Many of the RWW members are working on stories we hope to publish in an anthology and a boxed set later this year. J.J. Devine wants a sneak peak at our opening scene. If you've joined me from A.S. Fenichel's blog, welcome. What did you think of hers? Here’s the first scene of “No Life But This” – my contribution to the Romance Writers Weekly Box Set. Santos Carregado pulled the twelve passenger van into the taxi loading zone and set the parking brake. Grabbing the cardboard sign and crumpled sheets of paper his sister had thrust into his hand before he'd rushed out the door this morning, he strode into Arrivals. A scattering of people milled about, no one going anywhere fast. To his right the building stretched, long and narrow, toward the Departure area. Muted sunshine fell through the glass ceiling two stories above. A sparrow, seemingly at home in the echoing space, swooped and swept, landing on a precarious edge along the outer wall. Santos took a seat on a log hollowed out into a bench. I'd love to hear what you think - let me know in the comments! Want to see what Kim Handysides is working on? Check it out here!
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Enter now through MAY 10th, 2015 (MOTHER'S DAY)! Grand Prize is a $100 Amazon giftcard. 2nd and 3rd prizes are $20 giftcards. Plus you could win one of 14 prize packs full of great titles from the Romance Weekly authors! Xio Axelrod says:
Readers always ask "How much of yourself do you lend to your characters?" Here's your chance to answer. What traits do your characters have that come from you? And if not you, someone in your life. If you joined me from Leslie Hachtel, welcome. And I apologize right now for the vagueness of my post today - my head is stuffed from a cold, and I'm not thinking very clearly. But I didn't want to miss out on the this week's hop, so I did my best. I think it’s impossible for any writer NOT to include a little bit of themselves in every character they write. Writers are, after all, only one person (although most of us have a lot of voices inside our heads!). So no matter how hard we try, bits of our personalities have to creep in. I’m a “tell-it-like-it-is” type of person. I don’t suffer fools gladly and I employ the use of sarcasm on a regular basis. Most of my characters have these traits in some degree or other. My meekest heroine, Abigail from NO LIFE BUT THIS, has hidden those feelings for most of her life, and it was fun to write about her breaking out of those habits. Of course, as a romance writer, I write from the male point-of-view as well. I watch my husband, father, brother-in-laws, and try to really see how they react in certain situations. Again, it’s not that I am putting those people in the book. I am simply using them as a model on how my character should act. I also use real-life experiences in my stories. CHEF D’AMOUR takes place on the set of a romance reality TV show. While I have never worked on a show exactly like that, I have worked in television production for more than 25 years, so have a good grasp on what goes on behind-the-scenes. How much of herself does J.J. Devine put into her stories? She’s your next stop on the blog hop! I am thrilled to be hosting fellow Romance Writers Weekly member, Gemma Brocato, as she celebrates the release of BED OF ROSES, Book 4 in the “Five Senses Series”. This close to Valentine’s Day, Malin Eckert’s flower shop is entering its busiest season. As if the added work isn’t enough, her father’s drinking has spiraled out of control and Mal discovers she’s been named guardian of a fifteen-year-old sibling she never knew about. To make matters worse, Mal’s crushing on a customer, a serial dater who drops by the shop with alarming regularity to send flowers to other women. Not enough? Here’s an excerpt: Gunnar laughed and tugged her closer. Turning her face up, she met his gaze. His eyelids swept down to her lips an instant before his mouth descended. It was a fast peck, something friends exchange, a gesture of greeting or parting. It didn’t matter. With the first brush of his lips, desire flared. She’d like to pretend the heat between them was the warm, gentle glow of friendship, or because their fingers were still laced together. But she’d be lying to herself. The kiss had created tingles of passion she couldn’t ignore. Leaning away, Gunnar didn’t release her hand. Surprise filled his eyes. He opened his mouth to say something then snapped it shut again. Giving a slight shake of his head, the corners of his mouth quirked up, and he pressed another kiss to her cheek and squeezed her close. “You got this. I watched you deal with Mrs. Aubrey-Smith. You can handle a moody teenager.” When her chest collided with his, heat spread from her breasts down her stomach until the sensation lodged between her legs, hotter than a humid, steamy greenhouse. It was getting harder and harder to keep this beguiling, intriguing man in the friend zone. Gemma is giving you a chance to win a $25 gift card to the retailer of your choice. Click here to enter. And be sure to put Bed of Roses on your To Be Read List on Goodreads!
This week on Romance Writers Weekly, Victoria Barbour wants us to dream big. If our most recent book was being produced for Hollywood, who would we cast for it? If you’ve joined me by Eden Ashe, welcome! My most recent release, Chef d’Amour, has prickly, fiercely independent Jemma dealing with an ill grandmother, a jerk for a boss, and the dangerous attentions of Paul Almeida. Kiera Knightley’s sharp, strong features immediately come to mind. Jemma sports a short haircut, as well, except that her bangs are longer and dyed a vibrant pink. As for Paul, one Google search for dark haired actors came up with Wes Bentley, and he’s just right. This is Paul’s “TV” look – he’s the sexy bachelor on the romance reality show where Jemma works. When he’s running his own 5-star restaurant he’s more formal, but I’m sure Wes could pull it off!
This week, Raine Balkera wants to know what everyone is working on. Oooh, this is going to be fun! She wants details & conundrums, plus we get five bonus points for including a wee bit of our favorite scene. Well, that won’t be hard at all – oh, wait – favourite? I never know how to choose! If you’ve wandered over from Katie O'Connor’s blog, what did you think of her work in progress? As for me, my writing time is limited, so I generally work on only one project at a time. Right now, that project is tidying up WHEN TIME FALLS STILL, my fourth manuscript. DETAILS: Professor Charlotte Girardet is focused on one thing – getting tenure at a large, prestigious university. Her career is firmly on track, but her life is complicated by her attraction to rough and rugged security guard Justice Cooper. Unable to resist his confident persistence, Charlotte proposes they enjoy a short-term affair. Struggling to balance her ambitions and her growing passion, life is further complicated by Justice’s ex-wife and several vicious attacks on female students. Her strict schedule and well-defined goals, Charlotte takes a leap of faith, and trusts Justice with her deepest secret - an operation she had as a teenager has left her infertile. This announcement forces Charlotte and Justice to redefine their relationship. As they attempt to do so, Charlotte is kidnapped by the assailant that has plagued the university all year. Trapped and tormented, Charlotte uses all her ingenuity and strength to resist her attacker, holding strong long enough to be rescued by Justice. Charlotte must now decide whether to follow her long held dreams or risk a new life with Justice. CONUNDRUMS: This didn’t start out as a romantic suspense. But I couldn’t help realizing that many of the scenes in the first few chapters simply screamed out for a thriller sub-plot. I find writing believable suspense very difficult, especially in regards motivation for my villain. So right now that’s what I’m working on – I’m editing to give him (or her, you never know!) a good reason for his/her actions. EXCERPT: (This isn’t the first time Charlotte and Justice meet – but I love how this scene turned out.) A high-pitched squeal echoed through the trees. "Damn it. Chaucer! Come!" Justice raced around the bend in the path in time to see his rock-brained dog bounding away from a dark figure supine on the ground. "I said Come! damn you." Grinning as only a dog can, Chaucer galumphed to Justice, who quickly snapped on his leash and anchored him to a sapling. His victim had struggled to a sitting position, dark curls tumbled about her face. Justice took a knee next to her. "Are you all right?" The woman tossed her hair out of her eyes and stared at him. He stared back in dismay. "Professor Girardet?" "It's you. Of course it's you." She closed her eyes briefly. "Is that your dog?" Her tone was not complimentary. "He didn't mean to frighten you." "He didn't frighten me. He knocked me down." She sounded breathless. Justice glared at Chaucer, who ignored him and lifted a leg to pee against a tree. "Did he hurt you, Professor?" "Only my pride. And since your dog just bowled me over I think you're allowed to call me Charlotte." She motioned him out of the way. "Let me help you." Justice rose and held out a hand. She stared suspiciously before accepting it and allowing him to haul her to her feet. She pulled free as soon as she was upright and stepped away. "Sorry again about Chaucer." "Your dog's name is Chaucer?" She arched an eyebrow. "As in the poet?" He dipped his head acknowledgement. Her dark brown eyes slid from him to Chaucer—now industriously licking his butt—and back. The tip of her nose twitched. "It was—interesting—meeting you and your dog." She edged around him. "I'd better get home." "You live around here?" He shouldn't be surprised. Residents used the greenbelt trail often, but few strangers found their way onto it. Although he hadn't seen her before, and he and Chaucer walked it most days. "Yes." She circled past Chaucer, who woofed as she neared. She jerked. Damn it, his fool dog had scared her, no matter what she said. "How about a drink?" She wasn't wearing her hat today, but a grey, bulky knit scarf puffed out under her chin. Sunlight gleamed on the dark strands of her hair. "A drink?" "In apology. For Chaucer knocking you over." He didn't like the thought of her being scared. Of anything. Maybe spending some time with the dumb pup would help. "I've got to get back to work." He frowned. "It's Saturday." "I'm doing research. Being a professor isn't only a Monday to Friday job." "It won't take long to have a drink. Hot chocolate?" A hint of humour creased the corners of her eyes. "With marshmallows? Mini ones?" She licked her lips. His gaze zeroed in on her mouth, pink and unpainted. With an effort he dragged his thoughts away from how she would taste, how she would feel. "Or Baileys, if you want to be grown up." The rapid-fire rattle of a woodpecker cut through the forest. She looked over her shoulder, indecision on her face. Her coat was thigh-length, but he could see damp patches on the backs of her legs. "You're wet." His voice was hoarse and he cleared his throat. "From falling in the snow. You can warm up at my house." "I really should go home." She took a step back. "My place is right there." He pointed through the trees. All that could be seen was the wooden fence bordering his back yard, the gate in the middle propped open as he had left it. "Oh." White teeth worried her bottom lip. The attraction he'd been denying flared. With a tug of one hand he released Chaucer's leash from the tree. The pup reared onto his hind legs in delight. He jerked the leash firmly. "Off." When the dog was under control he pointed to the snowy path leading to his gate. "I'll keep Chaucer away from you. Watch your step." He guided Charlotte toward it, his free hand on the small of her back. She resisted at first, but then with a faint sigh gave in. "One drink. A quick one. And then I have to go." Well, what do you think? Let me know in the comments. And now I invite you to move on to Collette Cameron and see what she’s working on right now. Continuing on the theme of writing spaces, S. C. Mitchell has asked us to describe our perfect writing retreat. If you’ve joined me from A.S. Fenichel, welcome! Last week I showed you photos of where I actually write 90% of the time. But when the weather is good during our short Northern BC summer, I also love to take the laptop outside. I find a new writing view is often a great way to break through a block or come up with fresh ideas. This was my new favourite writing space last year. “offers more than just comfort and privacy. It lends inspiration, instills a sense of well-being and provides opportunity to learn and explore. It affords guidance, pleasant surroundings, good food, a variety of diversions. And a sense of fellowship. “ “Pleasant surrounds and good food” – sign me up! Especially if there’s wine involved… I’m so used to writing in the middle of the action, whether it’s at home or at work, that the idea of sitting in a room all by myself is actually a bit off-putting. But if the view were something like this, I think I could suffer through a few hours of isolation! Being a writer is a solitary occupation. This can be a real problem. After all, we are writing about people – and how can you write about people if you don’t spend time with them? So after a putting in time at the keyboard, my perfect retreat would also have a chance to mingle with others. When I attended the Surrey International Writers Conference, the best thing was the sensation of being surrounded by people with my own interests, goals and aspirations. It was a wonderfully fulfilling weekend, and a mix of that along with time to actually write would be the perfect blend. Next up on the hop is the man who assigned us this week’s post, S. C. Mitchell. Be sure to check out his very popular science fiction romance, The Blarmling Dilemma.
Writers are a snoopy bunch. We like to know what makes people tick, how they live, what they enjoy, what gives them pain. How else can we make our characters come to life? This week, Elizabeth Janette wants to snoop inside our own space. She’s asking for the details of where we write – with photos, of course! If you’ve joined me from Tessa Gray, welcome! How does my space compare to hers? I write in my living room. It's next to the kitchen and one short flight of stairs from the TV room, so I'm still in the middle of family life. I don't find that distracting - in fact, if I am home alone, I sometimes find it hard to focus, and have to put on music to combat the quiet. This is the view I have when I'm writing. Yes, that's still a Christmas table runner. :) You can't see out the window, but we live on a normal residential street. However, being in Northern BC, I have looked out and seen moose or deer wandering along. You may also have noticed the cat perched on the arm of the chair. That's Gilligan. She likes to lay on the back of the couch and snore loudly in my ear as I write. This is my storage area. Pink bag - swag, like postcards, pens and candy. Cardboard box - print copies of my books. Red and brown boxes - receipts, files, RWA magazines, research articles, etc. And, yes, that is a wine rack, strategically placed between everything. You never know when sustenance will be needed! Now it’s time to move on to visit Victoria Barbour's writing space. Everyone at Romance Writers Weekly is very proud of her - this week she became a USA Today bestselling author! Her wonderfully funny and touching novella, “Geek God”, is part of “Passionate Kisses 2” – a box set that hit the USA Today Top 150 books this week!
It's been an exciting week for a couple of my RWW friends. First A.S. Fenichel with her cover reveal for Deception - and now a sneak peak at Cookie Cutter by J.R. Richardson. Enjoy! Iris Alden and Carter Blackwood couldn't be more different. Change-averse Iris likes her life neat and organized, while Carter's itchy feet mean he doesn’t plan to stay in the same place for long. When Carter moves into the house across the street from Iris, to renovate it, she fights the disruption it causes in her life. Before long, though, it's not simply the house Carter's rebuilding, but Iris's heart, too. Intrigued? Here's an excerpt: “What are you doing here?” It’s Carter freaking Blackwood. Of course. He smiles that ridiculously bright, white smile of his and lets out a soft snicker. “I’m fixing a floor for a friend, what are you doing here?” It’s completely obvious what I’m doing here, seeing as I’m carrying two huge trays of sugar cookies in my arms. “A friend? You just moved in. How do you have friends already?” I say it a bit harsher than I probably should but honestly, how does he have friends already? James and I were here a good six months before people started really talking to me. It was a year before I could call any of them friends. The edges of Carter’s mouth turn down and his head dips to one side as his shoulders hunch then settle. “People like me, I guess.” The smug look on his face is enough to make me want to slap it. Or kiss it. Wait. Not kiss it. I didn’t mean kiss it. Why am I staring at his lips? Drumroll, please! I’m so excited to be able to reveal the cover of “Deception”, Book Two in A.S. Fenichel’s series, The Demon Hunters. Love historical? Love paranormal? You won’t want to miss this! When Demons threaten Regency London, only a Lady can stop them. Lillian Dellacourt is beautiful, refined and absolutely lethal. She’s also the most feared and merciless demon hunter in The Company. She’s come a long way from the penniless seamstress’s daughter sold to the highest bidder, and it wasn’t by trusting a man, let alone an exiled Marquis with more on his mind than slaying the hellspawn . . . For Dorian Lambert, Marquis de Montalembert, being sent to keep track of Lillian is no mean task. He’s wanted the fiery vixen since he first heard of her five years ago. But wooing the lady while fighting the demon uprising is no easy feat, especially when the lady’s tongue is as sharp as the Japanese sai blades she favors for eviscerating the spawn of hell. These two will have to learn to trust each other fast, because the demon master is back, and he’s planning to turn Edinburgh into a living hell… “Deception” will be released July 7, but you can pre-order it now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Kensington. Also, be sure to enter the draw to win a $25 GC to the book retailer of your choice. Deadline is this Friday, so get your name in now!
A.S. Fenichel is sick and tire of the cold. She wants to know our favorite vacation spot. I love this topic – so many to choose from! If you joined me from Xio Axelrod, welcome! When I think about my favourite vacations spots, I realize there is a common thread – water. I’m sure I’m not alone in this – there is just something about water that adds to the romance and beauty of a place. I live about 8 hours drive from the coast, but my area is blessed with many beautiful lakes. While I enjoy a vacation exploring the tidal pools at the ocean’s edge, I also love camping next to the calm, quiet waters of an inland lake. Vacations aren’t only for relaxing. They can also be exploring new, exciting worlds. A couple of years ago, we went to the Azores, a tiny group of Portuguese islands in the middle of the Atlantic. My husband’s parents emigrated from there to Canada in the 1950’s, and the whole family went back to learn about their heritage, see where they had come from. Now, I love to read books set in places I have been. And I had never read a book set in the Azores. So I decided to write my own! In “No Life But This,” my third completed manuscript, Abigail Garsson is trapped in her safe, boring, conventional life. Desperate for an exciting escape, she signs up for an adventure vacation on the Portuguese island of San Miguel, Azores. That’s where she meets Santos Carregado, a handsome, confident tour guide. A holiday fling becomes something more for both of them, until the realities of Abigail's life reach across the ocean to shatter her holiday daydream. My time for daydreaming about holidays is over. Outside the window the snow is piled high, and inside writing awaits. Why not head over to Kim Handysides now and see where she likes to vacation. I’m pretty sure it might have something to do with sand and surf! But before you go, I invite you to come back to my blog tomorrow as my Romance Writer Weekly friend, A.S. Fenichel, is stopping by to reveal the cover for her new paranormal historical “Deception”. And then on Friday, I’ll have another cover reveal for another RWW pal, Jo Richardson, and her contemporary romantic comedy, “Cookie Cutter”!
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