Author and Book Spotlight Plus Giveaway: For The Love Of Jazz by Elke Feuer

For The Love Of Jazz by Elke Feuer

On Sale Today!

 

Publisher: Crimson Romance

Genre:  Romance, Suspense

Release Date:  December 24, 2012

Author Spotlight: Q and A with Stefanie Sloane

Today I welcome romance author Stefanie Sloane. Ms. Sloane has a new historical romance, Devil In Disguise, which will release on May 24. You can read my review here.

A native Northwesterner with the pale skin to prove it, Stefanie credits her parents’ eclectic reading habits—not to mention their decision to live in the middle of nowhere—for her love of books. A childhood spent lost in the pages of countless novels led Stefanie to college where she majored in English. No one was more surprised than Stefanie when she actually put her degree to use and landed a job in Amazon.com’s Books editorial department. She spent over five years reading for a living before retiring to concentrate on her own stories. Stefanie currently resides with her family in Seattle.

Diva: Describe yourself in five words.

Stefanie: Funny, sensitive, curious, shy, loyal.

Diva: What are three things that your readers would be surprised to learn about you?

Stefanie: Well, first, I never really planned on being a romance writer. In high school I thought that I would become a journalist and write for Rolling Stone magazine. Only, I don’t smoke, drink, or like to stay up until the wee hours, and I’m shy, which kind of put a crimp in the plan.

Second, I was the 30th employee at a little internet company called Amazon.com. My office was in a garage and I knew nothing about the web—and had no idea what a ride my nearly six years there would be like.


Third, writing romance runs in my family! My mom is Lois Faye Dyer, the amazing Silhouette Special Edition author of nearly 30 books. She writes incredibly moving contemporary stories that most often feature complex and completely yummy cowboys.

Diva: What were you doing before you became a writer? And what would you have done if your writing hadn't taken off?

Stefanie: Well, I was and still am a mom to two amazing and challenging young girls. As any parent knows, this is a full-time job—rewarding, but demanding! And Justin Bieber fever has recently hit our household, so the challenge-o-meter just ratcheted up. I’ve also done quite a bit of editorial consulting work for various companies and nonprofits, which I truly enjoy. If I wasn’t writing historical romance, I would probably be concentrating on my nonprofit work. In this economy, nonprofits need our help more than ever.

Diva: What authors have had the most influence on your writing or your desire to become a writer?

Stefanie: First and foremost, my mom. She started writing when I was quite young and she was working a full-time job—so that’s, what, three full-time jobs all at one time between raising children, working in the legal system, and writing? She taught me what discipline and belief in yourself and your dreams can do for a person.


Julia Quinn has also had a major influence on me as an author. We’re the best of friends, and she’s always been there for me both personally and professionally. Her strength has carried me through some of the more bumpy patches of life’s roadway.

Diva: How long did it take from the time you finished your first book, to get your work published?

Stefanie: Well, the first book that I ever wrote was a contemporary chick lit back in 2003. I finished it and signed with an agent less than a week before giving birth to my second child! Unfortunately, that book didn’t sell, and learning to care for two kids took over all of my time until 2007 when I started what would become The Devil in Disguise. That summer, at the national RWA conference, I was introduced to agent Jennifer Schober, who encouraged me to send a partial her way. I finally did mail off the first 150 pages to Jenn in early 2008. She offered representation shortly thereafter and we set to work on polishing the partial. It went out to editors in the fall of 2008 and I had my offer from Ballantine by Thanksgiving. I think that I ate an entire pie in celebration!

Diva: What's the best piece of advice you were given while you were trying to get your work published?

Stefanie: “A watched pot never boils.” Honestly, I’m one of the most impatient people on the planet. So when a fellow author heard me lamenting the fact that I wasn’t progressing as quickly as I should, she said those words to me. And was she ever right! And it’s excellent advice for every part of the author process—and really, life in general. Have patience with yourself, with those around you, and with your work. You’ll be surprised by what it does for your outlook.

Diva: What book(s) are you dying to get your hands on?

Stefanie: There are so many! Amanda Quick’s Quicksilver releases tomorrow. In late May there is Julia Quinn’s Just Like Heaven. And Jennifer Ashley’s The Many Sins of Lord Cameron is due out in August.

Diva: Do you have any tidbits that you can share about what's next on your agenda?

Stefanie: Oooh, yes! I recently signed a contract for the next three books in my Regency Rogues series. Here’s a sneak peek at the fourth book, tentatively titled The Saint Who Stole My Heart:

Lord Dashiell Matthews, the Viscount of Hardwicke, remembers little of Lady Elena Barnes beyond her slight build, mousy character, and bookish ways. Her unavoidable presence at Hardwicke House would be inconvenient, true, but a woman could hardly prove enough of a distraction to interfere with what was the most important case of Dash’s life—ferreting out the monster who’d murdered a dear friend’s mother many years before.

Dash would, of course, live to regret such an assumption.

As for Elena, a trip to London to retrieve a priceless book is troublesome, though not nearly as much as the feelings the viscount inspires in her. His touch elicits feelings from Elena that she’d only ever read about. Her skin tingles. Lord Hardwicke is as handsome as she remembered—actually, more so as he’d grown into his frame in a rather attractive manner—and as dim as a ha’penny tallow. Or is he? The more time Elena spends with the man, the greater her suspicions grow regarding his intellect and just what he might be up to as they’re thrown together in the search for an individual known only as the Rook.

Can true love save the day? Find out in the exciting and enthralling fourth installment of the Regency Rogues.

Thanks so much to Stefanie for taking time to answer my questions. To learn more about her and her books, find her at:

Website: http://www.stefaniesloane.com
Twitter: @StefanieSloane
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stefanie-Sloane-Historical-Romance-Author/191673530858361

Author Spotlight: Q and A with Beate Boeker

Today I welcome romance author Beate Boeker.  Ms. Boeker’s new book, A Little Bit Of Passion released on April 4. Read my review here.

Beate Boeker is a product manager by day and a writer by night. She’s also married and the mother of an energetic kid. If you mix Latin and German, Beate Boeker literally translates as “happy books,” and, with a name like that, what else could she do but write romances?

Diva:  Describe yourself in five words.

Beate Boeker:  Determined. Talkative. Curious. Curly. Organized.

Diva:   What are three things you must have while writing?

Beate Boeker:  One thick throw to keep me warm. No, make that two. A full pot of green tea with some flavor (usually lemon) - and the corresponding mug of course.

Diva:  When did you decide to write and who are some the authors that inspired your love of reading?

Beate Boeker:  Hmm. Difficult to say. It wasn't a conscious decision; it sort of happened all the time, first as a teenager, and then again in my mid-thirties. Basically whenever I started to get bored in my real life (I get bored very easily). Then I have to invent some challenge to keep me busy! Authors who have inspired my love of reading . . . I love Mary Stewart for the suspense, Georgette Heyer for her amazing characters, L.M. Montgomery for her love of beauty, Elisabeth Peters for her irony, Agatha Christie for the surprise, Dorothy Sayers for the intelligence . . . the list is long!

Diva:  How did your book A Little Bit Of Passion come about?  What was your inspiration for writing the story?

Beate Boeker:  I'm the sort of writer who starts with a scene, sits down and sees where the story takes her. A Little Bit of Passion was born from a deep love of skiing and a winter when I didn't have the money to go on a skiing holiday. I dreamed myself away. And then, things took on a life of their own . . . It's the only book I have ever written in first person, and I think that's why it became a story very close to my heart.

Diva:  What was your road to publication like and can you offer advice to aspiring authors?

Beate Boeker: My road to publication was a bit unusual as I'm German and live 

in Germany. English is not my mother language, and I only started learning it at the age of ten, at school, as was normal at the time (today, German kids start at eight). My very first teacher was a Scot, and the first thing she taught us was to put our tongue between our teeth when saying "the". I remember we all laughed ourselves silly because we thought we were lisping, but I can't be grateful enough to her. I wrote my first novel in German (it was pretty dreadful), and when I realized that (this shows you how dreadful it really was), I tried to find people to tell me how to make it better. I really looked around hard, but I didn't find anything. At the time, I had already finished my business studies and had a busy full-time job, so going back to university and studying the development of language since the first men started to grunt was not an option. I searched everywhere and finally realized that in the US, there's a complete system for beginning writers. And so I decided to write in English. The next unusual thing happened about a year later. I had finished my first novel and decided I needed professional help, so I found a book doctor in the Internet. Her name is Elisabeth Lyon. She told me how to work on every aspect of my manuscript, and I learned more than I ever thought I could learn about writing. She then told me that Avalon Books publishes just the kind of novel I write (contemporary romance), so I sent them my story (after having edited it, of course). It took another 18 months or so before it was accepted.

 

Advice to aspiring authors: Find a critique group or another author who works with you on your manuscript. It's not easy to find the right partner, because emotions run high when you give your first work out of your hands, but it's worth it. Via The Writer Magazine, I found Margaret Damele Elam, who took me through a strict school and encouraged me when I got a devastating report from a writer's contest on "A Little Bit of Passion". Thank God the editors at Avalon did not feel the same. So, my advice is: Never give up. Continue to dream your dreams.

Diva:  Are you working on any new projects that you can share?

Beate Boeker: Yes. I have always loved the combination of romance and mystery and am working on a series set in Florence, Italy. I have not yet found a publisher for this series, but I haven't yet given up hope!

Thanks so much to Beate for taking the time to answer my questions.  To learn more about Beate and her books, visit her website at http://www.happybooks.de/

Book Spotlight and Giveaway: The Art of Seducing A Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

Read an excerpt

Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf

By Molly Harper

Coming March 29, 2011

Baring It All

Generations of werewolves have been secretly residing in a secluded valley a stone's throw from Grundy, Alaska. So when a snooping Outsider comes to Grundy to investigate rumors of lycanthropic shenanigans in the area, the valley's pack alpha, Maggie Graham, resolves to chase him away, even if doing so takes a quick bite on the butt. What a pity that researcher Nick Thatcher turns out to be so drool-worthy, and that his kisses make Maggie want to sit up and beg. 

Maggie just can't seem to convince Nick to leave . . . and even worse, she can't convince herself to stay away from him. Cross-species dating is problem enough for a harried alpha female, but on top of that, a rival group of werewolves is trying to move into the valley. With interpack war threatening, Maggie can't afford to be distracted. Combining romance and a career can be tough for anyone; for a werewolf in love with a human, it may be disastrous. . . .

For more about Molly visit Simonandschuster.com

http://books.simonandschuster.com/Art-of-Seducing-a-Naked-Werewolf/Molly-Harper/9781439195871

For More of your favorite romance authors visit pocketafterdark.com

Thanks to Simon and Schuster, I have two copies of this new release for giveaway.  Giveaway will end on March 25 and is only open to US residents.  No P. O. Boxes.  Winner will be randomly chosen and emailed.  Winner will have 72 hours to contact me before another winner will be chosen.  To enter simply

1. Be a follower of this blog through Goggle Friend Connect
2. Fill out the entry form.

Good luck!


Don’t forget to check out How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf! On Sale Now!

Book and Author Spotlight: Misconceptions by C. Hayes

Misconceptions by C. Hayes

Bran Nue Productions

Coming April 1, 2011

Gabrielle thought she found the perfect guy in Tre' Johnson. He was all she ever wanted in a man. He was handsome, romantic, and he swept her right off her feet.  Her dreams had finally come true.  Her fairy tale relationship/marriage was suddenly about to come to a devastating end. Gabrielle soon realizes that the man she married and who fathered her only son was suddenly becoming someone she didn’t know. The lies, cheating, sneaking around and his odd behavior was making her regret her not so perfect married life. Was Tre’ getting tired of the married life or was he just showing her the person he really was all along.  Gabrielle's discovery of the person she married was mindboggling.  She realized that from the beginning who she thought of Tre’ Johnson was only a Misconception.

This story shows just how easy one can get drawn to a person based on the representative they present in the beginning.  Sometimes we love so hard only to figure out who we love has a side to them we never knew.  Author C. Hayes shows how Gabrielle fell in love with her dream man, how through all the different women and deceit she found the strength and courage to leave, and how she let her heart love again.  It makes you really question if you ever really know a person. Misconceptions are real.

Meet Author C. Hayes

C. Hayes is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and is currently pursuing a Masters Degree in Counseling.  C. Hayes has always had a passion for helping others and being a part of her community.  She is a part of many local organizations where she continues to contribute to her city. This Author of ”Misconceptions" which is set to release April 2011 is also the founder and CEO of Bran Nue Productions. Bran Nue Productions consists of Hayes and her two sons (10) and (6). It serves as the mother company of Skayte by Kyler D. which is a t-shirt line that was created by Hayes' oldest son Kyler Doutrive.   Her company also has many other upcoming projects, which includes a reality series that showcases women entrepreneurs in her hometown, assisting her boys with publishing a children’s comic book and growing her collection of novels.  She also has a goal to create a short film from her first novel.  C. Hayes is a woman you definitely want to watch.  Her willingness to help others and reach her goals is extreme.

"My focus now are my children, building something for them and with them is the best feeling in the world"

A Few Words From Ms. Hayes 

I remember being a young girl wondering what I wanted to be when I grew up.  I think I must have gone through many things before settling on being in the criminal justice system.  Its funny how you just don’t know what you will end up doing, what you be a part of, how many lives you may touch and how you as a person will end up. Well I managed to stick with my passion of helping others and got a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and am now pursuing a Masters in Mental Health Counseling.

But at thirty two years of age I never thought that I would become an author.  Goes to show how when God has a plan no one can intervene.  I was inspired to write my first novel just last year when a friend of mine bought me a mother’s day gift that changed my life.  A journal.  I sat and thought about things that people go through every day and something women and men can relate to.  In conclusion I have my book entitled Misconceptions.

I am thankful that I have reached this milestone in my life and rather my book inspires or helps someone I am satisfied with my progress.

My goal is to motivate and uplift others.  I want to be an example that goals can be reached.  Writing has now become my therapy, there are stories to be told and as a new author I intend to do just that. Tell stories.

For more information about C. Hayes, visit her website at www.cshayes.com or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MsC_Hayes

Author Spotlight: Q and A with Allison Pang

Today I welcome author Allison Pang to the blog.  Ms Pang is the author of A Brush Of Darkness, a new urban fantasy that releases on January 25.  To read my review, click HERE.

A marine biologist in a former life, Allison Pang turned to a life of crime to finance her wild spending habits and need to collect Faberge eggs. A cat thief of notable repute, she spends her days sleeping and nights scaling walls and wooing dancing boys….Well, at least the marine biology part is true. But she was taloned by a hawk once.  She also loves Hello Kitty, sparkly shoes, and gorgeous violinists.

She spends her days in Northern Virginia working as a cube grunt and her nights waiting on her kids and cats, punctuated by the occasional husbandly serenade. Sometimes she even manages to write. Mostly she just makes it up as she goes.

Diva:  Describe Allison Pang in five words.

Allison Pang:  Snarky, tenacious, loyal, shy, pensive

Diva:  What favorite things do you have to have when writing?

Allison Pang:  Just a computer and some music (if it’s available). I try not to have too many snacks within reach, because I have a tendency to stress eat when I’m writing, so maybe a lack of food?   LOL!

Diva:  What is your favorite genre to read and who are some of your favorite authors?

Allison Pang:  Definitely fantasy. It’s what I pretty much grew up reading and it’s what I gravitate toward on a regular basis. Sometimes I’ll read historical fiction or more literary stuff (a la The Time Traveler’s Wife), but fantasy is definitely where my reading heart lies. Favorite authors would be Jacqueline Carey, Robin Hobb, Kate Elliott, Lynn Flewelling and Charles de Lint, among many others.

Diva:  If your book was made into a movie, what actors would you pick for Abby and Brystion?

Allison Pang:  Hmmm. Probably Natalie Portman as Abby. Brystion, I honestly don’t know. I picture someone with a lot of arrogant and seductive traits (rather like Stuart Townsend’s portrayal of Lestat, perhaps), but I don’t have anyone in mind.

Diva:  If you could be anyone of your characters from A Brush Of Darkness, which one would you be and why?

Allison Pang:  That’s a bit of a trick question, because they’ve all got a piece of me in there. Abby would be the obvious choice, but there’s something about Melanie and her supreme self-confidence (and a touch of arrogance, perhaps) in her own musical playing ability that I find rather appealing.

Diva:  What was the main inspiration behind writing A Brush Of Darkness?

Allison Pang:  I’m not sure there was one. The main ending scene started out as a dream where I was walking through this empty house trying to find someone. It intrigued me enough that even years later, it was still in the back of my mind. So I wrote that scene up and decided to find out what the rest of the story was about. The concept of The Dreaming was born out of that and I thought it would be really fascinating to explore it with the heroine...and of course that easily led into an incubus hero.

Diva:  Are you working on anything new that you can tell me about?

Allison Pang:  The draft for the second book was just turned in and I’ve started working on the third. Those two will probably take most of my focus for the next few months, but I’ve also got an epic fantasy that I’ve been working on and off for a while, as well as a Steam punk fantasy thing in the planning stages. (Hopefully I’ll be able to sell them as well.)

Thanks so much to Allison Pang for stopping by the blog and for making time to answer my questions.

Author Spotlight: Q and A with Beth Kery

Today I welcome author Beth Kery to the blog for an interview.  Her newest book, Explosive will release on Dec 7.  You can read my review here.

Beth Kery grew up in a huge house built in the nineteenth century where she cultivated her love of mystery and the paranormal. When she wasn’t hunting for secret passageways and ghosts with her friends, she was gobbling up fantasy and romance novels along with any other books she could get her hands on. Currently she juggles the demands of her career, her love of the city and the arts and a busy family life. Her writing today reflects her passion for all of the above.

Diva:  Describe Beth Kery in five words.

Beth Kery: The writer or the books? I’ll do the booksJ 

Hot, longing, intense, emotional, satisfying.

Diva:  When did you decide to become writer?

Beth Kery:  I actually wanted to write since I was in my early twenties. It wasn’t until around four years ago that I first submitted an erotic romance, however. I was first published in 2007, in ebooks, 2008 at a New York publisher (Berkley).

Diva:  Who are some of your favorite authors?

Beth Kery:  Shiloh Walker, Julie James, Megan Hart, Sandra Brown, Mary Stewart, J.K. Rowling (off the top of my head. There are lots, lots more).

Diva:  What three things must you have while you're writing?

Beth Kery:  Quiet, decent sleep, at least two cups of coffee

Diva:  How did you come up with the idea to write Explosive?  What was your inspiration?

I work in the behavioral health field, and I’ve always wanted to do a story about a man who had partial memory loss. Having worked in traumatic brain injury units, ICU’s and emergency rooms, I wanted to do it realistically, however, versus the soap-opera-amnesia trope. Part of the inspiration, too, came from wanting to realistically portray a vulnerable hero who was still alpha to the core. It’s a thin line to walk, but I think (I hope) I succeeded with Thomas.

Diva:  If you could pick actors to play your main characters, Thomas and Sophie, who would you pick?

Beth Kery:  I had two images/photos in mind for the exterior appearance of Thomas and Sophie, but I have to admit, I genuinely don’t equate the images to the characters, which are much more complex.  However, it does help for me to imagine what they look like as they move around in a scene.  What is the other character seeing, on the surface?  Here are the two people I used to visualize Thomas and Sophie’s appearance, one of them well known actress, Katherine Heigl. Sophie has the genes of a Hollywood movie goddess, but she wants nothing to do with that scene because of her parents. She’s a compassionate intellectual, and a physician.

Thomas is beautiful, and he’s tortured. This photo  helped me to see him in scenes. It has the hints of not just his sensuality, but his broodiness and his torment. Oh…and I love, love his hands. Very male, very erotic.

Diva:  Are you working on any new books that you can tell us a bit about?

Beth Kery:  I’m in the process of working on a very special project for me, a mini-series for Harlequin Special Edition called Home to Harbor Town. It’s about three very different families, all of whom are irrevocably tied together after one fateful night and a fatal car crash. Harbor Town is a very emotional, intense read. I really appreciate Harlequin Special Edition for picking it up and being so supportive of the trope.

I will continue to write erotic romances under the pen names of both Beth Kery and Bethany Kane, and have several books under both pennames coming out in 2011.

Thanks Beth for that great interview.  If you want to learn more about Beth Kery and her books, visit her website at  http://www.bethkery.com

Here’s an added bonus for anyone that has never read Beth Kery’s work.  She’s got a FREE hot holiday read that will be available until Dec 15.  Here are the dets.

Holiday Bound by Beth Kery

Book Blurb

Alex Carradine can’t believe his father wants to come and visit his ski resort. Could it be that after so many stormy years, “slick Mitch” Carridine wants to offer an olive branch? Maybe the old man is mellowing, settling down with the new lover he’s bringing along.

Then Alex realizes the acid truth. This is no warm family visit. His father’s latest conquest is none other than the woman of Alex’s sexual fantasies, meant only to dangle tauntingly in front of his face. At least an unexpected blizzard has frozen his father out of the picture entirely.

Angeline Kastakis was looking forward to taking the next step in her relationship with Mitch. Too late she realizes she’s been led into a familial battle zone. Now it’s Christmas and she’s marooned in a blizzard with an insolent, gorgeous hunk of man whose blazing blue eyes tell her loud and clear he wants her in his bed. Preferably tied to it with a bow.

There’s no escape in sight. But as Alex stirs her secret longing to be mastered by a man, escape is the last thing on her mind…

Read it on Kindle

Read it on Nook

Author Spotlight: Guest Post by Amanda Wolfe

Today I welcome Amanda Wolfe to the blog.  Amanda is the author of Secrets Of The Black Box (read my review here).

In the beginning, the whole purpose of this book, well, journal really, was to allow me to come face to face with and rid myself of what I had stored up in my black box. It is what I call the place in the pit of your stomach where you hide all your secrets; good, bad or ugly. My box was filled with ugly: quilt, embarrassment and a lot of shame and confusion. In short, it was just to painful to face head on.

It all started when my husband and I were having one of our ” OK, it’s time to bare your soul” conversations. He is the only one person who could ever make me do that, because I knew he would never use what I say against me in any way. He has always given me the space to get angry, cry, rant and rave like a lunatic when I needed to. Believe me, it has happened more than once!

It took a lot of years of his patience and understanding to get me this far, allowing me to face and rid myself of all these bad feelings I carried around with me always. They made me hard on the outside. He called it my wall and little by little it has crumbled. I’m not saying I don’t feel things from my past anymore, I do, but now they don’t paralyze me. I still have trust issue from time to time! but they no longer rule my life.

During this conversation I laughed and said I should write a book about all of this, but who the heck would believe it? He told me he thought that is exactly what I should do. I should start writing it all down, because writing was a great way to release feelings that you have difficulty talking about. We both agreed it would be a great outlet.

So I began writing it all down and, once started , I had a difficult time stopping. The emotions started pouring out of me. Sometimes I would come out of my office so angry I could spit.The memories that came flooding back were unbelievable. The sky in my world was not as rosy as I had made it out to be. My siblings’ annoyance with me remembering my past through rose- colored glasses was finally realized and understood.

My husband was right there for all of it, lending his understanding and support.I don’t think I could have done this without him. I’m very grateful to him for being there in all the craziness I went through.

After reading some of what I had written, he told me I should make it into a book, because it could really help other girls and women to know that they can go through bad things and still come out on top. I decided that if I was going to make it into a book that I wanted to bring the reader right along with me on the journey that I was going through in my emptying out process. I wanted them to come out the other side with me feeling a little inspired and wanting more. More importantly, I wanted them to know that if they themselves have been or are being abused that they are not alone.

There are options out there for everyone, even though you may think there are none for you. Trust me, I’ve been there. There are many, many forums out there with people who are willing and want to help you get the help you need. Even if it is just an anonymous voice at the other end of the phone.

A friendly voice can go a long way.

Amanda Wolfe was born in Ottawa, Canada in the mid ‘60s. She matured at a very young age out of necessity growing up in unusual circumstances. She has always been a happy-go-lucky, carefree spirit and a very strong-willed person. She has done everything from waitressing to owning her own restaurant and selling things from Mary Kay cosmetics to real estate.

She is married to a wonderful man. They currently reside in the great state of Texas with their horses. When she is not at home writing her latest novel, you will find her and her husband flying in their plane and traveling the world together.

For more information or to contact Amanda Wolfe, visit her website http://beneaththesilverlining.com