Let's give a warm welcome to my fellow Romance Writers Weekly member, Gemma Brocato. Hello, Brenda. Thank you for inviting me to visit you today. I can't wait to share a little about me and Exposed To Passion, my new release from Kensington Books/ Lyrical Press. I’ve existed in a flurry of activity for the past few weeks as I’ve prepared for release day. I think I’ve muttered under my breath at least once a day that no one had ever told me this was part of the job. Or, maybe I just didn’t listen when they did. So, I’ve decided to share a few of those surprises with you.
Now I’m wondering if anyone else discovered something about their job they weren’t expecting. Leave me a comment and let me know. While you're thinking about the parts of your job that surprised you the most, here's a peek at Exposed to Passion. They walked through the shadows individually. Will they emerge into the light together? Leading a vagabond life as a curator for a traveling photography exhibit translates to a lot of bad days for Rikki Salerno. But her trouble doubles when a careless high school student shoves her into a marsh. Being rescued by teacher Sam Kerrigan should have made things better, but Rikki’s inability to confess her true identity casts a shadow over their budding affair. When Sam refuses an overly aggressive parent’s marriage proposal, she’s determined to ruin him. Not only does she doctor photos to make it look like Sam’s behaved inappropriately in front of students, she hacks the foundation website to reveal Rikki’s true identity. Faster than the blink of a shutter, Rikki’s focus changes from pursuing her full-color future to the black and white necessity of clearing Sam’s name. To celebrate her new release, Gemma has an amazing giveaway! You could win: - One Digital Copy of Exposed To Passion - One Leather Brighton London Flat Pouch - Assorted Picture Frames - $25 Amazon Gift Card - $15 Starbucks Gift Card. (Prize package valued at $185.00. Sorry to all my Canadian readers, but valid to US residents only.) Enter the Rafflecopter Draw! Discover more about Gemma and her other books at www.gemmabrocato.com. Buy links for Exposed to Passion: Amazon Barnes & Noble Kobo Kensington It will be my turn to visit with Gemma, tomorrow on her blog. Why not stop by and leave a comment for your chance to win a copy of my newest release, Chef d'Amour!
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In the spirit of the season, Jo Richardson has challenged us to tell her a spooky story – real or not real, doesn’t matter, in 300 words or less. If you joined me from Gemma Brocato, welcome. (And if you thought what she wrote today was scary, make sure you come back tomorrow. Gemma will be visiting my blog and talking about all the things she didn't know about being a published author. It will make your blood run cold! And then on Thursday, you can have a chance to win a copy of my book Chef d'Amour, on Gemma's site!)
I have to admit, I'm a wimp when it comes to scary stuff. I don't like horror movies, need to read spooky stories with all the lights on, and in general don't enjoy being frightened. I can still remember having to read “The Cask of Amontillado” for school and being petrified. So this was something of a challenge for me. But let's give it a go... We moved to Elm Street a couple weeks before Halloween. I fully intended to spend the night reading in my room. My mother had other plans. “You can use this.” She pulled a frilly yellow dress out of a cardboard box—one of the many in the basement waiting to be unpacked. “I don't want to.” At ten, I was too old to be a princesses. “I won't have you moping in your room all evening.” She flicked out the material, spangles and sparkles glittering. Before I knew it, I was out the door, clutching a pillowcase. “Have fun!” my mother carolled from the porch. I stood on the sidewalk, humiliated and angry. Groups of kids swirled past me as if I wasn't there, laughing and talking like the best friends they were. I had never felt so alone. “Do you want to trick-or-treat with me?” Standing next to me was a girl my age. Her costume was simple—an old-fashioned, high waisted dress, her hair done in ringlets. She carried a basket. I thought she might be Little Bo-Peep. “Me?” “Who else, silly?” She smiled, a dimple denting her cheek. “Let's start there.” She headed for the house next door. We laughed and talked our way from house to house. By the time we circled the block, I was thrilled, excited—happy for the first time since we'd moved. “I had fun tonight. Goodbye.” She skipped away, disappearing into the dark at the end of the street. My mother greeted me at the door. “So, how was it?” “Okay, I guess,” I answered grudgingly. “I met a girl.” “Oh, sweetie, don't worry.” Mom hugged me tight. “You'll make new friends soon. You don't have to make things up to try and feel better.” “I'm not making things up.” I pushed out of her embrace. “We did the whole block together.” My mother shook her head. “I was watching you. You walked around the block. But you were alone the whole time.” Want more chills and thrills? Head to Fiona Riplee next! And remember, come back tomorrow to find out more about Gemma Brocato's new release, Exposed to Passion! It's flash fiction time again! I love the hops, because its amazing to see how the same three words can launch such different ideas. In this case - sweet, pumpkin, and brush. Our challenge was to write a love letter of 400 words or less.
If you're joining me from Xio Axelrod, welcome! Here's my letter: Dear Pumpkin: Nope, that's not it, either. Other couples of cute names for each other – why don't we? But despite your colouring, pumpkin definitely doesn't suit your other – attributes. You are long and lean, not round and plump. Your skin is smooth, but dusted with bristly auburn hair (darker than the curls on your head). I love to brush my fingers through it as we lie together naked, your fingers playing sweet music on the bumps of my spine. Babe? Honey? Lover? None of those fit, either. Maybe it's because you are you. I don't need a nickname, because when I think of you, there you are, complete in my head. I can smell your skin, taste your mouth, touch your body – and it is simply you. I can't wait until we are together again. Love, Me I'd love to hear what you think, so leave a comment. And then move on to A.S. Fenichel and see what spark those same three words lit in her imagination. If you like to read romance novels of all genres, join the writers of Romance Weekly every Tuesday for our blog hop. We'll be answering the same questions, or writing the same flash fiction, or offering our favourite recipes. Once you've read my blog, the link below will direct you to another. Tell your friends and feel free to ask questions or make comments.
If you're joining me from Raine Balkera , welcome! On to the questions: Which type of character do you prefer writing about - sexy, romantic, sweet, quirky, mean, old, young, smart, silly? I love writing quirky, smart-mouthed heroines who don't take any crap. They might not appear that way on the surface, although Jemma in Chef d'Amour is the closest. Inside, however, is a different story. All of them are strong, straight-forward women, despite how they present themselves to the world. As for heroes, I'd love to be able to write one that is angst-driven, one with a horrible, hidden darkness just waiting to be healed. The more I write, the more layered my characters become, but I have yet to be cruel enough to saddle them with deep and dreadful secrets. No matter what their inner demons, my heroes are Everyman—not quite Alpha, not quite Beta, guys you wouldn't be surprised to meet in the grocery story aisle but powerful and competent all the same. Have you ever killed off (or gotten back at) an ex in your writing? On paper,of course. I suppose I'm lucky in the sense that I don't have an ex that still bothers me enough I want to bump him off, even if just on paper. :) But I can certainly see the attraction! But one of the great things about writing is that I can spend days writing an argument, so when I think of a snappy come-back in the middle of the night I just add it in the next day! What hobbies do you have that you incorporate in your writing? I don't have any really decisive hobbies. Other than reading and writing, I spend most of my time either at work or with family. I do, however, love taking photographs. Just this weekend, in fact, we purchased a new DSLR camera that I am excited to start experimenting with. I can certainly see myself writing about someone who does photography, either as a hobby or a job. Now it's time to move on to Leslie Hachtel. Enjoy! |