Taste for Trouble is here!

Hey, guess what?  

I wrote another book!

Now I’d love to say I’m one of those people who can cruise through a draft in a matter of weeks–or even months!  But for me, writing a book is a long-term affair.  It’s a commitment.  To go from idea to publication, we’re talking about a year at the bare minimum.  I just need a lot of time to let my ideas ripen, I guess.  Some people are pressure cookers; I’m a crockpot.  (Glamorous image, no?)

The upside of this is that by the time I release a book, I’ve been living with the characters so long that they feel like a second family.  I hear their voices in my head–cracking jokes, slinging snark, weighing in on my daily life & actions whether I want their opinions or not.  

Much like my actual family, now that I consider it.

The downside of this is that I worry about them like family, too.  Releasing a book is like taking my kids to a party where they don’t know anybody else.  I’m pretty sure they’re going to be fine, but you worry about them, you know?  You feel responsible, & want to make sure they’re having a good time.  You love them so much yourself, you want other people to love them, too.  No matter how weird they might appear at first.

So, since it’s just us, and since I do have a habit of collecting characters who need some time to grow on you…do you mind if I make some introductions? 

Great!  Okay, so, here’s James Blake, my superstar athlete and hero. (Played in my head by Owen Wilson.)  He’s America’s answer to David Beckham–a slow-talking, hard-partying Texan with a genius for soccer & a taste for  trouble.  And nobody spells trouble like the woman assigned to clean up his act.

That would be Belinda West, TV personality & baking maven.  (Played in my head by Jennifer Garner.) After James accidentally torpedoes Bel’s wedding day–on live TV, of course–Bel’s qualifications as a domestic diva come under fire.  Only by whipping James into shape can she redeem her reputation.  Which is how the Queen of Cakes ends up playing Mary Poppins to the sports world’s baddest bad boy.  And his wild brothers.

Speaking of whom, meet Drew.  (Played in my head by John Krasinski.)  This is James’ baby brother, a lanky, loose-limbed lover.  Of what?  Everything.  Waitresses, dramatic scenes, scrambled eggs, the Twitterverse.  You name it, Drew can fall in love with it.  He’s the Blake brothers’ heart.  Their conscience. He also really, really likes strippers.  (I know, right?  Congitive dissonance, thy name is Drew.  But he just came that way.  I only wrote him down.)

Oh, & here’s Will.  (Played in my head by Adrian Brody, only with lighter coloring.)  He’s James’ older brother & a certifiable genius.  Walked away from his childhood–and a full ride to UCLA–to take on legal guardianship of his brothers when their folks died.  Managed James into the money & singlehandedly kept their family together against steep odds.  But a dozen years later it’s not all happy endings for the Blake boys.  Because something’s up with Will.  He’s got a problem–something dark and dangerous and poisonous brewing inside his head & heart. Something that threatens to do the very thing he sacrificed everything to prevent–break up the family.

So there you have it.  Those are my Blake boys, & I’m in love with each and every one of them.  And I have plans to give each one of them the love story–and the happy ending–he deserves.

But this one is for James, that sweet-talking charmer with the pirate’s smile.  

Want to know more?  Check out the Books tab and click on TASTE FOR TROUBLE for the blurb & an excerpt!

Or you can just go to my website–plenty of info there, too!

So tell me, when was the last time you read a book, & the characters hung around inside your head for a while, even after THE END?  When was the last time you finished a book but continued to dream about that world & those people?  And do you ever sometimes catch yourself either a) speaking with a character’s accent or b) using slang that only exists in the book world?  (Please say yes, because I do this all the time & it’s embarrassing.)

To celebrate the release of TASTE FOR TROUBLE, I’ll give away a Kindle copy** to one lucky commenter so don’t be shy!

**This book is only available for Kindle.