Joya Fields's Blog, page 11

Where Would You Like Your Nipple? Guest author Mackenzie Crowne

Welcome to my friend and talented author, Mackenzie Crowne. Mac, please tell us a little about yourself.
Hello all. Thanks so much for allowing me to visit today, Joya. I've been scribbling down the stories told by the voices in my head for as long as I can remember, but it wasn't until I was diagnosed with breast cancer that I began to give that mania the kind of attention it deserved. Since then, I've published three books, with a forth due out at the end of the year. I write contemporary romance, for the most part, and was surprised when a rare, fantasy romance gained me my first contract. Who'da thunk it? I live in Phoenix with my husband of—Oh, let's just say forever and be done with it, shall we? We have two grown sons who have kept us jumping for over a quarter century and two gorgeous grandbabies who have taken over where our sons left off. I often tease about living at the "Testosterone Ranch" but the joke is only half-hearted. A princess at heart, I've been surrounded by men my entire adult life and have learned to adapt to their choice of entertainments. As often as possible, my husband and I escape to our getaway in the mountains, to ride quads along the scenic, dirt trails and spend time around a roaring fire pit with good friends.   Wow, that’s an incredible story. Congrats on your success as a writer and on being a survivor. What inspired you to write your newest release, WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR NIPPLE? To tell you the truth, I didn't start out to write a book for publication. I simply began a journal, a lifeline to sanity in the midst of chaos. When all was said and done, I'd documented the frightening details of dealing with the expected skirmishes in the battle against breast cancer, like mastectomies, chemotherapy, and radiation, but my journal also included the surprising, and sometime humorous, sub-skirmishes the breast cancer fight delivers. I mean, who knew that some of those I love would disappear from my life, unable to handle the diagnosis, or that I would resemble Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers series when I lost all my hair? No one can prepare you for the enormity of this battle, but within the pages of my journal, a sort of road map emerged, a guide, if you will, pointing out many of the pitfalls inherent in the fight for survival, and how I managed to navigate them with humor and hope. How could I not share what I've learned with others facing their own battle?

Great idea to include humor! What sort of reaction did you get from family and friends when you decided to write this book?As they were during my battle, my loved ones are incredibly supportive. I may have been alone in the diagnosis, but I fought my battle surrounded by a huge and loving family and hordes of wonderful friends, many of whom are there in the pages of "Nipple".You have a very positive attitude and it sounds like you were surrounded by positive people, too. What would you say to someone who recently got a diagnosis of cancer and is feeling scared and alone? Honestly, my first reaction would be to say, "Call me. I'm here, you're not alone." I wouldn't wish this diagnosis on my worst enemy, and my heart bleeds for those facing the breast cancer battle. But, since wrapping my arms around millions of strangers isn't possible, the best advice I can give is to take a deep breath. Take things one step at a time. The journey from victim to survivor is a long and difficult road, but it's doable. There are many resources available to the victims of this disease, and so many survivors out there who know what you are going through and want to help. Your doctor can hook you up with a support group locally, or you can go to Komen.org. Their range of resources is phenomenal. And don't forget to let God help. His lap is a safe and comforting refuge. That’s great advice. You’re a romance writer as well as a non-fiction writer, so I’m curious…what’s the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for you?LOL As a romance writer, I know I should answer by describing an incredibly lovely evening, full of candlelight and soft music and the warm caress of a tropical breeze while my husband and I shared a curtained lounge on the secluded deck of a cruise ship—but… ;-) When I think of the most romantic thing I've ever experienced, my mind conjures up the words of a male friend who once told me I had sexy feet. It was an innocent comment, with no romantic undertones, but the compliment has always stuck with me. And my friend…Oh, I'm sure he's gone on to melt the hearts of countless women. LOL. I’ll never think of feet the same again. Congratulations on the release of WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR NIPPLE, Mac, and for writing something that has the potential to help so many people. Anything else you’d like everyone to know? Thanks, Joya. If I can lessen the fear of just one breast cancer victim with the release of Where Would You Like Your Nipple? I will have achieved my goal. As for the rest of you, don't forget to check those Ta Tas. Early detection is the key. You'll be glad you did. Very well said, Mac! Thanks for stopping by today. Please check out an excerpt from WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR NILPPLE by Mackenzie Crowne, and look for her contact and buy links below. Cancer.Though it’s not a four-letter word, it sure conjures up a lot of them. I won't say the first word that popped into my mind, and out of my mouth, when I received the diagnosis of breast cancer — it’s a bad word, my mother would be horrified. I can tell you it wasn’t Whoopee!Crap. That’s like seven letters. My bad. Many other four-letter words quickly joined that first, shocked sentiment. Fear, sick, pain, loss, hell, dead... You get the drift. If you’re reading this and have received a similar diagnosis, or know someone who has, I don’t want to scare you. You’re scared enough already, and have probably experienced many of those words yourself, but, though your fears are justified, I can share one four-letter word that trumps all others.Hope.Okay, so it took me a little while to get from those nasty words to that one. But I did eventually get there. I’m no longer the same woman I was when I began my journey, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sure, I faced some incredibly crappy stuff, but I also learned a lot about myself in the process. Let me tell you, living like you’re dying has some unexpected benefits; once you get past the “holy crap” factor.To do that, I needed to get through the first few weeks. They passed in a haze of doctors’ appointments and terror. Shortly after receiving the diagnosis, I met the first of many breast cancer survivors. Suddenly, like pink ribbons during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, survivors were everywhere. They seemed to come out of the woodwork like members of a secret society, calling to me to enter into the fold. But I didn’t feel I belonged. I wasn’t anything like those women. They danced, victorious, on the other side of an abyss, while I staggered under quiet disbelief. Their acceptance of such a devastating reality made no sense to me. Here were women who had been where I currently stood, and yet, they seemed so confident and upbeat, almost serene. Honestly, I thought they were nut jobs. I certainly didn’t feel like a survivor. I felt like a victim.A wise person once said, “Life happens. It’s time to pull on your big girl panties and deal with it.”Big girl panties in place, I took those first, staggering steps toward survival. Somehow, during the last five, life-altering years, I managed to navigate the abyss to join the survivors waiting for me on the other side. The following pages are my personal observations of my odyssey.I am a survivor. You can be too. Victory is ours. Buy Link:Amazon Digital CopyAmazon.comprint version coming soon. mackenziecrowne.comFacebookTwitter @maccrowne

Romance isn't about flowers and hot sex? #Romancing the HopBlogHop

Romance is Being Part of a Team    This is going to sound soooo unromantic coming from a romance author, but I think that often romance isn’t about flowers and jewelry. Not even about a spicy bedroom life or passionate kisses.
    Often, the most romantic thing about a relationship is being a team. Individually, each partner is pretty good. Together, they can be downright unstoppable. You know that expression “two heads are better than one?” Well, what if those two “heads” were not only committed intellectually, but also romantically? That bond—that close-in-a-way-you’ve-never-been-with-anyone-else-bond—can be the force that makes it easier to get things done.
    Whether it’s dealing with a personal battle, brainstorming ideas for a book (yep, my awesome hubby does this for me!), painting a room, or making an important financial decision, working as a team can strengthen a relationship and bring more power to a situation.
    Of course, flowers, jewelry and passion add a nice layer to the team. Showing you care, and that you’re thinking of the other person even when they’re not around, is very romantic, too!
    What makes your relationship romantic? I’d love to hear from you!! Leave a comment, and you'll be entered to win in lots of awesome ways:1. $5 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift certificate! I'll pick one commenter (chosen by random.org) from all comments left between now and midnight September 3rd from my blog.2. Blog Hop prizes! Your comment here also makes you eligible for:
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card3rd Grand Prize: A Large Swag Pack (open to U.S. only)  Check out all the particpants in A Romancing the Hop Blog Hop  The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to win a Kindle Fire/Nook Color Grand Prize, $130 gift card, and large swag pack. PLEASE COMMENT WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS so we know how to contact you.
Thanks very much for stopping by!Joya's Books:
Amazon   Barnes and Noble  The Wild Rose Press
   Check out all the participating bloggers in Romancing the Hop Blog Hop. The more you visit and comment, the higher your chances of winning the grand prize. Please remember to leave your email address.
 

CONJURE cover reveal! #LeaNolan

   The highly anticipated cover for Lea Nolan’s upcoming novel CONJURE is here and it’s a beauty! After you finish drooling over the intriguing design, be sure to check out the blurb.    And if that’s not exciting enough, Lea’s offering a giveaway today. Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

About CONJURE: Be careful what you search for…
Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry--hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday. When a strange girl appears, bent on revenge; demon dogs become a threat; and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before summer—and her friends--are lost forever.

Where to find Lea:CONJURE on GoodreadsLea's Website Lea on Twitter    
CODE: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lack of Air Conditioning Turned Me Into a Reader!

I'm the guest author today at Long and Short Reviews! We're celebrating LASR's 5th Anniversary! Hope you'll stop by to find out how the lack of air conditioning turned me into an avid reader. Comment for a chance to win Amazon gift certificates.
Click here:  Joya's Guest Post on LASR

Long and Short Reviews Anniversary Celebration

Michael Phelps and I are Book Title Twins!

Joya's Beneath the Surface Buy Link Phelps' Beneath the Surface Buy Link


















   Beneath the Surface! A fitting name for Michael Phelps' autobiography since he's spent so much of his life under water. Also a fitting name for my debut romantic suspense because Brooke Richards, the heroine of my debut romantic suspense, is an underwater archaeologist who spends a great deal of time under the water's surface, too.
   To celebrate my *book twin's* Olympic swimming successes, I'm giving away a swag pack (pictured below) for each Olympic medal that Phelps wins at the 2012 Summer Olympics!! Go, Michael, Go! I hope I give away lots of swag packs!

Joya's swag pack includes tote bag, pen, autographed
bookmark, Romance Trading Cards, pens and
sticky notepad.

Rules:
Leave a comment here on my blog telling me about your favorite Olympic moment so far (be sure to leave your email so I can contact you) to enter.  That's it!! Winners will be drawn August 13th. Contest is open to US only.

Thanks so much for stopping by, enjoy the Olympics, and hope you're reading lots of books this summer, including any and all versions of BENEATH THE SURFACE!

Cover Reveal: LM Preston's THE PACK

Please welcome my friend and fellow Maryland Writers’ Association member LM Preston to the blog today for her cover reveal of the new edition of THE PACK.LM Preston is a YA Science Fiction Author. She loves to blog about books, movies, writing, teen topics and more. Check out this awesome release information:

The Pack (Book 1) Cover Reveal for New Edition. The Pack-Retribution (Book 2) available for review via netgalley.com, comes out in print this September, 2012 and the publisher updated the cover of The Pack to match.

The Pack
Description:
Shamira is considered an outcast by most, but little do they know that she is on a mission. Kids on Mars are disappearing, but Shamira decides to use the criminals most unlikely weapons against them the very kids of which they have captured. In order to succeed, she is forced to trust another, something she is afraid to do. However, Valens, her connection to the underworld of her enemy, proves to be a useful ally. Time is slipping, and so is her control on the power that resides within her. But in order to save her brother's life, she is willing to risk it all.

Praise for THE PACK

- I was most impressed by the author's world building abilities. Mars felt real right from the beginning. I gave it to one of my sons to read. lHe did tell me that "the fighting moves were interesting" and he thought "her sword and weapons were cool.".~By Kristien Howell

- A treasure for scifi readers ~ Midwest Reviews

-This sci-fi for YA jets along, full of action and humor and pathos and even a bit of romance. ~Darby Karchut


Excerpt:
She decided then and there that she would give the Security Force just two days before she would attempt to find him herself. Kids of various Security Force Elite members and the Mars Planet Police were sporadically kidnapped over the years, never to turn up again. Shamira swore she would find them and bring pain to those that took them. As she sat there daydreaming of what she would do to those who hurt the missing kids and Officer McCann, she heard a crack. Without realizing she was doing it, she’d pressed her fork so hard onto her plate that the plate snapped in two.
Purchase your copy here:

AMAZON    Barnes & Noble    Books A Million   Smashwords  

Christi Barth's Cover Reveal and Release Day: Planning for Love

The wait it over! Christi Barth’s newest release is now available. PLANNING FOR LOVE, the first book in The Aisle Bound Trilogy, is a must read if you like sweet and sassy romance with a dash of humor.

Hopeless romantic Ivy Rhodes
and
anti-Cupid Bennett Westcottrequest the pleasure of your company for their disaster of a courtship.
Wedding planner Ivy Rhodes is the best in the business, and she’s not about to let a personal problem stop her from getting ahead. So when she gets an offer to star in the reality TV show Planning for Love,it doesn’t matter that the show’s videographer happens to be a recent—and heartbreaking—one-night stand.

Bennett Westcott can admit that he didn’t handle his encounter with Ivy very well. But looking at her beautiful smile—and, okay, greatbody—through the lens of a camera every day? He can’t be faulted for suggesting they have a little no-strings fun.

The more time Bennett and Ivy spend together, the more he realizes that Ivy isn’t the wedding-crazed bridezilla he’d imagined. But if he doesn’t trust himself to make a relationship last, how can he convince Ivy to give him another chance?


Christi is my good friend and critique partner, and after reading her book, I’m sure you’ll agree she’s an author who will leave you coming back for more.
Check out this excerpt:“I want to taste you, Ivy.” The scrape of his feet against the stones came to a halt. A gentle nudge with his forehead tipped her head back. Their eyes locked. “Why don’t we get a jump on the inevitable? Because I don’t want to wait another moment.”
Ivy had a split second to decide. Stick to her guns—and her professional ethics—and slip out of his arms? Or stay and lock lips with a super sexy man in the moonlight? Really, it was easiest to not decide at all. Her eyelids drifted shut as she waited for Ben to make his move. And waited. Nothing happened. She peeked out from beneath her lashes to see the merest hint of a smirk lifting the edges of Ben’s mouth. Her eyes flew open the rest of the way.
“What? What happened to the tasting and the moment?“The moment’s not right until you decide to commit to it. I promised earlier I wouldn’t steal any more kisses from you. Kissing is interactive. A two-way street. You’ve got to choose to slide behind the wheel and turn the key.”
Why did men turn everything in life into a car metaphor? Well, she could play along. Despite showing every sign of being something of a player, Ben had shown her, with that one little pause, that he also had bucket loads of integrity. No sane, single woman could turn down an honest to goodness gentleman. They were a rare breed, and she didn’t intend to waste this particular chance sighting. Time to seize the day...or at least what was left of the night. “Oh, my motor’s fully revved. You’d better buckle your seatbelt, Mr. Westcott.”Ivy tightened her grip around his neck and went up on her tiptoes to reach his mouth. The mouth she’d stared at off and on all day, remembering the firm albeit brief feel of his lips against hers. He wasn’t the only one who wanted a taste. She puckered up and planted a soft kiss. And then Ben quite expertly elbowed his way back into the driver’s seat.His lips slanted hard across hers, instantly ratcheting the level of heat up from tender to full on sizzle. This was no getting-to-know-you smooch. Ben claimed her mouth with possessive pressure. His teeth nibbled open her lips, allowing his tongue to sweep inside. Her moan of pleasure was all the urging he needed to slide his hands down to not only cup her ass, but lift her off the ground.
Ivy’s world spun. Under the spell of the spring night, she’d yearned for nothing more than a touch, a quiet kiss. She’d wanted a sip of water to slake her lustful thirst. Instead, Ben’s kisses drowned her in a downpour of passion and heat. The arch of her foot curved around his calf, looking for something to ground her. Each stroke of his tongue ignited an array of sparks behind her closed eyes. He tore his mouth away but hovered his lips a breath away from hers. Eyes heavy lidded, he moved not at all, aside from the pounding of his heart thumping through his tuxedo shirt. Suddenly, she realized what he waited to hear.
“Okay, Ben. You’ve convinced me to have a drink with you.”A hum of approval sounded low in his throat. He buried his face in the curve of her neck. And then from somewhere behind them, a short high gasp, and the unmistakable crash of glass breaking on the stone floor. Ben’s grip bobbled, but he didn’t drop her.
“Get your hands off my friend’s ass right now, or I’ll call in someone a lot bigger than me to make you.” Christi Barth earned a Masters degree in vocal performance and embarked upon a career on the stage. A love of romance then drew her to wedding planning. Ultimately she succumbed to her lifelong love of books and now writes contemporary romance. Christi lives in Maryland with her husband. 
Find Christi:
On Twitter: @Christi_barth
Website: www.christibarth.com
Pinterest:  http://pinterest.com/christibarth/

Find PLANNING FOR LOVE at   Amazon   Barnes and Noble   Carina Press

It's a Fact...Couples Fight #SixSunday

{Note: If you're looking for A Hero's Blog Hop July 27-31,  please scroll down to the previous blog or click this link: Joya's Link, A Hero's Blog Hop } Thanks!


Welcome to Six Sentence Sunday: Where writers share six sentences from their published or unpublished books.
Couples fight, right? It’s part of figuring out who they are together. I’d love to hear your view : are disagreements a necessary part of relationships?
In this snippet from my debut novel BENEATH THE SURFACE, Brooke offers to flush out the villain by using herself as a decoy. But there’s no way Garrett, a police officer, is going to let her endanger herself.
  “You’d be the bait?” Garrett practically spat the question at Brooke.   She looked into his fiery eyes. “You want to find your cousin and I want to find out who hurt Linda and Jeff. Why would it be a problem?”   “Uh-uh,” he said.


Purchase links for BENEATH THE SURFACE:
Amazon   Barnes and Noble   The Wild Rose Press

Thanks very much for stopping by today!

Please check out other  Six Sentence Sunday  posts and follow #sixsunday on Twitter, @6_Sunday.

A Hero's BlogHop, July 27-31 W I N a Kindle!

Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Who's your hero?


     Are you ready to hear what your favorite romance heroes have to say? Well, we authors are ready to share our hunky heroes! Starting on Friday and ending on July 31st, over 100 Authors and Bloggers will share their favorite things about romance heroes, a character post from them, and what we love about romance and men in general.      And while we do that, we are EACH doing a giveaway. Yep. There will be over 100 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger.     But that's not all....     We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 100 times!     What makes a hero? In romance, it's often the drop-dead gorgeous guy with ripped abs, bulging muscles, and a weakness for the heroine. In BENEATH THE SURFACE, my debut romantic suspense, Garrett is a big, strong alpha male cop. He doesn't want to fall in love, but of course he can't resist Brooke, the heroine.      So how about real-life heroes? As much as I like to keep my handsome hubby all to myself, there's a part of him in every hero I write. I also tend to write police heroes because you just gotta love a guy who fights to keep everyone else safe, don't you?

Two ways to win from July 27-31:
1. Joya's contest: win a $5 Amazon gift card! Follow this blog and leave me a comment to let me know you're now following. (If you're already a follower, just leave a comment telling you already follow.) If you'd like to leave a comment about your personal hero, I'd love to hear about that, too, and you get one extra entry in my gift card contest for commenting about your hero.
2. A Hero's Blog Hop Grand Prize Contest! Each comment on this blog, and all of the other blogs in A Hero's Hop, qualifies you for an entry to win:

1st Grand Prize: Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet 2nd Grand Prize: $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card 3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack!(Gift card contest is open to international/swag is US only)
 Check out all the particpants in A Hero's Blog Hop HERE The more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to win a Kindle Fire/Nook Color Grand Prize and  gift card, and large swag pack.  PLEASE COMMENT WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS so we know how to contact you.

And now…an excerpt starring Garrett Ciavello, a true hero.
     For the first time since the accident, Brooke forgot about her leg. Forgot about all she’d lost and focused on the way Garrett made her feel.      She knew she needed to stop him. She should find a way to resist the temptation to be with him. But for a few minutes, she could enjoy the taste of him, the feel of him, couldn’t she?      He dropped his hands to her waist and softened the kiss before trailing a line of kisses down her neck. A weak cry slipped from her mouth. “Garrett,” she whispered.      She should stop this now before it got any more intense.      He lifted her chin and forced her to meet his brown eyes, smoky with desire. Heat spiraled to her middle and she caught a whiff of his sawdust scent.      “I…I can walk you back to your own room before I head to mine.” His voice broke as he whispered.       She swallowed hard. She couldn’t do this right now with him. Too many obstacles stood in their way. But as she looked in his somber eyes, she realized none of those complications were bigger than her need for Garrett.       “Let’s go to your room,” she said, her voice shaking. She moved her hands inside his shirt and ran them over his tight abs and chest. Heat soared through her body at the feel of him. “Together…” Beneath the Surface is available now!
Joya's Amazon Author Page        Joya's Barnes and Noble Page

Click HERE for a complete list of A Hero's Blog Hop participants. Thanks for stopping by!!

Sizzling Summer Romance-Time to Chat It Up!

Summer Reading at its best! What's a better combination than books and summertime? How about books, summertime and reading!! Books, swag, and a grand prize of $100 gift card.

I'm honored be guesting on the Author Chat at TRR today. Stop by to say *hi* and hopefully win a bunch of cool prizes. Click this link: Sizzling Summer Reads Author Chat with Joya Fields


  Joya's Books on Amazon    Joya's Books on Barnes and Noble