Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion
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Playing for Keeps
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AC: R.L. Mathewson of Playing For Keeps (June 6-8)
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Welcome R.L., it's a pleasure having you with us! I hope you enjoy your time with our members; and good luck to you all!
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Members, if you can please write the questions in bold; it would be easier for her to know that you have asked a question and less chance that it will be missed. Thanks!
In order to bold-Place < b > in front of the first word to bold and < /b > at the end of the last word you want to bold. Make sure to remove spaces.
Just wanted to say I *LOVE* your Neighbors From Hell series, and was so glad that my GR friends recommended them. I am not sure how they found you, but I'm so glad they did. I understand you are writing yet another NFH book, and I can't wait!! Any spoilers? Please, please, please? I don't think I'll ever get enough of the Bradford guys. Where do you see that series going? How many books? I hope for many, many more.
Lastly, where do you get your wicked funny sense of humor?! I haven't laugh so hard while reading a romance book in a long, long time!
Thanks for the great reads, keep 'em coming!
Hai R.L.,It's a pleasure to get to know you. And it's pleasure too to get my hands on your wonderful books. Your books was introduced by GR friends and I'm glad I can buy all your series in Smashwords. The only place I can buy coz I'm from Malaysia.
Your books make me laugh till my hubby thinks I'm a loon LOL
Thank you for sharing this wonderful series to me. You're one of my auto-buy authors. I don't have any questions to ask coz I already bought all your ebooks. Just to let you know that I'm happy to be one of your big fans :-)
♡KarLynP♡ wrote: "Just wanted to say I *LOVE* your Neighbors From Hell series, and was so glad that my GR friends recommended them. I am not sure how they found you, but I'm so glad they did. I understand you are ..."
Thank you, KarLyn :) I plan on writing many more books for this series :) Thankfully the Bradford is rather large with many, many cousins that I can pick from :) My sense of humor comes from one of the voices in my head, not sure which one.....I'll have to ask ;)
-R.L.
Nisha Mslvoe ♥♥♥ wrote: "Hai R.L.,It's a pleasure to get to know you. And it's pleasure too to get my hands on your wonderful books. Your books was introduced by GR friends and I'm glad I can buy all your series in Smash..."
Thank you, Nisha :) That really means a great deal to me :) I really enjoy making people smile and I'm touched that you enjoyed the books :)
-R.L.
Hi R.L,I got a chance to read Playing For Keeps from a friend and I love love love it so much!!! I was glad when my friend insist I must read that book. You made me fall in love with the Bradfords. Thanks for such hilarious book (I laugh so hard and after that I kept smiling all day long). You are amazing writer!! I also like your blog and it was so sweet of you for the charitable act.
My questions :
1. Why you pick such a plain cover? I really have no clue that it was romance novel, when I first see the cover I thought it was some science text book. But the new cover seriously hot and sexy (I like it!)
2. Where do you got idea about NFH premise and Bradford's addiction to food?
3. Who is your favorite author? What is your favorite book?
Thank you for sharing with us, I'm happy to know your works.
Hi R.L.I read Perfection because I saw a review on a book blog.
1. Why do you use your initials? Just curious.
2. I was wondering, too, about the plain cover.
Hi, Adisty :)If you think those covers were plain, you should have seen the original ones, *cringing* now those were bad. I picked them because they were free and allowed me to keep the cost of the books down. I chose the new covers because I was able to do those for a small amount of money without having to raise the prices.
As crazy as it sounds, Jason developed on his own and once the story got started it took on a life of its own.
My favorite author is Shelly Laurenston aka G.A. Aiken, but Lothaire is my favorite book :)
-R.L.
Welcome R.L.!Thanks so much for joining us :). I have read
and loved it. I really enjoy humor in my romances, and throw in a friends-to-lovers storyline and you've got me. I have
on my kindle, up next.Do you have a projected release date for Checkmate yet? Any little tidbits about the story or main characters you can share with us?
Hmmm, how about this? I'll post another excerpt tomorrow on my website. The book is still in process. Loving the way Connor and Rory are turning out :)
R.L. wrote: "Hmmm, how about this? I'll post another excerpt tomorrow on my website. The book is still in process. Loving the way Connor and Rory are turning out :)"R.L
I just have to say that I love that your book covers are simple (and not cringe worthy) AND that I cannot wait for Connor & Rory's story...and more of the Bradfords!
Loved all of your books so far, I've read all but two, I think. I've also got my colleagues at work flying through them as well. Thank you for your devotion!!! Looking forward to Checkmate!!
Wow.....two Karens :) Thank you both so much :)
Thank you for sharing a bit about your journey. I have to say I am so appreciative of authors like you who have worked so hard to share themselves with us readers and offer your work at affordable prices. I am no longer able to get to my library for various reasons and being able to find a good affordable read it a real treasure. For my question . . .After you have completed a new work and get it live, how do you celebrate this awesome achievement? or do you just sit back, put your feet up and finally breathe?
Hello, Denise :)I'm sorry that you're unable to get to library. I had that problem not too long ago and I was practically bouncing off the walls, desperate for some fresh reading material. I wish libraries were able to afford to bring books to those who can't get to the library and enjoy reading. Maybe one day....
Well, after I finish a book I actually feel sad, mostly because it means that it's the end of getting to know two good friends if that makes any sense. That's immediately followed by dread since I'll spend at least the next two weeks editing right along with Lieve and Maura who are slave drivers :) I don't actually celebrate until the first copy sells and then.......
It's ice cream sundaes with the kids :) That's my favorite thing. They have so much and really enjoy the reward :) I couldn't imagine celebrating in any other way than with the two people in the world that mean the most to me and are the reason that I do this in the first place :)
-R.L.
R.L. wrote: "Hello, Denise :)I'm sorry that you're unable to get to library. I had that problem not too long ago and I was practically bouncing off the walls, desperate for some fresh reading material. I wish..."
That is the bestest celebration there is :)
Hi R.L. and welcome to the group.I was curious... Do you have a favorite character/couple?
I just checked out your website and read about your wonderful idea of doing a charitable task and perhaps winning your next book in the NFH series, Checkmate.My daughter just finished a project for her school, performing an 'Act of Kindness'. She then wrote up a report and all the kids in the class presented their acts. They all learned a lot not only from their own experience, but also from listening to everyone else's. You can't start too young!
I'm sure you kids have learned a great deal about kindness and charity from you :)
Who/What are your greatest influences in your writing and your life?
Wow, that is a wonderful idea :) What did your child do? No, I don't think that you can ever start too young. They'll be participating during the 20 days, but obviously they won't earn a copy of my book. I hope they never read my books! :)Hmmm, I would have to say my kids. There's no other way to describe their presence in my life other than a blessing. They kept me going during a very horrible marriage and I really think they saved me. They're the reason why I started writing and why I kept going with it no matter how hard it got or when I got discouraged. We call ourselves the 3 Musketeers because no matter what, we stick together :)
I love that- the 3 Musketeers :)My daughter chose to help out at a local organic, sustainable farm. All fruit and vegetables grown there are donated to local food pantries and given to the needy. She planted beets, corn, cucumber, helped a Girl Scout group that was there at the time get a tomato patch ready, and learned a lot about pesticide-free, organic gardening. She was invited back in a few weeks to help pick string beans that will be read to harvest and then again later in the summer when some of her crops may be ready to pick.
Wow, that sounds like a lot of fun :) It's also great that she gets to help grow food that helps the less fortunate. I wish they had something like that around here.
Hi R.L.! I'm a fan after reading PFK. Perfection is on the top of my TBR pile. I love reading about your relationship with your kids. I have two of the greatest daughters anyone could want. I love hearing other people wax poetic about their kids, it makes me feel less cheesy about how crazy I am about mine. How do you carve out time to write? Do you have a set time when you're "at work" every day? Or do you just fit it in around all the crazy busyness of being a mom, and it sounds like a single one, which is even more demanding?
Hi! I just have to start off by saying I love your books!! Sorry my question isn't in bold I cant figure out how to do that on my silly computer.Okay so on to my question:
When do you think the sequel to Sudden Response will be out? And when it does come out will it be Nathan’s story?
Hi! I just wanted to say I LOVED the Neighbors From Hell book.
Hi R.L. thanks for coming! I feel a little behind the ball because I haven't tried out your books yet, but they sound fantastic!I checked out your website and saw that you were an EMT. Do you ever use any of your experiences in your writing?
Thanks again for coming. And thanks for making your work affordable for everyone!
Karen wrote: "R.L. wrote: "Hmmm, how about this? I'll post another excerpt tomorrow on my website. The book is still in process. Loving the way Connor and Rory are turning out :)"R.L
I just have to say that I ..."
Thank you, Karen :) But I ended up replacing them because they were causing a lot of confusion.
Lynne wrote: "Hi R.L.! I'm a fan after reading PFK. Perfection is on the top of my TBR pile. I love reading about your relationship with your kids. I have two of the greatest daughters anyone could want. I l..."Hi, Lynne,
I adore my children :) Would do anything for them. I get up very early, work before I get the kids up. Get them going for their day. Get my daughter going on her school work since she home schools and then I basically work every minute that they don't need me and stay up late to get whatever I need to get done, done. My work load would be a lot worse if I didn't have the help from my editors, Lieve and Maura :) They're great. They make me work hard and pick on me, but they've helped me so much :)
Ashley wrote: "Hi! I just have to start off by saying I love your books!! Sorry my question isn't in bold I cant figure out how to do that on my silly computer.Okay so on to my question:
When do you think the ..."
Ashley, Nathan is going to get his own book, already started on it, but I have a few books that need attention before his :(
Sassafrass wrote: "Hi R.L. thanks for coming! I feel a little behind the ball because I haven't tried out your books yet, but they sound fantastic!I checked out your website and saw that you were an EMT. Do you..."
Hi, Sassafrass :) Yes, I do use my experience as well as the experience of old friends in the books, but I change enough details and obviously the patients so that no ones privacy is harmed.
Thank you so much for joining us R.L.!The winners of R.L.'s giveaway, using Random.org, are......
1. KarLynP- you have won an ecopy of Tall, Dark & Lonely!
2. Iris- you have won an ecopy of Playing for Keeps!
KarLynP and Iris, please contact R.L. as soon as possible with your contact information so she can get your ebooks right out to you. I will PM you her contact info.
Romance Readers Reading Challenges
Books mentioned in this topic
Playing for Keeps (other topics)Tall, Dark & Lonely (other topics)
Checkmate (other topics)
Perfection (other topics)
Playing for Keeps (other topics)
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Meet R.L.:
Hello, my name is R.L. Mathewson :)
Before I tried my hand at writing I was a receptionist, cafeteria worker at the college I attended, museum worker, bellhop, and about a dozen other different things that are pretty embarrassing so we're just going to skip over those things and pretend that they never happened ;D
At some point I got a little direction in my life and tried my hand at emergency medicine, since I am, or at least was, deathly afraid of needles I opted for the fun job in EMS, an EMT. It was a fun job, a bit stressful, but I learned a great deal and had the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. I learned a great deal from my patients and have never forgotten the wisdom they imparted on me. After a short stint as a Residential Home worker I decided to try the stay-at-home mom job and found out something very important.
I can't just sit around with nothing to do while I try to be deathly silent so that I don't wake up one of my children and send them into a blood curdling screaming fit. So, to fill the time I started to read again. When I was in school I was a bookworm, but got away from it as I grew older. I was drawn back into my love of reading by Julia Quinn's What Happens In London. It was a wonderful, witty book and I fell instantly in love with romance novels.
Some of the romance novels that I read were great and I couldn't get enough, I started to play with the idea of writing a book. Several months later I finally gave in and tried. For four months straight I worked day and night until finally I finished my first book. Then of course I re-read what I wrote, cringed and deleted the entire book and started over again. I started working on other projects and soon had two finished books, Tall, Dark & Lonely: A Pyte Series Novel and A Humble Heart: A Hollywood Heart's Novel. It was a very exciting time except for one little problem......
I had absolutely no idea what to do with the books now that they were done. So, of course I put the books aside and forgot about them for a little while I worked on other books. Months later I decided that maybe I should do something with them. I looked into getting published, admittedly not very hard since what I read about the publishing process wasn't exactly making me jump and down with excitement.
After reading an article about self-publishing I knew that was the way I wanted to go. I like the freedom to write what I want, when I want and publish a story that I hope others will enjoy reading. It gives me a great deal of freedom and allows me to retain full control over my work, which of course allows me to set the prices of my books and make them affordable for everyone :) Which of course is the reasoning behind the $0.99 price tag for my books.
That's how I became a writer and why I self-publish. Well, that and I'm pretty laid back and don't want to be hassled with contractual obligations. That would just cut into my writing time, time with my kids, reading time and my hot cocoa addiction. Yes, I am thoroughly addicted to hot cocoa and if you're interested in experiencing the perfect cup of cocoa you can find the recipe for my cocoa somewhere on my author blog.
Website: http://www.rlmathewson.com
Books:
Giveaway: R.L. will be giving away 1 ecopy of Playing for Keeps, her first title in the A Neighbor From Hell series, and 1 ecopy of Tall, Dark & Lonely, her first title in the Pyte/Sentinel series.