopian world, surviving the Letting and breaking free of a corrupt government is less of a surprise than falling in love with Phoenix Day, the leader of the Peaceful Revolution. When the government sentences Ronnie to a Coupling under the guise of producing a coveted blood type, Ronnie discovers the one she's slated to Couple with expects even more. Prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to save those she loves the most, Ronnie devastates Phoenix with her impossible decision. Whisked away from her rebel life to another world ravaged by despair, Ronnie meets her greatest nemesis...her biological father. Steeling her nerves against the dangers of escape, she embarks on the perilous journey back. she is convinced she belongs with Phoenix and his revolution, but will her friends, and especially Phoenix, be ready to accept her when she returns? Because this time, evil is in her blood...

Cathrine Goldstein - Bio:
A dark, gritty, New York City girl at heart, I stretch my comfort zone every summer and head to the camp in the deep woods to work on The Letting series. I find it is worth every non-air-conditioned, bug-bitten moment, because I have fallen in love with Phoenix and Ronnie, and I hope you will too...
I am the author of The Letting, Book 1 in The Letting series, and I also write romance and steamy women's fiction novels. I began my career as an award-winning playwright, and I am a proud member of RWA, PAN.
I am addicted to Luna bars, decaf coffee, yoga (yoga clothes), and I find my best writing ideas come from sweat sessions on the treadmill. I love the works of many authors, and these days I read a lot of Shel Silverstein and Mo Willems -- which brings me to  my reason for reading these modern masters, the absolute loves of my life: my two young girls, and my husband (who reads grown-up books too).
To find out more about Phoenix, Ronnie, and me, and for updates on The Letting series and more, please visit:  www.CathrineGoldstein.com

And for a sneak peek...I'm thrilled to share that soon I'll be launching a new series: The New York Artists series! In this gritty series, you'll read about strong alpha men at the top of their game artistically, and the smart, unexpected women they fall for... The series kicks off with a dark and dangerous rock star. :)
The New York Artists series is romantic and steamy -- sure to make you swoon and fall in love. And it's definitely for adults only.

To learn more about Cathrine and upcoming projects, please visit:
Website:  www.CathrineGoldstein.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCathrineGoldstein/
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/cathrinegold @cathrinegold
Amazon:  http://amzn.com/1628306629
Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-letting-cathrine-Goldstein/1120900360?ean=2940150050334
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4490932.Cathrine_Goldstein
Blog:  https://cathrinegoldstein.wordpress.com
  


A glass of white Merlot...my year in review!

The house is quiet. I have the Best of the Temptations playing in the CD player. At my fingertips (besides my keyboard) is a glass of white Merlot. I'm feeling especially sentimental right now as I reflect on how things went in 2015.  



Sipping my wine, I find myself smiling. Things didn't go exactly according to plan; they seldom do. But it was a good year nonetheless. I finished my Texas Boys Falling Fast series with NOT WITHOUT NANCY. I've had a few requests to write Sam Bright's story. He's the bartender friend throughout all four books. I'm seriously considering breathing life into Sam and adding book #5 to the series. I have a tiny seed of an idea planted in my brain for his story. We'll see if it sprouts.

(Cover art for books by Tugboat Design - 4 book graphic by Lisette Brodey)
This year I took a risk with my first women's fiction story: NO SWEAT PANTS ALLOWED - WINE CLUB. It got mixed reviews. Some readers could relate to the 4 women in the book - Elaina, Tawny, Grace, and Steph. Others thought their moving in together to deal with their new circumstances (finding themselves in their 40's and suddenly single), was a bit unrealistic. I'm proud of this book. It made me laugh a lot while writing it. There were some heart-wrenching moments as well. The title may sound a little off-putting, but for those who haven't read the story, you might change your opinion when you realize how the title came to be.


(Cover art for book by Tugboat Design - Graphic with corks by Lisette Brodey)
I was asked early in the year to be part of the Magical Weddings boxset. It was a great experience. I met some sweet authors and had fun writing my part of the set - LOVING LINDY.




(Cover art for Loving Lindy was by Tugboat Design)

At the end of July, I attended my first writer's conference in four years - Indie Book Fest in Orlando. I'm not going to lie, I was a little nervous. I didn't know any of the authors. I'd said an occasional hello or commented on some of their posts on the IBF Facebook page. To my joy, everyone at the conference was so welcoming and sweet. I learned a lot while there, stepped out of my comfort zone, and made some great friends. I'm attending again in 2016.




Speaking of stepping out of my comfort zone, I did something new regarding book signings - I sought a new venue in craft and vendor fairs. As it was my first time, I wasn't sure what to expect (i.e. how much traffic would come through, would folks actually stop and talk and be interested in my books, etc.). I'm happy to report that the 4 fairs I took part in was a complete success!! I met some terrific people, signed a lot of books, and realized how many local folks love to read and discuss books!!






I'm happy to share that I finished writing WILD GOOSE CHASE in November and signed a contract with The Wild Rose Press for it to be published sometime in 2016. I've had a peek of the cover art but I have to keep it under wraps until a later date.

2015 wasn't all rainbows and roses, but mostly, it was incredible!

I want to extend a great big THANK YOU to my family, friends, neighbors, everyone I've met on Facebook and Twitter and at book signings. I'm glad you're a part of my life!! ♥


May 2016 be filled with peace and love for all of us!!











  

DRAWN APART - Book #3 in Lisette Brodey's Desert series

It’s a pleasure to welcome friend and author, Lisette Brodey, to my blog with the newest addition to her Desert Series – book #3 – DRAWN APART.
Before we get to the particulars of this incredible work of heart, let me introduce you to the woman behind the book.



Lisette was born and raised in Pennsylvania. After high school, she moved to New York City where she attended Pace University and studied drama. After ten years in New York, several of them working in the radio industry, she moved to Los Angeles where she held various positions at Paramount Studios in Hollywood and CBS Studio Center in Studio City, CA. Back on the East Coast, she worked for many years as a freelance writer, specializing in PR and the entertainment industry. In 2010, she returned permanently to the Los Angeles area.

She’s the author of six novels: Crooked Moon (General/Literary Fiction); Squalor, New Mexico (Coming-of-Age/Literary Fiction); Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! (Women's Fiction/Chick-lit), and The Desert Series (Mystical High; Desert Star; and Drawn Apart).
In addition to her six novels, two of Lisette’s short stories are published in an anthology: Triptychs (Book 3, The Mind’s Eye Series.)
In January 2013, Lisette edited and published a book of her mother's poetry (written 50 years earlier): My Way To Anywhere by Jean Lisette Brodey.
Lisette blogs, hosts guest bloggers, and interviews fellow authors on a weekly basis at her Writer’s Chateau.
Now that we know a little more about Lisette, on with the interview…



Q: Lisette, can you tell us a little bit about the three books in The Desert Series (book #1 - Mystical High, book #2 – Desert Star, book #3 – Drawn Apart)? The theme? Although there are three novels, can they be read as standalone books? Cliffhangers?  

A: Hi, Jan. Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog.

The Desert Series takes place over a span of six years in a town called Mystekal in the Southern California desert. One of the lines I use to describe the series is this: It all began in a dying desert town when the past came back to join the present.

All the books work as standalone novels and there are no cliffhangers. It’s really important to me to give readers a satisfying ending to every book. However, because it is a series, the stories feature the same characters, though new ones take center stage in each book. There is a span of approximately two years’ time between each book, and thus I feature the recurring characters to reflect their maturity and personal growth. For this reason, many of the stories within each novel are more poignant and meaningful to those who have read the previous books.

Q: The series is YA paranormal. Care to share a little of each paranormal element within each book?
A:  Well, I don’t want to give too much away, but I can tell you that there are new paranormal elements in every book. Everything starts in Mystical High, when sudden paranormal activity begins both at Mystekal High (dubbed “Mystical High”) and around the town. The two main characters in this book, Jessie and Jinxsy, are best friends. Each girl is going through her own family problems when seemingly random and bizarre incidents begin to happen. After a string of shocking events expose explosive secrets, the answers to decades-long mysteries are revealed.
Desert Star features River Dalworth, who makes his debut in Mystical Highas Jessie’s younger brother. River is brilliant, funny, and a talented artist. Confession: he was my very favorite character to write. River is now a senior at Mystekal High. As the book opens, he steps in to defend a new student, Larsen Davis, who is being bullied by two other seniors for being gay. Larsen is grateful to River and confides in him that the biggest bully is the one at home—his mother.
Eventually, Larsen goes to work for River’s mother, Arielle, who is in charge of renovating The Desert Theater. I don’t want to give too much away, but I’ll just tell you that a lot begins to happen as Larsen finds his way in the theater that has been abandoned for 40 years. Opening night at the Desert Theater sets the stage for a crime, never-imagined reunions, long-awaited explanations, and otherworldly miracles.
In the final book, Drawn Apart, there is a very different tone. One of the main characters is Avalon Martelli, a student from Jersey City, NJ who was introduced in Desert Star. Avalon’s entire family now lives in Mystekal. A senior, Avalon is only weeks away from graduation when her best friend, Stephanie Lambert, is rendered unconscious and unresponsive after a car accident. Stephanie, a self-proclaimed “hopeless romantic” and “poetry geek” is forever talking about finding her soul mate. As she lies comatose in the hospital, Stephanie’s mom and friends pray for a miracle. Avalon knows her best friend would never die without meeting her soul mate.
Q: I love the title for book #3 – DRAWN APART. It’s unique and stirs curiosity. Would you tell us about the motivation for this book?
A: Thank you, Jan.
For the third book in the series, I wanted to do something very different. I wanted to introduce parallel elements that are not present in the two previous books. I also wanted the last book to be centered on romance. The title, Drawn Apart, actually has two meanings. I’d love to say more but … just can’t give too much away!
Q: We want the readers to feel what’s happening in our stories, but when we’re writing them, they stir lots of emotions in us as our characters develop and the plot thickens. When you were writing DRAWN APART, what kind of emotions did you go through?
A: Oh my goodness, Jan. What a tough question! This book was very emotional to write. The series became more heartfelt and personal to me as it progressed. While I can’t get into detail about it all, throughout the writing of the entire series, so many bizarre events in my own life mirrored the ones I was writing about. Just so many strange things happened.
For one, while I was writing Desert Star, a friend and I drove from Los Angeles (where I live) to the desert area around Palm Springs. Though it seemed like looking for a needle in a haystack, we were hoping to find an old desert town with an abandoned theater. I wanted to get a photo of one to use on the back of my book.
Well, imagine our surprise when the first thing we saw in the first old town we visited was an abandoned theater, looking exactly like the one I was writing about. Not only was the theater abandoned, but the entire block was, too. Looking at the photo, one might think I found it and wrote a story around it. But no, it was the other way around: I was writing the story and found the theater. But maybe I should say that the theater found me.

Anyway, that’s one of many things that happened. It’s been quite an emotional time.
Q: I’m in awe of authors who write in multiple genres. You’re one of those authors. Could you share a little bit about why you choose to write in more than one genre?
A: For the most part, I never chose to write in different genres per se. I only chose to write stories that happened to fall into different genres. The first novel I wrote was Squalor, New Mexico, a 1970s coming-of-age story shrouded in family secrets. (This novel, by the way, takes place in East Coast suburbia, not New Mexico.) The odd title is explained on page one.
After writing Squalor, New Mexico, I was stunned to learn that I had written a novel that was classified as YA. Technically, I suppose it is, as the main characters are teens, but that never entered my mind when I wrote it. For the purpose of promotion, I classify it as Coming-of-Age/Literary Fiction. Also, while many young readers have enjoyed it, I believe the book’s biggest fans are ones who grew up in the pre-technology age.
Crooked Moon, an emotional story about two childhood friends reuniting, again, was simple a story I wanted to tell. Friendship is a theme that is very important to me, and an integral part of every novel I have ever written. This novel has been classified as literary fiction/women’s fiction. Again, the genre labels bother me because in no way is this a book for women only.
Molly Hacker Is Too Picky! is the only book that I wrote specifically for a particular genre. Every time I’d walk into a bookstore (remember those?), the preponderant number of titles on the New Releases table was always chick lit/women’s fiction. And so, I chose to write a romantic comedy. It was great fun and I love Molly and her friends. However, despite it being a well-received book, it’s doubtful that I’ll write in this genre again.
Additionally, I did something for this book I haven’t done for any others. I blogged as Molly for eight months and, because the character is a newspaper reporter, I interviewed all types of creative people as Molly, too. Readers can get to know Molly via her blogs at: http://mollyhacker.com/.

Q: You’ve given us a bit about all three books in the Desert series. Tell us specifically about DRAWN APART? What would you like us to take away from the story? Can you tell us about the ease or difficulty in wrapping up the series?
A: I think the most profound message in DRAWN APART is that much in life is not always as we perceive it to be. It is like a multi-faceted gemstone, and we don’t always see all sides of it at one glance.
I felt a great deal of sadness wrapping up the series. I’ll really miss the characters, but they’ll live on in my mind where I will create futures for them. But another part of me is excited to go back to the literary fiction genre and move on.
Q: Would you whet our appetite for DRAWN APART with the blurb and an excerpt from the story?
A: Sure, Jan. Thank you.
HERE’S THE SYNOPSIS:
When Avalon Martelli and Stephanie Lambert meet at the start of their junior year at Mystekal High, they form an instant connection. Stephanie is from South Jersey and Avalon from North Jersey, and they both feel out of place in the Southern California desert. Aside from having a home state in common, they each possess a talent for art and the heartbreak of a broken family. Avalon has the gift of sight, where the future is sometimes revealed in her paintings, while Stephanie’s drawings are all about forever love. As Stephanie, a self-described poetry geek and hopeless romantic, talks about past lives and eternal happiness, Avalon denies she’s in love with her best guy friend, River Dalworth, who is attending art school in Los Angeles. Only weeks before graduation, Stephanie is in a car accident and falls into a coma. Devastated, Avalon believes it is all her fault. The night before, she had painted Stephanie with her head against the steering wheel—and hadn’t told her. She confides this to River, who has come home to be with her, but he can’t convince her she’s not to blame. Avalon loudly proclaims to the universe that she no longer wants her gift, but River warns her she may receive another one in its place. Avalon and her family, along with Stephanie’s mother, pray for a miracle. River tries to console her, but she finds his presence difficult, knowing he has someone else who “just might be the one.” Trying to push her own pain and disappointment aside, Avalon keeps vigil for her best friend, hoping that Stephanie will wake up and have her greatest wish fulfilled— the meeting of her soul mate.


AND HERE’S AN EXCERPT:  
“Freakin’ A!” Avalon winced as she tugged on a strand of her long green-and-blue hair stuck inside the door of her locker.
“Hey, are you okay?” Seeing Avalon’s awkward position, the stranger standing beside her realized what had happened and put her backpack on the floor. “Oh, no; you closed your locker on your hair!”
With her head cocked awkwardly to the left, Avalon looked at the girl she had never seen before. “Am I a dummy or what? Yeah, this is what I get for having long hair and not paying attention. Not exactly the coolest thing to do. I just don’t want anyone to see me like this. It doesn’t take much to give some people a reason to mess with you, you know?”
The girl smiled and moved closer, holding the ends of her own long hair in her hands. “See this hair? I’d be lying if I said it hasn’t been traumatized a few times. One time, about three years ago, it got stuck in the car door, and I didn’t realize it until we were at an intersection, and some guy started honking and pointing to my hair while he and his friends were cracking up. That was fun—not. My mom was driving and even she was in stitches. Nice, huh?”
Avalon laughed. “That’s a funny story. At least you could drive away and never see them again, right? These kids will just stay put and torture you.”
The girl glanced down the hall at the other students. “No worries. I’m going to stand right here and block their view. Just open the locker and pull your hair out. I promise, it’ll be our secret forever.”
Avalon quickly turned her combination lock, successfully getting her hair released from the locker’s grip. “You’re okay. Thanks. Are you new here? Are you a junior, too?”
“Yes and yes. I’m Stephanie Lambert, and you are so not from California with that accent.”
“Nope. I’m Avalon Martelli, and you’re so right. And you’re not from California, either.”
Stephanie giggled and scratched her head with a smile. “Hmm. I’m guessing New York.”
“Pretty much so. Jersey City. Right across the Hudson. And you?”
“South Jersey. Cherry Hill.”
Avalon leaned against her locker. “Nice to meet you, South. So, what brings you to Mystekal? This is a weird place to move to. You’ve got to have a story, right?”
“Sure do, North. Wish it were a nicer one.”
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“You’re not. I don’t mind telling you. Maybe it’s because I feel like I know you. Anyway, the short and not-so-sweet story goes like this: my dad went to Paris on a business trip and never came home. Met some young French chick who loved on his … well, you get my drift, turned into a prick, and with one big kick … left my mom and me at the curb. Then he put up a sign, ‘Do not disturb.’”
“That sucks, but you’re funny. Do you always talk so poetically?”
“Only when I feel comfortable with the person I’m talking to. I really love poetry, but I don’t tell many people that. And just for the record, I don’t consider what I just spit out to be poetry; it was plain old rhyming. I have better taste than that and way more respect for poets.” She paused and looked curiously at Avalon. “I gotta tell you, it’s just weird, but I really do feel like I know you.”



Q: Now that you’ve completed the series, where will your muse take you next?
A: My next novel will be a story that is very dear to my heart. It began as an unfinished short story that I starting writing at age 17. Over the years, it became a one-act play and then a two-act play. I know the characters very well and it’s about time that they find their way into a novel. It’s a very character-driven story and is in the literary fiction genre. I’m 27K words into the book and can’t wait to get back to it.
Also, I’m slowly working on a book of short stories which all take place in the same location.  

If you’d like to follow Lisette and her writing career, you can find her here:

Website: www.LisetteBrodey.com
Blog: Lisette's Writer's Chateau - lisettebrodey.com/category/blog
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisetteBrodey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrodeyAuthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2774659.Lisette_Brodey?from_search=true&search_version=service
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Lisette-Brodey/e/B002TBELOY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1447947246&sr=8-1
*Hit the ‘follow’ button on her Amazon page while you’re there*
You can also hit the ‘follow’ button on Lisette’s website, too.