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Saturday, January 31, 2015

Cute and Sweet First Date Romance with @AuthorNicMorgan



Welcome to Romance Books 4 Us everyone. I'm your tour guide for the day, Nicole Morgan and as some of you may have noticed I drop by with a new post on the first of every month and either ramble like a fool or amaze you with my intellect. LOL. Okay, yes that last one was a stretch, but...I've got you smiling now, don't I? Now that you're good and loosened up, go ahead and kick your shoes off, sit back, relax and enjoy!

Cute and Sweet First Date Romance

For February, the month of valentines, love and romance I am sharing with you a cute, romantic and sweet first date that a couple of my character's shared. Keep in mind that Sara is very shy, and Mitch... well he's very confident in his quest to get what he wants. And what he wants... is Sara.  


Sara was impressed when they pulled up to the little Italian Bistro. She had heard some of the girls at the office talk about it. It was definitely one of the trendier places in town. And she had heard from more than one of the girls that they had a chicken marsala dish that was to die for.
Mitch led Sara to their table with his hand placed at the small of her back. When the waiter had pulled her chair out for her and waited for her to sit, she was perplexed as to Mitch stood there watching her. When he finally sat right after she did, though, it was obvious that he was just trying to be a gentleman. Although it was a different experience to be on a date with someone who had such eloquent manners, it was nice.
“This place is very nice, Mitch. Thank you for bringing me here.” Sara nervously touched her fingers to the flatware laid out in front of her.
“Have you eaten here before?” His smile was soothing and alluring at the same time.
“No, but I’ve heard it’s amazing. You really didn’t…it’s not necessary for you to try and…you know what I mean.” She kept her eyes down.
Annoyed by her comment he snapped, “Sara, look at me.” He waited. “Sara, please.”
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his, and he continued, “Sara, why do you act as though you don’t deserve to be taken to a nice dinner?”
She spoke quietly, “I don’t know.”
“Damn it, Sara. Don’t lie to me!” he said tersely.
Sara’s head jerked up, surprised by his tone. “I…fine, you want to know, then fine. It’s not like you need to woo me to get me into bed. I’m clearly easy. So what’s the –”
“Stop it!” If it were possible to shout quietly, he had just succeeded. “Is that what you think this is about?” He took a steadying breath. It was obvious he was trying to reign in his temper.
“Look, Sara. I’m sorry I snapped at you like that. I just don’t understand you sometimes. I’m really staring to like you and I absolutely hate the unworthiness you seem to feel for yourself!” He put up his hand to silence her. “No, hear me out, please. Then you can say whatever is on your mind.”
She nodded and nervously placed her damp hands on her lap. Why had she started this argument? Why couldn’t she just enjoy herself? But she knew why. No matter how good she felt in Mitch’s arms, she felt like the same wallflower of a girl in high school that none of the boys took an interest in. She tried not to laugh at her juvenile opinion of herself. Here she was, twenty-three years old, and she was still letting high school dictate how she felt.
“Good. Now, I am your lover. And, I love being that. But, I am also a man. A man who realizes a good thing when he sees it. You are an amazing, beautiful woman. Taking you out to dinner and showing you off is as much fun for me as it is for you. I want to take you places and see you smile. I would like to put a little romance into our life if you’d let me.”
After giving him a look of surprise he reached over and placed his hand over hers. “I truly like you, Sara. I admit that our relationship is brand new and started...well, let’s just say it began a little unconventionally. But, nonetheless, I don’t see any reason why we can’t have a normal relationship, with dating and,” he leaned across the table, “lots and lots of goodnight kisses.”
“You really like me? I mean, not just the, you know.”
Mitch tightened his grip on her hands. “Sara. I wish you weren’t so unsure of yourself. You are magnificent. In the bedroom and out.”
She smirked at him. “You only say that because we have sex everywhere.”
When she smiled again he continued, “True. But that is only because you are so damn sexy I can’t help myself. Now please, let’s enjoy our dinner. If it makes you feel any better, I won’t pressure you into having sex just because I bought you dinner.”
Twinkling her eyes at him she replied, “Mitch, if I let you buy me dinner, I will most certainly pressure you into sleeping with me!”
He rolled his eyes. “All right, fine. If I must. Geez, you are so demanding sometimes.”
The waiter came over with a charismatic smile. “Good evening, sir, ma’am,” he said as he bowed his head. “Would you care for a bottle of wine this evening?”
Mitch gestured toward Sara. “Do you have any preferences?”
Smiling, Sara said, “I’ve always had a fondness for a good Riesling.”
Mitch smiled at her. “Very well. What Rieslings do you have?”
“Yes, sir. We have a 2003 Johannesburg, a Rosemount Estate which is out of Australia, and a Schmitt-Sohne Blue Riesling Auslese which comes from Germany.” Waiting the appropriate time, the waiter responded. “My personal favorite is the one out of Australia, sir.”
Mitch nodded. “That’ll be fine.”
The waiter left them alone after reciting to them the daily specials.

* * * *

Mitch watched her toy with her fork as she smiled. “You are truly beautiful, Sara. I hope you realize that is how I see you.”
Sara looked up at him. “Mitch. You’re going to embarrass me.”
He winked and quirked up one side of his mouth in a smile. “Good. Because when you get embarrassed, you blush. The same way you do when—" Mitch was interrupted by the waiter returning with their wine.
Sara blushed. She knew exactly what Mitch was about to say. What the waiter would have overheard. He smiled at her, which just made her blush more.
The waiter poured a small amount into the glass for Mitch to taste. Swirling it around and sniffing before taking a sip, Mitch nodded to the waiter his acceptance of the wine. Waiting as the waiter poured their glasses, Mitch and Sara stared at each other in a way that spoke volumes of their past twenty-four hours together.
“Have you two decided on a selection for this evening?” the waiter asked with his impeccable manners.
“I’ve been dying to try that chicken marsala you have.” Sara’s mouth watered as she spoke.
“Make that two. And bring us a couple of salads if you would, please.”
“Very well, sir.” The waiter took their menus and left.
Sara looked at Mitch over the rim of her glass after taking a sip. Setting it down, she spoke candidly, “Mitch, I’m sorry for the way I acted just a little while ago. I wish I wasn’t so unsure of myself. You told me I should be truthful with you, so I will.”
She took a breath as she folded her fingers together on the table. “The truth is, I really like you. And I really don’t want to do something to scare you off. That’s why I didn’t want you to think you had to do all of this,” she said, motioning with her hands at the ambiance of the restaurant. “But,” she said before he could protest, “I think I could get used to you spoiling me a little.”
“Well, I am very glad to hear that. I think I will enjoy spoiling you, as well. Now, what are the odds I can get you to take off those panties?”
“Ahem, sorry, sir. Your, ah, salads.”
Mitch and Sara waited quietly as the waiter set their salad plates down in front of them. When the red-faced waiter left them, they both burst out into laughter.
Trying to regain her composure, Sara reached for her wine glass and eyed him with disbelief. “You are going to have to do something about your predilection toward me having a naked bottom.”
With complete disobedience in his eyes and a hint of mockery in his tone, he said, “You know, I think you’re right. When we leave here, let’s go pick up some lighter fluid and have ourselves a little panty barbeque on your patio.”
She laughed for a moment before she asked, “How did you know I had a barbeque?”
Shit! There was no way he could tell her yet. She would retreat and run. Trying to play it casual, he said, “I just figured. Does that mean we get to do it?” He waggled his brows at her.
“Hardly. But if you keep making me laugh like this, I might have to reward you later. I swear, I haven’t had this much fun in such a long time.”
They ate their salads over small talk. Sharing a few laughs over some of the people at the office, causing them both to be equally surprised to find that when it came to their co-workers, their opinions were identical. Amazingly, they had a lot in common.
Mitch wasn’t surprised at how compatible they seemed. When he watched her in her window just a couple of nights ago, he knew there was something about her. Something other than the fact that she looked absolutely magnificent as she touched herself in the moonlight.
The waiter took their salad plates away, and Mitch took a swig of wine before refilling both of their glasses. “Feel like playing a game?”
She smirked. “I am not going to take off my panties, and that is final. Wait until we get home.”
He wanted to laugh at her comment. But something about the way she said ‘until we get home’ caused a small flutter in his stomach. Could he actually really be falling for her? They haven’t even been dating for a week yet. He tried to ignore the sensation. “You’ve heard of word association games, right?”
Sipping her wine, she nodded.
“Well, it can be kind of interesting sometimes. Do you want to try?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Good. I’ll start. But remember, you have to say the first word that comes into your mind. So, I’ll start with, ah,” Mitch looked around the room for inspiration and saw it, “Leprechaun.”
Sara glanced around the restaurant until she saw a sweet little man with red hair. The only thing missing on him was a green suit, she laughed. “Okay, St. Patrick.”
“Beer.”
“Pub.”
“Fish and chips.”
“That’s three words,” Sara chided him.
He shrugged. “Hey, you got away with St. Patrick. That’s two words.”
“Fine. Cheater.”
“I’m not a cheater!” He laughed.
“No, my word is cheater.”
“Oh, okay. Um, never.”
She eyed him, as though thinking of what to say next. “Land.”
“Land? What does – oh, I get it. From Peter Pan, Never Land. Okay, um, airplane.”
“Flying.” She smiled while sipping her wine.
“Climax.” Mitch watched as her face reddened.
Obviously not willing to back down, Sara responded quickly, “Euphoria.”
“Ecstasy.”
“Happiness.”
“You.” He whispered the word with a gleam in his eye.
She stared at him speechless. The waiter brought their dinners over to them then.
“Enjoy your dinner. I shall come back momentarily to check on you. Meanwhile, may I get you anything else?”
Staring at Sara, Mitch shook his head. “No, we’re fine, thank you.”
Sara picked up her fork to try her dish when Mitch took her hand, interrupting her. “You didn’t say a word.”

She smiled up at him, knowing there could be no way for her to explain to him how good he made her feel about herself. She shrugged. “I could only think of two.”
Mitch was waiting while she took a bite. Watching her chew and swallow before delicately dabbing her mouth with her napkin he finally asked, “Well? What are they?”
“Thank you.”
He smiled. “You’re welcome, honey. Is it good?” He indicated the chicken marsala as he dug in for his first bite.
On her second mouthful, Sara nodded. “Mmm, hmm.”
Throughout dinner, they asked each other questions about one another. They spoke about their families and their friends. They learned about each other’s childhoods and laughed over one another’s stories.
Sara watched as Mitch seemed to be fighting against something, but she tried to push the thought aside, not wanting to worry about what it might be.
Signing the credit card receipt, Mitch offered her some more wine, which she shook her head at. “No thanks. Do you have an early day tomorrow? Should we get home or – yeah, we should head home.”
“Sara. Am I going to have to spank you right here in the restaurant?”
Sara hid her face in her hands and tried to muffle her laughter. The waiter had just walked up behind Mitch as he said the word spank. The shock on his face was too hilarious for her to hold back. Waiting for the waiter to walk away, Sara looked back up at him with tears in her eyes from laughing so hard.
“Ha ha. Very funny. You could have warned me, you know. Besides, it’s your fault. Why don’t you just tell me what you want to do?”
“I never said I…all right. How do you do that, anyway? You always know when I’m holding back with you.”
“It’s a gift.” He winked at her, quirking one eyebrow up.
“I was thinking that maybe we could take a walk downtown here. You know, burn some of the dinner off.”
Getting up from his chair and going around to pull hers out for her, he whispered in her ear. “Okay, but sooner or later, those panties are coming off.”
She looked over her shoulder at him and couldn’t help but smile. “I would expect nothing less of you.”



http://www.bookstrand.com/sudden-devotion

That's all for me this months, guys and gals. 
I'll see you here next month,

Same bat time...Same bat channel.



Nicole Morgan is an author of erotic romance novels, which more often than not have a suspenseful back story. Erotic romance mixed with good old-fashioned whodunit. While she's written everything from contemporary to paranormal her leading men will more than likely be wearing a uniform of some kind. From military to police officers, she has a love for writing about those who protect and serve. From her very first novel about Navy SEALs to her more recent releases you will be sure to find a few twists and turns you were not expecting.

She also has a recurring monthly column in Book & Trailer Showcase's eMagazine, is a proud member of the Romance Books 4 Us Gold Authors, as well as Sweet and Sexy Divas. 

Find out more about Nicole and her books by visiting her website, blog, Google + Page, Twitter, Facebook and her Yahoo Group, Nicole’s Think Tank.

Keep up to date with Nicole:

Guest Blog: Lynn Crain: A Need for Luxury

Many times as a writer, authors are drawn into a need for wealth, fame and fast cars. So many of us want to have a rich hero or heroine because it is something we’re drawn to, something we desire.

While most of us will never have the wealth of billionaires, the one thing we do have is that need to have the many things we don’t.

The interesting thing is we would not be the first to have such desires. Throughout history those desires have been seen as the drive for exploration or, as some may see it, exploitation. Rome built its empire on the spoils of war and its need for silver. Silver and money are exactly the same word in at least fourteen different languages.

Silver was seen as power in 43 A.D. Rome and they conquered a nation, Britain, just to get at their silver cache. But just as silver was the money to spur Rome onward with its practicality and usability, silk was worth its weight in gold and desired by many of the citizenry. Rome even went so far as to send emissaries into a country not known for its hospitality just to try and steal the secrets of silk. However, what resulted was the more long standing arrangement we know as the Silk Road.

Many, if not most, of the world’s great advances were done because people wanted more and more luxuries for their daily lives. Things like gunpowder, which was developed to give an emperor a longer lifespan, or cotton, once considered a luxury by all people, or even pepper, which took a whole month’s wages for most people just to purchase one pound, are items we take for granted because we can purchase each and every one of them at a reasonable price.

Just like our ancestors, we authors are drawn into that need for luxury and write our books in such a manner. If you don’t believe me, take a look at the number of titles on Amazon with the word billionaire in the title. Add that to the words rich and millionaire and you’ll get what I mean. Authors have just as much desire to attain those luxurious items as the characters we write about, whether they are the girl next door who falls for the rich guy or a rich girl who falls for a self-made man, it’s all about getting from here to there.

Everyone has a desire to be successful, even those without the means to attain the wealth I’m alluding to here. Many times, wealth can be discovered in other ways, such as a good home-cooked meal, coming back after a military mission, or just seeing the one we love. Wealth isn’t always measured in material items but visceral ones as well.

But in the beginning, it was for the material ones because many of the needs were related to everyday living needs. One can’t be happy if they are always hungry, cold, don’t have a roof over their heads or a safe place to sleep at night. Wealth can and does mean some very common things for normal people. We as writers can’t discount those needs either.

The point for us as writers is human nature hasn’t changed that much over time. The things we wanted millennia ago are the same things most of us desire today. Think about what I’m saying here: We still want the same things as our ancestors. We all want a happy life. Sometimes that life is full of trials and tribulations and other times it’s filled with wealth and grandeur.

As writers, it is our job to get it right. To get the feelings and desires of our characters down so we don’t have a misstep be that step full of wealthy people or just the common day folk that many of us are. Whatever we choose, it must be first real to us because if not then we can never convey it as real to the readers.

One last luxury that needs to be mentioned. Reading. Reading was considered a luxury of the wealthy for a variety of reasons. One is that books cost so much and two, only wealthy kids learned how to read. Oh, how far have we come…we live in a world where reading is commonplace…and we are shocked when we find there are people who can’t read. Personally, it makes me want to teach them all.

In my mind, it is our job to entertain the readers with a great book about people, who may be wealthy or not, who may be like us or not but with whom we can empathize with on their journey to a happily-ever-after. If we can do that, readers will always be coming back for more.

BLURB: Worth The Wait
Release Date: February 18, 2015
http://www.shootingstarbooks.com/

She made a promise and took a gamble…

Jenny Adams wasn’t a popular girl in high school. No one understood the attraction star-running back Reese MacGyver had for her, least of all Jenny. When it looked as if things were getting hot and heavy before going away to college, Reese put on the brakes by soliciting a promise from her that they would get together, if neither were taken, at their tenth high school reunion. In a split-second decision and because of her love for him, Jenny puts it all in, vowing to make good on a teenage wish.

But ten years is a long time to wait. While Jenny has had relationships come and go, the promise always remains on her mind even when Reese becomes the man of every woman’s dream. He’s been very busy with his life and has become one of the richest men under thirty in decades. Jenny has done good too but not nearly that good and she wonders if he’ll be a man of his word as their tenth reunion looms.

And as the day draws every closer, she wonders if it will all be worth the wait…

BIO:
Award winning author Lynn Crain has done it all in her life. From nursing to geology, her life experiences have added to her detail rich stories. She loves writing full time as she weaves contemporary, fantasy, futuristic and paranormal tales, tame to erotic, for various publishers. Her home is in the desert southwest though her latest adventure has taken her to Vienna, Austria with her husband of many years as he works his dream job.

Friday, January 30, 2015

Let It Snow



It has been quite a week.

Blizzard Juno hit the northeastern US in full force this week and, unfortunately, my city got caught in the middle of it. We hit a record-breaking snowfall of 34.5 inches (0.91 meters for you metric folk). That's a lot of snow. To give you an idea, here is a picture I took of our front sidewalk.

Nice, eh? It kind of reminds me of the movie Star Wars when the X-wings were flying down the tunnel in the Death Star. No laser beams or technical equipment here, although I could have used the Force to move some of that snow, lol.

Thirty-four and a half inches. Almost three feet of the fluffy, white stuff. There was so much snow that people had no idea where to put it. There are snow drifts on my street that are higher than my five-foot-three frame, which can make it difficult to see around corners, lol.


Needless to say, I think I'm going to be burried for a while, lol. 

When it's snowing outside, I love to curl up with a good book by the fire, don't you? Since we have another storm coming, I'll need to expand my TBR (to be read) pile. Tell me, what are some of your favorite winter-themed romances?

~~~
Looking for a good winter read yourself? Then check out my new erotic eserial, coming out from St. Martin's Press on February 3rd! (You can preorder now!)

AT HIS SERVICE
~ A modern-day erotic Downton Abbey… ~
By Suzanne Rock

Four-part erotic romance e-serial
Available February 2015

An exclusive and red hot mini-series from New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Rock.

Leo Perconti's life is spinning out of control. As head of his family’s hotel conglomerate, it’s his job to save his family from bankruptcy. At the center of his turmoil is Karin Norell, a quiet, alluring housekeeping manager who compliments his dominating personality and lets him feel in control once more.

As Karin explores her passion her feelings for Leo deepen. Unfortunately, Karin and Leo come from different worlds, and when the two worlds collide, the cost can be devastating. As the service staff at The Palazzo rise up against the Perconti family, both Leo and Karin are faced with losing what each of them holds most dear. Together they must learn that true power comes from vulnerability and trust that can only happen when you let your insecurities go.


Release Information: 



St. Martin’s Paperbacks, an imprint of Macmillan
ASIN: B00NKB9TZ8
Now available for order and pre-order. Each installment = $1.99. Full book = $7.99
Release date Part One: February 3, 2015 / E-serial
Release date Part Two: February 10, 2015 / E-serial
Release date Part Three: February 17, 2015 / E-serial
Release date Part Four: February 24, 2015 / E-serial
Release date Volume: June 2015 / Print



Buy Links:

AT HIS SERVICE: PART ONE

Thursday, January 29, 2015

When Do You Quit Writing?

Sandra K. Marshall is author of The Riverboat Mysteries and some short stories, but she has started to give a lot of thought to not writing anymore.  Why is this you ask?  There are many reasons, and I'll list them below.

1.  It has become very painful to sit at the computer for hours (neck and shoulder pain).

2.  I'm having a difficult time focusing on writing primarily because of #1.

3.  I have lost my enjoyment of writing for more than one reason (not just because of #1).

4.  Promoting on social media is another reason I'm not enjoying writing.  I know I'm going to have to promote my new book when it's published.

5.  Not making enough money to justify publishing my work.

6.  It's getting difficult for me to make deadlines.

7.  Fibromyalgia and neuropathy from an injury in my early 20's is not helping my concentration (keep changing medication to try to get a grip on it)

All of this doesn't mean I'm going to give up writing entirely, but when I start again it will be at my own pace and when I feel like it.  I can endure sitting at the computer for a couple of hours to write, but not if I have to answer emails, Twitter, Facebook, etc.

What about you is it time to get away from the rat race?  Remember LaVyrle Spencer?  She was a New York Times best seller who quit at the height of her career to do something she really enjoyed, composing music.

Below you can find The Riverboat Mysteries links to Amazon and Barnes and Noble in ebook format.

The Catalyst - 
http://www.amazon.com/Catalyst-Riverboat-Mysteries-Sandra-Marshall-ebook/dp/B00EV47SE2/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/The-Catalyst-by-Sandra-K--marshall?keyword=The+Catalyst+by+Sandra+K.+Marshall&store=ebook


Addiction -
http://www.amazon.com/Addiction-Sandra-K-Marshall-ebook/dp/B00FI6JHT6/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Addiction-by-Sandra-K-Marshall?store=ebook&keyword=Addiction+by+Sandra+K.+Marshall


The Deceived -
http://www.amazon.com/Deceived-Sandra-K-Marshall-ebook/dp/B00G7XR0XE/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/The-Deceived-by-Sandra-K-Marshall?store=ebook&keyword=The+Deceived+by+Sandra+K.+Marshall 


I'm sorry to say this will be my last blog at Romance Books 4 Us.  I have enjoyed being one of the twenty authors doing a monthly blog, but I'm giving up this position.  It is my desire to try to keep up my weekly blog on my blog.  I intend to stay with Romance Books 4 Us Yahoo Group, but I'm going to go to daily digest, so I'll be one of those lurkers now. 

Also, I'll be staying with my GIAMx2 Yahoo goals group to make sure I do some writing during the week. 

Thank you for listening to me and good-bye. 

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Guest Blog: Jane Leopold Quinn: Inspiration is Everywhere, The Will to Write is Harder to Come By

As early as 2008, I was attracted to writing a series taking place in small town America. I was raised in a small Iowa city, Dubuque, and the idea has always "called" to me. I loved Jan Karon's books with Fr. Timothy Kavanagh and all his compatriots in the small North Carolina town of Mitford. I even loved the town map inside the front cover. So, over the years, my town, Birchwood Falls, took shape. I even drew a map of the town, and as you can see, drawing is not my specialty. Then I had to people the town with interesting characters with interesting stories.

Since I was a little girl, I've always loved westerns, TV shows and movies and books. The westerns of the 50s and 60s were my favorites, and it just so happens that I found a TV channel with some of those old shows. Yay. As a lot of girls did, I fell in love with Little Joe Cartwright but eventually moved on to Nick Barkley on The Big Valley. Joe and Nick fueled many a young fantasy, not together though. Oh, crikey, now I have that idea in my head — a fully adult fantasy. Oh, yeah! The first manuscripts I wrote were westerns.Jake and Ivy is out now. The Long Road to You is due out February 5. Both are about handsome, hunky cowboy brothers and their beautiful strong-willed women.

The first book I had published was a time travel to Roman Britain. Unfortunately, it's not available at the moment since it's contracted and sitting at a new publisher. That book was inspired by a trip I made to Bath, England where I photographed the tomb of a Roman soldier at the Roman Museum.

So many people say they could write a book, would like to write one, mean to write one some day. How many of them do that? Very few of us manage to write one, let alone many. We authors are the precious few.

To be able to write a story and publish it means we join the centuries-long family of authors. It seems like there are a lot of us, but our percentage is so small compared with the whole of the world's populace. How many people do you know who say. I could write a book" but don't?©

There's so much inspiration for stories out there. All it takes is the will to write them down and a bit of talent for story telling. And focus and commitment. It takes all that to create characters and a plot line — beginning, middle, and end. I've used photographs, TV commercials, cowboy fantasies, Russell Crowe in Gladiator, Flamenco music all as inspiration for stories. I've used a bit of my own romance with my husband. Because of these disparate ideas, my books aren't neatly tied up in a series except the small town and the western books. Sometimes I regret that since series books are so popular, but I'm still proud of every one of my books. They represent my thoughts, my loves, and my life.

I began this writing journey as a way to ensure that I would have something that belonged only to me with my name on it. It's the best job in the world! The Real Deal is the second of the Birchwood Falls books. Lost and Found is the first. After a decade at war, Marc comes home to investigate his parents' mysterious deaths. Beautiful jazz singer Phoebe hungers for fame and craves love. Despite their differing paths, they give in to their sizzling attraction. Will their passion turn deadly when the killer decides two murders might not have been enough?

BLURB:
When her fiancé is busted at a gentlemen's club, attorney Norah Ballard calls off the wedding. Shocked and humiliated, she grabs her suitcase and takes the first train out of town.

Easygoing teacher Michael Banning spots the new woman in town and recognizes her from college. She's even more gorgeous and sophisticated now. He's no longer the nerd he was back then, and now that she's on his turf, he's going to touch and taste every sleek, beautiful inch of her. Whatever her reason is for being in his town, he'll fulfill all her desires so she never wants to leave. Norah won't let another man—no matter how sweet, smart and sexy—get close enough to hurt her again. Mike's passionate pursuit of her, the way he seems to know just how to arouse her, turns her into the wanton woman she hadn't known she was.

He's accused in a local scandal, something he wasn't involved in. Birchwood Falls is in danger of flooding. He has a hell of a lot on his plate. When Mike’s in trouble, Norah's going to be there to help him. And when Birchwood Falls is in trouble, she's going to help the town she's fallen in love with too.

The Real Deal is available here:
http://amzn.com/B00RVY0AGW
http://www.ellorascave.com/the-real-deal.html

Bio
My Romance: Love With a Scorching Sensuality
Jane Leopold Quinn is a multi-published, erotic romance author of M/F, M/M, and ménage (M/F/M). She's written in contemporary, Western historical, fairy tale, and time travel. Her imagination was always fertile but became public when she began writing hot romance over a decade ago.

Her main interest is writing, but creativity in authors isn't usually limited to writing. Other interests include building and decorating doll houses and miniature room boxes, as well as designing silk flower arrangements. She'd love to paint, but even her stick figures are unrecognizable. Alas—can't do everything. Of course, her characters can.

My Books
Ellora's Cave:
Lost and Found
The Real Deal
Indie:
Valentine's Day
His Hers & His
The Keeper
Soldier, Come Home
Winning Violetta
A Promise at Dawn
Jake and Ivy
Wooing the Librarian
Home to Stay
The Long Road to You (coming February 5, 2015)
Siren:
Undercover Lover
Mercenary Desires
I'll Be Your Last

Jane Leopold Quinn
Love With a Scorching Sensuality
http://janeleopoldquinn.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/jelquinnauthor
Amazon Author Page

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Introvert With a Touch of Shyness by Janice Seagraves



Janice Seagraves, published author

Introvert with a Bad Case of Shyness
By Janice Seagraves

Hi, my name is Janice Seagraves. I’m a romance writer.

I’m actually more introverted than shy.  But unfortunately things do change.

At thirteen I fell in love with books, reading Tolkien and Marguerite Henry, among others. I loved getting lost among the mountain passes along with Bilbo and his friends, or fall in love with the ponies of Chincoteague.  In high school, I read the Lord of the Rings and The Tripods novels by John Christopher, after which I progressed to other fantasy and SF books.

Books became my refuge. Books never judge you, or say mean things to you. They are there for you, whenever you want them to be.

I kept my nose firmly and happily buried, for God knows how many hours. But introverted or not, love finally found me. After I graduated from HS, I married my husband.

When I was twenty, I tried my hand at writing. And found it harder than it looks. I wrote off and on for years as I learned to put my thoughts into words, but sadly never completed that first novel.
Than twelve years ago when my daughter was eight, I decided I would write toward publication. I made it my mission to learn as much as I could about the craft of writing. 

Hubby was very supportive and bought me a laptop computer. Delighted with the gift, I industriously wore the letters off the keys.

I started out small with short stories. Then I bought the Writer’s Market. Carefully, I studied the publishers and contests listed. I sent off for guidelines so I could send out my shorts, but was unfortunately rejected many times.

But I kept at it, determined to see something of mine in print.

Eventually, I started writing book length manuscripts. Now I had a much longer word count to work with, so I was able to explore my characters’ personal growth, sexual tension and eventual the moment when my couple falls in love.


Eventually, my depute novel was published just days before my daughter graduated from high school. My first book is called Windswept Shores; it’s a contemporary erotic romance, its still available through amazon and smashwords.

I was very excited. But I also had to learn to promote.

The internet is a God send for promotions and reaching out to readers. But when I talk to a stranger in person about my book, I found myself stammering and blushing.

Had I suddenly developed a bad case of shyness?

Oh, God. I have.

Then one day when I was at the dentist office, having my teeth cleaned. The hygienist asked what I was doing. I told her I had a book published. As I talked to her, I think I must have been as red as a beet, but I forced myself to continue. She was very excited and wanted to buy my book.

I told myself this is something I must do. I had to get passed this shyness problem, so I can talk to people who might be interested in my novel.

It’s hard but I've made progress since those early days. 

When I see that opening in the conversation, I give myself a mental kick. Do it. Talk about your book. Smile.

“I’m a published author.” My cheeks heat and I know I’m blushing again. But I tell myself to keep going. “I wrote a book about a couple washed up on the same little island in the Bahamas. It’s a romance.” I reach into my purse. “Would you like a book card? It has my book cover and website address.”

And now, years later, I can say I've published three books and a short story. 
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Windswept Shores Blurb:

The sole survivor of a plane crash, Megan is alone on a deserted island in the Bahamas until she finds a nearly-drowned man washed up on shore. Another survivor, this time from a boat wreck. With only meager survival skills between them, will they survive and can they find love?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Janice’s website: http://janiceseagraves.org/



Windswept Shores on Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/446101
 

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