Lorenda Christensen's Blog, page 12

A 3-Book Launch (Like 3-Bean Salad, only better)

It’s Book Launch Day! And this launch is a special one, because we’re officially launching not one but three books written by our Firebird sister and contemporary writer-extraordinaire, Talia Quinn.

First off, I’ve had the opportunity to read What’s Yours is Mine , and it was lovely. Full of heat, and humor, and just an absolute delight to read. Can you tell everyone a little bit about the story, and how Darcy and Will came to be?

Thanks so much, Lorenda! Here’s a description:

Darcy Jennings just bought a one bedroom condo, a gorgeous oceanside property in the hills north of Santa Barbara. It’s the first time in her life she’s had a permanent home, and it means everything to her. It’s especially sweet after what happened four years ago. That’s behind her now, and the rat who nearly ruined her career, one Will Dougherty, is history.

Will Dougherty just bought a one bedroom condo. He helped build the property with his green, clean designs, and he earmarked this unit as his own. It’s up the road from his newly divorced sister, and it means everything to him. He’s come a long way since the day four years ago when his underhanded coworker, one Darcy Jennings, got him fired. Thankfully, he’ll never have to see her again.

They couldn’t be more wrong, as Darcy discovers when she stumbles into her condo after a long business trip, crawls into bed, and discovers a man there. Will Dougherty. And he says it’s not her bed, it’s his.

Now Will and Darcy have to live together twenty-four hours a day until one of them admits defeat. If only they could keep their hands off each other…

——————————

The seed for the idea comes from the snowbound / housebound / living-on-top-of-each-other trope, with its intimacy and built-in conflict that’s so much fun to play with. I needed them both to be stubborn people to make this work. A different kind of person would just say, “Okay, I give up, it’s yours,” and then where’s my story? I liked the idea of a driven career woman. Someone would would strategize and figure out a battle plan. And then it felt natural to pit her against a seemingly easygoing guy who takes the Zen approach and intends to wait her out, Gandhi style.

But once they showed up, they turned out to be far more complicated. Darcy’s yearning for a home of her own softened her, and it turned out Will had to work incredibly hard to maintain that Zen because he had an awful lot of unresolved emotions to work through. And that’s when it got interesting…

I remember you posting a description of this on our email loop. I’m pretty sure I begged you for a copy because I am a SUCKER for the “close encounters of the ‘stuck’ kind” trope. Elevators, single rooms, or even bunkers during wartime, I love watching two people who can’t stand each other mellow out over the course of a book and realize that not all tension is bad tension. And this one didn’t disappoint.

Draw Me In, Raven and Finn’s story, is a novella and a prequel to your Golden Heart winning novel, No Peeking. Both of these stories are part of your Greenpoint Artists series. For all of us not familiar with the Brooklyn area, can you fill us in on what makes this borough so special?

It’s almost accidental that I’ve set the series in Brooklyn. When I wrote No Peeking, I needed an inexpensive place for Alanna to rent an art studio and I thought of Greenpoint. Then it turned out that she had studiomates, and each of them have their own stories. And then I realized that, wait, there’s an interesting (and very romantic) story about how this particular warehouse became an art studio.

I do love Brooklyn, though. I’m crazy about its architectural mix: brownstones down by the East River, brownstones lining the green meadows of Prospect Park, stately turn-of-the-century apartment buildings along Eastern Parkway, the cobblestone streets of DUMBO between the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. I love the cultural richness: artists and musicians mingling (often uncomfortably) with ultra-orthodox Hasidic Jews in Williamsburg, the store awnings in Greenpoint written in Polish, the Jamaican flavor of Crown Heights, and the Russian restaurants in Brighton Beach.

Brooklyn is everything I love about New York, away from the madding crowd in Times Square. It’s culture and community and a sprinkling of funk. I know there’s a trend toward small town settings in contemporary romance, but I love the city setting. It’s what feels like home to me, and I think it’s rich with story and possibility.

I noticed that you’re giving Draw Me In away for free. What made you decide to do this?

I’m new on the scene, which means I have no built-in readership yet. So I figured, why not be like those companies that set out tables at Whole Foods with samples of their cookies? Take a taste, see if you like it. If you do, maybe you’ll come back for more. (It’s certainly worked on me more than once.)

Well, if Draw Me In is anything like What’s Yours is Mine, readers will love it. (In fact, I loaded both it and No Peeking onto my Kindle just this morning.)

Moving on….since we have three different couples “on stage” today, I thought we could play a little game. Similar in spirit to The Newlywed Game, I’m going to list a few things, and I need you to tell me which of your couples would enjoy them the most and why.

Taking a cross-country trip in an RV

Finn from Draw Me In would hightail it away from that RV if it showed up in front of his brownstone! His father and his crazy-making mother are tootling around the country in an RV, and the idea of being like them (or worse, running into them) would give him hives. Raven might drag him into it, though. “One quick jaunt up to Canada,” she’d say, “just to see how we like it.” She does like adventure.

Darcy from What’s Yours is Mine spent too much time on the go as a kid with her military father, and I doubt Will would push her to leave now that she’s finally got a real home of her own. So they’re a no-go.

I’m going with Miles and Alanna from No Peeking. Miles would balk (he’s got a workaholic streak, and who has time for road trips?), but Alanna would know he’d love it, so she’d push him to do it. Then she’d set off with zero preparation. No maps, no brochures, no plans. Which would drive him crazy, and he’d go off to the nearest wifi source and download Best Of lists from all the TripAdvisor type sites he could find. In the end, though, they’d have a fantastic time. A true bonding experience.

Opening a sporting goods store

In Draw Me In, Finn is actively setting up a storefront for Finn’s Fermentation Factory (think mango kimchi and tamarind pickles and other exotic fermented foodstuffs). I’m thinking one store’s probably enough for them. And by the end of No Peeking, Alanna and Miles are–no, I can’t say. Spoiler. But they’ve got their hands full, let’s just say. (And we will check back in with them and see how it’s going in subsequent books.)

So I’m going with Darcy and Will from What’s Yours is Mine. And it’s actually perfect for them. Will would design the space, and it would be awesome, filled with light and gorgeous fixtures and such a sense of belonging that you’d want to move in and live there forever. Darcy would research the perfect running shoe and the best way to display the fishing rods along the wall and have a complete blast doing it. (Hmm… getting a sequel idea here…)

Participating in a reality TV series

Ha! Darcy and Will already feel like they’re in one during the course of What’s Yours is Mine, with everyone in the complex watching what happens in their unit, sussing out who will win this battle for the condo. But I think Alanna from No Peeking is the only one who might feel comfortable under the camera’s scrutiny. Though Miles would hate it, so she’d back out.

(I think my own film/TV background is speaking here. The idea of being on a reality show squicks me out. I know too much about the mechanics.)

Going all out on Halloween/Christmas/other holiday decorating

I’m going with Darcy again, and Will would help her design the decorating scheme. She’s a type A personality. Anything she does has to be done thoroughly (and well). Though Raven and Alanna would be happy to contribute original artwork for the walls, and Finn would bring sausage and sauerkraut, and probably beer and kombucha. Party time!

Thanks, Talia, for allowing me the fun of picking your brain. (And for being a good sport when I sprung a gameshow setup into your blog.)

Well folks, we’re at the end of the blog post, so if you haven’t already left to go buy Talia’s books, we’d love to hear a little about you. Does the thought of being forced into close proximity with a member of the opposite sex make your heart start thumping with excitement or fear?

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Published on January 02, 2014 20:01

Genre War!!! Paranormal vs Contemporary Romance (Book Giveaway)!!

Yes, that’s right. A civil war has arisen from within the Firebird ranks. It seems that there are differing opinions (GASP!) about which genre of romance is the most worthy of Universal Love. I, a writer of dragons, have taken it upon myself to defend my beloved genre, Paranormal Romance, against the insidious lure of the Contemporary Romance genre, represented today by fellow Firebird and Harlequin author, Kat Cantrell.

My stated truth?

Blind Dates are More Fun in Paranormals

First off, contemporary blind dates sound, uh, boring. I mean, really, there is almost 0% chance that the guy is actually a literal blind date. In a paranormal, he could be uber-attractive prince of an off-planet race of beings that are so evolved that they don’t need eyes. Think about it. What girl wouldn’t pick a guy who could honestly say, “Honey, I love you in that dress, because you sound happy in it. Now would you like to spend the day spending my unlimited wealth, or do you want to snuggle?”

Kat: And when the uber-attractive prince of an off-planet race is called home in the middle of the date to fight an epic battle between his people and marauding aliens, the paranormal heroine is left behind. With the check. If only her date had eyes, he might have seen the little leather portfolio on the table and paid for dinner…

Contemporary blind dates are also awkward. For a good fifteen minutes, all you have to talk about are yourselves, and yesterday’s weather. In a paranormal, there’s always the option of debating whether it’s better to stab a vampire with a wooden stake, or whether it’s easier just to take off the entire head with a silver sword.

Kat: The contemporary heroine’s mama raised her better than to talk about stabbing people on a first date. That’s why she gets a second date. Whereas the paranormal heroine is probably in the market for a new guy after she has to use the tips her date shared to off him once he goes for her jugular (literally) during dessert.

Well, there are more opportunities for paranormal gals to accessorize. Contemporary heroines have to make do with the basics – jewelry, scarves, boots, and hairstyles. Paranormal women? They have a whole bag of tricks. Literally. In addition to the magical glamours available, they get to choose from a limitless array of weapons and spells – some of which fit nicely into a handheld clutch purse. (You know, the clutch purse that doubles as a ninja star in emergencies.)

Kat: Which is why contemporary heroines are so much more relatable. She doesn’t get to erase facial blemishes with magic and she’s not down with a girl who can. Besides, who doesn’t love a story with a heroine who has to rely on nothing more than her wits and the local Clinique counter? In the end, she knows she got the guy all on her own. No spells required.

Oh yeah? In Contemporary blind dates, it’s sometimes hard to tell whether the guy is really into you, or whether he’s just being polite to pass the time. Not so in Paranormals. If a paranormal guy asks you out, he’s interested. Otherwise, he’d be outside, baying at the moon like the rest of the werewolves.

Kat: Huh. The contemporary heroine thought baying at the moon WAS the blind date. Because, you know, the paranormal heroine is a werewolf too. Don’t we all prefer a nice dinner and a movie?

You’ve gotta admit that the dating pool is smaller in contemporaries. How many times have we watched some poor girl enter all her details into an online dating website, only to find out there are only two men who meet her expectations in the small town she calls home. And 10 to 1, one of the matches is her younger brother. In paranormals, there’s almost always a love triangle going on. And both of the guys are hot, caring, and in possession of truckloads of muscles. I don’t know about you, but I’ll take a serving of double-muscles over my brother any day.

Kat: All the more reason for the contemporary heroine to get out of Alabama. If her small town is short on men, she can move to New York and become a fashion designer. Maybe even change her name and then attract the attention of the mayor’s son. And then when she goes back home, she finds out the boy she left behind isn’t so terrible after all. Both guys are hot, caring and in possession of truckloads of muscles. One of them is Patrick Dempsey. I think I’m done here.

The hours you spend picking out perfume isn’t wasted. Most paranormal guys have extra-sensitive noses that can fully appreciate the difference between a citrus or flower base scent, and all the unique ways that scent changes when it sits on your bare skin. Contemporary guys? If you’re lucky, they might pick it up enough to mutter, “hmm, you smell like an orange. It’s nice.”

Kat: Unless the contemporary heroine is on a date with a perfume tycoon. Then her date is showering her with gifts of perfume and an invitation to his factory. In France.

How about this? There is a 50/50 chance the guy owns his own spaceship. Getting a trip into space WITHOUT handing over millions to Space X or Virgin Galactic? Totally worth the $3 coffee.

Kat: Gravity? Priceless

If you go home with the date, you won’t have to get up early the next morning. Most contemporary heroes have really awful morning jobs like construction or international business travel. But paranormal folks know how to take it easy. Heck, most of them can’t handle any sun at all, so they certainly won’t be rushing out the door before they get a chance to make you breakfast.

Kat: Heroes on contemporary blind dates (the good ones anyway) are billionaires, sheiks or perhaps a stray prince thrown in here or there. He’ll have the servants cook breakfast and stay in bed with you.

Most paranormal guys have delicious foreign accents. If they aren’t off-planet visitors to Earth, they’re either fae royalty or French vampires.

Kat: Three words. Greek.Shipping.Heir

And the number one reason Paranormal blind dates are better? They are MINDBLOWING in the sack. Most of them have had at least three hundred years to, shall we say, “practice their craft.” They know what they like, and they most certainly will be able to find the moves that you will love. That telepathy can certainly be handy!

Kat: At least contemporary heroines don’t have to worry about living up to the women our hero came across in his three hundred years of “practice.” Because by the time he gets to the paranormal heroine, isn’t he a little weary of women in general? It’s tough enough to break through the walls around a contemporary hero’s heart and he’s only had one lifetime to build those. However…the contemporary heroine will concede the point about telepathy.(Mindlink.) (…okay, to be fair, the premise sounds awesome.)

And speaking of awesome books, we’re giving some away! We’ll have two packages of books – one for the paranormal lovers, and another for the contemporary readers.

CONTEMPORARY

PARANORMAL

Pregnant By Morning by Kat Cantrell – Print Version

Dancing with Dragons by Lorenda Christensen – Digital ARC

Up to the Challenge by Terri Osburn – Kindle Version

Anchored by A.J. Larrieu – Digital Version

Karma by Carly Phillips – Print Version

Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews – Digital Version

A Lot Like Love by Julie James – Print Version

Gabriel’s Ghost by Linnea Sinclair – Digital Version

Love in Reality by Magdalen Braden – Digital Version

Hesparia’s Tears by Imogene Nix – Version TBD by author

The Cost of Happiness by Magdalen Braden – Digital Version

Healer’s Fate by Beth Caudill – Version TBD by author

Forgive & Forget by Heather Ashby

A Lost Kitten by Jessica Kong – Version TBD by author

Forget Me Not by Heather Ashby

House of Sable Locks by Elizabeth Schechter – Version TBD

All you need to do is vote for your favorite genre! There are other ways to enter, and you can choose as many or as few of the entry options as you want. And if we’ve missed a very important pro or con in the war between Contemporary and Paranormal Romance? Tell us in the comments!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Published on December 29, 2013 20:01

Gone Tropical

Want to join me on a tropical adventure?

Thank you for allowing me to talk up my latest book, and feel free to spread the word. : ) Today is the Amazon Kindle release day of my romantic suspense/adventure: Gone Tropical.

I’m excited to share this story with you, because I took a trip to the Australian rainforest (Daintree) in the northernmost part of Queensland. There is nothing better for a writer than to walk the terrain of her novel. The setting and story both come alive, seeming to seep into the very marrow of your bones, as you outline, making note of setting, sounds, smells, and visuals. The words come in a rush, often times faster than the fingers can type, and when the fingers aren’t typing they’re snapping photographs. I can’t impress on you the number of photos to take if you are lucky enough to vacation in the locale of your story setting. Snap everything, because later when you’re at home you’ll review those pictures. Something as simple as the light dappling the road through the trees will evoke a million memories, and your scenes will be strengthened by them.

The Daintree rainforest is a beautiful region, and I hope that I did it justice. There are parts that are untamed, as untamed as the weather, and it is in many ways cut off from civilization. There is quite often no cellphone connection, television, or telephone in resort cabins. A telephone is available in the main lodge. The general feeling is that nature becomes ones entertainment, unless you’ve managed to bring along a hot roommate, of course. I think Jake Turner fits that description. ; )

Here’s a quick blurb:

He was hired to protect her, but can she save him from his past?

Armed with an inside tip, Amy Helm arrives in Australia determined to catch her thieving ex-husband. After he absconded with five million dollars from her father’s business, the FBI thinks the trail has gone cold. But who better to catch him than the psychologist who knew him intimately?

LAPD-turned-solitary-P.I. Jake Turner is on Amy’s tail. Hired by her estranged father to find the money and keep her out of harm, he enlists the help of an old Aussie friend. Amy knows their skills are valuable, but her hackles go up when Jake orders her to stay in Sydney.

Playing a dangerous game of catch-me-if-you-can deep in the Australian rainforest leads them into a cyclone, a fake marriage, a drug cartel, and maybe, a whole new life. It’s a dizzying ride of fear and romance, and one Amy won’t soon give up.

Available for purchase, Kindle only, on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/ljvz3yn Available in print: www.amazon.com and www.wildrosepress.com in mid-January. World wide release, all eBook formats, April 11, 2014.

I love to hear from readers and can be contacted at www.robenagrant.com Drop by My Blog for a weekly blog post, or find me on social media sites: Facebook: Robena Grant and robenagrantauthor. Follow me on twitter, or add me to your circles on google+.

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Published on December 27, 2013 02:00

Merry Christmas (or Happy December 25) from the Firebirds!

For those off you who celebrate Christmas, the Firebirds wish you a very Merry Christmas! May Santa deliver everything you hoped for.

If you don’t celebrate Christmas, may you have the best, happiest, stress-free December 25th ever!

We are taking the day off, but will be back Friday with a new post!

Until then…

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Published on December 24, 2013 22:17

Mary Balogh’s Christmas Novels: Greenery & Forgiveness Abound!

Mary Balogh is a comfort read author for me—perfect for when I need solid stories well told. Needing some pre-holiday cheer, I recently read several of her Christmas-themed romances. Now’s the perfect time to discover her interplay of 19th century British Christmas practices and beliefs with her own romantic notions.

First of all, kudos to Balogh for writing books that seem plausible for the time period. Mary Balogh is Welsh by birth, though she’s lived most of her adult life in Canada. Her Regency romances are quite different from Georgette Heyer’s, but it’s still easy to picture Balogh’s characters in London or at their various country estates. Of course, it snows in every Balogh Christmas story. In The Christmas Beau, there’s a December frost fair on the Thames. Completely fictitious, of course. The last frost fair—where the Thames froze so solidly that vendors set up booths on the ice—was in February of 1814. No matter. We believe the snow in Balogh’s Christmas stories because she wants us to.

Next, there are a lot of details about a Regency Christmas that seem real. No “Christmas tree,” a Victorian borrowing of the German Tannenbaum. Instead, she has the assembled company collecting greens and trimmings to make “kissing balls” and other decorations. Carols are sung, baskets are delivered to the tenants, and everyone troops off to the village church on Christmas Eve. Gifts are given privately and just among family members. The public events of Christmas center on food, music, and games.

With Balogh, though, a romance is often more than just a romance. It might be a social commentary, a reflection on the road not taken, or a meditation on the mistakes one makes. In her Christmas stories, the season evokes the different ways we can love another person. (I’m just discussing novels; for a look at some of Balogh’s holiday novellas, check out this post by Janga at Heroes & Heartbreakers.)

Balogh wrote four novels with Christmas in the title. Two—The Christmas Beau and The Christmas Promise—are free-standing. The other two—The Christmas Belle and The Christmas Bride—are linked with other books. They have themes in common: Joy is natural at Christmas, as is forgiveness. Thus, some of her bitterest couples soften and melt in the holidays. (In the rest of Balogh’s body of work, couples who face their crises at other times of the year experience strife that can last months.) Because Christmas is a time for families, there are always other people in the mix. The Christmas novels are like house party mysteries, with the “whodunit” turning into a “willtheymakeit”?

Two of the stories are “second chance at love” plots. In Christmas Beau, a marquess is reacquainted with his former fiancée. It was an arranged match, which is still no excuse for the heroine’s decision to run off with a younger, less dour man. When he learns she’s back in London, our is-he-or-isn’t-he hero ingratiates himself. Is he really her Christmas Beau, or is he avenging her desertion?

In Christmas Belle (a very loose sequel to The First Snowdrop, only in the sense that you get to see the Snowdrop hero & heroine again), Isabella and Jack used to be lovers when he was a callow young man in town and she was a beginning actress. Yes, it’s another “Is she a lover, a mistress, or a whore?” plot. What makes it interesting is that Isabella is now a widow and a comtesse. Add to that her great success as an actress and she’s suddenly socially respectable. Jack is untitled, but wealthy and well connected. When they meet up, nearly ten years have passed since their liaison. Back then they loved each other but had really poor communication skills. And in the present? Well, it takes them a while to get talking, but they make it in the end.

The other two stories revolve around “awkward marriages.” In A Christmas Promise, Randolph is a nearly penniless earl forced by his predecessor’s debts to marry Ellie, the well-educated daughter of a wealthy Cit. Thus, they have to negotiate her introduction to the ton, but also his introduction to her extended family of colorful characters. Her father made her promise not to wear black and to celebrate Christmas with all their usual traditions. That allows Randolph to see what a prize he has, not only in his bride but in her uninhibited family too.

I’ve saved…well, not the best (I like Christmas Beau much more) but certainly the most controversial Christmas novel for last. In A Christmas Bride, Helena marries Edgar because a one-night liaison leaves her pregnant. This links two sets of Balogh stories, The Ideal Wife and A Precious Jewel on the bride’s side, and Dark Angel, Lord Carew’s Bride, The Famous Heroine and The Plumed Bonnet on the groom’s side. If that weren’t enough baggage for any Christmas sentiment to deal with, Helena is a woman with a very deep, very dark secret. No spoilers, but if you read this book out of order, you may literally feel completely differently about it and its romance than if you would if you read it after A Precious Jewel.

And that’s Mary Balogh for you. She has a way of tackling seemingly-impossible stories and either pulling them off (as she does in Christmas Beau) or maybe pulling them off (you can decide for yourself about A Christmas Bride).

If you like Regency romances, Balogh is a must-read author…and Christmas is a good time to start.

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Published on December 22, 2013 22:40

Trope Talk: Reunion Romances

Welcome to our very first Trope Talk! The Firebirds are all about romance, and from time to time, we’ll be chatting about our favorite flavors. Today, AJ and Kat are talking about reunion romances, a trope we’ve both had experience writing. We love this kind of story for so many reasons…read on, and join the discussion in the comments!

AJ: Before we dive into talking about the reunion romance trope, maybe we should explain what we mean by “trope” in the first place. Do you have a good definition?

Kat: Glad you asked! I never heard that word until I started writing and even then I was like, “Huh?” So I’ll fill you in. A trope is nothing more than a fancy word to describe the type of hook or plot device that frames the story. Secret Baby is a trope. Friends to Lovers is a trope. See?I love the reunion trope because, WOW. Instant conflict and that’s what makes my little romance reading heart fly. And all the sparks…AJ, what is it about second chance love that makes for such rocking sexual tension?

notquiteahusband150

AJ: The reunion romance is one of my favorite tropes. Nothing compares to the thrill of meeting someone new, but reunion romances have a different kind of heat. The tension is at a simmer point, and it feels like it could boil over any second. The hero and heroine have already gotten past the barrier of that first kiss (and maybe more!), so it feels like they could start ripping each others’ clothes off any second. Plus, all those memories of their past encounters are a white-hot elephant in the room. I love it when the reader gets a window into that past through flashbacks–it makes me hyper-aware of their sexual chemistry. I think Sherry Thomas does an amazing job of this in Not Quite a Husband. Wow!

Of course, flashbacks can slow things down, too. Do you think flashbacks enhance the chemistry, or do they spend that “punch” of sexual tension too early?

bitten-cover

Kat: No way, Jose. If an author does it well, you can get those glimpses but it’s like the appetizer. The main course is still a few pages away and that’s what makes it great! But in some cases, the flashbacks can introduce the problems they couldn’t overcome the first time. Can the past create too big of a hurdle? I mean if it didn’t work the first time, it won’t work the second time. How is that overcome in some of your favorite books, AJ?

AJ: This is another reason I enjoy the reunion romance trope so much. Both the hero and the heroine usually have to do some serious growth before they can reconcile. For example, in Bitten by Kelley Armstrong (incidentally, one of my favorite books EVER), the hero (Clay) and heroine (Elena) have both hurt each other in the past. Their mutual arcs are about forgiveness and trust, learning to give those gifts to each other. It makes for a more mature love story–one where we see what the relationship is like after the HEA–but we still get that thrill ride of Clay and Elena reconciling. It’s the best of both worlds.

What are some of your favorite reunion romances?

Kat: You know, my all-time favorite book is a reunion romance! Birthright, by Nora Roberts. The heroine is an archaeologist investigating some very old bones in the remains of an ancient settlement and her ex, an anthropologist, is assigned to the same dig site. While the sparks between them fly, she also finds out she might have been kidnapped as a child and sold to the people who are now her adoptive parents. So all three arcs are about looking at the past and how it shapes us in order to find the path to your future, which is the heart of all reunion romances. It’s one of the most thematically brilliant books I’ve ever read. And that’s saying something, coming from an English major! I also really like The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis, because Tara, the heroine, is hilarious and I just really wanted her to get back together with Ford.

sweetest-thing270-250x403

AJ: Ooo, those both sound great. I’m going to have to check them out!

Readers, what about you? Have any sizzling hot reunion romance favorites to recommend? Something to say about why this is the best (or worst!) romance trope of the bunch? Join the conversation in the comments!

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Published on December 20, 2013 09:09

Confessions of a 1-Click Addict

I used to have a weakness for shoes. I bought the same style in three different colors if I really loved them. But over the last several years, my focus—or habit, if you want to be brutally honest, has shifted. I’ve succumbed to an addiction of how insanely easy it is to acquire the written word.

It started out with discounted books at a used book store, sale racks at Books A Million, Barnes and Noble, even Borders. Then I bought my first smart phone and downloaded the Kindle app. Suddenly, I’m surfing the web on a tiny screen my mother would say is guaranteed to give me a permanent squint. Yes, Amazon is the supplier of my fix.

When I think of impulse buying, I envision people standing in line at the 24-hour pharmacy eyeing the Chia Pets and trying to decide which will serve as the perfect gift for their spouse because they just remembered their spouse’s birthday is today.

My 1-click purchases are more an exercise in efficiency. The retail geniuses at Amazon have created a method that spawns these unrelenting urges that must be satiated while I’m still in my pjs, eating my cereal in the mornings. Or well past the hour the brick and mortar paragons are open. It happens when I read a blog post promoting an author’s new release—cough—Kat Cantrell’s upcoming release or Colette Auclair’s release yesterday, or a book that will make me a better writer.

Within the post there’s a hyperlink. There’s always a hyperlink. To my supplier. And my finger zeroes in on the spot on my phone’s screen faster than a mosquito can tap the jugular of a tourist in Florida during August. The mega-enterprise remembers little ol’ me and keeps me logged in so I don’t have to bother with that silly exercise of reentering my personal information. My phone is their mule, betraying me with the cookie crumbs of previous data too. I receive emails on release day for the authors I’ve previously bought using this powerful aphrodisiac.

Thankfully, Amazon reminds me when I’ve bought this very same book two months prior as a pre-order before they allow me to give them my money again. Oh, the temptation at my fingertips. Oh, the weakness of my resolve. Oh, the enabling tendency of their efficiency.

And my impulses are not restricted to one genre. I buy “how to” books, I buy books from a host of authors I’ve never heard of, in genres I don’t usually read, because they were featured on blogs I frequent and the author’s story sounded funny or intriguing and before I know it, I’m tapping the screen in my quest to assuage my hunger for more books on my bookshelf or my phone. I won’t even mention the cherry-on-top chaser of free shipping when I’ve reached a specific dollar amount with my purchase.

When I visit Amazon’s site, they offer up this buffet of all the latest and greatest within my reader preferences. What does it say about me that I can scroll through five pages of six book images and keep going because I’ve already devoured those and am on the hunt for more? I’m weak, I’m easily lured, and I’m agog at the simplicity and ease that I can get my hands on my brain stimulus or birthday and Christmas gifts, all with a single click of my unpainted fingernail.

I try to rationalize my addiction with a reminder of the price of fossil fuel. I drive an SUV. Whether you are a ‘save the planet’ by driving an electric car or ‘walking’ sort of person, I live in the country and we do not have little electrical outlets to plug things into every 10 miles nor a lot of sidewalks. I buy lots of stuff it would take five trips in a Prius to bring home. Trust me, my hubby used to own a diesel VW Bug. He bragged about his 50 miles to the gallon—until he needed mulch from Lowe’s. Ha! Who drives the big-girl vehicle now? But I digress.

And the Amazon site is sooo friendly. It greets me with “Hi Karen” when I stop by. I mean, you don’t get that kind of customer service at some banks and they already have your money.

I’m trying to overcome my habit, but most of the experts say recovery involves a 12 step program. I have 2 problems with that. My habit is a 1-click issue. Do you have any idea how many books I can buy in 12 clicks? And I’m sure I’ll need to go to Amazon to find one of those 12 step books for kicking my 1-click addiction. It’s a vicious cycle. Did I mention, they carry shoes on their site as well? Oh, bother.

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Published on December 18, 2013 00:23

Colette Auclair’s Book Birthday Party (And Contest!)

Colette Auclair is having a Book Birthday today and you’re all invited!!

Hi everyone, thanks for joining Terri Osburn and me as we celebrate the release of Colette’s debut novel, THROWN!

Isn’t this a gorgeous cover? (Is that Colette riding? Kinda looks like her…)

Here’s the fantastic back cover blurb:

In this lighthearted and sexy romance, a young woman must choose between winning a competition—and the man who has won her heart. Professional horse trainer Amanda Vogel dreams of riding jumpers in the Olympics, but after seeing her best friend die in a riding accident, she’s so traumatized she can’t compete. Broke and desperate, she takes a summer job in Aspen teaching some big-shot widowed movie star’s spoiled daughters to ride—and braces herself for three miserable months. But the movie star is funny, down-to-earth, and gorgeous—and his spoiled daughters are just desperate for a mother figure. By Labor Day, she has to choose between capturing a gold medal…and the man who has captured her heart. – See more,, complete with all the buying options at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Thrown/Colette-Auclair/9781476745800#sthash.8H5ob4sx.dpuf

Tammy: Congrats, Colette! I’m so glad Susan Elizabeth Phillips didn’t press charges after she caught you stalking her AGAIN! It would’ve been a bummer to miss your own launch party. So, what glamorous things are you doing today to celebrate? (If you tell us you’ve just returned from scooping up horse poo, I’m telling SEP about that OTHER CRAP you pulled, then you’ll surely get jail time!

First off, I’m so thrilled to be here! You guys are the best. Thank you a bazillion times over. I can’t tell you how excited I am, and what better group to celebrate with than the firebirds?

As for the celebration, there will be a giant party at the stadium where the Broncos play. I’ll get the key to the city of Denver. And finally, woodland creatures will sing (What does the fox say? He says, “I love Thrown!”). (Tammy: Colette is lying. She lies.) Okay, I’m having a launch party tonight at Denver’s Book Bar, a cozy bookstore with a bar built right in (perfect for me). As for the stalking…I can’t believe you’re confusing SEP’s and my deep and meaningful friendship with something as tawdry as “stalking.” Really, Tammy. You’re better than that.

Tammy: In my defense, may I please point out how SEP addresses you at the end of this blog? Just sayin’ ;0)

After much begging and cajoling, Colette was kind enough to send me her book early. Only problem was, every single page had a picture of a GIANT kangaroo holding an e-reader. (There’s a picture of him on the bottom right hand corner of the cover above.) While I enjoyed this book very much by day, at night, that naughty kangaroo did some wild things in my dreams. (And no, I’m not sharing the deets.)

Terri: I was lucky enough to score an advance copy as well, but the kangaroos didn’t show up in my dreams. You might want to stop drinking before bed.

Tammy: The drinking is what made the dreams fun, Terri. You might want to consider it.

Terri: Colette, was this book one you dreamed of writing since you were still riding ponies?

Not even a little! I’m sorry to say, Thrown isn’t the book I’ve imagined writing my whole life. Not only that, it was supposed to be a screenplay. I took a class to write a movie, and ended up writing the story as a novel instead. Truth be told, I set out to write a modern, horsey version of The Sound of Music, mostly because I loved the film and wanted a ready-made plot. But there are no Nazis or nuns, the hero is a movie star instead of a sea captain, the Alps have been replaced with the Rockies and nobody wears curtains.

Tammy: There were so many funny lines in this book! One that really made me giggle was this one: “Amanda’s heart and loin galumphed.” (Imagine my surprise when my spellchecker confirmed galumphed is a real word!)

Terri: I loved the idea of throwing your heart over the fence. Easy to say, not so easy to do.

I’m so glad you laughed! And how DARE you think I’d make up a word… I had a great time writing the funny bits, but it was work to make it better. I’d read something and think, “Okay, that’s kinda funny, but how can I pump it up so Tammy will LOL out loud?”

Terri, as for “throwing your heart over the fence,” that’s a real live saying in the world of jumping. It’s such a fitting metaphor for the hero and heroine (especially the heroine), it was as though it landed in my book with a red ribbon tied around it.

Tammy: While I adore the hero and heroine, one of the characters who made me laugh most was Harris. How does a pint-sized, horse riding chick like you channel the most charming gay chef I’ve ever met? Maybe you were Harris in a former life?

Well… I admit, Harris is the one character based on a real person—my wonderful friend Hal. So although Harris is based on a close friend, I should add that while Harris is an exemplary chef, Hal couldn’t cook his way out of a Prada bag. And although I didn’t steal actual dialogue from Hal, I absolutely borrowed his attitude and speech pattern.

Tammy: So, just how autobiographical is this story? Rumor has it, like Amanda, the heroine in this book, you snagged yourself a hot actor-hero, too. And I’m guessing the part where Amanda set up a human jumping course for the girls was so something you would have done as a kid. (Same with shooting gravy from a Super-Soaker.)

Terri: Let’s stick with the hot actor-hero here. Who was your inspiration for Grady? He is certainly yummilicious. (If that isn’t a word, it is now.) Was it Mr. Auclair? (Nosy-nellies want to know.)

I totally set up jumping courses in the yard when I was a horse-crazed girl, but no encounters with gravy in a Super-Soaker. As for my the hot actor-hero, I’m married to an actor, but I take complete credit for turning him into an actor because I gave him an acting class for his birthday one year, and the rest is history. And now, if ever I accuse him of doing something decidedly unheroic (like oh, say, cleaning part of a wood floor with furniture polish, causing me to slide across the room at lightning speed and almost topple), he now sings a show tune at me and I can’t say anything because it was beyond my wildest dreams that my husband would sing Sondheim.

Tammy: Did you ever dream of riding in the Olympics? And WHEN you become a Best Seller author, will horses always be part of your life? (Perhaps with someone ELSE dealing with the mucking up?)

Of COURSE I was going to be in the Olympics. No doubt. The only question was, which discipline (because I’d be great at all of them)? I used to pretend my bike was a horse, and I’d choreograph dressage musical rides (dressage routines to music) in my basement.
Yes, when I’m a huge best seller, horses will most definitely continue to be a part of my life. I get so much joy from them—in warm weather, I sit in my horse’s stall and write (she is not certain my laptop is not a danger to horses), and no matter what, a visit to the barn always leaves me feeling wonderful. As Winston Churchill said, “There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.” (Or a
woman, Winston. Or a woman.)

Terri: Speaking of your journey to being a Best Selling Author, what’s next? When does book two come out?

Yep, I’m hard at work on the next book in the series, Jumped. It’s set in Aspen as well, and it stars Beth, Amanda’s best friend, who’s also a jumper rider. The Aspen Creek gang is back—Amanda, Grady, Harris and the Brunswick daughters–but Beth has a whole different set of challenges, most notably her ex-husband, who’s shown up out of the blue.

Lastly, because this is a birthday party, we have a little gift for you, Colette. It’s from someone near and dear to your heart: (Beside me and Terri, that is.) See below:

Dear Colette (aka My Favorite Stalker),

I’m overjoyed to hear about the publication of THROWN. You’ve worked hard, and you deserve every bit of your success. Congratulations!

Susan Elizabeth Phillips (who may just start stalking you)

Terri: Talk about the best present ever! Score one for Tammy for lining that up.

Tammy: No, score one for Susan Elizabeth Phillips for being one of those special people who give back to the writing community… and because she’s the coolest person ever! (Not that I’m stalking her like Colette..much.)

Congrats and thanks so much for sharing your big day with us today, Colette. Our firebird feathers are puffed with pride for you! (Honestly, this book was fantastic. You all will enjoy it…guaranteed!!)

Okay Firebirds and friends, here’s your chance to win your very own gift card from Amazon. Leave Colette a comment or just say hi and you’ll be entered in our drawing.

:

PRAISE

· “Colette Auclair’s debut novel takes readers on a wonderful ride, including a heartwarming, blue-ribbon finish.”

– Nationally bestselling author Tracy Brogan

· “Colette Auclair is a sensational new voice in Contemporary Romance. Her debut release, THROWN, is a humorous, heartfelt story you simply cannot put down. Do yourself a favor and do not miss this one.”

– Terri Osburn, Amazon and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of the Anchor Island Series

· “A delicious, witty, heartwarming, read. I devoured Thrown. Fans of Susan Elizabeth Phillips will love this book–I did.”

– Susan M. Boyer, USA Today Bestselling author

Click below for all the different options to buy this fantastic book:

http://books.simonandschuster.com/Thrown/Colette-Auclair/9781476745800#sthash.8H5ob4sx.dpuf

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Published on December 15, 2013 20:01

Colette Auclair’s Book Birthday Party