Constance Phillips's Blog, page 15

Friday’s Featured Author: Mila Winters

 This week’s featured author is a friend that I met through my local writing group, and I can’t wait for all of you to get to know a little more about her and her recent release The Love She Wants.

Before we get to the interview, let’s get to know a bit about Mila. Following the interview are more details about her book.

Mila Winters

Mila lives in a little house, in a little town, in the Midwest with her partner and their not so little Springer Spaniel. By day she works with teenagers and by night she writes books they probably shouldn’t read.

Mila loves watching way too much television, staying up past her bedtime, learning about obscure history, and falling asleep to the stories in her head.

Connect with Mila: Facebook | Website

The Interview

Tell us about your latest release?

My latest (and first) release is a sexy relationship romance entitled The Love She Wants. It’s about Kayla and Tommie, two women who love each other, but are scared to acknowledge something is missing in their relationship. Each is afraid to admit their desires, until they realize to have a true relationship, they must ask for what they need in the bedroom and out of it.

  Are you a plotter or pantser?

I wish I were a pantser! All of my pantser friends seem to have such fun writing their stories. I’d love to be surprised and excited about finding out what happens next in my book as I’m writing it. But, the reality is, I would get almost nothing done if I were a pantser. I need to follow a map or I’d get lost, like wind up writing a cookbook, lost. And I don’t even cook.

What was the most difficult part of the publishing process for you?

The hardest part of the publication process for me has been learning to get out of my own way. I have avoided writing, written the first few chapters and then jumped to another story and then another, written the entire book and then refused to edit it, edited the book but never sent it to publishers and, well you get the picture.  Writing is so personal and nobody wants to suck at it.  To save myself from sucking, I unconsciously refused to finish the process. The only reason The Love She Wants got published is because I was taking a writing class and my instructor suggested I send it to Black Velvet Seductions. Having someone show confidence in my work made me realize, I can do this.

  How about the most fun?

The most fun part was going on Amazon and seeing my book listed there for any and every one to buy. It was a thrill I can’t really describe, though as a writer, I’m not sure if that is something I should admit.

What inspired you to write your first book? 

I wrote my first book in the third grade for a school project and loved it so much I knew I wanted to be a writer someday.  Thirty plus years later, two comments from two different friends inspired me to write The Love She Wants. While in college a friend of mine got laughed out of a class when she made an assumption about what lesbians do in the bedroom. That memory has always stuck with me, probably because her naiveté was so cute. Twenty years later, a different friend mentioned her partner was uncomfortable doing certain things in the bedroom because she is a feminist. Those comments made me wonder what it would be like if my heroine wanted a certain type of relationship but political correctness was getting in the way. Out of that, The Love She Wants was born.

Do you have any writing rituals? (Time of day to write, must have beverages? Etc?)

Well I don’t know if this is a ritual, or just a bad habit, but when I write my first draft I’m usually on my Alpha Smart word processor with the television blaring in the background. And sometimes I’m watching television while I write. Please don’t judge me.

 Who is your go-to author, the one you know you can always count on to deliver a great story?

For a great historical romance, there is no one like Lisa Kleypas. I’ve been reading her books for almost thirty years and she is just a fabulous writer. Now, if I’m in the mood for a hot, uber alpha contemporary hero, Lynda Chance is my girl. The only problem is her books are so yummy I never have one in my to be read pile

What projects are you working on at the present?

Currently I’m working on another f/f book with a really hot protagonist named Eli and the girl she’s trying hard not to fall for. As you can guess, she’s losing that fight.

What do your plans for future projects include?

I’m also editing a historical western currently titled Dangerous to Know. It’s about a former minister turned bounty hunter and the woman who is the key to his decade long quest for revenge.

 The Love She Wants

Asking for what you want is hard. Asking for what you need is even harder. Kayla and Tommie have been dancing around those needs in their relationship for so long they have almost forgotten what it feels like to be satisfied. Can the tango and the steamy nights in each other’s arms force them to demand the love they need?

The Love She Wants is a highly erotic short story of lesbian desire, a seductive tango leading to a night of taboo sex!

 

BUY: Amazon | Barnes and Noble |Smashwords

Release Day Blitz! Sarah Nicolas’ Dragons are People, Too

Never judge a dragon

by her human cover…

Sixteen-year-old Kitty Lung has everyone convinced she’s a normal teen—not a secret government operative, not the one charged with protecting the president’s son, and certainly not a were-dragon. The only one she trusts with the truth is her best friend—and secret crush—the über-hot Bulisani Mathe.

Then a junior operative breaks Rule Number One by changing into his dragon form in public—on Kitty’s watch—and suddenly, the world knows. About dragons. About the Draconic Intelligence Command (DIC) Kitty works for. About Kitty herself.

Now the government is hunting down and incarcerating dragons to stop a public panic, and a new shape-shifting enemy has kidnapped the president’s son. Kitty and Bulisani are the last free dragons, wanted by both their allies and their enemies. If they can’t rescue the president’s son and liberate their fellow dragons before getting caught themselves, dragons might never live free again.

Read the first chapter and get more info at Entangled Teen’s homepage! Follow along with the blog tour for excerpts, reviews, and an awesome giveaway!

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Kobo | iTunes | Signed Print Copy

About the Author

Sarah is a 30-something YA author who currently lives in Orlando, FL. She believes that some boys are worth trusting, all girls have power, and dragons are people too.

She’s a proud member of the Gator Nation and has a BS in Mechanical Engineering, but has switched careers entirely. She now works as an Event Coordinator for a County Library. She also blogs at YAtopia.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Tumblr | Goodreads

Friday Featured Author – Jenna Rutland Talks Just for Appearances

It is my absolute pleasure to have my dear friend, Jenna Rutland, here today to tell all of you about herself and her brand new release, Just for Appearances.

I know many of you — like me — have been waiting for this book since we finished her first release Just for the Summer. So, I’m not going to keep you from what you’re here to read about a minute longer.

Jenna Rutland

Jenna Rutland lives in a small Michigan community with her husband. She has two grown children and two grandchildren. While her days are spent working as a medical transcriptionist, her nights are filled writing contemporary romance—stories of love, laughter and happily ever after. Guess which occupation is more fun?

She is a member of RWA and is a board member of Maumee Valley Romance Authors Inc.

Jenna takes pleasure in spending time with her family. She also enjoys reading, gardening and loves the challenge of a new recipe.

Jenna welcomes the chance to connect with writers and readers. For more information, head to her website, and hang out with Jenna on Facebook and Twitter.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads  

Tell us about your latest release?

Just For Appearances is the story of single mom, Rachel, who is in desperate need for a summer nanny. Her first love, John, is back in Lake Bliss to build a youth activity center. The town still has a grudge against him from the past, so he makes a deal with Rachel—he’ll watch her kids for the summer if she’ll help him convince the town to support his project. Of course, things get a bit complicated the more time they spend together!

  Just For Appearances is the second book in your Lake Bliss series. Will there be more?

Absolutely! The third book in the series will be Jack’s story. Someone from his past becomes a very important part of his future!

Your Lake Bliss series is about people who end up coming to the Lake, but then end up staying. Have you ever vacationed or visited somewhere that you would have like to have relocated to?

On our 20th anniversary, my husband and I went to South Haven, Michigan and stayed at a beautiful B&B. The town is so charming, I immediately fell in love with it. It’s also on Lake Michigan and has an amazing lighthouse. I could see us spending our summers there!

  Do you have a favorite vacation spot?

We have two beautiful granddaughters and another grandchild on the way. So at this point in our lives, our favorite vacation is heading to North Carolina to see them.

  Are you a plotter or pantser?

I’m a loose plotter. I need to know the beginning, middle, and end, and what kind of troubles the hero and heroine will encounter. The rest will come to me as I’m writing.

  What inspired you to write your first book?

I haven’t been writing all my life, but I’ve always been an avid romance reader and possibly because of that, an avid daydreamer. Whether watching a movie, TV show, or reading a book, I’d come up with my own ending or a completely different story with the characters. It really wasn’t until about 12 years or so ago that I got the itch to write my own stories.

  What projects are you working on at the present?

I’m working on Jack’s book and also organizing my thoughts on a series of holiday novellas, plus a whole slew of ideas rumbling around in my head.

Just For Appearances 

Hot man for hire…

Rachel Clarke is a single mom with three boys, and she needs help. Now. Unfortunately, her only option is John MacDonald—her high school sweetheart and the disgraced hometown hero who’s just returned to Lake Bliss. He’s perfect for the job. He cooks, he cleans, and he’s amazing with kids. He’s also still far too sinfully hot for Rachel’s comfort…

Rachel is just as gorgeous as John remembers. But in order for his new youth activity center to be a success, John needs Rachel’s help to earn the town’s trust back. In exchange, he’ll take care of her boys for the summer while she works. Except keeping their relationship strictly business is harder than he imagined. But summer can’t last forever, and when it ends, so will their arrangement—and John’s time in Lake Bliss.

Buy Just for Appearances at The Entangled Bookstore.

Writer Wednesday at Arlene Hittle’s Site

A huge thank you to Arlene Hittle for inviting me to stop by her blog today to answer her quick This or That interview and talk about my upcoming relaunch of Resurrecting Harry.

You can read the whole post at Arlene’s Site.

Tuesday Teaser: Fairyproof Gets a New Cover, Relaunch May 30

As with the soon-to-be relaunched Resurrecting Harry, the rights to Fairyproof were recently returned to me. The book is getting a similar cover-makeover, thanks to Kim Jacobs and Calliope Designs.

So…Here is the new look for Fairyproof.

Fairyproof

After her parent’s death and an unwanted proposal, fairy Monique seeks refuge in the human world, even though her brother has warned her of the dangers. She believes Hiding will be a breeze. She can control any human with a flirtatious smile and an attraction spell. Until she meets Daniel Elliot, the only human who’s immune to both.

This book is also available in audio.

 

Friday Featured Author Interview: Jan Scarbrough

 Today, I am so happy to have fellow Turquoise Morning Press author, Jan Scarbrough, here for my Friday Featured Author Interview.  Before we get down to the Q & A, have a look at Jan’s biography.

Jan Scarbrough

Jan Scarbrough is the author of the popular Bluegrass Reunion series, writing heartwarming contemporary romances about family and second chances, and if the plot allows—horses. Living in the horse country of Kentucky makes it easy for Jan to add small town, Southern charm to her books, and the excitement of a horse race or a competitive horse show. A member of Novelist, Inc., Jan has published with Kensington, Five Star, ImaJinn Books, Resplendence Publishing and Turquoise Morning Press.

Visit Jan at http://www.janscarbrough.com

Sign up for Jan’s newsletter http://www.janscarbrough.com/contact/

You can also follow Jan on Twitter @romancerider

Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/janscarbrough

Now…For the interview!

Tell us about your latest release?

Kentucky Blue Bloods is the eighth book in my Bluegrass Reunion series for Resplendence Publishing. The books stand alone with the theme of second chances. All set in Kentucky, I add a horse or two whenever I can.

The most fun part about writing Kentucky Blue Bloods was the research. I read several books on the horse industry in Lexington. I also took a private tour of horse farms, a rehab facility and Keeneland as part of the research. I also met Monarchos, the 2001 Kentucky Derby winner, and got to feed him peppermints. You can read about my experience and see pictures at my blog.

Are you a plotter or pantser?

For those of you who don’t know, pantser refers to those authors who write by the seat of their pants. Because I always start with a basic chart, I never thought I was a pantser until an online instructor told me I am.

She’s right! If I try to fill in detailed character grids or create a step-by-step outline, my mind clogs up. The ideas get stuck somewhere else. The story is miserable.

My best bet is to take the bare bones and start writing. Somehow the characters start driving the story. What happens and how it happens gets fleshed out. I’ve gotten better at it over the years. I’m learning to trust what comes.

  What was the most difficult part of the publishing process for you?

The actual writing. Seeing the blank screen and putting down the words. Revising is easy. I don’t mind being edited. It’s the initial story, fitting the puzzle pieces together, that’s the hardest.

  How about the most fun?

I’m not sure sometimes where the words come from my mind. They just sort of flow through my fingertips to the computer keyboard and onto the screen. It’s like magic. My medium friend tells me my spirit guides help me write. She even tells me I channel as I write. That’s fun. When you are surprised by what comes out on the computer screen.

  What inspired you to write your first book? 

Seriously, I almost died. I was in intensive care four days. My family didn’t think I would make it. So after I got well, I thought it was time to fulfill my dreams. I took a writing class with Karen Robards and then started doing it. Tangled Memories was one of my first books. In it, I describe my experience through the eyes of the heroine. One of my other first books is Kentucky Flame. Ms. Robards said to start each book with a life-threatening incident, so I stared that book with a barn fire.

  Do you have any writing rituals? (Time of day to write, must have beverages? Etc.?)

No. Just finding the time is hard enough. Day jobs are necessary but time-consuming.

Who is your go-to author, the one you know you can always count on to deliver a great story?

C.J. Box – I love his Joe Picket series. My husband and I listen to his audio books when we travel.

  What projects are you working on at the present?

A believe in second chances, I’m revising Betting on Love. I also have the rights back to My Lord Raven and Tangled Memories. These books have already gotten new covers, but I’m going to give them another polish before self-publishing them. I’m a better writer today than when I wrote them.



What do your plans for future projects include?

I owe Turquoise Morning Press a book in the Montana McKenna’s series called Mercer. Then I want to work on a new series set in Kentucky at a horse farm.

Check out Jan’ Bluegrass Reunion series!

The Bluegrass Reunion novels are heartwarming, contemporary romances about family and second chances. Each romance stands alone.

The Bluegrass Reunion Series was published in this order, but each romance stands alone:

Kentucky Cowboy—She dumped him in high school, because he was a risk-taker.
Kentucky Woman—She loved him when she was a teenager, but they never connected.
Kentucky Flame—She had his baby, but he left not knowing the truth.
Kentucky Groom—She can’t afford to fall in love with a lowly groom.
Kentucky Bride—She rejected him once, but he’s willing to try again.
Kentucky Heat—She doesn’t need to take on another project, but he won’t take no for an answer. (Sequel to Kentucky Bride.)
Kentucky Rain—She has responsibilities to her daughter and herself, not to the handsome guy next door. (Sequel to Kentucky Cowboy.)
Kentucky Blue Bloods—She wants to save the family horse farm, but he has other ideas.

 

Tuesday Teaser: Jan Scarbrough’s Bluegrass Reunion Novels

On today’s Tuesday Teasers, I am so pleased to have Jan Scarbrough’s Bluegrass Reunion novels.

Jan Scarbrough’s Bluegrass Reunion novels are heartwarming, contemporary romances about family and second chances at love. Each romance stands alone. All are set in Kentucky and deal in various ways with a famous Kentucky product. No, not bourbon, but horses! Each book stands alone. However, they all have the underlining theme of reunion.

Six of the eight books in the series will be placed on Kindle Unlimited where subscribers read for free.

 Kentucky Cowboy—She dumped him in high school, because he was a risk-taker.

 Kentucky Woman—She loved him when she was a teenager, but they never connected.

 Kentucky Flame—She had his baby, but he left not knowing the truth.

 Kentucky Groom—She can’t afford to fall in love with a lowly groom.

 Kentucky Bride—She rejected him once, but he’s willing to try again.

 Kentucky Heat—She doesn’t need to take on another project, but he won’t take no for an answer. (Sequel to Kentucky Bride.)

 Kentucky Rain—She has responsibilities to her daughter and herself, not to the handsome guy next door. (Sequel to Kentucky Cowboy.)

 Kentucky Blue Bloods—She wants to save the family horse farm, but he has other ideas.

From KENTUCKY COWBOY:

Seeing Judd Romeo again after ten years, my heroine Mandy is stunned.

Fisting her hand, Mandy pounded on the door. Then she stuck both hands into her pants pockets, knocking her car keys out of the right pocket. She bent down to pick them up.

The door opened and a pair of hand-tooled, black leather cowboy boots stepped into her line of vision.

For an instant, Mandy forgot to breathe, and then her breath came too quickly. Her heart raced. She glanced up. Up past the pointed toes of expensive leather boots, past tight Wranglers, past a big gold belt buckle pressed against a flat belly and a white Western shirt that delineated a broad chest and brawny arms, and into the piercing blue eyes of Judd Romeo.

She tipped her head back, unprepared for what she saw. Time seemed to stand still. Judd shifted his stance and flashed his familiar, bad boy smile. There was a Colin Farrell edginess about him, a sexy untamable quality that welled up from every fiber of his cowboy persona.

“Hello, Mandy,” he said.

Find all buy links here!  KIndle Unlimited: Kentucky Woman | Kentucky Cowboy

Jan Sacrbrough’s Bio

Jan Scarbrough is the author of the popular Bluegrass Reunion series, writing heartwarming contemporary romances about family and second chances, and if the plot allows—horses. Living in the horse country of Kentucky makes it easy for Jan to add small town, Southern charm to her books, and the excitement of a horse race or a competitive horse show. A member of Novelist, Inc., Jan has published with Kensington, Five Star, ImaJinn Books, Resplendence Publishing and Turquoise Morning Press.

 Website | Sign up for Jan’s newsletter | Twitter | Amazon author page

Not Feeling Guilty About Anticipating the New Deadliest Catch Season

If  you follow this blog, you know I’m a fan of many of the reality shows you see on Discovery channel, TLC, etc.

So, it goes without saying that I’ve been counting down the days until tomorrow season premiere of Deadliest Catch.

To whet my appetite, Discovery gave me one of their infamous marathons featuring my favorite bad-ass captains–some of which served as inspiration for my novel that was released last year, The Ultimate Catch.

Even though the book just released last August, I had begun writing it years before. Long before a woman actually graced the deck of a crab fishing boat (Go Mandy!)

I’ve often been asked where I got the idea to set a romance novel on a working crab fishing boat. And, yes, the first inspirations came from watching episodes of this show. But, it was only the seeds of the story that came from watching TV.

They were the obvious seeds…

I love a strong hero…and you tell me who’s stronger than the guys who wrestle with the Bering Sea.

I’ve been asked if Keller is molded after any one of the Deadliest captains. The answer is–like most of the characters I’ve written–Keller is a piece of me, and a piece of several people, people I know, and people I see on TV. H’s not modeled after any one captain, but a bit of this and dash of that.

As much as I’m about the tough-guy, though, I’m as equally passionate about my heroines. They need to be tough-as-nails.

Meet Jo.  Strong enough to stand up to the guys on the boat as well as the job, but tender enough to care about her father…and succumb to her attraction to Keller.

The Ultimate Catch aside, I have moved from counting down the hours, instead of the days, to my deepest guilty pleasure…but don’t expect me to feel the least bit guilty about it!

Friday Featured Author: Shawna Romkey

Today’s Featured Author is my good friend, Shawna Romkey. I met Shawna when her book’s release coincided with one of mine. Now, she’s re-releasing Speak of the Devil, and I couldn’t wait to have her stop by and tell us about it.

Welcome, Shawna!

Tell us about your latest release?

My latest release is actually a re-release of my debut novel that came out in 2013. I’ve recently regained the rights to it and am putting it out the way I want to. It is a young adult, paranormal romance featuring angels and demons.

After dying with her two best friends in a tragic car accident, Lily comes back to life only to wind up in the middle of a war between good and evil at a time when God has disappeared.

 

Are you a plotter or pantser?

I don’t know. LOL! I attempt to plot and write up a beat sheet and an outline, but lots of stuff happens by the time the book is done and not all of it sticks to the script. Lots of ad libbing happens and ideas are revealed and characters do things I hadn’t thought of. Then there’s the editing and revision process and more twists and turns happen. So I try to plot it out, but then what happens, happens.

 

What was the most difficult part of the publishing process for you?

My first publisher. Everything about them was difficult. They didn’t take the work seriously, they were careless, they were dishonest. So far in my publishing career I’ve been involved with a scam agent and essentially I’d say a scam publisher. I’m very much looking forward to the self-publishing process.

How about the most fun?

There has been an awful lot of fun! When I was first offered the contract, even though the publisher had it’s issues, I was ecstatic. It was a dream come true. Then having people ask me to sign books? Extra cool. Then having people follow me on twitter and when I followed them back, seeing them tweet that their favorite author just followed them was just shocking and surreal. Conferences are fun. Meeting with other authors is fun. Seeing new covers for the first time is fun. I love writing and I love the interacting with readers. All  great so far!

 

What inspired you to write your first book? 

This first book, Speak of the Devil, actually is based on a real life incident to a point. Three of my friends died in a car accident in high school. I took that incident and tried to find a way to make sense of the tragedy, make meaning out of the meaningless. That’s something I think the fantasy, paranormal genre allows you to do.

Do you have any writing rituals? (Time of day to write, must have beverages? Etc?)

I usually write when I’m on break from work over the summer between May and September. I write first thing in the morning so I don’t have to feel guilty about it all day, and usually write while I’m still in bed. When I say first thing, I mean first thing. But I’m not a slave to the process. Sometimes I meet with writer friends at coffee shops to chat and write. A few times a year we go on writing retreats. So I can write whenever and wherever, but the majority of my writing happens in bed on summer mornings.

 Who is your go-to author, the one you know you can always count on to deliver a great story?

Lately Gillian Flynn, but I’ve read all three of her books now, so don’t know what I’ll do. She needs to get busy on something. She and George RR Martin. :p

What projects are you working on at the present?

Right now I’m working on re-releasing the first two books in the Speak of the Devil series. Book two, The Devil Made Me Do It will release in July. I also am close to finishing a different book, Crow Moon, which is an American gothic style novel about a mixed race character who comes from a long line of witches. I’m hoping to have that one out in October.

What do your plans for future projects include?

My summer writing block will be spend wrapping up the third Speak of the Devil book, The Devil You Know, and finishing that trilogy.

Speak of the Devil

Book one in the Speak of the Devil series

After dying with her two best friends in a tragic car accident, Lily comes back to life only to wind up in the middle of a war between good and evil at a time when God has disappeared.

What happens when falling in love and falling from grace collide?

After dying in a car accident with her two best friends, Lily miraculously awakens to grief and guilt. She escapes to her dad’s to come to terms with the crash and meets some people at her new school who seem all too eager to help her heal. Sliding deeper into sorrow and trying to fight her feelings for two of them, she finds out who…what they really are and learns they are falling too.

Can she find the strength to move on from the past, reconcile her feelings for Luc, figure out a way to stop a divine war with fallen angels, and still pass the eleventh grade?

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | iTunes

About Shawna Romkey

 

Shawna grew up around farms in the heart of Missouri but went to the University of Kansas, was raised in the US but now lives on the ocean in Nova Scotia with her husband, two sons, one rescue dog and one overgrown puppy from hell. She’s a non-conformist who follows her heart.

She’s taught English at the university and secondary levels for close to twenty years and can’t quite fathom how all of her students have grown up, yet she’s managed to stay the same.  She’s a huge geek and fan of Xena, Buffy and all kick ass women, and loves to write stories that have strong female characters.

Find out more about Shawna Romkey: 

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  | Pinterest  |  Goodreads

The Mystique Behind the Man, Revisiting Resurrecting Harry

Over the last couple weeks, I’ve been working behind the scenes to get Resurrecting Harry back on the virtual shelves (after the rights were returned to me at the end of last month.)

As I showed you on the thirty-first of March, we have a new cover. (See below if you missed it.) And I’ve been caught up in the formatting and behind the scenes prep of what it takes to release a book since that date.

As I’ve reread passages of the book, I’ve also been reminiscing about the History Channel mini-series that debuted last year detailing the life of Harry Houdini–with a bit of creative input.

Houdini (History Channel Mini-series) Trailer

I’ve written on these pages before how I have always been intrigued by the idea of Bess–and the dedication to her man, but this clip reminded me of another piece of the Houdini mystique. A reason–I think–that partially explains–his long-lasting popularity.

A person’s need to escape.

It is why we go to the movies, watch television, read books. And, it’s one of the reasons this author asked the question what might it be like to love one of the most famous men in the world.

Resurrecting Harry – Available again, April 30

Devastated by Harry Houdini’s unexpected death, his widow, Bess, clings to his promise to deliver a coded message from beyond the grave. She’s determined to provide the bridge for him to cross, just like she assisted him on the stage, even if that means befriending her husband’s sworn enemy.

In order to save the only woman he’s every loved from self-destruction, Harry puts his afterlife on the line by entering a wager with purgatory’s keeper, Jaden. He gives Harry a younger face and body, and a new name: Erich Welch. Even with Harry’s soul and memories, Erich feel out-of-place and disconnected from everything once his.

Will Erich be able to help Bess over her loss and will any good come from resurrecting Harry?