Saturday 30 April 2016

Learn a little bit more about some of the authors of Come Love a Cowboy #Contemporary #Western #Romance #Novellas


Caroline Clemmons, author of Grant Me the Moon:
Caroline’s Favorite Room
Without a doubt, my favorite room is the small pink office I refer to as “my pink cave”.  When I’m here I’m surrounded by many of my favorite things. Sitting at my computer, I’m engaged in one of my favorite pastimes, writing.
My triangle-shaped corner computer desk and my other desk are in faux dark cherry, a gift from my beloved husband, Hero. The computer portion has pigeon holes and a drawer and little cupboard for storage. Shelves above hold favorite research books, a scented candle diffuser, a desk lamp, knick knacks.
One year for my birthday, my youngest daughter redecorated my office with several prints she knew I’d love. One of those hangs over the left side of the computer desk. Above it is one of those press-on wall stickers of my favorite quote: “Be the change you wish to see in this world” Ghandi.  I admit the walls of my office are covered with photos and memorabilia. I love the effect even though this might make some people claustrophobic.
The left side of the room is bookcases. Authors can never have too much book shelving, can they? Research books, genealogy books, and books by good friends reside there.  Over the desk, there’s a three-shelf cabinet with glass doors for more of the knick knacks I collect. These include nativity sets, bells, angels, a particular type of figurine, a hand-carved Santo of Frances de Sales (patron saint of writers) from a friend, and a black Madonna from another friend. 
One end of my office opens off the master bedroom, designed as a sitting room. We needed the office space more. The other end is a door onto the patio, with panes of glass on the top portion. My desk chair is a very good one that is extremely comfortable. When I took a creative writing course calling “Writing Fiction to Sell”, the instructor said whatever you do, get a good, comfortable chair so that you can sit for long periods without ruining your back. He said we could put a laptop or computer on an ironing board in a closet, but the chair was the most important writing aid. I believe now that he was correct.  As long as I’m am sitting in my office and writing a book, I’m a happy person.

Keta Diablo, author of Three For the Win:
Keta's Earliest Childhood Memory
I knew I had to pen a little story on this topic. My earliest childhood memory involves a bit of the paranormal...ghosts or perhaps beings from alternate worlds.  
When I was three years old, we lived in a house that was over a century old. 'We' means my mom, dad and a sports' team of brothers. Because I was the only girl, I was the only sibling with her own bedroom. That bedroom was immediately off a large kitchen and toward the back of the house. The ceilings were tiled with tin squares; the walls were ancient plaster and the floors hardwood.
Despite its creaky, cranky old age, the house was quite nice and loaded with character. But, I digress. We're supposed to be talking early memories and in my case spirits. I saw little men near the ceiling. They sat between the tin squares and the three-inch coving surrounding the room. I told my mom about them every night after she tucked me in, and I couldn't understand why she couldn't see them. Oh, she was patient all right, and very understanding in an appeasing sort of way.
Our routine was the same every night. She would read me a story, during which I spent most of the time watching the little men looking down at me. And then I would point to the ceiling and tell her, 'They're back.' She'd ask me to describe them, which I did, of course, and I can still picture them today. Dare I say I realize now they looked like elves? At the time, I didn't know what an elf was, much less what they looked like, but these men were small with bright-colored pants, pointed shoes and pointed ears. And hair...I remember hair. Whether that means they had beards or long hair, I'm no longer certain, but they definitely had an abundance of hair.
They weren't menacing, more like extremely curious over what was happening below them. I don't remember feeling threatened or overly frightened, but I think my frustration that Mom couldn't see them, overrode any fear at the time.
My Dad insisted she sit in the kitchen every night until I fell asleep, and she did. That promise, knowing she right in the next room, was the only thing that allowed me to fall asleep every night.
Mom is 89 years old now and we often talk about the little men in the ceiling. She remembers it well, and after all these years, so do I.
How about you? Did you ever see beings or spirits from an alternate world when you were a child? In later years, after several other 'otherworldly' experiences in my life, a psychologist told me animals and children often see ghosts or spirits. 'They see them,' she said 'because they've never been taught not to.'
Hmm...makes you wonder about those things children and animals see that adults are blind to, doesn't it?
Thanks so much for allowing me to share my earliest childhood memory with you. Hope it's given you something to ponder.
Happy writing and happy reading,
Keta Diablo

Hebby Roman, author of Border Affair:
Hebby’s First Kiss
My first kiss was in the balcony of our one movie theater in Del Rio, which was called the RITA. Interesting name for a movie theater, now that I think back. It was very dark up there in the balcony, which was why we were there.
My so-called boyfriend, a neighbor from down my street, whose name shall go down in history as Marty Sawyer, had dragged me up there BECAUSE it was so dark. I somehow knew he was working himself up to the BIG KISS because he'd been holding my hand in the main part of the movie theater for several weeks, and everyone in my hometown knew you went into the balcony to make out.
Not only was it dark up there, but the floors were sticky with spilt soft drinks, not to mention stale popcorn littering the chairs and floor. I was so nervous and excited and everything a twelve-year-old girl should be at a time like this, I guess.
But when the big moment came, and he screwed up his courage enough to kiss me, what a let down! He was super nervous, too, and his kiss was wet and sloppy and did absolutely nothing for me. Oh, and luckily, he did not use his tongue. Thank heavens!
After this dubious start to love making, is it any wonder I decided to remain a tomboy for another few years and concentrate on riding my quarter horse, Macy?"

Margo Bond Collins, author of Leaving Necessity:
Margo’s First Kiss
That first kiss: sweet, bumbling, awkward, and a something to be a little nostalgic about, right? All of those things are certainly true of my own first kiss. We weren't sure which way to turn our heads, so we bumped noses. I was terrified that I would cut his mouth with my braces and felt the need to make sure he was okay afterwards. I didn't know quite what to do with my tongue, though rumor had it that tongues should be involved.
I remember other things as well: how my heart sped up at the sight of his grin, how certain I was that the freckles across his nose were the most charming thing in the world, how we hardly knew what to say to each other but could hold hands for hours.
Authors bring their own lives and experiences into their works in various ways, and in Leaving Necessity, Mac takes Clara on a date to a small-town skating rink, precisely so she will remember their own first kiss—and the many, many kisses after it that happened in a darkened back corner of the rink. While they're there, Mac confesses to her that the owner of the rink threatened to ban them both from returning if he ever actually caught Mac and Clara kissing.
Part of that scene is taken from my own life: my own first kisses happened in a skating rink in small-town Texas, and I found out only years later that they continued under threat of permanent expulsion from one of the few entertainment venues for young teenagers.
So what I remember most about my first kisses is that they were sneaky. I simply didn't know quite how sneaky we were being.
Not that I would have changed a thing.

Julie A. D’Arcy, author of The Shape of Destiny:
Julie’s First Kiss
I don’t kiss and tell. All I will say is year 7 with year 8 boyfriend. A long time ago.

Andrea Downing, author of Bad Boy, Big Heart:
Who People Think I Am, Compared to Who I Really Am
I remember being totally shocked when a mother of one of my daughter’s school classmates leaned into my car at collection time and told me how glamorous I was.  Uhhh—you truly have to be kidding.  I was wearing a denim jacket, hair pulled back in a low ponytail, and—okay—large sunglasses.  And then, a few weeks later, another mother made the same comment.  Pal, you MUST jest.
I’ll accept I was rather thin in those days, a helluva lot younger, and liked nice clothes.  But I was also—and still am—a nail biter of the first degree, and most comfortable without make-up and in baggy, elastic-waisted pants.  Where’s the glamor in that?
When I returned to live in the USA and started writing western romance, my own brother turned to me one day and asked if I was the same Andrea who had lived in the house on Long Island, with him and his parents.  He was joking, of course, but he couldn’t get it straight that his sister was writing about cowboys in Wyoming, riding horses, going to rodeos, listening to country music.  Where did that come from?
So who am I?  We all know the expression, ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’ but it is also true, IMHO, that we are assessed differently by the various people with whom we come in contact.  We’re somebody’s sister, somebody’s mother, somebody’s friend.  Today, I’m probably being called something like ‘the old lady in 209’ by the building staff at my apartment block.  Surely, the tally against which we are judged is as individual as the person judging us.
So who am I, really?  I’m the author of Bad Boy, Big Heart.  That’s who.
 
Patti Sherry-Crews author of Desert Heat:
My Big Lie
I told one big lie, which led to a series of smaller lies, and I never got caught. I buried my lie.
I always treasured the times my father and I did things together. When he suggested entering the kite-flying contest, I was thrilled. We built the kite ourselves, tied strips of rag on the tail, and practiced flying it. Our kite was going to be a winner.
Finally, the day of the contest! When we got to the park, Dad patted me on the back, wished me luck, and took off. I was stunned.
I bravely joined the other kids in the field. I let the string out and watched my kite soar. Then I watched it plummet to the ground and smash into pieces.
I looked around for help, but nobody was paying attention to me. Tears of frustration blurred my vision—then a red-hot fury took over.
I saw the table with the awards. I walked over, took first place and went home.
There were questions. Why wasn’t my name engraved on it? I made up some excuse for that and all other questions. My parents had my name engraved on the plaque and put it in a place of honor where it confronted me everyday.
When I couldn’t take it any longer, I put that thing somewhere I wouldn’t have to see it. I had an odd long, low closet built under the eaves. It was very messy. I could forget about the award hidden in clutter.
Except for years to come, every time I cleaned out my closet, it would emerge: my big lie. Each time I saw the plaque with my name on it, it was like being hit in the stomach.
Telling a lie is bad. Not getting caught can be worse.
Eight stand-alone Contemporary Western Romance novellas from Bestselling and Award Winning Authors.
 
From firefighters, bronco busters, and wealthy ranchers to bad boys, we have them all for you!  If you've ever wanted to fall in love with a sexy, alpha cowboy of today...now's your chance.
 
A savings of more than 75% if the books were purchased separately.

Universal Link:  myBook.to/Come-Love-A-Cowboy



 
Luke’s Fate by Kathleen Ball
Meg O’Brien hoped never to lay eyes on the one man who broke her heart. To her dismay, Luke Kelly arrives at her ranch a much different and broken man. Can Meg ever forgive his callous treatment of her and help Luke become the man he used to be?
 
Grant Me The Moon by Caroline Clemmons
All Tory Fraser intended was to show her high school history club students a local archeology dig. How could she know the excursion would involve a murder?
 
Three for The Win by Keta Diablo
Hollis should have known better than to fall for a bone-melting man like Stede. He’s gone now and Eli is left to pick up the broken pieces of her life.
 
Border Affair by Hebby Roman
When his partners’ daughter is kidnapped in México, a self-made millionaire must confront his feelings about their affair and the future of their relationship.
 
Leaving Necessity by Margo Bond Collins
Mac has one week to convince his ex-girlfriend Clara not to sell his oil company. In this high-pressure reunion, can they strike love again?
 
The Shape of Destiny by Julie A. D’Arcy
A young male shape shifter. A beautiful female ranch owner. Can love be born in a web of deceit?
 
Bad Boy, Big Heart by Andrea Downing
She’s a New Yorker escaping her parents.  He’s a Wyoming cowboy supporting his dad. One summer, two young people—three months to find love.

Desert Heat by Patti Sherry-Crews
A single mother struggling to keep her guest ranch puts her own desires on hold. When a handsome and persistent fireman sets his sights on her, she must decide how much she’s willing to give.
Universal Link:  myBook.to/Come-Love-A-Cowboy 


Friday 29 April 2016

Autthor Q&A with Kim Loraine #Contemporary #Romance



Kim Loraine will be awarding a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. 

If your book were made into a movie, who would you want to play your main characters?
AnnaSophia Robb would play Valerie and Colin O’Donoghue would be Donovan. I can’t picture them as anyone else, but I love to see who my readers picture.

How do you come up with the titles of your books?
I started with Restoration, it was just natural because my main character was a restorative architect who needed to be put back together as well. After that, I decided an “R” theme and double meaning was important. Renovation is about tearing down walls and repairing the damage inside while improving yourself in the process.

What does your writing space look like?
I write all over the place. I live in Japan, so if I’m not at a coffee shop, I like to write in the tatami room in my house. It is peaceful, with beautiful rice paper doors and a view of my Japanese garden.

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?
I love to swim, walk on the boardwalk by our house, snuggle my kids, and my husband and I are currently obsessed with Supernatural, so we watch that most nights.

What is your favourite color?
Blue

What is your favourite pleasure food?
Chocolate chip cookies dipped in coffee first thing in the morning.

What is your favourite season?
Spring

What is your favourite television show?
Supernatural, Doctor Who, Outlander

What is your favourite movie?
Barefoot in the Park

Who is your favourite actor?
David Tennant

What is your favourite song?
I Will by The Beatles

What is your favourite comfort clothing attire?
My mom uniform of Yoga pants and a comfy T-shirt

What books might we find on your bedside table?
Probably a Nora Roberts book, a book club recommendation, and a mystery novel.

Describe yourself in three words.
Outgoing, level-headed, empathetic

 
Valerie Peters is done with bad boys and ready to start living for herself. She’s determined to settle for nothing less than a romantic, sweeps-you-off-your-feet, nice-guy. So when a sexy firefighter with the hottest reputation in town saves her from near-drowning, there’s no doubt he’s everything she shouldn't want. 

Donovan’s looks and image have kept his nights entertaining and his ring finger empty. One-night stands serve as a short-term distraction to the flashbacks of his past he increasingly struggles to ignore. But a chance encounter with his best friend’s sister makes him realize that one night is no longer enough. 

Together they discover that bad can actually be the best and forever is worth everything.

Excerpt
Donovan Miller braced his arms on the side of the pool as he pushed himself out of the water. His limbs trembled slightly from exertion. He reached for his towel and caught sight of the swimmer a few lanes away. She was tiny. Her body moved smoothly through the water, mesmerizing him as she rotated back and forth. He could tell she was an experienced swimmer by the consistency in her strokes. As he toweled off, he admired the curves of her body. Alarm bells rang in his head when he realized she was rapidly approaching the wall and showed no sign of slowing.

"Hey! Hey! Watch out!" he shouted as he ran toward her lane, hoping desperately to intercept her.

With a dim thud, her head hit the side of the pool. He watched as her eyes rolled back and she sank under the water.

"Shit! Shit!"

Jumping into the swimmer's lane, he pulled her to the surface, attempting to immobilize her neck as much as possible. He assessed her pulse and checked to make sure her airway wasn't compromised.

"Call an ambulance," he barked at the dumbstruck lifeguards headed in their direction.

She floated in his arms, eyes closed, bleeding. He took a moment to feel thankful he'd seen the effects of blood mixed with water before. Even a small amount of blood can look like a murder scene when water is added. He held her while they waited for the ambulance. He stroked her hair and checked her pulse again, disconcerted by the feeling of her soft skin under his fingers. Her eyes fluttered open, affording him a concerned glance before she winced in pain.

"What happened?" Her voice was thin and raspy.

"Shh, don't try to move, sweetheart. You slammed into that wall pretty hard."

"I . . . mmm . . . lost my count."

"It's gonna be okay."

She frowned, eyebrows pulling together. "Can I get up now?"

"There's an ambulance on the way. They'll be here in a minute. We need to wait to move you. I want to get you on a spine board and in a neck brace." He smiled and locked eyes with her. "What's your name, sweetheart?"

"Valerie. Valerie Peters." Her face pulled into an adorable frown again. "Don't call me sweetheart. I don't even know you."

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Kim Loraine is the author of the “Golden Beach” series, including “Restoration” (2015) and “Renovation” (2015). She started writing at a young age, scribbling down song lyrics, short stories, and poems she was too afraid to share with anyone. Busy working as a music teacher in her Pacific Northwest hometown, it wasn’t until her family of four picked up everything and moved to beautiful Japan that she decided to finally take the plunge and send her characters out into the world.

The central theme in Kim’s books is self-discovery, whether that is found through taking risks, breaking down walls, or admitting mistakes. Kim likes to write characters that seem like someone you actually know, who find that life is a journey not without its challenges.

When not writing Kim spends her time with her husband, chasing around their crazy kids, exploring Japan, and binge-watching Doctor Who on Netflix.

Pick up Kim’s books through amazon.com and B&N
You can follow Kim on Facebook www.facebook.com/kimlorainewriter
or Twitter @kimloraine2

Renovation will be on sale for $0.99 during the tour.
LINKS:




a Rafflecopter giveaway