Monday, September 9, 2013

Guest: Barbara Edwards

Today, my guest is fellow Wild Rose Press Author Barbara Edwards.

Welcome Barbara.

What can I tell you to snag your interest? 

I’m Barbara Edwards and I’m an author. Not a world shattering surprise since I have a new release, Journey of the Magi, available on kindle http://amzn.com/B00ES5DZEQ

The big difference is that it’s a sweet holiday romance and very different from my edgy, paranormal romances or historical romances.

Marie was nice and sent me some interesting questions.  Thanks, Marie,  for being my hostess today.

The thing I like least about writing is the amount of patience it takes to get a book published. Writing the basic book, editing, rewriting and then submitting can take up to a year. Then you wait for acceptance or rejection, or suggestions for changes to make it acceptable. The more edits from the editor. Sometimes this process takes another year. Then comes the big day! Boom! It’s over, someone likes it. Where’s the next book?

What do I like most about writing? When someone likes my work.

Here’s a bit about my Christmas story.




Blurb for Journey of the Magi:

Widow Noel Martin never breaks promises, and she promised her kids they’d have Christmas at her childhood home in Connecticut. But driving across country takes money. Noel is broke when a snowstorm blows them into a tiny Minnesota café owned by a man who can change her mind. She accepts his offer of a job. Despite her attraction to him, she makes it clear she is only temporary help.

Dan Longstreet isn’t adopting any more strays, but he needs a waitress. Dan works so hard to make his café a success, he doesn't have time for love. Though Noel’s slender blonde beauty stuns him and her two adorable children tug at his heart, he denies how they threaten to change his life.

When tragedy strikes, their new-found love is the first victim. Noel can't stay and Dan can't leave. Will their journey be the gift that reunites them? 

What’s next? I’d like to write another holiday romance, but already have the next book in my paranormal series, Ancient Dark, well underway. It’s about a man who’s bloodlines are werewolf but he never changed.

I set my series in New England since that’s where I was raised. The atmosphere can be spooky or full of eerie history, a nice bucket to dip ideas from. 

Here’s an excerpt from Journey of the Magi

“Is that job still open?”

“I need a waitress.” His rich voice woke tingles of awareness that she’d forgotten, or maybe never knew.

“Is that a yes or a no?” she asked impatiently. These unfamiliar feelings were scary and unwelcome. She was
too tired to be diplomatic and this job was too important.

“What are you going to do with them?” He jutted his chin toward her children.

“I, I d-d-don’t know,” Noel stammered before sheslumped onto the nearest stool. Leaning forward onto
her elbows, she looked at her clasped hands. “I didn’t plan that far.”

“Humph!”

Noel watched his long, strong fingers dexterously polish another glass. His wide palms held the heavy
restaurant-ware like fine china. He had nice hands, a gentle touch. Instinct murmured he’d be as careful with
a woman.

“I guess I should move on. I…”

“Could keep the kids next to the kitchen, there’s a place there. Then if they needed you, you’d be right
close.” His deep voice was like an angel’s song.

Journey of the Magi is available here: http://amzn.com/B00ES5DZEQ
Please follow, friend or like me. I love to hear from my readers.
Amazon Author’s Page http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003F6ZK1A
Facebook like page

It was great having you here today, Barbara.


Monday, September 2, 2013

Guest: Rachel Leigh

Today I welcome Rachel Leigh to my blog.  Rachel is published with The Wild Rose Press and bring her own unique voice to her books.

Tell us a little about yourself.

I've been writing for about eight years now under Rachel Leigh and a pseudonym, as well as being wife to my wonderful husband and mum to our two daughters. I live in England but write for the US market which is kind of strange seeing as I've never even been to the US! I endeavored to get published here, but it seems I'm more American than British, lol :D

What do like the most and the least about writing?


Most: Each time I write chapter 1 - I just love starting a new story! I plan a short outline and character sketches and then dive in. I love letting my characters take me where they want to go, with lots of surprises of who they are as individuals as well as the naughtiness they get up to along the way…

Least: The middle! I suffer from terrible 'sagging middle' syndrome and when I reach the 15,000 mark (my novellas range from 25,000 to 40,000 words), I hit a brick wall. The only way to get through it is to keep writing. I write, and then worry about cleaning it up in the following drafts.

Give us a peek into your latest published work? 

Caroline James wants to be the best investigative journalist London has ever seen. But until she has the money to leave the small town of Fayre Mead, she's stuck and her resentment is building. So when she’s assigned to cover the Lakeland Horse Trials and meets sexy, dark-haired, and astoundingly fit horse trainer, Michael Canton, she is happy to vent some sexual and emotional frustration…and write the story of her career. But after getting personal with Michael, can she remain impersonal with the article?

Michael Canton will do anything in his power to silence his tyrannical father once and for all. Under extreme pressure to compete in the countries show jumper trials and prove his worth, Michael’s fiery emotions are running high. Caroline’s beauty and sexual confidence stokes an inner strength and determination he never knew he had. But can he trust her to know the difference between fact and fiction? Together, they are a formidable team…but will their burning ambitions ultimately blow them apart?

What’s next on the writing horizon for you?

I'm extremely busy with other writing commitments right now, but as soon as I'm done, I'm planning my first venture into erotic historical romance. I want to write a trilogy based around three orphaned sisters running their own clothes store in the early 1900s. I'm so excited to get started!

Is there anything you want to tell readers?

Yes! Please join me on my blog where I have regular guest authors who more often than not offer so great giveaways. 

and Twitter (https://twitter.com/rachelwriter) for all my latest news. I love to chat!


Here's an excerpt from Rachel's Current release:

Still sitting in his lap, she reached behind her and lowered the zipper of her dress. It fell down over her shoulders, revealing naked breasts. His erection ached at the sight of her creamy white, perfect tits with nipples big and dark. He licked his lips and moved forward to suck one hard tip into his mouth. Her gasp sounded above him.
Her skin smelled of something sweet and sexy, innocence mixed with danger. He inhaled deeply as he grazed her pebbled nipple with his teeth before reclaiming her mouth. Her tongue was rigid and demanding against his as they fought for supremacy.
Rolling her over, he shimmied the dress down her body and tossed it to the floor. Naked, but for tiny satin panties, darkened by juices at her clit, Michael didn’t think he had ever seen a woman look more beautiful. He drank in every inch of her, knowing deep inside that this might be the only moment he’d ever see her like this. The only chance to take her, to watch her enjoy unadulterated pleasure. God, he wanted to give her pleasure.
“Michael…”
He snapped his gaze to hers. She watched him. Her eyes were heavy lidded, screaming for him, wanting him. Male pride surged like a fireball behind his ribcage. He crawled up beside her and kissed her, his fingers trailing over her breasts, lower over her torso before diving into her panties.
She was wet. Soaking wet.
His hand glided over her narrow strip of pubic hair to her rigid clit. He circled, stretched, and teased, then moved lower until his fingers found her slit, his blood roaring in his ears. He felt alive, masculine and powerful. Her legs opened and he thrust two fingers deep inside. 

Wow, hot excerpt.


And for an extra, here's the cover of Rachel's previous release.




I think Rachel has heated up our Labor Day (here in the US) quite well.

Thanks for being here today Rachel.