Liz Matis's Blog, page 9

"What's your game, stranger?" Angel O'Malley in Kiss Shot

Progress on Kiss Shot, the third season of my Fantasy Football Romance series, is slow. But word by word I'll get it done. Here is a photo I purchased for the book trailer I'll create once the book is done. It's close to how I envision Angel O'Malley, the heroine of Kiss Shot. What do you think?

Cover Reveal! Sugar and Sin Boxed Set

I'm proud to announce that Love By Design is part of the Sugar and Sin Boxed Set! Here is the beautiful cover and a little more about the bundle.
In the land of Happily Ever After, six romance authors have banded together to bring readers a super-sexy dose of Sugar and Sin with fun, sassy heroines and the oh-so-sexy men who fall for them.
We hope you enjoy the books and meet some characters you won't soon forget.
The Official Book Launch will be in September!


Six full length books from six top selling authors. If you like your contemporary romance on the steamy side this book is for you! Titles include:

Chasin’ Mason by Stacey Joy Netzel
Catch the stallion ~ win the ranch. A simple competition between bitter enemies, but once tempers and passions flare in the Texas heat, all bets are off.

Deadly Addiction by Kristine Cayne
A violent clash of cultures tests the forbidden love between a Native American man and a white female cop.
When police sergeant Alyssa Morgan and Rémi Whitedeer meet, their forbidden attraction flips both their lives ass over teakettle, but they aren't the only ones in turmoil. After the duo uncovers a drug-fueled conspiracy on the Blackriver Reservation, blood is pitted against blood, and Rémi has everything to lose.


His Lady Godiva by L.C. Giroux
Dr. Michael Dennison put broken bodies back together so no one would have to live like he did. As many obstacles as he had overcome, he never wanted to burden a woman with his disability. He was safer never to risk his heart. Violet Bellows lived a guarded life. The accident had taken so much from her but she still had something to give. For her surgeon she would risk everything to make him hers, body and soul.

Love by Design by Liz Matis
In this Sex in the City meets HGTV romp sparks fly on camera as interior designer Victoria Bryce breaks in temporary co-host Aussie Russ Rowland. Arguments over design plans and measurement mishaps ignite passions behind the scenes. But when the past collides with the present will the foundation they built withstand the final reveal?

Run Rosie Run by C.C. Mackenzie
Think Easy Virtue meets No Reservations
She’d wasted enough of her life madly in love with a man she could never have…Perhaps it was time to give another man a chance... But now Rosie has two men who want her and will stop at nothing to win her heart…Which one will she choose...

Sexy in Stilettos by Nana Malone
Organized, event planner, Jaya Trudeaux is used to doing things by the book and never making waves. The only thing that can tie carefree, playboy, Alec Danthers down is a promise he made to his mother. Can Jaya put the lists down long enough to enjoy the ride?
Here is the Amazon just in case you can't wait until the official launch date:Sugar and Sin - Boxed Set
Coming Soon to Nook, Kobo, ITunes!

"You need that guy like a giraffe needs strep throat." - Ann Landers

It's time for another post in my Quotes by Famous Women series. 
After the 1955 death of the original Ann Landers, Ruth Crowley, Eppie Lederer took over the advice column until her death in 2002.
Here are some wise words to remember... 
Sensual pleasures have the fleeting brilliance of a comet; a happy marriage has the tranquillity of a lovely sunset. - Ann Landers 
Nobody gets to live life backward. Look ahead, that is where your future lies. - Ann LandersOpportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognize them. - Ann Landers
Too many people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. - Ann Landers.
Did you ever read Ann Landers column? Or any other advice columns? 

Pin It!

Do you use Pinterest? I love it though I try not to visit often because it is addictive! I pinned this from my friend Michele's board...
[image error] Source: 29.media.tumblr.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Robert Pattinson Quote : "If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are. Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable."

I find this incredibly sweet.
Do you think its too sweet? Too sensitive? Is he hero material?   

Here is the link to my Pinterest Board if you want to follow me..
Liz on Pinterest

Love By Design - part of the Chick Lit Author Blog Hop!

If a reader opened up your book and turned to page 25 what would she find? That is part of the Chick Lit Author Blog Hop. Here is what's on page 25 in Love By Design by Liz Matis...

“I’ve got one more.” The predator gaze was back in full force. “Australian kiss.”Her eyebrows drew together trying to think of what an Australian kiss was, but she couldn’t think beyond what it would be like to kiss him, Australian or otherwise.“Come on, think about it.”“Got me,” said Ava.“Me, too,” admitted Victoria.Russ’s smile turned lethal. “It’s a French kiss, down under.” Love By Design is a Sex and the City (Win the grand prize! The 16th secret word in the 25-word sentence is: hoppers) meets HGTV romp!
Keep hopping! Click here to return to the list of blogs. Blog Hop Links 
New to blog hops? Want to learn how to win the grand prize? Find complete information here. Learn how the blog hop works! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chick Lit Author Blog Hop : May 20-27

I'll be sharing 'what's on page 25' in Love By Design as part of the Chick Lit Author Blog Hop. It starts May 20th and runs through May 27th.

 So stop back on May 20th to read what's on page 25 and discover the link that will take you on an awesome adventure of blog hopping!

It's a Doll's Life by Liz Matis - FREE SHORT SHORT STORY

I thought I re-share this short story I wrote in 2009. I hope you enjoy it!

It’s a Doll’s LifebyLiz Matis

Dusting the shelves of Laurel’s Playhouse was the worst part of owning a business. As if cleaning her house wasn’t enough.The chimes rang cheerfully announcing her first customer of the day. Grateful for the interruption, she put on her best smile and made for door.The man who entered towered over the dolls and miniature houses like Gulliver over the inhabitants of Lilliput. Blonde hair wisped out from underneath a cap. Wearing jeans, a blue work shirt and construction boots, he was dusty as he was big. He turned away from the row of shelves she stood behind and her gaze immediately lowered. Still, she wouldn’t mind wiping that bit of dirt off his rear and not with a feather duster. Such tasks required a hands-on approach.He looked out of place among the frilly lace and ribbons. The expression ‘bull in a china shop’ came to mind. Except this bull was in her doll shop.Laurel stole out of her hiding place. “Can I help you?”He turned and smiled. “I’m looking for a gift for my sister’s birthday.”His twinkling blue eyes were a pleasant relief to the lifeless stares of her collection. Standing next to him she felt like one of those dolls: petite and very feminine. “How old?” she managed to ask.“Sixteen.”“Ahh, sweet sixteen.”“Darling, you haven’t met my sister.”She laughed at his joke, but foolishly blushed at the endearment. “What are her interests?”Laurel twisted her hands in an effort not to brush away the dirt on his shirt. Where had her aversion to cleaning gone?“Boys,” he said, his tone exasperated.Again she laughed. “And she still collects dolls?”He nodded. “Not that she’ll admit to.”Laurel ran the inventory in her head. “Come with me.” She led him over to a display by the front window praying he wouldn’t knock anything over. It was cute how careful he was not to. “I think she might appreciate one of these.”He was looking directly at Laurel when he said, “Perfect.”She smiled as she carefully picked up one of her favorites, a sophisticated Gibson Girl doll that was about a foot tall. The figurine reminded Laurel of a bygone era when men were gentlemen or at least pretended to be. “Do you want it wrapped?”“Yes.” He held up his hands. “These can save a plant from the compost pile, but when it comes to wrapping I’m all thumbs.”Good looking and a great sense of humor. It had been a long time since a man made her laugh. As she worked the ribbon around the box she wondered if he was married. He didn’t have a ring on his finger, but that didn’t mean anything. Who’d wear a ring if they were making mud pies, which is exactly what he’d looked like he’d been doing before he entered her shop. She took his credit card and shamelessly noted the name. Ethan Edwards.Laurel slid the bill across the counter and held out a pen. “Please sign at the bottom.”Ethan’s fingers brushed hers. Her breath hitched and the pen fell to the counter. It could’ve been static electricity except the feeling was pleasant. “Sorry.”“Don’t be.” Ethan picked up the pen and his hand hovered for a moment over the paper like he’d forgotten how to write his name. “Thanks for the help Laurel. It is Laurel, right?”She hoped the surprise she felt did not show on her face. It seemed he took note of the name of her store. “Yes it is. Come again.”She could have smacked herself. Sure, he had every reason to stop by and browse in her doll shop – unless he had more sisters. Or nieces. Please, please don’t let him have daughters. That meant at best an ex-wife, at worst, a wife.“By the way, I’m Ethan. I’m opening a gardening center down the street.”“That explains the dirt.” The comment was out of her mouth before she could stop the words. Her flirting skills obviously needed polishing. A year had passed since her ex-finance had broken her heart. Maybe, she needed a refresher course.But he wasn’t offended and laughed. “Yeah, sorry about that.”The chimes dimly sang out as he departed.
When Laurel drove by his store during the following week she noted how it sprung to life with the arrival of plants and flowers. As she inventoried the backroom she mentally planned out the changes she wanted to make to her own garden. Perhaps she could ask Ethan for advice. Lame, but it was a perfectly acceptable excuse to see him again.. The chimes rang and by the force of the sound she knew it was Ethan.She barely recognized the man holding the bouquet of sunflowers. He wore khakis and a pressed white shirt, his hair neatly combed back. Not a spot of dirt on him.“Hi Ethan. Did your sister like the doll?”“Bea loved it.” Ethan shuffled his feet. “These are for you.”She took the flowers he offered and raised the bouquet to her nose to breathe in the scent. “Thank you, but you didn’t have to.”“I’ve been busy with the opening but when I saw them I remembered your smile.”“Oh. How sweet.” Laurel blushed.“Will you have dinner with me tonight?”Laurel said yes. After all, Ethan cleaned up real nice.

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. ~E.L. Doctorow

In keeping with the above quote here are my HVRWA partners in crime at todays Author Talk/Readings at the Newburgh Library.

Liz Matis and Allie Boniface 
Elizabeth Shore, Charmaine Gordon, & Elf Ehearn
Elf Ahearn and Janet Lane Walters
Wendy Marcus, Janet Lane Walter, and Tanya Goodwin

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. ~Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Every year Brenda Novak hold an Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research. There are lots of great items to bid on and it's all for a great cause. It runs May 1 - 31st.

I'm involved with 4 auction items and below are the links to all 4. If none of then interest you please browse the other items. Click on the links below!


Twice as Nice - Partial critique and marketing advice from Allie Boniface and Liz Matis

Audio Book Download of Playing For Keeps and Love By Design

Hudson Valley RWA Basket of Goodies

Nook HD loaded with Contemporary Romance titles


Go forth and bid!
I know I am! Well not for my stuff but you know what I mean. 

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~William Wordsworth

Writing Status Update: I'm almost 3,000 words into Kiss Shot ("Fantasy" Football - Season 3) and while I'm very please with the start I have to say its slow going. I'm the slowest writer on the planet. It's not so much that I don't have the time to write but on my best day - and I mean all day long - I wrote 1,000 words. This is discouraging.

As I write this I'm reminded that in the past I would skip to a scene later in the book if I was having trouble with a current chapter. This is what I must do now.

I'm hoping to complete Kiss Shot by the end of June and have an August release date. If you haven't seen it yet here is the cover! I have it posted above my desk to keep me motivated.