Terri Osburn's Blog, page 8

I’m So Excited!

And I just can’t hide it. That’s right, book 2 in the Anchor Island Series UP TO THE CHALLENGE is almost here. Less than a week to go. Here’s what some folks are saying on Goodreads.

Mariel says “Sweet Cheez-its! Hot and emotional, this took me for a fantastic ride through the lives of Anchor Island residents. I loved how inter-woven the characters were and everybody, main and supporting cast both were well rounded and well developed.”

Linda says “…new author Terri Osburn did not disappoint! Her Anchor Island series is well worth the read. Have to love Sid and Lucas from the start, how they reconnect due to a family emergency, then watch out as the sparks fly! Make sure you have Terri Osburn on your reading list! I do!! Love her series and cannot wait for the her next book!!“

Michele says “This was an awesome book. Lucas and Sid were hilarious with their back and forth banter. It was written extremely well. Sid was not your typical lead female character. She was not a wounded lost soul looking to be saved by a man. She was very outspoken and only changed to better herself. There were some great lessons for both men and women in this book. I would definitely recommend this book!“ 

And Karen says “I absolutely LOVED this book!!! I read the first in the series beforehand so I would “know” everyone and it had me hooked! In Up to the Challenge, Lucas really redeems himself. Sid really made me laugh out loud at times and I just adored her! There was even a point that I was close to tears and that hasn’t happened in a while. All in all a wonderful, heartwarming story about learning what is really important in life!! Can’t wait for book 3 of this series! ”

I seriously cannot wait for everyone to get their hands on this one. When asked what book is their favorite, most authors will say the one they’re writing. That’s true for me as well, but there is a definitely soft spot in my heart for this one. If you read MEANT TO BE, then you know a bit about Sid Navarro. As the heroine of this book, she was a blast to write. A character with a giant attitude who will say absolutely anything makes for a fun writing experience.

And don’t forget, you can get ahead of the game and pre-order the next book in the series. HOME TO STAY was also a blast to write. All the Anchor regulars play a part, with one or two newbies I think you’ll like as well.

If things look a little different around here, it’s not just your imagination. The week ahead feels like a new beginning, so it only made sense to freshen up the place.

Now speak up. Are you looking forward to UP TO THE CHALLENGE? And what do you think about the changes?

ATTENTION BLOGGERS!

October is going to be a big month for me, and you could get involved in the fun.

First we're setting up a Book Blast for my debut novel MEANT TO BE during the first week of the month. If you're interested in participating, go to http://tinyurl.com/l9n3h2d and sign up.

Later in the month we're celebrating the Oct 22 release of book 2 UP TO THE CHALLENGE with a Release Day Blitz. If you'd like to hop on board this one, you can go to http://tinyurl.com/ktu47o6.

There will be books and gift cards up for grabs, and I'll do my best to visit and chat at every stop. So join the fun as we celebrate Anchor Island all October long!

ATTENTION REVIEWERS!!

I am excited to report that UP TO THE CHALLENGE, Book 2 in the Anchor Island Series, which is set to release October 22nd, is now available on NetGalley.

If you're a reviewer with a blog and are interested in obtaining a review copy, email your info to Terri AT TerriOsburn DOT com so I can make sure your request is approved.

You can find the NetGalley info here > http://bit.ly/15YbLgK.

I can't wait to see how readers respond to this book!

UP TO THE CHALLENGE RELEASE DATE

I am happy to report UP TO THE CHALLENGE, book 2 in my Anchor Island series, will be available for sale on October 22, 2013!

This is the story of Lucas and Sid. Lucas is fresh off a broken engagement, having lost his fiancee to his brother. Sid is close to reaching the dream of her own business, and not ready for forced close contact with Lucas, whom she's loved for half her life.

Sparks, insults, and challenges fly as these two very competitive people make their way to love. I had a blast writing this one, and cannot wait to hear what readers think of it.

It's still available for pre-order, and I will hopefully have some advance copies to give away soon!

Read A Romance Month – Why Romance Matters To Me

August is Read A Romance Month and I was fortunate enough to be asked to take part in telling readers, or anyone interested, why romance matters. Where do I begin?

I can’t remember how I got my hands on my first romance. No one in my house was a reader outside of the Reader’s Digest and the newspaper. My mother didn’t have them hanging around the house, but I managed to find one somewhere. I was 13 (or thereabouts) and life wasn’t exactly wonderful. There were three adults, three kids, a dog, and probably a parakeet at the time, all living in a two bedroom, one bath, one level home.

Lack of privacy or even sanity is not conducive to a young girl smacking headlong into puberty. But when I had my nose in a book, I wasn’t cooped up in that house. I wasn’t bored in the suburbs, lamenting my crooked teeth, baby fat, and ugly clothes. Oh no. In the pages of a romance, I traveled the world. The Wild West, the antebellum South, the English countryside and ballrooms. I stood against the wind in the Highlands, and danced uninhibited through Versailles.

There was a world out there, with space and beauty and people falling in love. Those books became my life lines. Flash forward to senior year of high school. Life had turned topsy-turvy. My living situation had changed, but I was still a social outcast in school. Every ounce of determination in my body was focused on getting out of that town and taking life into my own hands.

The waiting might have done me in until I found a romance novel by Judith McNaught. I know some of her earlier work is controversial these days, but epics like Kingdom of Dreams, Whitney My Love, and all her other books got me through high school alive. (I read them as they were released, so that tells you how long ago this was.)

I’m not really a drama queen, and I’ve never been prone to depression, but I remember how miserable and unhappy I was. Those books kept me going. They helped me believe it was worth holding on until I could break free. They made me laugh and cry and sigh with longing and satisfaction. They saved my life.

I’ve leaned on romance novels quite often since those rough teenage years. When the baby wouldn’t sleep. When the marriage fell apart. When it seemed like the whole world was against me. Or even just when I was really happy. And now, writing my own novels has saved me again in more ways than I could ever explain here.

If my books could do for even one person what romance novels have done for me over the years, then I will have done something truly important in this life. I want to thank Julia London for sharing my name for this wonderful appreciation event. And Ms. McNaught, whom I hope to one day thank in person.

Romance novels matter, because they showed me that I matter.

 

Now to lighten things up with some fun questions:

What is the craziest or ugliest object in your house, and why do you keep it?
Unfortunately, my house is the ugliest thing in my house right now. 2012 is what I refer to as the water curse year. The water heater flooded the living room in January, then in late summer, both a pipe under the house and the drain on the AC system clogged. In less than nine months, I lost all flooring in the bottom floor and have been living on concrete ever since. Not pretty. But I have big plans, and by this time next year, my house is going to look amazing.

If there was a movie made about your life, what would it be called? (And just for fun, who would play you?)

Excellent question! For the title, I’ll go with something a friend asked me recently. “How Are You Not On Prozac?” Now, who would play me? I’d like to say some gorgeous and tall like Charlize Theron, but could never type that with a straight face. I’ll go with Melanie Lynskey, best known for playing Rose on Two And A Half Men.

What is the best non-monetary gift you ever received?
When I was about twenty years old, my first ever boss, who was an amazing woman, gave me a glass card. It’s very simple, with flowers painted on the clear glass, and says “If you look far enough… You’ll find what you seek.” I have always treasured this gift. Twenty years and three states later, I found my calling in romance novels. I guess the card was right.

If you had to pick one romantic scene or couple to recommend to a first-time reader of YOUR books, which would it be? (Any picks for romance novels in general?)

This one is easy, since I only have one book available. As to other novels, it’s a tough choice between Bet Me and Welcome To Temptation by Jennifer Crusie. In my opinion, these two titles are perfectly written. I’d also have to give an honorable mention to Ain’t She Sweet from Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Over the years, I’ve forget full plots of books I’ve loved, but Ain’t She Sweet stays with me.

Now, how would you answer that last question? If you’ve never read a romance, are you willing to try one? And don’t forget to follow along on the Read A Romance Month website. There are 93 authors participating throughout the month, talking about what romance novels mean to them.

Lots of REALLY BIG NEWS!!

I have been seriously remiss with this blog. It’s just so much easier to put updates on Facebook and carry on the conversation over there. But in the last couple weeks, there’s been too much to leave it at quick-fire brief updates.

MEANT TO BE HIT #1!!!

Yes, you read that right. Thanks to being a Kindle Daily Deal on July 11th, MEANT TO BE shot all the way to the top of the Amazon Bestseller list for all genres. All. Genres. I could not be more excited. And the best part? It stayed there for another day and a half even after the price returned from $1.99 to $3.99.

Because my books are available digitally only on Amazon (print is available everywhere), I don’t qualify for the big lists like New York Times and USA Today, but I still managed to hit the Digital Book World list at #5, and the Wall Street Journal at #10. That means MEANT TO BE sold more copies on Amazon alone than other books sold on all available formats combined.

Pretty darn cool.

I want to thank every person who has bought my book, and especially those who have been kind enough to review it online. Even those who weren’t impressed. You still took the time to read the book, and return to Amazon to talk about it. Good or bad review, your time is precious and I appreciate having even a few minutes of it.

There are new developments brewing, but nothing I can talk about yet. However, when the details are worked out, I promise to share. I think those who love MEANT TO BE will be happy. I know I am. *G*

Thank you again. Readers are the absolute best! Know that I’m sending you all sorts of virtual hugs and cookies!!

Kindle Daily Deal!

For today only (7/11/13) MEANT TO BE is a Kindle Daily Deal. Download now for just $1.99!

Here's the link > http://amzn.to/15jonuq

Time Is Running Out!

Only a couple days left to be in the running for an Anchor Island tote bag filled with lots of goodies for the beach. A beach towel, water bottles, sunblock, sunglasses, flip flops, and more.

All you have to do is hop over to my website at www.terriosburn.com and enter your name and email there on the home page. It's that easy!

Don't miss out. Sign up today! (Winner announced Monday, July 1.)

Habits or How Often I Brush My Teeth

I am a creature of habit. I like routine. At the same time, I embrace change and find it invigorating.

I am a walking paradox.

But today I’m talking about the habits. According to Wikipedia (yes, I go to the best sources), a person doesn’t have to think about a habit, they just do it. I’m a prime example of this.

Each night before bed, I do the same three things in the same order. I wash my face, brush my teeth, then put on my face cream. Every. Night. One night, for some strange reason, I brush...

Not Always Meant To Be

Warning: I’m going to begin this blog with an overused pop culture reference. Apologies in advance.

This one time at band camp, some friends and I played with a Ouija board. Since this was a Catholic high school band, this an even stranger event than it seems on the surface. If you’ve never played with a Ouija board, I’ll give a brief description. The board is covered in letters, numbers, and some short words (think yes and no) and there’s a small plastic triangle with a round window in the mi...