Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Winner!

My Happily Ever After winner is Kaylyn. Her prize is in mail (or will be soon). Thank you everyone for stopping by and leaving comments.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Happy Endings Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the next stop on the Happy Endings Giveaway Hop!
There are three things that all of my books have in common - no exceptions. Romance, comedy and a happy ending.
I know I'm supposed to tell you my "Happy Ending" story, but I haven't reached the last page. I don't know how it will end. And I don't want to jinx it. I often complain that romance stories end when the marriage begins, as if marriage is the nail in the coffin of romance itself. Seems most romantic movies and books end with an engagement or a wedding. The conflict is resolved, goals achieved, and haunting childhood issues overcome (in place of haunting childhood issues we can insert a tragic loss, an emotionally crippling past breakup, or debilitating disease to be cured). Even television shows get cancelled if the elusive romance blossoms into a burst of love or a fatal case of marriage. I have mixed feelings about that. But the heart wants what the heart wants, and the heart wants a happy ending (especially my cold, black heart) even if the happily-ever-after is the beginning of marital bliss.
 
For a writer of romance, I am probably one of the most cynical people about love. I joke that I keep my feelings buried in the back yard under a rather large rock. I leave the romantic gestures and declarations of love up to my husband, who by the way, tears up during movies and wept at our wedding. I hear a collective Ahhh. Me, I only cry during Field of Dreams, not sure why (now there's a married couple to admire and aspire to). I prefer a man to show his love by taking out the trash rather than telling me how pretty I am. A little less talk and a lot more action. Show don't tell. Actions speak louder than words. You follow me, right? If he wants to tell me how I pretty I am while taking the trash out - he's a keeper!
 
Despite my romantic handicap, my stories end - happily. I go get my shovel, move that rock and dig up my feelings, pouring them onto the page. My heroes are larger than life - flawed - tortured - sometimes brooding - always sexy. They will die for the heroine or kill for her. My heroines - well - my heroines are like me only braver. Sometimes cynical. Other times hapless. Sarcastic. Snarky. A little rough around the edges. In need of a hero to save her, but sometime she saves the hero.
 
How do you like your romance? Your heroes? Your heroines? No opinion? Then how do you like your eggs?
 

 
I will pick a random commenter to win a print copy of Lily in Wonderland (U.S. only)( or an ecopy International). Please leave me your email address for easy contact. And don't forget to check out the other Happy Endings bloggers.

 

Blurb: Lily Tucker is down on her luck and considering a career strutting her stuff around a pole when she gets a call about an unexpected inheritance. It’s every girl’s dream—her estranged grandmother’s kicked the bucket, leaving Lily a house on a private island in Wonderland. When she reaches Wonderland, though, she finds a house that’s more like a hovel, a job waiting tables at the local diner, and a crime wave that seems to begin and end with Lily herself. Sexy deputy Toby can’t decide if he should arrest her or drag her off to bed—until it becomes clear that Lily’s not the criminal. She’s the target.


Sunday, January 13, 2013

Contest Junkie

I'm a contest junkie (queen, diva, slut or whatever word you find appropriate). While my peers are entering the Romance Writer's of America's Rita contest (which I can't because I don't have a print book), I am entering some ebook friendly writing contests (so not many). I was crowned a contest diva back in 2008 or 2009 (I think), and have the tiara to prove it (see photo). And that's just the pin. I have an actual tiara. A nice one. That goes on my head. And I wear it while I'm drinking, crying or editing.
So wish me luck. I only have one dog in the fight and that is Pleasant Lake P.D., but I've had a little contest luck with the book pre-publication. Hopefully our luck will continue.

I will keep you posted.

Saturday, January 5, 2013

Golden Heart or Bust

The Romance Writer's of America Golden Heart Contest deadline has officially passed. I remember the anticipation like it was yesterday. The thrill of getting the call, the excitement of waiting to hear your name called on the big night.


I wish all my friends and writing peers who entered the best of luck.