And the winners are......

Happy Halloween. Congratulations girlygirlhoosiers5 and Deborah Blake. You're the winners of Candace's books. Please contact Kim at kwatters21 (at) hotmail (dot) com to claim your prize. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

Interview with Candace Havens

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Candace Havens. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

I understand you have a new release out called Model Marine. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

First, thanks for letting me hang out. I love any place with loads of chocolate. The book is about a Marine who does a good deed to help out a woman, a fashion designer, and it ends up getting him a lot of trouble. But his biggest problem is that he falls for the fashion designer, and their worlds couldn’t be more different.

Model Marine is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

It’s a play on words. He’s a model Marine, but he also has to model. (Smile)

What made you decide to write in this genre?

Honestly, my editor asked me to. She wanted me to write one of their Uniformaly Hot stories and it had to be about a Marine. Of course I had to make it fun and quirky with a hint of a mystery because that’s just me.

Are you a plotter or a pantser and how did it affect the writing of this book?

I’m a pantser, who has to write a synopsis for her editor. It’s tough for me. I like discovering the book as a reader would.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book? What are your favorite research books or sites?

I did a lot of research about Marines and when I finished I had a couple of beta readers who were either Marines or in the Armed services. I wanted to make sure I had the Marine stuff right. It was important to me.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

Well, I knew I had to use a Marine, and I’m sort of obsessed with Fashion Week in NYC. So, The first line of the book about the models being in jail, came to me and everything else fell into place.

Which character did you like writing about the most, and why?

I don’t ever have favorites, I love them all. Though I have to say Will, my Marine, is someone I would definitely like to hangout with some day. (Smile) He was so protective of her, and yet understood why she had to be a free spirit. I love him for that.

Tell us about how you develop your characters. Do you create character sheets, do interviews, that sort of thing? How does your research affect your character development?

I don’t do any of that stuff. They just come to me as I write the book and reveal themselves as I go along. I was as surprised as anyone when I discovered my Marine was a musician. I love when stuff like that happens. I do end up writing down my characters and some of their traits in a notebook as I discover them so I don’t forget.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

That is a really long, long list. I aspire to be like Jodi Thomas some day. She writes beautiful books and is one of the most caring, giving souls I’ve ever met. My writing career was inspired by Jodi, Nora Roberts, Janet Evanovich and Laurell K. Hamilton. I wanted to create worlds like they did.

What do we have to look forward next?

I’m in an anthology of ghost stories called Spirited, and all of the proceeds go to support literacy. That is out this month through http://www.leapbks.com/. I’m going to be in a 2012 Blaze Christmas Anthology with Lori Wilde and Kathleen O’Reilly. Very excited about that. I have more proposals in with Harlequin. And I’m going to write more in my Charmed & Dangerous and Caruthers Sisters series this next year.

Thanks, Candy!

To celebrate her book release, Candace Havens is offering TWO free books of Model Marine to two lucky commenters on today's blog. (please check the blog Monday night to see if you won. Chances of winning determined by the number of entries.)

She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio. Bestselling author Candace Havens has written six novels for Berkley including, Charmed & Dangerous, Charmed & Ready, Charmed & Deadly, Like A Charm, The Demon King and I and Dragons Prefer Blondes. Her new venture is writing for the Blaze line of Harlequin. Those books include Take Me If You Dare, She Who Dares, Wins, Truth and Dare, and The Model Marine. Her books have received nominations for the RITA's, Holt Medallion and Write Touch Reader Awards. She is the author of the biography Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy and a contributor to several anthologies. She is also one of the nation's leading entertainment journalists and has interviewed countless celebrities including Tom Hanks, Nicolas Cage, Tom Cruise, George Clooney and many more. Her entertainment columns can be read in more than 600 newspapers across the country. Candace also runs a free online writing workshop for more than 1800 writers, and teaches comprehensive writing class. She does film reviews with the Dorsey Gang on New Country 96.3, and is the President of the Television Critics Association.

Check out author’s website at www.candacehavens.com

Buy http://www.amazon.com/Model-Marine-Harlequin-Candace-Havens/dp/0373796501/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1317479402&sr=8-1.

Is a writer's life really glamorous?

For some reason there is a myth that a writer’s life is glamorous, sort of like a movie star’s. To show what a wide gap there is between the two, and in the interest of having a bit of fun, I thought I’d compare a writer’s life to a movie star’s (with an apology to the fictional star):

Movie Star: Wakes up and leans over to kiss Brad Pitt, who looks deliciously tousled lying there beside her.

Author: Wakes up and reaches for her laptop, before she loses that state where dreams still feel like reality.

MS: Can’t resist the urge to wake Brad and indulge in a bit of morning sex. What woman in the world could deny the opportunity? Sighs with delight when the encounter is over.

A: Reads through the last scene of THE LORD OF ILLUSION, where her hero, Drystan Hawkes, makes passionate love to her heroine, Camille Ashton. Sighs with delight.

MS: Watches her nanny fix breakfast for her adopted children, and ponders the addition of another child to the family. Money is certainly no obstacle.

A: Grabs a chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk for breakfast while musing about adding a secondary character to THE LORD OF ILLUSION. A young girl who makes talking dolls out of sticks and mud. Word count is not an obstacle.

MS: Skips breakfast, and starts her morning regime of stretches followed by vigorous exercise and beauty treatments. She makes her money off her looks and must maintain them.

A: Her fingers start to loosen up as they get their usual morning exercise flying over the keyboard. Her creativity makes her money, and she doesn’t have to worry about her looks. Pops a chocolate into her mouth for inspiration.

MS: Drives her new BMW to the movie set, the wind in her hair, her favorite song on the radio.

A: Needs a change of scenery for additional inspiration. Moves her laptop outside to the patio and it works. The next scene for THE LORD OF ILLUSION springs into her mind: Camille looking exceptionally beautiful as she flies on a dragon's back, the wind blowing through her hair.

MS: Throws herself into her new role as a secret spy on a daring mission of intrigue, so into the part that she half-forgets her own identity, especially when she wields her gun as they escape the evil villain.

A: Half-forgets her own identity as she empathizes with Drystan when the magical scepters torture him once again with visions of fire and blood and death.

MS: The love scene with her co-star consumes her. Who can blame her when Mathew McConaughey is kissing her?

A: The love scene where Drystan uses his magic of illusion to seduce Camille consumes her. Who can blame her when the imagery seems so real?

MS: The set workers burst into applause as she finishes her scene. The director takes her to her favorite restaurant for lunch. An expensive place, but she’s certainly worth it.

A: Her dear husband of thirty years taps her on the shoulder, knowing that when she gets caught up in her book she’ll forget to eat if he doesn’t remind her. He doesn’t mind taking the time from his day to make her lunch; he thinks she’s worth it.

MS: Fatigue has lined her face. She cannot afford for the camera to capture it, and calls it a day.

A: Fatigue slows her brain. She can’t afford a mistake in continuity, and calls it a day.

MS: Spends the evening with her loving family, content to leave behind the fantasy of her profession for the reality of a warm hug and a hot bath.

A: Spends the evening with her loving family, content to leave behind THE LORD OF ILLUSION for today, but eager to pick it up again first thing next morning. But right now she needs a warm hug and a hot bath.

My Magical Best,
Kathryne

And the winner is....

Congratulations Rebekah. You're the winner of C.C.'s book. Please contact Kim at kwatters21 (at) hotmail (dot) com (no spaces) to claim your prize. Thaks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

Have you ever wanted to write for St. Martin's Press?

Are you tired of sending out submissions and

receiving that letter, "We don't accept unsolicited

manuscripts?" Or are you tired of reading it on

publisher websites?

There is a way around those dreaded words.

Speak to an editor personally

at the Desert Dreams Writers Conference

April 27-29, 2012 in Scottsdale, AZ.

Several editors, including Rose Hilliard with

St. Martin's Press, will be taking appointments.

You can tell her about your completed manuscript

and, if interested, she'll tell you to send the whole

or partial for her to read. This allows you to put

"Requested Material" on the envelope.

Rose Hilliard handles romance, women's fiction,

young adult, and humor. Before St. Martin's she

worked at both Time Warner Book Group and Penguin's

New American Library. She is also the editor for

Much Cheaper Than Therapy's own Caris Roane,

author of Ascension. Her series features winged,

warrior vampires.

So how do you get one of the limited,

highly coveted appointments with

Rose Hilliard?

Register for the Desert Dreams Conference.

Appointment slots are filled on a first

registered, first paid, basis.

Details are available at

http://www.desertroserwa.org

I'll tell you about other editors and agents attending our

conference in the weeks to come.

Interview with C.C. Harrison

I’d like to welcome our guest today, C. C. HARRISON. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

I understand you have a new release out called PICTURE OF LIES. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

It’s the story of investigative reporter Keegan Thomas who travels to Monument Valley on the Navajo Indian Reservation seeking the whereabouts of people posing in an old photograph with her deceased grandfather. Some of the Indians do not welcome this nosy stranger carrying a picture of their loved ones, some of them dead, but she learns that one of the children in the picture was kidnapped by missionaries and never returned. Her search for this child and other people in the photo uncovers a web of deception that stretches back two generations, and the truth she learns about her own family is the most shocking betrayal of all.

PICTURE OF LIES is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

You know, I have the worst trouble with titles, but this one was so obvious, I couldn’t pass it up.

Would you describe your book as a cozy, mystery, suspense, or thriller?

Some reviewers are calling it romantic suspense, though it doesn’t have all the fundamentals of romantic suspense in the way we usually think of it or expect. My books are suspense, but there is always some romance in the story, because, well, that’s life, isn’t it?

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I write what I read. I have always loved reading mysteries beginning with Nancy Drew, and then the terrific gothic novels written by Phyllis Whitney, Nora Lofts, Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt, and all the great mystery writers of today.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

PICTURE OF LIES was inspired by true events in history, and by some contemporary events. I think everyone knows that, historically, children were sometimes taken from their Indian families and sent to white schools in an attempt to neutralize the Indian culture. I lived in Monument Valley on the Navajo Indian Reservation as a VISTA volunteer, and while there it was discovered that a man who was kidnapped by missionaries as a child was living in Farmington, New Mexico. Now an adult, he was reunited with his Navajo family in Monument Valley which was cause for huge celebration. It was very moving.

Do you have all the key suspense/mystery elements thought out before you begin writing?

Oh yes! In real life, I don’t go anywhere without a map, and if I’m traveling more than 100 miles, I need a TripTik!

When writing, I have to know all my key plot points in advance. Then I make a list of the events I want to occur in the story, and then I pretty much write the book in my head so I have a general idea of how it will unfold. After that, I jot down the key elements of the story, maybe some scene details or bits of dialogue on index cards. When I finish that, I lay all the cards out on my dining room table, then pick them up in the order I think they should happen in the story. So, yes, I always know where I’m going in the story, but I don’t always know how to get there, and that’s where the angst comes in.

That’s also where the creativity comes in. Sometimes an idea will come to me in the writing and my story will veer off in a direction I hadn’t planned, but it turns out to be better than what I had planned. I’ve learned to trust the process and it will all work out.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book? What are your favorite research books or sites?

Research is a big part of my writing. People say write what you know? I say write what you can research.

I don’t have any favorite research sources, for me the research is on-going. I do some generalized research in the planning stage, then whatever I need during the writing I search for. I try to incorporate some information in my story that my readers might not know about. In PICTURE OF LIES, it was information about ancient solstice markers, and missionary schools, and how the National Archives works. In RUNNING FROM STRANGERS, it was information about money laundering, and problems within the child welfare system. In THE CHARMSTONE, it was antiquity theft.

But having said that, I don’t sacrifice the story for the research. I write fiction, after all, and I will fudge a bit for the sake of the story, though I do try to get the guns and explosives right. I’ve gone on several police department ride-alongs, and have taken citizen’s police academy training. Excellent opportunities to get story questions answered. That’s how I know how much space a million dollars in used bills takes up. (Fills a pillow case.)

Which character did you like writing about the most, and why?

I fall in love with all my characters, and can’t bear to let them go when the book is finished.

Tell us about how you develop your characters. Do you create character sheets, do interviews, that sort of thing? How does your research affect your character development?

My characters come to me naturally once I have the story idea. Next, I need character names. I can’t make myself move forward with the story until I have names for my people. Then, I’ll write some brief character sketches, a few paragraphs at most, but no detailed, 40-page biographies like some writers like to do.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Too many to name.

What do you feel is the most effective promotion you have done for your book?

I wish I knew! I do lots of writer seminars and book signings at libraries and book stores (boo-hoo for Borders - sob), and I order a ton of bookmarks that I pass out by the handful. I like having a page in Romance Sells. I skipped the RT ad this time, which, of course, meant no RT review, but I’m please with the reviews coming in anyway. I’m doing a blog tour for the first time. No Facebook or Twitter. I don’t do any social media, it’s too time consuming. I’d rather be writing.

What do we have to look forward next?

I just finished a book called CEMETERY TREES. It’s a Michigan mystery about a woman, long estranged from her family, who drags herself back home only to find that nothing and no one, is what she thought when she ran away as a teenager. My current work in progress is THE MISSING GIRL, a follow up to my new book. I continue the story with some of the same characters and answer some of the questions presented in PICTURE OF LIES. See? I told you I fall in love with my characters and can’t let them go.

Thanks, C. C.

To celebrate her book release, C. C. Harrison is offering a free book of PICTURE OF LIES to one lucky commenter on today's blog. (please check the blog Monday night to see if you won. Chances of winning determined by the number of entries.)

She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio.
Author C. C. Harrison has won national recognition with her suspense novels. THE CHARMSTONE was voted 2008 Golden Quill's Best Romantic Suspense and Best First Book, and was a Colorado Award of Excellence finalist. Tony Hillerman called it "a valuable book." Her award winning mystery RUNNING FROM STRANGERS was a 2009 National Readers Choice finalist. SAGE CANE'S HOUSE OF GRACE AND FAVOR (written as Christy Hubbard) was honored at Aspen Institute's Summer Words Literary Festival as a 2010 Colorado Book Award finalist. Praise for her new book, PICTURE OF LIES, includes this from Kirkus Reviews: “Similar in feeling to Harrison’s romantic suspense mystery The Charmstone (2007), also set in Monument Valley, this one ... offers a nice combination of action, romance and Navajo lore.”

Check out author’s website at www.ccharrison-author.com

Back Cover Blurb:

Investigative journalist Keegan Thomas is living a nightmare of guilt and grief since her little girl, Daisy, was kidnapped practically in front of her eyes. When the police investigation stalled, she turned her grief to anger and buried herself in her work searching for missing children, her own included. The result was an award-winning series of articles on unsolved child abductions. Then came the inevitable burnout.

On what is supposed to be a working vacation, Keegan travels to Monument Valley on the Navajo Indian Reservation seeking the whereabouts of people in an old photograph found in her grandfather's belongings after his death.

But the Indians do not welcome this nosy stranger carrying a picture of their old people, some of them dead. While navigating the mysterious ways of the Navajo, Keegan is told one of the children in the photograph was kidnapped by missionaries and taken to a boarding school.

Keegan’s search for the child leads to a web of deception that stretches back two generations, and the truth Keegan learns about her own family is the most shocking betrayal of all. Nothing can prepare her for the danger she encounters when she becomes the target of a powerful U.S. senator who will do anything to stop her from telling what she knows about the PICTURE OF LIES.

End of a series, start of the new me

Ending a series is both exciting and sad.  Exciting, because at last you have the opportunity to wrap it all up with a nice big bow and deliver to the readers who've been asking..."what happens next???"

Sad because it's time to leave that world you've created and move on.  In the past when I've finished a book, I've always had this terrified little voice in the back of my head asking...but what if you can't think of anything else to write after this?  (Yes, that voice has an intimate relationship with the one that says, "You're no good anyway.  Just quit.")  Needless to say, those voices are not my friends.

With the completion of my 7th novel, I was happy to be able to tell that stupid voice to shut up.  I have more ideas right now than I know what to do with.  I'm sad to leave the world of Fennore behind, but I'm also glad to jump into my new world with my new people. 

It's a bit early, but I'm also thinking of my New Year's Resolutions.  I've decided that 2012 is going to be a year of reinvention.  I'm looking at myself and my career, assessing what I've done right and re-evaluating what I think I've done wrong.  I hope to emerge new and improved--Erin Quinn, 2.0.  A faster, more skilled, happier writer. 

Things I'm going to throw out?  Stress.  It's gotten me nowhere but tired.  I'm going to quit worrying about all the stupid little details that I have no control of and embrace the creator in me.  Creation doesn't care about numbers and deadlines.  Creation cares about creating the best thing it can.  Creation IS my friend.

So look for some new stuff from Erin Quinn next year.  I hope you'll like what you see.

What are you thinking should go on your New Year's resolutions list?

And the winner is......

Congratulations Di. You're the winner of Carolyn's Book. Please contact Kim at kwatters21 (at) hotmail (dot) co (no spaces) to claim your prize. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

Have you always wanted to write for Harlequin?

Even during tough economic times, you'll find

Harlequin series books on the shelves. They have

always been considered quality books at a less

expensive price. So, have you thought about

writing for Harlequin?

Several Desert Rose RWA members pitched their

completed manuscriptsto Harlequin editors at

past conferences and are now

writing for Harlequin.

Here's your chance to try your luck!

Brenda Chin, senior editor for Harlequin will be

taking appointments at the

2012 Desert Dreams Writer's Conference

April 27 -29 in Scottsdale, Arizona

Slots are limited and assigned on a first

registered and paid basis.

So hurry! Register, pay, and

whip that manuscript into shape.

Details are available at

http://www.desertroserwa.org

If Harlequin isn't your goal, check out the other editors

attending. I will give you highlights on those editors, who

are also taking appointements, in the weeks to come.

Interview with Carolyn Brown

I’d like to welcome our guest again today, Carolyn Brown. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

Good morning, MCTT!! It’s great to be here again. I always love coming back to Much Cheaper Than Therapy because the folks are great and the chocolate is fan-tab-u-lous! Okay, let me lick the chocolate off my fingers. I don’t believe in wiping it off. That’s such a waste, and I sure don’t want to get chocolate on the book cover when I hold up Darn Good Cowboy Christmas so y’all can see the hot cowboy on the front. Wonder what on earth is in that little box he’s holding? Hmmmm!

I understand you have a new release out called Darn Good Cowboy Christmas. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Liz Hanson was raised in a traveling carnival and all she ever wanted for Christmas was a house without wheels and a sexy cowboy of her very own. Her Uncle Haskell Hanson left her a house and twenty acres right in the middle of the O’Donnell horse ranch (Love Drunk Cowboy) but catching Raylen, the hotter-than-hell cowboy next door, might just take a little holiday magic.

Raylen O’Donnell is one smokin’ hot cowboy. He could have any woman in Montague County, Texas, but he’s never been able to forget a certain dark-haired girl who he met back when they were just kids and then she disappeared. So when she returns to Ringgold, Texas, Raylen’s not fixing to let her get away again.

Darn Good Cowboy Christmas is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

Actually, the name comes at the end of the book and with that in mind, I guess I worked backwards. I wondered what it would take to make a woman who’d never had stability and roots to settle down. Would a good old cowboy and the magic of Christmas do it?

What made you decide to write in this genre?

This is my tenth cowboy romance but many of my previous books are created around the home fires of a ranch or even cowboys. I like the cowboys’ attitude and the way they treat a sassy woman. Likewise, I like the way a cowboy is tamed by a sassy woman.

Are you a plotter or a pantser and how did it affect the writing of this book?

As I’ve mentioned before I don’t think I’m either. Publisher’s Weekly says that Darn Good Cowboy Christmas is carelessly plotted. And they are right. I don’t think life is a plotted affair and it sure doesn’t go by the calendar so why should books? A months worth of hard planning can all be tossed in the trash in a thirty second phone call. With that in mind, my books can easily be described as careless plotting. Life throws out speed bumps…it’s a fact! So hit ‘em at sixty miles an hour and wreck or hit ‘em at five miles and hour and get past them. I write about life and sometimes it does take on some drastic turns. Maybe reading about that is what brings my readers back for more.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book? What are your favorite research books or sites?

I watched hours of belly dancing on the internet and made several more trips to Ringgold. You’d think I’d have that little town of less than a hundred people memorized down to the color of the trim on every house. But it helps refresh the mind to drive down there, sit at the crossroads and just look around. And there were trips to Wichita Falls, to Henrietta and to Terral…again!

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

My editor called me one morning and said she wanted a Christmas book. Did I have time to write it? Oh, yeah! I could write one. Which O’Donnell brother should I write about? She left that up to me so I decided to write about Raylen since it should have been Dewar getting his HEA next in line. One of those careless things that life throws at us! That very day we had to make a trip north to Norman and on the outskirts of our little town, there was a carnival setting up. The whole story flashed through my mind line one of those things you read about just before the end comes around. Lizelle Hanson was from that carnival and her Uncle Haskell owned the ranch next to the O’Donnell’s. She’d only been allowed to visit it twice in her life because her mother was afraid she’d want to settle down rather than stay with the carnival. It was all there. I just had to write the story.

Which character did you like writing about the most, and why?

Liz was my favorite in this book. She had to learn that you can’t really have wings and roots both and had to figure out which one was most important. Thank goodness Raylen was there to encourage her toward giving up her wings. But then I’d have to mention Blaze and Colleen, who had a little subplot. Blaze was one of those bad boys that is so much fun to write about.

Tell us about how you develop your characters. Do you create character sheets, do interviews, that sort of thing? How does your research affect your character development?

I don’t do much developing of characters beyond a physical description. Those I keep on note cards in a plastic recipe box for quick reference. Their character flaws and strengths are revealed to me much like they would be if we were getting to know each other in a very real world; on a day to day basis.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Every author I have ever read has inspired me in some way or another. Some to write better and tighter. Some to tell a better story. Some to make my writing more entertaining. Some to purely entertain me between my own deadlines. To each I owe a big thank you!

What do you feel is the most effective promotion you have done for your book?

Word of mouth. I love it when readers tell each other and they tell more and those spread the word and pretty soon everyone is wanting to buy a book. But I also depend on FB, websites and of course wonderful blogs like MCTT that help promote my books.

What do we have to look forward next?

As some of you know, I also write sweet romance for Avalon. So there’s an Avalon book coming out in the middle of October titled The Ladies Room. Then in December there is the debut book, A Forever Thing, for the Three Magic Words Trilogy. We kick off 2012 in April with One Hot Cowboy Wedding and also the second in the Avalon trilogy, In Shining Whatever. Then in August the final book in the Avalon trilogy, Live After Wife. On the cowboy side there will be two fall releases, an October Christmas book that has the working title, Star Studded Christmas Cowboy (Gemma O’Donnell’s story) and a fall book with the working title, Just a Cowboy (Dewar finally gets to tell his story). The debut of my first woman’s fiction book, Sinful Delights, will be in the fall of 2012 also. I’m very excited about all of the releases!

I’ve laid the book down now and have another piece of chocolate in my greedy little fingers but I can answer questions. Comments anyone? Questions?

Thanks, Carolyn!

To celebrate her book release, Carolyn is offering a free book of Darn Good Cowboy Christmas to one lucky commenter on today's blog. (please check the blog Monday night to see if you won. Chances of winning determined by the number of entries.)

She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio.
NYT and USA Today best selling author, Carolyn Brown, has sold 64 books in the past 14 years. Fifteen have been printed in large print. The first four were translated into nine foreign languages and two have been redone into Manga format. Several are available in ebook format as well as print. She and her husband, a retired English teacher, make their home in Davis, Oklahoma. They have three grown children and too many grandchildren to list!

Check out author’s website at www.carolynlbrown.com

Halloween is almost here

Halloween is almost upon us and I have to say it is my favorite time of year. Since I live in the Valley of the Sun, the heat finally breaks in October and the morning temps drop into the frigid low 80's. Heck, sometimes I even wear a jacket. I drag out my plastic bins and decorate the house. My Department 56 miniatures inspired my Halloween book Some Enchanted Autumn and the fall leaves are the only way to get a little color in the valley (Cacti thorns don't change color).

But my Halloween celebrating has changed over the years. As my children have gotten older, there's no more kids pouring over the Party City ads looking for costumes and dreaming of what they want to be. We rarely carve pumpkins for Jack O'Lanterns, so there's no more pumpkin seeds roasting in the oven. No hot spiced apple cider or pictures to scrapbook. No fresh popped popcorn and hissing and giggling as we made popcorn balls.
Nowadays, my children go to parties with their friends. Sometimes, if I'm lucky I can catch them on their way out the door.
Of course, there's still the Halloween candy. Yum. I love those snack sized pieces and last Halloween, I even found small sized Big Hunks at Wally world. Sadly, they're not carrying them this year. But they still have my other favorites--Skittles, Rolos and Blowpops.
And the kids still eat my stash.
So has Halloween changed around your house through the years, and which candy is your favorite?

The Chapman File Charity Skate

The Chapman File Charity Skate
To Benefit the Fight Against Domestic Violence

Saturday, October 23rd, 2011

Tumbleweed Park, Chandler AZ

10k Skate Start Time: 7:00 am

5k Walk Start Time: 7:45 am

Cost: $20.00

Proceeds to benefit a Phoenix Area Battered Women's Shelter and The National Domestic Violence Hotline

Transforming the Lives of Women and Children who are Victims of Domestic Violence.

To Sponsor A Skater (or donate in any amount to the fight against domestic violence)

Event Check-in and On-site registration opens at 6:00 am.

- All participants must sign waiver and have a valid ID at check-in.
- Participants under 18yrs must have Parent/Guardian signature on waiver.

Awards for all ages. Award ceremony on site at approximately 9:00 am.

For more information: (602)361-6616 or Email Penny Wright

Tara Taylor Quinn brings her passions of inline skating and writing together to support a cause dear to her heart.

Inspired by Tara’s first biography, the The 2011 charity event brings Tara’s reader’s “It Happened on Maple Street”, a personal autobiography written by Tara and her husband, Tim Barney, about Tara’s real life recovery and their love story in hopes of empowering those who have suffered abuse to get help.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline or call: 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) 1.800.787.3224 (TTY)

2010's successful event gave support to SOS, (Strengthen Our Sisters), a non-profit support group for battered women initiated by Sandra Ramos who opened the first battered women’s shelter in the US.

My recent trip to New York

Kim Watters here. Last month I had the pleasure of taking a day trip into New York City on a visit to my childhood home outside Philadelphia. Living in a small town now, the hustle and bustle of the city was a bit overwhelming. We took the bus in because neither my friend nor I were up to driving in the city. Good thing to as it rained as we were leaving, and--um--I'm not the best driver when it's wet out. Taking the subway was another experience and I'm glad I had good directions as to which line to take, or we may still be trying to navigate our way out. Everyone we met was really nice and very helpful to two lost tourists wandering the streets.

The highlight of that day was touring the Harlequin offices and meeting the editorial staff for Love Inspired. From left to right, Elizabeth Mazer, Rachel Burkott, Tina James, Melissa Endlich, Kim Watters, and Emily Rodmell (my editor). They rolled out the red carpet and really made me feel a part of the Harlequin family. It's nice to be able to put a face with a name, and I admit that I'm not so intimidated when I call Emily now because I've finally met her.

We also stopped by the 9-11 site as it is just a few blocks away from the offices. Even being there, it was hard to imagine what happened that day, and bringing it closer to home. After about an hour, we were a little depressed and had to leave because it was so over whelming.


Our final stop of the day was at Times Square. Having only seen it on television and in the movies, it is very bright with all the lights and very crowded. I did find a couple of souvenirs for my kids and then with aching, tired feet, we headed back to the bus depot--another interesting site--and headed back to the nice, quiet suburbs.

Would I go again? Absolutely. It's a trip I won't forget any time soon. Until next time.....

And the winner is.....

Congratulations Catslady. You're the winner of Stephanie's book. Pelase contact Kim at kwatters21 (at) hotmail (dot) come (no spaces) to claim your prize. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

Ladies, get your man to enter the Mr. Right Contest

Do you think you’re hot?
Does your mother say you’re the best looking man ever?
Do you catch women turning to take another look when you walk by?
Can you see yourself on the cover of a romance novel?

MR. RIGHT CONTEST

Location:

Murphy Park – Glendale, Arizona
Valley of the Sun Romance Writers Booth

Dates:

February 3, 4, 5th, 2012

Sponsors:
Valley of the Sun Romance Writers
Sapphire Blue Publishing

This contest is not for the faint of heart, as the competition is expected to be fierce. But it is open to any male 21 or over who believes he can run with the big dogs.

The winner will be awarded a spot on the cover of a romance novel to be published in paperback and e-book format by Sapphire Blue Publishing. In addition, all finalists will have a spot on the Mr. Right 2012 Calendar.

So check out the attached documents at the website below that will outline all Contest Rules and Guidelines and if you think you’re cover model material, complete your registration packet, shine your shoes, and limber up your fingers and prepare to give autographs to your adoring public.


http://www.valleyofthesunrw.com/mr-right-contest/

Interview with Stephanie Dray

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Stephanie Dray. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy, where chocolate is plentiful and advice is free. So grab some chocolate and a lounge chair. Your therapy session has begun.

And boy, do I need it.

I understand you have a new release out called Song of the Nile. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Song of the Nile is about Cleopatra’s daughter, who was taken prisoner at the age of nine when her parents committed suicide, then dragged through the streets of Rome in chains. Somehow, she managed to persuade Rome’s first emperor that he should spare her life and make her a queen--which he did. This novel imagines and dramatizes the extraordinary relationship between this teenaged queen and the man who held her life in his hands.

Song of the Nile is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

Originally, we wanted to call it Sorceress of the Nile, but that sounded a bit too much like fantasy. And while there is magical realism in this novel, it’s firmly grounded in historical fact. Ultimately, I chose Song of the Nile because Selene wants to go home to her mother’s Egypt. It’s always calling her, luring her away from making a happy life for herself.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

Selene made me want to write her story! The moment I learned about her history and the tragedy and the triumphs, I thought, “Why isn’t this woman famous?” I wanted to bring her world to life and honor her in a way she hadn’t been honored before.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

Several authors have tackled Selene’s early childhood--her years as a captive of Rome. I wanted to move beyond that to imagine her life as a young Queen of Mauretania. It was, for her, a new and untamed land, an outpost of the empire and she’d been sent there to help shape it up. She’d also been sent into a kind of exile where she couldn’t cause political mischief. Or so the emperor probably believed...

What are your favorite historical research books and why?

Naturally, I’m in love with Duane Roller’s “The World of Juba II and Kleopatra Selene” because it helped me enormously with my fiction. At the moment, I’m reading Cato the Elder’s treatise on Agriculture and it’s amusing me to no end. He’s so cranky!

Which character did you like writing about the most, and why?

As much as I loved writing about Selene, there were two secondary characters that I really enjoyed writing. The first was the emperor’s daughter, Julia, who was a vibrant and colorful character in real life, whose story ended in tragedy. The second character was the emperor himself whom I both admire and loathe. In the end, his own misogyny would be the undoing to his best laid plans. I enjoyed writing him as complex, sometimes evil, sometimes compassionate, both repulsed and obsessed with Cleopatra and covetous of her daughter.

Tell us about how you develop your characters. Do you create character sheets, do interviews, that sort of thing? How does your research affect your character development?

With Cleopatra Selene, the research suggested that she was a woman who forgot nothing. She memorialized her dead and seems to always have believed that she was the rightful Queen of Egypt. I let her personality flow from those facts. However, in constructing the personalities of the characters around her, I both considered history and how Selene would see them, since it was from her POV. For example, the emperor’s wife, Livia, was probably a much nicer woman than the history books give her credit for, but for story reasons, I made her utterly wicked. In the third and final book of the trilogy, I hope to offer her character a little bit of rounding.

What are some common speech terms, dress modes, transportation or housing facts that you found interesting for your time period?

I was surprised to learn that Rome’s first emperor was such a meddler that he had to institute a dress code that required Roman men to appear in public in a traditional toga--which is a damnably uncomfortable garment.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

So very many! I’m always inspired by the prose and daring of Philippa Gregory. By the wise soul of Margaret George. By the effortless storytelling of Michelle Moran, by the sense of fun that Kate Quinn brings to ancient history and the deep thoughts that Jo Graham injects into her stories. I could go on all day.

What do you feel is the most effective promotion you have done for your book?

Probably getting my books into the hands of readers. Goodreads is a great place to give away books and talk to readers and get reviews. It’s a great little community!

What do we have to look forward next?

I’m now working on the third and final novel of the Nile trilogy--and it’s gonna be a doozy. I have a lot of loose ends to tie up and there’s so many characters that I love and don’t want to say goodbye to!

Thanks, Stephanie!

To celebrate her book release, Stephanie Dray is offering a free copy of Song of the Nile to one lucky commenter on today's blog. (please check the blog Monday night to see if you won. Chances of winning determined by the number of entries. Print giveaway copy available only to residents in US & Canada.)

Bio

Stephanie graduated from Smith, a small women’s college in Massachusetts where–to the consternation of her devoted professors–she was unable to master Latin. However, her focus on Middle Eastern Studies gave her a deeper understanding of the consequences of Egypt’s ancient clash with Rome, both in terms of the still-extant tensions between East and West as well as the worldwide decline of female-oriented religion.

Before she wrote novels, Stephanie was a lawyer, a game designer, and a teacher. Now she uses the transformative power of magic realism to illuminate the stories of women in history and inspire the young women of today. She remains fascinated by all things Roman or Egyptian and has–to the consternation of her devoted husband–collected a house full of cats and ancient artifacts.

Blurb

Sorceress. Seductress. Schemer. Cleopatra’s daughter has become the emperor’s most unlikely apprentice and the one woman who can destroy his empire…



Having survived her perilous childhood as a royal captive of Rome, Selene pledged her loyalty to Augustus and swore she would become his very own Cleopatra. Now the young queen faces an uncertain destiny in a foreign land.

Forced to marry a man of the emperor’s choosing, Selene will not allow her new husband to rule in her name. She quickly establishes herself as a capable leader in her own right and as a religious icon. Beginning the hard work of building a new nation, she wins the love of her new subjects and makes herself vital to Rome by bringing forth bountiful harvests.

But it’s the magic of Isis flowing through her veins that makes her indispensable to the emperor. Against a backdrop of imperial politics and religious persecution, Cleopatra’s daughter beguiles her way to the very precipice of power. She has never forgotten her birthright, but will the price of her mother’s throne be more than she’s willing to pay?

Berkley Trade October 2011 (Trade Paperback)
# ISBN-10: 0425243044
# ISBN-13: 9780425243046

Purchase Info

Amazon
B&N
IndieBound
Borders
Constellation Books
Powell's

Come fly With Me

Here's our newest release.

We're excited about it.

We think you will be as well.

Below is a recent review we received on Come Fly With Me.

A NIGHT OWL REVIEWS BOOK REVIEW
Reviewed by: Chris

Like clockwork Bree is at the airport for her monthly sojourn. Building a business is hard work! But he’s there too. Mr. Sex God. She’s built a few fantasies around her fellow frequent flyer, but he’s always all business and busy. A girl can dream though.

Steven Cain has a motto. Work first, play later. But he notices the sexy redhead every month and wishes he could appoach her. Next month, he promises himself. But he can’t help himself from saying hi, and when their flight is delayed and they have time to talk, things progress much more than he could have ever imagined. Or hoped.

Haven’t we all had this fantasy when we spot that hot guy? Bree and Steven are aware of one another and have been for months. Their fantasies about one another make the transition from stranger to sex partner a little easier to accept as they have a “relationship” already. After the initial hormone storm passes they realize they’ve kind of skipped a few steps and we are left with the impression that while this relationship started out in the middle, so to speak, it will end up in the right place. With them together. A good quick read with plenty of steam.


Here is a link to the review site. Night Owl Website

What's In a Name?

Comic Strips
I’m a avid fan of comic strips and think every storyteller should be. Especially of the strips that have ongoing story lines. No, I’m not talking Mary Worth and Judge Parker or even Little Orphan Annie, although they were greats strip back in the day. I’m talking about newer strips relevant to the twenty-first century life like Stone Soup or LuAnn. Or edgier ones like Doonesbury, Non Sequitur and Pearls Before Swine. All timely, funny and insightful. Even more impressive, the artists/writers exhibit an enviable skill of story telling in very few words.

Sunday morning's funnies featured a strip that inspired this blog post. Pearls Before Swine, written by Stephan Pastis. His character, Pig (no fancy names for Mr. Pastis) is naive and as genuine as the day is . . . well, you know, and he’s been told he might want to rethink his hero’s name, more than once, I believe. So here goes. Oh, did I mention funny?

Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis

Having trouble reading the print? Here's a direct link.

After I stopped rolling around on the floor, the strip got me thinking and we all know how dangerous that is. But I get off-track.

Are names hard?
There are those magical times when characters names come right from the start. I love those times. There are also times when the name doesn’t quite fit. I don’t let that stop me from beginning the book, but I tend to keep changing the character’s name as I write, much to the dismay of my critique partners. At least one of my books was published even though I was never fully satisfied with the hero’s name. Somehow editors don’t think “the hero’s name isn’t right” is a good excuse to miss a deadline, Can you imagine?

Have you, like me, ever struggled with a character’s name? I mean, why can’t we always come up with cool names like, say, Scarlett O’Hara or Rhett Butler or even Hannibal Lector. These names are genius. They stick in the mind and evoke a picture of the character even before they’d been described.

I want all my names to be like that and wonder if some of you might not have your own favorite names that remain the standard you try to reach with all your characters’ names. I’m also wonder if other writers are as enthralled with comic strip as I am. And I really am. Between the strips and the Carolyn Hax column, well, I’d probably cancel my subscription to the morning paper. If you are, well here’s a Go Comics link that will lead you to all your favorites. The search engine is very picky about spelling but it’s a fun site and eventually you’ll find almost every strip out there. Unless, of course, you're still a fan of Mary Worth and Judge Parker.

Author Appearance
And, FYI, the Pearls Before Swine artist Stephan Pastis will be in Tempe on at 7pm on October 20, autographing at Changing Hands Bookstore.

Before I end this month’s Therapy blog, I’d like to mention my revised website. Although most of you know that I’m a published writer, I think I’m better know as a teacher at Bootcamp for Novelists Online and I wanted to remind everyone that I am still actively writing and have been busy reissuing my backlist of titles. Several are currently in e-book format and you can reach my Amazon offerings through my Connie Flynn website.

Ciao until next month,
Connie Flynn

And the winner is......

Congratulations Regina Ross. You're the winner of Erin's book. Please contact Kim at kwatters21 (at) hotmail (dot) com (no spaces) to claim your prize. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.

The Rules

Writers often hear about the rules of writing. You shouldn't have too many -ly words, or use "was," or head hop point of view. We wonder when we read books that break all of these rules how they got published. I have often thought that it is good to know the rules so you can choose when to break them. The problem is we hear too many rules about too many avenues of writing. Sometimes it can stifle our creativity.

I recently picked up the book, If You Want to Write, by Brenda Ueland. While perusing the pages I came across a piece of advice:

"As you write, never let a lot of "oughts" block you: I ought to be more humorous, more Leftist, more like Ernest Hemingway, more bitingly satirical. Then it shows. That spoils it. It will not be alive, but dead."

My advice is to write freely and discover your voice. Your voice brings life to your writing. Worry about the -ly words when you edit, and ONLY if you think it takes away from your finished product.

Until next week,

Tina LaVon