Thursday, September 29, 2016

NEW COVER FOR TABITHA'S JOURNEY

Recently, Skhye Moncrief designed a new cover for TABITHA’S JOURNEY. Unfortunately, Amazon has not put the new cover up on their website yet. I’m sure they’ll get around to changing to the new cover soon. Still, I wanted readers to be aware there is a change in the works.

The cover model is associated with Kim Killion’s www.hotdamndesigns.com I’ve used this same model on several covers. She has the auburn hair I have always wished I had. Is anyone ever happy with their own appearance?

Sometimes characters stick in a writer’s head and just won’t leave until we write their story. That’s what happened to Bear Baldwin from BLUEBONNET BRIDE. He was only a minor character, barely a mention, but he kept nagging at me to find him a wife. I remembered a short story I’d written years ago and reworked it into a novella.

Would you have been a mail-order bride?  I’m not sure whether or not I would have. In addition to so many men heading west for gold, fame, and fortune in the mid 1800’s, the Civil War further decimated the male population. More men were killed in the Civil War than in World War II.  The combination of events meant that marriage-aged women far outnumbered marriage-aged men.

Women who did not want to spend their lives living with relatives had little choice. Work in a factory, teach school, as a servant, as a governess, or . . . sign with a matrimonial agency to become a mail-order bride.  In Chis Enss’s book HEARTS WEST, she shares the stories of a variety of women who opted to become a mail-order bride. Some were successful, some were disastrous and heartbreaking.  

I love reading mail-order bride stories, but this was the first one I’d written. TABITHA’S JOURNEY is set in 1874 in North Central Texas. This novella is part of the Stone Mountain Texas series.

Here’s the TABITHA’S JOURNEY Blurb:

Would you become a mail-order bride?

Tabitha Masterson is certain whatever awaits her in Radford Springs, Texas will be better than what her brother and that awful William have in mind in Boston. After her father’s death, her brother has become a tyrant. She escapes to begin her new life in Texas, but danger can’t be far behind. She believes if she’s married when trouble arrives, she’ll be safe.

Tobias “Bear” Baldwin is crushed when he receives a wire notifying him that the woman with whom he has corresponded for almost a year has passed him off to her friend. Do the two women believe he’s like an old shirt to be handed down? His mother urges him to give the substitute fiancĂ©e a chance, but his pride is stung and he hasn’t decided.



And how did that come about? Here’s the excerpt that explains part of Tabitha’s problems:

Tabitha sat in the Witt family’s parlor and wiped tears from her face. “I’ve never been so miserable. Prissy, what am I going to do?”
          “Are you certain he’d send you to an asylum if you resist?”
          “Yes, but I don’t know which would be worse—being married to William or being locked away. The man gives me shivers in the worst way.”
          “Me, too.” Priscilla paused and smoothed the folds of her yellow and black plaid taffeta skirt. “I-I’ve had another letter from Tobias.”
 Her attention captured and anger deflected, Tabitha leaned toward her friend intent on hearing the missive’s contents. “Did her send for you?”
          “Yes.” Suddenly, Priscilla’s face puckered as if she, too, might cry. “Oh, I don’t know what to do.”
          “Prissy?” She leaned back to stare at her friend. “What do you mean? I thought you’d accepted his proposal.”
Tabitha was half in love with Tobias Baldwin herself. Already she knew they shared many interests. Priscilla had shared each of his letters, and Tabitha had assisted Priscilla in answering them. Assisted so much, the writing became Tabitha’s heartfelt missives to him.
          “I was all set to leave, just as I said. But…oh, Tabbie, Virgil Allsup has finally spoken to Papa for me. If only Virgil had come forward sooner I never would have answered that mail order bride agency’s advertisement.” She sniffed and dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. “You know I’ve yearned for Virgil ever so long. By now I thought he didn’t want me.”
          “What are you going to do?” Tabitha knew what she’d do. In her way of thinking, a man who dragged his feet as Virgil had all these years couldn’t begin to measure up to Tobias as a husband.
          “That’s just it. I-I accepted Virgil’s proposal.” She sobbed into her handkerchief.
          Tabitha couldn’t help her own tear-filled eyes widening in surprise. “You’re engaged to two men? Prissy, that’s—“
“Unethical? I know.” Priscilla waved her handkerchief. “I think it’s even illegal. Breach of contract or something.” Priscilla met Tabitha’s gaze. “But don’t you see? This could be a solution for your problem.”
Tabitha sighed and shook her head. “I don’t think mine has a solution.”
“Since you hate living with David and Bertha, and you always thought so much of Tobias, maybe you’d like to take my place.” She chewed at her lip as she glanced at Tabitha.
          “Me? Go to Texas and marry Tobias?” Incredulous as the idea sounded, already Tabitha’s mind considered the option.        

If you haven’t already done so, I hope you’ll give TABITHA’S JOURNEY a chance.
The buy link is: Amazon https://amzn.com/B00D0C3MNC

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

COOL STUFF TO MAKE YOU SMARTER!

See how I tricked you into reading about one of my favorite animals, bats. No, don’t stop reading, please! You’ll be so glad you did if you continue to the end. Bat populations are declining worldwide, mostly due to myths and misconceptions. Over half the bats in the US are listed as rare, threatened, or endangered.

A couple of years ago, Darling Daughter 2 and I attended a seminar on bats at Weston Gardens in Fort Worth. Dottie Hyatt, Vice-President of Bat World in Mineral Wells, Texas (www.batworld.org ) brought bats and lots of information. Darling Daughter and I learned so much cool stuff that I’m going to share some of it with you.

 
1. Bats are an integral part of most ecosystems, yet they are the most misunderstood animal on earth. Only through education can we change ecological devastation going forward. Bats are the greatest pesticide available to mankind.

There are over 1100 species of bats in the world and only three are vampire bats, limited for the most part to Latin America. Vampire bats are very small and do NOT attack humans. They prefer to get their teaspoon sized meals from other animals.  The remaining 1097 bat species eat insects, fruit, nectar, and pollen. A few species eat fish and frogs. Insect-eating bats eat billions of tons of insects each summer. They protect our crops and keep costs down at the marketplace. Fruit bats bring us over 450 commercial products and 80 medicines through pollination and seed dispersal. Over 95% of rainforest regrowth comes from seeds that have been spread by fruit bats.

2. Bats don’t carry rabies. They are capable of catching the disease just like any other mammal. In reality, more people die annually from contact with household pets than have died with contact from bats in all of recorded history. Misconceptions about bats are due in part to Hallowe’en lore that presents them as scary, blood-sucking creatures that carry rabies. In fact, less than one-half of one percent of bats contract rabies. This doesn’t mean it’s okay to touch or handle bats. They may be afraid and bite in self-defense. Bats are wild animals and all wild animals can be dangerous. Grounded bats are more likely to be sick and should never be rescued bare-handed.

3. One bat can eat up to 5,000 mosquitoes in a 24-hour period. The little animals are very vulnerable to chemicals, however. If you spray for mosquitoes and other insects, you are likely to also kill bats and prevent them from acting as living pesticide and pollinators.

Can you resist this cutie?

4. Bats are very clean. They spend enormous amounts of time grooming, much like cats do.  They are intelligent and have a sense of humor. Antonia Lollar, who founded Bat World, has had them play tricks on her that would astound everyone. Ms Lollar says “They’re the least appreciated mammal on the face of the earth.”

5. Bats are not flying mice. They are not even remotely related to rodents. In fact, they are built more like a human, and their wing bones are like those of a hand and arm. They are so unique that scientists placed them in a group of their own, Chiroptera, which means hand-wing.



6. Bats are not blind. Most bats see as well as humans. Fruit bats also have eyesight adapted to low light, much like cats, and may see in color. Many bats also use echolocation to catch insects and fly at night.

7. Bats are shy, gentle, and highly intelligent. They are among the slowest reproducing animals on earth. Most bat species have only one live young per year.  The average life span of a bat is 25 to 40 years!
All tucked in for sleep

8.  Bat feces, called guano, is the richest fertilizer available. So rich, that it must be diluted when used.

In 1994, Amanda Lollar founded Bat World Sanctuary, the organization’s first sanctuary for non-releasable bats. Hundreds of bats from around the world have found permanent refuge at this indoor, natural habitat facility. These non-releasable bats include those that have been used in research, retired from zoos, orphaned, permanently injured or confiscated from the exotic pet trade. Bat World is located in Mineral Wells, Texas and serves as headquarters for the organization. Aside from this facility, Bat World has established rescue centers across the US. Bat World Sanctuary has been featured on television programs on the Discovery Channel, 20/20 Downtown, Animal Planet, Nickelodeon, the CBS Early Show and Late Night with David Letterman.

Darling Daughter One gave me a bat box and Hero mounted it on a light pole. Instructions for building a bat box are available online from the National Wildlife Federation or you can purchase one already built from a garden center near you. They must be mounted at least ten feet from the ground to give the residents time to swoop. Bats don’t take off from the ground, but drop to begin their flight.

I wanted to share my fondness for these gentle animals. I hope you enjoyed the post.


Monday, September 26, 2016

THE GENERAL'S WIFE BY SARA R. TURNQUIST



The General's Wife
by Sara R. Turnquist

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Historical Romance


Sara R. Turnquist will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


THE GENREAL’S WIFE Blurb:

“Go home!” Ismene is speechless as she reads those words written in blood on the walls of her new home. The young, raven-haired Grecian beauty had traveled all the way from her homeland to marry the Pharaoh’s top general. But she never expected this. The hatred of the Alexandrian mob for their Greek rulers is right in front of her. It is the first of many threats she will receive.

Things are escalating out of control. Damaged crops and horses turned loose at night are one thing. But when Ismene receives a death threat, it becomes clear that there is a spy within her own household. She would turn to her husband to deal with this issue, except he left for battle by order of the Pharaoh. Not knowing whom to trust, she fears for her safety as well as the entire ruling class of Egypt.




THE GENERAL’S WIFE Excerpt:

A din of whispered conversation among the servants could be heard, but only just. No one wanted to speak out for fear of enraging the general further. Many of the servants were unable to read Greek and had no idea what important message was scarred into their master's most prized sanctuary. As if the vandalism alone wasn't enough to evoke a great anger in him, the message itself had pushed him closer to the edge of violence. They had never seen their kind master in such a state.

“What is everybody...” Ismene's voice interrupted their musings. No one, not even Alistair, had even noticed that she had arrived at the grand estate, least of all made it all the way out to the gardens. Her voice, which started light and happy, trailed off as she noticed the source of everyone's fixation.

There were many audible gasps as the servants, like Alistair, turned and saw Ismene's paled face, her mouth moving as if trying to form words, though none came forth.

Alistair rushed over to her, “Ismene, don't look...it's...” he said, trying to turn her away, to go back in direction she had just come.
It was only then that he realized—the message—it was for her. Ismene and Alonah came to the gardens each day to check on her tiger lilies. This wall faced the entrance into the gardens closest to her bedchambers, the entrance she came through every day. How did anyone outside of his house and Pharaoh's know that? His heart sank. There was a leak in one of these houses.

   

Sara R. Turnquist, Author

Sara is originally from middle TN. After a short stint in Memphis, where she earned a degree in Biology and began a career as both a Zoo Educator and a Sleep Technician, she then followed a dream to work for a large zoo in Orlando, FL as an Educator. Once she and her husband started their family, they moved back to Tennessee. Sara and her husband now enjoy a full life with their three beautiful and very active children. Sara enjoys many creative outlets – singing, piano, drawing, drama, and organizing anything. And even though she has enjoyed her career as a Zoo Educator, Sara's great love of the written word continued to draw her to write. She has always been an avid reader and, for many years, has been what she terms a “closet writer”. Her travels and love of history have served to inspire her to write Historical Fiction. Sara has made several trips overseas to the Czech Republic. Her time among the Czech people and the landscapes of the country inspired her and greatly influenced her work on her debut novel, The Lady Bornekova, set in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. Sara is also a member of the ACFW.


How to reach me:

Website/URL: www.saraturnquist.com  
Twitter: @sarat1701
Facebook: Sara R. Turnquist, Author - www.facebook.com/authorsararturnquist  

Buy Links:

Amazon:

Barnes & Noble:

Kobo:

Smashwords:

iTunes:


INTERVIEW WITH SARA

What is something you’ve lied about?

I read a friend’s book and could not tell her that I did not care for it. So I told her I enjoyed it. The craft was good. I just didn’t care for the story.

We've all been there, Sara! Who is the last person you hugged?

My daughter

What are you reading now?

Melanie Dickerson’s The Beautiful Pretender. I love her books. I am consuming them at an alarming rate.

How do you come up with the titles to your books?

I think about the main character, the content of the book, and the message of the book…and then brainstorm with my husband and beta readers.

Share your dream cast for your book.


I don’t necessarily want to be famous or make a million dollars (although wouldn’t that be nice). I just want to get my stories out there. I want to learn more about my craft and make each book better than the last. I want people to read these stories and enjoy them.

Sara R. Turnquist will be awarding a $50 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


a Rafflecopter giveaway



Friday, September 23, 2016

NEW RELEASES FROM LYRICAL PRESS!



The Sweetheart Racket
by Cheryl Ann Smith
and
One Week in Your Arms
By Patricia Preston

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Romance Suspense and Contemporary Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cheryl and Patricia will be awarding digital copies of both books on tour to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

The Sweetheart Racket


THE SWEETHEART RACKET Blurb:

They used to be on the sidelines. Now they’re out in the field…

Two years ago, Taryn Hall was a pro football cheerleader—until she left her lecherous boss with a bloody nose and a faceful of Mace. Now she’s part of a different kind of squad. An elderly billionaire named Irving has hired and trained Taryn and her two best friends to work as private investigators…

Taryn loves the job, though it sometimes involves boring stakeouts, dog bites—and listening to Irving talk about his golf shoes. Then tattooed, steely-eyed, straight-up gorgeous undercover DEA agent Rick Silva walks into the office and shakes things up…

Rick needs help finding the con artist who’s taken his lonely mother for all she was worth. With multiple aliases and multiple victims, it will be a challenge to track down the coldhearted gigolo. And Rick insists on accompanying Taryn on the hunt, working closely, day and night.

This could be dangerous. And the case might be kind of risky, too…



THE SWEETHEART RACKET Excerpt:

“I need a PI.”

She was just tired enough to make a sassy comment about his good fortune of stumbling into a PI firm, but profit margins danced fresh in her mind. Why chase off a perfectly good client with a smart comment?

“Come to my office.” The stranger followed her. She was convinced he was checking out her butt. Or maybe it was just wishful thinking. She hadn’t had a date in ages, and was beginning to feel a bit withered. Either way, she needed to keep her mind on business and not how good he looked in his jeans.

He settled into a chair before her desk and looked around the space. He had a strong jaw, a semi-straight nose, and a small scar that dissected his right brow.

“What can I do for you, Mr.—?”

“Silva. Rick Silva.”

“Yes, ah, Mr. Silva. What brings you to Brash?” Despite a professional outward demeanor, it proved difficult to concentrate on anything but his gorgeous gray eyes. They were a stark contrast to his dark brown hair and tanned face.

The man was all alpha male. She’d be shocked if he’d ever eaten a bean sprout on purpose or ordered a vanilla mocha latte with lite whip and cinnamon sprinkles.

Add the tattoos peeking out from beneath his t-shirt sleeves and she wondered if he’d done time.

“I’m searching for someone. His name is Teddy Brinkman.”

His voice had gone hard. There was danger in his expression. A chill trilled through her. She leaned forward and knitted her fingers, forcing herself not to show fear. “Are you going to kill him?”

Silva’s eyes widened at her bluntness. “And if I did?”

Damn. She’d hoped for a new client, not a murderer looking for an accomplice. “Then I can’t help you.” She stood. “We are not in the business of playing intermediaries to murder. You’ll have to find him on your own.”

And she’d have to call the cops ASAP.

Buy the book:


One Week in Your Arms


ONE WEEK IN YOUR ARMS Blurb:

IT STARTED WITH A FLING…

Six years ago, ambitious med student Marla Grant gave into temptation with a gorgeous man. Now a busy doctor and a loving single mom, the only thing that matters to Marla more than her adorable daughter is the Lafayette Falls Community Clinic. When its funding is threatened, Marla is determined to find out why—until she learns the person responsible is none other than the powerful, persuasive man of her long-ago fling and the unsuspecting father of her child…

Carson Blackwell has never forgotten bright, beautiful Marla. When he discovers that she runs the clinic his grandmother’s foundation funds, it’s the perfect chance to put an end to his ongoing infatuation—and use his leverage to cement a new business deal. He needs a fake girlfriend for one week in Hawaii, and Marla is just the woman for the job. It’s a win-win situation, until they realize the attraction between them isn’t feigned, and the heat has never died down. Only the secrets they’re both keeping stand in the way of a future together—and a love that could last a lifetime.



ONE WEEK IN YOUR ARMS Excerpt:

He had to fix this mess.

He walked into the living room. Marla stood by the glass wall, watching the rain whip against the palms and bougainvillea as she chatted on her phone. One large suitcase and a smaller bag on top of it were propped beside the sofa.

He stopped to admire her backside. She had great legs and hips that filled out her black shorts perfectly. He liked whatever she’d done to her hair.

The way the uneven layers curled around her neck and shoulders was flirty. And the cologne was new, too. Unlike the quiet scent she frequently wore, this one was a dark, rich exotic scent that whispered of pleasure at midnight. He wondered if he could convince her to wear it all the time.

“Y’all be careful on the road,” she was telling the person on the phone. Her Southern accent reminded him of Royal Oaks and his mother’s family. “Okay. Listen, I’ll call when I land at LAX.”

“No,” he said and she wheeled around, eyes wide with surprise. “You’re not leaving.”

Her surprised look became a frown. Okay, there’d be a fight ahead. He’d allowed for that. In fact, he had realized she was extremely sexy when she was pissed off.

Buy the book:
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2bOW0kg
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2bOW3wE



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHORS Bio and Links:

Cheryl Ann Smith became hooked on romance at age fourteen when she stayed up all night to read The Flame and The Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss. Her own writing journey happened much later, when one afternoon she ran out of books and decided to write her own. Previously, she has published five sexy Regency novels and one novella with Berkley in her School for Brides series.

Visit Cheryl’s website at www.CherylAnnSmith.com or visit her on Facebook at Cheryl Ann Smith Author.

Author Links:


Patricia Preston is a Southern author whose dream come true would be living in the French Quarter. Besides writing, she loves music, history, taking road trips, and anything containing chocolate. Having fun is her objective when it comes to storytelling and she hopes her readers will find her amusing, feel-good romances entertaining. You can visit her at www.patricia-preston.com.

Author Links:


Cheryl and Patricia will be awarding digital copies of both books on tour to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


Wednesday, September 21, 2016

ROMANTIC SUSPENSE - SINS THAT HAUNT BY LUCY FARAGO



Sins That Haunt
by Lucy Farago

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Romantic Suspense

Lucy will be awarding a digital copy of Sins that Haunt to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


SINS THAT HAUNT Blurb:

The glitz and glamour of Las Vegas hide a multitude of sins. And in Lucy Farago’s show-stopping series, a lawyer and an FBI agent take a walk on the seedy side, where greed breeds a deadly desperation...

Civil attorney Shannon Joyce walks the line of law and order, but she learned from day one how to put up a good front—thanks to her con man father. Thirteen years ago, she left the east coast and her life of crime behind. Her high school sweetheart, Noah, was collateral damage, but some things can’t be helped. But now there’s no escape when her past comes roaring down the Strip—in the oh-so-tempting form of the man she left behind...

Special Agent Noah Monroe has Shannon exactly where he wants her—in the back of his car in handcuffs. Her grifter father has been murdered, and the FBI needs Shannon to
keep one of his scams in play to bag the big bad guy who was financing him. Once again a pawn in someone’s else game, Shannon will have to trust her instincts to survive both the peril threatening her—and the passion Noah reignites…



SINS THAT HAUNT Excerpt:

They eventually stopped at the last place she’d expected. The airport. Noah got out of the car and got in the backseat with her.

“What’s going on?” She should be sitting in an interrogation room, not visitors’ parking at the airport. “Is my father really dead?”

May God have mercy on her soul, but she hoped so.

Noah nodded once.

“How did he die?”

He lifted a dark eyebrow.

“Cut it out. You know damn well I didn’t kill him.” She didn’t lie, not anymore. “Am I glad he’s gone to a far worse place?” She shrugged. He’d not only screwed up her life but countless others’. His victims were in the thousands, if not more. “But when I left him, he was alive.” Not very happy but alive.

“When would that be?” he asked.

She considered telling him to go take a swim in shark-infested waters, then thought better of it. She had nothing to hide. “Two days ago.”

“What did the two of you discuss?”

“The weather,” she said. Jerk. No way would she admit to her father extorting money from her. Thirteen years ago she’d have told Noah everything. Thirteen years ago he hadn’t been a special agent assigned to a task force that could put her behind bars.

“Shannon, even if you and I didn’t know you hated the guy, the only time he ever talked to you was to coerce you into one of his schemes. So what was it this time?”


Buy links:


Lucy Farago, Author

Lucy Farago knows there is nothing like a happy sigh at the end of a good book. With the encouragement of her loving husband, she wrote her first manuscript. An unpublished historical, it sits in a file on her computer, there to remind her how much fun she had learning the craft and becoming part of an industry whose books make you believe anything is possible. A big fan of Agatha Christie, she set out to write her first romantic suspense novel. Thrilled to be a published author, Lucy also teaches yoga, enjoys cooking, and saying what other people are thinking. In her fantasy world, her beautiful Siberian husky, Loki, doesn’t shed and her three kids clean up after themselves. Alas, that fantasy will never see fruition.


Lucy will be awarding a digital copy of Sins that Haunt to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, September 19, 2016

A CUNNING PLAN BY ASTRID ARDITI #CunningTour




Astrid Arditi was born from a French father and Swedish mother. She lived in Paris and Rome before moving to London with her husband and daughter back in 2013.

After dabbling in journalism, interning at Glamour magazine, and teaching kindergarten, Arditi returned to her first love: writing.

She now splits her time between raising her kids (a brand new baby boy just joined the family) and making up stories.

A Cunning Plan is Arditi’s first published work.





Astrid Arditi has been kind enough to give an interview so readers can learn more about her:
  
Where did you grow up ? Siblings ? Locale ? Were you considered a « bookworm » or a jock ? Married, single ? Children ?

I grew up in Paris. My dad is French and my mom is Swedish. I have three siblings, one half sister seven years older than me and a younger sister and brother. We were all born one year apart. Courageous mom !

Although I hung out with the jocks, I was incredibly shy and insecure. I was a bookworm at heart, spending hours lost in Barbra Cartland’s novels but the cool crew allowed me to trail them around. My so-called “girlfriends” loved to make fun of me and take me down. My teens were fairly lonely.

I’ve been married for three years now and have an almost three-year-old tsunami of a daughter (barely made it into my wedding dress, just couldn’t wait to become a mother) and a sweet, contemplative baby boy. We moved to Brooklyn earlier this summer.

Who are your favorite authors and favorite genres?

My all time favorite author is Stefan Zweig, particularly his short stories and biographies. In romance, I’m a die-hard fan of Janet Evanovich. I also love Helen Fielding and her Bridget Jones.

What’s your favorite way to relax and recharge? Hobbies?

Anything that doesn’t include my kids these days (Although I’m incredibly grateful for them). Reading or hanging out with friends, eating cakes.

Do you have a favorite quote that sums up how you feel about life?

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” Oscar Wilde

How long have you been writing?

Pretty much all my life, but with a professional intent for the past 6 years, which is when I met my husband. He believed in my talent when I wasn’t ready to do it for myself.

Where do you prefer to write? Do you need quiet, music, solitude? PC or laptop?

I write in cafes. First because my kids aren’t there, and second because I love being surrounded with life as I write. Snippets of conversation, heads huddled together as if sharing a secret, any ordinary detail can inspire me. I also need to concentrate that much harder to keep the ambient noise out whereas at home I get distracted way too easily. My laptop follows me everywhere although I’m very much a pen and paper gal. I only write with my special pens, pink, turquoise, purple and blue, just like I did in high school

Are you a plotter or a panzer?

A bit of both I think. I need an outline and a strong sense of direction before I can begin to write but then I love it when my characters surprise me and I’m always willing to let them take a detour.

Do you use real events or persons in your stories or as an inspiration for stories?

My work is mostly fiction but Claudia, my heroine’s best friend was strongly inspired by my old housekeeper. She worked for me when my daughter was born and I was feeling lonely in London. We became close friends till she disappeared one day. I was thrilled when she contacted me again the day of A Cunning Plan’s publication. Best launch gift!

Do you set daily writing goals? Word count? Number of chapters? Do you get a chance to write every day?

I try to write every day but with young kids it’s not always possible. I usually write for two to three hours per day – about 1,500 words.
     
What do you hope your writing brings to readers?

I hope I can inspire women to reach their full potential. Sloane may appear impossibly weak and submissive at first, almost unbelievably so, but I do know many women who take an incredible amount of abuse because of their insecurities.
I’m also simply hoping to give people a good time because sometimes you just need to laugh.

What long-term plans do you have for your career?

I foresee many more adventures for Sloane and Ethan. I’d also love to write YA fantasy some day, when my kids are old enough to read my novels.

Would you like to tell us what you’re working on now?

Book 2 in the Sloane Harper series, A Cunning Heist.

 What advice would you give to unpublished authors?

Don’t let your insecurities get the best of you. If you want to be an author, nothing’s stopping you. Write then write some more so you can hone your skill, for yourself first and foremost.

There are so many opportunities for authors nowadays… A shiny publishing deal isn’t the only way to share your words with the world.

 A fun fact readers wouldn’t know about you.

I have a fish phobia. Started when I was about ten. Give me the choice between a pool with a gold fish and one with a shark and I’ll always choose the latter.

Something about you that would surprise or shock readers.

My first language is French. I only truly learned English in my early twenties.


A Cunning Plan is book one in the Sloane Harper series. I have no set number of books in mind although I believe every good thing must have an end. I’ll keep writing this series as long as Sloane keeps me entertained and impatient to know what she plans next.

Can you give readers a blurb about A CUNNING PLAN?

Determined to put her family back together, Sloane Harper stalks her ex husband and his annoyingly stunning mistress, Kate. And she’s not the only one. Handsome IRS agent Ethan Cunning is surveying them too, but not for the same reasons. He is attempting to nail Kate’s playboy boss.

Ethan and Sloane decide to help each other, which sends Sloane’s wobbly life spinning out of control. She’ll have to face danger, humiliation, and scariest of all, the dating scene, to lure her daughters’ father home.

Losing control was the best thing to happen to Sloane… until it turned lethal.




How about an excerpt from A CUNNING PLAN:



So far, I have spent more than ten hours this week parked on the exact same street, in front of the exact same building, staking out my husband’s mistress. To be exact, Tom was my ex-husband now, but I was pretty sure he was still my husband when Katherine Stappleton started screwing him.

A sideways glance confirmed Claudia’s eyelids had finally closed, and I sighed in relief. If I had to listen to one more minute of heavy metal, I would hurl myself or my housekeeper extraordinaire out of the car window.

I shot my hand toward the Mini Austin’s radio. But just as the angry voices faded in favor of a monotonous radio show, Claudia’s hand lashed out and slapped my wrist away.

“Go back. I love that song.”

“But I don’t understand Polish,” I said with a pout.

“It’s music, you don’t need to understand it,” she countered, her eyes still closed.

My teeth hurt from the loud screeching she called music. I considered looking for Magic FM again, but Claudia read my mind first. She snapped open one fierce blue eye.

“Don’t,” she warned.

Heavy metal music wasn’t nearly bad enough to risk incurring Claudia’s wrath and chancing her leaving. Listening to any kind of music with her definitely beat sitting in the car alone.

I gave a last, longing stare at the radio then turned my attention to the dashboard’s digital clock. It was 3:43 p.m. according to the flashing orange numbers. Sighing, I thought again of how much time I’d spent here.

The details of my husband’s ‘infidelity’ mattered; they changed the way one perceived things. On one side, you had my ex’s new girlfriend, and on the other, the tramp who stole my husband. Doesn’t have the same ring to it, right?

The same way if you asked Katherine Stappleton, she might have described my endeavor as ‘stalking’ rather than ‘staking out’. If she knew I was hiding in front of her work place, that is, and I was extremely careful not be noticed. Plus, I never left the car or followed her home -the definition of stalking. Legally speaking, I was in the clear. I’d checked on Yahoo Answers.



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