Interview: Reese Ryan

Pens and Peonies is so excited to be participating in the Blogger Book Fair this summer! Today the blog is featuring Reese Ryan and her new contemporary release, Making the First Move. She also has a fabulous Blog Tour Grand Prize, so make sure to enter and good luck!

When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

After reading Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in middle school. That book made such a big impression on me. I was so engrossed in the lives of those characters and moved by their story. I wanted to touch people through storytelling the way she had touched me.

What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time before you were published?

Three words. Never give up. I regret how easily I became discouraged in the face of rejection and all the years lost that could have been spent strengthening my abilities as a writer.

Who is your favorite author and why?

Jane Austen. I love her imperfect, audacious heroines and the cast of colorful supporting characters that populate her novels. Our self-concept and outlook on life is derived from our experiences. I love meeting the family members, the friends, and frenemies that shape the hero and heroine.

What were the last three books you read?

Sexcapades by fellow Carina Press author, Christine d’Abo; Bound by Him and Claimed by Him—both by Red Garnier.

Describe the premise of Making the First Move

When ambitious HR exec Melanie Gordon falls for sweet, sexy philanthropist Raine Mason, she discovers that his passion for saving others is driven by a tragic secret that threatens to keep them apart.

What message do you hope readers will take away from this story?

Don’t be afraid to go for what you truly want in life, instead of what you think you should. We often find ourselves pursuing the course that others have prescribed for us. It’s never too late to rediscover your passion.

What do you do when you're not writing?

I’m a freelance writer and social media manager, but my background is in administrative support. When I’m not working or writing I enjoy spending time outdoors. I was born and raised in the Midwest, but moved to North Carolina four years ago. I love all the lush greenery and hilly terrain here. I spend as much time as I can walking and biking the local trails and kayaking on the local lake.

Title : Making the First Move

Author : Reese Ryan

Release date : July 22, 2013

Genre : Contemporary Romance

Price : $3.99

Amazon Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Making-the-First-Move-ebook/dp/B00CC68FMU/

Barnes & Noble Buy Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/making-the-first-move-reese-ryan/1115148406

iTunes Buy Link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/making-the-first-move/id653078144?mt=11

Add to Goodreads : http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17800669-making-the-first-move

Summary:

Melanie Gordon has spent the past five years obsessing over her career to dull the pain of a devastating breakup and the loss of her father. Her effort pays off when she receives the promotion that could be her big break. Only it means returning to her hometown to face her past while leaving behind the man who could be her future.

Selfless (and insanely sexy) philanthropist, Raine Mason, is committed to his cause. But his passion for rescuing high-risk young males from the road to disaster is fueled by his own dark and tragic past.

When Raine is ready to take his casual friendship with Melanie to sizzling new heights, her one-way ticket to Cleveland is already booked. But a steamy night of passion leaves them both wanting more, even if Melanie is afraid to admit it. She reluctantly agrees to a long-distance relationship with no promises and no commitments.

Melanie may finally be ready to give Raine her heart…but then she discovers startling news that causes her to question everything she knows about him. Worse, he’s harboring a dark secret from his past that threatens to shatter any hope of a future for them unless he can convince her that their love is worth the risk.

Excerpt:

Thirty minutes later, Raine is standing in my doorway in a camel-colored cashmere sweater and a pair of Levi’s. A white, button-down shirt peeks underneath the collar. Chin-length, caramel-colored locs are pulled back at the crown of his head, with the remaining hair hanging free. He is, in a word, gorgeous.

My eyes trace the curve of his biceps. I lick my lips, cheeks flushed, and hope he hasn’t noticed I’ve spent the past five seconds checking him out from head to toe. Twice.

“I see you’re ready to go.” He nods toward the wrap draped over my arm and my clutch tucked underneath it.

“I am.”

“Then shall we?” Raine extends his hand in the direction of the narrow stairwell leading down to the first floor.

“Let’s.” I offer a nervous smile.

He slips his hand to the small of my back. I try not to notice the heat emanating from his hand. But it’s nearly impossible to ignore the jolt of electricity, which travels through his long, elegant fingers and enters the base of my spine.

I’m sure his hand has been on that exact spot when he’s guided me through a crowd or we’ve danced together at charity functions. His touch seemed incidental then. Tonight, there’s something about the placement and pressure of his hand that feels deliberate, significant. Or maybe I’m transferring my own well-guarded desire to an innocent gesture.

Raine guides me down the stairs, out the front door and into his car, his hand still on my back.

“Thanks for doing this,” I say. “I know it’s short notice.”

“I couldn’t leave you standing there dressed, with no place to go.” He tries to hide a smirk as he turns the ignition.

“How’d you know I was already dressed when I called?”

“You’ve never been ready when I came to pick you up. There’s not a chance in hell you threw this together in thirty minutes. You look…amazing.”

“Very clever,” I say. “And thank you, I think.”

“It’s too bad, actually.”

“What’s too bad?”

“That you were ready. I was hoping to catch you in a towel, just out of the shower,” he says, his eyes straight ahead.

My cheeks grow warm. I’m not offended, just surprised. Our social conversations have been mildly flirtatious, but never anything so easily decipherable. We prefer our flirtation so well-coded that only a world-class hacker has a chance in hell of sorting it all out.

I stifle a giggle. “Sorry to disappoint you.”

He smiles.

We ride in silence for a while. He pays strict attention to the road. I pretend to be fascinated by the houses and apartments that fly by my window. The same ones I’ve seen nearly every day for the past five years.

Bio:

Reese Ryan writes sexy, contemporary fiction filled with colorful characters and sinfully-sweet romance. She secretly enjoys torturing her heroines with family and career drama, reformed bad boys, revealed secrets, and the occasional identity crisis, but always rewards them with a happily ever after.

Born and raised in the Midwest, she now resides in Central North Carolina with her husband and young adult son who tolerate her propensity to sing and dance badly. A self-proclaimed Bohemian Southern Belle, she treads the line carefully between being a Northerner and a damned Yankee –despite her insistence on calling soda pop. Reese gauges her progress by the number of “bless your lil’ hearts” she gets each week. She is currently down to two.

Visit Reese online at ReeseRyan.com. Follow her on Twitter @ReeseRyanWrites. Connect with her on Facebook.

Author Links:

Website: ReeseRyan.com
Twitter: @ReeseRyanWrites
Facebook: ReeseRyanWrites
Goodreads: Reese Ryan
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Reese-Ryan/e/B00CD31WJ0

Making the First Move Blog Tour Grand Prize

• $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card
• Digital copy of Making the First Move by Reese Ryan
• Digital copy of The Winning Season by Alison Packard
• Digital copy of Knowing the Score by Kat Latham
• Digital copy of Personal Assets by Kelsey Browning
• Digital copy of Derby Girl by Tamara Morgan

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo ~Marisa

Interview: Sydney Logan

I am so excited to have Sydney Logan on the blog today!

When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’ve been writing since I was a little girl. I’ve always written song lyrics and short stories.

What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time before you were published?

Be prepared for the business side of publishing. I thought I could write a book, edit it, release it, and then start writing the next one. That’s what I do, but I also have to balance that with marketing and promotion.

What do you think makes a good book?

Readers have different tastes, but for me, a good book is emotional, makes me think, is edited well, and stays with me after I finish the last page.

How did you come up with the idea for your book, Mountain Charm?

Mountain Charm is the second in my Appalachian Heart Collection. The books in the series are stand-alone stories that are all set in the Appalachian Mountains. I live in the region, so I grew up hearing legends about mountain medicine. I did some research and found stories of herbal remedies and witch doctors. I thought it would be cool to write a modern-day fairytale but still make it relatable and realistic. That’s how Mountain Charm came to life.

How long does it take you to write a book?

Typically, it takes me about six months to write the first draft. Then it goes to my editor and the editing process begins.

Do you buy books based on the cover or the blurb?

I am guilty of buying books based solely on the cover and the blurb. That’s why I stress so much about my own.

What were the last three books you read?

Take What You Want by Jeanette Grey, Exotic Music of the Belly Dancer by Brian Sweany, & Healing Faith by Jennyfer Browne.

Fast Facts:

Coffee or tea? Tea

Morning or night? Night

Rivers or oceans? Rivers

Cupcakes or ice cream? Ice cream

Laptop or desktop? Desktop

Casual or couture? Casual

Ponytail or headband? Headband

Shower or bath? Bath

Summer or winter? Summer

Motorcycle or bicycle? Bicycle

Sydney Logan

Author Info and Links

Bio:

Sydney Logan is an Amazon bestselling author and holds a Master’s degree in Elementary Education. With the 2012 release of her first novel, Lessons Learned, she made the transition from bookworm to author. Her second novel, Mountain Charm, was released in July 2013. She is also the author of two short stories: “Mistletoe Magic,” available exclusively on Amazon Kindle, and “Stupid Cupid,” which is featured in the Romantic Interludes compilation.

Sydney has a very unhealthy obsession with music, and her iPod is filled with everything from Johnny Cash to Eminem. When she isn't reading or writing, she enjoys playing piano and relaxing on her front porch at her home in East Tennessee with her wonderful husband and their very spoiled cat.

Please visit her on the web at www.sydneylogan.com.

Purchasing Links:

Website: http://www.sydneylogan.com/2013/06/buy-books.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Sydney-Logan/e/B0096LZK90/

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/sydney-logan

TWCS: http://ph.thewriterscoffeeshop.com/authors/detail/41

Also available through iTunes, Kobo, & Books-a-Million

Social Media Links:

Website: http://www.sydneylogan.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5787300.Sydney_Logan

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SydneyLoganAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SydneyALogan

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sydneyalogan/

Mountain Charm Blurb

“True love and sweet whispers, till death do us part;
Send someone to love my Appalachian heart.”

At the age of thirteen, Angelina Clark followed in the footsteps of her ancestors by casting an Appalachian love spell, which promised she would blossom into a beautiful and gifted woman who would find her true love. A young Angelina had been thrilled to participate in the sacred ritual, but through the years, her father’s untimely death and her mother’s failing health have shaken Angelina’s magical faith to its core. As her twenty-first birthday approaches, she refuses to practice her supernatural gifts and no longer believes in the love charm.

That is, until Dylan Thomas arrives on her front porch.

Dylan, a Nashville writer, travels to the mountain town of Maple Ridge to unearth the family’s supernatural secrets. While her clairvoyant mother is convinced that Dylan is her daughter’s soul mate, Angelina refuses to see the nosy reporter as anything more than a nuisance.

Despite their constant bickering, sparks fly.

Dylan admits he feels strangely drawn to Angelina and is in no hurry to leave Maple Ridge or publish his magazine article. Fearful that his emotions are being influenced by the spell, a stubborn Angelina struggles to fight her own budding attraction to the reporter.

The two inevitably grow closer just as her mother’s health begins to deteriorate, and Angelina is faced with the possibility of selling the family’s music shop to pay the mounting medical expenses. Desperate to help the woman he loves, Dylan explores his own family tree and finds support from an unlikely source. Can he finally prove his love is real—spell or no spell?

A story filled with love, friendship, family, and just a hint of Appalachian magic, Mountain Charm will leave you spellbound.

Mountain Charm Excerpt

“It’s your birthday?” Dylan asked.

“Yes, and it was blissfully uneventful until you showed up.”

“Beautiful and infuriating,” Dylan muttered. “Look, Angelina, I was just given this assignment yesterday. I don’t have a clue about Appalachian magic tricks or devil-worshipping or whatever it is you do up in these mountains, but I have a story to write. Just let me interview you and your mom, and I’ll be back on the interstate before you can say abracadabra.”

Instead of pointing out just how ignorant he sounded, Angelina decided what he truly needed was a strong dose of fear.

“Actually, I do have something you need to see. A family heirloom. Wait here?”

Excited for any useful information, Dylan’s eyes lit up and he nodded enthusiastically. Once again, those good manners kicked in, and Dylan opened the door for her.

Angelina raced inside the house. She hadn’t touched it in years, but she still remembered where her father kept the key to the case. She grabbed what she needed and quickly made her way back out to the porch, letting the screen door slam behind her.

Dylan jumped out of his chair. “What the hell?”

Angelina lifted the rifle and pointed it straight at him. He didn’t need to know the safety was on—or that the chamber was empty.

“This is a Remington, passed down from my father and his father, also known as an Appalachian magic wand. Just watch. It’s going to make you disappear.”

Angelina thought it was almost comical, hearing him curse and watching him leap off the porch. All the commotion caused her dog to chase after him, which only made Dylan sprint faster until he reached the sanctuary of his vehicle.

“Are you insane?” Dylan yelled.

“I tend to get a little crazy when someone trespasses on my property. Leave my family alone and don’t come back!”

He slammed the door and had to do some fancy maneuvering to get around her car, but within seconds, the only sounds Angelina could hear were Dylan’s squealing tires, her dog’s noisy bark, and her mother’s hearty laughter.

Rafflecopter Giveaway Code for BBF:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview: Claire Baxter

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your writing career.

I’m an Australian romance writer. I started writing in 2003 when I left my job as a corporate communications manager to write a book – just to see if I could. I didn’t know I was going to write romance, but every one of my early stories contained a central love story, so I did some research and – aha! – discovered that I was a romance writer.

Fast forward 10 years (where did that time go?) and I’ve had several romance novels published, as well as numerous short stories which have been published in women’s magazines in Australia, the UK and South Africa. My current release is a romantic comedy from Random Romance (Random House Australia’s new digital imprint), and I have a fun category romance coming out from Entangled Bliss in September.

What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time before you were published?

That’s an easy one. START WRITING SOONER!

I feel as if the first 20 years of my career were wasted time – just think how many books I could have written in that time. J

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Hmm, I’m afraid it’s the same part of every book – the middle. It’s not the fault of the book, it’s my process. The first quarter flies out of my fingers, then I slow down and start to doubt myself. I worry that the current book is the first one I won’t be able to finish. I know this is the way I work, yet it takes me by surprise every time. How silly is that?

The only way through is to plod on until I reach the end of the third quarter, and then the final quarter is fairly easy to write.

What were the last three books you read?

Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Jill Mansell

I’ll Be There For You – Louise Candlish

Tempting the Bride – Sherry Thomas

Do you read horoscopes?

Yes, I do! Every day. It’s my guilty pleasure before I start writing. I read several daily horoscopes, a few weekly ones and a couple of monthly forecasts.

My sign is Taurus, and the general astrological description of a Taurean is spot on for me. I keep promising myself that one day I’ll find out more about astrology. It interests me.

Fast Facts:

Coffee or tea? Coffee mid-afternoon, tea any time.

Morning or night? Morning for working, night for sleeping.

Rivers or oceans? Oceans.

White wine or red? White.

Champagne or liquor? Champagne.

Cupcakes or ice cream? I love them both, but if it’s a pink cupcake, then there’s no contest. I can’t resist a pink cupcake.

Laptop or desktop? Laptop.

Casual or couture? Casual.

Ponytail or headband? Ponytail.

Shower or bath? Shower.

Summer or winter? Spring and Autumn. Summer is too hot, and winter is too cold.

Motorcycle or bicycle? Bicycle.

Author Bio

Claire Baxter writes contemporary romantic fiction of all lengths. Her short stories have been published in commercial women’s magazines around the world, while her novels have been translated into 20 languages, and have been nominated for the Romance Writers of Australia's Romantic Book of the Year Award, the Booksellers’ Best Awards, the RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Awards, and the Cataromance Reviewers’ Choice Awards (winner, Best Harlequin Romance).

Before following her passion to write full-time, Claire was an award-winning corporate communications manager. Earlier, she worked as a translator and a PA.

Claire grew up in Warwickshire, England, but for more than 20 years has called Australia home. She considers herself lucky to live near one of Adelaide’s beautiful metropolitan beaches where she loves to walk and think up stories.

Book Blurb (Anybody But Him)

A deliciously funny rom com from Random Romance. What happens when you fall in love with the man you hate?

Nicola Doyle's dating record is a disaster, and it doesn't improve when she returns to Redgum Valley, after an absence of twelve years, to look after her increasingly eccentric parents. There, she's thrown into regular contact with Blair Morrissey – the very reason she couldn't wait to leave town in the first place.

The decade-old scars are still raw from that humiliating day in high school – when Blair went from the boy she loved to the boy she hated.

Except Blair doesn't seem to be a ‘bad boy' any more – in fact, he's charming, infuriatingly helpful and extremely attractive.

If only Nicola could forgive and forget . . .

Links

Email: claire@clairebaxter.com

Website: http://www.clairebaxter.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaireBaxterAuthor

Twitter: @ClaireBaxterAu

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/374466.Claire_Baxter

So great having Claire on the blog! I love that she reads horoscopes. Do you? What's your sign? Because comments are awesome, one lucky commenter will win one of the ebooks featured on this blog's sidebar.

xoxo ~Marisa

Interview: Barbara DeLeo

Check it out! We have Barbara DeLeo on the blog, and she's not only super interesting, but also she's giving away a copy of her book, Contract for Marriage!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hi Marisa and thanks so much for having me on the blog I’m from New Zealand where I live with my husband and four kids. My husband’s a winemaker (I was hoping for a chocolate maker but forced myself to love wine too....) and we’ve lived in different parts of the world together. We currently live in the wine region of the South Island of New Zealand which is stunning.

When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

I’d been a high school English teacher for ten years and had always imagined I’d write when I “had time”. When my second set of twins were born within three years of the first set I realized I probably wouldn’t ever have a whole lot of time so I’d need to make it! We’d moved to another town and I had no other family around and as teaching was going to be too difficult with four littlies I started writing. The first thing I did was get a book called “Writing a Romance Novel” out of the library and it changed my world. That was seven years ago.

What is your writing schedule like?

When I’m working on a new book I aim to write 8-10 thousand words a week minimum. And I mean good words, words that get to stay in the story...I’ll have done a lot of prep before that begins, though. I usually have a rough outline done in Scrivener with everything from pictures of my main characters and setting to a basic plan of what’s going to happen in each chapter. I get up early and do an hour of “writing business” , blogs or emails, and then I’m into writing. I teach part time so do a bit of a juggle with kids and teaching and writing.

What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time before you were published?

Be patient and learn your craft. For a long time I wanted everything to happen yesterday but I now appreciate the time I had to learn my craft.

How did you come up with the idea for your book Dishing up Desire?

I’ve always loved shows like “What Not to Wear”, “The Biggest Loser”, and “Extreme Makeover” and I wondered what it would be like to have to undergo a transformation when you really didn’t want to, and what would would happen if the person transforming you was your complete ideal of perfection. In “Dishing up Desire”, Kirin is a celebrity chef in the middle of a sex scandal. Blake Matthews, ex-international model and complete studmeister, has been tasked with turning Kirin’s homemaker image on its head.

How many books have you written, and which one is your favorite?

I’ve written eight books and my favorite is always the one I’ve just finished!

Do you have an agent?

Yes, I’m with Nalini Akolekar from Spencerhill Associates in New York.

Share with us "The Call" story.

I’d always imagined I’d get a phone call in the middle of the night (time difference Downunder) and that I’d wake up and be instantly calm and fabulous and a heavenly choir would break into song. In reality it was a Saturday afternoon, the house looked like a bomb had gone off and I remember I’d just given up trying to scrub dried egg off lunch plates. I took a break to check my emails and there was one from my agent. My partner-in-parenting-crime duly opened a bottle of Bollinger champagne and the dishes were forgotten!

What is your typical day like?

Sometimes I wish I had a typical day as I’m sure it would make me less gray and have fewer wrinkles, but it generally goes something like.

6am – Switch on my treadmill, pop my laptop on the console and walk uphill for 45 minutes while I answer my emails.

7-8.30 – avert any number of crises while the four kids and husband have breakfast and get ready for school/work

8.30-9.30 – try to clean up the bomb site the kids and husband left behind

9.30 – 12pm – Write

12-12.30 – Lunch

12.30 – 1pm – Walk my mini schnauzer Cosmo by the river

1-3 – Write

3 – bedtime – go to one six sports and music lessons the kids go to, cook dinner, answer emails, go to book club or writing group or the school board and hopefully grab a couple of minutes reading a great book

Fast Facts:

Coffee or tea? Coffee

Morning or night? Night

Rivers or oceans? Oceans

White wine or red? I can’t choose. My husband makes both!

Champagne or liquor? Champagne

Cupcakes or ice cream? Ice cream

Laptop or desktop? Desktop

Casual or couture? Couture

Ponytail or headband? Ponytail

Shower or bath? Shower

Summer or winter? Summer

Bio:

Barbara DeLeo’s first book, co-written with her best friend, was a story about beauty queens in space. She was eleven, and the sole, handwritten copy was lost years ago, much to everyone’s relief. It’s some small miracle that she kept the faith and is now living her dream of writing sparkling contemporary romance with unforgettable characters.

After completing degrees in Psychology and English then travelling the world, Barbara married her winemaker hero and had two sets of twins.

She still loves telling stories about finding love in all the wrong places, with not a beauty queen or spaceship in sight.

Book blurb:

Image consultant Blake Matthews is facing his toughest PR challenge yet: salvage the image of celebrity chef Kirin Hart. Once he does, he'll be able to acquire LA's most successful PR firm. But Kirin's no easy fix. She's stubborn about changing her comfortable homemaker image, and is being sued for sexual harassment by a junior staffer. She needs a PR lifeline fast. Only problem is Blake wants more than to make her over...

Kirin doesn't need a makeover--her fans love her as she is. But she could lose everything if the sex scandal and reputation that has followed doesn't get quashed right away. Kirin agrees to let model-perfect Blake work his magic for two weeks, but things get complicated when she can't deny the way her body flares to life whenever he's near.

Find Barbara and her books here:

http://www.barbaradeleo.com

https://twitter.com/BarbDeLeo

https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraDeleoAuthor?ref=hl

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As always, thanks for stopping by!

xoxo ~Marisa

Cover Reveal: ORIGIN

Pens and Peonies is so excited to be part of

Jennifer L. Armentrout's cover reveal for ORIGIN!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

ORIGIN official Blurb:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.  

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on? And will they even be together?

ORIGIN Links:
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13644052-origin

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Origin-Lux-Series-Entangled-Teen/dp/1622660757/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/origin-jennifer-armentrout/1114855732

Additional links to Jennifer’s pages:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jlarmentrout

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout

Website: http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/

Interview: Matt Kincaid

Today we have a special visitor on the blog: Matt Kincaid!

 

Here's what the reviewers are saying about Matt:

"...left for the military right out of school..."

"...must keep his oath to his country while protecting the woman he is growing to love..."

"...but for Matt the same reasons he walked away form her before are still there..."

 

And now, for the interview between the author and Matt Kincaid!

Author interviews Matt Kincaid, from DANCING IN THE DARK, at a local coffee shop.

A: [Trying not to be intimidated by his eyes] Why did you come back to Walton Springs for this much needed R&R when you have your own apartment in D.C.?

MK: My mom has this old Victorian cottage. It always needs something done, some sort of maintenance. [A shrug] I had two weeks off, it's late Spring, perfect time for me to do some repairs, get some fishing in.

A: But your mother's not home.

MK: No, she's not. She took off with my Aunt Liz, her older sister. They take a trip to the Smokies this time of year. She knows I can't rearrange my time off. I'm sorry I'll miss her, but, she understands. Besides, she'll come to D.C. and enjoy the city next time I'm stateside.

A: Wait a minute, she knows what you do?

MK: I wouldn't put it past her to know. She's always told me "moms know everything." I still believe it.

A: Why don't you tell her?

MK: I don't want her to worry.

A: But if she knows, she worries.

MK: Yeah. I know. I wish I could do something about that, but it can't be helped. She knows that. But she knows I'm doing something I love. There's purpose in it.

A: So what's the deal with Jane Blackmon?

MK: Janey. Jane sounds… not like her. The idiots in high school called Plain Jane, but that's what they were, idiots.

A:  Why didn't you straighten them out? 

MK: I straightened out a couple of them, but I had already graduated and joined the army. It's not easy to kick ass when you're not there. Her brother beat the—

A: You really need to watch your mouth.

MK: Wait a minute. My "mouth," as you put it, comes from you, you know. And kick ass isn't all that bad. I don't cuss around my mother or Janey, or anyone else really, except the guys. [Smiles] And I wasn't going to say what you think I was going to say.

A: But your internal dialogue…

MK: Is my internal dialogue. Which, as I said, comes from you. So don't come off all high and mighty. Besides, do you really expect me to say "golly?"

A: You have a point, I guess.

MK: No guessing about it.

A: So what's the deal with her brother? Are you two friends?

MK: Yeah, we're friends. JP's a few years younger than I am, joined the army after I did. I got to know him better during a couple of gigs we worked together under our current employer. He's pretty tough, very specialized in what he does.

A: Which is what?

MK: [Meets my gaze directly] Can't answer that.

A: So when Janey asked you to find out what's happened to JP, what did you do?

MK: I called someone I know who only told me he's missing.

A: Which means what?

MK: In our line of work, it can mean a lot of things. Unfortunately, it's generally not anything good.

A: Did you tell Janey?

MK: Look, I told her more than I should. I even reached out to this other guy… Well, it's not something that needs to be said out loud. I just hope it helps. If JP's alive, he's in a world of trouble. [Leaning forward] Hey, don't you have another story coming out soon?

A: Yes, I have. It will be out in October.

MK: What's the title of your next book?

A: In the Arms of a Stranger.

A: Let's get back to you. Considering what you do, what your life's like, why Janey? She's a small town girl, a librarian for heavens' sake!

MK: You should be the last one disparaging librarians, given your day job.

A: Right again. Sorry. So, why a small town girl, a librarian?

MK: [Long silence] She's the one, okay? [Another, slighter short silence] Always has been. [Stands] Okay. That's enough. I have better things to do than sit around and talk.

A: Wait a minute, that's all you're going to say about Janey? About dancing?

MK: [Lips pursed] It's personal. It's between us.

A: [Smiling] Are you blushing?

MK: [Eyes narrowed] It's hot in here. What's wrong with the air conditioning?

A: [Standing so as not to be towered over] What did you think of the tux?

MK: [Laughing] Moment of weakness.

A: It looked pretty good on you.

MK: That's what Janey thought. That's all that matters.

A: But you're on the cover…

MK: Yeah, tell me about it. Janey's been showing it to her friends. I got a cat whistle the last time I went to her library.

A: In the library?

MK: Yeah. You've got to watch out for those librarians. They're kind of … irrepressible. [He's gone with a quick nod goodbye]


Dancing in the Dark [link: http://amzn.com/B00CJFMX8G]
Find Virginia Kelly
Website: http://virginiakelly.net
Facebook: http://facebook.com/virginiakellyauthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/virginiagkelly
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/virginiagkelly

So what do you think of the cover? I love a man in a tux. 

xoxo ~Marisa

Interview: Gina Conkle

I'm excited to welcome Entangled author Gina Conkle to Pens and Peonies! Gina's giving away a fabulous $25 Starbucks gift card, because a good beverage goes with a good book. But first, check out her awesome answers to some probing questions.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your writing career.

I’ve been writing for about ten years, but within the last ten months everything exploded ---in a good way!  I signed with an agent (Sarah E. Younger of Nancy Yost Literary), and we sold five books to two publishers: two books to Entangled, my Viking stories, and a three book series to Sourcebooks.

The Sourcebooks series is set mid-1700s. The first book, “Meet the Earl at Midnight” is a “beauty-and-the-beast-meets-my-fair-lady.”  That series revolves around “midnight meetings” as a theme. But they won’t be out until 2014.

 

I’m also working on another Viking series, but that’s in very early stages.

When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

 

Fifth grade. I wrote “The Girl Who Stopped World War III” and everything flowed. I remember sitting at my school desk and thinking how easy it’d be to be an author along with other jobs, plus being married and a mom.  Now picture me smiling hugely at that ten year old wisdom!

Why are you a writer?

 
I write for women. I believe in the power of love and the incredible power each woman has within her.

What advice would you give yourself if you could go back in time before you were published?

Be disciplined.  A pivotal moment came a few years ago in the form of a question: Is writing a hobby or a profession? 

 

Answer that honestly, and then look at what I’m doing each day, since actions speak louder than words. 

 

What do you think makes a good book?

 

Great moments, memorable characters, and a little escapism make a great book.

 

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

 

The hardest part was having to condense a bigger story.  Norse Jewel was originally 95,000 words, but I had to cut down to 70,000. The good news: I’m taking that other part and using some of it for a second “Norse” book tentatively titled “Norse Fire.”

 

Do you buy books based on the cover or the blurb?

 

The blurb!! Well, and then I open the first page.  You have to grab me on the first line, first paragraph, first page.

 

What were the last three books you read?

 

Women in Old Norse Society by Jenny Jochens

The Cowboy Takes a Bride by Lori Wilde

Write It Forward by Bob Mayer (still in this one)

What's one thing you can't live without?

 

Lately, diet coke! 

As I close, you’re invited to check out an excerpt of Norse Jewel’s chapter one here http://bit.ly/YR13D4

And thank you, Marisa, for the opportunity to be a guest on “Pens & Peonies.”  You are so gracious to open up your blog.

Fast Facts:

Coffee or tea?  Coffee

Morning or night?  Neither

Rivers or oceans?  Rivers

White wine or red?  Red

Champagne or liquor?  Champagne

Cupcakes or ice cream? Ice cream

Laptop or desktop? Laptop

Casual or couture?  Casual

Ponytail or headband? Ponytail

Shower or bath? Shower

Summer or winter? Winter

Motorcycle or bicycle? Bicycle

Connect with Gina here:
 

Website:  http://ginaconkle.com/                           

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ginaconkle             

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/180kL1y

Pinterest:  http://bit.ly/180l9gu

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/ZJyd7Q

 ***** GIVEAWAY *****

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo ~Marisa