Interview with Gini Koch

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Gini Koch. 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.

Thanks, it’s great to be back! Especially because y’all hand out the chocolate freely.

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

It’s the best book in the best series ever written and a deal at twice the price! (Hey, you still can not blame a girl for trying.)

The Alien series follows the exploits of Katherine “Kitty” Katt, who discovers that the Roswell rumors are true, but with a twist -- the aliens are here to help us and, as a side benefit, they’re all gorgeous. Kitty first gets involved helping save the world from parasitic superbeings. As the series progresses, Kitty gets deeper into Centaurion Division, and discovers that there’s a lot more evil out there to fight, and a wide variety of conspiracies to prevent and disrupt, with dangers both internal and extremely external to guard against.

In Alien Diplomacy, being newlyweds and new parents is challenging enough for Kitty and her Alpha Centaurion husband, Jeff. But nothing’s ever easy for the Katt-Martinis, particularly not when they have to switch from being super-being exterminators and Commanders in Centaurion Division to mastering the political landscape as the new heads of American Centaurion’s Diplomatic Corps.

Kitty’s brand of diplomacy and lobbying isn’t quite as smooth as Jeff’s—Washington parties, lobbyists of all stripes, and politicians from all states and countries present challenges a well-stocked iPod and quirky sense of humor aren’t always up to handling. But when a shadowy assassination plot and a new set of anti-alien conspirators are identified, Kitty’s the diplomat for the job—in between “Mommy and Me,” “Diplomacy for Beginners,” and the dreaded “Washington Wife” classes.

As explosions, assassination attempts, and murders pile up, the question shifts from “who’s the target” to “will we all survive to see next week”?

Armed with only their wits, and dressed to kill, it’s up to Kitty and the Diplomatic Corps to stop the bad guys from unleashing mayhem on all the world’s leaders. But will Kitty trust the right people, at the right times, or will going her own way prove deadly—not just to her, but to her daughter, Jamie?

What was different for you in writing Alien Diplomacy than the other books in the series so far?

In Alien Diplomacy, everyone’s dealing with a lot of change, and most of them aren’t dealing with it all that well, Kitty in particular. What was different, and what’s pretty much Alien Diplomacy’s main theme, is change -- not just for one character, but for all the characters. How do you handle being moved into jobs you don’t want, weren’t thinking you were ready to move to, that turn out to be completely different than expected, or a combination thereof? Every character in the book is experiencing major change in some way, so they’re all dealing, and not everyone’s dealing with it well. But then, that’s the fun, isn’t it? If everyone handled all things perfectly, why would we want to read about it?

Any Alien Diplomacy teasers you can share?

We see the return of some of my personal favorite supporting characters from an earlier book, who I’m really excited to have back in, and they affect things in a big, big way. And, for those who’ve been wondering when, if ever, they’d get an answer about what’s going on in Paraguay, that answer begins in earnest in this book.

We understand you have a new series coming from Night Shade Books -- Alexander Outland: Space Pirate, which you wrote as G.J. Koch, is releasing this June. Can you tell us a little about that?

Trouble’s brewing out in space, and Alexander Outland -- the least likely hero in the galaxy -- and his eccentric crew have to save the day, despite the fact they’d prefer to take the money and run.

Alexander Outland: Space Pirate is science fiction set in the far future, with a lot of humor, action, mystery, and romance. I think readers who like Kitty & Company, are going to love the Outland and his crew. I think of it as Han Solo meets Pirates of the Caribbean.

What’s something most readers don’t know about you?

Oh, lots of things probably. LOL I’d say one of the more random and little known things is that while I grew up in Southern California and have spent the last decade and a half plus in Arizona, more frequently than not I’m asked if I’m from Pennsylvania. Apparently I sound like I come from PA and always have. This is made odder by that fact that no one in my family has lived in Pennsylvania, ever. So, I’m Californian by birth, Arizonan by choice, and Pennsylvanian by voice.

What do we have to look forward next?

“Being Neighborly”, the next novelette in my series, The Neighborhood (writing as Anita Ensal) released from Musa Publishing March 23rd, and Alien Diplomacy released from DAW Books/Penguin April 3rd. Alexander Outland: Space Pirate releases from Night Shade Books on June 5, 2012 (writing as G.J. Koch), Alien vs. Alien releases from DAW Books December 4, 2012, with Alien in the House coming April 2013, and Alien Collective coming Dec. 2013.

I also have the Martian Alliance Chronicles from Musa Publishing which is a series of short stories & novellas -- “The Royal Scam” is out now, and the second installment, “Three Card Monte”, will be out soon. Soon-ish,. Okay, maybe mid-2012. But it‘s coming, I swear! (Yeah, Musa’s waiting on me for this one, not the other way around.)

As we know, I write under a variety pen names. “The Disciple” and “Hotter Than Hell” by Jemma Chase; “Contingency Plan” by Anita Ensal; and “When Josie Comes Home” and “Deacon’s Ark” by A.E. Stanton are novelettes and novellas available right now from Musa Publishing. And my full bibliography is up at my website via my Author Splash page (http://www.ginikoch.com/authorsplash.htm).

Thanks, Gini!

To celebrate her book release, Gini Koch is offering a free book of winner’s choice of either Touched by an Alien, Alien Tango or Alien in the Family 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.
Gini Koch lives in Hell’s Orientation Area (aka Phoenix, AZ), works her butt off (sadly, not literally) by day, and writes by night with the rest of the beautiful people. She writes the fast, fresh and funny Alien/Katherine “Kitty” Katt series for DAW Books and the Martian Alliance Chronicles series for Musa Publishing. She also writes under a variety of pen names (including G.J. Koch, Anita Ensal, Jemma Chase, A.E. Stanton, and J.C. Koch), listens to rock music 24/7, and is a proud comics geek-girl willing to discuss at any time why Wolverine is the best superhero ever (even if Deadpool does get all the best lines). She also speaks frequently on what it takes to become a successful author and other aspects of writing and the publishing business.

You can find Gini at her:
Website: http://www.ginikoch.com
Blah, Blah, Blah Blog: http://ginikoch.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @GiniKoch
Facebook: facebook.com/Gini.Koch
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hairspray-and-Rock-n-Roll-Kicking-Evil-Alien-Butt-since-2010-GINI-KOCH
Alien Collective Virtual HQ/Official Fan Site: http://aliencollectivehq.com/

Buy Touched by an Alien, Alien Tango, Alien in the Family, Alien Proliferation, or Alien Diplomacy by Gini Koch, and Alexander Outland: Space Pirate, by G.J. Koch, at any bookstore or online. Buy the majority of her other works from Musa Publishing (http://www.musapublishing.com/), or go to her Author Splash page (http://www.ginikoch.com/authorsplash.htm) for specific pen names and selected works.

Interview with Gabi Stevens

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Gabi Stevens. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us again 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 Wishful Thinking. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Wishful Thinking is the third book and final book in my paranormal romance series about fairy godmothers. Each book in the trilogy focused on an individual fairy godmother, and this one’s Stormy’s story. Born to magical parents, Stormy has no powers until her twenty-seventh birthday, and then she discovers she is chosen to be a fairy godmother. Suddenly her life as an artist is upended, and the magical Council assigns a guard to keep her from going rogue as the first two godmothers have done. Hunter Merrick is determined to keep Stormy in line—it’s his job and he does it well, but he doesn’t expect her to be so tempting. Of course, what’s a woman to do when someone threatens the magical world and the only way to save it is to join sides with the rogues? And what’s a Guard to do when his charge becomes a fugitive?

Wishful Thinking is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

Every book in the series has “wish” in the title: The Wish List, As You Wish and now Wishful Thinking. My editor and I wanted titles that reflect the lighter tone of the stories, tied all three books together, and were familiar enough to readers to be easily remembered.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I have loved stories with magic since I was a child. I grew up on the Brothers Grimm (and later went on to study them in college—even spending a year at the university they taught at in Germany), devoured the books by Edward Eager, and delighted in the Prydian Chronicles by Alexander Lloyd. Bedknobs and Broomsticks was always one of my favorite movies, and I watched countless hours of Bewitched and I Dream of Genie. Years passed, but I never lost my love of the paranormal. Then with the resurgence of magic thanks to JK Rowling, I thought it was time to write my own books about magic and people with magical abilities. And what better subject than the return to my first love of the Grimm Fairy Tales.

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

I am most definitely a pantser. The idea of an outline gives me hives. I know the basics before I sit down to write—the main characters and maybe one or two sentences about what happens in the book, but otherwise I let the story unfold as it appears in my head. It’s not the most efficient method—I took out two entire chapters in the rewrite of Wishful Thinking and replaced with content completely different than what existed in the rough draft, but the new stuff is much better and tightened and drove the story so much more. I don’t think I’ve written a book where I haven’t changed significant parts on the rewrite.

But cool things happened as well—the type of event I like to call my own magic. In Wishful Thinking, events come together with elements that appeared in the first book. I didn’t plan this out. The second book had even more such elements and when I discovered that all three stories came together in such a complex way, I was blown away because I really did not know it would happen. For example this was my sales pitch for the third book (sold at the same time as the first book):

Free-spirit Stormy Jones-Smythe lives in a loving community of artists, but when she is chosen as the third fairy godmother, the Arcani world forces its boundaries and expectations on her. Luckily even a rigid and strict bodyguard can’t contain her exuberance.

When pitching the first book, I had no idea Stormy would end up being a weaver, and that a tapestry, which appears in the first book, becomes an important element in the third. Weird, right? My husband dismisses the “magic” as simple the plot working in my own brain, and he’s probably right, but there are other examples as well. You can read Wishful Thinking as a stand-alone book, but there are definite threads that weave through all three stories.

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

One of the best things about writing paranormal books is that you get to make stuff up. My rules for the magic, my rules for the world. If I want to make vampires sparkle, I can (What? That’s been done?)

However, the series is set in San Diego. I went to school there, my husband grew up there, my father-in-law still lives there. I love San Diego. I made sure to drive around my locations whenever I visited, I used maps and Google Earth to see the places, and I looked up a word I needed in Old English. I also used my knowledge of Latin for some of the spells. But I did check everything.

And, yes, the minke whale that appears in the story is based on an actual event that happened when I was walking along the shore in LaJolla. The entire boardwalk rippled with excitement, pointing at the whale, waiting to see it reappear on the surface of the ocean, and everyone was smiling. That was a magical moment in real life.

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

Of course, I love my hero and heroine, but I tend to enjoy my secondary characters best. In this book, I have to say Tank, my hero’s best friend, was the most fun to write. He is confident, sexy guy, who had me laughing almost every time he spoke. And of course the three old fairy godmothers. These three wise women are the guiding force for the young godmothers. They appear in all three books, but in Wishful Thinking, I have to say Hyacinth stands out. She delivers the best one-liners, and if I ever get to be her age, I want to be just like her.
One last mention about characters: In As You Wish, I had two special characters, Joy and Tommy, bakers who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). My daughter has IDD, and I’ve pledged ten percent of my royalties from that book to Best Buddies International, an organization devoted to building friendships for people with IDD.

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 pop into my head almost fully formed. I know who they are, how they think, what their likes and dislikes are. I know their backgrounds, but little of it comes out in the story except where relevant. So I don’t do character interviews or sheets. Stormy was one of my more difficult characters to write because she isn’t like me in so many ways. Above, I mentioned she is a free-spirit. I can only admire free-spirits because I’m not one myself. I love rules. And Hunter is a member of a military like group, the Guards. I have no exposure to the military mindset except what I have read. But I can conceive of believing in something so strongly you’d be willing to die for it. I love stretching myself into other lives—lives I haven’t experienced—and learning from my characters.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

I have a list of authors who inspire me: Mark Twain and his wonderful wit, Isaac Asimov and his crisp story lines, Ray Bradbury and his use of language (oh, wow, his use of language puts everyone else to shame), Agatha Christie and her constant freshness, Christopher Moore, Stephen King, Malcolm Gladwell, Eloisa James, Teresa Medeiros, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Mercedes Lackey, and the list could go on and on and on.

I have to mention Jodi Thomas and Lori Wilde. They have been special friends to me and have encouraged me and mentored me throughout the years. They always inspire me to try harder and to keep going when I have my doubts.

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

I made little bottles of fairy dust and miniature wands out of beads to give to readers. Did it work? Who knows, but I had fun making them and giving them away. And from what I’ve heard from those who received them, they loved them. Otherwise, I’d say blog appearances, reviews, and having a web presence is about the best thing you can do to promote yourself.

What do we have to look forward next?

My agent is pitching a series right now about a town in the Rockies that has unusual inhabitants. Cross your fingers. And I have an ebook out for Kindle and Nook (other formats are coming soon, I promise, and may already be there, if the lag time between this writing and its appearance is long enough) under the name Gabi Anderson. Temptation’s Warrior is a re-release of one of my backlist historical novels. No magic in it at all.

Thanks, Gabi!

To celebrate her book release, Gabi is offering a free book of The Wish List or As You Wish 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...

Gabi Stevens travels the world with her robotics engineer husband and her three incredible daughters (Reality: she went to Europe last summer with her family, but lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico). Because she is fluent in three languages and knows Latin, her abilities are in demand from many different factions (Reality: she has Hungarian relatives who needed her to translate to her family and students to whom she taught English and Latin) and her knowledge has helped numerable writers in their quest for publication (Reality: she has presented many writing workshops and has a critique group). Her latest novels feature fairy godmothers. Her current release is Wishful Thinking, from Tor books. Gabi claims no magical powers of her own. You can find her at www.GabiStevens.com, at her blog, www.GabiStevens.blogspot.com, or on Twitter or Facebook, unless she’s off on one of her world tours (Reality: she’s at home with her two dogs).

Discover the magic:
THE WISH LIST
AS YOU WISH
WISHFUL THINKING
.
Check out author’s website at www.GabiStevens.com or www.GabiStevens.blogspot.com. You can also find her at Facebook and Twitter. Buy Wishful Thinking April 24, 2012.

Interview with Carolyn Brown

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

First of all, thank all you folks at Much Cheaper Than Therapy for inviting me to stop by your blog again. It's a delight to be here to talk about, One Hot Cowboy Wedding, which just hit the bookshelves this week. It's the fourth book in the Spikes & Spurs Series and I'm so excited about it. I'm going to refill my coffee cup and get another chocolate donut and then we'll be ready. Okay, I'm settled ... now let's answer questions.

I understand you have a new release out called One Hot Cowboy Wedding. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Oh, yes, ma'am. I could talk about this book forever so how much room do you have? The Spikes & Spurs series started out to be a trilogy about three women who trade in their high heels for cowboy boots and the cowboys who convinced them that sexy cowboys in their boots and hats had something lasting to offer. The three sassy ladies were Austin, Pearl and Jasmine; the cowboys were Rye, Wil and Ace. Then my amazing editor called and asked for a Christmas book and since Rye's brother, Raylen, had been begging for his story to be told, the trilogy turned into a series. But now it's time to tell Jasmine and Ace's story and they do have a story to tell. Ace is about to lose his ranch if he doesn't find a wife within the week so Jasmine, being his best friend, says she'll marry him. It's supposed to be a quiet wedding and in a year a very discreet, quiet divorce. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right? Well, that's the truth unless it gets broadcast on national television. And believe me, it's a lot easier to let the cat out of the bag than it is to put it back into the tow sack!

One Hot Cowboy Wedding is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

Well, there is a wedding right there at the beginning of the book and it turns out to be very, very hot in more ways than once.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I'd been writing historical and contemporary books for about fifteen years for the literary market. I wanted to write bigger books that reached a larger audience so I queried Deb Werksman at Sourcebooks with Lucky in Love, a hot cowboy book and she bought it. I loved writing cowboy books so much that it's snowballed from that point. One Hot Cowboy Wedding is my eleventh cowboy book and there are at least three more on the way.

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

Neither and a bit of both. I'm not sure I could ever plot out a whole book and then write totally by the guidelines. It would put my characters in a box and believe me my characters are so sassy, they'd tear the walls down. I don't like to think of myself as a pantster, either. So I suppose, like I've said many times before, I'm like the pilot of a jet airplane. I fill the plane up with all these great characters, have my destination in mind (HEA) and know how to fly the plane. But then the characters hijack the plane and we go off on amazing adventures as we tell their stories.

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

I always do research. I couldn't begin to tell you how many trips I've made to Ringgold, Texas. The one hundred residents of that little place probably think my car is a spy vehicle! LOL! I use the internet for research and I have a multitude of wonderful books but the best thing I could ever advise is simply to go take a look at the place you are writing about. One time I was writing a historical series and had incorporated a scene where the hero and heroine were swimming in this beautiful creek. When we made a trip there and looked at that creek, it was located at the bottom of a red clay slope and the water wasn't something anyone would swim in. Yes, ma'am, I came right home and changed the scene and learned a valuable lesson!

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

I have no idea where it came from. One day Jasmine and Ace just jumped on the loveseat behind my computer and told me all about their lives and the story wouldn't leave my head until I'd written it.

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

I loved both of the main characters. Ace, because he was the playboy who was never settling down, and he had to finally listen to his heart. Jasmine, because she was the woman who had been burned by love and had to learn to trust her heart. And both of them because they didn't want to ruin their wonderful friendship by falling in love, but their hearts didn't get the message.

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?

Developing characters happens like friendships. At first I don't know much more than my readers but as we get on down the road with the story, I learn more and more. I have a recipe box that I keep a note card on each of my characters inside. That's about as far as it goes!

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Every author I've ever read has inspired me. Every author I've ever visited with at a conference, a library panel, or had a conversation with in an airport has inspired me. This interview would go on forever if I named them all...however, lately Jill Mansell and Grace Burrowes have been added to my list.

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

Blogs. Word of mouth. Those are both wonderful promotion tools.

What do we have to look forward next?

Keep your boots on! There are more cowboys on the way with at least three more Spikes and Spurs. Mistletoe Cowboy (October) is Creed Riley and Sage Presley's story...you'll meet Creed in One Hot Cowboy Wedding. Just A Cowboy (December) is Gemma O'Donnell and Trace Coleman's story. And Dewar, the last of the original O'Donnell siblings, gets his story after that. (Title is still up in the air but the book will probably be out in the spring of 2013). On the Avalon scene, the second book in the Three Magic Words trilogy, In Shining Whatever, will be out in April and the final one, Life After Wife, in August. Hidden Secrets, a stand alone romance, will be out in December.

Thanks, Carolyn!

And THANK YOU again for inviting me!


To celebrate her book release, Carolyn Brown is offering a free copy of One Hot Cowboy Wedding 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.
Carolyn Brown is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than fifty books published. She credits her eclectic family for her humor and writing ideas. Born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma, Carolyn and her husband now make their home in the town of Davis, Oklahoma.

Check out author’s website at
http://carolynlbrown.com/
Buy at Amazon, B&N, Wal-Mart and most major book stores.

Interview with Cara Marsi

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Cara Marsi. 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.

Thank you for inviting me. I’m always happy to visit with you. I’m relaxing with a chocolate martini. What did you say? It’s not yet noon, too early to indulge. Oh, but it’s noon somewhere in the world.

I understand you have a new release out called “A Catered Romance”. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

“A Catered Romance” is the first book I ever sold. It was originally published by Avalon Books under the title “A Catered Affair.” It’s a reunion/redemption story. I love reunion/redemption themes and incorporate them in all my books and short stories. “A Catered Romance” has many food references too. I got hungry a lot when I wrote it.

Here’s the blurb:

There's more than business brewing between two old high school flames...

Stubbornly self-reliant Mary Beth Kendrick needs financial backing to keep her catering business cooking. A looming corporate buyout forces her to accept help from Tom Sackett, the man who broke her heart and left her distrustful of men.

Unable to forget Mary Beth, Tom sets out to win her forgiveness. As he gets to know her again through their shared business interests, he realizes he wants more than forgiveness from her. He wants her in his life.

Grateful for Tom's support but unwilling to trust him, Mary Beth vows to keep their relationship strictly business. But his attentiveness, culminating in a night of passion, starts to melt her icy resolve and shows her the caring, sensitive man Tom has become.

Can Mary Beth learn to love and trust again? Will she and Tom open their hearts to a second chance at love?

“A Catered Romance” is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

The original title, “A Catered Affair,” was a play on words. Catered affairs are events, usually fancy, that are catered. My heroine is a caterer and she and the hero have an affair. The book was written as sensual, but to sell to Avalon, I had to take out the sex, the alcohol consumption, and the cursing. Since the phrase Catered Affair is fairly common and not usually sexual, Avalon kept the title. I have the digital rights and just published the book myself on Amazon Kindle. Some online friends suggested I put romance in the title so it wouldn’t be mistaken for a cookbook. If you look at the original cover (on my website), it could be taken for a cookbook. I added a love scene, added a few curse words and some wine and champagne drinking, hired an artist to do a new cover, and voila! I had a new book.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I have always been in love with love. I’m a sucker for a good romance. I grew up watching the romantic comedies from the Thirties and Forties that played on late night TV. I read YA romances as a teen and I was a big fan of the Judy Bolton mysteries, which contained a little romance. Judy was a girl detective like Nancy Drew. I didn’t much like Nancy because she was so perfect. Judy was more realistic and she grew up during the series and eventually married Peter, an FBI agent. I was in love with Peter.

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

I’m a little of both. I always do an outline or a working synopsis before I start a book. I know the beginning and the ending, but I need to plot out the story. And I do character sketches so I have a good in-depth knowledge of my characters. Then when I start writing, I never keep to the outline. My characters grow and go in a direction different from what I’d planned. I follow their lead.

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

Not much research on any of my books since they’re contemporary and I set them near where I live or in places where I’ve traveled. The most research I’ve done was for my werewolf paranormal romance, “Cursed Mates.” It’s set in Maine, which I’ve visited, but I needed to research werewolf myths. “A Catered Romance” is set in my home town of Wilmington, Delaware. I like to cook, but I’m a pretty basic cook. I like to eat so I didn’t have any problems writing about food. I did go through a few cookbooks to get recipes I could mention in the book. And it was such fun using food analogies and metaphors.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

From something that happened to me in grade school. Tommy, a boy I was crazy about in seventh grade through high school, once said something hurtful about me in seventh grade. That hurt stayed with me for a lot of years. He was cute and rich, I was not. Hence, my hero in “A Catered Romance” was raised rich, my heroine was not. My hero is named Tom, and my heroine is named Mary Beth after my best friend growing up. I used my hurt feelings from the real Tommy’s rejection to get inside my heroine’s head. Writing this book was very cathartic for me. I changed the name of the private high school in the book, but it’s the school the real Tommy attended, and the school from which my son graduated years later.

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

Mary Beth because she’s worked really hard to raise herself out of poverty. Although she grew up poor, she went to the same prestigious high school as Tom, only she attended on a hardship grant and had to endure teasing by the affluent students. She has a lot of pride and has grown through the years, yet she still has some lingering wounds to work through from her high school days.

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 do character sketches in longhand. I can think better in longhand. I write out my characters’ goals, what motivates them, to what lengths they will or won’t go to achieve those goals, and what scares them the most. I have to know my characters before I start writing.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Elizabeth Howard who wrote a series of YA historical romances which I loved when I was a teen. I once wrote her and said I wanted to be an author but I didn’t have a typewriter (this was in the dark ages before computers). She wrote back that I didn’t need a typewriter to be an author. For the past few years I’ve been collecting used copies of my favorites of her books. Others that have influenced me are: Jude Deveraux, Victoria Holt, Helen MacInnes, Rosemary Rogers, Katherine Woodiwiss, Anya Seton, Aola Vandergriff. There are just too many for me to mention them all.

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

If I knew the answer to that I’d be a billionaire. There’s a saying about advertising: Only half works but no one knows which half.

What do we have to look forward next?

Within a month or two I’ll have a new release called “Storm of Desire,” a steamy romance about two people with a sexual history stranded together during a January nor’easter at the Delaware beach. They’re hot for each other and can’t keep their hands off each other, but they’ve got issues. Lots of issues. My editor has the book now. Once I’m through all the edits I’ll publish it.

Thanks, Cara!

And thank you again for having me.


To celebrate her book release, Cara is offering a free book of the winner’s choice of any of her books 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.)

Check my website for a list of my books. “A Catered Romance” isn’t listed yet, but all the others are.

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

Bio
Cara Marsi likes to describe herself as a former corporate drone and cubicle dweller. Now that she’s no longer a slave to the corporate world, she can more fully indulge her love of romance. She likes to write about feisty, independent women and the hot guys who love them. She’s published in contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance. In addition, she’s sold more than a dozen short stories to women’s magazines.

Cara and her husband like to travel, and she loves to write about the places they’ve visited. They share their home with a fat, black diva of a cat named Killer.

Please visit Cara’s website, www.caramarsi.com, to learn more about her books and her life. And to see a picture of Killer all pumped up for Halloween.

Check out author’s website at www.caramarsi.com
Buy http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007CB5X5M

Interview with Catherine Mann

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Catherine Mann. 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 PROTECTOR. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

CM: PROTECTOR continues my “Dark Ops” series about a top secret Air Force squadron of aviators who test the latest technology. This story features Chuck Tanaka, an aviator who was captured and tortured. He thinks his days in the field are over due to his injuries…until he’s drawn in by a mission in the Mediterranean and a mob boss’ daughter.

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

CM: The heroine – a mob boss’ daughter – doesn’t know her life is in danger. The hero finds that even with his battle scars, he’s still every bit the honed warrior/protector.

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

CM: Action/Suspense

What made you decide to write in this genre?

CM: I love to read steamy, action, suspense novels and I’m a military spouse. All of those elements blend into the stories that come to me.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

CM: I saw a river boat casino and my imagination took flight.

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

CM: I have a synopsis written before I start a book, so major plot points and characters are set. The scenes come to me as I write and I always write in order.

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

CM: My husband is an Air Force aviator. A good bit of my research comes from talking to him or interviewing other military individuals we know.

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?

CM: I usually start by deciding on a quirk for a character and the character develops from there as I brainstorm. For example, I once wrote a military heroine, very crisp aviator, who collected Beanie Babies.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

CM: Lori Foster, Suzanne Brockmann, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Sherrilyn Kenyon.

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

CM: I enjoy directly interacting with readers at conferences and on the internet. Is it the most effective? I don’t know. I just know that I draw great joy from visiting with them, discussing other books and generally having fun hanging out.

What do we have to look forward next?

HONORABLE INTENTIONS, Harlequin Desire, April
UNDER FIRE, Sourcebooks, May
“Dog Tags” in LOVE BITES, HQN, June

Thanks, Catherine!

CM: Thank, YOU! I appreciate your having me here for the day.

To celebrate her book release, PROTECTOR is offering a free book of PROTECTOR 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.
USA Today bestseller Catherine Mann writes military romantic suspense for Berkley and Sourcebooks, as well as steamy romances for Harlequin Desire. A RITA Award winner, she has over two million books in print in more than 20 countries. Catherine resides in Florida with her Air Force aviator husband and their four children. FMI, she can be found online at:
Website: http://catherinemann.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CatherineMannAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/CatherineMann1
Buy: http://www.amazon.com/Protector-Dark-Ops-Berkley-Sensation/dp/042524699X

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Margaret Brownley. 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 Dawn Comes Early. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous news?

First I want to thank you for inviting me here today. I never say no to chocolates or giving out advice! As far as my news:“Dawn Comes Early” is the first book in my Brides of Last Chance Ranch series. It takes place in Arizona Territory in 1896 and I am very excited about it. The heroine is a disgraced dime novelist who answers an advertisement to inherit a cattle ranch. You won’t believe what happens next…

Dawn Comes Early is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

The title was inspired by 2 Peter 1:19 NIV “…for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place--until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.”

Kate Tenney is in a dark place and though dawn comes early she doesn’t see the Morning Star for quite some time.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I’ve always loved reading about the old west. That was when men were men and women were women, but a cowboy wasn’t a cowboy unless he was wild, woolly and full of fleas. Of course my cowboy heroes are more likely to be tall, dark and handsome, but you know what I mean.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

The idea was inspired by a group of fifty ladies of the First Church of Millford who formed a society of old maids in 1861. Each member vowed she would not marry. Each woman paid five dollars on admission with the principal going to the one who remained unmarried the longest. According to an article in The New York Times thirty years later all but fifteen of the original had married. I was never able to find out who won the prize—and being a romantic I sincerely hope that no one did—but where real life stops imagination takes off.

What are your favorite historical research books and why?

I love reading old diaries, preferable unedited ones with all the glorious misspellings. The book I reach for most often is English Through the Ages, which keeps me from using a word before its time. I recently wanted to use the word hightail only to discover that it wasn’t in use until 1900.

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

I really liked writing Kate and Luke. They make an interesting couple; she’s a college educated woman and he’s “just a blacksmith.” He doesn’t know what she’s talking about half the time. He does, however, learn to read her heart and in the end that’s really all that matters.

I also had a lot of fun with some of the minor characters like Aunt Bessie. After reading Kate’s banned dime novel she decides to put some passion back into her marriage with disastrous results.

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’m a pantser which means I write by the seat of mine. To me a character’s all about voice. I have to hear them in my head. When characters start waking me to talk then I know we’re set to go.

I usually start by having each character say a simple prayer. This helps me get a handle on the character and what’s going on in his or her life. In Dawn Comes Early one of the cowhands prayed: “God, the father, thank you for your many blessings and don’t forgit to send rain. And if you ain’t sendin’ rain to us, don’t go sendin’ it to no other ranches, neither.” Boy, did that ever tell me a lot about him and the ranch.

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

Cowboy lingo is so colorful and fun. How can we not love it? Can you think of more mouth-pleasing words than hornswoggle, caboodle or skedaddle? Or what about fiddlefooted, ranktankerous, rumbumptious or splendiferous? A latte may be the haute cuisine of coffee, but give me an Arbuckle’s any day. The one drawback of formal education is that today we all sound alike.

Do you have any authors who inspired you?

As a girl I read everything Louisa May Alcott wrote. I was convinced she based Jo in Little Women on me.

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

The most effective promotion is word of mouth, which today means having readers mention your book on Amazon, Facebook, Twitter and the like. The only way I know to get word of mouth is to write a good book.

What do we have to look forward next?

The second book in the series Waiting for Morning will be published January, 2013. I also have a non-fiction book (my first) coming out. Grieving God’s Way: the Path to Hope and Healing will be available from Thomas Nelson in July. I wrote this book following the loss of our son and it’s very close to my heart.

Thanks, Margaret!

Thank you for having me!

To celebrate her book release, Margaret Brownley is offering a free book of Dawn Comes Early 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.)

More Love and Laughter from N.Y. Times Bestselling Author
Margaret Brownley

“Daily Reasons to Smile” Contest

“I’ve matched up twenty-three couples over the years and in all that time I only made one error. Although I still think the marriage would have worked had she not shot her husband.”—Aunt Bessie in Dawn Comes Early (Brides of Last Chance Ranch)

Characters from Margaret’s new book will send you a reason to smile every day until April 11th. Join in the fun and you could win a book, potted cactus (the story takes place in Arizona Territory) or an iPod Nano and alarm clock docking station. To enter send an email to info@NancyBerland.com. Be sure to put “Reason to Smile” in the subject line. That’s it!


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

Bio.
Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: Margaret penned it all. Nothing wrong with this—except Margaret happened to be writing for the church newsletter. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, her former pastor took her aside and said, "Maybe God's calling you to write fiction."

So that’s what Margaret did. She’s now a New York Times bestselling author and a Romance Writers of America RITA finalist with more than 25 novels to her credit—not bad for someone who flunked 8th grade English. Just don’t ask her to diagram a sentence.

Check out author’s website at www.margaretbrownley.com
Buy http://www.amazon.com/Comes-Early-Brides-Chance-Ranch/dp/1595549684/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330169454&sr=8-1

Interview with Author Linda Andrews

I’d like to welcome our guest today, our very own, Linda Andrews. 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.

Thanks for having me, Kim. I love chocolate.

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

I think the blurb says it best:
The extraterrestrials have landed and they're human.
Rae Hemplewhite didn't believe in aliens until a close encounter with out-of-this-world technology drags her into the extraterrestrial security program. Helping alien refugees adjust to life on Earth is difficult enough, but her first clients have a price on their heads. Plus, her new partner seems torn between the urge to kiss her or kill her.

And that's the good news.

The bad news: Alliances are forming in deep space. If Rae doesn't keep her witnesses alive long enough to transfer their top secret information to the right faction of humanity, Earth will become a battlefield.

Blue Maneuver is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

It took a long brainstorming session with a friend to come up with it. In the end, we decided on Blue to represent the Earth--our great big blue marble in space. And Maneuver because the two warring factions are performing military operations on the planet to manipulate a certain outcome. Neither is particularly benign for those of us born and raised her.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I wanted something light and funny but with a darker theme. It doesn't hurt that I'm a big conspiracy nut and love aliens.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

My husband, who is also a big fan of UFO and conspiracy theories, and I spent one summer watching every show, series and documentary on the subject. After I had about 16 hours, I came up with the basic idea of the Blue Maneuver.

What are your favorite science fiction research books, and why?

I read so many SciFi books and scientific and technical journals, it's hard to pinpoint just one. I think the best place for getting ideas, it US News and World Reports science section on the web. After that, you can google key words to find more information.

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

Unlike my other books, Blue Maneuver, is written entirely in first person. I find it difficult to get all the information across so I gave Rae, my heroine, a special phone. If you have a Smartphone, she has one whose genius is off the chart, plus it can do some really nifty tricks.

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

I don't really do much to develop characters. In fact, they usually arrive fully formed and boss me around.

How do you go about building your world? Do you use maps, charts or drawings?

I do have maps, pictures and layouts that I paste into a book so I can reference them.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Far too many to count. Some of my early favs are Authur Conan Doyle, who wrote SciFi in addition to his Sherlock Holmes, HG Wells, Edgar Rice Burroughs, and MM Kaye. My current favs are Linda Howard, Linnea Sinclair and Laura Bickle/Alanya Williams.

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

I wish I knew how to promote. I am doing a blog tour for Blue Maneuver and that's a lot of fun.

What do we have to look forward next?

Next, I'm going back to my apocalyptic novel Redaction and writing the two sequels in a row. But I plan to have two SciFi romance novels out in April. The tag line is Sleeping Beauty is awakened by a Cyborg Knights Templar.

Thanks, Linda!

Thank you, Kim for having me!

To celebrate her book release, Linda is offering a free ebook of Blue Maneuver 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 most of the day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio. Linda Andrews lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, three children and a menagerie of domesticated animals. While she started writing a decade ago, she always used her stories to escape the redundancy of her day job as a scientist and never thought to actually combine her love of fiction and science. DOH! After that Homer Simpson moment, she allowed the two halves of her brain to talk to each other. The journeys she’s embarked on since then are dark, twisted and occasionally violent, but never predictable.

Check out author’s website at http://www.lindaandrews.net Buy http://www.amazon.com/Maneuver-Urban-Fantasy-Extraterrestrial-security-ebook/dp/B006VOKXME/ or
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blue-maneuver-urban-scifi-fantasy-linda-andrews/1108181682?ean=2940013738331&itm=1&usri=blue+maneuver

Interview with H.D. Thomson

I’d like to welcome our guest today, H.D. Thomson. 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 Shrouded in Darkness. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Sure! It's the first in a three book series, all tied to one secretiveness and malignant pharmaceutical company.

If Jake Preston doesn’t stumble upon a miracle and soon, he’ll endup dead. And even if he does, he still might end up dead with a clever killer hounding his heels. He believes that the one miracle and antidote to save him is in Margot Davenport’s house, across the country and miles away from Boston. Somewhere locked in her home is the key to reversing an experiment that is killing him with each breath he takes.

Margot doesn’t particularly care if she ends up dead. She’s lost everything she’s ever cared for. A divorce and the loss of her job as a corporate lawyer has left her with little faith in herself or in anyone else. Most importantly, she’s lost the one person on this earth she’s looked up to and cherished–her brother, Johnny. His death in a car accident has devastated her, and she can’t find the willpower to pull herself from the chasm she’s fallen into. Her only solace is at the bottom of a wineglass. Having moved back to the small town in northern Arizona where she was raised, she’s made a point of isolating herself both mentally and physically from everyone other than a few chosen friends. Little does she know that her life is going to explode into chaos and the person behind Johnny’s death is coming after her.

Shrouded in Darkness is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

I wanted to stress how a person’s motivations, life direction is never straightforward. Many a person will conceal their inner self, either for fear of retaliation, rejection or because they have dark, ulterior motives. Nothing is always as it appears in life and in people.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I’ve always loved paranormal books from the moment I opened a Dean Koontz book. I also love romance, so putting the two together just seemed natural.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

I started reading some of the older books by H.G. Wells and Oscar Wilde. Some of them are such dark books, and I do love writing dark. I started thinking ‘what if’, and the idea of Shrouded in Darkness was formed.

What are your favorite paranormal research books or sites, and why?

I don’t really have a favorite book or site. Scientific Magazine has given me some wonderful information and ideas. I usually look for articles on certain paranormal topics.

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

Oh that would be Jake hands down! He’s such a tormented soul but I just love how he’s dealt with all the obstacles I’ve put him through. His faith in life is amazing. I wish I had as much faith as he does in the book.

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

I don’t interview but I do start off with a character sheet, but it’s really not in depth. Over time the characters start growing in my head and a lot of the time they lead me in areas in the story I don’t expect.

Do you use maps, charts or drawings?

I actually start researching a subject and try to make it as realistic as possible. Other than that I just kind of wing it and let it form itself.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Dean Koontz. I love all his earlier works. I actually used to read him and his pen name Leigh Nichols. At the time they were my favorite authors and I hadn’t a clue they were one and the same! I love the spiritual aspect of how his characters overcome such heart wrenching obstacles.

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

I think guest blogs. Mainly just getting out there and being visible.

What do we have to look forward next?

I have two more books in the series. The next one is Shrouded in Mystery, which is about John Davenport, a man who wakes up with amnesia and suspects he might by Clark Kent. He’s determined to uncover his past and someone else is just as determined to make sure he doesn’t, even to the point of killing again.

Thanks, H.D!

To celebrate her book release, H.D. Thomson is offering a free book of Shrouded in Darkness 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.

H.D. Thomson moved from Ontario, Canada as a teenager to the heat of Arizona where she graduated from the University of Arizona with a B.S. in Business Administration with a major in accounting. After working in the corporate world as an accountant, H.D. changed her focus to one of her passions-books. She owned and operated an online bookstore for several years and then started the company, Bella Media Management. The company specializes in web sites, video trailers, ebook conversion and promotional resources for authors and small businesses. When she is not heading her company, she is following her first love-writing.

Check out author’s website at http://www.hdthomson.com/. Buy Amazon, Barnes and Noble.

Interview with Kathryne Kennedy

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Kathryne Kennedy. It’s a pleasure to have one of our own interviewed today 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 The Lord of Illusion. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

It’s about a scholar, Drystan Hawkes, who has been searching for years to find the one woman who might hold the key to freeing England from its slavery to the elven lords who invaded the country long ago. It’s about Camille Ashton, a girl enslaved in Dreamhame palace by the elven lord of glamour and illusion. It’s about healing hearts, and finding true love, and ultimately using that strength to conquer a great evil.

The Lord of Illusion is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

My hero’s primary magical power is that of glamour and illusion…although he doesn’t find the true strength of his gifts until he bonds with his true love.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

My love of history, fantasy, and of course, romance. When I wrote my first book, there wasn’t even a genre for what I did. Fortunately, other authors have discovered the fun of mixing genres to create a new one, and a new category was born.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

I fell in love with Legolas in The Lord of the Rings, and knew I wanted to create a new world centered around the beautiful fae.

What are your favorite fantasy research books, and why?

I don’t have any fantasy research books, although I have quite a few historical. I do use on-line sources for mythical characters. But the best research is to read fiction fantasy, to see what’s been created before, and how you can expand on that, or change it.

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

I think I’m a tiny, tiny bit swayed to Drystan. I love both my hero and heroine, but Drystan’s character came from a personal inspiration that stole a bit of my soul when I wrote him.

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

I don’t do character sheets anymore, although I used to. Now, my characters are firmly set within my mind as I start writing…and develop throughout the book. My worlds are a mix of historical and fantasy, so the conventions of the time I’m writing in, and the challenges of living in a world of magic, all affect my characters and their personalities.

How do you go about building your world? Do you use maps, charts or drawings?

Yes, yes, and yes. :} You can view a map of the Elven Lords’ Realm, and my charts and notes on my website.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Many. Off the top of my head: Andre Norton, Patricia Briggs, Patricia McKillip, Robin McKinley, Johanna Lindsey, Jude Deveraux, Eloisa James, Sharon Shinn, Dave Duncan, Orson Scott Card, Erin Quinn, Jennifer Ashley, Michael Moorcock.

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

My website, hands down. Recently, I’ve been enjoying the blog tours that my publisher sets up for me. Such a wonderful opportunity to talk to readers!

What do we have to look forward to next?

The fourth book in the Relics of Merlin series, Everlasting Enchantment. Sourcebooks is re-releasing the first three titles in the series (Enchanting the Lady, Double Enchantment, Enchanting the Beast) starting in August 2012 (so for those of you who’ve asked me for the Kindle editions…they’re coming. ;)

Thanks, Kathryne!

To celebrate her book release, Kathryne is offering a free book of The Lord of Illusion to one lucky commenter on today's blog. (US & Canada Shipping addresses only.)
(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...

THE LORD OF ILLUSION BY KATHRYNE KENNEDY—IN STORES FEBRUARY 2012

He'll do anything to save her...
Rebel Lord Drystan Hawkes dreams of fighting for England's freedom. He gets his chance when he finds a clue to opening the magic portal to Elfhame, and he must race to find the slave girl who holds the key to the mystery. But even as Drystan rescues Camille Ashton from Dreamhame Palace, it becomes unclear exactly who is saving whom.

For the fate of humankind lies with Camille...
Enslaved for years in a realm where illusion and glamour reign, Camille has learned to trust nothing and no one. But she's truly spellbound when she meets Drystan--a man different from any she's ever known, and the force of their passion may yet be strong enough to banish the Elven Lords from this world forever.

“The world sings with vivid imagery and fantastic magic, and all the previous characters join forces in a thrilling final fight for humankind.”~Publishers Weekly STARRED review

“The hero and heroine are also out of the ordinary, and while this novel remains true to romance-genre mores, Kennedy infuses it with unexpected plot twists that will keep fantasy readers enthralled, too.”~Booklist STARRED review

“Superb writing and a fast-moving plot combined with magical passion make this a real page-turner!”~RT BOOKReviews Top Rating and TOP PICK

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Sourcebooks
BooksAMillion
Chapters/Indigo
Kathryne’s Bookseller Directory

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathryne Kennedy is a critically acclaimed, best-selling, award-winning author of magical romances. She welcomes readers to visit her website where she has ongoing contests at www.kathrynekennedy.com. She’s lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S., and currently lives with her wonderful family in Arizona, where she is working on the next book in her Relics of Merlin series, Everlasting Enchantment.

Interview with Patricia Sargeant/Regina Hart

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Patricia Sargeant, who also writes as Regina Hart. It’s a pleasure having you come visit us again 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.

It’s a pleasure to be here, Kim. Thank you so much.

You're welcome. I understand you have a new release out called Smooth Play. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

I would love to. Thank you for asking. Smooth Play is the second book in my single-title, contemporary romance trilogy, featuring a fictitious National Basketball Association team, the Brooklyn Monarchs. I’m writing the Brooklyn Monarchs trilogy under my contemporary romance pseudonym, Regina Hart.

Smooth Play’s hero, Troy Marshall, is the franchise’s media executive. The heroine, Andrea Benson, is a sports reporter. Troy and Andrea start as adversaries. He wants to protect the team from the media. She wants to cover a big story to redeem her career. Smooth Play’s theme is forgiveness. Andrea can’t forgive herself for a mistake she’s made in her past and that prevents her from moving on. Troy can’t forgive someone else for a past betrayal, which prevents him from trusting Andrea.

Smooth Play is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

I wanted a title that reflected sports because basketball is the backdrop for the story.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

Basketball is one of my favorite sports. I loved the idea of using that sport as a backdrop for my contemporary stories. Now I can consider all of those hours spent in front of the television watching college hoops and the NBA “research.” LOL!

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

I’m definitely a plotter. Plotting the story helps me identify specific areas of research before I need to describe it in the draft. I do a lot of revisions while I’m outlining the story.

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

Yes. Although I’m a basketball fan, I still needed to research specific dates of the pre-season, regular season and post season; official names and locations of each arena; which players were with what teams. Oh, man! The player trades caused havoc with my game scenes. After I submitted Smooth Play to my editor, Carmello Anthony was traded to the Knicks, so I had to write him into one of the playoff scenes.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

One of the things a lot of players and coaches talk about is the need to remain focused on the next game. They say the media can cause distractions that negatively impact the team’s performance. I thought the conflict between Troy’s job – shielding the team from media distractions – and Andrea’s job – getting the story – would be an interesting place to start.

But I also love themes in stories, which is the reason I enjoyed working with the theme of forgiveness and building that into the characters’ journey.

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

I enjoyed writing the relationship between Troy and Andrea. My goal was to show how they helped each other grow, Troy by encouraging Andrea to forgive herself and Andrea by encouraging Troy to forgive others.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Oh, so many authors … Beverly Jenkins for her emotion; Jayne Ann Krentz for her dialogue; Susan Elizabeth Phillips for her world building. So many authors.

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

I really haven’t figured that out. Word-of-mouth marketing is the best form of promotion. But I haven’t yet figured out how to build that buzz.

What do we have to look forward next?

Thanks for asking, Kim. The final book in my Brooklyn Monarchs trilogy, which I’m writing as Regina Hart, is Keeping Score. Keeping Score will be released July 3, 2012. I’m very excited by this release as well.

Thanks, Patricia!

Thank you, Kim. It’s always a pleasuring visiting with your community.

To celebrate her book release, Patricia is offering a free book of Fast Break 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.
Award-winning author Patricia Sargeant writes romantic suspense and, as Regina Hart, contemporary romance. Patricia’s suspense features ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Regina’s contemporary romances showcase the franchise members and friends of the Brooklyn Monarchs, a fictitious National Basketball Association team set in Brooklyn, New York. Regina and Patricia love chatting with readers. You can contact both at BooksbyPatricia@yahoo.com.

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

Interview with Erin Quinn

I’d like to welcome our very own guest today, Erin Quinn. 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 Web of Smoke. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Web of Smoke was actually my debut novel, published in 1994. It’s been out of print for over 15 years, so I’m very excited to make it available again. Web of Smoke is different than my other novels in that there isn’t a paranormal element to this story. In fact, it was published as a mystery. Back in those days, they called it a “woman in jeopardy” story because romantic suspense had yet to be coined as a genre. Web of Smoke was hailed as a tight mystery with surprising twists and turns and, to date, was one of my most successful books.

Web of Smoke is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

As with 90% of my novels, I didn’t choose the title, the publisher did. My original title was Quietus, which has several definitions, one of which is “discharge or release from life.” Although cool, it wasn’t exactly a catchy title, though.

What made you decide to write in this genre?

I’ve been asked did you choose the genre or did the genre choose you before and I always answer the latter. I wish I wrote something like Regency or Contemporary romances. For some reason I always trend to a darker story.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

During the time I wrote Web of Smoke, I was a young mother. I lived in San Diego and there was an outbreak of child abductions that were disturbing and heartbreaking, to say the least. The emotional catalyst of Web of Smoke came from my own fears about abductions.

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

Like is not exactly the word I would use, but I found DC, the villain of Web of Smoke, a particularly interesting character to write. He was so bad and yet I found myself feeling sorry for him in places.

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

I wish I could spout off about all these complex and highly intelligent methods I use, but honestly, I’d be lying. I start at page one and learn as I go. That’s what makes it so interesting for me. I like finding out things about my characters on the way. What they say and do determines who they are for me.

How do you go about building your world if you use one? Do you use maps, charts or drawings?

I do use maps, charts and family trees when necessary. As for the world building, like my characters, it comes organically from the story I’m telling and the research I’ve found.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

HUNDREDS. Seriously, far too many to list.

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

I think my newsletter may be the best so far. I’ve tried a lot of creative means for getting the word out, but I’ve yet to see anything really make an impact. However, my newsletter seems to get opened and read.

What do we have to look forward next?

I’ve been having a fabulous time writing novellas with fellow authors Calista Fox and Mary Leo. We stumbled into a collaboration after meeting in the bar at RWA Nationals and have been releasing stories in trios---they aren’t trilogies, but they are related stories with a common theme. My latest, Shaking It Up (part of the Love, Served With a Twist trio), has already hit #1 on Amazon hot new releases for anthologies. It’s been a fabulous collaboration and we plan to do more. In fact, we’ve proposed a workshop at RWA about it.

Thanks, Erin!

To celebrate her book release, Erin Quinn is offering a free ebook of Echoes, Whispers or Shaking It Up 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...

Check out author’s website at http://www.erinquinnbooks.com/

Buy Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-a-Million Indie Bound

Erin Quinn is an award winning author who writes romance for the thinking girl. Her books have been called “riveting,” “brilliantly plotted” and “beautifully written” and have won, placed or showed in the Booksellers Best, WILLA Award for Historical fiction, the Orange Rose, Readers Crown, Golden Quill, Best Books, and Award of Excellence. Go to www.erinquinnbooks.com for more information.

Interview with Barbara White Daille

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Barbara White Daille. 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 THE RODEO MAN'S DAUGHTER. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

Kim, thank you for inviting me back! It's always great to stop in for a visit—and of course, I can't pass up the chocolate ;)

Thanks also for asking about my newest release from Harlequin American Romance, which debuts on February 7th.

THE RODEO MAN'S DAUGHTER is set in Flagman's Folly, New Mexico, the same small town as in my previous book, and tells the story of ex-rodeo star Caleb Cantrell.

After growing up dirt-poor and looked down upon by folks in town, Caleb took off while he was still a teen, headed for fame and fortune. A near-fatal injury destroys his rodeo dreams, and he returns to his hometown with the goal of settling scores with the folks who’d done him wrong and then leaving them all behind for good. Despite his rocky reunion with his high-school sweetheart, he finds his interest in her still going strong. All of a sudden, he's got a hankering to hang around.

When he rents a room in her mother's bed-and-breakfast, Tess LaSalle's stuck with him day and night. She wants only to see the back of him as he leaves town, the way he left her years before. Though she's fighting attraction, too, those feelings are nothing compared to the memory of their bitter separation. When her rodeo-crazy nine-year-old discovers the great Caleb Cantrell has returned to Flagman's Folly, Tess is ten times more desperate to get rid of him—before he learns the secret she's kept from them both for all these years.

How did you arrive at the title for THE RODEO MAN'S DAUGHTER?

Through a joint effort with my editors. (smile)

One of the best ways of getting the right story into the right hands is to clue the reader in to what the book is about, through both the cover blurb and the title.

Many readers love "secret baby" stories, whether the baby is yet to be born or, as in this case, is getting way too close to her terrible teens. I love those stories, too, which is why I wrote the book. And oh, boy, did I love this preteen! She's a real handful.

Of course, Caleb is clueless about being her daddy, but the reader knows the secret fairly early on—which makes THE RODEO MAN'S DAUGHTER the perfect title. (In my humble opinion, of course.)

What made you decide to write in this genre?

The people. I love writing—and reading—about the characters and how they act and what they think and feel and how they handle the curves that are thrown their way. And there are many curves in romance novels, many conflicts that pop up to keep the hero and heroine frustrated and apart no matter how much they might want to be together.

As a writer, I find it challenging but fun to see how long I can keep them from resolving their conflicts. But of course, eventually they always do.

Which is another thing I love about romance—the guaranteed happy endings.

In writing for Harlequin American Romance, I can also incorporate other favorite elements, such as the hero and heroine's community, which involves both their environment and all the characters around them. In my stories, they're usually quirky characters, and that makes the books all the more fun for me to write.

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

I think I'm a hybrid of the two. Along the lines of building a house, my usual work methods are to erect a fairly detailed framework (outline), but then leave lots of space to finish off within. It does sometimes mean I run up against unexpected walls! But I usually manage to hang in there and get job done.

Where did you get your idea for this particular book?

THE RODEO MAN'S DAUGHTER spins off from my previous book, A RANCHER'S PRIDE. They're both set in the town of Flagman's Folly. I fell in love with the hero and heroine of that book, as well as another important character, a four-year-old child who is deaf. I wanted to see how everything worked out for them after their own happy ending.

Along with that trio, I had a few meddling secondary characters who insisted upon coming along for the ride, including a grumpy judge with a heart of gold and a matchmaking town clerk who thinks she controls the love life of every unmarried adult in town. And who pretty much does.

As for the plot of THE RODEO MAN'S DAUGHTER, I came across a hero who overcomes his heartbreaking childhood and finally arrives at the peak of success, only to have his dreams shattered—and his body, too. After facing down his own death, he's hell-bent to get his life back on track, no matter the cost to anyone.

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

Unfair answer alert! (smile)

Putting aside the list of secondary characters, I'll keep to the ones who play the starring roles.
I adore nine-year-old Nate, the horse-loving preteen whose smart mouth hides the hurts she won't share with anyone. I love Tess, who was devastated by the way Caleb left her and now bravely deals with her problems on her own.

And I'm in love with Caleb, after seeing all he's suffered and knowing he wants—and deserves—better. The poor man just doesn't know how to go about getting it. So, very sorry, but I can't pick just one.

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

Confession time. I start off with character sheets and am good as far as name, age, hair and eye color. And I do jot down the most significant details, but what's important varies from character to character. After that I lose track of filling in the blanks and get caught up in writing the book.

Once in a while, I'll do a character interview. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

My heroines are usually too proud to tell their troubles to someone else, and my heroes are just too danged stubborn! They all usually wait until the push point in the story, and still the other character has to drag the information out of them. (smile)

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

First, there’s my website: http://www.barbarawhitedaille.com.

Readers should feel free to stop by and visit any time! They can also look for me on Facebook and Twitter: http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhitedaille and https://twitter.com/BarbaraWDaille.

Specifically for THE RODEO MAN'S DAUGHTER, I'm just beginning a blog tour where I'll be guesting at various places all over the Internet. Much Cheaper Than Therapy is my number-one stop on the tour. Because, of course, I need to fortify myself with some chocolate! Readers can find the blog tour schedule at my website.

What do we have to look forward next?

Thank you for asking. Next up is another book set in the town of Flagman's Folly. It centers around characters who make cameo appearances in THE RODEO MAN'S DAUGHTER.

HONORABLE RANCHER (August 2012) tells the story of Ben Sawyer, a man whose best friend died an Army hero. Ben's fighting both to keep the promise he made to take care of his friend's wife and small children and to keep his hands off the woman he's always loved from afar—his best friend's widow.

Thanks, Barbara!

Thank you, Kim, for inviting me to chat and for being such a gracious hostess.

To celebrate her book release, Barbara is offering a free copy of the first Flagman's Folly title, A RANCHER'S PRIDE, to one lucky commenter on today's blog. (Please check the blog Monday night to see who if you. Chances of winning determined by the number of entries.)

For a second chance to win: 1. Like Barbara's Facebook page, follow her on Twitter, or sign up for her Yahoo group newsletter (link available on her website)—or do all three (smile).

2. Then send her an e-mail via the Contact Form on her website letting her know which you've done. (Drawing will close at midnight January 21. Please check her website on Monday, January 23 to see who 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....

Originally from the East Coast, award-winning author Barbara White Daille now lives with her husband in the warm, sunny Southwest, where they love the lizards in the front yard but could do without the scorpions in the bathroom.

From the time she was a toddler, Barbara found herself fascinated by those things her mom called "books." Once she learned the words between the covers held the magic of storytelling, she wanted to see her words in print so she could weave that spell for others.

Barbara hopes you will enjoy reading her stories and will find your own storytelling magic in them!

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

Buy Harlequin http://www.harlequin.com/storeitem.html?iid=25312&cid=244

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Rodeo-Daughter-Harlequin-American-Romance/dp/0373753950/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1325537711&sr=1-3-fkmr0

Barnes & Noble http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/The-Rodeo-Man-s-Daughter?store=ALLPRODUCTS&keyword=The+Rodeo+Man%27s+Daughter