Interview with Jordan Summers

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Jordan Summers. 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 OFF LIMITS. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

First off, thank you for having me here. I call OFF LIMITS my ‘Ms. Congeniality on an airplane’ story because my heroine is fairly uncouth. She doesn’t play well with others and frankly hates to fly. That makes her fairly hostile to the passengers and unhappy with her assignment.

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

It was actually my fourth or fifth choice. The original title for my Blaze was Revenge of the Sky Goddess. I still like it better, but OFF LIMITS isn’t bad. It hints at what is happening between the hero and the heroine. Or should I say, what should be happening.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?

Actually, no. I didn’t do a lot of research for this book because I was a flight attendant for fourteen years, so I had ‘some’ experience. I did however phone the ATF to see if there were any slang terms for arm’s dealers. There wasn’t any that I could use, but they were all extremely helpful. I took a LOT of liberties with this story. (ie I made it all up.) So any mistakes I made concerning the ATF are all mine.

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

In OFF LIMITS, I actually liked my heroine, Delaney a lot. She got to do (and say) a lot of things that I would’ve loved to have done when I was flying. Writing this book was very cathartic for the flight attendant in me.

If your book was made into a movie, what actor would you like to fill your hero’s shoes?

Clive Owen. The name says it all. *g*

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Is that a trick question? I have several authors who inspired me. The first one would have to be Virginia Henley. She writes wonderful heroes and stories that are rich in detail. I have quite a few of her books on my keeper shelf. She’s also the reason that my very first attempt at writing a romance was in the historical genre. It was a pirate adventure as I recall. *g* I also love Kathleen Woodiwiss. Her stories always swept me away and made me want to write better. Susan Johnson taught me that hot can be defined many ways.

The next generation of authors also inspire me. Lynn Viehl with her wonderful world-building and twists on vampire lore. She gives fantastic advice too. ;) Dara Joy with her delicious heroes (Yes, I still have a crush on the hero from Mine to Take. He’s mine. All mine, I tell you. ;). Patricia Briggs has the ability to weave an amazing story. She writes awesome urban fantasies. I try to learn from their writing. Angela Knight and Emma Holly redefined hot otherworldly heroes, while building richly emotional love stories. Marjorie Liu and Eileen Wilks show me that the world really is populated by a variety of people and that my worlds should be too. Charlaine Harris taught me that humor applied sparingly can be far more effective than slapstick.
All these authors inspire me with their talent, drive and abilities. They make me want to sharpen my writing skills, tell better stories and evoke powerful emotions. Basically, when I grow up, I want to be able to write like them. J

What do we have to look forward next?

My next novel is quite a departure from the light-hearted Blaze. I have my first single title mass market release in November 2008. RED is a twist on the Little Red Riding Hood tale. It’s a near-future, post-apocalyptic story about a woman who sets out to find a killer and in the process finds herself. Oh, and she also has to stop a blood war. RED is the first book in my DEAD WORLD series for Tor. It will be followed by two more books, SCARLET and CRIMSON in 2009.

Thanks, Jordan Summers!

No, thank you!

Jordan will be checking in today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio:
Jordan Summers is an ex-flight attendant with a penchant for huge bookstores and big dumb action movies. She prefers quiet dinners with friends over maddening crowds. Happily married to her very own Highlander, they split their time between two continents.
Jordan is a member of the Romance Writer’s of America, Novelist Inc. and the Published Authors Network. She loves to hear from readers.

Check out author’s website at: http://www.jordansummers.com/ Buy OFF LIMITS from Amazon on March 1, 2008 or at the eHarlequin website in ebook in Feb. 2008. RED will be available for pre-order soon.

THIRD 'Magical Jewel' contest for ENCHANTING THE LADY.

ENCHANTING THE LADY is the first novel in the RELICS OF MERLIN series. Merlin used thirteen different jewels as a focus for thirteen mysterious spells, and the 'magical jewel' in ENCHANTING THE LADY is a pearl.

For this third contest, the prize is a princess-length Akoya cultured pearl necklace. (See my website CONTEST page for a photo and description of this 'magical' jewel.)Entering is easy. Just go to http://www.kathrynekennedy.com/ and click on the NEWSLETTER button to join Kathryne Kennedy's YahooGroup Newsletter. This is a private group, so your information will be kept confidential.

A winner will be randomly chosen from those who have joined (current newsletter subscribers are automatically entered). Only one entry per person. Contest ends March 31, 2008. Void where prohibited by law. You must be 18 years or older to enter. No prize substitution permitted. This contest is subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations.

Interview with Tina LaVon

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Tina LaVon. 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 Liquid Hypnosis. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

I would be happy to. Liquid Hypnosis is the first book I sold. I have three full practice manuscripts hidden away and I refuse to tell where, even if you threaten to take my chocolate away. I believe I put together what I learned about writing romance and suspense with Liquid and the work paid off. Liquid made the final round of the EPPIE and was nominated as one of the Top Ebook Romances of 2007 by Long and Short Reviews. It also finaled in several RWA chapter contests before selling to The Wild Rose Press.

I got the idea for the story when a friend of mine in the DEA told me his team had investigated the nightclubs in Scottsdale. I asked myself, “What if…” about two dozens times and came up with a romantic suspense with a paranormal twist. Donald Maas says you need to put your characters through hell and I’ve been told I did that with Liquid.

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

In the story, a female DEA agent must find a missing scientist who accidentally created a chemical that, when mixed with alcohol, controls your mind. I knew I wanted Hypnosis in the title. My critique partner, Deborah McTiernan, came up with the Liquid part during a brainstorming session.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?

My critique partner helped make the medical part believable and my friend in the DEA helped with my questions about procedure. Since this is a fiction novel, I had to bend reality more than a bit to make the romance and paranormal elements work. When your hero is bending the law, even for noble reasons, you can’t have your heroine following the rules for the whole story or the romance will have to take place during prison visiting hours. Making a by-the-book DEA agent reconcile her love and her commitment to her job was a challenge.

Of course, the paranormal elements were tougher to research. I’ve never heard of a human lie detector, who can open the door to the spirit world. I also never heard of anyone whose wounds unheal as the evil spirit haunting her grows stronger. I had to use my imagination for that part of the story.

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

I grew attached to all of my characters. My hero is the kind of man I would want my daughter to marry. He’s strong, noble, and dedicated to his family. But of course, I think every writer loves the main couple. The character I had the most fun writing was Orchid. She’s a psychic flower child who is always there for our heroine. Everyone needs a best friend like that.

If your book was made into a movie, what actor would you like to fill your hero’s shoes?

Cameron Matheson, the actor who plays Ryan on All My Children. You might remember him from Dancing with the Stars. He always comes across as a lovable hero.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Every writer who ever spoke at a Desert Rose or Valley of the Sun chapter meetings, and every writer whose RWA conference tape I listened to over and over. RWA taught me how to write. I also take something from every book I read. It could be the way a writer makes me care about the characters or shocks me with a suspenseful twist. I admire writers who can continuously produce like Jennifer Ashley or writers who can maintain the sexual tension throughout a book like Stephanie Myer. Kathryne Kennedy’s world building and Dan Brown’s code breaking inspire me to be true to my own gifts. Debbie Macomber’s speeches motivate me to be persistent and to improve my craft.

In terms of marketing, Karen Fox’s Show Me the Money and Cynthia Sterling’s Market News taught me that being a resource for other writers helps build name recognition. I started a list of MySpace links on my personal blog at http://www.suspensebytina.blogspot.com/ to help romance readers and writers connect on MySpace. The lists now contain 850 live links. Anyone interested in being MySpace friends with readers, writers, reviewers, publishers, librarians and booksellers can click on a link that will take them to that person’s profile and then click add. If anyone wants me to place their link on my blog, all they need to do is leave a message for me on MySpace or leave a comment here.

What do we have to look forward next?

I’m currently working on Desperate Homeowners. It’s a dark humorous look at the people who run homeowners associations and the neighbors who want to kill them.

Desperate Homeowners is about Andi, a substitute teacher who finds herself in a war with the president of the homeowners association while fighting her feelings an old flame the property manager who can’t stop the mayhem. When the board members become a target of a serial killer, Andi ends up playing amateur detective.

The agent who judged it in the final round of the Hot Prospects Contest called it “…very Stephanie Plum-ish.” This is the novel where I finally found my true voice and I love writing it. If you read episodes of The Neurotic Writer in this blog, you’ll get an idea of what my humor is like.

Speaking of agents, I’ll have this story done this summer and then I’ll begin my hunt for an agent to sell it.

Thanks, Tina!

To celebrate her book release, Tina is offering a free ebook of Liquid Hypnosis to one lucky commenter on today's blog. She will be most of the day today, in between her day job. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Check out author’s website at www.suspensebytina.com
Print copies of Liquid Hypnosis are available thru Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
Electronic copies are available at http:/www.thewildrosepress.com

Win a free free download of Web of Deceit

Kim Watters is offering up an e-book download of Web of Deceit over at The Romance Studio today in the Book-a-Day giveaway.

Stop by and enter today February 21st.

http://www.theromancestudio.com/bad_form.php

Thanks for playing.

Sold My First Contemporary Romance: The Long Road Home!

I just sold my short contemporary romance to The Wild Rose Press. As yet, I do not have a cover or release date. As soon as I do, I will post both. But for now, here's a blurb of the story:

Travel across the country with her old lover, John McDonnell--and his girlfriend? Impossible. But Clarisse Madison is desperate. Terrified of flying and unable to drive long stretches because of a knee surgery, she sees no other way to get from New York to San Diego and her sister’s wedding.

Three years ago, a plane crash disfigured her leg and destroyed her career as a model. Self-esteem crushed and fearful of rejection, Clarisse severed her relationship with John. Now, forced to travel across the country with him and his girlfriend, Vivian, she is determined to hide her disfigurement. Driving through state after state and mile after mile, though, she begins to fall in love all over again. But can anything come of it? Can she overcome her pride for the sake of love?

Contest Celebrating the Print Release of Liquid Hypnosis

Liquid Hypnosis is now available in print!

And we're celebrating!

On March 18th, a lucky winner will receive a free copy of the book and a $25 gift certificate to either Barnes and Noble or The Wild Rose Press. To enter this contest, simply join my Newsletter Group. Click on the Yahoo icon on the right side of the blog (under the bookcover) to join.

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Liquid Hypnosis is a Recommended Read by Fallen Angel Reviews: "The story has such a twist to it that when it happens you wonder how you didn't see that coming!"
***
The Long and Short of it gives Liquid Hypnosis a 5 Book Review and a Nomination as One of the Best Long Ebook Romances of 2007: "LaVon has a true gift for writing sympathetically and insightfully. Even her villains are compelling and three-dimensional..."
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Liquid Hypnosis has it all: SUSPENSE ROMANCE HAUNTINGS

Blurb:
More innocent lives will be lost if Samantha Garrett, the DEA agent known as The Human Lie Detector, is unable to solve the mystery surrounding a secret formula that controls minds. Her career took a roller coaster ride after her last case went badly, but she still has a chance at the promotion dangling in front of her and she refuses to lose it now. While searching for the suspect that got away, she must fight her feelings for his brother and handle the repercussions from her last case, which haunts her still.Kevin Brewster, a mild-mannered, dedicated doctor, has spent his life trying to make up for his father’s crimes. His work life revolves around a clinic helping those in great need with no resources to take care of themselves. To that end, he has become inventive and daring. In addition to his work there, he must now prove his brother’s innocence before the by-the-book DEA agent discovers their secret.

*****

Read the first scene at www.suspensebytina.com
Order Liquid Hypnosis at
Amazon or at a bookstore near you!
ISBN# 1-60154-123-6

Interview With Jan Scarbrough

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Jan Scarbrough. 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 Reunion Game, a novella in the Ladies of Legend Anthology from Resplendence Publishing. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

The Ladies of Legend Anthology came about over several months during back and fourth e-mails with my “sisterwriters,” Maddie, Janet and Magdalena. We created a fictitious town in East Tennessee and began to populate it with characters. Then we decided we’d each write a story with the town as the setting. We wrote our novellas in May 2007. When we finished, we pitched the concept to Resplendence Publishing, and the rest, as they say, is history.

These are the novellas in the Ladies of Legend Anthology:

Claiming the Legend, by Janet Eaves... Lilly Peach, is running from something so frightening it finally takes a whole town to cover her back.

Midnight in Legend, TN, by Magdalena Scott... Lovely Midnight Shelby finds Legend on the Internet after becoming tired of being one of her now ex-husband's "beautiful things."

Bed, Breakfast and You, by Maddie James ... Suzie Schul finds home only when the "fling" she had many months earlier shows up with a plan on her B&B doorstep.

The Reunion Game, by Jan Scarbrough... Plain Jane Smith reunites with her long lost love by playing a game of "bait and switch" with her twin sister.

The Reunion Game is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

The title describes the plot of the book. I thought it sounded “catchy.”

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?

Actually, I flipped through several Cosmo magazines to get ideas.

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

Jane, the heroine, is a lot like me. I like the way she takes a chance to go for what she wants in life.

If your book was made into a movie, what actor would you like to fill your hero’s shoes?

Matthew McConaughey

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

Several members of my chapter, the Kentucky Romance Writers, inspire me because they have recreated their careers. They are J.R. Ward, Toni Blake and Renee Ryan. Persistence is the name of the game, and if you give you never reach your goal.

What do we have to look forward next?

I have another book coming out in March from Resplendence Press. It’s another contemporary set in Louisville, Kentucky, called A Man of Her Own. Resplendence is offering my medieval romance, My Lord Raven, in April.

Thanks, Jan!

To celebrate her book release, Jan Scarbrough is offering a free ebook of Ladies of Legend Anthology to one lucky commenter on today's blog. She will be around all day today. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio: In ninth grade, I reported on freelance writing for a career project and dreamed of being a writer. After majoring in English at Western Kentucky University, I taught high school English for five years. In 1982 I began making my living as a writer - a technical writer. But I didn't have the nerve to make my real dream come true until a life-threatening illness in 1988.
I’m a member of Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America and the Kentucky Romance Writers, where I’ve served as president, secretary, newsletter editor. I’m currently the web mistress of the chapter’s award-winning web site.

I live in Louisville, Kentucky, along with two dogs and four cats. Dreams do come true! On January 2, 2000, I married Bill, my soul mate. When I’m not writing, I take riding lessons every week on my favorite horse, the American Saddlebred. I also volunteer at The Luci Center, a therapeutic riding center.

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

Buy http://www.resplendencepublishing.com/.

Blurb: Sarah Colby’s romantic heart believes there’s a man for her somewhere. She’s determined to find her “soul mate.” During a “girls’ night out” at a Louisville, Kentucky, bar, Sarah’s two former college roommates urge her to “kiss a lot of toads” if she wants to find Prince Charming. Hoping to make up for lost time, twenty-four-year-old Sarah practices on several guys. One of the unsuspecting “toads” is wealthy restaurateur and chef Lane Williams, a guy with a great aversion to settling down.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ah, romance is in the air. Flowers, chocolate, and romantic dinners for two.

In case any of you were wondering how Valentine's Day came to be, or simply want to impress your loved one with your knowledge of this holiday, I've found several sites that can explain that.

http://www.history.com/minisites/valentine/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine

http://wilstar.com/holidays/valentn.htm

http://www.theholidayspot.com/valentine/history_of_valentine.htm

http://www.pictureframes.co.uk/pages/saint_valentine.htm

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/valentinesdayhistory.html

Happy Valentine's Day. May you all get what you desire. Me?
I'm having steak and crab legs and hanging home with my hubby and kids.
(We'll go celebrate Saturday when we can actually get a reservation in our favortie restaurant!)

The Chocolate Affaire was a Huge Success!

The book signing at the Chocolate Affaire was a huge success thanks to the efforts of erotic romance writer Kayla Janz and the volunteers from the Valley of the Sun RWA.

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There were free workshops on writing, over twenty-five romance authors signing their books, and our hunky cover model taking pictures with fans.

**

This was my first signing and I can't wait till we get to do it again next year. I want to extend a heart-filled THANK YOU to all my friends, family, co-workers, and new readers who came by to see me. I've enjoyed talking to some of you on MySpace this past week. http://www.myspace.com/suspensebytina

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I also enjoyed meeting the many teenaged fans of Stephanie Myer, who giggled and yelled, "Ohmigod" when the cover model signed his picture for them. There's nothing like the sight of 15 girls with cell phones taking pictures of their friends posing next to a male model. I enjoyed our discussion over Twilight.

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I hope to see all of you again next February.

Interview With Leah Hultenschmidt

I’d like to welcome our guest editor today, Leah Hultenschmidt. 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.

What exciting new projects are happening over at Dorchester Publishing?

Oh my gosh, where to start? We’re always hopping with new projects, so this is a toughie.

Some new authors you’re definitely going to want to try this year include New York Times bestseller C.L. Wilson with her super debut Lord of the Fading Lands and Lady of Light and Shadows. And when you feel like you’re going to go through withdrawal waiting for C.L.’s next books, we have Kathryne Kennedy’s spectacular Enchanting the Lady, which author Erin Grady has described as “the imagination of J.K. Rowling combined with the romance of Julie Garwood.” And J.D. Warren brings us a wild paranormal romantic adventure in Bedlam, Bath & Beyond.

Plus, the high-action Shomi line has its three newest titles coming out, American Title winner Jenny Gardiner makes her debut with Sleeping With Ward Cleaver, and Marjorie Liu has her latest in the Dirk & Steele series with The Last Twilight.

Can you give us a little history about Dorchester Publishing?

Dorchester is the oldest independent mass-market publisher in North America. We specialize in genre fiction – Romance, Westerns, Horror, and Thrillers. Our imprints include Leisure Books, Love Spell, Making It, Shomi and Hard Case Crime. For more, visit http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/about.cfm.

What are your top five pet peeves a new writer makes?

I’m not sure about coming up with five, but all it takes is one or two. Mostly, it’s that they let the pacing fall. If you can keep me reading, you’ve got a great shot at getting an offer.

What are your top five pet peeves a published author makes?

Again, I don’t think I really have five. It kind of takes a lot of peeve me. But I’d say a big one in this category is that sometimes an author who already has a contract gets a little comfortable and the level of writing isn’t up to par with the book that got her published in the first place. Fortunately, my authors are pretty good about *not* doing this. Mostly because they probably know I won’t let them get away with it. I’d rather have a good book turned in late than a messy one that meets its deadline.

What old trend or new trend do you see in publishing for Dorchester?

I think writers are going to continue to mix genres in bold new ways, like with historical paranormals, mystery romances, and romance with high fantasy. I noticed before the New Year that I was getting a lot of submissions with demons. It seems that demons are the new vampires. But once you know about a trend, it’s already in its peak. So the best thing to do is be aware of the market, but write what interests you most.

What catches your eye in a new writer’s work?

Before I read a word of the sample pages, I’m looking in the cover letter to see if the author’s idea is something new and different. Is the story interesting? And then, can it keep my interest? And then, do the characters have depth? Would I want to read more about these people? Do I care what happens to them? If you can get a ‘yes’ to all those questions, I’ll probably buy the book.

For the submission process, what do you want from an author? What is your response time?

My ideal submission is a cover letter that tells me the genre, the word count, and brief plot description; a 3-7 page synopsis covering all the major plot points; and a brilliant first three chapters that leaves me begging for the rest of the manuscript because I NEED to know what happens next. It typically takes about 4-6 months for a response, unless we can see right away that the work is something we don’t publish. The “no” responses are much faster. ;-) Also note that we accept agented and unagented submissions.

What new author have you recently signed?

I work with a lot of new authors. Some new ones to check out this summer include: Trish Albright, Siren's Song (July) – This is an adventure-filled historical, and it immediately reminded me of “The Princess Bride” crossed with “Zorro,” and maybe a little “Pirates of the Caribbean” thrown in for good measure.

Angie Fox, The Accidental Demon Slayer (August) – Stephanie Rowe, Michelle Rowan and Tate Hallaway have all already given this book some great quotes, so if you like their light paranormals, I’m betting you’ll like Angie’s too. The heroine’s voice is incredibly engaging, as is the most hilarious Jack Russell terrier I’ve ever seen.

Alissa Johnson, As Luck Would Have It (October) – I just fell in love with the characters in this Regency-set book, not only the main protagonists, but all their friends as well. Like Julia Quinn or Eloisa James, Alissa has created this wonderfully romantic world that I never want to leave.

Any other chocolate nuggets you can give authors looking to break into your house?

Our editors judge a lot of contests. Both Angie’s and Trish’s books were bought from contests I judged. That can be a great way to break in—and faster than the slush pile!

Thanks Leah!

Check out Dorchester's Website at: http://www.dorchesterpub.com/Dorch/about.cfm.

Love is in the air

Love is in the air this month, so hold on to your hats.
Free books are on the line.

The Wild Rose Press is running a special promotion. For every Sweetheart Rose item someone purchases, they will receive a free short story from Sweetheart Rose. That means if you haven’t gotten your own copy of Dog Days of Summer or Discovering Jenna you can now get both for the price of one! http://www.thewildrosepress.com/.
The only catch is the buyer has to email Lisadawn(lisadawn@thewildrosepress.com) or Rhonda Penders mailto:rpenders@thewildrosepress.com) in order to get the free book. So buy one, send off the email and get the second one free! What a deal. Kim

The Chocolate Affaire

This last weekend, I was in downtown Glendale helping out my local chapter of Romance Writers of America at the Chocolate Affaire. Tons of books were offered for sale, from Science Fiction Romantic, Erotica to Inspirational and Romantic Suspense. Even though there were many different genres, each author had one common goal: to tell a story and have someone read it.

Well, we had a wonderful crowd show up and many were dying to read what our authors had to write. This year we were lucky enough to have a cover model, CJ, for the event. A steady stream of people came to get a photo with him. His hair was amazing! I’ve never had it down to my waist in my life. The atmosphere was wonderful, filled with laughter and camaraderie, and it made me realize how lucky I am to call myself a writer.

I met some amazing new people and got reacquainted with others. Judi McCoy joined us for another year. Her humor is contagious, and we're lucky to have her agree to join us at Much Cheaper Than Therapy. Welcome Judi!

Oh, and Judi--right back at cha :)

Desert Dreams 2008

Why should you attend the Desert Dreams Conference April 4-6th?

We asked Vijaya Schartz, author of award winning science fiction and romance with kick:

http://www.vijayaschartz.com

"I attended my first Desert Dreams Conference in 1996 where I met Diana Gabaldon and fell in love with that superfriendly event. I never missed a Desert Dreams Conference since. After I became a published author, I realized that each of these conferences marked a major step in my writing career. Now I give workshops there, but the best part for me is the incredible lineup of editors and agents. Don't miss that opportunity. "

****

This year's lineup of editors and agents includes:

Michelle Grajkowski - Three Seas Literary Agency

Elaine Spencer - The Knight Agency

Bob Mecoy - Creative Book Services

Rachel Vater - Lowenstein-Yost

Leah Hultenschmidt - Dorchester Publishing

Toni Plummer - Thomas Dunne Imprint, St. Martin's Press

Joanna Raisanen - Harlequin Superromance

For more information go to http://www.desertroserwa.org/

Interview with Cathy McDavid

I’d like to welcome our guest today, Cathy McDavid. 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 FAMILY PLAN. Can you tell us a little bit about your fabulous new book?

First, I want to thank Kim, Tina, and Carol for having me here. You have such a cute and clever blog (picture me green with envy – she who is pathetically lame when it comes to blogging). And I'm so excited about your news releases with Wild Rose Press. Much luck with your books.

Thanks Cathy. It's our pleasure.

Okay, back to the interview. THE FAMILY PLAN is the second in my Blue Ridge series from Harlequin American. Like the first book in the series, HIS ONLY WIFE, this book is also a reunion story, however the hero and heroine weren't previously involved other than as friends (the heroine wanted more but dang it all, you know how men can be). Jolyn has returned after an 8-year absence to launch her own construction company. In addition to struggling to succeed in what is typically considered a man's field, she's also recovering from a serious injury in which she nearly lost her leg.

Chase is a single father raising his daughter, Mandy, and the only veterinarian in a thirty mile radius. He's a pretty busy guy and figures the only way he can spend more time with Mandy is to expand his business and take on an assistant. Who better to build his new clinic than Jolyn, newly returned to town, newly licensed contractor, and newly shed of her previous Tomboy ways?

There's just one small – no, make that large – glitch to their budding romance. Jolyn's brother once had an affair with Chase's ex-wife. The question of Mandy's parentage has never been resolved, and Jolyn's mother, suffering from a potentially life-threatening illness, is determined to prove her son is Mandy's biological father.

THE FAMILY PLAN is a very interesting title. How did you arrive at that name?

I always chuckle when I think about how my editor picked the title. I originally called the book, A Family in Every Way. As usual, Harlequin asked me to submit a list of possible titles. I'm not entirely sure of the process but I think they take the titles to marketing and decide which one will work best. Well, my editor didn't want any of the first batch and asked for more. By now, I've had to come up with about two dozen titles so my brain was seriously taxed. I was literally looking around my office, spotted my T-Mobile phone bill on the desk and thought, "Wow, what about THE FAMILY PLAN." And that was the one Harlequin liked.

Did you have to do a lot of research for the book?

Fortunately, no, which is rare for me. I usually have to do some research. Since my day job is the co-owner of a construction company, and I've owned horses most of my life, I lucked out with this book. I did have to consult an equine vet book for one small part when the hero is treating the heroine's horse for an injury.

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

Definitely the heroine and not just because she's a woman. I gave her a lot of challenges to face. Not only was she starting her own business in a field dominated by men but she nearly lost her leg the year before in a riding accident and walks with a limp. And her internal conflict is through the roof. Imagine having to chose between the man you've loved since you were a teen and your mother who is battling a serious illness. Argh!! I love it.

If your book was made into a movie, what actor would you like to fill your hero’s shoes?

I think I'd pick Jake Gyllenhall. He's a few years too young for the part but he's got the right kind of sexy sensitivity that my hero, Chase, has. Plus, he looks mighty fine in a cowboy hat.

Do you have any authors that inspired you?

There have been several authors who are personal friends of mine and have the kind of career with Harlequin I've always wanted. They are Roz Denny Fox and Vicki Lewis Thompson. Some day in the distant future, I would like to have a very successful single title career. Vicki has done that as well as Linda Lael Miller, another former series author I greatly admire and want to be like when I grow up.

What do we have to look forward next?

I have another Harlequin American coming out in August of 2008, COWBOY DAD. This is the first book in the Bear Creek Ranch series and is based on a fiction western guest resort in northern Arizona, the family that runs it and the employees who work there. Books II and II of the series will be out sometime in 2009. I don't have titles for those yet. I'll probably see what bills come in the mail that day and send those names to my editor (grin!)

Thanks, Cathy!

To celebrate her book release, Cathy McDavid is offering a free ebook of HIS ONLY WIFE to one lucky commenter on today's blog. She will be around part of the day and then she's off to sign her new book at The Chocolate Affair in Glendale, Arizona. I'm sure some of you have questions or comments for her, so please ask away...

Bio: By day (Monday through Friday, that is) Cathy McDavid is the mild-mannered owner of a commercial construction company that she manages with her gorgeous husband of nineteen years. But by night (and most weekends) she becomes... Romance Writer.
Faster than a riveting plotline. Stronger than a compelling conflict. Able to create sexy heroes and spunky heroines readers will fall in love with. Look, up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's...

All right, all right. So she's not an alien sent to Earth from another galaxy — despite what her seventeen-year-old twins would say — but if you ask her, this author of ten books would tell you that being a romance writer is pretty darn super.

Cathy's Smallville is actually Scottsdale, Arizona. She embraced the country life long before she met her husband, a modern-day mule skinner who drives a replica of a Wells Fargo stagecoach with a team of six mules. Cathy literally gets up with the chickens. She has a flock of over thirty-five laying hens and one duck who has her own private swimming pool. Two dogs and one elderly, crotchety boss cat round out the McDavid pets. Cathy loves contemporary ranch stories and often incorporates her own experiences into her stories.

When not writing, she and her family spend as much time as they can at their cabin in the small town of Young. Of course, she takes her laptop with her on the chance inspiration strikes.

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

Buy: Through Harlequin, Amazon or where ever Harlequins are sold.