Sarina Bowen's Blog, page 48
March 16, 2014
Coming In From the Cold Hits the Kirkus Blog
If you write romance, then you read Smart B*tches, Trashy Books, for two reasons: 1) It is amusing as all heck. 2) Few write about the genre with such snark and aplomb as Sarah Wendell and her merry band of Smart B*tches. Ms. Wendell also writes for the book review site KIRKUS. And this week I am excited, no, honored to be reviewed there! I'm having a little star struck moment here, people. Pass the tissues.
Thank you, universe! (And thank you, Sarah Wendell.)
February 28, 2014
The Series Gets a Name: "Gravity"
I had a lovely tweet from a reader in Germany this week, and she wanted to know two things.
1) Will there be another book following Coming In From the Cold? Why, yes! And thanks for asking! The series has just been given a name: Gravity. Hint: book two features a very hot snowboarder. He's a halfpipe champion who has spent his whole life daring gravity to do its worst.
And then it does. (Stay tuned!)
2) The reader also wanted to know whether "The Girls" were okay after Coming In From the Cold ends. My answer: of course they were! And just for fun, I ran out to my own coop and took this picture for her:
You never know what readers will take away from a book. And I'm startled by how many people love the chickens!
TGIF, Sarina
February 27, 2014
Cover Reveal: Drowned by Nichola Reilly
It's always fun to see a friend's brand new book cover! This one is DROWNED by Nichola Reilly, coming soon from Harlequin Teen. Isn't it dramatic?
DROWNED by Nichola Reilly
published by Harlequin Teen, releasing June 24, 2014
ISBN: 978-0373211227
Coe is one of the few remaining teenagers on the island of Tides. Deformed and weak, she is constantly reminded that in a world where dry land dwindles at every high tide, she is not welcome. The only bright spot in her harsh and difficult life is the strong, capable Tiam—but love has long ago been forgotten by her society. The only priority is survival.
Until the day their King falls ill, leaving no male heir to take his place. Unrest grows, and for reasons Coe cannot comprehend, she is invited into the privileged circle of royal aides. She soon learns that the dying royal is keeping a secret that will change their world forever.
Is there an escape from the horrific nightmare that their island home has become? Coe must race to find the answers and save the people she cares about, before their world and everything they know is lost to the waters.
Advance Praise for DROWNED:
"A resourceful and smart heroine and a society literally on the edge of survival. Take a deep breath, once you start reading you won't be able to stop!" -Maria Snyder, author of Poison Study
"A gripping and romantic tale featuring a truly original heroine facing seemingly insurmountable odds. I loved it!" -- Morgan Rhodes, NYT Bestselling Author of Fallen Kingdoms
And some details about Nichola Reilly:
Nichola Reilly spent much of her childhood on the Barrier Islands of New Jersey, where late summer hurricanes would sometimes bring the ocean to her front door. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and daughters, where she dreams of low tide.
February 18, 2014
4 Quirky Things to Know About Ski Racing
The winter olympics is so much fun for us Vermonters, because for a few golden weeks, the rest of the country is focused on something that we think about all the time! It's like sitting at the cool kids table at lunchtime. When I chose an alpine ski racer for the hero of Coming In From the Cold, it was easy enough to do the research. And what fun research it was! Here are a few of my favorite details.
Ski Racers Are Pretty Much Deaf
That screaming crowd of wellwishers is fantastic, but there's little chance a racer will hear them. At speeds of 70, 80 or even 90 mph, the sound of the wind rushing your ears is ridiculously loud. Even with the best, most aerodynamic helmets that money can buy, the auditory disorientation is pretty intense.
Ski Racers Scream
And I'm not just referring to their screamin' fast speeds. Many alpine racers literally hollar their way down the hill. When my friend worked course maintenance for a recent U20 GS race (for elite 18 & 19 year-olds) he was startled to hear them shouting like crazy all the way down the course. And in Bode Miller's autobiography, he points out that there's a lot of loud, mood-building vocalization up in the start house, too. (But Bode wrote that he likes to avoid the crazy vibe by calling his mom while he waits for his turn.)
No Practice Runs, You Can Only Have a Peek
The downhill (the fastest) event is the only one in which competitors may have a practice run. For GS and Super G, racers can only look at the course during the designated course inspection time. They take the lift to the top, then kind of side slip all the way down in order to learn the course shape and turns. I found a gorgeous video on YouTube which shows racers memorizing the course with their arms and bodies. Someone set it to one of the Bach Cello suites. Isn't this cool?
We Don't Want No Stinkin' Snow
That course is mostly ice, people. In fact, when those intensely carved turns scrape snow loose on the course, the course workers will push it out of the way before the next competitor comes down the slope. Because snow is slow, and ice is nice.
February 13, 2014
Olympic Fun
I can't believe the Olympics are almost over. Writing Coming In From the Cold about an Olympic skier has been part of my life for over a year now. And I don't want it to end! Here's a little snippet from skier Dane "Danger" Hollister's point of view. Angsty much?
February 8, 2014
24 Hours Left to Win 4 Giveaway Prizes
Beautiful things come in boxes! You can win one of four identical prizes, each one containing: a gorgeous wood and fabric box which looks exactly like an old book. Oh, and did I mention it has German caramels and candies inside? And a box set of 4 contemporary romances, too! Click here to enter. Because boxes really are beautiful!
February 7, 2014
Cover Reveal for Flawed Perfection
Today I get to help another author launch her baby! Cassandra Giovanni's cover for Flawed Perfection is ready for the big time. Looks great, right?
Bobby Beckerson was the American All-Star hockey player--he was the spitting image of perfection to his family. Goofy, sweet and undeniably gorgeous, he had everything but the one girl he wanted: River Ahlers.
River Ahlers is successful in everything but love. She's been in love with Adam Beckerson since they were kids. Worst of all she's stuck right in the middle of the brother's dueling over everything and anything, and she doesn't even know she's the ultimate prize.
Adam Beckerson was a boy with a guitar, a smile that sunk girl's hearts and a stone wall around his own. He was anything but perfect, and no matter how hard he tried he was nothing compared to Bobby. Sweet, damaged, with boyish good-looks, nobody thought Adam loved anyone but himself.
Bobby loved River, River loved Adam and Adam only loved himself--or so everyone thought. Then one night everything changes, and as it threatens to destroy everyone involved a tragedy strikes that will break them all...
GENRE: New Adult Contemporary Romance
RELEASING: March 7th
FOLLOW: at Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ @cgiovanniauthor
February 5, 2014
Thank you! And a Giveaway!
Guys, it's been such a GREAT launch week! The Harlequin-E Contemporary Romance Box Set is off to a terrific start, and all of your tweets and love have been very gratifying.
To celebrate, we're having a giveaway! Four lucky winners will get the e-books. And those winners who live in the US will also receive a gorgeous book-shaped box. You can enter here.
Thank you so much!
Sarina
Harlequin E Contemporary Romance Box Set Volume 1: Coming in from the Cold\Maid to Fit\Calling His Bluff\Baker's Law
By Sarina Bowen, Rebecca Avery, Amy Jo Cousins, Denise McDonald
January 29, 2014
Eek! 5 Days to Go!
When there's only five days left until launch, the hours are filled with: emailing bloggers. Thanking bloggers. Emailing co-authors in your box set. Thanking co-authors in your box set. Trying not to stare at your Amazon ranking as it climbs the charts. And... wishing your head was clear enough to work on book #2!
