Breathtaking Romantic Suspense

Spotlight on February Intrigues: Sudden Attraction

2012-02-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

Don't miss Rebecca York's next Mindbenders tale, Sudden Attraction:

They were never supposed to meet. Hidden on a New Orleans plantation were secrets Gabriella Bodreaux wasnever supposed to uncover, either. And after Luke Buckley saved her life, shecouldn't get him out of her head…and she couldn't get out of his.

At the slightest touch, they established the most intimateconnection of their lives. So vulnerable, so dangerous…so right. Now they kneweverything about each other—almost.

He came with a secret identity, but wasn't the type of manwho would run away from trouble. He could keep her safe. But when beingtogether meant exposing themselves to more danger than either could preparefor, they had to reconsider just how "chance" their meeting reallywas.…

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

2012-02-10T09:37:00.001-05:00

It's a little early for spring fever, especially since it's not even spring (though the winter's been so mild it feels as though it might as well be). Nonetheless, I'm pretty sure I have it. I love to travel, but didn't get to go anywhere last year. As the year came to an end, I started to realize just how much I wanted to go somewhere. The feeling has only gotten stronger over the past few weeks. I have a friend who's going to New Orleans for Mardi Gras, and another who invited me to Chicago. Sadly, it still doesn't look like I'll be able to go anywhere anytime soon. That hasn't stopped me from thinking about it, and all the places I might go. New Orleans and Chicago are certainly good choices. I would love to go back to Europe, or drive up the California coast again. Which raises the question of whether I should go somewhere I've been before, or somewhere I've yet to experience.

Of course, one of the great things about books is the ability to travel all over the world in the stories they contain. In books, and especially Intrigues, I've gotten to "see" and experience a wide variety of fascinating places I haven't been able to in real life. My own books have had a variety of settings. My January ebook release, A HARD MAN TO FORGET (only 99 cents at Amazon, BN and other retailers!), takes place in California, while my February Intrigue, HER COWBOY DEFENDER, is set in New Mexico. Its spinoff book, HER COWBOY AVENGER, coming later this year, takes place in Texas, certainly a popular setting for Intrigues. Evidently I'm slowly making my way east this year :) I'm working on story ideas set in New England, Los Angeles, and other locales. Still hoping to get to write some of those foreign-set stories I have rattling around in my head... Some of these places are ones I've been to in real life, others I've only dreamed of.

What about you? If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Or do you have travel plans you're looking forward to? Any great books that have taken you somewhere wonderful?

One commenter will win your choice of a book from my backlist: TRUSTING A STRANGER, STRANGER IN A SMALL TOWN or CIRCUMSTANTIAL MARRIAGE.

Happy reading!

Kerry Connor
www.kerryconnor.com
A HARD MAN TO FORGET - eBook exclusive - January 2012
HER COWBOY DEFENDER - Harlequin Intrigue - February 2012
HER COWBOY AVENGER - Harlequin Intrigue - August 2012

I Love the Creepy

2012-02-09T08:11:00.006-05:00

Winners: Laura and Kairee have won autographed copies of my latest release! Thanks for reading and posting, everyone!

If you've read any of my Intrigues, the title of this post probably doesn't come as any surprise. I love scary stuff. Stephen King is one of my top five favorite authors. I see every horror movie that comes around, usually at the theater (and am often disappointed when they're not good). I've had this romance with creepy since elementary school.

I think the reason I love it so much is that I've never been truly scared by it. I think I'm hoping one day I will be. That one night after watching a horror movie, I'll have to turn on every light in the house and sleep upright, with a knife in one hand, Mace in the other, and one eye open. But it hasn't happened. I can watch the most creepy, gruesome movie ever and then go straight to sleep without a hitch.

When I was a child, my mom used to worry about me because I wasn't afraid of anything. It's sorta a double-edged sword, right? You don't want your child to be afraid of everything, thus limiting their life, but you don't want them to have no fear and possibly walk into major trouble.

Now, not being scared does not mean I'm not aware. I'm very perceptive. I notice shifts in the general mood in people and places. I get that uneasy feeling when I've entered certain places or met some people. I sit with my back to walls and facing openings in restaurants. I automatically check for every escape route, just in case things "go down." My perception, especially when it's bad, is not something I ignore. Perhaps that perception, lack of fear, and always preparing for the worst is what makes me a good mystery/suspense writer. I don't have to go looking for plots; I imagine them around every waiter and salesclerk and parking lot cone.

So far, all my Intrigues have had a gothic-lite tone. That's intentional and something I hope to keep doing as long as you guys like reading them.

What about you? Do you love the creepy or do you avoid it? If you love it, what's your favorite movie or book?

Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of my current release, THE LOST GIRLS OF JOHNSON'S BAYOU. Please leave a contact email in your post with the following format so that it cannot be scraped: emailname (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!

Jana DeLeon

Best or Worst Valentine Surprise

2012-02-08T12:43:00.000-05:00

Winner of my book for the day is Gayle Cochrane. Gayle if you'll send your snail mail addy to me at JoannaWayne@hotmail.com, I'll get your book in the mail.

Okay, admit it, you've had great Valentine Days and ones you'd like to forget-or live down. How about a some true confessions today. My most romantic surprise was a visit to my house by a barbershop quartet to sing me a love song and bring me a rose. Would have been far more romantic if dear hubby had actually been there to share it with me. But it was Saturday--so he was on the golf course. Romance just goes so far with him.

He's golfing, I'm writing in tacky pj's with uncombed hair and no makeup. Get the picture. The doorbell rings. I peek out the window and see four middle-age guys in red sports coats that I've never seen before in my life. They have to be selling something. Right? No way am I going to the door. So I stay well hidden while the doorbell rings--and rings--and rings. Then my phone rings. I pick it up and the guy announces that they're at my door to sing me a love song so will I please let them in.

What can I do but pull on my ratty robe and open the door to four jolly men in bright red sports coats who do indeed harmonize to a love song. And give me a rose. And then they want to take my picture with them. You have got to be kidding. No picture, but my hubby did get a big hug and sloppy kiss when he returned victorious from the golf course. After all, he meant well. And he took me out to dinner.

Share a post about your best or worst Valentine's Day for a chance to win two Joanna Wayne novels. And don't forget COWBOY CONSPIRACY is still available from your favorite on-line booksellers. If your Valentine's Day promises to be a bit lackluster, go to bed with a cowboy. Wyatt Ledger is sure to please.

Hugs to all. Stay warm.
Joanna

www.joannawayne.com

Cool News

2012-02-07T11:35:00.000-05:00

Guys, something cool to share. We were interviewed by HEAusatoday! Thought I'd post here and share!!

Also, to celebrate the publication of Power of the Raven we'rehaving a very special giveaway - a handcarved raven fetish signed by theartist, Amos Pooacha. Mr. Pooacha is confined to a wheelchair and makes hisliving carving these very special fetishes. Write us at ADThurlo@aol.com and inthe subject specify DRAWING. Winner will be chosen Feb. 29!

Many Flavors of Romance

2012-02-06T06:30:00.005-05:00

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, lots of folks are thinking about romance these days. All sorts of gift anxiety going on out there, whether it's what to get a spouse or what's appropriate for a new significant other.

All the romance talk has me thinking about romance in general and, more specifically, what people consider romantic. I'll freely admit, I'm not girly when it comes to romance. The joke around my house is that a man wanting to propose to me would be better served offering me a new laptop computer than a ring. It's a joke that's funny because it's true; I hate wearing rings, but I'll always take a new computer.

I like gifts that are specific and meaningful. Roses and candy are nice and all, but surprise me by cleaning my bathroom and making me a nice dinner, and I'm yours.

I think some of my attitude shows up in my books. My heroes and heroines aren't big into fancy dinners, big bouquets or roses or expensive jewelry. For them, a romantic gesture might be a foot rub after a long hike through the woods in an attempt to avoid a killer hunting them. Or surprising a partner with a burger and shake in the car on a stakeout.

So what about you? Are you a traditional romantic? Or a quirky one like me? What's your ideal romantic gesture?

Leave your comment and I'll draw a name to win a $20 gift certificate to Amazon.com.

Spotlight on February Intrigues: Scene of the Crime: Mystic Lake

2012-02-05T00:00:00.000-05:00

Carla Cassidy takes readers to another mysterious crime scene in Scene of the Crime: Mystic Lake:

When FBI profiler Amberly Nightsong is sent to Mystic Laketo consult with local cops about three ritualistic murders, the last thing sheexpects is to be a piece in a madman's sick puzzle. Luckily, she has a sexylawman on her side.

Sheriff Cole Caldwell offers his protection—and stirs anawareness that leaves her breathless.

Cole, a widower, had shut himself off from the possibilityof loving again. But as he works side by side with the single mom, he's drawnto Amberly and will do anything to erase the fear in her eyes. And as thedanger intensifies in the form of a killer's twisted calling card, his vow tokeep her and her young son safe will be put to the ultimate test.…

Spotlight on February Intrigues: Cowboy in the Extreme

2012-02-04T00:00:00.000-05:00

Rita Herron's exciting new Western series Bucking Bronc Lodge continues in Cowboy in the Extreme:

"There's an intruder in my cabin!"

The moment he heard Kim Long's terrified voice on the phone,Brandon Woodstock knew he had to help her and her little girl. Once, he'dpromised to love and protect Kim forever. Now, in spite of the secrets that hadcome between them, the Texasrancher intended to keep that promise. But rescuing Kim riled all the wrongpeople—and rekindled the attraction he'd thought ended with their brokenrelationship. Honoring his role as Kim's fiercest protector, he whisked her andher daughter to safety without considering the consequences. With a target onKim's back and old wounds reopened, Brandonthought there'd be no more surprises. He'd never been more wrong.

I love 2in1 editions!

2012-02-03T12:00:00.000-05:00

I just received the UKedition of LAST SPY STANDING. It's packaged with STRANGERS WHEN WE MEET byMerline Lovelace. I love these double editions! I'm raffling the book off on myFacebook page. http://www.facebook.com/DanaMarton Pop over, click Like and postthe title of the book you're currently reading. I'll pick a lucky winner andsend the book on Monday. Good luck!!!! And have a super wonderful weekend!

Dana Marton

www.danamarton.com

www.facebook.com/DanaMarton

http://twitter.com/danamarton

Something New

2012-02-02T06:18:00.000-05:00

Welcome once again to the new/old Intrigue authors' blog! As we kick off our new(ish) blog and six new Intrigues are being released, this seems like a fitting time to talk about new things. Not to mention, when I signed up to blog on this date, I had a topic in mind...which I now can't remember. So I needed to come up with...you guessed it, something new.

My latest Intrigue, HER COWBOY DEFENDER, happens to be one of those new February releases. It's also something new for me in several ways. It's my third "Thriller" for the line, but also the first book where I specifically set out to write a "Thriller." You see, when I wrote my first Intrigue, STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT, I didn't know Intrigue was going to be publishing some really fast-paced, action-packed books that would be specially designated as "Thriller"s. I was just writing the story I wanted to tell, and the promotion was only just being planned when I sold the book. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to have the editors think STRANGERS was perfect for the promotion. So what was originally intended to be a set of three books became four and STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT was included in that first batch of "Thriller"s. Likewise, my last Intrigue, CIRCUMSTANTIAL MARRIAGE, was just a story I'd wanted to tell for a long time and had been waiting to write. Sure, I knew it was a political thriller and wanted to give it a bigger, more mainstream feel, but was it exciting enough to be dubbed an Intrigue "Thriller"? As it turned out, it was.

With this book though, I really wanted to slam on the accelerator and write a story that simply moved a lot faster than any I'd written before. I looked at it like an action movie, one that starts off with a bang, takes off and really keeps moving. Most of my stories are mystery-driven, and while this one does have some things the characters need to figure out, it's more about dire situations and the obstacles they have to overcome. Most of this story also takes place over the shortest timespan of any of my books so far--less than forty-eight hours--which made telling a romance particularly challenging. It was a lot of fun to try, and in the end, it's a story I really hope will keep readers turning the pages to see how it will all turn out.

It's also my first book with a Western setting and a cowboy hero, two other elements that are new for me. I've driven across the country a few times, and I love the feeling of the open road and the epic grandeur of those Western landscapes that are simply amazing to behold and be surrounded by. I also love road romances, and always wanted to tell a story set among the long, lonely roads out West. So I began HER COWBOY DEFENDER by stranding the heroine on one of those desert roads, with a broken-down car and thirty minutes to get to a designated rendezvous point or someone she cares about will be killed. Just when she least expects it and needs it most, someone comes along. Naturally it's a cowboy, or more important for her purposes, a cowboy with a functioning truck. So she pulls a gun and promptly hijacks him. And that's just the first five pages.

Want to know what happens next? The book is out now! (And I guess I'd be remiss not to mention that the print edition happens to be 40% off as part of eHarlequin's Cowboys on a Budget sale, which is new too!)

Whew! So that's what's new with me. What about you? The year is still new; how's 2012 treating you? Anything new and exciting? Tried anything new lately you're happy about? Feel free to share, or say anything at all, and one commenter will win a copy of my previous Thriller, CIRCUMSTANTIAL MARRIAGE, to be drawn tomorrow (2/3/12). (And to read more about CIRCUMSTANTIAL MARRIAGE and HER COWBOY DEFENDER, check out my blog post from last year "Playing the Name Game".)

Happy reading!

Kerry Connor
www.kerryconnor.com
A HARD MAN TO FORGET - ebook exclusive - January 2012
HER COWBOY DEFENDER - February 2012
HER COWBOY AVENGER - August 2012

We're Back!

2012-02-01T00:14:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Intrigue authors' blog! After spending a few years blogging at eHarlequin, we're officially back at our own blog to continue chatting with readers. Whether it's your first visit or you're a regular blog follower, we're glad to have you here!

We're happy to be "home" and hope to bring you plenty of interesting blog posts and great discussions. Of course, we'd love to hear what you'd like to see from us on the blog. On this first day, feel free to chime in and tell us what you'd like more of, and here's to a lot of great blogging to come!

Happy reading!

The Intrigue Authors

Typewriters?

2012-01-31T13:07:00.003-05:00

When David and I first started writing we had two matching typewriters. We had no money to buy a desk, so we used an old ping-pong table that we'd bought at a garage sale. The net divided his half of the "desk" from mine.

A typewriter never caught a virus, and what you typed, well, that's what you got.

Now we work on computers. What you type could turn into a million little symbols that no one except another computer can read. However, they're more fun.

With that in mind, I'm opening the floor to suggestions. Please go to our web page and take a look. Overall, what's your impression? More "us" photos? Less? And under "Friends" you'll meet some other authors we've come to know. But the intial page where you actually click on the name needs work. What would you put on the blank section? Their photos? Panoramic vista of NM or something like the bear fetish on this post?

(The bear, like it is with the hero of our new book Power of the Raven) is David's fetish. Mine- raven.)

I really would welcome your feedback. We've been working on the web page for months, and I don't think it's there yet!

oh-- the URL is aimeeanddavidthurlo.com

Thanks, guys!

Aimée Thurlo

Spotlight on January Intrigues: Last Spy Standing

2012-01-29T00:00:00.000-05:00

Dana Marton delivers another edge-of-the-seat Thriller inLast Spy Standing:

Black ops specialist Mitch Mendoza had thought this SouthAmerican rescue mission would be routine. But the jungle held unexpecteddangers: deadly snakes, armed drug runners and Megan Cassidy. The undercoverCIA agent had legs for miles and a hidden agenda—one that interfered withMitch's plans. So though he was a lone wolf, he had to keep her close, or riskletting his mission fail. After years of working alone, Mitch found himselfdistracted by Megan's steely resolve and her soft curves. And he couldn'tafford that. Not if he wanted this assignment to be a success…and get both ofthem out of the jungle alive.

Spotlight on January Intrigues: Sudden Insight

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Rebecca York begins her exciting new series Mindbenders with Sudden Insight:

New Orleans tarot card reader Rachel Gregory foresaw a dark, sexy stranger but she had no idea Jake Harper would be her soul mate. Someone who literally read her thoughts…and she his. But when they were both nearly killed, Rachel had a feeling they were never meant to be together.

On the run, they searched for the source of their eerie connection—one that grew more powerful with each fevered kiss and heated caress. But were they willing to risk everything to uncover their secret past hidden deep in the bayou for decades? They had to hurry, before Rachel could foresee their deaths.…

ROBIN PERINI

2012-01-25T00:01:00.000-05:00

Angi Morgan & Robin Perini show off their Golden Hearts.

OnJuly 15^th, 2010 Julie Miller introduced me to the eHarlequinIntrigue community. I have the pleasure of introducing new author Robin Periniwho’s debut Intrigue, FINDING HER SON, will hit the e-book shelf on February 1^stand regular bookshelves in March.

Julie Miller and I have something in common with Robin…we’re all Golden Heartfinalists (along with many other award-winning Intrigue authors). Robin and I were both finalists in 2004 and won our categories later--mein 2010 and her in 2011.

Like Julie and most of our fellow Intrigue authors, weall love Romantic Suspense especially with Happily Ever Afters. But enoughabout me… I decided to throw out the same questions to Robin that Julie asked me.So here’s a little about Robin and her first Intrigue: FINDING HER SON (which I’vealready read and loved!!)

"Perini keeps the tension taut, the romance irresistible and the mysteryso deep readers are going to have to pay close attention to the final,explosive climax." 4.5 Stars Romantic Times

FINDING HERSON

THE ONLY MAN ADESPERATE MOTHER CAN TRUST…

Investigatinga cold case is SWAT cop Mitch Bradford’s worst nightmare—especially when itinvolves a kidnapped infant. But thanks to an injury, he’ll have to settle forfollowing Emily Wentworth instead of breaking down doors and cuffing criminals.

Theprime suspect in a mysterious disappearance, Emily has always claimed she wasframed. And as he earns the trust of the incredibly desperate—and unbelievablybeautiful— mother, every instinct tells Mitch to believe her. Then new evidenceunfolds, revealing an elaborate conspiracy and forcing Emily into a deadlyspotlight. Now, torn between loyalty to the badge and his promises to Emily, Mitchmay have to make the ultimate sacrifice if he’s to bring her little boy home.

~~ ~

Award-winningauthor Robin Perini’s love of heart-stopping suspense and poignant romance,coupled with her adoration of high-tech weaponry and covert ops, encouraged hersecret inner commando to take on the challenge of writing romantic suspensenovels. Her mission's motto: "When danger and romance collide, no heart issafe."

Devoted togiving her readers fast-paced, high stakes adventures with a love story sure tomelt their hearts, Robin’s strong characters and tightly woven plots havegarnered her the prestigious Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® Award.By day, she works for an advanced technology corporation, and in her sparetime, you might find her giving one of her many nationally acclaimed writingworkshops or training in competitive small-bore rifle silhouette shooting.Robin loves to interact with readers. You can read excerpts, review, sign up for Robin's mailing list and even request trading cards or a Kinlegraph on her website. She'd love to hear from you.

~~~

Howmany manuscripts did you write before you sold one?

ROBIN: Whew! I had to go back andcount. I have ten manuscripts, not all of them complete. One of them Iabandoned halfway through because my hero fell in love with another woman (notthe heroine). Kind of put a damper on the story!

Whichbook was your hardest to write and why?

ROBIN: The current book I'm writing isalways the hardest. I love planning my stories. I love having written mystories. But while I'm writing and revising, I'm always wondering if my skillcan live up to my vision. Right now, I'm working on my third HarlequinIntrigue, which will be out during Christmas 2012. Royal Secrets tells thestory of a woman driven into hiding by an assassin. This unexpected heiress toa throne must protect her young twins by relying on the man who betrayedher–her children’s father.

Ilove the story…and I know I'll enjoy having written it! But right now…it's the hardest thing I'veever done. (And yes, I say that with every book!)

Whatdo you think is the most difficult thing about being an author?

ROBIN: Balance! I have a day job andfamily and friends, so I have to work my author life into an already busyschedule. I must confess, I'm a bit of a nut. Just ask my friends and family.I've tried a million different ways to write over the years, and for now, thisworks for me. First, I should say that I have a day job, so I work writingaround paying the mortgage, and of course the rest of my life—family, exercise,chores, and occasionally a little fun. :-)

I'mactually one of those irritating morning people. I write from 5:30 am – 7:00 amweekdays. Mostly to get the adrenaline pumping because I thrive ondeadlines—and being panicked! If you only have an hour and a half, you have tomake the most of every second. Also, I write in 'sprints'. 20 minutes ofwriting and a 10 minute break. This idea was introduced to me my fellow Intrigueauthor, Angi Morgan and it really works for me. If nothing else my body doesn'tgo numb from sitting in the chair.

OnSaturday, I write for about 5 hours in the morning, and on Sunday, afterchurch, I write for three hours. I usually write new material on those shorterstretches on the weekdays and revise on the weekends. As for promotion—likeworking on my website, blogs, designing romance trading cards, Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads,I work on those in the evenings as needed—or as the deadlines loom.

Andsometimes sleep becomes a luxury. But, guess what. I wouldn't change it foranything! I'm living my dream.

Whatauthors have most inspired your work?

ROBIN: I have so manyauthors who have brought me incredible joy and inspired my love of reading andwriting. In fact, on my website I have included a page listing many of myall-time favorite books and authors. There are many Intrigue and HarlequinRomantic Suspense authors on the list.

Those books typically evoke deep emotions within me. They are mywindow into pain, joy, insight, and wisdom. One of my very favorite authors is Sharon Sala.This New York Times Bestselling Author has written novels that twist my heartthrough a painful suspense-filled journey, but end in hope. Her ability totouch my soul makes me go back to her stories again and again.

Evenmore than that, Sharon Sala is a mentor to me. She read my debut novel, In HerSights, several years ago. She believed in me and my book at a time when it washard to believe in myself. I'm not sure I would be here today without herencouragement. She is an amazing writer, of course, but even a more amazingperson.

I'dlike to be her when I grow up.

Whatare you working on now?

ROBIN: I already describedwhat I'm working on, so let me tell you about this year. 2011 was a dream cometrue. And in 2012, I get the honor of releasing three Harlequin Intrigues.Finding Her Son, which won the 2011 Romance Writers of America ® Golden Heart® Award in Contemporary Series Romance:Suspense/Adventure as Stolen Lullaby, will be released in March 2012. In thestory, a woman determined to find her kidnapped son, and who is suspected inher husband's death reluctantly teams with the embattled SWAT cop assigned toprove her guilt. Cowboy in the Crossfire, in which a woman desperate to protecther young son after he witnesses a murder, is forced into an alliance with thedisgraced Texas Sheriff who her family framed, will come out in July, 2012. Lastly,Royal Secrets (working title) will hit the shelves, Christmas, 2012.

I'm living my dream. What can I say?

Tellus about getting “the call” even though it was from Amazon Montlake for your GHfinalist: IN HER SIGHTS !

ROBIN: What an amazing day! I hadreceived a rejection letter on my story, In Her Sights. I loved my heroine,Jazz, a SWAT Team sniper. My literary agent, Jill Marsal, asked me if I wouldbe interested in submitting it to Amazon for a new romance line they werestarting. I said 'yes' and about a month later I received a call from my agent.I was at work, and she asked me if I was sitting down. Luckily, I was, becausemy knees shook, my breath caught and I screeched. Several people ran down thehall to my office, hoping nothing was wrong. I didn't stop smiling all day!

Mycall from Harlequin Intrigue was no less dramatic. I had entered the RomanceWriters of America® Golden Heart® contest with my story, Stolen Lullaby. Ifinalled in the contest. In May of 2011, I received a phone call from my agent,once again asking me if I was sitting down? You guessed it. They wanted StolenLullaby. The next day, my amazing editor, Allison Lyons called me. Dream cometrue. I know I keep repeating myself, but I can't help it. I'm giddy still. Ina period of just a few months I'd sold two books!

Ijust have to say to everyone out there, dare to follow your dreams and bepersistent and focused in your pursuit. You can grasp the rainbow, too.

Youcan find Robin on her website or become a fan on Facebookor on Twitter or on Goodreads.

WELCOME TO INTRIGUE, ROBIN !!

~Angi

Networking-Deadline Style

2012-01-23T09:18:00.000-05:00

(blog cross-posted from http://bit.ly/yB9fZ9)

Hey, gang--I'm scheduled to blog today. But since the deadline on my next Precinct: Task Force book got moved up, the deadline is also TODAY! So forgive me if you've seen this blog post on my Facebook page, but I'm recycling (saving my fingers and brain cells to type the end of this book and get it out!)

Last weekend we had a retreat for my local writers' group, the Prairieland Romance Writers (www.prwne.com). I had some writing time, some fun time, but mostly it was about networking.
At any rate, have a little fun with this list and see if it gives you any insight into how a writer's mind works. ..
.
This year the Prairieland Romance Writers is celebrating its 20th anniversary! (And none of us have aged a day) As a fun way to commemorate the event, we're going to post a list each month. Some will be silly, others more serious. But they'll give you an idea of the depth and variety of talent within our writers organization. Enjoy!

20 Topics Discussed at the PRW 2012 Annual Retreat:

1. Book Reviews--the Good, the Bad and the Huh?
2. Stealing copper pipes
3. Social networking--how to do it, various platforms, what readers want when
interacting with authors, and where to get the best return for the investment
of time and energy involved.
4. Swearing and/or throwing things as a stress reliever
5. Roundtable topics for PRW meetings throughout 2012
6. Need to update PRW's Policy & Procedure Manual
7. How to celebrate PRW's 20th anniversary
8. Incredible announcements
9. Monthly goals
10. Writing plans and career road maps
11. Candy corn pumpkins
12. Unique pizza rolls
13. Longest and shortest rejection times for proposal or manuscript submissions
14. What makes us feel successful as a writer (and it's not the same for every
member)
15. Our favorite wine
16. Our favorite chocolate
17. Rapid changes in the publishing market
18. Our kids, spouses and parents
19.Time management (productivity tips and tricks that work--or don't)
20. The benefits of networking at the annual retreat

So what's an interesting/fun discussion you've had recently? What did you learn from it? Or was it just about sharing time with a friend or loved one? I'll give away a copy of my current release, ICE LAKE, to a lucky poster who leaves a comment or ask a question.

Julie Miller

NANNY 911-Dec 2011
ICE LAKE-(Anthology w/ BJ Daniels & Delores Fossen) Jan 2012
ALWAYS FAITHFUL--ebook release Jan 2012
THE MARINE NEXT DOOR-May 2012
KANSAS CITY COWBOY-Aug 2012
New Book GiveAway this month at www.juliemiller.org

Spotlight on January Intrigues: Green Beret Bodyguard

2012-01-21T10:23:00.006-05:00

It's time for the action-packed finale of Carol Ericson's Brothers in Arms series, Green Beret Bodyguard:

He may have lost his memory, but not his mercenary skills. And once Jack Coburn learned his real name, he sought out the woman who could help him piece together the rest of his past. Lola Famosa had hired the green beret months ago to find her missing brother. And that mission had nearly cost him his life.

But locating the lovely doctor presented new dangers. Someone was determined to keep Lola from her quest, and her life hung in the balance. Jack's first concern might have been regaining his memory, but now it was all about protecting Lola. For she was the one thing this loner was determined to keep.

Spotlight on January Intrigues: Cowboy Conspiracy

2012-01-18T07:16:00.002-05:00

The exciting conclusion to Joanna Wayne's Sons of Troy Ledger series is here!

Ex-lawman Wyatt Ledger came back home to find his mother'skiller…even if it was his father. The truth had haunted him nearly twentyyears, but now nothing would come between them—except a damsel and her daughterin distress.

Kelly Burger sought a fresh start in the Hill Country, butwhen her dangerous past followed, she turned to the safe arms of her cowboyprotector. Though he now battled two killers by day, at night Wyatt wasdefenseless against her seductive touch. Secrets of their past lurked in town—unspeakableand deadly. Once he uncovered them, could Wyatt save himself, his family andthe woman he loved?

Spotlight on January Intrigues: Nate

2012-01-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

Nate, latest installment in Delores Fossen's series The Lawmen of Silver Creek Ranch, is available now!

On the day Lieutenant Nate Ryland's baby daughter is kidnapped, he finds hope in the most surprising of allies: Darcy Burkhart, a woman he never thought—never wanted—to see again. But Darcy's son has also been taken and there's nothing that will keep them from bringing their children home. Unfortunately this is no ordinary adversary, and even someone like Nate, who's used to dealing with the worst of society, can't predict the enemy's next move. As the search continues, Nate finds himself admiring the woman he once considered his greatest opponent—and desiring her in a way he never would have thought possible.

Spotlight on January Intrigues: Certified Cowboy

2012-01-13T04:55:00.002-05:00

Don't miss Certified Cowboy, the first in Rita Herron's new series Bucking Bronc Lodge:

After a successful career as a Texasrodeo champ, Johnny Long quit living on the wild side. Now he was devoted to acause he understood all too well: giving kids a second chance. But when hehires a mysterious woman, Johnny knows trouble has reentered his life. Not onlyis Rachel Presley beautiful, but the fear in her eyes—and in those of her five-year-oldson—practically breaks his hardened heart. It isn't long before strange "accidents"put Rachel in serious jeopardy, convincing Johnny her past has caught up withher. Sharing some of his secrets is the only way to get to the bottom ofRachel's…even if revealing them could have their own dangerous consequences.

Coming Attractions

2012-01-11T10:32:00.004-05:00

Here's a peek at what's coming to you in the first half of the year from Harlequin Intrigue:

January 2012

1323. Certified Cowboy -- Rita Herron
1324. Nate -- Delores Fossen
1325. Cowboy Conspiracy -- Joanna Wayne
1326. Green Beret Bodyguard -- Carol Ericson
1327. Sudden Insight -- Rebecca York
1328. Last Spy Standing -- Dana Marton

February 2012
1329. Cowboy in the Extreme -- Rita Herron
1330. Scene of the Crime: Mystic Lake --Carla Cassidy
1331. The Lost Girls of Johnson's Bayou -- Jana DeLeon
1332. Sudden Attraction -- Rebecca York
1333. Power of the Raven -- Aimee Thurlo
1334. Her Cowboy Defender -- Kerry Connor

March 2012
1335. Corralled -- B.J. Daniels
1336. Cowboy to the Max -- Rita Herron
1337. Secret Identity -- Paula Graves
1338. Lawman Lover -- Lisa Childs
1339. A Wanted Man -- Alana Matthews
1340. Finding Her Son -- Robin Perini

April 2012
1341. Son of a Gun -- Joanna Wayne
1342. Secret Hideout -- Paula Graves
1343. Midwife Cover -- Cassie Miles
1344. Baby Breakout -- Lisa Childs
1345. Purebred -- Patricia Rosemoor
1346. Raven's Cove -- Jenna Ryan

May 2012
1347. Colby Law -- Debra Webb
1348. Secret Agenda -- Paula Graves
1349. Obsession -- Carol Ericson
1350. The Marine Next Door -- Julie Miller
1351. Private Security -- Mallory Kane
1352. When She Wasn't Looking -- HelenKay Dimon

June 2012
1353. Wrangled -- B.J. Daniels
1354. High Noon -- Debra Webb
1355. Eyewitness -- Carol Ericson
1356. Death of a Beauty Queen -- Mallory Kane
1357. Thunder Horse Heritage -- Elle James
1358. Spy Hard -- Dana Marton

Playing the Name Game

2011-03-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

This month marks the return of Intrigue’s “Thriller” promotion with CIRCUMSTANTIAL MARRIAGE by yours truly. This is a story I started working on long before I sold it or finally finished writing it, and I'm very excited that it's finally being published and that the editors felt it was thrilling enough to be tagged as a Harlequin Intrigue Thriller.

When I started writing this story back in the year 2000 (yes, another story I started that long ago), I titled it AN HONORABLE MAN (anyone who reads the book, or even just the excerpt here on eHarlequin, will understand why I called it that). What I wrote back then was the opening scene of Chapter One, which is now being published pretty much exactly as written. A woman ventures into a seedy bar, the kind of place she never would under normal circumstances, but these are anything but normal circumstances. She's on the run from powerful forces, with no one to trust and no one to turn to but a man who's done everything he can to hide his whereabouts. She manages to track him down, but the man she finds is too haunted by the loss of his family to want anything to do with anyone else's problems. But as he watches her walk away, he knows he can't sit back and do nothing and risk one more life on his conscience. He goes after her, and--well, you'll have to read the book to find out what happens after that.

In the published book, that scene remains almost exactly as originally written all those years ago, with one big exception. You see, the title wasn't the only name change the book underwent. The heroine’s name was originally Piper Lowry, the hero was Cade McClain. When I picked up the story all these years later and began working on it again, one thing immediately struck me as off. I looked at the heroine, the picture I had of her in my head and the way I'd portrayed her in the scene and thought, "No, you’re not a Piper Lowry." The name just didn't fit this woman. She needed a new one.

This isn't the first time that's happened to me. I'm a writer who spends a lot of time on the characters' names. They're such an important part of the character's identity I have to get them right. Sometimes I'll come up with a name and immediately know it's right. Sometimes I'll have a name I think is right, only to discover it doesn't match the character once I've started writing. Other times I know from the start I don't have the right name, but I start writing while trying to figure it out as I get to know the character. That's what happened with the heroine of my earlier book, TRUSTING A STRANGER, whose name was changed repeatedly over the course of the book until I finally figured it out.

In this case, after some wrestling with different names and various combinations of first and last for the heroine, I finally hit on it.

Audrey Ellison. Perfect.

So I tried to continue and tell the story of Cade McClain and Audrey Ellison.

I couldn't. It felt wrong. Cade McClain and Audrey Ellison didn’t belong together. Audrey Ellison was who she was. This was the right hero for her. But maybe "Cade McClain" wasn't who he was...

In the meantime I started working on an idea for a thriller with a cowboy hero. As I set about naming the characters, I realized, “You know what’s a good name for a cowboy? Cade McClain.”

It wasn't right for this character anyway, so I took the name and gave it to my cowboy. Of course, that meant my poor tortured, haunted hero needed a new name.

This took a little longer. I tried to continue writing using a filler name I knew I would change but would just use in the interim, but this time using a name I knew definitely was not the character's kept tripping me up. At one point I even tried just using an "X" instead of an actual name, but writing about Audrey and "X" didn't work any better. In order to really connect with the character, I needed to know his name.

Finally, after far too long and much trial and error, I had it. Jason Stone. Yep, that was it.

Of course that's what it was. Who else could they be but Jason Stone and Audrey Ellison? And I was able to write the rest of the book.

Meanwhile, when it came to Cade McClain's heroine, I immediately knew what her name should be: Piper Lowry, of course. And yes, that name is a perfect fit for that character. I can't imagine her being called anything else.

So two people who I knew long before I knew their names, Jason Stone and Audrey Ellison, have their story told in CIRCUMSTANTIAL MARRIAGE (available now!). And two people named Cade McClain and Piper Lowry will find plenty of danger and romance themselves in their own story when HER COWBOY DEFENDER (if that name sticks) hits shelves next year.

How much do characters' names matter to you? Any names--character or real-life--you really love? Ever bought a book because you loved the name of the character (or characters)? Ever passed on a book because one (or both) of the characters had a name you didn't like? Or is the author's name the only one that matters to you? One commenter on eHarlequin will win a copy of STRANGER IN A SMALL TOWN (a book where, wouldn't you know it, the hero is hiding his identity by operating under a fake name. And yes, in that case, both the real name and fake name had to fit perfectly!)

Kerry Connor
www.kerryconnor.com
SILENT NIGHT STAKEOUT - October 2010
CIRCUMSTANTIAL MARRIAGE - March 2011

More Please

2010-09-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

One of the great things about being an author is getting to write the kinds of stories you loved to read, and wanted to see more of. It’s an opportunity I’ve been taking advantage of recently, as my most recent books have involved themes and story elements I wanted more of, not just as an Intrigue writer, but an Intrigue reader.

As I mentioned last spring, I love spooky old houses and creepy, atmospheric suspense. As a reader, I could never get enough of those kinds of stories, and there was a time when they'd fallen out of fashion in the line. I knew I wanted to write one (or more!) of my own, and the lack of them in the early 2000s just fed that desire. The result was my May book, STRANGER IN A SMALL TOWN (still available here on eHarlequin!).

I also love international intrigue, stories that involve global elements and danger on a larger scale. Outside of Dana Marton's spy thrillers, it's not something that's seen in Intrigue as much as it once was, and certainly not as much as I'd love it to be! That was once of the inspirations of my November 2009 Intrigue, TRUSTING A STRANGER, and its Russian heroine caught between two governments and targeted by a ruthless international tycoon.

One thing I’d love to see is more diversity in the line. I like reading about characters of different ethnic backgrounds and from different cultures, and naturally enjoyed Intrigues by authors like Aimee Thurlo, with her Native American characters; Maggie Ferguson, who brought African-American heroes and heroines to the line; and Tracy Montoya with her characters of Latino descent. I always wanted my own books to reflect the diversity of the real world and involve characters from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Which brings me to my October release, SILENT NIGHT STAKEOUT. As you can see from the cover, this is my first (but hopefully not last) book with an African-American hero and heroine. I also have one in the works with a Latino couple, as well as a story with Asian-American characters I'd love to tell. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Intrigue readers will be receptive to them.

So let me ask all the readers out there...what about you? What types of stories can you not get enough of, or is there anything you'd like to see more of from Intrigue?

Kerry Connor
www.kerryconnor.com

Getting the Shivers

2010-05-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

This month marks the beginning of a new promotion from Intrigue called "Shivers," featuring spine-tingling romantic suspense reads. I’m really excited that my latest book, STRANGER IN A SMALL TOWN, was chosen to launch this new promotion. Interestingly enough, one of my original goals for this book wasn’t to do something new, but recapture the feeling of some of the great Intrigues I so enjoyed in the past and bring something "old" back to the line.

I’ve long been a fan of creepy, chilling suspense tales, the kind of story where the suspense comes as much, if not more, from the atmosphere and sense of mood as from action and overt violence. I love stories that occur in an eerie setting and have a strong sense of place, from stories in the old Gothic tradition to more contemporary spinetinglers. Give me spooky old buildings, characters venturing down dark passageways and investigating the shadows, and that lurking sense of menace, and I'll eat it right up. I don’t read outright horror--I can’t deal with anything too dark or gruesome or downbeat myself--but I love that extra jolt of tension and suspense that comes from great atmosphere and an unsettling mood. After all, shouldn't suspense be at least a little scary, for both the characters--and the reader?

When I first started reading Intrigues, there were plenty of these types of stories. They were some of my favorites, and many of them remain keepers for me to this day. Authors like Anne Stuart, Bethany Campbell, Elaine K. Stirling, Madelyn Sanders and Jenna Ryan brought readers suspenseful stories with that extra creepy edge. Those early Intrigue authors (among others) took me from sinister small towns full of secrets to dark castles, English manor houses with dark histories to haunted vineyards, shadowy Venetian palazzos to isolated lighthouses as their heroes and heroines were confronted with unsettling events that kept them--and me--on edge, wondering what lurked in the darkness, in the fog, in the shadows.... (And of course there was the short-lived, deliciously dark Silhouette Shadows line. Hopefully I'm not the only one around here who was a fan!) I loved all those stories that delivered those great thrills and chills, but with a guaranteed happy ending and the knowledge that they wouldn't get too dark or depressing.

When I started planning my Stranger books in the fall of 2000 (yes, it really was that long ago), the line had mostly moved away from those types of stories, and frankly, I missed them. Naturally, I also had long wanted to try writing a spooky story of my own. So I started thinking...

As it often does with this kind of story, it all began with the house. I thought of an old house, isolated at the end of a street. All of the other houses on the street are nice-looking and well-kept, but not this one. It was likely beautiful once, but now it’s crumbling, falling apart. The lawn is overgrown, many of the windows are covered by boards. Clearly no one lives here or has for some time. Why not? What happened in this house that would prevent anyone from wanting to live there?

In most of these kinds of stories, it seemed to be the heroine whose past was connected to the place, so I knew I wanted to do it a little differently and have it be the hero in my story. So why was the heroine drawn to this house? I imagined a woman traveling alone, with nowhere to be and nowhere to go. She's drifting, lost because of events in her recent past. She finds herself in a small town she’s never been before, somewhere she had no intention of going and doesn’t intend to stay. But she gets lost in the town and finds herself at the end of this street, in front of this crumbling old house. Once there, she can’t look away. Something in her responds to this house. It’s all alone, as she is. Worse for wear, as she is. It seems abandoned, as she has been. She notices an ancient, faded For Sale sign in front of the house. She has experience restoring houses, and in a fit of inspiration--or madness--she decides that she is going to save this house.

In her determination, she doesn’t notice the eagerness of the real estate agent who sells her the house. She doesn’t ask too many questions about why the house is in such bad shape and why it’s been abandoned. The only thing that matters is that she’s going to save this house, when, of course, what she’s really trying to save is herself. But someone doesn’t want her in that house, someone who will do anything to try to drive her from it. All alone in this crumbling house, she soon realizes she has no allies in this town. It's only when another stranger suddenly arrives in town and agrees to work for her when no one else would that she has someone on her side. But naturally, there's more to him than there seems...

It wasn't until last year when I finally got to write this story, and as is usually the case, things changed from the early idea stage. Considering the townspeople’s dislike of the house, it didn’t seem likely anyone would want to talk to two strangers in town about what happened there. The story would work better if one of them had an obvious connection to the town. The nature of the plot meant it couldn’t be the hero, so I changed it so that the heroine had inherited the house. The reason she’s alone was also changed slightly (what I originally intended was a little too close to what I inadvertently used in my previous book, TRUSTING A STRANGER). Otherwise it remains the tale I waited years to tell—the story of a house, a woman and a mystery—and the stranger who comes to be entangled with all three.

While there weren't many spooky stories in the line anymore when I first came up with the idea, times have changed and happily they’ve found a home again in Intrigue over the past decade. Even so, I wasn’t sure if the editors would go for my story. So I was thrilled when they not only liked it, but decided it would be the first in the new "Shivers" promotion, which promises to bring plenty more spine-tingling tales to Intrigue readers in the months ahead.

To celebrate (and because I'm the kind of person who foists books on people that I think they should read

), I'm giving away a set of two classic Intrigue chillers that I loved, in as close to "new" condition as I could find. They are:

Hand in Glove by Anne Stuart

Death wore a puppet's mask...

Judith Daniels knew that her friend, Lacey, feared for her life. And when Lacey died suddenly, Judith was convinced that her death had not been an accident. Desperate to learn the truth, she applied for Lacey's job at Ryan Smith's puppet factory.

Her task proved difficult. The voices behind the puppets were cleverly disguised. So were the people involved, for each one--like Judith herself--seemed to have something to hide. Even Ryan Smith, the creative genius of the group, was deliberately evasive.

Then it was Judith's turn to fear for her own life....

Dead Opposites by Bethany Campbell

Eerie sounds...

that went bump in the night were part of Hawthorne Towers's history. When Ginnie Prince heard rumors that the building was haunted, she decided it was time to move. But her decision was made too late. For when she arrived home one evening, she found more than an empty apartment.

Ex-Marine Wayne Priborski was starting his life over, alone, and didn't want to know his neighbors at Hawthorne Towers. However, he had no choice after encountering Ginnie stumbling down the marble staircase of the old Victorian building, unable to stand, fright evident in her eyes as she numbly told him there was a dead body in her bathtub.

I’ll draw one winner from today’s commenters to receive both books. For those who don't win, the books are well-worth hunting down, because they deserve to be read. And of course, if you’d like to try my own take on a spine-tingling romantic mystery, STRANGER IN A SMALL TOWN is available now!

I'll be back on Monday, May 10, 2010 with a new post and to pick the winner. So how about you? Do you love your romantic suspense with that creepy, chilling edge? Any old favorites of your own you’d like to mention?

Kerry Connor
www.kerryconnor.com

Live the Emotion

2010-04-12T00:00:00.000-04:00

Twenty years ago this month, Intrigue released UNDER THE KNIFE by Tess Gerritsen, who of course would go on to become the bestselling author of awesome thrillers. (Fun fact: the other Intrigue released that month was SWITCHBACK by Catherine Anderson, another future New York Times bestselling author. Quite an auspicious month!). I was still relatively new to Intrigue, having only started reading the line a couple months earlier. UNDER THE KNIFE was the book that not only cemented my love of the line, but made it clear that this was the kind of story I wanted to write. I didn't just want to write mysteries, as I'd always thought. I wanted to write THESE.

The book had all the hallmarks I had already come to associate with the line. Strong characters with a juicy interpersonal conflict. A great mystery with plenty of suspects. A well-developed love story. Numerous twists and turns. Suspenseful sequences. But what really stood out about it was how emotional it was. I found the hero's story incredibly moving, and the ending in particular hit me hard. The story's emotional impact was what made it something extra-special and a book I knew would really stick with me. As far as I was concerned, the book contained everything a great read could--and should, and set the bar for what I wanted to try and accomplish in my own stories--that perfect combination of mystery and emotion.

It seems somehow fitting that my latest book, STRANGER IN A SMALL TOWN, is being released almost exactly twenty years later. (Okay, it’s technically a May release, but it’s already available on eHarlequin, so close enough. ) It's a book that means a lot to me, partly because I think it really exemplifies the kind of story I've always wanted to write since reading UNDER THE KNIFE, combining a mystery I hope will keep readers guessing with (at least for me) that level of emotion I’ve been aiming for from the beginning. It’s the story of two people, both running from their pasts in different ways and for different reasons, bound together by the creepy, crumbling house that each has been drawn to. The house has largely been abandoned since two people were murdered there almost thirty years before, a crime that remains unsolved. The heroine is determined to restore the house; the hero hires on to help her while keeping his true motives secret. But no one in the town wants the house restored, least of all the killer. When the danger surrounding the house escalates, the hero and heroine are driven to try to solve the murders. Over the course of the story, they work to find the truth, and in the process find the strength to face their respective pasts and move on into the future.

All of my characters mean a great deal to me, but I especially felt for these two people, two lost souls who find a connection when neither expects it. I just "got" them on a level I hope comes across on the page. I admit, there were a few points while I was writing it where I felt a lump in my throat. A tear or two may have even been shed. I can’t guarantee that anyone else will have the same reaction (though I certainly wish I could!), but I do hope anyone who decides to take a chance on the book will enjoy it and maybe even find themselves as caught up in the emotions of the characters' story as I was.

In the meantime, what are some of your favorite emotional reads that really got to you and stuck with you? Do you have any books that really made you cry?

Kerry Connor
www.kerryconnor.com

In Their Footsteps

2010-02-22T00:00:00.000-05:00

I recently realized that this week marks my anniversary with Intrigue—not as a writer, but as a reader. It was twenty years ago this week that I wandered out of the mystery section of the used bookstore I used to frequent in my youth and into the romance section without realizing it. I spotted these books with dramatic-looking white covers, shelved, fittingly enough, on what turned out to be the border between the mystery and romance sections. I didn't know anything about Harlequin, but I read a few of the back covers and these books sounded like something I’d like (i.e. mysteries), so I bought a few. Those first few soon sent me back for more, as well as to the new bookstore to get the current ones, since the used bookstore was several months behind and I couldn't wait that long knowing there were new Intrigues out there! I still remember the first Intrigue I bought new—Caroline Burnes’s original Fear Familiar, which was awesome. It was followed a month later by Tess Gerritsen’s Under the Knife, which knocked my socks off. I’d always wanted to write mysteries, but that was the book that cemented the fact that Intrigue was not just what I wanted to be reading, but what I wanted to write, and for me it remains the perfect example of exactly what an Intrigue should be.

It was many years later before I finally broke into the line as a writer, but my journey began with those early days, devouring those books until I’d read every one. I still have very fond memories of those early Intrigues, some of which remain all-time favorites, many of which I can recall the entire plots of all these years later. There were authors who became regulars with the line, some who moved on to big things, and others who only contributed a few titles before seeming to disappear. Wherever their paths led them, they were the authors and theirs were the stories that established my love for the line and showed me how Intrigue was done, for which I will always be grateful.

I figure the best way to pay tribute to those authors is to share their stories with others who may not have read them. So to celebrate my anniversary and those authors’ work, I thought I’d give away some early Intrigues by authors I particularly enjoyed (and whose books I happened to have spare copies of). They’re all used copies, but in good shape for their age (hey, they’re twenty year old books!). The spines are creased, but the books are holding together well with plenty of reading left in them. Most important, they're books that deserve to be read. They are:

#84 – A Walking Shadow by Regan Forest
Forest wrote more books for Temptation than Intrigue, but her four Intrigues were terrific. This one has a great setting in the historic ghost town of Jerome, Arizona, and two compelling main characters with a cartoonist heroine and a mysterious hero hiding from his past.

#85 – Chain Letter by Elaine K. Stirling
Stirling wrote a number of creepy tales for Intrigue (Foul Play and Sleepwalker are particularly fun). This is a neat one too, as two strangers connected by a chain letter have to figure out why they’ve been targeted and who’s responsible when the others listed in the letter start being murdered one by one.

#89 – Red Dog Run by Jan Michaels
Michaels specialized in couple-on-the-run stories in her four Intrigues. Her first, Pursuit in the Wilderness, was probably my favorite, and one of the very first (and possibly THE first) true couple-on-the-run Intrigues. This is a good one too, with plenty of the rip-roaring action that was her forte.

#98 – Hot Pursuit by Fran Earley
Earley wrote several Intrigues set in Central America, an area not often visited in romantic suspense. Ransom in Jade took place in Guatamala, while Setup took readers to Costa Rica. This one is set stateside, but involves plenty of international intrigue as well.

#102 – For Love or Money by M.J. Rodgers
Rodgers’s first Intrigue featured a strong heroine and a truly clever mystery, two elements that would be the hallmarks of the many excellent books she wrote for the line in the following years.

#110 – Stranger Than Fiction by M.L. Gamble
Gamble often wrote about characters with interesting and unusual careers, like the rock star hero and heroine who ran a celebrity impersonator business in If Looks Could Kill. This one is about the publishing industry (probably no surprise I'd find that interesting!) and the mystery surrounding who really wrote a guaranteed bestseller that's about to be released--and who will kill to keep the secret.

#113 – Do Unto Others by Patricia Rosemoor
One of the earliest Intrigue authors, Rosemoor is obviously still thrilling Intrigue readers with her books today. This was one of that first set of Intrigues I bought twenty years ago (not this exact copy), so I have a particular fondness for it. When her sister disappears inside a televangelist's compound, the heroine goes undercover to find out the truth and discover who's a saint and who's really a sinner.

#118 – Cloak and Dagger by Jenna Ryan
One of Ryan’s was also part of that first set, though I don’t remember if it was this particular one. Either way, it’s a fun one, with a century-old legend that says a serial killer will rise a hundred years after his death, and a present-day murder that seems to indicate the legend is coming true…
-----------------------
Of course, these books and these authors are well worth checking out even if you don't win, and there are many others I could have mentioned as well. To enter, all you have to do is post a comment. What are some of your favorite older books, Intrigue or otherwise, that you think not enough people have heard of? Favorite authors who may not be writing any longer who you wish were or had written more? Or what books brought you to Intrigue? Or any random comment you'd like to make.

I'm thinking of choosing eight different winners to spread the wealth, with each winner getting one book, though if not enough people enter or are interested, I may pick just one winner who will receive the entire lot. We'll see how it goes. In any case, be sure to comment on eHarlequin before Wednesday morning, which is when the winner(s) will be chosen.

Happy reading!

Kerry Connor
www.kerryconnor.com

Embracing the Journey

2009-11-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I blogged about my then-upcoming move. I’m happy to report it’s now been completed. It’s been a crazy few months as I moved from one side of the country to the other, crossing the nation by car and plane several times, but I’m finally settled. New city. New apartment. New possibilities. It’s not just my traveling over the past several months, but my overall journey, that’s brought me to this point, this place. This move is something I’ve want to do and have been working toward for a long time, something that sometimes seemed like it would never happen. Now that it has, I’m hopeful and excited to see what comes next.

Pondering my own journey and how I got here, it occurred to me how romance, and romantic suspense, is really all about the journey, too. As readers and writers, we know the destination we want, we expect, to reach: the happy ending. What really matters, what makes the story special and interesting, is the journey there, the journey that takes the characters to the truth, to justice, to growth, to peace, to love. It may not be easy. There may be missteps made and unfortunate detours taken along the way. But eventually we will get there, and it will be worth everything it took to make it.

I found myself thinking about this as I was considering what to say about my latest Intrigue, TRUSTING A STRANGER, which is now officially available in stores. I’m really excited to have it out there, because I’m particularly fond of this story. In fact, of my four books that have been released so far, I think this might be my favorite. One reason I love writing--and reading--romance is for the emotion, and this book, perhaps more than any of mine released to date, is heavily focused on the emotional journey the characters experience over the course of the story. It had to be.

This is my attempt at a marriage-of-convenience story, a premise that’s not always easy to pull off in a contemporary. In this case, the hero marries the heroine to prevent her from being deported to her home country, where there’s nowhere she can hide from the villain, a powerful man with limitless resources who’s out for revenge. The hero and heroine enter the marriage with the understanding that when the threat to her life is over, they will end it. Naturally, ending a romance novel with the characters getting divorced and going their separate ways isn’t going to be most people’s (or my!) idea of a happy ending. So I knew from the start that by the end of the book, when the danger is over, they had to be at the point where they would decide to continue the marriage, which basically meant they had to be in love and admitting it openly. I couldn’t have them still relatively at the beginning of their journey, having found each other and ready to see what happens next, as I have in several of my earlier books. Naturally their story, their lives, will continue beyond the end of the book, but I had a definite route marker, so to speak, I had to get them to in a believable way by the end.

This was particularly challenging because, as the title indicates, these are two complete strangers who don’t entirely trust each other at the beginning of the book, with only the word of the mutual friend who brought them together to give them any reason to do so. Throw in the fact that this a self-contained hero who’s already lost too much and refuses to feel anything as a means of survival, and a heroine who has been betrayed by her first husband and will not accept anything less than full openness, and these two are in conflict from the start. Not to mention that preventing the heroine from being deported only results in bringing the danger stateside, sending them on the run.

So these two people are not just on a physical journey as they try to elude their pursuers, but a huge emotional one as their feelings evolve over the course of the book in that grand Intrigue tradition, from wariness to trust, then beyond to something deeper. I really loved these characters, and even knowing where I intended for them to go, their journey surprised me at times. In the end, I'm pleased with how it turned out.

I hope any reader who decides to take the journey with them will enjoy it, and wish you the best on your own journey, wherever it takes you.

Kerry Connor
www.kerryconnor.com

Intrigue Authors Blog has moved

2009-11-01T21:08:00.002-05:00

Join Intrigue Authors at our new blog at eHarlequin.com

So...What Do You Do?

2009-10-18T00:00:00.000-04:00

It's the question that almost immediately comes up whenever we meet new people for the first time, an easy way to get an idea who this person is (and to fill any uncomfortable silences <g>). After all, what we do for a living often says something about who we are as people. That’s definitely as true for fictional people as for real ones, and one of the most interesting parts of a book can be reading about what the hero and heroine—and even secondary characters—do for a living.

When it comes to Intrigue, and romantic suspense in general, protagonists in law enforcement tend to be fairly common, which certainly makes sense. Police officers, federal agents and investigators are more likely to be drawn into criminal matters or dangerous situations than the average citizen. But there are plenty of Intrigues that don't involve characters in law enforcement. From cat burglars to dream researchers, rock stars to toymakers, illusionists to cartoonists, Intrigue heroes and heroines have been a varied group over the years. That's certainly true for my books. Personally, I tend to lean toward the type of romantic suspense where the main characters aren’t involved in law enforcement. I love the added tension of two people without any investigative or protective training thrust into circumstances beyond their experience, usually for very personal reasons. As a reader, I was probably influenced by the fact that that was more the case when I started reading Intrigue way back when, as you were more likely to find two regular people caught up in a mystery. (Anyone remember when heroes in law enforcement were rare enough in Intrigue that there was a Lawman promotion one year to point out books that had them?) Plus, I’ve always enjoyed reading about interesting and atypical careers and learning more about them. As a writer, I wanted to write a wide variety of story types, and characters with a wide variety of careers are a natural extension of that.

The hero of my first book was a bounty hunter. Since then I’ve had a doctor hero and business executive heroine in BEAUTIFUL STRANGER, followed by a pro football player hero and writer heroine in A STRANGER’S BABY. My latest Intrigue, November’s TRUSTING A STRANGER, features a hero who’s a corporate attorney and a heroine who's an interior decorator. And yes, each of their careers—and why they chose them—says a great deal about who they are. That’s not to say I wouldn't—or won't—write about characters in law enforcement, anymore than I wouldn't read one. Actually, I just submitted a proposal with a hero who's a homicide detective. I'm working on a few more proposals as well, each of which involves characters with completely different careers from any of the above.

What about you? What are some of the careers you enjoy reading about in Intrigues? Can’t get enough of those cops, secret agents and bodyguards? Are there some interesting careers you'd like to see more of? Or what are some careers you've read about that were interesting, in Intrigue or otherwise? Anything you might not have thought you’d want to read about beforehand that turned out to be fascinating?

Technically, I’m supposed to be blogging Monday, but I’m not sure how often I’ll be able to get online, so I’ve decided to turn this into a two-day extravaganza. One commenter will win a choice of BEAUTIFUL STRANGER or A STRANGER’S BABY, featuring characters with the careers mentioned above. The winner will be drawn and announced late Monday.

Kerry Connor
www.kerryconnor.com

How did I pick my genre?

2009-10-15T03:30:00.000-04:00

Recently, someone asked me where my weird ideas come from. I guess she meant, why are you so into paranormal? Why do you write about werewolves and demons and monsters from another time continuum?

When I was in elementary school, the D.C. Public Library sent a “book basket” to every classroom every month. In fifth grade, when the teacher put RED PLANET, by Robert Heinlein, up on the eraser ledge, the cover illustration made me want to read the book. So I rushed up to get it before anyone else could.

Thus began a lifelong interest in science fiction and fantasy. They were a big part of my recreational reading for years, with adventure and mystery thrown in.

In the early sixties, I didn’t have a television set. I got a TV for one reason–so I could watch a cool new program that my friends were talking about--Star Trek.

So I come by my interest in the paranormal honestly. The first novel I wrote was a kids' SF story, THE INVASION OF THE BLUE LIGHTS, about a bad alien and a good alien that land in the woods across the street from my house. (Only I gave the house to a 12-year-old boy who was a lot like my son.) In the 80's, the big romance boom started, and a friend asked if I’d like to write one. When I told her I hadn’t read any, she brought me shopping bags full. And I discovered they were all about the subplot that I’d loved in the science fiction and adventure novels I read–the development of a relationship between a man and a woman.

At first, I wrote straight romances. Then I figured out I was better at romantic suspense. And after a few romantic suspense novels, I began incorporating SF and fantasy elements into my stories. At first I wrote what I called stealth paranormals. There’s a ghost in my third Intrigue, WHISPERED IN THE NIGHT. And the hero of PRINCE OF TIME is a space alien. But the reader doesn’t find that out until she’s gotten a chance to know and love him. Now I’m fortunate that Intrigue lets me write books that are frankly paranormal. Like my latest, MORE THAN A MAN. The hero, Noah Fielding, has lived for hundreds of years, although he doesn’t know why. Then a dying millionaire discovers his secret and will do anything to find out the reason for his long life–even kill the woman Noah loves. It’s a fast, emotion-packed story that was a lot of fun to write.

What kind of Intrigues do you like best? And how do you like paranormal elements in them?

Rebecca

Playing Favorites

2009-09-25T07:02:00.002-04:00

When I was trying to think of something to blog about, I started to make a list of possible topics, which then led me to think about lists in general. I love lists. I love to make them, love to categorize and organize things, whether it's to-do lists or Christmas lists or lists of places I want to visit before I'm too old and tired to travel.

So then I thought, hey, it's a blog for romance readers and writers, so how about a list addressing one of our favorite topics?

Heroes.

We all love heroes, or we wouldn't be reading romance. And we all have our favorite kinds of heroes, don't we? Whether it's the urbane and powerful billionaire, the hard-bodied Special Forces soldier or the football-loving guy next door, romance heroes are always a fun topic to discuss. And since this is a blog with comments, and therefore interactive, how about we all make lists?

Name your five favorite kinds of heroes, and if you can, list a real life or fictional example of that type of hero.

I'll start:

1) BAD BOY LOOKING FOR REDEMPTION. I love a good redemption story, and I also love a bad boy as long as he really wants to be a good boy (to a certain point). Sawyer on LOST is a great example--he started out as a darned-near irredeemable bad guy but over time, he grew and matured as a character until last season, he was actually the hero of the series. Still, even though he grew emotionally, he never really lost his edge. Fictional heroes don't have to.

2) HERO WITH A TROUBLED PAST COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM. Consider this the sequel to the redeemable bad boy: the full blown hero forced to face the consequences of his past sins. One example of this kind of hero is Mel Gibson's Benjamin Martin in THE PATRIOT. A peaceful farmer with a family to raise, he's trying to put the violence of his past behind him. But the Revolutionary War requires men with war experience, and Martin has to face down the specter of his earlier savagery and try to find a new path, somewhere between the brutality of his past and the false idyll of his present in order to forge a better future.

3) THE CHARMING ROGUE. I'm a sucker for a sexy, sarcastic-tongued devil. I like a guy who knows how to face danger with a witty quip and who isn't afraid to laugh at himself--and others. A guy who loves women and doesn't apologize for flirting his way through a whole bunch of them. Of course, in romances, the fun of this kind of hero is taming him and turning him into a charming rogue who only has eyes for you. From TV's Rick Castle of CASTLE, Tony DiNozzo of NCIS and Sean Spencer of PSYCH to saucy movie pirate Jack Sparrow of the PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN movies, charming rogues are always fun to fantasize about. Especially if that witty tongue is also a defense mechanism, hiding a hero's secret pain...

4) MY FAVORITE GEEK. I think I've blogged before about my penchant for a brainy, nerdy guy. I love them, especially in fiction. Because usually, behind the pocket protector beats the heart of a tiger, both in terms of courage and sexual attraction. Some of my favorite TV heroes are a bit nerdy, like Chuck of CHUCK, McGee of NCIS, and Gus of PSYCH. I also think that behind the stiff cravat and shiny Hessians, Mr. Darcy might have just been a bit of a Pointdexter himself--he was socially inept, romantically inarticulate and hung out with people like Bingley. Come ON.

5) THE PROTECTOR. It's almost a romantic suspense cliche--the cop, the bodyguard, the FBI agent, the soldier--but I love the protector anyway. I especially like one who gets sucked into protecting someone without quite knowing how it happened. The hero of my third book, Maddox Heller of FORBIDDEN TOUCH, is just such a hero. He's hiding from the world in the Caribbean, determined not to be anybody's hero ever again, since it went so badly the last time. But when Iris Browning literally stumbles into his life with a mystery to solve, and it becomes clear that Iris herself might be in danger, Maddox learns that old hero habits die hard.

So, there are my favorites. What are yours?

Let's Get Wild!

2009-08-30T02:09:00.003-04:00

As an animal lover, I always look forward to putting animals front and center in my Intrigues. I’ve written quite a few Intrigues with horses, but I’ve written about other animals, as well. Two of the McKenna books featured wolves—NEVER CRY WOLF (book 4) and WOLF MOON (book 8). Note that WOLF MOON not only had wolves but werewolves, as well.

Before writing NEVER CRY WOLF, I took a weekend wolf ecology workshop from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. The workshop was at a camp (indoors, thankfully, though we had to bring sleeping bags for bedding) an hour north of Stevens Point. So while it was “almost” Spring, there was plenty of deep snow and plenty of cold.

A couple of the workshop leaders were real outdoorsmen. They wore buckskin outfits, knee high mocassins and coyote headgear. Those weren’t just hats made of the skins, they were the coyote heads with skin flaps. Hum, how could I resist modeling my heroes after these guys?

As part of the workshop, we learned to cast and duplicate wolf prints—I still have mine—and then to go out in teams looking for prints and wolf scat. Since the snow was probably 3-4 feet deep, we had to learn to use both snowshoes and cross country skis. Our team found prints and scat that one of the workshop leaders confirmed as coming from a wolf. High excitement! Too bad we didn’t spot the actual wolf. We also learned how biologists tracked wolves by capturing, collaring and releasing them. It gave them the information necessary to see how packs moved through the state.

We learned a lot about wolf migration back into Wisconsin and Michigan from Canada and Minnesota. The emphasis of the group giving the workshop was on educating the public so the public wouldn’t shoot the wolves on sight. Did you know a single wolf pack (perhaps 6-8 wolves) needs a 100 square mile territory? Or that one wolf is only responsible for eating 8 deer in a whole year? Or that wolf pups are raised by all members of the pack? Or that only the alpha male and female mate and have pups?

My weekend in Wisconsin was one of the most fascinating research trips ever.

Some of the future McKenna books are sure to have more animals. But what kind of animals--domestic or wild--do you think would be fun to read about?

Living a Hero's Life

2009-08-20T00:29:00.004-04:00

As a writer, I often venture into unfamiliar territory to make a story ring true. It’s part of my job. There are times when the Internet is invaluable for research. There are times when interviewing a source can give me what I need. But the best times are when I get out of my comfort zone to do personal research and nail the details I can’t get any other way.

Since this is Harlequin Intrigue’s 25th Anniversary, I’ve been doing a series of blogs, memories of books I’ve written over the years. Ten years ago, I sold a ranch trilogy to Intrigue.

The Sons of Silver Springs was set in New Mexico, one of my favorite places to visit. Rather, I had visited Albuquerque, Santa Fe and the small towns and pueblos in the area several times before. What I hadn’t done was spend any time on a ranch. I got on the Internet and found a ranch near Las Vegas, NM, that took paying guests. Of course that was in the summer and this was the winter holiday season. Nevertheless, the owner said they had guest quarters in their basement if we wanted to come out and stay there. I agreed.

I used to ride horses on a regular basis—anywhere from one to three times a week—for ten years. And I used to spend time on a dude ranch for adults in Michigan where the ranch hands took the advanced riders on hair-raising excursions. But at the time we landed at the New Mexican ranch, I had a deteriorating knee and hadn’t ridden in eight years. Getting back on a horse (via an old tractor tire as a mounting block) was like riding a bicycle. All the instincts kicked in, which was great since our first ride was New Years Day night and I got the retired lead horse who made me work hard to keep up with the others.

The idea of going to the ranch was to learn to “move cows” across the river the next day. I asked that the owners keep the night ride short (so I could get back on a horse in the morning!). They took us all over the property, including a couple of locations that made it into the books. One was a wash made by the river when the rains came. I never realized it would be so deep, like giant tire treads made when the earth was wet. In one of the books, my hero and heroine hid in the wash when the villain was shooting at them. The other location was a cave up on the hillside. The rancher’s wife thought I might be able to use it for a love scene. In fact, I used it for the love scene in all three books. My little joke with her. Three and a half hours later, we were back at the ranch. They invited us to use the cowboy hot tub on the front porch. Um, it was 20 degrees outside, so we declined.

The next day, I did get back up on that stubborn horse and found that once he saw the cows he got a couple hands taller. His ears went up, he pranced a bit, then he charged. Those cows took one look at him and ran for their lives. Right across the river. Taking down the fence. We didn’t get to cross them after all—they crossed themselves.

We’d driven through a snowstorm to get to the ranch, first crossing several other ranches, getting in and out of the SUV to open and close gates. We were given a truck tour of the property and of the herds—horse and cows. I distinctly remember the pop of breaking wood as we drove over the bridge, and the owner telling us they were constantly repairing it. I remember the grandeur of the place and thinking “this must have been what the old West was like.” When we rode out that night, I felt like I’d landed in the old tv show Bonanza. Which was ironic, because when I saw my cover for book 2—The Lone Wolf’s Child—I would have sworn Hoss Cartwright himself posed for it.

All those physical details are things I never would have gotten from the Internet or from books. Nor were the personal things the owners shared. How difficult it was to keep the ranch going. How the ranch had been much bigger but was split among brothers decades ago (those ranches we crossed to get in). How the owner had two absent siblings who co-owned but didn’t want to run the ranch. He had to send them money each month. Their share. His share was $600 a month and he worked 7 days a week to make it. The only way they kept going financially was because the wife drove into Las Vegas, NM, to work as a nurse at a hospital. Her income helped keep their dream alive.

The things I learned in three days filled three books with details that I never would have imagined on my own. I was able to live a different life in my head and the stories are richer for it.

Have you ever had the chance to try something different, something that let you imagine doing or being someone else? Comment for a chance at winning one of the Sons of Silver Springs books.

Patricia Rosemoor
Harlequin Intrigue: STEALING THUNDER
Intrigue's 25th Anniversary

My Exciting Life

2009-08-12T04:48:00.002-04:00

Over the years, I’ve made a point of seeking out danger. Partly so I can write about the emotions of my Intrigue heroes and heroines when they’re in a tight spot. And partly to try out perils that may end up in my books.

About four years ago I ended up in the passenger seat of a two-person glider, being towed into the air by a small, single-engine plane. FYI, the passenger seat is in the front. The guy who’s steering the glider is in the back. These babies are smaller than a World War II fighter, and there’s no engine. The little plane took us four thousand feet into the air. Then the pilot asks me to turn the lever that cuts us loose. I did, and we glided free in the sky above Santa Ynez, California, then over the former Reagan ranch. The worst part was being dragged along behind that little plane. Every time it tipped to the left or right, we also tipped, and I held onto the sides of the cockpit with white knuckles. But once we were on our own, it was like floating on a cloud. Or it would have been, if there had been any clouds in that perfectly blue sky.

At the other research extreme, about twelve years ago, I went down to the edge of the Atlantic shelf in a submarine, off the coast of Grand Cayman Island. It was a small sub, but unlike on the tiny glider, there were 29 other passengers lined up at seats along the hull, each with a viewing window. Before we dove, each of us was handed a kind of mask. The pilot told us that it was a “rebreather.” He went on to say, “If we get stuck for any reason, you can breathe through this thing for up to four hours.” Oh great, I thought. If I get stuck in this tin can with 29 other passengers, I’ll go stark raving mad and forget how to breathe at all.

When I go out on a research trip, I don’t always know how I’m going to use the experience in a book. Or if I will. I haven’t glided any heroes or heroines into enemy territory yet, but my submarine mission was perfect for my August Intrigue, MORE THAN A MAN. Only I made it ten times worse for my hero, Noah Fielding. As the book opens, Noah’s been stuck in a small, experimental sub off Grand Cayman. (Big coincidence, right?) The mother ship has hauled the sub up, and everybody except Noah is dead. The cops think he lived because he hogged the oxygen. The real reason Noah survives is that he was born 700 years ago in a little English village. He doesn’t know why he’s lived so long. But dying millionaire Jarred Bainbridge reads about the incident and is determined to capture Noah and discover his secret.

I love to use my research in my books. If I’ve “been there,” the experience is all the more real when I write about it.

Do you like to travel? What are some of your most memorable experiences? I’ll be sending a copy of my RT Top Pick Intrigue, CHRISTMAS SPIRIT, to one reader who posts responses.

Rebecca

Going Places

2009-08-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

If everything goes according to plan, I'll be moving in a couple of months, something I've been wanting to do for quite some time now. In preparation, I’ve already begun the arduous process of sorting through my possessions, deciding what to keep, what to store, and what to say goodbye to forever.

Naturally, a large part of the process will involve going through the many books I've accumulated and deciding which to keep and which not to. Some of the books I need to part with are my own, as I have a few more copies on hand than I know what to do with. So for today's blog, I’m giving away five copies of my second book, BEAUTIFUL STRANGER. It begins with the heroine planning a "move" of her own. Having been imprisoned in a mental institution, she's been plotting her escape, something she manages to do with the unwitting help of the hero. (I suspect--and hope--my own move will be less dramatic! )

All you have to do is enter is tell me about one of the favorite places you’ve lived, or would like to live, or why you love where you live now. I won't be online much this weekend, but I'll be back on Monday to draw the five winners--and look forward to reading about the places you have called--or would like to call--home!

Kerry Connor
www.kerryconnor.com

It's a Mystery

2009-08-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

One of the great things about Harlequin Intrigue is the wide variety of mystery and suspense stories available in the line. From intricate puzzles to action-filled chases, gothics to police procedurals, murder mysteries to secret agent stories, just about any type of suspense tale you can think of can be found in Intrigue, and always with that added emotional element of a great romance and the guaranteed happy ending. That variety is something I loved (and still do) about the line as a reader, and I definitely love the opportunities it offers me as a writer.

As originally planned, each of my STRANGER books was intended to be my take on one of my favorite mystery or suspense storylines. STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT was my attempt at a cross-country chase, with the hero and heroine on the run--and on the road--with the bad guys in hot pursuit. I've always loved gaslighting stories, and decided to try one of my own, which led to BEAUTIFUL STRANGER.

The third book was originally intended to be a mystery with a group of characters trapped in an isolated location with a killer among them, while the fourth was going to be an international adventure, both of which are story types I really enjoy. For various reasons, I couldn't get the stories to work within the STRANGER series and had to come up with new ideas, though I'd still like to write those stories as unrelated books someday. In the meantime, I used my interest in writing a creepy cult story to come up with A STRANGER'S BABY (which went through so many changes it ended up not being about a cult at all!), and while book four isn't an international adventure, I did take my interest in international elements, Washington, D.C., and intrigue involving diplomats/embassies to develop TRUSTING A STRANGER, coming in November. (I just got the cover--what do you think?)

The book I’m working on now, the final STRANGER book, is a combination of the small town murder mystery, a spooky old house story, and a decades-old unsolved crime, all themes I greatly enjoy.

And after that? Who knows? The possibilities are virtually endless. I can’t wait to find out myself!

What about you? What are your favorite types of mystery and suspense plots and themes, especially for romantic suspense? Let me know, and one commenter who posts today (August 6) will win a copy of one book of their choice from my backlist.

Kerry Connor
www.kerryconnor.com

Blog blitz

2009-08-05T10:05:00.001-04:00

We've moved the blog to eHarlequin -- and all month we're having a blog blitz, giving away a book a day. Come join us...

Credit Where Credit is Due

2009-07-20T00:00:00.000-04:00

The Romance Writers of America's RITA awards were announced this past Saturday night. I was fortunate enough to have my first book, STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT, be a finalist in two categories. Of course, the downside of being a double finalist is having two chances to lose, which is exactly what happened.

Thankfully I didn't get my hopes up too high and really didn't expect to win, though I did prepare something for my editor to read if it happened, since I couldn't be at the ceremony. As nice as it would have been to win, what would have meant the most to me would have been the chance to acknowledge some people who truly deserved it for their part in making the book what it was. But of course, I don't need an award to do that. If there's one thing I've learned, it's how important it is to express gratitude for those who've helped us along the way when we have the chance. To that end, here's the speech that went unused on Saturday night:
---------------------------------
STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT is a book I honestly didn’t think would ever be published, let alone recognized in any way, so having it be acknowledged really is beyond anything I ever imagined. Thank you to RWA and the judges for this honor. I’d like to thank my editor, Sean Mackiewicz, for pulling my query from the slush and thinking this story might be worth something, and for absolutely everything that followed. Thank you to everybody at Intrigue and at Harlequin for their enthusiasm, support and hard work on the book’s behalf. Special thanks to Vicki in the proofreading department for her keen eye.

I’d like to thank my friends who’ve always been encouraging about my writing even when I really didn’t believe them, and the Intrigue authors past and present whose books made me dream of joining their ranks and who have been so welcoming once I finally did.

And finally, thank you to my grandmother, who used to pick up the Intrigues for me every month back before I could buy them for myself, who bought me that first ream of paper when I started my own attempt on an old typewriter, and who died suddenly just before the book came out and who never got to see it.

Thank you.

-----------------------------------

I hope you'll join me in congratulating the winners, as well as take the time to remember and thank those who've helped you in your own journey. If there's anyone who hasn't read it but would like to, I have a Larger Print copy of STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT to give away. One winner will be chosen late tomorrow. All you have to do to enter is make a comment.

Kerry Connor
www.kerryconnor.com

Are you a plotter or a pantser...in the kitchen?

2009-07-17T07:52:00.002-04:00

When it comes to writing, I'm a plotter. Oh, I went through a romantic phase where I thought I was a pantser, floating along with the flow of my story and letting my characters do all the driving. Problem was, I never managed to finish anything because my characters apparently have Attention Deficit Disorder and would drive us in circles chasing butterflies or unicorns or somesuch. Only when I became a plotter could I actually be productive. So, for me, that answers that eternal question.

In the kitchen, however, I'm a pantser, as I recently discovered after joining Weight Watchers® Online. I've never been much of a cook, since I've worked outside the home since I graduated from college, and I've generally had only myself to cook for. But when I joined Weight Watchers® earlier this year, I committed to cooking more of my own food. Which was quite the interesting commitment, since I didn't actually know that much about cooking. But I did some quick study. Read recipes, watched a lot of Food Network, frequented food blogs—I guess in that aspect, I was acting like the plotter that I am.

But when it came to actually cooking, I found that I wasn't the sort to follow a recipe. I like playing around with spices, or throwing in a twist to recipes to make something new. Instead of sweet French Toast, I tried making a savory version of the egg-coated bread dish, mixing red peppers and onions into the egg mixture and sandwiching a slice of fat free cheese and a sprinkle of feta cheese in the middle to make a sort of weird French Toast Grilled Cheese Sandwich. (For the record, it was delicious). I don't plan these meals out until I open the fridge to see what's inside to work with. So I guess I'll have to cop to being a pantser at the stove.

What about you? Are you a plotter or a pantser in the kitchen? How about when it comes to home decorating--go by a carefully plotted out floor plan or just mess around with furnishings and decor until you get it like you like it? Do you find you're consistently a plotter or a pantser in all things or, like me, that you're sometimes one and sometimes the other?

And what, if anything, does that tell us about our own personalities?

25 Years and Counting

2009-07-13T10:52:00.002-04:00

This year, Harlequin Intrigue is celebrating it’s 25th anniversary. I’ve been writing for the line nearly that long. I sold my first Intrigue in 1985–DOUBLE IMAGES, published in February 1986.

Since I was invited to write one of the August anniversary books—STEALING THUNDER—I thought I would take a look back at some of the Intrigues I’ve written over the years.

When I wrote DOUBLE IMAGES—a story about a music video producer—I was Supervisor of Television Production at a community college. I also had a background in film. For my 25th birthday, my then boyfriend wrote a song for me called “Our Favorite Game.” So I used my film background to create a music video before music videos existed. I did it for fun, for artistic challenge. And when I decided to try writing an Intrigue, I went with something I knew. My heroine was a director of music videos hired to film a top band.

Even though I’d already sold two romances on my own and a couple with a writing partner, I wrote the entire novel. The senior editor at Intrigue really liked the story, but asked for some revisions. For example, I dressed my hero in a Superman costume for the big finish (I mean, he was supposed to be a hero, right?), and the editor suggested it was a bit too much. So I revised. And sold my first Intrigue.

Look for more of my “stories behind the stories” in August—I’ll be blogging several times. Is there a particular Intrigue you’d like to know more about?

Coming Attractions

2009-07-08T20:18:00.003-04:00

In January, we let you know what books were coming out from Intrigue in the first half of 2009. Here's what's coming up the rest of the year:

July 2009
#1143. Showdown In West Texas - Amanda Stevens
#1144. She's Positive - Delores Fossen
#1145. Small-Town Secrets - Debra Webb
#1146. Pregnesia - Carla Cassidy
#1147. Mountain Investigation - Jessica Andersen
#1148. Captive Of The Desert King - Donna Young

August 2009
#1149. Stealing Thunder - Patricia Rosemoor
#1150. More Than A Man - Rebecca York
#1151. The Bride's Secrets - Debra Webb
#1152. Cowboy To The Core - Joanna Wayne
#1153. Familiar Showdown - Caroline Burnes
#1154. Navajo Courage - Aimee Thurlo

September 2009
#1155. Smokin' Six Shooter - B.J. Daniels
#1156. An Unexpected Clue - Elle James
#1157. His Secret Life - Debra Webb
#1158. His Best Friend's Baby - Mallory Kane
#1159. Peek-A-Boo Protector - Rita Herron
#1160. Covert Cootchie-Cootchie-Coo - Ann Voss Peterson

October 2009
#1161. One Hot Forty-Five - B.J. Daniels
#1162. The Sharpshooter's Secret Son - Mallory Kane
#1163. Christmas Guardian - Delores Fossen
#1164. Internal Affairs - Jessica Andersen
#1165. Colorado Abduction - Cassie Miles
#1166. Agent Daddy - Alice Sharpe

November 2009
#1167. Bravo Tango Cowboy - Joanna Wayne
#1168. The Colonel's Widow? - Mallory Kane
#1169. Magnum Force Man - Amanda Stevens
#1170. Trusting A Stranger - Kerry Connor
#1171. Bodyguard Under The Mistletoe - Cassie Miles
#1172. Operation XOXO - Elle James

December 2009
#1173. First Night - Debra Webb
#1174. His Secret Christmas Baby - Rita Herron
#1175. Scene Of The Crime: Bridgewater, Texas - Carla Cassidy
#1176. Beauty And The Badge - Julie Miller
#1177. Secluded With The Cowboy - Cassie Miles
#1178. Police Protector - Dani Sinclair

'Tis the Season

2009-06-29T02:15:00.016-04:00

No, not that season. It's now officially summer. Hopefully everyone’s already made their plans for what, if anything, they’re going to be doing this summer. I know I have: I’m going to be ignoring the fact that it’s summer. :D

You see, I’m currently working on a book that’s all about darkness and creepy atmosphere. Think a chill in the air—and down your spine. A spooky old house full of unsettling drafts and ominous shadows. Needless to say, dealing with endless sunlight and the fresh arrival of sweltering heat this weekend really hasn’t been helping me get in the mood. Kind of hard to think “chilling” when it’s in the 90s and you don’t have air conditioning.

But then, summer's always been my least favorite season. Heat's just not my thing. As you can probably guess, I love autumn, when it gets cooler, and grows darker ever earlier. When I lived in colder climes, I always loved winter, especially the snow, no matter the inconvenience. And I love spring: the feeling of new beginnings, the world seeming to come alive again, the sun starting to stick around longer without overstaying its welcome. Compared to them, summer definitely comes in a distant fourth for me.

Of course, my most recent book, A STRANGER'S BABY, takes place in August, but that's because the heroine got pregnant in December, the holiday season being part of the circumstances that led to the one-night stand that, in turn, led to her pregnancy. Plus, I tried to place each of the STRANGER books in a different season to give a sense of the passing of time. You might be able to tell it’s summer based on how scantily clad the hero and heroine are on the cover. See, they don't like the heat either. :D

Fortunately, the story I'm working on now is one I particularly love, one I've been waiting to write forever and I'm glad to finally be doing so, even if it is in this heat. Somehow I'll just have to make myself get in that "chilling" mindset. And I have some vacation plans for later in the summer that will hopefully make it more tolerable until autumn finally arrives. :)

What about you? Do you have a favorite season? Any big summer plans? Or are you just waiting for it to be over, too? ;)

Kerry Connor
http://www.kerryconnor.com/

Would You Believe?

2009-06-24T03:30:00.000-04:00

When I saw the cover of MORE THAN A MAN, my August Intrigue, I did a double take. The great-looking guy on the cover is the spitting image of my son. Did the art department find a picture of him? Or is it just an accident? The skin tone’s off. My son’s got more olive coloration. And his hair is shorter. But that’s HIM. And if he ever sees this post, he’ll probably come after me with an ax for telling you about my reaction to the cover. I know he doesn’t see himself as the hero of a romance novel. (He once did a sarcastic review of one of my books for a literature class he was taking at the University of Maryland, where he pointed out that the brand of car my heroine drove changed in the middle of the book.)

On the other hand, he’s obviously a danger junky. He’s a State Department Foreign Service Officer, and his assignments are mostly in places I don’t want to visit, like Albania and Kazakhstan. The exception was a posting to Moscow a few years ago. Right now he’s in Afghanistan, on a Provincial Reconstruction Team. And he’s volunteered to stay another year, this time at Kandahar Air Base. Where I can worry about him some more.

He’s due to come home for a brief vacation in–wait for it–July, right around RWA. But his home base is DC, so I hope to see him during the conference. Maybe I can even persuade him to stop in at the Marriott so everybody can compare him to the MORE THAN A MAN cover. If I break away from the conference for a few hours, you’ll know it was to have some time with him. I’d love to rent a beach house for a week while he’s here and get the family together. But I don’t know if it’s going to happen, since he hasn’t answered my questions about when exactly he’ll be in town. How’s that for a cliff-hanger?

Rebecca

CRY BABY

2009-06-19T12:26:00.007-04:00

I’m struggling to see the computer monitor today. My eyes feel like they’re full of sand. Why, you ask? Well, last night my boys and husband went to the video store armed with a rental coupon, and they came back with Marley and Me.

Now I love dog movies. We have a one-year-old Border collie named Speed (above) who is a sweet, energetic, brilliant little dog-boy. He loves to play with the kids, keeps my husband on his toes and takes long de-stressing walks with me. He’s healthy and happy and radiates his joy to the world. But I lost my 14 year-old Border collie, Mick (below), only a year ago, and a movie like Marley and Me cuts way too close to the bone for any hope of me watching with dry eyes.

So I cried last night. Not just a little, mind you. I sobbed, the kind that wrack your whole body. And this morning, my eyes look like I’m about to die of some horrible allergy.

It’s funny. I used to judge how good a movie was by how much it made me cry. Old Yeller comes to mind, another dog movie. In school we used to watch this old movie called The Nine Lives of Tomasina, about a cat who dies and comes back to life. I could never hold it together for that movie, even though I risked looking stupid in front of my friends. But lately, with the exception of Bridge to Terabithia, I haven’t bawled at a movie. Cried, yes. Tears stream down my face at touching commercials, for crying out loud. My name is Ann, and I am, most definitely, a crier.

Of course, in my youth, books were always worse. I remember sobbing at the end of The Hobbit, when one of my favorite characters met his demise. Jane Eyre had me in tears throughout. And The Black Stallion’s Ghost left me a blubbering pre-teen mess, among many, many others novels of all kinds. More recently, tears have been more scarce, as have books that have sucked me in so completely (the price of being a writer who analyzes every word). But I cried while reading Tess Gerritsen’s The Sinner, and last summer Marcus Sakey’s At the City’s Edge had me weeping twice. But the biggest cry inducer has to be romance. I can’t even name the number of romance novels that left me in tears. Good tears, of course.

So how about you? Are you a crier? Which movies get you? How about books? Do you like tear inducing entertainment, or do you avoid it at all costs?

Intrigue Covers--25 years and counting

2009-06-16T10:28:00.013-04:00

Since we're celebrating our 25th anniversary this year, I thought it'd be fun to share some Intrigue covers, and show how the look of our beloved romantic suspense novels have changed over the years.

Here's where it all started, with THE KEY by Rebecca Flanders.

Then we went through a "white" period--I discovered 43 Light Street in this phase--read bunches of the white covers in college.

You may have notice Tess Gerritsen's name on that cover. She's not the only NY Times Bestselling author to write for Harlequin Intrigue. I fell in love with Suzanne Brockmann's heroes elsewhere before I knew she'd been an Intriguer. How about this cover? Still white, but now they're tweaking the background.

Then we went into a "color" phase. I loved the rich colors and background details of the covers, though the pictures were tiny--and I do love to see a nice shot of a hunky

hero.

Here's Patricia Rosemoor's TORCH JOB--it has one of my favorite lines ever in an Intrigue. You'll have to read it to see what the hero says to the heroine at the end.

We also had a cartoonish phase that featured a lot of drawings--not my personal favorite--but the titles and author names were certainly clear.

Then we get into the signature "purple" era, when I started publishing with Intrigue. Here's an example. The "thumb print" was added later as the covers evolved. And more recently, the art department has started to "bleed" the cover art beyond the square on the lower 2/3 of the picture--that gives me a full shot of those nice heroes I love. See? We can do tender and romantic (one of those brief moments when our characters are catching their breaths between dangerous encounters in our books)

Intrigue covers went through an experimental phase--trying a mainstream look that really played up the suspense. Some of their best stories ever, but not great for sales. Maybe because readers couldn't identify them as Intrigues? Or, again, they wanted to see those heroes. But it was an interesting experiment.

And did I mention I like a good shot of the hero? How about this sizzler?

And finally, one of my favorite features of Intrigue covers (and from what I hear it's a favorite with readers,

too) is when we have an "Intrigue's Ultimate Heroes" month,

featuring nothing but the best in men--cops, military men, sheriffs, cowboys, spies, you name it--on the covers. You can see all 6 covers for this month's Ultimate Heroes. And I have to give kudos to Harlequin's art department. I think my cover this month is one of my best ever--I'd get lost in the mountains with a man like that any day.

So what are some of your favorite Intrigue covers? Which style do you like? What would you like to see more of? Let's dish and reminisce.

Enjoy,
Julie Miller

The Trash Vortex

2009-06-15T11:46:00.002-04:00

Ask any writer, and s/he'll tell you that movies are a constant source of inspiration. Not, of course, to plagiarize, but to give you That Feeling that you need to write. Need the inspiration to write an action scene? Pop in The Bourne Identity. How about an intensely romantic scene? Last of the Mohicans, anyone? A funny scene? When Harry Met Sally, for sure. Sometimes, though, inspiration can even come from those so-bad-they're-good films.

In a highly amusing blog entry on EW.com, writer Chris Nashawaty talks about bad movies that pull you in while you’re channel surfing … and then you get sucked into what he hilariously called the “trash vortex” and can’t stop watching.

His top trashy pick was Into the Blue, that craptacular undersea treasure hunt flick starring Paul Walker and Jessica Alba, who, to quote Dorothy Parker, runs the gamut of emotions from A to B in every film she’s in.

Which, of course, started me thinking about my own personal trash vortex….

Now even though I watched Into the Blue once, at the encouragement of my brother and trash-vortex connoisseur, Troy (see our American Idol blogs below), I can safely turn it on the television and find the willpower to back away slowly and turn it off again. Jessica Alba is my own personal TV-watching kryptonite. But like most people, I have haplessly run into other movies that have the power to make reaching for the remote an impossibility. And with that kind of love, of course they have to inspire.

Enter ... Tracy Montoya's Trash Vortex

Bloodsport: I can’t even count the number of times I've caught this martial arts Jean-Claude Van Damme classic (and I use that term really loosely) on cable in the ‘90s. Even now, the magic of JCVD delivering that flying split-kick thing he does is still an unstoppable siren call on a rainy Sunday afternoon. In fact, just the other night when the title popped up on our Tivo guide, my husband and I got into a frothing-at-the-mouth wrestling match over the remote. He wanted to watch some scintillating show about green home design on HGTV, and I, of course, wanted to watch the flying split-kick thing. Tragically, Jose won. Still bitter.

The Cutting Edge: I hate to call this one “trash,” because it remains one of my favorite romantic comedies ever in the history of ever, but since movie critics back in the day unanimously punched it in the face, turned it upside down, and stole its lunch money, I will refer to it as such, just this once.

Truly funny banter, lots of romantic tension, and figure skating—is there any more perfect combination? (Other than Copeland, Summers, and Sting, of course.) I love this movie so much, I want to write it creepy fan mail, then move to Hollywood and stalk it. Even though I OWN THE DVD, I still drop everything and watch when it’s on. Sadly, the same cannot be said for the two sequels, which make my head want to explode. This is the go-to movie if you need to get in the mood to write some sparks-flying banter.

That Lifetime Movie Where Connie Seleca is Flying an Airplane and the Ceiling Rips Off Mid-Flight (also known as The Holy Grail of My Trash Vortex): I started watching this one day and was forced to stop before it ended—and as this was B.T. (before Tivo), I didn’t have any blank VCR tapes lying around to record the end. Being that it was a Lifetime movie, I figured it would be on ad nauseum, ad infinitum, and I’d easily be able to catch the ending. But noooooo, I’ve never been able to find it, and it has left an emptiness in my psyche that nothing else can fill. My soul will not rest until I find out what happened to the stewardess who was crawling around on all fours clinging to footrests and screaming, “WE’RE GONNA MAKE IT!!!!”

Did she make it? Did she? Was anyone in the restroom, and did the restroom remain with the bottom of the plane or rip off with the top? (Because really, what an awful way to go.) Can you successfully land a plane that doesn't have a ceiling? Will it flip over or eventually blow up? What happened to the little kids on the plane since there were no oxygen masks up there? Sometimes it keeps me awake at night, wondering.

The Saint: It has four different endings, a horrendously convoluted suspense plot, and a cartoonish villain (although the villain’s son is nicely creepy). But I love this movie so much, I don't care about any of it. Most of my undying devotion is probably due to the fact that Val Kilmer is so smoking hot in this film, I think I once had a moment where I wanted to chuck it all and become a mindless, zombie celebrity stalker. It causes me actual, physical pain to see how puffy-looking and stringy-haired he’s become. Which reminds me ...

Dear Val,

You’re an actor—your job is to LOOK PRETTY. The fact that you cannot live up to your end of the fame bargain makes me feel my mortality in a way that is not pleasant. Please step away from the Cheetos and go get a haircut and a foil, stat. That is all.

Sincerely,

Me

Made of Honor: One of the great mysteries of my life is why I love this movie so much. I don’t have a raging crush on Patrick Dempsey (although there’s a definite appreciation there), it has a fairly predictable plot, and there are far more hilarious and poignant romantic comedies out there (see The Cutting Edge above). But for some reason, I love this one. And now it’s on TV ALL THE TIME, which is Not Good.

Cocktail: This is probably the most infallible of all my trash vortex picks. I shouldn’t even admit this in public for safety reasons, but its pull is so strong that if someone wanted to rob me blind, all s/he’d have to do is turn on Cocktail, and I’d be mesmerized for a good two hours. As long as they didn’t haul off the television and cable box and managed to get in and out in between commercial breaks, I wouldn’t even notice.

Center Stage: Other than Peter Gallagher and Zoe Saldana, the actors in this film are so horrifyingly bad, it makes me want to reach inside my TV and start scratching at their faces to see if they’re really cleverly disguised androids. But even a romantic lead (who much later turns out to be a jerk) with an adam's apple the size of a small bus doesn't deter me from watching every time this comes on the small screen. Never underestimate the power of a feel-good dance movie with a triumphant ending number to suck you in like the entertainment black hole of death that it is.

Major League: It’s thoroughly sexist, utterly juvenile, and did I mention really, really sexist? But I am a SUCKER for a triumph-of-the-human-spirit sports movie, and even the repeated sexual harrassment/assault of a life-sized naked paper doll can’t wake my inner feminist up enough to force me to change the channel. Once I hear “Wild Thing” blaring out of my television speakers, it’s all over.

Dirty Dancing: Right up there with Cocktail, this movie grabs me like a drowning adolescent every time I channel surf past it, and I cannot look away. At this point, I could probably recite the entire script, sing all of the songs by heart, and flawlessly execute the darn dance at the end, and yet I STILL keep watching.

“Sylvia! … Yes, Mickey? … How do you call your loverboy? …”

"...COME HERE, Loverboy!"

(Please, someone, make it stop.)

Hope Floats: This movie has a dead floating DOG in it, and yet I’m still sucked in by it every time. I’m going to blame it on Harry Connick Jr.’s insane charm, because otherwise, the world just doesn’t make sense.

The Replacements: Ah, Keanu. Such a lovely face. So very, very painful when he opens his mouth (see Much Ado About Nothing and Dangerous Liaisons, in which his every line of dialogue is a human record-player needle ripping across the grooves of a lovely classical album).

Fortunately, Keanu’s Shane Falco is a man of few words, so you can just sit back and watch him look pretty while enjoying this goofball sports flick for what it is. And I have enjoyed it. Again and again and again.

“Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory … lives forever.”

Infomercials: I am now the proud owner of an Eco-Canteen, regularly use Leeza Gibbons' Sheer Cover mineral make-up, and recently caught the Firm Wave. Once I almost bought a Blooming Onion, AND I HATE ONIONS! And I am totally embarrassed to admit that back in the '90s, I did, indeed, pay good money for a ThighMaster. There is no trash vortex more powerful. Infomercials are the devil.

What's on YOUR trash vortex?

Tracy Montoya
I'll Be Watching You--Daphne Finalist and 2008 Romantic Times
Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee for Best Intrigue!

If you were stranded on a deserted island...

2009-06-10T11:28:00.002-04:00

We're doing our spring cleaning at home a little late in the season, in order to turn a basement den into a small apartment for my sister. Unfortunately for me, the basement den is where I've stored about half my books, so now I have to find room for them upstairs. Except, if there were room upstairs for the books, they'd have already been up here. So you know what that means: it's time to cull.

Culling out books is hard for me. I'm a collector by nature, and many of these books I've had since childhood. But as I go through the books, I'm finding that many books that once meant a lot to me I can now get rid of without much pain.

Writing books have been some of the more obvious casualties, now that I'm published and know more about what it takes to be a writer. The books that were once so valuable to me for their information and support are now headed to charity or the local library in hopes that they educate and inspire other aspiring writers still reaching for the brass ring of publication. Also gone are the piles of romances and other novels I bought over the years as I tried to find my niche as a writer. Not all of them, of course; the ones that spoke to me, that helped me find my genre and my voice, stay on my shelves in an honored place.

I have books I bought as reference material for a specific novel that I'm now getting rid of because the novel is written, or the reference book turned out to be useless. I have books that I'm getting rid of because they're literally falling apart at the seams or they duplicate, in some way, other books I have. (I have a large Shakespeare compendium I bought in college that's in wonderful shape; what's the point in holding onto those little paperback versions of specific plays?)

The classics stay, even if I didn't enjoy them, because I have nieces in grammar school who aren't too far from needing those books for their studies. I have books that I seldom read but keep for sentimental reasons, like the books written by a writer friend who passed away tragically early from cancer. I kept my college textbooks forever, but I'm finally letting some of them go--Algebra, Trigonometry--while I hold onto others--Zoology, Spanish, all my English textbooks--because I think they might be useful to me yet. Who knows when I might write about a hunky biologist and a sassy English professor who end up on the run in South America? (...jotting that idea down in the idea file...)

I've often played along with the old game, "If you were stranded on a deserted island, what's the one book you'd want to have with you?" It's fun to speculate. It's not so much fun, however, to have to reduce your book collection by nearly half. I can attest to that personally.

However, I do think I could probably come up with a list of five books I'd have to have with me: The Bible, Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, THE COMPLETE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE, THE STAND by Stephen King and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. (But I sure would miss ROBERT FROST'S POEMS, PERSUASION, JANE EYRE, the Harry Potter books and THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN).

So, what about you? If you had to trim your book collection drastically, what would go? What would stay? Or is this a subject too horrifying to contemplate?

Paula Graves
www.paulagraves.com
Cooper Justice, coming in 2010
from Harlequin Intrigue

Blogalicious Celebration

2009-06-01T00:48:00.003-04:00

I'll keep it short and sweet today...

Just wanted to invite all our regular readers here over to the Harlequin website at www.eHarlequin.com where today (June 1st) Harlequin is launching our Intrigue Authors Group Blog on their site.

In honor of Intrigue celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009--check out the 1984 cover for the very first Intrigue, THE KEY, by Rebecca Flanders--Harlequin is launching a brand new blog. Several authors from the line--from Intrigue veterans to our newest author, HelenKay Dimon--will be posting there 3 times a week.

As far as I know, we'll be keeping this blog here on blogspot for a while... but when your publisher invites you to a big, black-tie event like the new blog, we wanted to be there to be a part of it. And we hope you'll be a part of it, too.

Please click over to eHarlequin today and check us out. To celebrate the big event, I'll be giving away a copy of one of my Intrigues.

Hope to see you there.

And back here... I'll be back to blog here on June 10th.

Happy Reading,
Julie Miller

CONFESSIONS FROM THE EDGE

2009-05-23T05:00:00.000-04:00

There comes a time in every author's life when she needs a vacation from writing. Or so I told myself. I felt like I'd been on a writerly hamster wheel forever. I was mentally exhausted. Stressed. Blocked. At the precipice and ready to jump. Well, at least ready for a break from writing. So, for the first time in the twenty-six years since I sold my first book, I took that break. I decided not to start my next contracted novel until the end of the school year after my grades were in for the Suspense-Thriller class I was teaching. I hoped the break would allow me to go back to the familiar with a fresh view and renewed enthusiasm.

There were so many things I wanted or needed to do in those four months-gardening, reading, catching up with the repairs I needed to do in my apartment and my 2-flat. I took the Master Gardner program and am now a Master Gardner intern. As Spring arrived, I started to transform my own garden. All along, I read a little, but not nearly as much as I thought I would. I did some of the organization and repairs needed around my place.

And, surprise...I wrote.

After two weeks of "vacation" from writing, I started to get antsy. It was winter, so I couldn't work outside and not much else appealed to me after the first rush of freedom. The class I was teaching and the class I was taking and the volunteer work at a pet adoption center just didn't fill enough hours in the week.

My thoughts kept drifting to writing...to working on projects that didn't provide my living and therefore excited me. Okay, I've already admitted I'm addicted. I just learned it was worse than I thought.

First I decided to take another look at a suspense project that never sold but that I still believed in. Four weeks later, I sent the rewritten proposal to my agent.

The next break lasted another two weeks. After which an urban fantasy idea started to plague me. I'd gotten the premise and characters down a year ago, then had abandoned the proposal in the wake of several contracted books. So now that I had time, I picked it up again. This was going to be my "fun" project.

It should have been fun. I didn't have to write it. Nothing depended on it. It wasn't competing with other writing projects for time. So what was hanging me up? At least part of the problem was worldbuilding. Yes, I know how to worldbuild. I've done enough paranormal romances and a couple urban fantasy thrillers. But this project presented a particular challenge for me that made me rethink writing it.

After getting notes from critique partners, I would avoid the project for days. Even a couple of weeks. I questioned myself, worrying that perhaps I just couldn't write anymore. One of my critique partners suggested that I didn't have to write this story, that I could just stop. Abandon it and find something fun to do. I really did consider doing so...but something stopped me.

One of the things about me that is both a blessing and a curse-if I start something, I see it through. I don't give up in the middle. Sometimes I really want to stop, but something always drives me forward. A good example is that Russian class in college that I really, really should have dropped.

I'm currently a volunteer client for a creativity coach in training, which proved to be a good thing at this time. She gave me some tools to use that helped get my head back on track. Exercises to banish negativity.

I realized I didn't want to quit the story, that I had to push until I broke through and got the worldbuilding right. Then I was convinced the story would come. I think it finally has happened. I'm on the right track. The story is fun again. I have a couple weeks left on my professional Spring vacation. I just hope it's enough to finish a dynamite proposal. If not, the story can wait. I don't want to rush to the finish and finish weakly.

What I experienced makes me wonder about this stress thing. How deeply does it go? Career authors are pushed to produce and produce and produce. My fear is that someday I'll push myself so far that I'll break and not be able to come back. Is that likely? I don't know. I only know for sure that from now on, I'll plan for some down time between books. Maybe not four months, but even a month is more than I ever gave myself in the past.

Will four months be enough down time to bring me back from the edge? I don't know that, either. The next contracted book will tell.

I'm sure I'm not the only author who has experienced the precipice. If you have a tale you'd like to share, I'd like to hear it...

Good Writing,

Patricia Rosemoor

A Question for You

2009-05-21T10:06:00.003-04:00

Kat Edwards didn't recognize the men, but she knew why they were there.

She hadn't heard them enter the barn, not above the whir of the horse clipper and jangle of country music on the radio. If she had, she could have run. She could have hidden in one of the stalls. Something. Now all she could do was watch them stride toward her, grim expressions on coarse-featured faces. Their hands swung empty by their sides, but the telltale bulges under their shirttails said it all.

They'd come to kill her baby.

She brought her free hand to her round abdomen, as if she could shield her little prince from trouble with mere flesh and bone.

That is the opening of my May release, Priceless Newborn Prince. The story continues with the heroine going into labor while running for her (and her baby's) life. I've had great reader responses to the book so far, but two people (while they loved the story) have worried that I put the heroine through too much during labor and beyond. And herein lies my question for today. How much difficulty is too much when a heroine is pregnant?

My perspective might be skewed on this. Not because I wrote the book, necessarily, but by my own experiences with pregnancy and labor. I was the co-owner of a small cleaning company when pregnant with my first child. I used to get up at 4 am and clean two car dealerships right up to the day I started labor. Sure it wasn't easy, but the work had to be done, so I did it.

With my first child, I was also in labor for 35 hours. Ten hours into the process, when I realized how slowly things were progressing, I decided to clean my horse's stall between contractions. Call it nesting instinct, perhaps, but I knew I wouldn't get a chance to clean it later, so I did it. It needed to be done.

Now I don't think I'm all that unusual. I think when things need to be done, women (and men) find a way to do them, even if the process is difficult. So, back to my heroine. This woman is running for her and her baby's lives. If I was in that position, I'd do whatever it took to survive, labor pains or not. I think nearly anyone would. Am I wrong?

My Son the Cover Model

2009-05-14T10:27:00.007-04:00

Is this just about the cutest cover you've ever seen? I think so. But then, I might be biased. Not only did I write this book (in stores everywhere right now), but the photo below is a picture of my oldest son. Is it no wonder I let out a squee when I saw the cover for Priceless Newborn Prince?

Romeo and Juliet

2009-05-12T06:22:00.002-04:00

I took three 10 year olds to see High School Musical on ice this weekend. I'll never be the same again. OMG, all that pre-teen screaming! I have now joined the ranks of the hearing impared.

I have to say, though, I did enjoy the show. Very West Side Story, especially the firs half. The actors were great. There was everything from fireworks to riding a bicycle on the ice and a golf cart, too! It was a visual and musical extravaganza, which made me wonder how books will ever compete for the attention of young people who grow up on these shows.

Talking about trying to get people's attention... I'm redisigning my web site over the next couple of weeks, so step by to check out all the new stuff. I'll also have some fun prizes for visitors.

Wishing everyone a fun day!

Dana

Summer fun

2009-05-11T11:42:00.004-04:00

I love this time of year. It's the sunshine and blue skies and that feeling that anything is possible. Also it's the snow being gone. :)

But it makes sitting at my desk writing a whole lot tougher.

That's one reason I bought myself a Trikke. Not to be confused with a three-wheeled bike.

I told myself I needed the exercise (which I do.) But let's face it, most of us have something around that we bought for exercise that now collects nothing but dust.

That's why I didn't tell my husband about my purchase until the big box was dropped off by the UPS man. Surprise!

My husband is a good sport. He hardly grumbled as he put my Trikke together. He hardly said, "What in the world were you thinking?" Hardly.

I'd seen these on TV and they looked fun -- and such good exercise. I knew then I had to have one. According to the directions, it takes most people about an hour to learn to ride a Trikke. There are no pedals. There are handlebars with brakes (like I'll ever need those) and a place to put each foot.

The idea is to tilt the device and push with the outer foot at the same time. Right.

The first time I tried it out in the street in front of our house, my husband made me wear a helmet and gloves. The gloves, he said, were where I wouldn't scrape up my hands when I broke my neck.

I stood on the Trikke. Rocked it. Nothing happened. I pushed it, jumped on, went a few feet and stopped.

But I wasn't about to give up. So that night after my husband went to bed, I moved the furniture in the living room, reread the directions and practiced. Every once in a while I would feel it. The directions called it feeling the "sweet spot." Uh huh.

After running into the fireplace a few times, I thought I might be getting it. My husband caught me though and predicted I was just going to fall through the television set.

The next time I took it out, I got it moving. Amazing. My husband quit shaking his head. Well, quit shaking it quite so much.

I'm often asked by aspiring writers what my secret is. I'm writing my 47th book, the 12th in the Whitehorse, Montana series.) There is no secret. I'm just stubborn. I never give up. Just like on the Trikke, I can't resist a challenge. I just keep trying even when things aren't going quite like I'd hoped. :)

Yesterday I went around the block on the Trikke. Who knows what is next. There are just a world of possibilities. While I'll never do some of the tricks I've seen people doing on these darned things (http://www.trikke.com/) I am out and moving and at a pretty good clip. And my husband thought this was a dumb idea. Ha. :)

Ever had something you just refused to give up on? Something crazy you realized you probably shouldn't have tried?

fun weekend

2009-05-05T05:58:00.003-04:00

I was at a small village sports festival this weekend and took a gold medal for air rifle shooting. Nobody was more surprised than I. I hadn't shot one of those in twenty years. I'm ridiculously bad at sports, but now seems I might be good at sports where all I have to do is stand still. Hmm... I'm thinking if I could find a sport where all I had to do was sit, I might even make it all the way to the regional level!

How was your weekend?

My new book SAVED BY THE MONARCH is out this week, so I'm celebrating that. Here is a little taste...

Picture yourself going on a much-needed European vacation to the country of your ancestors. You’re getting off the airplane, and the red carpet is odd, but not alarming. Except, the hot guy in the fancy uniform waiting at the end, in front of a line of guards, is not head of security.

He is a prince.

Now try not to let your chin drop when he tells you that your parents had promised him your hand in marriage before they died --when you were still a child.

He whisks you away in the royal ceremonial limousine before you can get your bearings. And by the time you manage to tell him that under no circumstances will you be entering an arranged marriage with a stranger, you are both kidnapped by anti-monarchy rebels.

You don’t know the country’s politics, you don’t know the lay of the land, you don’t speak the local dialects. You only have one chance for survival: you must trust your life to the prince.

~~Forget kissing frogs. Meet Prince Miklos of Valtria.
And if the crown fits…~~

Have a wonderful day!
Dana

Available in May

2009-05-01T00:01:00.003-04:00

1131. HUNTING DOWN THE HORSEMAN by B.J. Daniels
Brave, courageous and single, Jud Corbett loves the life he leads outside his hometown of Whitehorse—so it'll be up to his brothers to meet the nice Montana cowgirls their mother hoped they'd marry. Then he met Faith Bailey…

Faith is a local woman with an adventurous streak, and Jud can't help but be attracted to the beautiful blonde. When dangerous, life-threatening accidents begin to befall her every step, Jud can't walk away. But when he's through being a hero, will he still be a bachelor?

1132. COLLECTING EVIDENCE by Rita Herron
The first thing FBI Agent Dylan Acevedo remembered when he saw Aspen Meadows again was their steamy week in a hotel room. Unfortunately, Aspen had no memory of him, the murder she'd witnessed, or that he could be the father of her infant son. So, as much as he wanted to hold her and demand answers, her safety came first. Collecting evidence and hunting down clues always kept him working long into the night. But now, reunited with one unforgettable woman and excited by the prospect of fatherhood, Dylan found he had a lot more reasons to come home. And a lot more to lose.

1133. PRICELESS NEWBORN PRINCE by Ann Voss Peterson
After being forced into hiding and presumed dead when his kingdom was attacked, Prince Viktor Romanov would stop at nothing to find his way back to Kat Edwards and the unborn heir she was carrying. But learning Viktor was still alive only seemed to make the beautiful Texan angry...and shock her into labor. Now, with a newborn baby to protect and Kat both demanding answers and begging to be held, Viktor vowed to make everything right once his little family was safe. Until then, he'd have to also prepare her for the worst and do his best not to break her vulnerable heart.

1134. INTERROGATING THE BRIDE by Carla Cassidy
Former navy SEAL Micah Stone could spot danger a mile away. And the alluring bride who'd stowed away on the plane he'd been sent to repossess set off every red flag in the book. Caylee Warren claimed she had nothing to do with her "fiancé's" murder. When it began to look as if Caylee was the intended victim, Micah had no choice but to take her into hiding. But for a man who never let anyone get close, protecting Caylee was more than he could handle. Could he let her break down the walls he'd erected around his heart...even if it meant distracting him from the mission at hand?

1135. KISSING THE KEY WITNESS by Jenna Ryan
A dying man's last words threatened to reveal the identity of a powerful crime boss, and after hearing them, Dr. Maya Santiago knew her life was in danger. As a killer stalked her, only one man could help....

Homicide lieutenant Stephen Talbot had always wanted Maya. Even though he didn't feel worthy of the compassionate doctor, he was determined to protect her at all costsespecially from himself.

But as he and Maya grew closer...and the killer drew nearer...could she convince him to put his heart on the line as well?

1136. SAVED BY THE MONARCH by Dana Marton
For Prince Miklos, a royal wedding was a royal duty, one more step toward saving his beloved, beleaguered country. Unfortunately, his chosen bridetobebeautiful, brainy Judi Marezzi didn't realize that her vacation included an arranged marriage. In fact, from the moment they met, nothing went as planned. A dangerous conspiracy threw him and his princess together, and dragged the illmatched pair off to an Alpine prison. With his military training, Miklos took charge and made plans to bring them to safety. Danger surrounded them, but so did a shared passion--for his kingdom, for the honor of a free land and for a love that had been foretold since birth.

Cool News from the RT Conference!

2009-04-30T10:22:00.001-04:00

Hey, gang--I'm still recovering from a week at the Romantic Times Conference in Orlando, but I had a great time.

Harlequin celebrated its 60th anniversary by hosting a Mashed Potato Martini Bar luncheon (cool idea for a buffet!) and giving out awards to lucky readers. They also had a display of Harlequin covers through the decades--I saw lots of people getting their pictures taken beside a cover that spoke to them somehow.

We also had a Harlequin/Silhouette authors panel, which included editors from Kimani Press and Spice, as well as Randall Toye. Yours truly, Anna DeStefano, Joanne Rock, Olivia Gates, Brenda Jackson, Caridad Pinero, Beth Ciotta, Amanda McIntyre, Catherine Mann and Linda Conrad also made appearances there. (hope I haven't left anyone off!) That workshop was well attended--we answered questions about the lines from readers and aspiring authors alike. The authors had put together some nifty gift bags to give away there, too.

I'm pleased and proud at the continued growing success of the SOS Military Mixer. We had a bigger crowd than ever this year, honoring our country's veterans, active military and their families. Harlequin donated some books to give away in goody bags to our honored guests (thanks to my editor Allison Lyons for helping with that!). We had representatives from all branches of the service, sang their military hymns (From the Halls of Montezuma... I was worried I'd be the only rep from the Marines and singing a solo--but thankfully, three retired ladies who had served or been married to vets eventually came up to join me ). Semper Fi! A big thanks to Kim Lowe, the crackerjack volunteer who organized the reception, and to my fellow sponsors, which include Harlequin authors Rebecca York, Elle James, Dana Marton, Delores Fossen and Catherine Mann, as well as Sherry James and Robin Rotham, who write for another publisher.

And finally... my big news? I won an award! I had to give a speech and everything. What a true honor, especially since it was presented by Jill M. Smith, who reviewed my very first book for RT back in 1997--and loved it!! But, I won a Career Achievement Award for Series Romantic Suspense. Cool, yes? It's for Intrigues and Blazes and paranormals alike--my body of work. Yikes! That all makes me sound older than I feel. But I was truly honored to receive it. If you promise not to notice the double chin that mysteriously shows up in photographs, that's me with my award just after the ceremony

Several other Harlequin authors won awards as well, for Career Achievement (yay! Kylie Brant!) and individual books (go Debra Webb, my good buddy!) and kudos to Sara Mitchell (a delightful lady I made friends with at the massive RT signing--she won for Best Steeple Hill Historical of the year), and many more, of course. Congrats to Harlequin for the great showing at RT!

We're doing all right for a sixty-year old gal, right?

Anyone else have stories to share from RT?

Julie Miller

OUT OF CONTROL--Blaze--April 2009
PULLING THE TRIGGER--Intrigue (Kenner Country Crime Unit)--June 2009
RT Career Achievement Award Winner in Series Romantic Suspense!
Check out the latest news at www.juliemiller.org

Where do you get your ideas

2009-04-29T11:10:00.004-04:00

The other day there was a discussion among writers about titles. One author said she started the book with little more than the title. It was an odd title but she got a book out of it.

Which brings me to where writers get their ideas. Anywhere. Everywhere. In the strangest of places.

For most of us, it's just letting the imagination run wild. That's easy for me. When I get in a car, I always check the back seat. I can scare myself way too easily. I also always keep an eye on the car behind me. In Montana, there is usually only one or two cars behind me for miles on end. That's because I usually drive over the speed limit. :)

But what if one of those cars is following me? I mean really following me. I start thinking about who could be behind the wheel. Why they're after me. What I've done to make them want to kill me. (All logical steps in a writer's crazed mind.)

When I was writing short stories for Woman's World magazine, I would get a lot of my ideas from country western songs -- the sadder ones the better. Now I find myself getting ideas from TV commercials. One the other day involved a house and a porch swing. A short story came to mind and I was tempted to write it even though I need to work on the six books I'm writing this year.

I have dreamed some pretty wild entire plots. I usually wake myself up if I think the plot is too good to waste. Unfortunately the plots often have some major flaws once I'm fully awake.

I've seen cowboys at the rodeo, overheard conversations at the grocery store and read billboards that have inspired entire books. Last year I saw one line: Can you keep a secret? I quickly reached for my AlphaSmart and started writing. I wrote the opening of Big Sky Dynasty, part of the Corbett Brothers, Whitehorse, Montana series that comes out in June.

Next month's book, Hunting Down the Horseman, came from stories about old ghost towns in the area of Montana where I live. Like Stephen King, I'm intrigued by the idea that evil remains in some places -- and invites more evil to stop by.

My September book, Smokin' Six Shooter, started with a woman finding out that she'd inherited some property in Montana that she'd never heard about. What she inherits is far more frightening and mysterious of course than land. Ever thought about what would happen if you found out you aren't the person you thought you were and that your entire life has been a lie?

Probably not. I often ask my husband questions like that. Funny but he doesn't think about those kinds of things. Then again, he writes nonfiction. Now where is the fun in that?

New Giveaway

2009-04-27T17:21:00.009-04:00

Things have been pretty quiet on the Intrigue Authors blog the past week, no doubt with many authors hard at work on their latest book or at the Romantic Times Convention. What better way to get things going again than by having a giveaway? I have three "larger print" copies of my October release, BEAUTIFUL STRANGER, to give away. All you have to do to enter is comment on this post by the end of the day Tuesday. The names of the three winners will be posted Wednesday. (And of course, my latest release, A STRANGER'S BABY, is in stores now!)

Harlequin has been branching out into additional formats in recent years, with larger print editions of several lines and e-books of all of its titles. Some titles have also been released as audio books. Have you tried some of the alternate formats? If so, what did you think? Or do you prefer the regular editions? (Or if those questions aren't interesting enough, feel free to say whatever you'd like if you just want to enter to win :grin: ).

SERIAL WRITER

2009-04-17T05:00:00.001-04:00

As you may know, I’ve got a new book out this month. It’s ETERNAL MOON, the tenth book in my Moon Series.

How do you keep a series going that long? For me, it’s a matter of finding a theme that works and fitting in stories, the way I do with my 43 Light Street books. I mean, I don’t have some grand plan like say a season of 24. You don’t have to start at the beginning of the series to get into each book because each of them is a complete story with a beginning, middle and end and a new hero and heroine. Well, there are two Light Street books where I brought back a hero and heroine at a point of crisis in their marriage. One is CRADLE AND ALL and the other is TANGLED VOWS. My next Light Street book is MORE THAN A MAN, and it will be out in August.

ETERNAL MOON is part of my other long-running series. And, in fact, I didn’t even know I was starting a series when I wrote the first book, KILLING MOON. I just had a story I was burning to tell. About a werewolf who desperately wanted to fit into humanity but felt alienated by his–uh–hairy problem. Ross Marshall was the first of my Marshall men. He’s a private detective who uses his werewolf senses to solve crimes. And he comes back to play a secondary role in all of my other Moon books.

Megan Marshall, his life mate, was my first heroine who had to be strong enough to stand up to a guy who can change from man to wolf. Since then, I’ve matched each of my Marshall men with a dynamic mate. In ETERNAL MOON, it’s P. I. Renata Cordona whose lived in Costa Rica when she was young. As you can imagine, I had a wonderful time working in details from my trip to Costa Rica last year. Little details, like the bright color of Renata’s house out in the countryside. The washing machine out on the back porch. And the typical Costa Rican dish of black beans and rice.

The story starts with Renata on an under cover assignment to lure out a serial killer who has been murdering female real estate agents. A vicious pack of dogs is about to attack her when a lone wolf makes them stand down. Minutes later, Jacob Marshall materializes and, with his electrifying touch, Renata suddenly knows the truth. Jacob is her life mate. Yet Renata is a woman who guards her heart because everyone she has ever loved has died a horrible death.

As Renata and Jacob discover, she’s the reincarnation of an ancient goddess and he’s her consort. Down through the ages, they’ve met again and again, only to the destroyed by a malicious demon. Is werewolf Jacob Marshall the key to breaking the ancient curse that hangs over them? Or will the evil stalking them through time destroy them both?

Of course, a werewolf is the ultimate alpha male. And finding women strong enough to stand up to them is one of the challenges of writing the Moon Series. That’s why most of the heroines of these books have paranormal powers.

Do you like the paranormal mixed with your suspense? If so, what are your favorite kinds of paranormal stories?

CONFESSIONS ABOUT THE BIG 5-0

2009-04-16T05:00:00.002-04:00

I'll bet you thought it was my birthday. Nope, that big 5-0 is a memory. As is book number 50. The thing that amazes me is that I just sold my 50th Intrigue-SAVING GRACE-to Harlequin.

Amazing that Intrigue still wants my stories...amazing that the line still exists (remember Young Love? Shadows? Harper Monogram? Bombshell? I wrote for them, too)...amazing that I still want to write for the same line after 25 years.

I'm one of those people who gets bored if I do the same thing for too long. They say that the average person has 3 careers in her or his life, and for me that has been true-media production, writing and teaching. Only I've been published for 26 years now (teaching for nearly 20) far longer than the average career would last in the three career life. When I was supervisor of television production for a community college, I realized I was ready to leave when I'd done all I could to improve and expand the facility and learn every aspect of production that I could. And started to get bored. Luckily, I was already fairly well published. So I made the switch to full time writer.

How have I lasted writing the same type of book for so many years?

Our culture changes. The market changes. Editors change. I made sure my books changed. I didn't want to get bored, and I didn't want my readers to get bored, either.

When I started writing for Intrigue, we couldn't kill off our characters. Romantic suspense without murder-imagine that. So my first few Intrigues were romantic mysteries with a little danger thrown in using a blackmail plot or kidnapping or espionage. Then they relaxed the no murder rule, so I wrote murder mysteries and added more suspense.

Another no-no in the early years was paranormal elements. Eventually, I tried adding one anyway-subtly-and was lucky to sell the story, and since then a few of us have been allowed to write paranormal romantic suspense for Intrigue.

When the idea of continuing characters interested me, I connected three stories and wrote the very first Intrigue series, though for some reason it wasn't given a flash.

My next and most popular (and continuing) series-The McKenna Legacy-stars protagonists with "gifts" inherited from their grandmother. I wanted to play with the different kinds of psychic abilities. I ran out of the original McKennas, but they were so well-received that I was asked to continue. So starting in August, The McKenna Legacy: Family Secrets begins with STEALING THUNDER.

Several years ago, authors Rebecca York and Ann Voss Peterson and I developed the first of three "serial suspense" stories (connected romantic suspense novellas that tell one suspense story) and then more recently, two three book series.

I look back and am somewhat amazed by the progression of the line and my own involvement with it. I feel extraordinarily lucky that I've been given the latitude to experiment and try new things and hope that continues since I intend never to let writing bore me.

Good reading.
Patricia

Baby Bling on the Waldens-Borders List!

2009-04-15T09:19:00.003-04:00

Okay, I'm stoked! My April Intrigue release BABY BLING made the Borders-Walden's bestseller list. Yay! It's so cool when a book you totally enjoyed writing makes it to a list, but this one was even more special because it's in a series called Diamonds and Daddies. A series that four authors came together to create. And it turned out to be a action-packed, fast-paced series we all loved writing. Here are the books in the series if you want to check them out:

Platinum Cowboy by Rita Herron (Feb 2009)
Desert Ice Daddy by Dana Marton ( Mar 2009)
Baby Bling by Elle James (April 2009)
Priceless Newborn Prince by Ann Voss Peterson (May 2009)

All are set in Texas and all of the heros are alpha male rich men targeted by someone out to destroy them and those they love.

All this talk of spring!

2009-04-14T00:01:00.000-04:00

I had to laugh when I saw all the flowers from across the country marking spring in those author's states.

It is spring in Montana. At least technically. Yesterday it was 65 and sunny. Today the weatherman is calling for possible snow showers before the day is over. That's spring in Montana!

I'm working on a book for next April right now. I keep telling myself that by the end of the month things will be greening up. Heck, the ice might even be off the lake. My heroine won't even be getting stuck in her driveway.

That is the fun thing about writing about Montana -- the weather. Need a character trapped in storm? No problem any time of the year. Getting trapped in my part of Montana is a regular occurrence -- especially in the spring when the roads out of town are often impassible.

But even my editor sometimes questions Montana weather. I remember in Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch she asked me about the January thaw. It can't be THAT warm in January in Montana, she said. Are you kidding? We live for our January thaws when a chinook blows in and we wake up to warm wind and no snow. It never lasts but it's a nice break.

Selling the weather in April even in books though is tough. No one likes gray days with no leaves on the trees, no green grass, nothing but that brown-gray color across the landscape. But by the end of April, there will be some green showing up on the rolling prairie. There will be lilacs about to bloom. There will be that wonderful blinding light green color on the trees along the Milk River.

I love setting books in a Montana spring. There is an excitement in the air, a feeling of hope, a promise that everything is going to turn out just fine -- once this snow shower blows through. :)

Whitehorse, Montana series book The Corbetts: Shotgun Bride, out today (yeah!), is also set in April. Only last April was much warmer so that book reflects that since I try to be true to the weather. :)

What's your favorite season? Also do you notice seasons in the books you read? Does it matter if you read a book and it's the wrong season?
B.J. Daniels

More to Love About Spring and Texas

2009-04-13T11:06:00.004-04:00

My azaleas were riddled by a recent hail storm, but in this part of Texas beautiful wildflowers line every highway, even the small country roads that I love to travel. Every year my husband and I take off to wander the back roads and let the beauty of spring seep into our souls. My camera failed to work this year, but thanks to a friend, I have this marvelous picture of cattle grazing peacefully behind a field of brilliant bluebonnets, the state flower of the Long Star State. And what's a Texas drive without a few Longhorns?

But now it's back to writing for me. But not only do I have the inspiration of spring in Texas, but the marvelous rescue of the brave ship captain last night by the daring and skilled Navy SEALs. My current series, Special Ops, Texas, is all about former Special Ops guys who bring their talents, training and unbelievable bravery to play to save the woman they love. Thanks for all the wonderful emails I've received about COWBOY COMMANDO. If you don't have your copy yet, you can still buy it online frome eharlequin.com, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com or order it direct from my website at www.joannawayne.com. You can also read an excerpt there.

HAPPY SPRING! And if you're looking for a place to visit, come to Texas! The wildflowers are in full bloom!

THE DISTRACTIONS OF SPRING

2009-04-10T05:00:00.003-04:00

I should be editing a novel. It’s due soon, and I need to go through the whole thing, trimming wordy sentences, adding character development, and making sure I tied up all the loose ends in the plot. Instead, I keep slipping outside to wander through the garden. So far I’ve only got daffodils, vinca and violets blooming, but the redbud is about to pop. And the pear trees across the street are beautiful white mounds. The tulips I planted last year have come up, and the annuals like hostas, tall phlox and black-eyed Susans are poking their heads up through the ground.

This year I did some very unusual planting–a new rock in my front yard. It’s hollow, to hide the cleanout for the sewer line. (Not a very romantic reason, I know.) But I love the effect. It might be plastic, but setting it in place was a major construction effort. It looked so massive sitting in my front yard, that I dug a hole big enough to bury it four or five inches all around–under the disapproving eyes of watchful neighbors who were doubtless wondering if I’d gone crazy. To commemorate the occasion, I’ve posed with my new lawn ornament. I’m wearing the great dragon jacket that I got in China last year.

But my favorite spring event is a trip to Brighton Dam Park. I tell people that if they live around here and don’t go there in the spring, they’re crazy. It borders a reservoir, and the Water Commission made the acres along the water into azalea heaven. There are lots of natural trails, leading through acres and acres of flowering bushes. They’ll be fantastic in a couple of weeks. Many of the plants are twenty or thirty years old, and they tower over you. So you walk through a woodland that takes your breath away. Or you can climb the hill and look down on a panorama of pink, salmon, purple and white. The National Arboretum has similar trails. But it’s farther away. So we’re more likely to drive the fifteen minutes to Brighton.

My own yard’s not quite so spectacular, but my azaleas will be out soon. I call them my spies, because they tell me when it’s time to for a trip to azalea heaven.

My latest release is ETERNAL MOON, out this week.

Rebecca York

Have you noticed holidays = food?

2009-04-09T11:34:00.004-04:00

It is almost Easter and all I've been thinking about this morning -- instead of writing -- is what I'm going to cook. Not that I don't think about food a lot. If you've read my books, you know that my characters always eat. I actually hate characters who don't eat.

I remember one mystery writer's book where her heroine was captured by bad guys. One of them was making his famous enchiladas and what did she do? She escaped before she dinner. Can you believe that?

So I've been going through my recipes (I have stacks of torn-out magazines recipes that one of these days I'm going to organize) looking for something fun to make.

Have you noticed the lines at the grocery stores before any holiday? It doesn't matter how minor a holiday it is, we use them all as an excuse to eat -- and usually something we probably shouldn't be eating.

So what are you planning for Easter Sunday? My husband and I are going to some friends house. There will be tons of food. I'm still undecided what I will make.

But I did stumble across this cookie recipe, one I think the kids would like. They always arrive hungry and like to snack before the meal. :)

It's called Devil's Food Sandwich Cookies. On second thought, that might not be appropriate for Easter huh. Maybe I'll just call them Chocolate Sandwich Cookies. :)

Here's the recipe:
A box of devil's food cake mix
3/4 cup shortening
2 eggs
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 t. almond extract
16 oz. powdered sugar

Combine cake mix, shortening and eggs. Form balls and flatten slightly on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. In medium bowl, blend cream cheese, butter and almond extract. Gradually blend in powdered sugar until desired consistency. Beat with a spoon until smooth. Refrigerate.
When cookies are cool, spread filling between two cookies. Repeat. Keep refrigerated. Makes 2 dozen.

Hope you all have a wonderful Easter. If you have a recipe to share...email me at bjdaniels@mtintouch.net

The Whitehorse, Montana series continues this month with Shotgun Bride as the five Corbett brothers hit town and of course there will be lots of eating and lots of good food. www.bjdaniels.com

Behind the Scenes: A Stranger's Baby

2009-04-08T00:01:00.016-04:00

This month marks the release of my third book, A STRANGER'S BABY. In the story, the pregnant heroine finds herself targeted by people who are after her baby, and even with the killers on her trail, it's hard to tell who endured the tougher gestation: the heroine in this book, or me while trying to bring this story to life. ;)

When I wrote my first Intrigue, STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT, I had stories in mind for four additional books. Unfortunately, when I turned to the second of those stories (what was intended to be the third overall), I ran into a few problems. One of the reasons I write romantic suspense is for the emotion, something I hope comes across in my books. Not only do I enjoy writing action, mystery and suspense, I particularly enjoy exploring the emotions of the characters caught up in these life-and-death situations and puzzling mysteries, seeing how they react and how they're affected on a personal level by these events. For me, that's one thing that makes Intrigue so great. In the case of my original story, I had a premise that I loved and a great mystery I had entirely plotted out, right down to identity of the killer. What I didn't have was the emotion. There simply wasn't enough of an emotional investment in the mystery for the main characters, or a deep enough emotional conflict for the romance. Without that, I wasn't excited enough by the story, even with a great premise and plot.

Suddenly I needed a new story that 1) fit what I had in mind for the hero; 2) was different from the other four books; and 3) had a premise that allowed for a title with the word “Stranger” in it. Eventually I had an idea: What if a woman had a one-night stand and became pregnant, something she thought was an accident, only to learn it might not have been an accident at all? I immediately loved the idea, as I thought about what it might mean to this woman to learn her child’s conception might have had something sinister behind it. How would she respond to learning the baby she carried had been fathered by someone who may have been a bad guy? How would those revelations affect her feelings about the baby she’s about to have? Then there was the hero. I thought about what it would be like for a man who's never really known what it is to have a family, who thinks he has no business or interest in getting involved with a woman about to have a baby, to be drawn into the heroine’s mystery. I finally had what I was looking for: a premise with the potential for not just plenty of mystery, but plenty of emotion as well.

Unfortunately, I soon ran into the opposite problem. I had my emotional premise and characters I loved. Now I had to figure out the plot and answers to the questions I'd raised.

I don't know whether it says more about how my mind words or how scary the world can be, but I had no trouble coming up with reasons why someone might have targeted the heroine or why someone would be after her baby. Finding a reason that worked for the story was much more difficult. Some of the reasons I came up with were too dark, some didn’t offer enough story to sustain an entire book, some had too many plot points I couldn’t resolve. As a result, this is a book I wrote and rewrote numerous times, going through multiple versions as I tried to find a solution that I was happy with. Characters were added, then dropped. Entire chapters were written, then rewritten multiple times, or deleted entirely. The motives and explanations behind everything were changed again and again. There were at least three times when I got good distance into the story, stopped and thought "This isn’t working," and scrapped most of it to start over.

Through it all, one thing remained the same: the main characters. These were two people in whom I was greatly invested and whose story I wanted to tell, if only I could figure it out. At times, it certainly seemed as though it would be easier to scrap this idea too and try to come up with yet another one. But my level of investment in these characters kept me determined to bring their story to life.

Finally, though there were many (many) times I thought it would never happen, I came up with a solution and a plot I was satisfied with and was able to finish the book. Of course the only thing that really matters with any book is the finished product, and it will be up to readers to decide whether I succeeded in finding the right plot and satisfactory answers to the mystery. I hope anyone who decides to give the book a try enjoys it, and will be as caught up in the emotion of these characters' story as I was.
------------------------------
To celebrate its release, I'll give away a copy of the book to one lucky winner. All you have to do to enter is comment on this post sometime today (4/8/09). The winner's name will be posted tomorrow.

Movie Review Tuesday: I "Heart" INKHEART

2009-04-07T00:00:00.027-04:00

Earlier this year I got to see one of my all time my favorite books that had been adapted to the silver screen. INKHEART by Cornelia Funke. It’s one of my family’s favorites as well. We listened to the book on tape on a long car trip several years ago and all fell in love with the story. I remember that special family vacation every time I think of INKHEART. The movie had some “big shoes” to fill.

For those of you not familiar with the book, click here for the Yahoo movie synopsis or (spoiler alert) here for the Wikipedia book synopsis.

For me, INKHEART is a magical tale about the power of the written word—the unique worlds where books can take you and the wonderful escape they can be. It’s everything I love about writing and reading all rolled into one.

I approached going to the movie with misgiving because, as we all know, Hollywood can sometimes monkey around with a good book. But I was pleasantly surprised. While some aspects of the story did change, for the most part they stayed very true to the central message. And they gave a satisfying ending that didn’t leave me yearning for a sequel (even though the book has two other installments.) One didn’t have to have read the book to understand the movie (big plus) and you didn’t leave wondering what in the world was going to happen to these characters you’d come to care for so much.

My question of the day you can answer one of two ways: what have been your favorite (or least favorite) movie adaptations of books?

Kay Thomas
BULLETPROOF TEXAS ~ April 14, 2009
4 stars ~ Romantic Times 4 1/2 stars Cataromance reviews
KayThomas.net

The Yin and Yang of my Writing Life

2009-04-06T09:27:00.002-04:00

I currently write for 2 different lines at Harlequin--Intrigue and Blaze. In the past I've written for other special projects, and for another publisher.

On many days--say the currently chaotic first two weeks of April when I'm on a mid-April deadline, I'm prepping for going to the Romantic Times conference April 21st, I'm trying to work a second job to help catch up on bills (putting a hubby and son through college at the same time is expensive!), gearing up for my hubby's graduation from grad school in early May (a big woo-hoo to him for completing several years of hard work!) and all those regular day to day things that we have to do to keep our homes and family running--I wonder WHY? Isn't there enough stress in my life? Why do I feel the need to keep 2 different editors happy? Why do I force my brain to transition from one plotting/storytelling frame of mind to another? Why don't I just give up this crazy writer's life where my dual storyline work requires me to multitask out the wazoo, and just go back to teaching full time? (well, okay, parent-teacher conferences, state assessments and biannual curriculum rewriting have a lot to do with why I don't teach full-time anymore)

The truth is, I like writing more than one kind of book. And I know I'm not alone. There are many authors out there who switch from contemporary to historical, or suspense to fantasy, or series to single title work, etc. Their reasons may be different than mine, but here are two reasons why the whole creative split-personality works for me.

1. There some good business savvy in the idea. An adage learned long ago in childhood. Don't put your eggs all in one basket. IOW, if the market changes, an editor leaves, a line closes, or something else beyond my control that makes me unable to earn a living writing a certain type of book, then I have options. I won't be completely out of a job. I can refocus my energy on one line/publisher/genre or another, depending on what's currently working. And in today's economy, especially, keeping job opportunities open just seems smart.

2. Good economy or no, changing the way my brain thinks is actually very good for me creatively. While almost everything I write has some element of romantic suspense (What can I say? I write what I love!), I find that writing for Intrigue and Blaze satisfies two very different creative needs in me. Intrigue is a much more intellectual process for me. I'm a puzzle-lover. I've read mysteries since I was in the second grade. I love the plotting and planning and where can I insert this clue and what's a good red herring and just how wicked can I make my villain or what kind of heroics can my larger-than-life hero accomplish, how twisted can I make the backstory, how complex can I make the emotions, etc. Writing an Intrigue exercises the intellectual side of my brain. Writing an Intrigue is an intense experience, but a very satisfying one.
On the other hand, writing a Blaze is a much more by-the-seat-of-my-pants type of writing for me. Sure, there's some plotting. I focus especially on characterization. I keep the mystery elements at a minimum, though I've been know to throw in lots of danger and action in and out of the bedroom. But I feel my steamier romances really do use a different part of my brain. It's a lot more instinct and a lot less planning ahead of time. It relaxes one part of my brain and engages another. I know I want my characters to face danger; I know I want their relationship to become more intimate at a faster pace than in my Intrigue--but beyond that? Well, it's a lot of... I know I want them to be in this place or this situation by Chapter 6. This morning, I'm going to sit down and see what happens between now and then. How I get to Chapter 6 will be a process of discovery rather than planning.
In other words, by writing for more than one line, utilizing and resting different parts of my brain, I find I avoid the burnout of tackling one type of writing over and over. And trust me, I know about burnout.

In my current release, OUT OF CONTROL, from Blaze, I did have to do quite a bit of research and interviewing to get some background on the world of drag racing, which is the setting for the book. It's part of the "From 0-60 miniseries" of books set in the drag racing world of Dahlia, TN. They're unconnected stories, save for the location and racing backdrop. But beyond that research, it was very much a process of , "Let's see what Detective Jack Riley is up to today." Or "Just how much trouble can I get Alexandra Morgan into this morning?" In fact, Jack's and Alex's backgrounds changed as the story progressed and I got better/deeper ideas for their characters. It was very much a journey of discovery.

In my June Intrigue, PULLING THE TRIGGER (I'm still lusting after that cover, btw!), though, I found myself plotting more chapter by chapter. Partly because I needed to make sure I coordinated my story with the bible for the series and clues other authors wanted me to plant, but mostly because I was back to deep, complex romantic suspense. I had a particular challenge because my H/h spend most of the short 72 hours in which the story takes place stranded up in the mountains. Alone. Beyond the beginning and ending, once they're cut off from civilization, there's no one else to interact with. Yet, I still have to move the story and series along. I had to make sure I had enough story to sustain a 2 character book. I was given a general picture for a puzzle, and I had to come up with the pieces and make them fit. Crazy challenge. But I loved it!

I enjoyed both writing processes. As I'm speeding toward my April deadline, my brain is glad I gave it a break and switched it up a bit.

Does anyone else out there have a similar Jekyll and Hyde personality? One that's necessary for sanity and survival? Maybe you have two diverse hobbies? Read more than one genre? Please tell me I'm not alone in my craziness. ;)

Happy Reading!
Julie Miller

Available in April

2009-04-02T00:01:00.004-04:00

Here's what's coming in April from Harlequin Intrigue:

1125. SHOTGUN BRIDE by B.J. Daniels
Handsome as sin and wild as the western wind

That's the Corbett brothers for you, and Shane's no exception. No way is he settling down just because of some ridiculous marriage pactespecially not with a cowgirl from smalltown Whitehorse who seems so young and naive. At least that's what this hardened lawman keeps insisting.

But when Maddie Cavanaugh's kidnapped and drawn into a world of violent greed and despair, Shane jumps into action. While he has no trouble subduing her captors, resisting the force of Maddie's charm is harder than he could've imagined, and it seems as if stubborn Shane may be the first of the Corbett boys to surrender his bachelorhood.

1126. CRIMINALLY HANDSOME by Cassie Miles
Criminologist Miguel Acevedo had come facetoface with his biggest challenge--Emma Richardson, guardian to a newborn baby and admitted psychic. The Native American beauty claimed to have information that could bring down a notorious criminal, but Miguel wasn't about to buy into her "abilities" so fast. Before long, though, Emma's leads attracted a killer and Miguel became her bodyguard. Now, as he watched her with the innocent baby and became captivated by her blue gaze, Miguel sensed his ordered world tilting on its axis. First he'd gone from skeptic to believer. Could the switch from confirmed bachelor to family man be far behind?

1127. BABY BLING by Elle James
Shipping tycoon Jackson Champion hadn't become a Texas billionaire by crumbling under pressure. So when his sexy assistant, Ysabel Sanchez, decided to walk away from him and his megasuccessful corporation, he wasn't taking no for an answer. After all, memories of their recent onenight stand had consumed him, and now Ysabel's inability to meet his eye made him wonder what she wasn't telling him. But exploring their feelings had to wait. An unknown enemy intended to bring down Champion Shipping, and Jackson was an expert at protecting what was his. But could he also lay claim to Ysabel and the secrets she had yet to reveal?

1128. RESCUING THE VIRGIN by Patricia Rosemoor
Quinlan McKenna Farrell has seen the family legacy of love work for other McKennas, but he has also seen the darker side of human nature. Hounded by his failure to bring down a human trafficking ring, the rugged special agent has returned to Texas more determined than ever to succeed...only to discover temptation beyond his wildest fantasies.

Luz Delgado is the virgin sold to Quin as he works undercover, but she's hardly the underage illegal he is expecting. The abducted American is courageous, true of heart and in desperate need of his help. To save her and reveal the identity of the ringleader, he enters into a reluctant alliance with the beautiful captive. Except survival isn't a guarantee.

1129. A STRANGER'S BABY by Kerry Connor
Jake Armstrong had no intention of getting involved with his very sexy--and very pregnant--nextdoor neighbor...until the night she was attacked. His only goal these days was recovering and getting back in the game, not playing bodyguard to the most vulnerable of victims. Still, leaving her to fend for herself was out of the question, especially once they learned it was her baby someone was desperate to get their hands on. As they unearthed shocking truths about her baby's family history, Jake sensed something growing between them, an attraction that became more intense as her due date approached. He knew this tiny family had no place in his future, but walking away seemed impossible--and practically broke his heart at the thought....

1130. BULLETPROOF TEXAS by Kay Thomas
Escorting Dr. Maxine O'Neil into the cave known as Devil's Hollow was Zach Douglas's job. Relishing the sparring matches with the typeA scientist was his pleasure. He ran the show in the Texas Hill Country cavern--until sabotage and murder struck the site. Hours spent in the dark, cozied up in tight quarters with Maxine had shown Zach her passionate side. Now he wanted to see the truthful one. What was in that cave that was worth dying for? Only one thing was for sure: whether Maxine liked it or not, Zach would do everything in his power to keep them from being Devil's Hollow's next casualties.

Take stock of your blessings

2009-04-01T14:13:00.006-04:00

Many times I have to stop and give thanks for the good things that happen in my life. I have a book coming out this month with Harlequin Intrigue called Baby Bling. It was action-packed and a fun book to write. I spent last week in lovely Colorado skiing, in fresh snow, snowmobiling in the national forest and loving every flake of snow that fell. I came back home to Arkansas to spend the weekend at the hospital with my 72-yr-old father who had triple bypass surgery. He's not in good shape, so losing him at that point was a definite option. I can't describe to you how wonderful it was to see him wake up after the operation. He smiled despite the pain of having his ribs cracked open and a large slice run down his leg for a spare vein to use in the bypass. The smile was so wonderful, because he was so happy to be alive! He's not out of the hospital yet, but everyday is a blessing to have him around still. It reminds me how inconsequential a lot of things are in life that we think are so darned important and how important some things are that we take for granted.

Look around at the good things in life and take stock of your blessings. If you'd like to share what you are grateful for, please leave a comment. Have a glorious day!

Raffles, Rifles and Contests...Oh My!

2009-03-31T00:00:00.013-04:00

Up until a few years ago, I’d never won anything. Not even at a Tupperware party. No raffles, no cakewalks, nada. Not sure what it was, bad karma or what. But my number just never seemed to come up.

Not so my brother. He seemed to win everything. Raffles at school fundraisers, charity dinners. You name it. If he bought a ticket, you might as well not because he was going to win. He once walked into a charity dinner, bought a raffle ticket at the last minute and won the grand prize hunting rifle. (We’re from Mississippi-what can I say? Those are our kind of raffles.)

During this remarkable “run” of luck, he was also always getting called for jury duty. Like every five-six months. I was convinced somehow these events were related. You win raffles or contests, you get called for jury duty….often. Little did I know.

A few years ago my own luck changed and I started winning “things.” Nothing huge (feel free to snicker as your read) but at a kitchen accessory party my name got pulled for an orange peeler, then a recipe book. Quite a thrill when you’ve NEVER won anything. And at a writer’s convention a couple of years ago, a number was taped to the bottom of my chair to win out of hundreds of other folks. Granted, the prize was a box of Hot Tamales, the candy. But still, woo-hoo! Wild stuff for a girl who’d never landed on the right number in a cake walk. And yes, you guessed it. I started getting “the call” for jury duty. All the time.

Is there a correlation or have I just lived in one place long enough for my name to be on the city jury duty rolls? Could be, but I like to think my luck has turned.

Now, I don’t have a hunting rifle to give away (I think the laws might prohibit that nowadays.) But I do have a contest to announce this month for my new April release, BULLETPROOF TEXAS. It’s a Bulletproof Sighting Contest called "Have You Seen This Man?" For folks who see my book on store shelves and snap a picture, you could win a gift card to Barnes and Noble. I’m posting the rules below. But you can also check them out here. Feel free to forward this contest link or the rules anywhere you’d like. The more the merrier and there are three chances to win.

________________________

Bulletproof Sighting Contest Rules

“Have You Seen This Man?”

Spot my April Intrigue, BULLETPROOF TEXAS, on store shelves and be eligible to win a gift card to Barnes & Noble for $15, $10 or $5.

Here’s how it works:

1. You see my book, BULLETPROOF TEXAS, on the shelf at: Barnes & Noble, Borders, an Independent bookseller, Books A Million, Target, Wal-Mart, Kmart, the grocery — wherever Harlequin Intrigues are sold retail in the US. (Sorry, no resale allowed in this particular contest.)

2. Snap a picture with your phone or digital camera. Make sure I can tell the book is in the bookstore from your picture. Take the shot of the book on the shelf, at the checkout etc. Put yourself in the pic, too! (I’ll be posting the winners names and photos here on my website.)

3. Send the picture to: contest@kaythomas.net

If you are sending from your phone, be sure to include your email address. Don’t forget to include the store’s name and location with the picture:

Store Name
Your town, USA

4. If you are my first “in store” Bulletproof sighting, you win a $15 gift card to Barnes & Noble. I’ll randomly draw from the rest of the entries for a $10 gift card winner and a $5 gift card winner.

Can’t snap a picture? You can still enter:
Email me the store name, the store’s physical address and the store phone number.

Contest starts April 6. Official release day is April 14. (Many times books are put on the shelves several days early, so keep an eye out!) Entry into contest puts you on my newsletter mailing list. Contest ends and winners will be announced May 11. Questions? Email me at:

contest@kaythomas.net

Good luck!

__________________

Now for our question of the day...What’s the coolest thing you ever won in a contest? (I’m sure you can beat my Hot Tamales and orange peeler!)

Kay

____________
Kay Thomas
Bulletproof Texas 4/09
4 stars Romantic Times ~ 4 ½ stars Cataromance reviews
KayThomas.net

Second Bananas Get Their Chance to Shine

2009-03-30T10:00:00.003-04:00

Developing secondary characters into Heroes and Heroines in future books is something that some authors have been doing for a while. I think of great series by Jo Beverley or Rachel Lee‘s Conard County books or Suzanne Brockmann‘s Tall, Dark & Dangerous series. Oftentimes, the supporting characters--a partner or other precinct cops, former army buddies, siblings, other townsfolk, the loyal secretary, even the enemy--stole the story from the main characters for me. Those second bananas leaped into my imagination and became as 3-dimensional as the lead characters. Those “other guys” became the characters I wanted to see featured in a story of his or her own.

I've always done this with my Intrigues--for 3 reasons. First, those are the kinds of books I like to read --where you get introduced to a character in one book, get to know him/her over the course of a book(s), and eventually get to see him/her featured as the main character in his/her own story. To me, there's just a depth of character development, along with a rich history of story background that's hard to get in a completely stand-alone book. I love reading and creating a community of characters. With my Taylor Clan, Precinct and Precinct: Brotherhood of the Badge books, I've created such a community of characters I can meet, get to know, see featured, and revisit across the books. Most of the books are stand alone stories, so the reader gets a complete story, but for those who read more than one of the books, there's that something extra of, oh yeah, he's that rookie detective who messed up, got shot and sent to the hospital, and now is back as a seasoned veteran and true hero material. Later, because s/he lives in Kansas City and works in or with characters of my fictional Fourth Precinct, that character can be revisited. For example, my very first hero, Mitch Taylor, in ONE GOOD MAN, has progressed over the years so that he is now precinct chief--his son in one story is now a grown man about to become a second generation cop in a future story.

Second, because I write such a community of characters, I'm often surprised by how strongly a secondary character will jump off the pages, demanding to have his/her story told. That's the case in the book I'm currently writing, BEAUTY AND THE BADGE, that features Detective Kevin Grove, who has been a supporting character throughout my Brotherhood of the Badge miniseries. He was gruff and tough and dedicated to solving his case--but he just started nagging at the back of my mind as I was writing the others. "These guys get to find their happily-ever-after. I know I look like a beast and I'm a better cop than I am a catch, but hang it all, I need to find some happiness, too." and so on. So, when those characters talk to me, I write their stories.

And thirdly, yes, sometimes I create a book for a secondary character because readers email or write and ask me for so-and-so's story. That's how my Precinct series was born. I got more mail asking me for T. Merle Banning's story (a rookie computer geek detective who screwed up a case in one book, got shot up in another, was partner with a heroine, etc. throughout my Taylor Clan series). Readers wanted to see him grow up and get his woman. So it was a lot of fun for me to help him mature into the hero of PARTNER-PROTECTOR.

I find that writing the secondary character's story depends. Actually, with on ongoing series with my Taylor Clan and Precinct books, I don't always know which secondary characters will really come to life for me and start telling me their stories, so I don't necessarily plot and plan to reveal a specific backstory that with come into play if/when they get their own stories. I develop them as secondary characters to fit the needs of the current story, not the one where s/he winds up being the main character. As a moderate to severe pantser when it comes to my writing, that has always worked well for me. Then, when I find a character speaking to me (or readers asking me) to create his or her own story, I just go with what has already been laid out in previous books--and that isn't terribly stressful.

Only occasionally do I run into a problem doing it that way. The most notable was when I turned supporting character Merle Banning into a hero for PARTNER-PROTECTOR. Over 7 books, he had grown from young geek to his own man, scarred by gunshots, denied the woman he thought he loved, devoted to the facts and logic that had never failed him. That was terrific backstory for his character (I paired him with a free-spirited psychic who trusted her intuition more than facts--his complete opposite in many ways). BUT... not knowing he was a hero in the making, I'd named him "Merle". No offense to any Merle men out there, but I just didn't find that to be a heroic name. So, I had fun coming up with a little more backstory so that I could give him a different name, while staying true to what had already transpired. I worked in that Merle was his middle name, that he didn't go by Thomas, because that was his father's name, and a crime/suicide had soured that name for Merle and his mother. But, the heroine had an impression, and saw him writing "T", so she called him "T". Which turned out to be more manly for me.

I actually find it harder to develop secondary characters into main characters when I purposely propose a miniseries or trilogy. It's hard for me not to reveal too much in earlier books, and save the meat for each character's featured story. I often run into wanting to reveal too much about too many people, taking the focus from the main characters. It just involves more planning than I normally do when I write. Changes the process for me a bit.

And I do love it at the other end of things, when the book is done and readers comment on it. Someone almost always surprises me by a) which secondary character they want to see again and know more about, or b) in a planned series, who turns out to be their favorite characters. It's not always who I expect. But that's one of the cool things about fiction--and why I'm glad there's such a diversity of writers and lines--there's someone and something to appeal to every reader!

What are your favorite series of books by an author or group of authors--where supporting characters you get intrigued by finally get their chance to shine as the hero or heroine?

Or, if you have any other questions or comments, feel free to ask.

And did you get a load at the cover for my June Intrigue, Pulling the Trigger? LOVE it!! It's part of the Kenner County Crime Unit continuity series from Intrigue--and it features, you guessed it, a supporting character who finally gets his chance to save the day, and reclaim the woman he has always loved. Native American search and rescue expert Ethan Bia is a former Army ranger who always gets his man--and eventually, his woman. When a suspect wanted in connection to an FBI agent's murder escapes into the mountains of Colorado, it's up to Ethan to find him. He just never counted on having to partner up with Agent Joanna Rhodes in the search--she's the woman who once loved him, and left him behind to pursue her career.

Julie Miller

Cowboy Heroes

2009-03-29T13:15:00.004-04:00

What makes cowboys such fascinating heroes? I've given that a lot of thought over the past few months, especially since I've started the Special Ops series where I have former NAVY SEALs who are cowboys to the core. What a mix! I've come to a few conclusions. For one, I love the strong ethics they bring to a situation. I think those ethics affect the way they go at solving a crime. By nature they seem so protective, of their livestock and the people they love. I like the way they're comfortable in their environment and in their skin. I like their love for their land and for their country. I like that devotion and the wy they always strive to do the just thing. And then there is the way they look in those tight jeans, boots and Stetsons. I had to roll up my tongue and stick it back in my mouth when I saw the cowboy Commando cover.

Overheard in my local beaty salon the other day:

Cowboys are to women what blondes are to men. When you see one, you just have to take a second look. (Sometimes I take a third or fourth.) I'd love to hear your ideas on what makes cowboys an intriguing Intriue hero. Or if you don't like them, I'd like to hear that, too.

Happy Spring

2009-03-27T03:29:00.002-04:00

Well, it may not seem like it, but last Friday was the first day of spring. Whoo-hoo!

When I used to live in the Midwest, spring meant rain showers and flowers breaking ground. Now that I’m in Seattle I have to work a little harder to see the change since flowers have been bustin’ through since January.

So, I’ve decided to create a list of things I’d like to do to celebrate the season.

1. Make summer movie list!
2. Finish screenplay. I finish a script by May 1 each year and this year I’m turning one of my books, GOT A HOLD ON YOU, into a screenplay.
3. Clean out office: share books, recycle notebooks or papers not read in the past year.
4. Go through make-up – figure out if it’s old, boring or otherwise should be tossed to make room for new and exciting colors!
5. Pedicure! The first of many, if I’m going to wear sandals anytime soon. ;-)
6. Get the dog groomed. She’s starting to look like an overfed wolf.
7. Discover a new author, either novelist or screenwriter. Have any suggestions?

There’s my working list. It may change, expand, and shift. But it’s a good start. What about you?

Have a GREAT weekend!

Pat White
www.patwhitebooks.com

RITA Finalists!

2009-03-25T18:57:00.010-04:00

Today the finalists for the Romance Writers of America 2009 RITA awards were announced, and four Intrigues were among the finalists!

BEST FIRST BOOK
Strangers in the Night by Kerry Connor

SERIES CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE : SUSPENSE/ADVENTURE
Cold Case Connection by Kathleen Long
Strangers in the Night by Kerry Connor
Tall, Dark and Lethal by Dana Marton
Twin Targets by Jessica Andersen

A great showing for the line and its authors!

Click here for a list of the finalists in all categories.

Too Much? Not enough? Let's Talk...Sex

2009-03-23T06:16:00.001-04:00

Intrigue is one of the few series lines where sensuality can vary. I'm talking vary A LOT. Some books have no sex scene at all, and some are hot hot hot. I hadn't thought much about this until I recently judged eight books (none were Intrigues) in a contest and experienced this wide range of sensuality first hand. What did I decide?

Sex scenes work for me. :)

In the books where there were no sex scenes, I felt something was
missing. I hated having the bedroom door closed in my face.I wanted to
read about the couple taking that intimate step to their happily ever
after. That said, I didn't prefer the hottest scenes but rather the
scenes that fit the rest of the tone of the book.

So, how about you? Do you want to read sex scenes, or do you just skip
over them?

Delores

Title Wave

2009-03-21T06:00:00.002-04:00

Before I was published, I suffered over the titles, wanting them to sound cool and intriguing, wanting titles that gave a flavor of the story. I wanted titles that were short, to the point and would look good on a book cover.

I am over that now. I'm apparently just not good with titles (as the subject line of this blog post would suggest). Every title I've ever proposed has been rejected by my editor. WHAT THE HEART SEES (admittedly a stupid title) became FORBIDDEN TERRITORY. DANGEROUS PURSUIT became FORBIDDEN TEMPTATION. DEADLY ILLUSION became...well, you get the picture.

Intrigue editors aren't necessarily thinking about how cool a title is, or how good it will look above or below your name. They're looking for titles that sell. I wrote a cowboy book and titled it TARGET: JANE DOE, a title I thought was very cool. Even the editor liked it. Except, well, the book was part of a big "Ultimate Intrigue Heroes" month and the title really needed to focus on the hero instead. So it became COWBOY ALIBI.

At that point, I think I gave up. Now, when I work up a proposal, I just name it anything that remotely sounds A) like a title and B) like it could fit my story. Why go to the extra effort when the editor's just going to change it anyway?

I know a lot of readers are drawn to or repelled from books by the covers. What about the titles?

Where do you get your license to kill?

2009-03-19T02:14:00.003-04:00

Every writer gets the where do you get your ideas question. A lot. I used to say from everywhere, especially from interesting articles. Now I'm more likely to say from real life. Story is conflict. And how many of us get through life without conflict?

For example, I bought a semi-used (meaning dealer owned) car on January 22. The numbers guy gets all my info to do a title transfer on-line. Finds out that my license needs to be renewed in March, so he has to do that before he can change the title. The only problem being that my EPA test was due. In March. It was January. And I was trading in the vehicle that needed testing, hence the title transfer. Somehow he got around the system and put the title change through and said I would have to do the license renewal when I received it in the mail.

Cut forward to the end of February and receipt of the bill to renew my plates. It said I need an EPA test because of course the old car was still listed. And, since I have a new car, I can't go online to do anything. I must cross out all the old info and write in the correct info and send a check. Which I did.

Which, last week, came back to me UNOPENED with a letter from the Secretary of State's office saying I needed an EPA test and couldn't renew my license until I got one. So I spent an hour on the phone trying to get this straightened out and was told that I could either call this number and give them my credit card or I could go to a state facility. After futilely trying to get through on the phone, I drove to the nearest facility.

And was told I needed an EPA test. After an exhausting explanation, I was cheered to see the clerk understood. She even called up the VIN on the new car and said yes, the title was entered...but it didn't go through. It was on hold. No explanation. So she tried to go around the system, but couldn't. She called Springfield and the person there said the system had to be "rebooted" and that would probably do the trick, but she didn't know when that would be. I had two weeks before I would start collecting tickets. The clerk kindly told me that of course I could go to court and explain what happened. So my choices were to either sit and wait to see if the title cleared or to make the dealer give me new plates.

I left in defeat. I emailed my salesman and told him what happened. The next day he said he would look into it. Miraculously today the clerk called me and so did my salesman. Apparently something was missing in the title transfer and it had just been sitting there all that time. I finally was able to pay for my license sticker.

Now, if I used that crazy situation in a book--an employee agreeing that I didn't have the old car and the title was there but "stuck" and she didn't have the power to override the system, would an editor believe it? I'm not sure.

What I am sure of is that I can do anything I want with paperwork and licenses and transfers and anything else a government agency is responsible for and make it work. Yes, I do believe I've earned that license to kill...

Good reading,
Patricia Rosemoor

Watch for my April book, RESCUING THE VIRGIN.

Foreign Sales are fun!

2009-03-18T09:45:00.005-04:00

I love it when I get one of my books in the mail in a foreign language. It's like a puzzle. I can't stand not knowing what country it's being sold in. You can't just open the book and tell, or at least I can't. If I can't read the title, I go out to one of the free online translators and start searching for a translation. Yesterday I got the above book in the mail and went through about 20 language translations until I found it! It was Norwegian for In the Firing Line or maybe it means something closer to In the Line of Fire. I received copies of another book so close but not quite the same and found it to be the same book in Swedish. What fun! This particular book was my May 2007 book Cowboy Sanctuary. I love the Norwegian cover and the new title. So dangerous!I have another cowboy book coming out next month called Baby Bling. Don't you just love the cowboy and the baby on the cover? It got 4.5 stars and a TOP PICK! from Romantic Times Magazine for Baby Bling.Have you enjoyed a cowboy today?

Cowboys and Intrigue

2009-03-17T17:22:00.003-04:00

Some might question how the modern cowboy meshes with stories of danger and suspense. I never would, nor would most readers of Harlequin Intrigues. I've been thinking lately about what makes the cowboy such an ideal hero. I've come to a few conclusions. They are firmly rooted in their principles. The old adage that a man is as good as his word certainly characterizes the cowboy's ethics. They are independent and tend to take matters in their own hands. They know how to use a weapon, but don't use them against another human except to save a life. They are extremely protective-of their horses, their livestock, their land and most of all of the people they love. They are manly to the core. Hmm. And then there's the way the look in jeans, boots and a Stetson.

I have double duty with my new Special Ops series. I have former Navy SEAL's who are true cowboys at heart. I've never had more fun writing a series since the heroes are proven in every sense of the word. And gorgeously sexy. Note the cover for the March book.

If you love cowboys as heroes, I'd love to hear from you as to why. And please visit my website at http://www.joannawayne.com/ for a chance to read an excerpt of Cowboy Commando. And don't forget to enter my contest while you're there.

Going to a fashion show

2009-03-16T10:41:00.002-04:00

I'm going to a fashion show this weekend and I'm so excited! It's just a small local one, but still. I've never been to one. I just proposed a new project for Intrigue, The Socialite and the Bodyguard. The heroine would definitely go to fashion shows. So I'm technically there for research :-) A make-up company is sponsoring it, so there'll be free make-up, too. I've got to find something to wear!!! I'm so not the fashion show type. I sit around in sweatpants most of the time. Just more comfy for sitting at the computer. But it's good to leave our normal environment every once in a while and try something we'd never do normally. Ever did something like that? Something totally out of character.... Did you enjoy it?

I have a question for readers... Did you find the March Intrigues okay? I've been so worried for Desert Ice Daddy. Supposedly, a major distributor is having problems and a lot of authors were worried that their books wouldn't make it from the warehouse to the stores. I'm in Europe so I couldn't check. Anyone seen my book for sale anywhere? Like we don't have enough to worry about :-)

Hope you're having lots of sunshine wherever you are.

Have a fabulous day,

Dana

www.danamarton.com

spring is here

2009-03-10T14:31:00.003-04:00

We had temps in the 50s today. Not that I got outside much :-( Hubby cut down a giant pine tree that had some disease and was dying off. Cut off the branches first, starting at the bottom. Climbed the stubs, then when he got to the top, he began cutting the tree, chunk by chunk. I had the phone ready to dial 911, but he ended up taking the tree down without an accident. Would it kill him to call a professional? Yes, it would. He's the type of guy who thinks a real man can handle just about anything that comes his way. Why do women like stubborn men? I suppose all that goal-orientedness is appealing. Anyhow, I'm saying my prayers of thanksgiving that he hadn't fallen and broken anything.

I need to start the tomato seedlings inside. I'm so late this year. At least, I cleaned out about a third of the garden. Have you started your spring chores yet?

To celebrate the beginning of this fine season, I have a book out: DESERT ICE DADDY. It's part of the Harlequin Diamond Anniversary promotion. You guessed it, there are some diamonds in the story. Check out my web site for excerpt and a chance to win free books. The hero is a Texas Sheik. What's that? you ask... You'll just have to read the book to find out ;-)

Happy Spring!

Dana

http://www.danamarton.com/

New Release

2009-03-09T06:39:00.000-04:00

That's the cover of my new Intrigue, SECRET DELIVERY, that officially hits the shelves tomorrow. It's book four of my Texas Paternity miniseries, and the series will wrap up in October with CHRISTMAS GUARDIAN. I've had a blast writing about these five single Texas dads raising children who aren't their own, and for those following the series, I hope you've enjoyed the books.

I've already started a new series that will be out next year, and I'm having so much fun!! I'm at the stage where I can just play with the characters and plots, and as the release date draws closer, trust me, I'll tell you all about them. :)

But here's my question for you. Do you like author miniseries, or do you prefer books that stand alone?

Delores

Random Questions

2009-03-04T10:50:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I'm completely stuck for something to blog about so I thought I'd come up with a short list of random questions to get this blog moving. And because I have a book coming out next month called Baby Bling based in Texas, with a cowboy and a pregnant woman, I thought I'd focus on random questions about those subjects. So here goes the questions and my answers. I'd love to hear from all of you with your answers. The world is full of different people with different tastes, that's what makes it so wonderful. Wouldn't life be boring if we all thought, dress, ate the same?

1. If you were on a dangerous mission leading into the Rocky Mountains with the bad guys after you, which would you rather have with you: a cowboy, a special ops soldier or the Mall Cop? (How's that for random?)

2. If you had a choice, which time period would you rather travel to: 2000 years into the future, medieval times or the 1950's?

3. If today was your last day on earth, what would be your choice of food: pizza, ice cream or peanut M&M's?

4. If today was your last day on earth, and you could only be with one of the following, who would it be: Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, President Obama, or The Mall Cop.

Here are my answers:
1. I'd want all three! The cowboy because he'd look great in his jeans and sit his horse like he was part of it, the special ops soldier because they're soooo intense and gorgeously brave and the Mall Cop because I'd have to have humor in that situation or the tension would just kill me!

2. Tough choices on the second question. Would love to see what the future holds for us. I'm afraid 2000 years in the future humans may or may not be here. But wouldn't it be cool if we found a way off this planet and the universe was our oyster? I'd love to visit the medieval times of great knights, beautiful dresses and grand adventures, but to live without toilet paper? Not me! A visit maybe, to live there forever, I'd have to bring a lifetime supply! The 1950's would be a hoot! James Dean, poodle skirts and the music! I'm there!

3. Ice cream, definitely ice cream! Make that Rocky Road for me!

4. Again, a tough choice. If I thought Spike could make me a vampire and extend my days on earth, I'd go for him! And he's a hotty, who wouldn't want to spend her last hours with him? Obama? Not. His job is too depressing. The Mall Cop? A definite possibility. See answer to question 1. Humor would be a big thing for me. Helps lighten your load.

Now your turn! What would your answers be?

Putting Yourself First

2009-03-02T01:37:00.004-05:00

This year, like many others, I decided to focus on putting myself first. But as a woman, there are many other people in our lives that need to be taken care of: our husbands, kids, parents and friends. Oh, and don't forget the dogs and cats!

Don't get me wrong, I love taking care of the people I love. But it really hit me lately that if I'm not in a good place, it will be hard to be a good support for others.

After the post holiday munchies, I decided to buckle down and begin taking care of myself by cutting sugar out of my diet. It feels amazing! I'm a sugar addict, no question. So when I'm sucked into the sugar vortex, I don't think straight, I'm unmotivated and I worry all the time. Without sugar I'm clear-headed and energized.

The heroine in my March book, Sydney Trent, took care of two sick parents who passed away. Then she finds herself on her own, sucked into danger and intrigue when her friend, Nate, goes missing and his sexy older brother, Dalton, asks her to help solve the mystery. Syd got really good at taking care of herself after her parents passed away, and isn't one to be pushed around, even by a sexy hunk like Dalton.

What kinds of things do want to do to take better care of yourself? Come on, you're worth it!!

Here are a few non-sugar snacks for anyone out there want to cut down:

Layer shredded veggies and Tzatki sauce in a piece of roast beef and roll up
Dip sliced green zucchini in hummus
A hard boiled egg is always a great afternoon pick-me-up
A slice of deli turkey with Laughing cow cheese spread and par-boiled asparagus (you can tell I'm into rolling things like tortillas!)

Cheers!

Pat White

Available in March

2009-03-01T00:01:00.012-05:00

Here's what's coming this month from Harlequin Intrigue:

1119. RENEGADE SOLDIER by Pat White
Secret operative Dalton Keen had never met a woman like Sydney Trent: sweet, innocent and so beautiful he couldn't look away. Trying to complete his latest mission meant he needed Sydney's help. But it was hard to control how his body responded when she turned to him with her violet eyes and looked at him with both awe and desire. Rather than crossing the line, though, he needed to protect her. Someone had discovered that she knew more than she was telling…and they didn't like it. Dalton regretted involving Syd in what was quickly becoming a very dangerous mission, but she couldn't back out now. And, secretly, he didn't want to let her go.

1120. SNOWED IN WITH THE BOSS by Jessica Andersen
CEO Griffin Vaughn knew Sophie LaRue was trouble the moment he agreed to hire her. Still, he hadn't become one of the wealthiest men in the world by being distracted by silky blond hair and legs that didn't quit, and he refused to start now. But thanks to a freak blizzard, he and Sophie were trapped in his Colorado mansion...and they weren't alone. With someone watching from the shadows, Griffin attempted to ignore their building attraction and focus on protecting Sophie. A successful businessman, Griffin thrived on challenge—until his innocent assistant made him an offer he couldn't refuse....

1121. DESERT ICE DADDY by Dana Marton
Billionaire Akeem Abdul's arrival at the McKade ranch went from business to personal when he learned Taylor McKade's little boy had disappeared. Taylor had only become more beautiful over the years, and Akeem couldn't stand seeing the pain on her face. As they followed the kidnappers' orders and trekked through the Texas heat, Akeem admired the strength it took for Taylor not to fall apart. But he was there when she did—and vowed to bring her son home. Still, all the money in the world couldn't eliminate his secret fears: that if they didn't find her son, this woman he'd finally found again could be lost to him forever....

1122. SECRET DELIVERY by Delores Fossen
Sheriff Jack Whitley hadn't seen Alana Davis in nearly a year. Not since he'd saved her life and helped to deliver her baby. And when she'd mysteriously disappeared, he'd raised her son as his own. So despite the way Alana's vulnerability tugged at his heart, Jack vowed he wouldn't let her claim his child. But with a dangerous killer hot on her trail, he found himself wanting to be her protector. Keeping her safe meant he ran the risk of losing his son. And ultimately his heart.

1123. COWBOY COMMANDO by Joanna Wayne
On navy SEAL missions Cutter Martin had been a warrior. But when it came to Linney Kingston, he was just a red-blooded Texas cowboy with bad luck at love. Linney had walked out on him six years ago. Now she was back—with a motherless child and a crazy story.Linney's theory of murder and scandal was as preposterous as her body's traitorous response to Cutter. Still, when she was shot at, the cowboy came to her rescue. Cutter—her hero. And the only man who could break her heart again. Trusting him a second time was more frightening than the killers stalking her every move....

1124. MULTIPLES MYSTERY by Alice Sharpe
Olivia Capri knew giving birth to quads would cause a stir in her media-starved small town. But she didn't realize it would bring back Zac Bishop, the boy she'd once loved with all her teenage heart. Luckily, as sheriff, he'd returned just in time. It seemed someone was after her and her babies thanks to a past she knew nothing about. And though she knew whoever it was didn't stand a chance against Zac and his protective nature, reminiscing about old times stirred up too many long-buried emotions. Still, Zac assured her everything would be okay, all she had to do was trust him. And she did. With everything but her heart.

Shopping Hungry!

2009-02-26T07:00:00.002-05:00

I went to the grocery store hungry yesterday. Big Mistake! Somehow I ended up on the "starch" aisle. When I got home I had

Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Alfredo Pasta Sauce
T raditional Pasta Sauce
Tri-color gnocchi
Asparagus Risotto
Pumpkin Risotto
Three-herb cous-cous
Fettuccini
Angel-hair pasta

Are we seeing a pattern here? So when I got home, my husband asked me where I was going to put all the pasta I'd bought. He wasn't impressed that I had bought all this for him.

Later that evening, full of Tri-color gnocchi with spinach and pesto sauce, I got to thinking about going to the book store hungry.

If you're as old as I am, you can remember those days. Running to the book store to see if there were any new romances on the shelves, because back then there weren't enough romance books to keep me satisfied for an entire month--or however long it took for more to come in. I hungrily devoured all the new books that came out that I could afford, and impatiently waited for more.

Often, I read books I wasn't especially excited about because I needed to read and my favorite authors weren't writing enough.

Do you guys feel like there are more books out there today than you could ever read? And is that a good thing for you?

Mallory Kane
If You're Looking for a Hero...

That Magic Moment

2009-02-25T01:51:00.002-05:00

In my opinion the coolest thing about a romance is that magic moment in the story where we know there is great love shared between the hero and heroine. It’s the finish line at the end of the race we’ve been working for. Yet it may not necessarily come in the form of words spoken between the hero and heroine.

You know what I’m talkin’ about. Those moments that make you sigh while you’re reading a book or watching a movie. And you don’t even know you’re doing it.

Examples that come to mind? In the classic, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF when Brick (Paul Newman) who verbally taunts and seemingly loathes his wife, locks himself in the bathroom and clings to her nightgown that hangs from the door hook and breathes in her scent. ::: sigh :::
Or how about in SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE when Tom Hanks sees Annie at the top of the Empire State building. Remember that look? A cock of his head, eye squint and, “You’re Annie?” He’s amazed, flabbergasted, and yes, in love.

Remember the action thriller SPEED, when Jack points the gun at the crazy bomber, but Jack’s love, Annie (popular name ) stands between Jack and the bomber with sticks of dynamite strapped to her? There’s that moment when Jack shoots her this “God, I love you and I’m sorry you got dragged into this” look.

I don’t know about you, but I live for those moments, however fleeting. For me, they’re not planned. I plan out some plot points, but it’s up to my characters to find their way through the maze of emotion. They never disappointment me. There’s always “that” moment, I unconsciously sigh, and know I’ve hit the bulls eye.

In my February book, UNDERCOVER STRANGER, it’s when Ciara and Griff have to separate on the ferry and she brushes his cheek with her thumb and tells him to be safe. It’s obvious she loves him… and he loves her.

What are some of your favorite book or movie moments?

Oh, and did everyone enjoy the Oscars? What did you think?

Cheers!
Pat White
www.patwhitebooks.com

Ten Random Things

2009-02-24T06:03:00.001-05:00

Random Things about Yourself is a big thing on myspace and facebook these days, so let's play.

1) I've taken cooking classes in England and France, but I hate to cook
2) I'm terrified of big dogs
3) My favorite foods are duck and peanut butter (not together, LOL)
4) I like to go to the movies alone
5) A nightmare vacation for me would be a cruise
6) My favorite song (after all these years) is still Cold November Rain by Guns N' Roses
7) I think CNN's Anderson Cooper is hot
8) My favorite vacation spot is Scotland
9) Genealogy is my favorite hobby
10) Over the years, I've experienced life as a blond, brunette and redhead

Now, it's your turn. Tell me 10 random things about yourself.

Delores

Are you sure you want to be a writer?

2009-02-22T12:21:00.005-05:00

Over the years I've encouraged a lot of aspiring writers. I'm pretty sure for most of them that was bad advice.

Not everyone really wants to write. It's true. A lot of people say they want to write a book. Some even write a little. Most would love to be a published author but don't want to spend hours alone at a computer with no guarantee they will ever be published.

Who can blame them. There are a lot of days I feel the same way.

So I understand people who decide to stay with their day jobs and their vacation and sick pay, health insurance, 401 Ks and social network. Those people still get excited about Fridays because they get two days off and don't even have to think about work, let alone spend their weekends and nights writing.

That's why it meant something to me when a friend of mine recently gave me her finished manuscript to read. She has a great idea for a young adult series. I've encouraged her to write it for a long time.

Well, she did. And it's great. I couldn't put it down.

There is nothing more exciting for me than reading her book because I know how hard this was for her. She has a full-time job, other responsibilities and went through a cancer scare. But she made the time and wrote the book. That's monumental.

She FINISHED the book.

Hopefully an editor will love this book as much as I do and my friend will get it published and write many more.

But I hope for a while she just enjoys this personal achievement. She wrote a book. There is nothing cooler than that.

And no matter how many books I write, I still get a little choked up each time I write "The End."

B.J. Daniels
www.bjdaniels.com