Zara Stoneley's Blog, page 5

Two Book Deal with Harper Collins

'I'm so delighted to welcome to HarperImpulse the sexpot herself, @ZaraStoneley erotica writer extraordinaire!!!!!'  Charlotte Ledger, Content Developer - HarperImpulse

Wow, how is that for an introduction?

The sexy James, and fun loving Kezia will be hitting the e-shelves on 7th November 2013, with a paperback out at a later date. I will keep you informed! And, before release date, I will be posting an excerpt on my free reads page - don't miss it!

The acquisition announcement and cover reveal was made by HarperImpulse on Tuesday - you can read it here.
And if you haven't read my 'call story' and would like to find out more then click here to see the post on my blog.

The weather has cooled down over here in the UK, which means more days spent cuddling round the log fire and writing my next book - I do love this story of a bad boy biker and a rich girl with attitude! I hope you will too!

In the meantime, I hope you've had a brilliant summer where you are - why not extend it a bit by reading a hot story of summer surrender....?  Pre-order from Amazon (UK), Amazon (COM)

‘The Call’ – A two book deal with Harper Collins!

I'm absolutely thrilled I can finally announce that my next erotic novel will be published by one of
‘The Big Five’! I have signed a contract with Harper Collins for two erotic romances, which will be published under the company’s digital first imprint HarperImpulse.

And even though I have had other books published, this was the first time I’d actually got ‘The Call’.....

I sent ‘Summer of Surrender’ to Harper Collins on impulse(!). I’d read so many positive stories about them, and I loved the covers and stories they were publishing – they looked like a dream team to me - but I still had those doubts about whether it was worth sending my story in. What if it was too racy for them? They hadn't yet released any erotic stories and I just didn't know what they’d think about mine! (They have released one now, by the wonderful Aimee Duffy, and more are on the way).

I hesitated, sent it off to another publisher and packed my suitcase for an early morning flight to Barcelona. But, sitting on the plane, I still wasn't sure I’d done the right thing – I wanted to be part of the HarperImpulse team. On the beach next day, with the mojitos flowing I suddenly decided that if I didn't try, I’d never know, and if it was too spicy then I could always write something a bit sweeter. Luckily my other half had his laptop with him (at the apartment not the beach!), and the story was saved up there in the cloud. So, sat on a sunny terrace in Barcelona I wrote a covering letter and hit send. Then had another mojito!

A couple of days later I had an offer from the other publisher. What should I do now? I emailed the lovely Charlotte Ledger and explained the situation to her. I got an email response almost instantly, she had just left the office and would be away for a few days. Could I wait until next week for an answer?

I waited, bit my nails. Waited. Couldn't wait any longer (I'm not very patient). Sent a very apologetic email asking if there was any news, then went out. When I checked my emails on my mobile ten minutes later she’d already replied. She had been looking for my phone number when my email had popped up, could we have a chat? Yes, yes, yes! I raced home and sat by the phone. Nudged it. Checked it was working. Filed my nails. Annoyed the cat. Annoyed my other half. Then she rang, ‘The Call’!!

The instant she spoke I knew I’d made the right decision in sending my manuscript to HarperImpulse, I’d been right to wait…. And I was so relieved that I hadn't shocked Charlotte with my scorching story! I can’t remember everything she said, but I did gather that she loved the story and wanted to publish it! My other half came up to sit with me on the bed and listen to all my ‘yes’, ‘wow’, ‘thank you’ and ‘pleases’. Then he took me out to celebrate. Since then things have just got better and better, Harper are a great team to work with – I already love them to bits and the hardest bit has been keeping the secret until now!

Next week I'm off down to London for a party at Harper Collins (me, at an author party with my publisher, wow!) and I can’t wait to meet Charlotte and the team, some of their other authors and romance readers and writers. I will report back!

So, that is my call story. I'm thrilled, excited and still a bit shell shocked. My first book with HI, ‘Summer of Surrender’ will be released as an e-book on 7th November 2013, and will be available as a paperback at a later date. You can pre-order it now from Amazon (com) or Amazon (UK) and I’ll be updating my website www.ZaraStoneley.com with more news and an excerpt soon!

And, in case you've missed it, here is the stunning cover.....

Written Fireside October: A Witch By Chance, Part 3

If you've not read the previous parts yet, catch up with Part 1 and Part 2 before reading on!



Part 3...
Ivy moved to touch her wrist, to grab the bangle that was tightening around it, but the strangers hand was there first. His palm covered the confining band, firm fingers brushed over her skin. Warm, a caress that seemed to drift through her body, seep into her bloodstream, make her forget. She drew in a sharp breath, glanced up, straight into that mesmerising amber gaze.“Let me help.” And he had both her wrists and had eased her to her feet before she could object.She shook her head, suddenly angry at herself. “Hey, how do you know my name? I don’t know you, do I?” She tried to pull free, but his hold, though gentle, seemed to have a strange force that she instinctively knew it was useless to resist. “Who the hell are you? And where did that damned cat disappear to?” Ivy glanced round, suddenly remembering Karma, and why she was there in the first place.“I’m a friend, and Karma knows how to take care of himself.” A finger of dread traced down Ivy’s spine. He knew her name, he knew her cat. She knew she shouldn’t have come here. Being an investigative reporter came with one massive drawback, it meant she was so nosy that when an anonymous note was dropped on her desk she had to follow it up. And the fact that the house was practically at the end of her road had made it even more irresistible.“Your time has come, Ivy.” She didn’t like the sound of that. But he didn’t look evil, or at least he was very sexy evil.He looked upwards and she followed the line of his sight, up over the dark shadows of trees to the black ink of the sky, higher to the full moon that seemed to shimmer behind its misty veil. “Accept the destiny you have chosen, don’t fight it. You have a job to do.”He softened his hold on her wrists, lifted her hands and she glanced down. The bracelet shone with an eerie glow, reflecting the silvery moonlight which picked out the strange markings etched deep into its surface. But the one that stood out was a crescent, a small crescent that matched the one on the strangers arm.
And then she remembered where she had seen it.
To be continued Saturday October 12th byKari Lemor on her blog
While you are waiting, why not check out her SYTYCW 2013 entry?Protecting His Son

If you want to see the full schedule for the story please see my previous post, here.

Written Fireside - A Witch by Chance

You might have seen tweets and links I shared in September about Written Fireside. I'm really excited that this month I've been invited to take part - thank you Lori Connelly! And as it's October, there's a touch of Halloween spookiness about it... witches and black cats anyone?

So if you've not heard of it before, this is what it's about....a variety of authors gather around the virtual fire for a month and pass a story along across their blogs. Lori started the story off, Aileen continues it today and then my part will be published on Tuesday. So if you'd like to catch up please follow the links for the first two parts (if you want to find out about the other authors taking part please click on the links - but their part of the story won't be up yet!). Don't forget to stop by here again on Tuesday for Part 3!

A Witch by Chance

A new part every Tuesday & Saturday

Part 1 by Lori Connelly on Tuesday October 1st

Part 2 by Aileen Harkwood on Saturday October 5

Part 3 by Zara Stoneley on Tuesday October 8

Part 4 by Kari Lemor on Saturday October 12

Part 5 by Sarah Lefebve on Tuesday October 15

Part 6 by Carmel Harrington on Saturday October 19

Part 7 by Teresa F Morgan on Tuesday October 22

Part 8 by Lynn Marie Hulsman on Saturday October 26

Part 9 by Jane Lark on Tuesday October 29

Cover reveal!

What do you think? I have to admit I just love any picture of Jimmy Thomas, but this one just captures the book perfectly. Love it, love it, love it!

'Making It Good Enough' is the third book in the Good Enough series, and will be available before Christmas.

There are three books in the series, and this is the final one. So, if you've been waiting to find out if Charlie and Anna stick together, and if Holly and Dane work out their problems - you won't have to wait much longer!

I really loved writing this book - there are rampaging cows, weddings being gate-crashed by unwelcome guests, a shock visitor for Holly and of course the gorgeous Dane - who has the power to make Holly's cowboy fantasies come true with a rope and a camp fire! Enough teasing for now?



'Good Enough to Share' -

'Fun and Sexy. Love the humor, emotions, and sex that the author so cleverly intertwined.'

'My only problem with this book was that it wasn't long enough.'

Nearly the end of summer already?

Morning! I can't believe it's the 28th August already - where did that summer go?! I've been mad busy for the last couple of months, but thought I should launch my revamped website and new blog with a short post explaining a few why's and what's!

Why the new blog? If you already know me, then you will probably be aware that I've had a 'blogger blog' for some time (well, two actually). The other blogs aren't going - you can find the links to them under the heading 'More'.
I will still use my original blogs in much the same way I do now - I'll feature some of my wonderful author friends and tell you about their books, I'll share snippets from my books, reviews, and on the Susie Medwell blog continue to share occasional craft posts and update the list of publishers open to submissions.

Over here I will give you all my book news - cover reveals, news on contracts, release dates, stories I'm working on and any events I will be attending as an author (such as November's Festival of Romance in Bedford).

Summer has certainly whizzed by. Here's a quick run down of mine! I've been away a couple of times (to Barcelona - one of my favourite cities) and topped up the tan, my son had his GCSE results (which were brilliant - I'm a proud mum!) so we had to celebrate those, I've finished the much demanded story about James (from Riding High) and Book 3 of the Good Enough series will be off to the editor soon.

I've had some very exciting news on the publishing front - but I can't share yet, which is murder because I really, really do want to spill the beans! I'l be sharing as soon as I can!

I hope you've had a great summer - let me know what you've been up to :-) 

#SexySnippet Time!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend - I thought I'd try and spice it up a little!

My seven sentences are from my current WIP which is (at the moment!) called 'Surrender Your Soul.' When 'Riding High' came out at the end of last year, lots of people said they wanted to read more about James, so here he is!

The shiver that prickled its way over her skin went deeper, set each part of her body on edge. Waiting. She let out the breathe she’d been holding, tried not to sway her body in time with the mesmerising stroke of his thumbs.‘I want to do things to you that nobody else ever has. I want,’ his fingers stilled and she stopped breathing, ‘you to let me do whatever I want.’Her stomach muscles tightened. He was saying just the right things to make every bit of her want to cry out to him, and he was saying it like he meant it.
I hope you enjoyed my snippet, don't forget to check out  ->> all the others.

And the winner is...

Thanks to everyone who took part in the Ella's turning what? Blog Hop .

It was great fun - I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did and found some new reads to add to the TBR list!

The winner from this blog, picked using random.org, is
Kathy Osborn

And the winner of the Grand Prize is
Book Attict from Kristabel Reed's blog.

Congratulations!

Ella’s Turning What? Birthday Blog Hop

If you didn't arrive here via Ella Jade's blog then you might be wondering what's going on! Ella is celebrating her 40th Birthday - and she knows how to throw a good party!! We're sharing birthday memories with her today and there's lots of treats up for grabs - leave a comment here and win a copy of my erotic romance 'Good Enough to Share' (if you've already read it there will be an alternative), PLUS get entered into the draw for the grand prize, then check out all the OTHER BLOGS to be in with a chance to win lots more prizes.
Grand Prize ** $100 Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) Gift Card **
Winner will be announced and contacted on Monday morning. 

I had a great start to my birthday last year, the first email I opened was from my editor to tell me that my
erotic romance 'Freefalling' had been released - much earlier than I'd expected! This year I'm expecting something a bit different - it's a BIG birthday and my other half has told me I'm being whisked away for the night to a secret location. Now, do I pack for a naughty night in or a sophisticated night out?! Knowing him it will be a bit of both ;-)

I'm not a great one for surprises - I like to know what I'm doing and where I'm going, but I've promised to be good and not try and find out what he's up to! There's still a month to go, so whether I'll last out - or try and seduce the secret from him before then, I'm not sure.... (any suggestions?!)

What about you? Do you like to be surprised, or do you like to know every last detail?

Anyhow, I'm sure you'll all be joining me in wishing Ella a fab birthday. And don't forget to leave a comment on this post to enter my giveaway - you will also then be automatically entered for that brilliant grand prize (please leave contact details). To find out more, and see the full list of other participating blogs just click HERE. Good luck!

Breathless Press Fourth Anniversary Tour

I'm over at We Love Kink today (a great interview and some lovely comments so far) - why not stop by, leave a comment and be in with a chance to win a Kindle Fire, or one of the other great prizes?

To be in with a greater chance of winning you need more entries! Follow all the other stops on the tour and leave a comment - check them out HERE.