Hey, That’s My Idea! by Kelley Armstrong

Savannah Levine is in terrible danger, and for once she’s powerless to help herself. At the conclusion of Waking the Witch, Savannah swore that she would give up her powers if it would help a young girl. Little did she know that someone would take her up on that promise.

And now, witch hunting assassins, necromancers, half-demons, and rogue witches all seem to be after her. The threat is not just for Savannah; every member of the Otherworld might be at risk. While most of her fellow supernaturals are circling the wagons at a gathering of the council in Miami, Savannah is caught on the road, isolated from those who can protect her and unable to use her vast spell casting talent, the thing she counts on most. In a story that will change the shape of the Otherworld forever, Spell Bound gathers Elena, Clay, Paige, Lucas, Jaime, Hope, and others, who soon learn that the greatest threat to supernaturals just may come from within.

 

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

When I speak to new writers, some questions are asked with predictable regularity. One that seems to crop up every time is the fear of idea-theft. Sometimes it’s writers who are terrified of joining a writing group, for fear of having their idea stolen. Other times, writers worry that someone else has already done “their idea” and they’ll be accused of stealing it.

I have a simple answer for both concerns. You can’t copyright ideas. There’s a reason for that.  Ideas are cheap and plentiful.  It’s the execution that matters.

A few months ago I was sent a link to a posting on eBay, where someone was trying to sell a book idea…for over a million dollars. This link was passed through the writing community with much amusement. It’s not the first time someone has thought their idea was worth a fortune. Many writers have had the experience of hearing: “hey, I have a great idea for a book—how about you write it and we’ll split the money.”  To a non-writer, this makes perfect sense. To a writer, it’s like someone sketching a house on a cocktail napkin and saying “You build it and we’ll split the profits.”  The concept is only step one of a very long hike.

I tell writing workshop groups that I could give all of them the premise for my first novel, Bitten: “female werewolf is trying to live as a human, but must return to the Pack to fight an uprising” and no two would write the same book.  Some would approach it as fantasy, some as horror, romance, action…  Even if I specified genre, they would all have different plots, characters, settings and writing styles.  Different books, every one.

That’s not to say that no one will ever accuse you of stealing an idea. That’s a given. I swear everyone writing paranormal these days has been accused of ripping off Twilight…even those of us who were published in the genre years earlier. But those are the rare exceptions and would never evolve into actual accusations of plagiarism. Everyone with any knowledge of literature realizes that there are a limited number of stories out there. Yet we continue to read them because we want to enjoy each author’s take on the standards.

All a writer can do is try to come up with fresh take on a concept. It’s that freshness that will help her story stand out from the crowd. Worrying about that is just one more excuse for not finishing your book.  We must all trust that our story will be unique…because it is ours and no one else writes the way we do.

 

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Katharine Ashe – Insanity… The Good Kind

She had never forgotten him…

 

Miss Octavia Pierce is witty, well off, and shockingly unwed. Still, she is far too successful in society to remain on the shelf forever, and her family has hopes that Octavia will finally make the perfect match. What they do not know is that years earlier Octavia was scandalously tempted by the one man capable of sweeping her off her feet—the man now known as the Marquess of Doreé.

 

A third son, never meant to inherit, Lord Ben Doreé has abandoned his past and grown accustomed to his illustrious new position of wealth and power. But he has never forgotten Octavia, and now she desperately needs his help in a most dangerous, clandestine matter. Although she claims she has put the memories of the passion they shared behind her, Ben is determined to once again have her in his arms—and in his bed.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

 

Falling in love is insane.

 

We all know there are many kinds of love. The true love of friendship. The deep love of parents. The precious, joyful love of children. The loyal, bonded love of brothers and sisters. The love of pets. The love of girlfriends who’ll do anything for one another, even when not asked. The love of country, of dance or music or theater, and of those in need. The love of a couple married so long that although they could finish one another’s sentences they don’t because they still enjoy hearing each other speak.

 

So many beautiful ways to love. And yet, all love is fraught with danger. When you give your heart, let’s face it, it hurts when someone steps on it. Real, honest love takes courage and trust and hope.

 

But falling in love — romantic love — requires a special sort of insanity.

 

It’s like jumping off a cliff. Above, there is blue sky and sparkling sunshine. Below, there is deep, cool, embracing water, but there are also rocks and crashing surf. The air is at once bracing and warm, your body floating while thrills whisk through every artery, your breath thinning, your heart pounding ever faster as you plummet.

 

Plummet.

 

Love is… dangerous.

 

And that is the sort of love story I love to write most.

 

NOTE: I am not a thrill-seeker. I like my comfy house (not on a cliffside, btw), my small-town life, and my job where every day I get to sit down to a computer rather than sail across a perilous sea (or something equally adventuresome). I don’t do extreme sports, I drink decaf, and I read the entire guidebook before I even buy my plane ticket.

 

Perhaps we should call me an armchair adventurer. Because I simply adore hurling my heroes and heroines into the kind of love that throws them off the cliff of safety and into emotions so deep, so embracing, there’s very little breathing going on at all. Roller coaster love, the sort that sweeps them from the depths of lost hope to the heights of sheer bliss.

 

But, actually, that’s not entirely honest. Because with true love, real love — even the roller coaster kind — hope is never entirely lost. Hope, in fact, is what makes the ride worth riding.

 

When Miss Octavia Pierce, the heroine of IN THE ARMS OF A MARQUESS, first presented herself to me, a young miss on the verge of her introduction into society, with coltishly long legs sprawled in an armchair and an Atlas of the World in her lap, I knew right away she was the adventuresome sort. I wasn’t the only one. Ben Doreé noticed too. Not yet the titled lord he would soon become, but nevertheless confident (as handsome young noblemen are wont to be), he told me quite clearly that he wanted Octavia to be his heroine. For, as I came to discover, Lord Tall, Dark and Mysterious had a streak of danger in him that made falling in love with a girl like Octavia not only unwise but truly insane.

 

Like I’ve said, I cannot resist a really tumultuous love story. Especially not first love. Young love. Passionate love. Forbidden love. Love that is destined to be torn apart. For years.

 

But oh how sweet… how satisfying… how delectable the reunion.

 

Danger. Hope. Powerful, enduring love that conquers all.

 

Insane, I tell you. Insane.

 

 

From plummeting into love to buying that red spandex dress for way too much money, what insane thing have you done lately?

 

IN THE ARMS OF A MARQUESS is part of Avon’s K.I.S.S. and Teal campaign to raise awareness about Ovarian Cancer and support for research and families suffering from this stealthy disease. Proceeds from the sale of IN THE ARMS OF A MARQUESS and six other Avon titles will go to the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. http://www.kissandteal.com

 

 

      ~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

A big thank you to Katharine for joining us today!

For more information on Katharine and her books, please visit www.katharineashe.com.

 

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In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks – Giveaway!

Ewan McCabe, the eldest, is a warrior determined to vanquish his enemy. Now, with the time ripe for battle, his men are ready and Ewan is poised to take back what is his—until a blue-eyed, raven-haired temptress is thrust upon him. Mairin may be the salvation of Ewan’s clan, but for a man who dreams only of revenge, matters of the heart are strange territory to conquer.

Though the illegitimate daughter of the king, Mairin possesses prized property that has made her a pawn—and wary of love. Her worst fears are realized when she is rescued from peril, only to be forced into marriage by her charismatic and commanding savior, Ewan McCabe. But her attraction to her ruggedly powerful new husband finds her craving his surprisingly tender touch; her body comes alive under his sensual mastery. And as war draws near, Mairin’s strength, spirit, and passion challenge Ewan to conquer his demons—and embrace a love that means more than revenge and land.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

Giveaway!

Happy Highlander Day! Fatin and I both loved this book and we want to share the love. Three commenters will win a copy of In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks, print or kindle edition. To be entered in the giveaway, tell me about your favorite type of hero. Is he dark and dangerous? Strong and loyal? Hot and fun? Winners will be drawn on Tuesday (9/6). Good luck!

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Book Trailer: The McCabe Trilogy by Maya Banks

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Josee Renard, Kate Austin, and…Charles Dickens?

Kate Austin and Josee Renard are one and the same person – sort of. At least they share the same body, though they can’t always guarantee the same mind. Kate writes women’s fiction with a dash of magic realism, Josee writes erotica with more than a dash of romance. This means that each of them gets the best of both worlds. But, because Kate/Josee doesn’t want you to be as confused as she is some days, she’s going to write this blog as Josee, mostly because – right now – Josee is doing something THAT’S ABSOLUTELY FANTASTICALLY FUN! And oh yeah, she’s the one who got the invite.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

Jules and Mercy have been friends since grade school; sex-mates since high school. They started and run Part Time Lovers, a website catering to anyone who wants sex and wants it now—Jules and Mercy are partners in every way. But this week Jules is lusting after a barista who isn’t available.

Mercy sets him up with Jeanne, who needs to remember how sexy she truly is, and Jules is fascinated by her. They spent an erotic, enchanting night together while Jules forgets the barista and Jeanne remembers her younger, sexier self.

 

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

By the time you read this blog, I will have – magically – become Charles Dicken, or at least a Dickens write-a-like.

And I love it.

If you’re thinking Tiny Tim or Little Nell or David Copperfield or Miss Havisham, stop right now (although Little Nell might put you on the right track). One of the things I most admire about Dickens is his ability to write to deadlines – especially when he was writing those complicated, multi-character, multi-plotline stories like The Old Curiosity Shop. He wrote and published a chapter a week, the final chapter of which kept people waiting in lines at shops and on the docks in New York to find out what had happened to Little Nell.

My Dickens moment – or year, more accurately – is this. I’ve written a serial, just like Dickens and The Old Curiosity Shop. It’s coming out in a slightly more modern form, e-publishing rather than in a weekly paper, but it’s coming out one linked story after another. It was an interesting process because, unlike Dickens, I wanted readers to be able to pick up one story and enjoy it on its own, but I also wanted the stories to be connected.

Although the stories are initially being e-pubbed, they’ll come out as a print book, hopefully early next year.

So in order to ensure that they actually turned out to be a serial rather than just a bunch of stories with the same title, I connected them in several ways:  through Stevie Wonder song titles, through the Part Time Lovers website, through the setting (Vancouver)  and the long-time friends who run it – Jules and Mercy.

The first story in Part Time Lovers – That’s What Friends are For – is available on August 10, the second one – Treat Myself – on August 24. Then September 7 – Kiss Lonely Goodbye – and 21 – Superstition – a break during October, and then one a week until the beginning of December.

I’ve had a terrific time writing these stories – I love Jules and Mercy and the relationship they’ve had since grade school. I love writing about places in Vancouver. I love being able to continue Jules and Mercy’ stories. And I love the fact that I’m able to write about all kinds of different people in the 10 stories. It makes me want to write another serial next year – I just have to think about a place to start, a connection that will link them all together but allow me the freedom to write different stories each time.

Any ideas?

Here’s the website’s homepage and there’s a contest at the bottom to win a copy of one of my books. Enjoy!

 

Welcome to Part Time Lovers

            This is your invitation to play, to experiment, to fulfill your deepest, darkest fantasy or get down and dirty – and then walk away. No regrets, no recriminations, no rules.

We  want  you to make the rules for your encounter. There are no forms to complete, no wish lists, no compatibility tests. Just jump right in. Part Time Lovers is about hooking up with the right person for right now.

We know your desires change—maybe even from one day to the next—because ours do. We created this Website to accommodate every single one of your desires.

This week you might want a quick fuck; next week that high school fantasy or the hot vampire you just read about in your favorite book. Part Time Lovers is the place for you to find your dream lover.

So come on in. Someone is waiting for you.

            Mercy and Jules

 

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

A big thank you to Josee for joining us today!

To find out more information about Josee and her backlist, please visit www.joseerenard.com. And for a chance to win a digital copy of Treat Myself (release date 8/24), you just have to answer a simple question. What is your favorite Stevie Wonder song title?

 

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Lots of winners!

Anna

wins Clay: Armed & Dangerous by Cheyenne McCray

*

Lindsey Arnold

wins Kade: Armed & Dangers by Cheyenne McCray

*

Marjana

wins a digital book from Jess Dee’s backlist

*

Colleen

wins a digital book from Vivian Arend’s backlist

*

Lisa Richards

wins a New York Sabers book by Farrah Rochon

*

StacieDM

wins a digital book from Lexxie Couper’s backlist

*

Pamela (@SpazP)

wins a signed, bound galley of NEVER ENOUGH by Lauren Dane

*

Danielle Gorman

wins Mistress by Mistake by Maggie Robinson

*

Congratulations to all the winners! Please contact me at lillie80 at gmail dot com to claim your prizes.

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Maggie Robinson – Guest blog and giveaway

 

Thanks so much for having me back to talk about Mistress by Marriage, the last Mistress book in the Courtesan Court series! I am especially fond of this book, since the heroine is a romance writer. She writes the naughty “Courtesan Court” books—just like me, LOL. Here’s the back cover blurb:

 

Too late for cold feet

Baron Edward Christie prided himself on his reputation for even temperament and reserve. That was before he met Caroline Parker. Wedding a scandalous beauty by special license days after they met did not inspire respect for his sangfroid. Moving her to a notorious lovebirds’ nest as punishment for her flighty nature was perhaps also a blow. And of course talk has gotten out of his irresistible clandestine visits. Christie must put his wife aside—if only he can get her out of his blood first.

Too hot to refuse

Caroline Parker was prepared to hear the worst: that her husband had determined to divorce her, spare them both the torture of passion they can neither tame nor escape. But his plan is wickeder than any she’s ever heard. Life as his wife is suffocating. But she cannot resist becoming her own husband’s mistress…

***

Sound interesting? Mistress by Marriage doesn’t have the usual romance timeline. (boy meets girl, boy and girl fight, boy and girl make up and marry) Here Edward (the very proper boy) and  Caroline (the very improper girl) have already met, married, fought and separated. They’re on their way to a divorce (which was practically impossible to get in Regency times), but I couldn’t let that happen, or there would be no book, LOL. It was pure pleasure melting Edward’s icy-cold heart to make him realize that fiery Caroline is just what he needs.

Opposites can attract, but repel as well. In real life it’s probably more comfortable to marry someone you have something in common with, but in fiction it’s fun to throw two totally opposite personalities together and watch the sparks fly. Think of Dain and Jessica in Loretta Chase’s wonderful Lord of Scoundrels. Who are your favorite “opposite” couples in fact or fiction? (My husband is a huge jock, former coach and avid sports enthusiast. I have trouble walking a straight line and don’t know the difference between a line drive and a linebacker.) One commenter gets a signed copy of Mistress by Marriage!

For excerpts and more info, please visit www.maggierobinson.net

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The End of a Series – Finding the Right Heroine: Meet Gillian Forrester by Lauren Dane

Gillian Forrester spent most of her life running from who and what she came from. Until Miles came along. From the moment she held the tiny newborn her older sister didn’t want, Gillian stopped running and began to build a life for herself and her adopted son. Now, thirteen years later, as Gillian’s sister lay dying, she reveals the father’s identity and makes Gillian promise to find him.

Adrian Brown is the epitome of the successful rock star. He’s seen and done it all, with few regrets. It takes a lot to shock him—but the bombshell that he has a thirteen-year-old son rocks his world. And Adrian is even more surprised when the buttoned-up, elegant woman who’s raising Miles snags his erotic and romantic attention.

The last thing Gillian expected was to find herself getting hot and heavy with a person like Adrian. But as much as she wants to open up and give herself fully to this amazing man, she’s afraid the secrets of her past and Adrian’s problems with trusting people may keep them apart for good. If love isn’t enough can they find the trust they need?

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

Over the course of the books, readers get invested in the lives of the characters – or that’s the ultimate hope on my part, that readers connect with my characters. As each book ends and another couple has its HEA, the sense of anticipation builds for that last one.

 

I’m totally guilty of this as a reader myself. I watch those secondary characters who grow over the years, over the stories as he or she watches those they love finding their match and I can’t wait for their happy ending as well.

 

When it’s a hero, the key is to put him with the right kind of heroine. And to accept that no matter who you put him with, she’ll probably never be good enough for some folks – it’s that connection we have, I think. How can anyone be good enough for that character you’ve loved so long?

 

Back to the heroine again – she’s got a big job. She has to win over those readers who are going to demand the very best, totally perfect partner for him (or in the m/m instance, the perfect hero). The problem is that there are as many ideas of what the perfect heroine is as there are people reading that book, LOL!

 

When I was writing Coming Undone, I thought Adrian’s book would be the third and Cope’s the last. But as I started sketching out the story, I realized Adrian wasn’t ready to fall in love and that Cope needed it a lot more and was open to it so much more readily.

 

And then I thought about how the woman I’d originally planned for Cope was totally all wrong for him and that’s when I realized his heroine had been with the series all along in Ella.

 

So I really sat down and thought about Adrian and what sort of story he needed. What sort of heroine he needed. And the first thing that came to me was that she should be as private as his life was public.

 

She should be protective of her family as he was of his own. And see it as integral as he did. She needed to be raw and honest but buttoned up and reserved. He needed to work for her in a way he’d never had to before.

 

Creative, as he is. Artistic. I wanted her to understand music the way Adrian would. I wanted her to know what it meant to have creation be integral to her life. But I gave her some different twists in the road and made other choices. Choices she made and does not regret. I wanted her to absolutely have a sense of her path and to be there fully and happily.

 

She’s a mother. A fierce, no nonsense mother and the scenes I began to understand her the most at first, were those with Miles. And I think for Adrian the same is true.

 

She does not love or trust easily, but once she does, she does deeply and forever. Like Adrian, she has a close circle. While not her biological family, they are the family she’s made with her friends. Miles comes from a large, close group just as Adrian does. Gillian has made this for their son and it’s something I felt quite strongly would be a necessity for a man like Adrian.

 

In short, she needed to be smart, strong, loyal, brave, honest and loving – and in a package Adrian wouldn’t necessarily expect. He works hard for his success, but women fall into his lap right and left. He doesn’t need easy. He needs to be challenged and Gillian is that for him.

 

But she definitely needed to be knocked off kilter. Repeatedly. Had to be uncomfortable and off balance and keep going because it was about Miles. At first. And then it was because she doesn’t have the life he does and she absolutely needed to buy none of his bull and accept all of him, flaws and all. Above all, Adrian Brown needs to be loved for Adrian the man, not Adrian the rock star. And Gillian does.

 

They’re very much alike in all the ways that count. Enough that it’s those like issues that get them into trouble. They bicker a lot, which he’s endlessly amused by and he gets under her skin enough to charm her. It’s that safety they find together, that intimacy that’s the key to their connection. Even when it’s shaken by a dark secret she’s held on to for years, that connection is still there, though it’s a challenge for the two of them to remember.

 

I wanted Gillian to be worth the struggle. Because Adrian is. And I think she is. I hope you all think so too.

 

 

Who are some of your favorite series ending heroines?

 

I’ve got a signed, bound galley of NEVER ENOUGH to give away to one lucky winner chosen from the comments to this post. International entries definitely welcome!

 

Lauren

www.laurendane.com

 

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Lexxie Couper, G’day, and Bandicoot Cove

G’day. You lot wanna have a chin-wag with me ‘bout spinning a yarn set Down Under? And how write’n Stral isn’t exactly a piece of piss? (Translation: Hello. Would you like me to talk to you about telling a story set in Australia? And how capturing the essence of Australian isn’t exactly easy?)

 

Let me start this again. Heya, everyone. If you don’t know me already, I’m Lexxie Couper, one of the authors about to take you on a tour of Bandicoot Cove, the most luxurious island resort you can find in Tropical Australia. I’m also the only born-and-bred Aussie in the group. Those that do know me are likely to know one very important thing: I’m a very very proud Aussie. Okay, so I don’t usually speak like the above. In all honesty I don’t remember the last time I used “chin-wag” in general conversation but I do talk “Stral” (or Strine) much more than the average city Australian (I grew up in the country, on the fringe of what most of the world refers to as the Outback). So when Viv (a Canadian) and Jess (an Aussie via South Africa) and I decided to write a series set Down Under, I knew we were going to have some fun with the “Aussie-ness” of it all.

 

And we did.

 

Did you know Aussies say “See ya later” when saying “Goodbye”? Or “How ya going?” when saying hello and asking someone of their day? These are little things that will slip by most non-Aussie but they make a world of difference to the “feel” of a story (or in our case, stories) set in Australia. It was my job to make sure Bandicoot Cove truly captured the unique magic of a Down Under setting and I had a ball.

 

You would never have an Aussie say “How you doing?” and the word “ass” is used only to describe a type of donkey. Little things that make a bloody big difference. Aussie men rarely think of their penises as “cocks” for instance. For them, it’s a “dick”. Aussie men will often “shout” their mates. This doesn’t mean raise their voices at their friends, it means buy them a drink. On the flip side of this, the rest of the world still seems to think we Aussies use terms like “sheilas” (we don’t) and that the only beer we drink Down Under is Fosters (it isn’t. In fact, real Aussies rarely drink Fosters. The beer of choice Down Under is, like the rest of the world, very regional.)

 

Aussie men will rarely hug another man, not even their father or brother. Aussie men rarely show affection for their mates—in fact, it is quite often the opposite: the bigger the insult the more your mate respects you. Case in point, when Mason (Paradise Found) says “Aidan (Tropical Sin), you bloody bastard, you turned your mobile phone off.” what he’s really saying is, “Aidan my friend, you switched off your cell phone.” See? Simple. Want to tell your friend you think he’s great, insult him. However, there are exceptions as Viv and Jess found out. I remember Viv and I having a conversation about the term “dickless wonder” and it’s use (for those wanting to know, this is NOT a complimentary term, so it pretty much contradicts the bigger insult/more respect rule. But I must admit, when I sent back the first read-through of Viv’s manuscript with lots of corrections on her “Aussie-isms” I was worried she was never going to speak to me again. (She did, cause she’s bloody lovely)

 

Australians don’t compliment each other often and when we do, it’s with such a dry sense of affection it comes off sounding like sarcasm. This can very easily get lost in translation so when I kept telling Viv and Jess their ideas and stories were “hideous” and “horrible” I had to quickly tell them I loved their stories so much I hated them which I also had to quickly translate to “I love you two and your stories are amazing” *grin* And you know what, I do love them. Writing this series with Viv and Jess has been an amazing experience and one that made me realize more than anything else that, while an Australian and a Canadian and a South African may hale from different parts of the world, when it comes to friends, we couldn’t be any closer together. Especially when visiting Bandicoot Cove…

 

Four stories, one setting, friends and lovers—Bandicoot Cove.

 

Tropical Sin, by Lexxie Couper

It takes more than a rock star to rock your world. Sometimes you need a friend.

Bandicoot Cove, Book 3

McKenzie Wood is Australia’s star gossip mag journalist, and she’s just spied the story of a lifetime: rumor-shrouded rock star, Nick Blackthorne—who thinks he’s incognito at Bandicoot Cove resort. The word is Nick’s a sex addict about to come out of the closet, and who better to lure Nick out than her BFF, Aiden Rogers—a pulse-poundingly gorgeous firefighter who is always there when she needs him, no matter the challenge.

Aiden admits it’s pretty damned pathetic that he can rush into burning buildings, but not have the guts to tell McKenzie he’s in love with her. No way can he tell his best friend he’d like to do some seriously sinful things to her, especially since she’s never shown one iota of sexual interest.

Nick looks forward to some “unfamous” downtime in his home country. He’s surprised to find his creative muse stirred—more like brought to rigid attention—by a couple so sexy that all he can think about is the three of them. Together.

Three bodies move together as one, and the music becomes a smoldering beat that rivals the island’s heat. When the truth inevitably comes out, the heat might be enough to save three souls…or end up just another sinner’s lament.

Warning: One plus one plus one equals OMG sex, are-you-freaking-kidding-me orgasms and some serious mind-blowing climaxes.

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

A big thank you to Lexxie for joining us today!

To find out more about Lexxie, please visit www.lexxiecouper.com. And for a chance to win a book from Lexxie’s backlist, just leave a comment below. Good luck! 😀

 

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Q&A (plus giveaway) with Farrah Rochon

Life is one endless touchdown for Jared Dawson. Until the former playboy and star corner back for the New York Sabers discovers his girlfriend in bed with another man. Reeling from the betrayal, Jared returns to his flings-with-no-strings ways. But no man can walk away from Chyna McCrea. The ravishing choreographer is already tackling the pro-footballer’s heart.

Playing defensively is supposed to safeguard against heartbreak. But how can Chyna protect herself from Jared’s sensual onslaught? It seems the hunky athlete-and sports world’s most eligible bachelor-has decided that playing the field is not an option. Together, can they score the greatest victory of all and be on the winning team of both their dreams?

~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~

NT: Hi Farrah! Thank you for being my guest today.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Farrah: I’ve been writing all my life, but I didn’t make the decision to be a “real” writer until my sophomore year of college. I wrote my first novel between classes. It’s written longhand in a three-subject notebook that I still have stored away in a closet.

NT: You have a new release this month. Can you tell us about Field of Pleasure?

Farrah: Field of Pleasure is the third installment in my New York Sabers football series. It features the team’s cornerback and punt-return specialist, Jared Dawson, and the Saberrettes dance squad’s choreographer, Chyna McCrea. The book opens with Jared grieving over the discovery that his girlfriend of ten years has been unfaithful. As a diversion to distract him from his heartache, a fellow teammate suggests he engage in a summer fling. But what is supposed to be just a casual affair turns into much, much more when Jared decides to pursue Chyna.

NT: What inspired the idea for this story?

Farrah: I initially planned to pair Jared with his long-time girlfriend; making it one of those “couples rediscovering their love” books. But after hearing several derogatory statements directed toward cheerleaders while attending an NFL game, I decided to create a cheerleader heroine. I had never read a romance that featured one, and I wanted to show that there is more to these women than just glittery outfits and pom poms.

NT: Do you have a writing routine? What is your average writing day like?

Farrah: My writing routine depends on how the story is flowing. On the days when things are going well, I wake up early, brew a cup (okay, three or four cups) of coffee, and can sit at the computer all day and type away. When things are not going all that well I usually have to drag myself to the computer and play mind games in order to hit my daily page goals. The thing that has worked well lately is to write in short, timed writing sessions, rewarding myself for each mini-goal that is met.

On an average day, I can usually write between ten and twelve pages, unless something really interesting is happening on Twitter or in the publishing world. Then it’s more like seven or eight pages.

NT: What was the most interesting thing you had to research and what was the hardest thing to research?

Farrah: That would be the world of the NFL Cheerleading squads. It was fascinating to discover how diverse the women were. But they all had one thing in common, their love of dance.

Nothing about this book was really hard to research, but one of the most enjoyable things I had to investigate was ballroom dancing. In Field of Pleasure there is a scene where my heroine teaches the hero the tango. It’s super fun, and super sexy, and was just a ball to write.

I guess I should thank Dancing With The Stars for igniting this craze. YouTube had hundreds of video clips. I remembering thinking to myself how lucky I was to have this job. Really, who gets to watch video clips of ballroom dancing all day and call it work?

NT: When not busy writing, what do you like to do in your spare time?

Farrah: My favorite hobby, by far, is reading. I wish I had more time to indulge in it. In addition to reading, I love watching sports, attending Broadway shows, and traveling. And I love all things Disney!

NT: What can your fans look forward to from you in the near future? What are you working on now?

Farrah: My next release will be the fourth book in the Sabers series, Pleasure Rush, coming in April 2012. I’ve hinted about a relationship between Theo Stokes and Deirdre Smallwood, the hero and heroine in Pleasure Rush, from the very first book in the series, so fans of the Sabers are very eager for their book.

I am currently working on the as-yet-untitled second book in a brand new series set in the small, fictional town of Gauthier, Louisiana. It’s a bit different from the urban setting of my Sabers series, but I am absolutely in love with this town and the cast of characters. I hope readers enjoy reading it as much as I’m enjoying writing it.

NT: If someone has not read any of your books, which would be the one you’d recommend they try first?

Farrah: Being a stickler for reading a series in order, I would suggest readers start with Huddle With Me Tonight, the first book in the New York Sabers series. Not only is it an extremely fun book, but it also introduces the guys on the team who eventually get their own stories.

NT: How can readers contact you?

Farrah: Of course, readers can always contact me through my website, www.farrahrochon.com, but I’m also very active on both Twitter and Facebook. Follow me at www.twitter.com/farrahrochon or friend me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/farrah.rochon.

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Farrah will be giving one lucky reader their choice any one of her New York Sabers books. Just leave a comment below. Good luck! 😀

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