Marie Blogs About Writing

Just in Time for Valentine's Day

2012-01-30T20:18:00.000-06:00

Valentine's Day doesn't look too promising for romance writer and former supermodel Nikki Prentice Devereaux. Max, her husband of ten years, has recently grown distant. Even though she doesn't want to, she comes to the unhappy conclusion that he's having an affair.

It's Fashion Week in New York City, and the ever-busy Max is planning a big surprise for Nikki. But unfortunately he has more than one, and this one could affect the their relationship. Will Max's secret give them more of their happily ever after, or will their marriage end in D-I-V-O-R-C-E?

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Smashwords.

Word Count: 11k

Available...again: LOVE ME IF YOU CAN

2012-01-25T16:08:00.000-06:00

The good news is that the rights to LOVE ME IF YOU CAN have reverted, and it's now available with a brand new cover at Amazon.com. for a mere $2.99.

Nashville sizzles in the summer. No wonder Tess and Scott combust.

Nashville Homicide Detective Tess O’Malley has a lot to prove. She comes from a long line of police officers, including her father and older brothers. First she and her partner are taken off a high profile case and sidelined with a cold case instead. After reviewing the files, she’s certain her cold case is connected to the current one, and she sets out to prove it. Too bad it means locking horns with a handsome PI who could win her heart and derail her career.

Scott Holt is all business when it comes to running his family’s PI firm. When the lovely Detective O’Malley comes to question him about his possible involvement in her cold case, he has everything but business on his mind. Like locking lips with the fiery redhead.

Just know that this one comes with two added scenes which were cut from the original version for page length. Word length is just over 94k.

Warning: This book contains multiple Nashville references, sizzling hot days...and even hotter nights. Yes, spicy love scenes between a seriously hunky PI and a stubborn homicide detective heroine who can't make up her mind.

STAY TUNED: Book two of the Music City Heat series will be Allison's. She's the family renegade, meaning she became a nurse instead of working for the family PI agency. Book three will feature Justin. Can a logical computer nerd find love with an off-the-wall ghost hunter? Book four features sexy Tamsyn. What would happen if she fell in love with one of her marks? Book five centers on Carrie. Will she be able to find Kim after all this time? Book six will belong to Kim IF she's ever found.

Friday the 13th Blog Hop Grand Prize Kindle Winner

2012-01-16T22:06:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Michelle Bledsoe who is the Friday the 13th Blog Hop Grand Prize Winner. has won the Kindle! The organizer of the blog hop, S.R. Claridge, is notifying her tonight.

Congratulations again, Michelle!

Blog Hop Contest Winner

2012-01-14T09:22:00.000-06:00

I'm like you all in that I'm waiting to hear which lucky winner won the Kindle, but I can announce who won an electronic copy of BROKEN PROMISES here on this blog.

TAH DAH! *cue trumpets*

StacieD, you're the winner. I've already send you an email, and you have seven days to claim your prize.

Many, many thanks to all who did the blog hop to the end and to those who took time to comment. I hadn't planned to run a contest on the blog. The prize was to be awarded to someone at the end--it still is, but this in an addtional prize.

For those of you who didn't win a copy, BROKEN PROMISES is available for a mere $2.99 at Smashwords (multiple formats), Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Sony, Kobo, and Diesel ebooks. I have direct links posted at https://marienicoleryan.com/brokenpromises.htm

Thanks and good luck to all.

Friday the 13th BLOG HOP/KINDLE GIVEAWAY!

2012-01-13T00:01:00.000-06:00

The Friday the 13th HOP begins at: http://briclarkthebelleofboise.blogspot.com and ends with a free drawing for books and a grand prize of a Kindle. Don't miss your favorite authors on a Blog HOP so HOT you'll feel the fire within!

Follow this blog hop to the end and one lucky winner will win a Kindle, plus many of the authors are offering one or more prizes. Starting January 13--yes, that's right Friday the 13th, but it might be a lucky day for you!

http://www.kelleyheckart.com/ Next stop on hop

Remember to WIN the KINDLE you have to hop through all the blogs and fill out the entry form at the end.

My prize is a downloaded copy of my newest release, BROKEN PROMISES, in your electronic format of choice. Details on how to win will be on the final blog.

An FBI agent and a Mafia princess equals career suicide.

FBI Special Agent Alex MacGregor has a bad habit of making and breaking promises. Over the years this habit has brought him heartbreak…and broken some hearts as well. But now his older sister has disappeared. Vowing to find her, he takes leave from the Chicago FBI field office's Violent Crimes Task Force and heads to upstate New York. This is one promise he’ll keep. Even if it means facing sexy Bette Smithson again, the beauty he rescued six months earlier and left behind with a kiss and another broken promise.
Note: Professionally edited. All new material never before released.
Word Count: 68,300

Available now, BROKEN PROMISES

2011-11-17T09:54:00.001-06:00

Available Now

Blurb:

A broken promise leads to a broken heart…and to danger.

When FBI Special Agent Alex MacGregor’s sister disappears from her veterinary practice, it brings back the nightmare of his identical twin’s kidnapping and murder sixteen years earlier. Burdened by a large measure of guilt and responsibility for his brother’s death, he has no choice but to take leave from the Chicago FBI field office's Violent Crimes Task Force and head to upstate New York, vowing to find his sister. That’s one promise he’ll keep. Even if it means confronting Bette Smithson again, the beautiful young woman he rescued from a stalker six months earlier and left behind with a kiss and a promise.

Bette doesn't want to call Alex. A gal has her pride after all. But his sister, Bette’s boss, has gone missing which leaves her little choice but to call the handsome FBI agent who has ignored for her six months since he saw her off at the Nashville airport with a knee-buckling kiss and a promise to call. So much for promises.

Faced with a slow-to-react local police force, Alex and Bette work together to find his sister before the unimaginable happens. As both feared, their mutual attraction ignites into a full-blown passion. But when Bette’s secret is revealed, will all chances for happily ever after vanish in the blink of an eye?

Note: Professionally edited. All new material never before released.

MCRW Writer Pals with New Releases

2011-11-06T08:31:00.000-06:00

Seems like this is a good week for releasing books for MCRW authors. First up is Cherie Denis's BAD BLOOD.

LINK TO BUY

Next is Trish Milburn's OUT OF SIGHT

LINK TO BUY

Moving along with Carol Rosewood's PLAYING FOR KEEPS

LINK TO BUY

Last but not least is Jezebel Jorge's HEADLOCKS & HEXES.

LINK TO BUY

WARNING: SOME OF THESE BOOKS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE FOR MINORS.

Cover Art Loveliness

2011-10-28T19:55:00.001-05:00

Luscious new cover art created by Elaina Lee of For The Muse Design.

BROKEN PROMISES will be released later this fall. Professionally edited by my prior editor. It will be my first indie-publication of all new material. The hero is already known to those of you who read HOLDING HER OWN. He's none other than FBI Special Agent Alex MacGregor, the younger agent who helped Jake and Caitlyn bust a casino money laundering scheme in New Orleans.

BROKEN PROMISES completes the short story prequel PILLOW TALK. Finally Alex and Bette finally get their happy ending--or they will if she can stay out of trouble.

Taking a Break from Blogging

2011-08-17T09:03:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I've already taken a break from blogging by simply not blogging. I prefer to concentrate on completing my current WIP--about 12k words to go.

The energy it takes to create interesting blog topics just isn't there anymore. I blogged regularly for YEARS, and I'm all talked out.

I still have a presence on Facebook, Twitter and a beginning one on Google+. I'm not sure about that link.

I leave you (for now) with a photo of Cassie the Wonder Sheltie.

Release Day for Author Carolyn Rosewood

2011-07-01T07:00:00.007-05:00

Today is release day for an author friend of mine, Carolyn Rosewood.

HAUNTED HEART
SEXY ROMANTIC SUSPENSE

CAROLYN ROSEWOOD

Etopia Press
Rowena Sommers thought moving back home to restore her beloved Aunt’s home was the key to starting over. Van Whitney thought taking the job would keep his business afloat. When a ghost hunter tries to convince Rowena the home is haunted, can these two escape the past and find a future together?

EXCERPT:

She didn’t need Hollywood, or Brett Fontaine.

Rowena Sommers stuffed the latest issue of Celebrity back in the magazine rack, glancing around the Pilot gas station to see if anyone was watching. She sipped her coffee, fuming over the slant of the article.

Contrary to what the reporter said, her relationship with bad-boy leading man Brett Fontaine was in trouble long before she filed a libel suit against him for leaking her personal e-mails to the tabloids. The dumb-ass reporter should have checked the back issues, like the ones with candid photos of Brett and his female costars, taken every time he went on location. They ran right next to the stories with headlines like: Who’s Keeping Rowena Company While Brett Romps in Australia?

A woman in denim cutoffs and an Ohio State T-shirt plucked a copy of the magazine from the rack and glanced sideways, her eyes wide. “This is you. On the cover.”

Rowena studied the picture, taken on the steps of the Van Nuys courthouse three weeks ago. The day she won her lawsuit against Brett. The same day she found out her great-aunt Lunette had died. She’d trade twice the settlement amount to hear Aunt Loony’s voice again. “Yes. That’s me.”

Rowena took another sip of coffee as she tried to formulate an answer that didn’t involve telling this woman where she could stuff that magazine. Her cell chirped. Saved by the ring tone.

“I have to take this. Excuse me.” She headed for the counter as she opened the phone with her free hand. “Tricia, impeccable timing, as always. You just saved me from an inquisitive fan.”

“And judging by the sarcasm in your voice, I’m guessing you’ve seen this week’s Celebrity?”

She glanced back toward the magazine rack, where the woman and a teen dressed like Lady Gaga were reading the article out loud. “Yeah, I’ve seen it. And as if this day could get any worse, I’m forced to drink gas station coffee.”

Tricia laughed. “No Starbucks in Creek Ridge, Ohio?”

Her best friend’s voice reached across the miles, tugging at her heart. Had it been a huge mistake leaving LA? “God, I hope there’s still a Starbucks here.” She took another sip. “This is actually better than the brown goo they tried to serve me at the Holiday Inn Express this morning.”

“Have you been to Aunt Loony’s house yet?” asked Tricia.

Rowena swiped her credit card through the machine. “On my way now. I’ll call and let you know what the contractor said.”

Ohio State and Lady Gaga moved behind her in line, still talking about the article. Rowena’s fingers trembled as she put the card back in her wallet. She pushed past them without a glance. As she opened the door to the parking lot she heard one of them mutter something, but only caught the words “Hollywood” and “bitch.”

Wonderful. Back in town less than twenty-four hours and already someone thought she had an attitude. So much for believing the gossip wouldn’t follow her home.

She waited until she pulled out of the parking lot in her brand-spanking-new Infinity SUV before screaming. Dialing her iPod menu to Led Zeppelin, she turned up the volume, loud. Angry, frustrated, rebellious. Perfect.

The readers of Celebrity weren’t interested in the story behind the lawsuit. They didn’t care about the string of bullshit promises Brett had made. Or the callous way in which he’d trashed her costume design career and her industry contacts with a few keystrokes, all because she’d dared to issue him an ultimatum.

They only cared about two things: reading her personal e-mails, and how much money the Superior Court of Los Angeles had ordered him to pay her because of what he’d done.

They didn’t care why she was in Ohio, or that Aunt Loony was dead. Brett’s money wouldn’t bring her back. Fun and zany, she’d been dubbed Aunt Loony by Rowena’s father when he was a teen, and she’d loved Rowena and her five siblings as if they were her own.

Fresh grief mixed with anticipation. Willow Lane was less than two miles away. Would she be able to handle walking through Aunt Loony’s house, knowing she’d never see her warm smile again?

Spotting a cop parked in front of a strip mall, she braked. Just for good measure, she turned down the volume on Jimmy Page and Robert Plant. She could see the headlines now: Rowena Sommers Arrested for Speeding in Hometown!

The memories overwhelmed her when she turned onto Willow Lane. She’d spent almost as much time on this street as her own, two blocks over. It hadn’t changed in ten years. The oak tree in front of Traci Westphall’s house, where she used to hide from her older sister Emma, still had dead branches along one side. Two doors down, she half expected Bud Williams to materialize in his driveway, sweeping up leaves and twigs while he muttered about the damn, dirty trees.

The scent of roses, lavender, and freshly cut grass filled the air. May sunshine shimmered on the pavement. The smells evoked memories of the end of each school year, when the magic of summer stretched out endlessly. Summer vacation meant going barefoot, walking down by the railroad tracks, and staying outside after dark to catch lightning bugs.

She was home, ready to be part of this town again. To be with people who made her feel safe, wanted, and who didn’t measure their lives by the latest Nielson ratings or market shares.

But would they welcome her? Or had they read the tabloids while laughing at the girl voted Most Likely to Trip Over Her Own Shoelaces? She’d tripped all right, landing smack in the belly of the gossip machine.

The imposing Queen Anne at the end of the street, just before the entrance to Oak Park, rose into view. Despite the faded siding and missing shutters, the grandeur of the home still took her breath away. As her eyes settled on the four-story tower, she remembered summer nights in the second-floor bedroom, wishing she could live with Aunt Loony. Her own room, with no Emma harassing her or parents screaming at one of her brothers.

She slowed the car, turning off her iPod. Letting her gaze travel up to the top floor of the tower—the lookout point—she recalled her big brother Jake and his friends pretending they were pirates. Part of the game included the ability to see all the way to Cleveland, where ships from exotic places like Spain or China would pull into port, stuffed with treasure beyond imagination. She was usually stuck playing the kidnapped damsel in distress or a cabin boy. They’d ignored Emma when she repeatedly pointed out Lake Erie had never been plagued by pirates, nor had treasure ships sailed on the Great Lakes.

The trim lawn and pristine flower beds brought a smile to her face. Her little brother had actually kept a promise. If a contractor showed up, he’d have kept two. For Mike, that would be a record.

She raised her eyes to heaven. “Thank you for the house, Aunt Loony. I promise to take good care of it.” She could almost hear Aunt Loony’s hearty laugh and see the twinkle in her green eyes.

Her smile faded at the sight of a silver Mercedes parked in the driveway. If that belonged to the contractor, she was about to get ripped off.

She parked the SUV in front, then caught the hem of her favorite summer skirt in the door as she tried to make a graceful exit. She glanced toward the Mercedes. Too late. The driver’s side door was already open. Classy way to make a first impression, Rowena.

In the towering maple on the front lawn, a pair of robins started to chirp, probably about her clumsiness. She released her skirt then took a deep breath, turning to look at the man leaning against the Mercedes. Her mouth fell open as she scanned his face. It couldn’t be…

Vance Whitney—everyone calls me Van—belonged to the perfect, popular crowd of cheerleaders and jocks that had made her existence at Creek Ridge High a lesson in insignificance.

He crossed muscled arms over a forest green polo shirt that set off his luminous blue eyes, even at this distance. Broad shoulders tapered to a trim waist, and the khakis he wore accentuated his long legs. The same confident grin she remembered spread across his tanned face.

This is the contractor Mike called? No way. Not happening.

No matter how hot he still looked.

Home Again

2011-05-18T09:25:00.012-05:00

I finally did something I've been promising myself and a few friends I would do: took pix of my hometown, Henderson, Kentucky. It's the county seat of Henderson County and a picturesque place to live.

I've always loved old houses and while I don't live in one, I still enjoy driving around and looking at them.

This Victorian beauty was one of the settings used in A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN.

Old wrought-iron fencing makes a distinguished sight.

Tree-lined North Main is an inviting and cool respite from the summer heat.

More old houses on North Main with spring flowers.

Downtown Public Libary. The new addition which isn't visible in this photo more than doubles the size of the orignal Andrew Carnegie-funded building.

Henderson is a river town. "On the Ohio, but never in it" is the old saying. In the 1937 flood, Henderson became a penninsula with only one exit out of town, but the town itself was never flooded.

Henderson is ready for Memorial Day.

I hope you've enjoyed this brief view of my hometown.

Marie-Nicole

#ABCFail

2011-04-15T12:47:00.003-05:00

I'd been reading the rumors for several months. ABC is canceling ALL MY CHILDREN. No, ABC is canceling ALL MY CHILDREN and ONE LIFE TO LIVE. No, ABC is going to move AMC back to NY and combine it with OLTL while getting rid of a bunch of the actors. No, says ABC, no such thing. They even had the actors tweeting denials when we all know the actors are the last to know, even though a majority were reputed to be freshening up their resumes. Yesterday, ABC announced both AMC and OLTL are being canceled. Finally the truth, and to make it worse they'll be replaced with a food show and a lifestyles talk show. As if we need more of those. Of course AMC has been going down the tubes writing-wise for a couple of years at least. I'm more outraged because OLTL is the one soap I watch without multi-tasking. Setting the computer aside, I actually watch OLTL. The only good thing about it is I'll get more writing done without the trials and tribulations of Tess/Jess, Natalie, Vicki, Dorian, et all. Soap actors are some of the best prepared actors in the business, memorizing 40-50 pages of dialoge a night. It's an awesome feat when you think about it. For ABC that leaves General Hospital. It's a sad state when NBC has one remaining soap, DAYS OF OUR LIVES, and CBS has BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL and THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. I guess I'll have to try them out, but the way things are going, by the time I get interested and caught up in their stories and history, they'll be canceled, too. I've watched ALL MY CHILDREN since it first came on, minus some years when I had a day shift job, and ONE LIFE TO LIVE as well. I'll definitley miss OLTL.

All Things Romantic Suspense--Wk 13--Cassie Exline

2011-04-06T07:25:00.009-05:00

Marie-Nicole: Let’s welcome mystery and suspense author Cassie Exline today. Cassie, please tell us about yourself.

Cassie: I work for a small town newspaper in Pennsylvania. Writing facts can be so boring, so it seemed the best way to counteract boredom was to write something exciting. Genres include romance, suspense, contemporary romance, erotica, and mysteries. My stories have been published at Ruthie’s Club, The Erotic Woman, Justus Roux, and Erotic Bookworm. Ebooks at Dark Eden and Lyrical Press and now with Wild Child Publishing.

Marie-Nicole: And now for the nitty-gritty. How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?

Cassie: I write what would interest me, which of course would interest readers. Hasn’t failed me yet.

Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?

Cassie: He’s a cross between alpha & beta. He’s strong willed but very romantic. He’s honest to a fault at times, but very dependable. Sometimes unyielding, but she has ways around that.

Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?

Cassie: They both are involved with law enforcement. Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel? Cassie: Hours on Google, of course part of my job I write up police reports for the paper and I do have officers in the family.

Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?

Cassie: Situation/plot always comes first. Then I figure out what sort of characters will work, their names seem to just appear like magic, and I’m off and writing. No outlines for me, I’m a panster. Winging it all the way. If I had to outline, I’d never write.

Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life?

Cassie: I write whenever I have a chance. Fortunately I have a job that allows me to write when I have a free moment.

Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

Cassie: Never give up. Write, write, write. Listen, listen, listen. No matter how many stories you get published, there’s always something new to learn. I’m always trying to improve my skill.

Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?

Cassie: The third book in the Sheryl Locke Holmes Series, Opal’s Disappearance, is in edits. No release date yet. Each book can stand on its own and doesn’t need to be read in order but who wouldn’t want to.

Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?

Cassie: The Holmes series is sensual but not erotic. It features strong women, romance, humor and suspense/mystery. I’m currently working on Butterfly Dreams which seems to have sprouted wings and taking me on a wild journey. Abby goes to help her best friend by taking her place as a tour guide at a country estate. Rules and regulations abound as does a very handsome man who shows up at the most awkward moments. Abby stumbles across a family secret and before she knows it, she is running for her life.

Marie-Nicole: That sounds like a fascinating story, Cassie. Now where can readers find you on the web?

Cassie: Website: http://www.cassieexline.com/

Blog: http://cassieexline.blogspot.com/

The Holmes series can be found at Wild Child Publishing -- Sheryl Locke Holmes:

Book 2: Ruby's Deadly Secret By C.L. Exline

Blurb:

What do you get when you add a ruby, diary, secrets, and a mansion? A motive for murder.

Sheryl Locke Holmes and her best friend, Dot Watson, have been offered an exciting opportunity to explore Bridgeside, a Victorian mansion, to search for items for their antique shop. Their adventure is short-lived when they discover a diary containing dark secrets and a newspaper clipping with a warning written in what appears to be blood. They get trapped in the attic, Dot is attacked and they find out the owner died inside the house. As if that isn't enough, Jake is spotted with another woman. Clues are pointing to Sheryl as the next target, no matter who gets in the way.

Excerpt:

Sheryl gazed into Jake's eyes and caressed his cheek. "I'm sorry for overreacting. For a brief moment, I thought I had lost you. I know better, but I'd just been with Mrs. Wallace and listened to how much her husband's betrayal had hurt her. I wasn't thinking, not with my head. Forgive me."

"Take your hands off of me!" yelled a voice in the distance.

Sheryl and Jake looked over to see Dot being physically escorted out of the restaurant.

"Madam!"

"Look, you little toad, take your hands off of me."

"I better intercede before Dot gets physical." Jake hurried to smooth things over. "Lawrence, it'll be okay. I'll take over."

Lawrence let go of Dot, but glared at her before facing Jake. "She and that blonde friend of hers are not welcome in our establishment. Both are troublemakers. We run a reputable business and cannot have altercations disrupting our patrons."

"Like I care to go back in! I wouldn't go in that rat hole if my life depended on it," Dot said and rubbed her arm. "You better hope I don't get bruises from your manhandling me."

The man snorted before stomping back into the restaurant.

"You didn't hit Lisa, did you?" Jake asked.

"Lawrence wouldn't let me."

Ruby’s Deadly Secret came in number eight in Top Mystery Book of 2010 at Preditors & Editors Poll.

Buy Link:

Just a Few More Weeks--Where I'll Be

2011-03-30T08:54:00.004-05:00

It's almost over, the blog tour that won't die. Just a few more weeks--I promise. Here are the rest of the locations.

APRIL:

Week 13—Ursula Grey blog --Monday, April 18

Week 14—Mindy MacKay blog--Friday 4/29

MAY:

Week 15—Dawn Brown blog--Wednesday, May 4

Week 16—Elaina Lee blog --Monday May 9

Week 17—Veronica Lynch blog, --Monday May 16

Week 12--All Things Romantic Suspense--Guest Author Chris Redding

2011-03-28T06:14:00.003-05:00

Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?

Chris: He has to be likable. Respectful of the heroine. Maybe I make them the way I want my sons to be someday. He has to trust the heroine, but want to take care of her.

Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?

Chris: Because she challenges him. A guy will go along thinking that whatever he thinks is reality. The heroine must come along and make him rethink things. Who yeses their husbands? Who agrees to all that their husbands think? No, we challenge them and they challenge us.

Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?

Chris: For Incendiary it was easy. My DH is a volunteer firefighter. I asked him what it was like inside a fire. I used his descriptions. Of course, he loved to talk about it.

Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?

Chris: The plot comes first. I am very plot driven. Then I figure out the characters. I don’t have voices in my head, I have movies in my head. That all said, I am a pantser. Thru and thru. If I outline, I won’t write the book. I love to careen down the hill of the story never knowing exactly where it is going to end.

Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life?

Chris: Not well. I have moments where I focus well on my career. Other times I find it had been days since I wrote. Then you add promoting and the days are not long enough.

Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

Chris: Persevere. Don’t give up. And learn your craft.

Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?

Chris: In July a humorous romantic suspense called A View to a Kilt.

Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?

Chris: That I have an awesome family who supports me.

Marie-Nicole: Thanks so much for taking time to answer my questions.

Blurb: INCENDIARY by Chris Redding

Chelsea James, captain of her local first aid squad, is trying to keep the organization afloat, but someone is sabotaging her. The squad is her father’s legacy and she feels responsible to keep it going.

Jake Sweeney, back in town after a decade, is investigating the arsons he was accused of long ago. When they start again Chelsea and Jake must join forces to defeat their mutual enemy.

Jake would like to rekindle what they had before he left town, but his departure left Chelsea hurt and bewildered. To begin again, she must learn to trust him.

Her life could depend on it.

Links

Week 11--All Things Romantic Suspense--Rachel Brimble

2011-03-21T13:14:00.004-05:00

Today my guest is Rachel Brimble, "Author of all things romantic."

Marie-Nicole: How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?

Rachel: I usually start with a problem or premise and then develop the right character to play the lead role – it almost like a casting session. As I write across the romance sub-genres, once I know whether I am dealing with a crime or a comedic situation or an historical, then the character I need usually comes and say “Hi!” waving madly, jumping up and down and saying, “I have the skills/personality/motivation to do what needs to be done.”

Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?

Rachel: Hmm…confession time! I create the perfect man for me in that situation, with all the flaws as well! I need to fall in love with the hero first and foremost and then I just pray other will too. A great hero is a man who will stand up for what he believes in, live by his principles and protect those he loves…yum!

Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?

Rachel: The book I am promoting today is Searching For Sophie; it is my first romantic suspense and first book so this is where I grew from. I learned so much when I was writing this book but most of all how important it is to make your hero and heroine two parts of the perfect.
Melanie is perfect for Kieran because she heals his past – makes him understand that it’s impossible to have control over everything, that life has a way of preventing us from getting the outcome we want sometimes.

Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?

Rachel: I have just finished my second Victorian romance so the research was a lot more intense for this book than it is for my contemporary novels! I have focused on the romance so the things I wanted to get right like clothing, food, transport and everything I check and re-checked using my blossoming shelf of Victorian research books.

Luckily, the main focus of the book is the struggle of the two lovers overcoming the people, culture and crime that stands in the way of them being together. Therefore, the story of fighting for liberty and real love is age old and the emotions the characters go through doesn’t change no matter when the story is set.

Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?

Rachel: Situation/plot premise usually calls me first – although with The Sharp Points of a Triangle, my romantic comedy, the heroine popped into my head full formed and ready to go, LOL! And then I tend to write a 5 or 6 pages synopsis to use as an outline, plus a character sketch for the hero, heroine & villain.

After that, I go-with-the-flow for the first draft and then clear up the mess I’ve made in the second draft!

Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with your daily life?

Rachel: Not well! I work part-time and then spend the rest of my time writing or looking after hubby, kids and dog. Any time left after that, I MIGHT whip the vacuum round but housework is very far down the list for me…much to my mother’s chagrin!

Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

Rachel: Keep writing, keep submitting and most of all keep believing!

Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?

Rachel: I have a contemporary romance just released in January with Lyrical Press called Getting It Right This Time and another due out in September with them, called Paying The Piper.

Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?
I’d love more visitors to my blog where I have guests every Tuesday and Thursday as well as lots of other stuff going on in between. Come and say hi!

Website
Blog

Twitter

Searching For Sophie

Blurb:

Harbouring the secret pain of giving up her daughter for adoption thirteen years ago, Melanie Royal has hidden herself in the quiet role of Head Librarian in Layley Hill. But then a crazed admirer rips her daughter from a loving home and Melanie is thrown into a race against time to save Sophie’s life.

When Detective Inspector Kieran Joseph is put in charge of finding a missing thirteen-year-old girl, it evokes buried mistakes that he’d vowed never to repeat – and so he’ll be suspicious of everyone this time, including the girl’s sexy and achingly beautiful mother, Melanie Royal.

Buy Link

Week 10--All Things Romantic Suspense--Sarah Ballance

2011-03-14T06:00:00.001-05:00

Today welcome, romantic suspense author Sarah Ballance who write "Romance you've dreamed of... Suspense to keep you up at night."

Marie-Nicole: How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?

Sarah: Two things. First, I give them flaws. Perfection is just annoying. Second, I tap into those basic emotions and feelings we all struggle with, no matter what our backgrounds or circumstances. I think that forges a connection on an instinctive level—sort of a familiarity readers can relax into.

Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?

Sarah: My guys have feelings, and they're not above admitting it. I don't know where the stereotype of the stoic, unflappable hero came from, but you won't find them in my books. For my hero, the heroine is not only his greatest strength, but also his greatest weakness. No matter the plot, that story is the heart of what I write. I think it's hard not to love a man who loves so passionately, one who can see that about himself.

Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?

Sarah: RUN TO YOU's Mattie is used to getting what she wants, and Wyatt has given up on wanting anything. Her vibrant, anything goes nature is contrary to his laid back style, but neither of them is looking for anything permanent. Besides, the attraction far exceeds the differences. At the end of the story, though, it's Mattie who fills that empty space inside when she discovers she's a lot more like Wyatt than she ever expected.

Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?

Sarah: My "research" for RUN TO YOU actually spawned the plot. My husband and I snuck away from the kids one fall night and went for a "romantic" walk on the beach. A nor'easter blew just offshore, leaving the night almost pitch black under a thick, rolling blanket of clouds. The ocean was furious, kicking foam and spray into the wind. Now, I love the beach, but I'm not a fan on a good night—between the noise of the water and the soundproofing quality of the sand, I've just always felt someone could walk up behind me and I'd never hear them coming. On this night, that feeling was so overwhelming it almost suffocated me. Everything about that night—the storm, the angry beach, and the feeling of terror—made it to the pages of RUN TO YOU. [Feelings that affected you that strongly were a warning. I’m of the mind (from a former experience of something similar) that something bad had gone down nearby or was about to.]

Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?

Sarah: My stories tend to jump from something I see or hear in the real world. Sometimes the trigger is pretty monumental—like the walk on the beach—while others are less obvious. The idea for one of my WIPs stemmed from a photo of a house, while the other bounded from a show I saw on The History Channel about a gun. The gun plot evolved from what my first thoughts were, but that's what they do. I let my initial idea simmer for a day or two, and in that time most of the details seem to organize themselves. I keep notes at the end of my manuscript, changing or deleting them as needed—very much a go-with-the-flow method to my madness.

Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with your daily life?

Sarah: The H and I have six kids ages nine months to 12 years and we homeschool. There is NO balance, LOL. All I ask for is a couple of hours each day to make some progress, and my husband is incredibly supportive of that goal. If he's not at work, he does everything in the world to give me that time—everything from sitting in the hall to intercept the kids to taking all six of them somewhere to give me a break. Not every man will drag a whole herd of offspring into the grocery store so mom can sit at home alone. He's a definite keeper! [For sure he’s a keeper, no argument from me.]

Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

Sarah: Find someone who will read your work and give you honest feedback. A good critique will point out the good with the bad, but it WILL find flaws. None of us are perfect, and anyone who says your words are isn't doing you any favors.

Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?

Sarah: I'm working on a romantic suspense that will be the first in a series. The story kicks off with the hero greeting the heroine at gunpoint, and things get a bit dicey from there. This one is full of some MOST wicked twists. I'm dying to finish it so I can hunt down a contract!

Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?

Sarah: I'd like to thank all of you who take the time to contact me and let me know what you think of my books. I'm still expecting to blink and all of this is a dream, so there are just no words to express how incredible it is to hit the net and find your emails and reviews waiting for me. (((Thank you so much for your support))). I'm often asked how close I am to finishing another book, so for those of you who'd like to follow along, you may do so by clicking here. I promise to update at least once a week! Marie-Nicole, thanks so much for having me. It's been great getting to know you, and I appreciate your hospitality. [Ditto, Sarah. Anyone who can wrangle a husband and home school six kids has all my admiration. Also have to say I love your cover. The hero looks like a young Antonio Bandaras. Hubba!]

RUN TO YOU
--"Ms. Ballance understands how to keep a reader engrossed in the story and uses her talent exquisitely. … I can't say enough about how great this book was. I rarely re-read a book but this one is already in the stack to read again." – The Romance Reviews

--"Ms. Ballance’s characters are well-defined and her depiction of the Carolina coastal area is atmospheric".-- Two Lips Reviews

--"It will mesmerize you…." – Page Flipperz

BLURB:

Mattie James can't pinpoint exactly when she lost control of her life, but the moment she decided to take it back made the front page of the local paper. Desperate to dodge the fallout— and the tabloids—she jumps at the chance to spend an off-season week in a tiny resort community by the sea. Making the trip with her ex-lover is a complication she can live with; coming face to face with a dead woman is not.

The last thing Sheriff Wyatt Reed expected to find on the storm-ravaged beach was a beautiful blonde with a jealous sidekick, but one look at Mattie left him wanting more. Their first date takes an ominous turn when he gets the call that a woman was found murdered. With a killer on the loose and a troubling lack of suspects or motive, Wyatt has to put his feelings aside to focus on the case. But his vow not to become personally involved is shattered when he discovers Mattie's life is on the line, and this time the truth leaves her with a deadly choice . . . and nowhere to run.

BUY LINKS: PDF / EPUB / Microsoft Reader / MobiPocket or Kindle

Author links:
Website

Blog

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Week 9 All Things Romantic Suspense, Author Leanne Dyck

2011-03-07T06:00:00.002-06:00

Author Leanna Dyck's self-description is, "I reside with ideas. I craft with dreams."

Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?

Leanne: One of the research topics was Icelandic folklore. I found Nelson S. Gerrard’s The Icelandic Heritage very helpful.

Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?

Leanne: Interesting question, I began working on The Sweater Curse so long ago that it’s difficult for me to remember which came first. It could be possible that all elements of the story came to me at once.

I’m a very flexible outliner.

Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life?

Leanne: I keep business hours—seven days a week, seven hours a day I work on my writing career.

Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

Leanne: Make a daily commitment to write, read and work on your business. Believe in the power of your words and others will as well.

Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?

Leanne: Currently, I’m working on a young adult adventure story Turning. I hope to have it ready for submission by the end of June.

Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?

Leanne: The Sweater Curse has received a four and a half star rating on Amazon. Here is one of the reviews…

Lou Allin writes:
The Sweater Curse: A Modern Edda
"Leanne Dyck has crafted a tale as exotic and existential as Danish author Isak Dinesen's."
(click on the link for the full review)

Blurb:
Aspiring knitwear designer Gwen Bjarnson is stuck in Purgatory. To escape, she must re-examine her life, journey through her past and right a wrong.

But which wrong?

Young and in love, she works to establish her career, except fate has different plans.

One rash act and she loses everything. Never resting, always seeking, and yearning for what she can no longer have, Gwen faces the truth: if she remains, others are destined to die.

How will she solve the mystery before it is too late?

Excerpt:

This isn't Heaven. It isn't Hell. And I'm not alive.

Picture this: a bus stop, tons of people packed into the same small space all waiting to continue their journey. Many buses stop here. Some passengers get off, others get on. Young children with sickly white complexions huddle together in the shelter. Teenagers with rope burns around their necks get off the bus. Old men with bullet holes climb on.

Throughout this confusion, the only constant is me. I remain alone.

Why?

I don't know, but I must find the reason. I must examine my life to discover the momentary lapse. The wrong I've committed. The task I've neglected. It's my only means of escape.

Buy links:

Decadent Publishing:

Amazon:

Smashwords:

Author links

Blog

Website

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New Contest to Celebrate Selling My House

2011-03-05T08:47:00.002-06:00

Celebrate with me. My house has closed as of 3/4/11, and in this tough market, that's a very big deal. For the next four weeks on Friday, I'll give away a copy of your choice of my current and/or backlist. All you have to do is sign up for my newsletter (Yahoo loop). It's announce only, so there's not a lot of useless chatter.

The first giveaway will take place on March 11. Please note, some of the books are digital only and may not be available in all desired formats.

Click to join Marie-NicoleRyanNews

Week 8 All Things Romantic Suspense--Bri Clark--Contest

2011-02-28T06:00:00.004-06:00

One random commenter will win a download of Caffe Seduzione, so comment away!

Bri Clark is a real example of redemption and renewal. Growing penniless in the South, Bri learned street smarts while caring for her brother in a broken home. She watched her mother work several jobs to care for their small family. Once her brother could fend for himself, Bri moved on to a series of bad choices including leaving school and living on her own. Rebelliousness was a strong understatement to describe those formative years. As a teenager, her wakeup call came from a fight with brass knuckles and a judge that gave her a choice of shaping up or spending time in jail. She took that opportunity and found a way to moved up from the streets. She ended up co-owning an extremely successful construction business. She lived the high life until the real estate crash when she lost everything. She moved west and found herself living with her husband and 4 kids in a 900 square foot apartment. She now fills her time, writing, blogging, leading a group of frugal shoppers and sharing her southern culture. Her unique background gives her writing a raw sensibility. She understands what it takes to overcome life’s obstacles. She often tells friends, “I can do poor. I’m good at poor. It’s prosperity that I’m not used to.” Bri and her husband Chris live in Boise. Bri is known as the Belle of Boise for her true southern accent, bold demeanor and hospitable nature.

Bri was kind enough to answer a few questions about her writing process.

Marie-Nicole: How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?

I basically take all the things that I’m not and give them to her. LOL. No, really I write who I relate to and the rest just kind of happens.

Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?

I have to fall in love with him first. Then he just kind of evolves from there.

Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?

Colleen is everything that Antony needs and doesn’t know it. She’s so genuine, kind and down to earth. I mean she has a muffin top for goodness sake. He dates women with bodies so thin if they were underage Child Services would be called.

Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?

I got to learn all about Italian men and Rome. Luckily an Italian man near and dear to me visits Italy and was able to fulfill my information reservoir in one shot. The Treasure Valley is really Boise ID but I just had fun with the name. I live here so that was easy.

Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?

I’m a planster. I start off on a whim, then get it all organized. Most often it’s the characters that come first for me.

Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life?

I don’t it’s chaos. Pure undiluted chaos.

Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

Any advice I have to give usually is best through Facebook or Twitter. Friend me or follow me if you want to know.

Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?

Glaziers in March. My heroine Marie Kincaid (thought you’d like that Marie ;) is a wife and mother who loses it all only to find everything she needed was within her. It was when she forgot what she lost that she realized what she had. It’s a fantasy romantic suspense. I call it soccer mom gone superspy.

Blurb:

... Antony is an Italian business man with conflicting upbringings...a child of a mafia don killed when he was an adolescent then the adopted child of hardworking Italian restaurant owners. When things don't go as easy as he likes, he reverts back to family contacts to get what he wants and Antony wants Colleen.

Colleen is an average mother and wife living in Treasure Valley Idaho. Upon meeting a charming Antony Deluca in a coffee shop, an emotional digital affair begins. However, Colleen's conscience intercedes and she ends communication with Antony. Then Colleen's husband produces a trip to Italy--Rome Italy. The very city Antony resides in.

Is it fate... or something more sinister bringing them together?

BRI'S LINKS

Buy Caffe' Seduzione

Blog
Facebook

Twitter

Week 7--Kiki Howell and All Things Romantic Suspense

2011-02-21T06:21:00.003-06:00

Welcome to author Kiki Howell "...where love is a mystical thing."

Marie-Nicole: How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?

I don’t think I actually fashion them. I think they just get inspired by “what-if” questions when I am formulating my story. I do tend to write strong women, with enough hints of frailty, especially in love, to make them human. Playing with their paranormal elements just makes the whole thing that much more fun.

Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?

Actually, I think the same as above. I stick to the alpha-male which worked for me in Torn Asunder, as my hero does not begin the story knowing anything about magic and powers. Always though, my alpha falls, shows his vulnerability when it comes to gaining the love of the heroine.

Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?

In Torn Asunder there is an underlying theme of love conquers all, again and again. My hero, while in love, strong and protective, actually finds he needs the heroine and her knowledge in order to try to save her time and again.

Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?

Tons actually! The most I have ever done for a story because on top of the spells and the folk-lore in this one, I had to research the time period as well. You know, you come up with the brilliant idea of going to a magical island in Ireland, now how exactly does one get there in 1820 England? LOL

Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?

I am an obsessive outliner for sure. And, stories come to me in all kinds of ways: through research, through life stories I hear, inspiration for a type of character or inspiration for a storyline. In Torn Asunder, I simply wanted to finally try writing one of the Regency-set historicals I love to read. So, I had to ask myself, what I would want to see happen in that time?

Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life?

I set up blocks of time for things, and I try, emphasis on the word ‘try,’ to not freak out when things don’t get done in their block of time :-)

Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

Just to stay true to their own story. They are the only one that can tell it, and it is theirs to tell. So don’t try to conform to what you think the readers of today want. There are a million different opinions, so just simply write your story uncensored.

Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?

In April I have another novel coming out, Irreconcilable Differences. It is a play on the ideas of prejudice in a world where sorcerers and wizards stereotypically don’t get along. You can read about all of the stories I have coming out this year at http://www.kikihowell.com/2010/06/coming-soon.html

Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?

Al lot of my books are on sale in February, this month of love. To read all about it go to my blog, http://authorsbyauthors.blogspot.com/2011/02/february-month-of-romance-sale.html

Blurb:

Aubrey Griffen is a witch whose true reasons for coming to London soon fall to the wayside when she catches the eye of Edmund Bryant, the Marquess of Dalysbury. He seduces her into a whirlwind romance until the lies and threats of his mother force her to flee to Triaill Brimuir, a secret island of her ancestors off the coast of Ireland. Edmund goes after her only to be hit by Aubrey’s confusion and anger when she magically transforms him into an elemental beast of her own creation.

However, it is when Edmund’s lust mysteriously turns him back into a man that the couple are forced to deal with a family secret and untold of powers. Now, Edmund must learn to shift himself into the beast in order to save her in a battle of black verses white magic.

Fraught with scenes of explicit intimacy, romantic spells and mystical shapeshifting, Torn Asunder is a unique blending of the age of manners with sexual magic.

Genres: Historical (Regency), Paranormal (Witches & Shifters), Erotic, Romantic Suspense
Adult Content Warnings: Explicit Graphic Language, Violence

You can purchase Torn Asunder in eBook and Trade Paperback online at retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks, Smashwords, and Excessica Publishing .

Praise for Torn Asunder:
Torn Asunder has gotten another 5 Star Review on Goodreads and Amazon:

"What a truly memorable and original novel!" ~A JAMES MASON COMMUNITY BOOK CLUB MUST READ, RICK FRIEDMAN, FOUNDER

"Kiki Howell I feel has a major hit on her hands with Torn Asunder... It is so worth the ride." ~5 out of 5 Stars, Review by Raquel Vega-Grieder for Sinfully Tasty Reads

“Torn Asunder is what a Regency novel should be." Five of five hearts.” ~D. Alexx Miller, Book Reviewer for Romance in the Backseat

Author links:
Author Website
Blog

FaceBook

--------------------

Many thanks to Kiki for telling us all about her newest release.

Week 6--All Things Romantic Suspense--Jerri Drennen

2011-02-14T06:02:00.001-06:00

Today on Valentine's Day, let's welcome Samhain and Liquid Silver, author Jerri Drennen, who will share her writing process with us. I love her tag line: Men packing more than just handguns.

Marie-Nicole: How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?

I think I write a character who I'd like and hope that everyone else would too.

Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him.

He has to be strong and smart and willing to risk his life for what he believes in.

Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?

I think it's that both are looking for something and find it in each other. Like a missing piece to a puzzle and that Mattie made Travis want to be a better man--a man his grandfather would be truly proud of.

Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel, UNTOUCHED, Men of the Jungle series?

I had to do some research on Botany, the Amazon and Guides.

Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?

I used to think it was the character who came first but have come to realize that I have an idea of plot, then the characters come. And once they're in place, I'm a go-with-the-flow kind of gal.

Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life?

Lately, I think daily life has taken precedence. I need to get back into the groove of writing everyday again. This time of year is always hard for me. On a positive note, I'm now writing almost everyday.

Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

Just keep writing and honing your craft.

Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?

I don't have a release date yet but the second book in my Men of the Jungle series, Unplanned, will be coming out with Liquid Silver some time soon.

Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?

Only that I'd love to hear from readers.

Web Site

Blog

BLURB:

Untouched

Botanist Madeline Wentworth is relieved to be heading into the Amazon, far from the university and the vicious rumors circulating about her failed love affair. But on arriving in Peru, her team finds their guide dead with a small puncture wound to his neck. Waiting to replace him is Travis Kane, Amazon guide, treasure hunter, and superhunk. Mattie is instantly attracted but uncomfortably suspicious. When a member of her team falls ill and a similar puncture wound is found on his body, her suspicions deepen.

Travis has stuck with being a jungle guide for over ten years despite a run of unsavory clients. The rain forest is full of hidden ruins and undiscovered treasure, and he’s determined to find his share. But when his grandfather dies, leaving a letter boasting of Templar gold, he’s sure it's nothing more than an old man’s delusion. Everything changes when he finds his grandfather’s map. With high hopes, he leads Mattie’s team into the rain forest and finds himself overwhelmed by the beautiful blonde. When the group is attacked and has to fight its way out of the jungle, Travis discovers something more precious than gold--the love of a woman who’s made him want to be a better man.

EXCERPT

“Dr. Wentworth?” a deep, compelling voice asked.
Mattie looked up. “Yes,” was all she could muster, spellbound by the pair of striking, brandy-colored eyes of a tall, well-built man standing before her.
She swallowed to clear her throat.
“I was told that you might need a guide.” He reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a folded slip of paper. “Here are my credentials. I’ve been a wilderness guide for over ten years, and I know the area.”
Uncharacteristically, Mattie found herself tongue-tied. She had never seen such a gorgeous man in her life. His hair was a rich chocolate brown, cut short on the sides, slightly longer on top. His nose was straight and his features were perfectly proportioned. His lips were strong, firm, and the color of deep Mediterranean coral. From the stubble on his chin, it looked as if he hadn’t shaven in a few days. The effect gave him a rugged, outdoorsy appeal. The only thing less than perfect on the man was a thin, white scar running from his nose to his lip. She wondered how he’d gotten it. An occupational hazard perhaps?
To fight the urge to sigh, she unfolded the paper and studied his certifications. The résumé was impressive if it was on the up-and-up. “You know this area well then, Mr., ah...” She scanned the sheet of paper, then returned her attention to him. “Kane.”
He nodded.
His eyes mesmerized Mattie. She blinked and hauled her mind back on track. “Do you think you could be ready to leave later this afternoon? We want to get started right away cataloging plants. We’ve been prepared since we arrived four days ago. The guide we’d originally commissioned died the day we landed in Manu.”
His arched brows drew together. “I’d need to get my own supplies rounded up, but I could probably be ready by then. Could you tell me the name of the guide who died?”
“Yes, he was a local man. Chaz Juntas.”
Pain crossed his features.
“You knew him?”
“Yes. He was a good man. We’d gone into the Amazon a number of times together.”
“I’m sorry.” Mattie looked down at her cup, noting her shaky hands. Was it the reaction to Travis Kane or was the dream still working on her nerves?
“Have you rented trucks for the trip yet?” His question had her glancing back at him. “If not, I could see what I can do. How many are in your party?”
“Six altogether. Two men and four women.”
His eyes narrowed. “Four women?”
“Yes. Is that a problem?” Was the guy a chauvinist?
He inhaled, then shook his head. “No, no problem. What about the trucks? Have you got them lined up then?”
“Yes. The supplies are already loaded too. Chaz had arranged it all before we’d arrived.”
“Where are they now?”
“At the edge of town. The authorities have been keeping an eye on them to make sure nothing is stolen.”
“I’ll meet you there around two o’clock. Be ready to move out immediately. I want to get a few hours’ travel in before we need to set up camp.”
“We’ll be ready, Mr. Kane.”
He turned and walked away.
Mattie sighed.
Had she been too quick to hire him? Had the man’s qualifications won her over or did his looks and physique have her practically begging him to guide them? She wasn’t sure--and even if she were, she didn’t care. They had a sober guide who didn't give her the creeps and that was all that mattered right now.

Review

Now available on Kindle

Many thanks to Jerri for taking the time for this interview.

New Header for Blog and Web Site

2011-02-09T13:37:00.003-06:00

I'm so excited about my new header. It was time to freshen my web site's look, and since I'm not a web designer or graphics designer, it was time to look around. Also I still use MS FrontPage for my web site. It allows me to do updates without spending any money whatsoever. Even though I can do updates easily enough, altering the template is beyond my meager skills.

When I interviewed author Elaina Lee and she revealed she also did graphics design, I decided to check out her portfolio. I liked what I saw. I told her I wanted something which would reflect the two genres I currently write: contemporary romantic suspense and erotic historical western. I also wanted to keep the same color theme of the original web site. I'm in love with the result, especially the cowboy. Gosh, I do love cowboys.

Marie-Nicole

SEDUCING THE SHERIFF, 2010 CAPA Nominee

Week 5--All Things Romantic Suspense--Author Elaina Lee

2011-02-07T06:00:00.003-06:00

Today's guest author is Elaina Lee...Sensual romance anyway you like it. In addition to being a published author, she's a graphic designer, a wife, and the mother of two boys.

Marie-Nicole: How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?
I give her flaws but keep her strong. The flaws are usually life situations that she has to overcome and find a way to handle, as we all have to.

Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him? A great hero for me is a man who can be strong no matter what the situation, and definitely be strong when things fall apart. Yet he can maintain some level of respect and heart for the heroine, not snap in her face or lose his temper and send her into tears. :-)

Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?
She can handle his passion and his dominating nature. She understands him.

Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?
My most recent novel (the one I'm working on now), the research has been my experience in the south, LOL! I'm writing a Southern romantic comedy. But for my romantic suspense, I purchased and poured over several law books and law text books. I spoke with a friend who was in law school and another who is actually a lawyer in her day job (hot and heavy m/m erotic writer by night). I did a lot of online research too into investigators. I found, interestingly enough, the best way to find out exactly what a person is required to do on a job is find a job posting for that position. They list education requirements , job skills and required experience. Very helpful!

Marie-Nicole: That’s a great idea, Elaina. I might use that. Now then, tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer? The situation definitely. I'm a 'what if' writer. What if X happened, how would someone deal with that? The characters follow. I'm not obsessive, but I do need to outline simply to keep idea's from escaping. If I don't jot an idea or thought down, I'll lose it. My outlines therefore aren't really outlines so much as scattered notes about what needs to happen at some point in the story. *grin*

Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life? Oh, I don't, LOL! I write when I have the chance. I've decided to do my graphic design work the first two weeks of each month and then dedicate the last two weeks to writing, since I can't do both. The graphic work takes away most of my creative drive, leaving nothing left for writing. So I queue all my graphic work and do one hard push the first two weeks of each month. I walk around in a zombie-like state and we live out of laundry baskets for that time, but hey, it's working so far!

Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished? I think getting involved with other writers is the best advice. You can't progress forward without a critical, helpful, encouraging hand to make sure you grow and succeed as a writer. Someone once told me to find a writing mentor. Well, I found twenty. :-D And it wasn't hard, I just had to ask. So… go ask already! If you haven't, that is.

Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases? I have a novella soon to be released by Decadent Publishing, titled First Kiss. It's a contemporary romance.

Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked? Nothing but a big thank you!!!!

BLURB - Written in Blood

Lyndi Crisdean is assigned one of the hardest cases in her career as a defense attorney. A serial murder case. Investigating is Alek Trevian, the lead investigator for the district attorney, and a handsome and supremely dangerous man. Lyndi finds herself in over her head when she chooses desire for Alek over common sense. If they're caught, Lyndi will lose everything she's worked for.

Circumstances beyond her control pull her toward Alek, for he turns out to be the only one who can help when threats start to mount against her.

Lyndi may be the key Alek needs to bring down a murderous cult running loose in his city. When her beach house is broken into and a man begins to tail Lyndi, Alek can't help but reason Lyndi may be next on the cult's hit list. The question is, will he discover the identity of the cult, keep her safe, and still win the case against the serial killer she's defending, all while losing a battle against the strong, untamable desire she alone ignites within him?

REVIEWS -
The Romance Studio - 5/5 Hearts -
"Written in Blood is a story filled with heart and depth... With finesse, drama, wonderful chemistry, and a storyline that is quite enigmatic, this is one incredible read that I will remember for a good while." - Linda L. For the complete review, please click HERE.

The Romance Reviews - 4/5 Stars -
"Elaina Lee builds the tension, and the sex is brutal, yet tantalizing and addictive... Ms Lee sucks you in and never lets you go. An intriguing and lustful story." - Leslie. For the complete review, please click HERE

It was also nominated and received Honorable Mention for the Best Romantic Suspense of 2010 from LoveRomancesCafe. :-)

Amazon Buy Link

Author Links

Web Site

Blog

Elaina, thanks so much to Elaina for taking time to answer my questions. Written in Blood sounds right up my alley.

Week 4-All Things Romantic Suspense--Veronica Lynch

2011-01-31T06:00:00.002-06:00

Today's guest author is Veronica Lynch, and we're spotlighting her upcoming February 23rd release, The List.

One thing I discovered about Veronica Lynch is that she writes under two names: Veronica Lynch and Kat Henry Doran. I also discovered that this fascinating woman has a diverse resume which, according to her web site, includes: "nurse, malpractice insurance investigator, forensic nurse examiner, victim advocate, wife and mother."

Color me impressed.

Okay, now on with the interview.

Marie-Nicole: How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?

First, I need to identify with her in that she must have a realistic goal with honest, believable motivation and not be afraid to work toward that goal even when conflict presents itself. That's not to say she needs to be a rabble rousing, bra-burning feminist [though some of my heroines are] but she can't be a wimp. She can be quietly lady-like but when push comes to shove, she better be able to push right back and knock some guy on his . . . butt. Strength of character is important to me; being able to say I'm wrong, I don't know, and I'm sorry are important to me.

Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?

I have to fall in love with him first. He, like the heroine, must have a goal with believable motivation. Often their goals must be in direct opposition. That's always fun. He doesn't have to be drop dead gorgeous, but he's got to make me laugh. He has to like music—any genre, I'm not picky. If it matches what I like, cool. If he can dance, he's the one for me.

Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?

Fiona Thorpe has hated, loathed and despised Michael Dineen since high school. A nasty bit of business where he swiped her Miss Piggy nightgown and ran it up the flag pole in the front yard of the school. The size of a circus tent [our Fiona was a bit on the “pudgy” side back in the day] Miss Piggy reigned supreme over the school's moving up day ceremonies. Mick heads her revenge list—with good reason—she plans to exact pay-back during her 25th high school reunion—against him and others. Imagine her surprise when she discovers the handsome, professional seated beside her at the reunion awards banquet is none other than Mick Dineen himself—and he's turned into a local hero.

Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?

I did extensive research on surgical options for morbid obesity and the post-op ramifications. And I looked into cases of institutional bullying and the resources people have when their needs are not being met. It was eye-opening. It was horrifying. And terribly sad.

Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story?

The situation/premise comes first. Then I decide what type of character, including their occupation, would work well under that premise. I don't know that I'm obsessive, exactly, but I've been known to make a few lists. And . . . there have been occasions when I've halted a pelvic exam or interrupted a dental filling in order to write an idea down—but I wouldn't call that obsessive, exactly. Would you? After I identify the character by name, then I create a family, birth or choice, for them right down to the color of clothes they wear. You know, I guess I am somewhat rigid. Heh heh.

Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life?

I don't. I let things happen as they happen. If that means I write for days on end, I do. If that means I have to take a few days away from the computer to cook a meal or clear away cobwebs, I've been known to do that too. It helps that my kids are grown and out of the house so it's just me and the hubs doing our things separately and individually. He's a big boy; he can open a can of soup when he's hungry.

Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

Find yourself a writers group which devotes itself to the same genre you write [RWA or Mystery Writers of America for example]. Attend a few meetings, watch and listen. Look for the people who listen and are respectful of others, who offer logical, reasonable comments and advice. Avoid those who talk simply because they adore the sound of their own voice. Look for those who offer polite, logical, thoughtful criticism—not tearing your work down to build themselves up. Attend conferences, sit in on as many workshops as you can manage. Listen and learn. Then practice. And keep on practicing. Expect rejections at first but listen to what the rejections say and learn from it/them. Don't give up.

Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?

Writing as Veronica Lynch, The List will be released February 23, 2011, part of the Class of '85 series with The Wild Rose Press. Under my alternate author personality of Kat Henry Doran, Embraceable You comes out on March 16, 2011, through The Wild Rose Press' Class of '85 series and Mad Dog and Archangel, TBA, Wild Rose Press' Class of '85 series.

Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?

What books or movies have changed my life:

Books: Genocide: A Problem From Hell and the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Movies: The Official Story; Cautiva; Romero; The Accused; The Killing Fields.

-------

EXCERPT from The List by Veronica Lynch

Frustrated with the holdup, Fee glanced around the room, hoping to see Dru the minute she entered the ballroom. A hand on her arm claimed her attention. “Here comes someone you should meet.”

“Who?”

“Last year's Eastman Award winner,” Rafe said, “and a helluva nice guy.”

“Where?”

“There, coming toward us.”

One nano-second later, all thoughts of revenge evaporated like steam out of a boiling kettle.

Thick gold hair flecked with gray grazed the collar of his jacket. His features were weathered—as if he'd already lived ten times over. Broad through the shoulders and chest, and narrow at the waist and hips, he possessed the long legs of a broken-field runner. Moving across the parquet floor as if born to a runway, he looked confident and at ease with himself. Without disrupting that graceful, fluid motion, he undid his tie, then shrugged out of his suit jacket.

She'd almost given up on finding a man like this.

This one had the Look.

-------
You can find out more about Veronica/Kat's work at the following sites.

The Wild Rose Press
Veronica's Blog

Kat's Web Site

Kat's Blog

Ursula Grey--All Things Romantic Suspense--Week 3

2011-01-24T06:00:00.001-06:00

Today, I'm interviewing author Ursula Grey and spotlighting her BookStrand release, Second Chances.

Marie-Nicole: How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?

Ursula: I think as women we all have the ability to identify with each other regardless of our backgrounds or origins. We have all, at sometime or another, been vulnerable, unsure, or insecure, but we have also been strong, and determined at others. I like to think that I write of heroines who overcome obstacles, who are underdogs who beat the odds to succeed. I am most attracted to such women in the fiction that I read, so I suppose they also show up in my fictional works!

In my novel, Second Chances, there are three women, a teen, a middle-aged woman, and a “woman of a certain age,” so there’s a woman for every woman to identify with:-).

Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?

Ursula: I think any woman is attracted to a man who is intelligent, funny, loyal, tender, strong, masculine, loving, protective, kind...and it doesn’t hurt if he’s ruggedly handsome. And of course, he must love animals and children. :-) Wow ~ sounds a lot like my husband! I certainly couldn’t resist!

Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?

Ursula: Gwen, the soon-to-be divorcee in Second Chances, is a perfect match for the reclusive artist, Karl. He sees in her a woman who doesn’t realize how lovely she really is, both inside and out.

Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?

Ursula: Part of the story line for Second Chances takes place in France. As a Francophile and visitor to France whenever possible, I drew upon my memories and travels while in France to write this story. There’s something about Paris, and France in general, that I find irresistible.

Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?

Ursula: The characters usually visit me first. I see them engaged in a scene...then follow them along to see where they’re going. A story can appear from nowhere, but usually it is triggered by something I’ve read while doing research. I am definitely not an obsessive outliner, I go with the flow. I suppose something in-between is ideal, but for now, I’ll travel along with my characters and go where they take me.

Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life?

I have a full-time job and try to write every day. Some days are more productive than others, but when it’s time to edit, I usually can’t distinguish between what I considered a good or bad day. What’s most important is sitting down to write, whether or not I want to.

Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

Continue writing and submitting, perfect your craft. One day you’ll get the call or email that will reward all your hard work. It is an accomplishment in itself to complete a novel, remember that. Rejection is hard to take, but you must never give up.

Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?

Ursula: The Divine Matches Anthology was recently released by eXcessica and my short story, Heph’s Revenge is included. The story revolves around Hephaestus, and what happens when he discovers the antics taking place between his wife Aprhodite and the god of war, Ares. If gods and goddesses and all things mythological intrigue you, I urge you to pick up a copy. I enjoyed writing it ~ I should mention that this is an erotic story...

I’ve also another work with eXcessica entitled, A Day in April 1944. It’s about a French woman working for the Resistance who shelters an American pilot who awakens her sexuality. Again, it’s an erotic romance, which I’m proud to say, garnered Recommended Reads at the Literary Nymphs, Fallen Angel and Dark Diva review sites. Also, I currently have a few works out there that I’m waiting to hear on...Check my website for updates!

Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?

Ursula: Only that Second Chances is special to me. It was my first full-length novel and is filled with characters any woman can relate to regardless of age. I hope that readers will give it a chance and let me know what they think!

Thanks for having me Marie-Nicole. I enjoyed visiting your blog and look forward to your visit!

Second Chances

Blurb:

Chance encounters bring together three women from very different walks of life and with little in common—except for the desire to obtain a second chance at life…and perhaps even love? A mysterious birthday gift, a husband’s devastating deception, and a secret past during World War II send the women on an unforgettable journey to France that will change their lives forever.

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Chances-BookStrand-Publishing-Romance-ebook/dp/B0035YDM30/

Author link: Ursula Grey...Writing Away

Update--My Week 2 All Things Romantic Suspense Interview

2011-01-19T12:38:00.002-06:00

Here's the link to the interview on Rachel Haimowitz's blot. Contest involved, so please leave a comment to have a chance on winning a $5 GC.

http://rachel-haimowitz.blogspot.com/2011/01/marie-nicole-ryan-talks-shop-raffles.html#more

Mindy MacKay...Protect Your Sensibilities

2011-01-17T07:00:00.003-06:00

Today, welcome Mindy MacKay, author of high-octane fiction. She "was born in Brockville, Canada, but relocated to Texas as a tiny tot. Originally French-speaking, she exchanged her native tongue for cowboy boots and a Texas twang. As a child, she experimented in a number of different fields, including figure skating, poetry, and musical study of the piano and cello."

Let's get right to the nitty-gritty of Mindy's interview.

Marie-Nicole: How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?

Mindy: I try not to underestimate the reader in my attempts to identify with her. Readers are smarter than we expect them to be, so I'm not afraid to introduce them to an intelligent, multi-layered heroine with a complex personality and a motive besides the pursuit of happily-ever-after.

Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?

Mindy: Hoboy. How to answer this without sounding like a misandrist…? See, the angle I usually go for when I write a hero isn't admiration, but sympathy, so all my heroes are quite damaged. That's not to say I beat them within an inch of their lives, but sometimes I come close. I can only hope the resultant inner development they experience wins over the reader--it certainly does for me.

Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?

Mindy: Rosella is perfect for Daniel because she's intriguing to him, more than a match for his intellect, and knows what it's like to look in the mirror and see a complete monster. I sometimes refer to them inwardly as the "guilty conscience couple". But hey, they're redeemable by each others' saving grace.

Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?

Mindy: For all my novels I like to do psychological research, since so many of my characters display some sort of abnormal psychology. Recently, I attended a lecture on the psychology of desire to help me out with writing convincing love (not just love scenes, LOL!) I've also been looking into Sun Tzu's The Art of War to help me get the mechanics of strategy war down, as so many of my stories deal with mind games. And, of course, I had to research geography and other basics like that.

Marie-Nicole: Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?

Mindy: To me, the characters and situation have always been one and the same. Their lives and backstories shape them as people, and their personalities shape where the plot is going. I only like to say I'm in control…and I do assert this pseudo-control over my characters through copious outlines.

Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life?

Mindy: I think for me it's the other way around. I use the writing to balance out the mundane in my daily live.

Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

Mindy: Remember to always write for yourself and from the heart. Yes, a lot of genres have formulas, but the best romance novels are the ones with a heartfelt, personal, and unexpected twist on the prototypical formula. And keep on trying and never give up! Hemmingway was rejected over a hundred times before he was published. There's no secret to snagging an agent or press except perseverance.

Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?

Minday: Keep your eye out for Bulletproof, the third installment of the Puppetmasters series, which will probably hit online shelves later this year or early next!

BLURB for Fallen from Disgrace:

Rosella Cartwright wakes up in the hospital after a year-long coma with no recollection of who she used to be. Her only clue is that everyone around her despises and avoids her. Then, she discovers the truth: before she was hospitalized, she was the most wanted maniac of New York's criminal underbelly.

Disgusted by reports of her own heinous crimes, she attempts to reform herself, but her efforts are in vain as society continues to cast her out in hatred and fear. All the world seems against her until she is offered a job by Daniel Ryan, a rising executive and self-made success who hides a lifetime of inner turmoil behind a façade of cool indifference.

Drawn to his mystery as he is by her irrepressible darkness, Rosella starts falling for Daniel, but love can't save her from her past. A former victim of hers wants revenge, and will stop at nothing to get it. Her partners in crime want her back by their side, though she wants nothing more to do with them. And a sinister plot of her own design, buried beneath her amnesia, is, unbeknownst to her, still very much in progress. These are the monsters she will have to fight off alone, and if she doesn't watch her step, she might not make it out alive.

REVIEW SNIPPET from Sinfully Tasty Reads:

"On a scale from 1-10 I give this book a 10. If you love a good psychological thriller with some mind blowing revelations laced with a tinge of hot sex this is so the book for you. It grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go til the very end when you are gasping for breath at the outcome."

BUY LINK

EXCERPT:

A faint knock on Daniel's office door diverted his attention from programming. "Come on in," he called through. Rosella pushed the door open and inched her way in. "Hey there, Rosie. You feeling okay?"

"I—no, I'm not well," Rosella said. "Can I have the rest of the day off?"

"Hmm. You're the second girl to ask me to use my immunity to grant her off time today. Curious."

"The second? Who was the first?"

"Kelli, from sales," said Daniel. "She looked like she was in pretty bad shape. I hope there's not a bug going around. Well, go ahead and go home, then. A day of rest might do you good."

Rosella shifted nervously from one foot to the other. "Will you walk me to the elevator?"

Daniel stood up. "Sure thing."

From the way Kelli and Rosella acted, Daniel cold easily tell Tom had raped Kelli, and Rosella had been an unfortunate witness. If he didn't know any better, he would have thought Rosella had suffered through the same ordeal. But who could lay an unwanted hand on the fearsome Rosella Cartwright and not have it chopped off?

As he showed her the elevator doors, a pang of guilt washed over him. How would Rosella feel, he wondered, if she knew he was well aware of his boss' dastardly pastimes, and his job depended on keeping such atrocities secret? What would she have to say about that?

He was sure she would think him an amoral fiend . . . and she was the one who used to kill people.

For more info about Mindy and her writing:

Website
Blog
Facebook

All Things Romantic Suspense

2011-01-13T15:09:00.027-06:00

I've been asked by a couple of my readers to let you know when and where I'm going to be interviewed.

I can give you a "sort of" list. With seventeen authors, I don't have all the exact dates when my interviews will be posted. I know which week, but not necessarily which day.

Week 1 (starting Monday Jan. 10)

Where I’ll be Featured:

Week 1—Jess Anastasi blog—Wednesday, Jan 12 This one is a done deal.

Week 2—Rachel Haimowitz blog Wednesday, Jan 19

Week 3—S. R. Claridge blog—Thursday, Jan 26

Week 4—Open because the author had a sudden family health issue.

FEBRUARY:

Week 5—Cassie Exline blog , Monday February 7

Week 6—Chris Redding blog, Wednesday, 2/23

Week 7—Rachel Brimble blog, Saturday, 2/26

MARCH:

Week 8--—Sarah Ballance blog-- Wednesday, 3/2

Week 9—Leanne Dyck blog , Friday, March 11

Week 10—Bri Clark blog, Friday, March 18

Week 11—Kiki Howell (Authors By Authors) blog , Tuesday 3/22

Week 12—Jerri Drennen blog, Monday 3/28

APRIL:

Week 13—Ursula Grey blog --Monday, April 18

Week 14—Mindy MacKay blog--Friday 4/29

MAY:

Week 15—Dawn Brown blog--Wednesday, May 4

Week 16—Elaina Lee blog --Monday May 9

Week 17—Veronica Lynch blog, --Monday May 16

Dawn Brown "Spine Tingling Tales of Mystery and Romance"

2011-01-11T07:00:00.003-06:00

Today I'm spotlighting Canadian author Dawn Brown and her romantic mystery, The Curse of Culcraig.

Buy Link: Amazon

Marie-Nicole: Welcome, Dawn. Let's get down to some of the the nitty gritty aspects of writing. How do you go about fashioning a heroine with whom readers will be able to identify?

Dawn: I have to like my heroine. Let’s face it, I’m going to be spending months—sometimes longer with rewrites and edits—in her head so she has to be someone that I like and admire. And in turn, I hope that readers will too.

Marie-Nicole: What makes a great hero and how do you write him to make the reader fall in love with him?

Dawn: I think a great hero will put everything on the line for the woman he loves. He doesn’t need to take over for the heroine, treating her as though she’s helpless, but he’s there to prop her up when she needs it. Also, angst. I can’t help it. I’m a sucker for an angsty hero.

Marie-Nicole: What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?

Dawn: In The Curse of Culcraig, Caid admires Hillary’s forthrightness and determination. She’s been through a lot, but she’s managed to pick herself up and tries to do the right thing. Caid hasn’t known many people like that in his life. He knows she is someone he can trust implicitly. And that trust is what makes Caid perfect for Hillary. He believes in her and will stand by her no matter what.

Marie-Nicole: What kind of research did you do for your most recent novel?

Dawn: Well, the book is set in Scotland, so I did some research on different towns to create my fictional village, Culcraig. Hillary is a history professor specializing in the European Witch-Hunts, and the witch-hunts in Scotland tied into the mystery element, so I did a lot of reading on the subject.

Dawn: Every story is different. For The Curse of Culcraig, it was the situation. I was intrigued by the idea of an entire town or village haunted by a past act of mob violence. Then it was a matter of finding the right characters to tell the story. My current work in progress, The Devil’s Eye, started with the idea of a woman afraid of water after someone tried to drown her as a child.

When I write, I don’t outline. Nothing will kill a story faster for me than trying to plot it out. Sometimes, as I’m writing, I’ll have ideas for other scenes, or things to add in earlier chapters, so I just jot what I can on a Post-It note that I keep next to my computer. It’s a very loose system, but it works for me.

Marie-Nicole: How do you balance your writing career with you daily life?

Dawn: Some days better than others. I try to work around my son’s school schedule, so that between the hours of nine and four I’m writing or working on things tied to writing, but sometimes daily life interferes. Conversely, writing will encroach on family time. It’s always a struggle for balance.

Marie-Nicole: Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

Dawn: Read a lot, write a lot and don’t give up. It sounds trite, but it’s the best way I can think of.

Marie-Nicole: What’s coming up in the way of future releases?

Dawn: Currently, my wonderful agent is searching for a home for my latest romantic suspense, Blood and Bone.

Marie-Nicole: What would you like to share with readers that I haven’t asked?

Not that I can think of. You’ve been very thorough. Thanks for having me.

And now for the blurb and an excerpt of this exciting story.

The Curse Of Culcraig
After a devastating personal tragedy, history professor Hillary Bennett seeks refuge in the quaint Scottish village of Culcraig, hoping to research a legend and salvage her career. Instead, she finds her hostess dead, and her hopes for the future pinned to the woman’s black sheep heir.

The last thing Caid Douglas needs is a decrepit manor house to remind him of his estranged family, but he does need the money selling the house would bring to pay off his debts. In desperation he offers to honor his great aunt’s arrangement with Hillary—if she pays him to stay at Glendon House and view his ancestor’s journals, he’ll have the money to fix up the family mausoleum and sell it.

But an ancient curse hovers over the village, and the secret to lifting it lies in the journals. Will Caid and Hillary realize what they have and uncover the truth before a twisted killer silences them forever?

Some of her great reviews:

"Mystery, intrigue, and spine-chilling suspense make The Curse of Culcraig one fabulous romantic thriller…Ms. Brown brings the folklore of Scotland to life and mixes it with modern-day murder, and the result is a transfixing read that’s impossible to put down…With a perfect blend of their pasts and presents, both Hillary and Caid are strong characters with a lot of depth. Throw in a well-developed plot that will often give you the shivers, and you have yourself a near-perfect read." Nights and Weekends Review

"Romance and suspense are a plus in my book. Add to that a hunky man with an accent and ta da, you have The Curse of Culcraig. Fast paced excitement, not to mention steamy and sexy as well. Great characters balance this out into one read you should try." 4 Cups from Coffee Time Romance

"I loved this excellent romantic suspense novel. It reminded me of an old-time Gothic horror story with the addition of some contemporary sex scenes. The plot was well developed and the mystery just the right mixture of intrigue and apprehension. … Both of these characters are so real with their own pasts haunting them that I couldn't help but feel for them. The balance between the past and the present was masterful. … I highly recommend this to anyone seeking some spine-chilling suspense." 5 Hearts from The Romance Studio

You can check out Dawn on the web at these sites.

Website

Blog

Facebook

Wow...What Have I Done?

2011-01-09T08:52:00.004-06:00

A couple of days ago I received a message from one of my former Shades of Suspense Blog pals asking me if I'd like to exchange interviews with other authors. Since I'm just beginning to get back in writing business mode, I said, "Sure!"

Well, it turns out there'll be seventeen of us, so for the next seventeen weeks, anyone who is still reading this blog will have some fresh meat--uh, information. That means I'll be interviewed by sixteen other authors and featured on their blogs as well. Whew!

First up this coming week on this blog, provided she sends me her interview soon, is Canadian author Dawn Brown.

My week 1 interview will be on Australian author Jess Anastasi's blog on Wednesday the 12th, so come on over and find out my deepest darkest secrets, provided I still have any.

BTW, the photo is from the Xmas snow, and more snow is expected tomorrow.

Marie-Nicole

Happy New Year

2010-12-31T11:55:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year, everyone. I've been busily re-organizing. I've bought office organizers, culled three boxes of clothes to donate to a local charity, ordered a new coffeemaker and compact microwave.

In other words, I'm settling into the one bedroom apartment lifestyle. Quite a change from living in a 3br/2bth home, which is two and a half times bigger than this apartment.

What are your New Year's Eve plans? Me--I plan to stay home and ring in the New Year with a little Diet Coke. Cassie the Wonder Sheltie will no doubt sleep through it since she likes to turn in around seven.

Unforfunately Alex MacGregor, the younger FBI agent in Holding Her Own, and Bette Smithson had a different experience on NYE in Pillow Talk. You can pick it up at either Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com. It's a short story and the precursor to my current WIP, Promises Unkept.

Whatever your plans, stay safe, and have a wonderful New Year.

Marie

http://marienicoleryan.com

Cover Update for Mistletoe and Mario

2010-12-13T17:52:00.005-06:00

Being something of a perfectionist, I couldn't help but toy with the cover for Mistletoe and Mario. As much as I liked the Christmas themed cover, it just wasn't sexy like that story...and that is a sexy and oh-so romantic story.

It's the first in a series of three short stories centered around the holidays. This one obviously is Christmas. The upcoming Pillow Talk is a New Year's Eve story, and I still have to write the Valentine's Day story. I think it's going to feature a couple, Marina and Rocky, secondary characters who shared the possibility of a future romance in The Man for the Job.

Monday again...My Writer's Day

2010-11-22T08:39:00.006-06:00

Okay, so it's not Monday anymore, but it was when I started to write this post. Life intervened. It was time to take out the dog, then it was time to meet my friend at the gym to walk. Then we had to go to Weight Watchers and then go to lunch (a 6-pointer at Applebee's).

Then I had to watch my soaps and find out who the three daddy's were on One Life to Live. Not that the results are likely to be accurate on two of the three.

By that time it was time to feed and walk the dog (again). Then I had to nuke a Lean Cuisine because I wasn't in the mood to cook.

Then time to walk the dog and settle down to watch Dancing With the Stars. I watched part of the new Skating With the Stars, but found too much explanation slowed down the action. The judges, except for the incomparable Dick Buttons, were trying to hard to emulate the judges on DWTS. When Hawaii FiveO came on, I switched over.

Where did writing fit in? The short answer is it didn't, and that's been the problem all year. First it was selling my house, then the house not selling that kept me from focusing on writing. Next, it was moving and unpacking.

Okay, already. I'm unpacked and my office is set up. But I have this TV addiction to overcome. I really really want to finish my WIP, and I just need to plant my butt in the chair and write...but I have to walk the dog first.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Marie

#Facebookfail

2010-11-16T11:35:00.001-06:00

For some reason, Facebook has seen fit to disable both my personal page and my fan page. Right now, I'm hating them a lot.

Marie-Nicole

Guest Author: Donna Alward

2010-11-15T07:00:00.006-06:00

Please welcome award-winning and multi-published author Donna Alward. Donna is my very first guest author, and I’m thrilled she’s here to tell us about her newest release, Breathe, from Samhain Publishing. (Love the cover!)

Thanks for having me!

First I want to post the info about your release, then on to the interview.

“Breathe” by Donna Alward
Read An Excerpt Online

Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 978-1-60928-239-4

Length: Category

Price: 4.50

Publication Date: November 2, 2010

Cover art by Kanaxa

Blurb:

The first time they broke each others’ hearts. Now they have a second chance…

Doing what was expected didn’t get Anna Morelli anything but a bad marriage. Now that her life has fallen apart there’s only one place she can think of to regroup and figure out what comes next. Two Willows, the winery owned by the only man she could ever rely on. Her oldest friend. And her worst mistake.

Growing up as the poor boy didn’t stop Jace Willow from falling for Anna one hot, sultry summer. Back then, his best efforts to prove himself worthy of the Morelli standard fell just short. While it killed him to see her marry someone else, he made beating the Morellis at their own game his life’s work. And he’s excelled at it.

When Anna shows up on his doorstep, their painful history pales in the face of her need for a roof over her children’s heads—and some peace. The heat of their renewed passion is healing, but it burns away layers of hard-won emotional distance, reopening old wounds. Threatening their one last chance to rebuild their love on the shattered pieces of their broken hearts…

Warning: Full-bodied, rich bouquet with sexy overtones. Decant, breathe, and enjoy.

First, who is your favorite heroine and how will the reader be able to identify with her?

I hope that readers can identify on some level with all my heroines! I think every woman wants to be loved, and valued, and I also think everyone has events in their pasts that have left scars that need healing. I don’t think it’s necessarily what a heroine does for a living or what her personal issue is that makes readers empathize and identify. I think it’s the universality of emotions that makes a heroine appealing!

Who is your favorite hero and why should the reader fall in love with him?

I always say that in Romance, a reader needs to identify with the heroine and fall in love with the hero, and so I write about men who float my boat and hope they do the same for my readers! Strong, manly men with a core of integrity, strong work ethic and honour with a healthy dose of compassion and a whole lotta sexy. That being said, I do have a few favourites. Noah from Her Lone Cowboy is one, and Mike from Marriage at Circle M is another. I’m also working on a new story this month and this is a secondary character who has been waiting for me to write his story. I have adored him ever since he made an appearance in an earlier book, so it wouldn’t surprise me if he passed the “fave” test as well.

What makes your current heroine perfect for your current hero?

In BREATHE, Anna has known Jace since they were kids. They fell in love back then, so she understands what drives him. She knows how to challenge him, too.

What kind of research did you do for your novel set in the wine country?

It wouldn’t be PC for me to say I drank a lot, would it! LOL Though I am a fan of red wine in particular. Actually the setting of the book is an area I know well – the Shuswap area of British Columbia. We camped there quite often when we lived in Alberta and visited the local wineries. The area research was vacation. The winery research came from visiting and talking to a lovely man named Gary, who owns Granite Creek Estate Winery. And of course I sampled some of their offerings and bought a few special bottles!

I see from your web site that you’re also published by Harlequin/Mills and Boon. How does writing for a major publisher like Harlequin differ from writing for a smaller, although wonderful, publisher like Samhain?

They are two very different experiences. Writing series Romance is not only about a reader expectation of the type of story you write but also the particular line’s promise to the reader as well, whereas I have a little more latitude with Samhain. The style of editing is totally different too. It’s actually quite nice, because both approaches teach me different things about my writing that I think make my writing better across the board. I have wonderful editors at both houses. One thing in common? The realization that this is definitely a global business. I live in Canada. One of my editors is in the UK and the other in Israel. I think that’s really cool.

Tell us how you fashion a story? Do the characters come to you first or does the situation/plot premise call you? Are you an obsessive outliner or more of a go-with-the-flow kind of writer?

Pantser all the way...and it’s characters first that come to me. I find the characters come with the situation attached, so I know the hook from the get go and I do spend some time getting to know my characters – what their issue is, who they are, what events have shaped them over their lives. But I don’t outline or anything. Every time I do, I make a terrible mess. I write a “discovery” draft first – because my characters show me all sorts of gems along the way, and once I get to the end, I can go back and layer and tweak and focus. I let the magic happen in the first draft and work on the symbolism, foreshadowing, tightening pacing, etc. after I have a complete picture of the book as a whole.

How do you balance your writing career with the daily life of being a wife and mother?

Really great some days and not very well on others! I’m fortunate I don’t also have to balance a day job in the mix. It depends on what’s going on and how tight my deadline is. Sometimes the biggest favour I can do myself is to step back from the work for a while and clear my mind, hanging out with the family. The key is to keep perspective, because sometimes if I work too hard, I get tunnel vision and miss things. A lot of the biggest revelations about story come when I’m away from the computer.

Any additional advice for those who are still unpublished?

Write write, write and write some more! I read in David Foster’s memoir that the road to success is straight. I really believe that. Don’t lose sight of the goal, and just go for it. Forward motion all the time. It’s not about selling ONE story, it’s about being able to sell many stories over a number of years. It can take a long time but slow and steady is actually a good thing. Look at everything as an opportunity. Sometimes even rejection is an opportunity – to let this story go and move on to something new and exciting.

What’s coming up in the way of future releases? And if you want to share any details about your current WIP, please do.

Right now BREATHE is out from Samhain Publishing and is available for download wherever e-books are sold. In December, I have a reprint of A Bride for Rocking H Ranch out in the UK in the anthology Christmas Wishes & Mistletoe Kisses. Then in February is the North American release of my Harlequin Romance, Proud Rancher, Precious Bundle. February sees the print release of my EPIC nominated Sold To The Highest Bidder from Samhain, and then I have two more Harlequin Romances due out in May and July. The past year or so has been pretty busy. LOL.

Whew! That list leaves me sort of breathless. And congratulations on that EPIC nomination.

You can catch up with me at my site: http://www.donnaalward.com/, where you’ll find links to my blog, Facebook page and twitter addy. I love hearing from readers!

Short Bio:

A busy wife and mother of three (2 daughters and the family dog), Donna Alward believes hers is the best job in the world: a combination of stay-at-home mom and romance novelist.

An avid reader since childhood, Donna always made up her own stories. She completed her Arts Degree in English Literature in 1994, but it wasn’t until 2001 that she penned her first full-length novel, and found herself hooked on writing romance. In 2006 she sold her first manuscript.

From her new home office in Nova Scotia, Donna loves being back on the East Coast of Canada after nearly 12 years in Alberta where her Harlequin career began, writing about cowboys and the west. Donna’s debut Romance, Hired by the Cowboy, was awarded the Booksellers Best Award in 2008 for Best Traditional Romance.

With the Atlantic Ocean only minutes from her doorstep, Donna has found a fresh take on life and promises even more great romances in the near future!

Thanks so much for the insightful answers. Breathe definitely sounds like a story I want to read. You can buy Breathe at Samhain or at many of the major online bookstores, like Amazon.com.

It's Been a While...

2010-11-06T08:53:00.006-05:00

Yes, I know all three of you who read my blog have probably forgotten about me. I'm still not in the writing groove, so the WIP languishes at the almost completed stage. Facebook has forgotten who I am, and Twitter is thinking of revoking my membership due to lack of use.

I have been busy, however, avoiding writing. LOL My best friend from high school and I have joined Weight Watchers. This is her first go-round with this esteemed organization, but not mine. I'm having an easier time than she is, but already her blood sugar is better she told me last night. Yay!

Cassie is settling in and has an adoring Grandma (my mom). Said canine must be walked now. No more just opening the back door and waiting for the darling to do her biz. Now she is walked about six times a day, and if she makes anything like a solid deposit, it must be scooped and bagged. The indignity of it all. Doesn't seem to bother at all her though.

The photo shows Cassie in her new digs. She continues to dismantle her toys, and you can see bits of them on the dark area rug...or maybe that's some of her luxurious undercoat.

Stay tuned. I have a guest author coming on November 15th, multi-published, award-winning author Donna Alward will be interviewed and tell you about her new Samhain Publishing release, BREATHE.

That's it for now. The canine wonder is restless, and I know what that means: time for another walk.

Quick Note

2010-10-20T18:38:00.003-05:00

Just checking in to say I've landed in Kentucky, and, with the able assistance of my sister, I'm unpacking. Today is a rest day, but tomorrow we'll do the rest. The move took all day and was a grueling affair, but everything went well.

Cassie the wonder sheltie is settling in, but I imagine she still wonders when we're going home.

Next week will be devoted to changing car tags, transferring insurance and getting a new driver's license.

I've already run into my best friend from nursing school, so life is good. Maybe by the end of the month I can get in writing mode.

Marie

Previously Published Works Now Available for Nook e-reader

2010-10-06T20:20:00.003-05:00

SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS

Barnes and Noble now has a platform for self-publishing. Hmm, wonder who thought of that first--maybe Amazon. At any rate two of my previously published books are now available for the Nook e-reader. It was a cinch to upload the books since they'd already been formatted for Amazon's digital text platform. Both books are available for $2.99 on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

THE MAN FOR THE JOB

Buy at Barnes & Noble

Buy at Amazon

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2010-10-03T09:21:00.010-05:00

You don't have to go very far to run into someone whose life or the life of someone they love has been affected by breast cancer. Contrary to popular opinion, breast cancer isn't limited to women. Yeah, fellows can get it too.

I have a couple of notable connections: One is Chiquita Culver Buchanan. We were friends through high school and nursing school, but several years ago, she lost her fight with breast cancer. I saw her once during a period of remission, and although years of living in different cities separated us, seeing her was as if no time at all had passed.

My half-sister Agnes is a survivor. If memory serves, her breast cancer was diagnosed in her late thirties or early forties. She is twelve years older than I am so she's at least thirty years out from her surgery, chemo and radiation. Her cancer was treated very aggressively. Ironically it was many years before her mother was diagnosed with the very same type of breast cancer. We have the same father, and his sister, my Aunt Ruby, also lost her fight with breast cancer. Maybe Agnes received a double whammy of cancer genes. Without genetic testing we won't ever know.

And this this year, my mammogram results weren't normal. I had to have an ultrasound. Even worse, I had to wait a week before I could have the ultrasound. By the time the week rolled around, I was in a state of anxiety and depression. No matter how often I tried to think positive, I had just as many thoughts of planning my memorial service. Fortunately, my ultrasound revealed a mere cyst, but the relief I felt was overwhelming. I wasn't going to die...at least not that day.

So I'll leave you with some links so that you can find more information about this killer.

http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/

http://www.komen.org/
http://www.nbcam.org/

http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/ ( This is the Click daily to provide a free mammogram site.)
http://www.bracnow.com/

This and That

2010-09-26T11:29:00.006-05:00

First of all a new pic of Cassie the Wonder Sheltie. Okay, I know it's not her best angle, but it shows just how at home she is. That's her sofa, as if you can't tell.

Okay, now that I've seen BLUE BLOODS--WOW! This is more than a police procedural. It's a family drama as well and the two arcs are definitely entwined and will offer the the characters even more conflict as the season progresses.

Worthy of note on the writing front: I'm back at work on my WIP. I've written consistently for the last six days and hope to continue. I think I've given up on selling my house this year. The contract extends until the middle of November. After that it's off the market until spring when hopefully the economy will have improved and money isn't so tight. At any rate, I have to get on with writing. I've had a lengthy hiatus, only writing a few hundred words at a pop, maybe once a week. Frankly that's no way to finish a book, much less build a writing career.

Many thanks to my new followers. I appreciate it.

New TV Season

2010-09-24T10:10:00.006-05:00

I guess it's time to weigh in on the new fall TV season. Okay, I know it's Friday morning and I haven't seen tonight's shows yet, but here goes anyway because I'm old and I might forget.

MONDAY

Dancing With the Stars--I really hadn't planned on watching this season, but they added Jennifer Grey to their lineup of celebs, so that made it a necessary on my list. I was just going to watch her dance, but fiends that the show's producers are, she danced next to last so I was forced to halfway watch. Actually I got some writing in during the early 2/3 of the show so it wasn't a total loss. Oh my goodness, was her spot an emotional roller coaster. I'll continue to watch and vote for her.

Castle--Okay, not another new show, but one of my faves because Nathan Fillion is so precious in his role of Rick Castle the mystery writer. I watched this one live on the bedroom TV because I was recording two shows on living room DVR.

Hawaii Five-O--I love Alex O-Laughlin and Scott Caan (Jimmy's boy) and their uneasy, confrontational partnership. This one made it to series auto-record on my VCR. Lots of excitement, car chases, and shoot 'em up action.

Chase--I'd like to see this show succeed. Kelly Giddish (ex-fake Dixie, AMC) is a powerhouse as this kick-ass US Marshal. She's in a tough time spot since she's opposite Castle and Hawaii Five-O. Enjoyed the show and will definitely hang in for a bit.

The Event--I suppose this is some network exec's idea of a Lost wannabe. There's a definite woo-woo aspect and I'm intrigued enough to watch another episode or two. However I hate all the flashback crap. As a romance writer I've had the urge to do flashbacks beaten out of me by a couple of editors, so I no longer care for it in my TV viewing.

TUESDAY

NCIS--One of my all time faves. Prefer NCIS reruns anytime to NCIS: LA which I don't watch.

Detroit 1-8-7-- Very gritty and I have to watch a few more eps since I'm liking it so far.

WEDNESDAY

Criminal Minds--Was at its creepy best thanks to Tim Curry's performance as last season's cliffhanger and this season's opener villain.

The Whole True--I wasn't going to watch this one, but I decided to record a single episode anyway. I'm glad I did because I'll be watching this one for sure. Granted the "reveal" was predictable, but the chemistry between the two leads, Rob Morrow and Maura Tierney was great and I liked them immediately.

The Defenders--As much as I like Jerry O'Donnell and Jim Belushi, I wasn't charmed by this show. I only have so much tolerance for lawyer shows, so this one will go by the wayside in favor of The Whole Truth.

Law & Order: LA--Didn't watch, so I might have to check it out next week.

THURSDAY

Bones--Love me some Bones. The team is back together and it's just great.

The Mentalist--I love Simon Baker and I'm addicted to the Red John arc which carries on from season to season. Does anyone but me think Kristina is actually Red John? I watched the last season's finale time after time. He (?) definitely sounded like a woman when he/she first spoke to Jane. Once that mystery is solved, the show will be over, so I don't expect to find out for sure unless Kristina's body turns up somewhere.

FRIDAY

Blue Bloods--Even though I haven't seen this one yet, I'm going to declare it a hit. Tom Selleck!!!! And according to his statement on Regis and Kelly this morning, he says Jesse Stone is ongoing as well. BE STILL MY HEART!!! Can you tell I'm a Selleck Fan? It's already on auto-record for the series.

Outlaw--This one started last week, so I've seen it. I love Jimmy Smits and I love his deeply flawed character. Whether I can stand to regularly watch two lawyer-based shows in a season remains to be seen. I'm more of a police procedural/forensics fan.

SATURDAY

Not much in the way of regular Saturday night programming, except for 48 Hours which I usually watch unless there's something farther afield on cable, like NCIS reruns on USA.

SUNDAY

Masterpiece Mystery (PBS) Other than watching Criminal Minds or NCIS reruns or HGTV, Masterpiece Myster is my touchstone on Sunday nights.

That's it. You'll notice I don't watch sit-coms. Hmm. Laughter is good for one's body I've been told, but the best dramas have some comic relief, eg. NCIS.

Marie-Nicole

For Sale

2010-09-14T07:17:00.004-05:00

Who wouldn't want this darling house? Apparently everyone doesn't want this darling, freshly painted house.

I was never meant to be a sales person, and this is a case in point.

I want to move to Kentucky so I can be closer to my aging mother. I've already paid a security deposit on an apartment in her building because the buyer's agent was certain an offer was imminent. But last night I received the call a seller never wants to receive.

The buyer has changed his mind--after viewing the house SIX times mind you. That's six times I had to bundle up the dog and make ourselves scarce for an hour or so. That's six times I had to rush around and get the place in "show" condition. And I won't even go into the money I spent on thehouse before I put it on the market.

Argh!

Now more decisions to be made.

Marie

All My Children--SAY IT AIN'T SO!

2010-09-09T07:06:00.006-05:00

Apparently Vincent Irizarry, the actor who plays dastardly and devilish Dr. David Hayward, on ALL MY CHILDREN, is in contract negotiations with the show and his character is currently dead lying on a slab in the morgue.

Anyone who's a regular soap opera watcher knows this isn't necessarily the end of Dr. Hayward. The character, in spite of being a cardiologist--don't get me started on his true specialty since they have him doing heart SURGERY that actually makes him a cardio-thoracic surgeon NOT a cardiologist. Cardiologists treat the heart medically and do minimal invasive interventions like heart caths and place stents--is also a master pharmacologist. I refuse to believe he's dead. He drugged a boat load of Pine Valleyians with a conconction called *snicker* libidozone, albeit accidentally, since he was aiming for one particular person. A waiter bumped his elbow and the entire drug went into the punch bowl instead of a particular glass. His "oh, well..." expression was priceless.

Currently he drugged Ryan right before he stumbled into the party and died. I have no doubt that he's taken one of his devious drugs and is in a sort of suspended animation until he shows up. He's not above planning this event and paying off morgue attendants and a medical examiner or two, like Asa Buchanan did several years ago on ONE LIFE TO LIVE. We saw him on a slab, too.

After all folks, this is a soap opera. The axion is if you don't find the body, the character isn't really dead and can always return--even years later with a different face if need be.

Irizarry is such a skillful actor that he plays a villain I can't quite hate. Most of what he does is out of love--that's his brand of obsessive and controlling love--natch. Did I mention he's rather ruthless? Still he's a treat to watch and I want him off that slab quickly. So ABC, pay the man what he's worth and get over it.

Before I end this, I have to mention Irizarry is a classically trained pianist and has an awesome singing voice. Sigh.

Okay, enough Irizarry fan girliness, but I have to say he was the prototype for my hero Jake in HOLDING HER OWN.

Marie-Nicole

Reviews--The Agony and The Ecstacy

2010-08-23T06:24:00.004-05:00

My new release, LOVE ME IF YOU CAN, is starting to garner some reviews. Some great and some not-so-great. As a friend reminded me with my first review, "A review is only one person's opinion."

So here we go: the good, the bad, and the frustrating.

5 Hearts--Natch this is the great one. I had a difficult time picking a short snippet for this one so I'll just include the link and you can read the awesomeness for yourself.

Reviewer: Theresa Joseph, The Romance Studio
http://www.theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/lovemeryan.htm

4 Hearts--A very nice review from someone who hadn't read me before.
"Love Me If You Can is a fast paced read that will keep your attention until the last page. It is the perfect book for both romance and mystery lovers."

Reviewer: Melissa, Melissa's Sizzling Hot Reviews

3 1/2 Stars
"Love Me If You Can is a quick paced race to catch a killer and maybe even a happily ever after that will keep your attention."

Reviewer: IvyD, Manic Readers

And while the last snippet is positive, the review ended with an enormous BUT. Gulp! Granted I have one of those already.

3 1/2 Tea Cups
"...a good, solid story with believable characters and a plot that keeps you on your toes..."

Reviewer: Denise, Happily Ever After Reviews

When it all comes down to it, one reviewer won't reread and another will. It just goes to show the old adage is true--you can't please everyone. Basically I appreciate all reviews because it means that reader/reviewer took the time to read my book, and time is a valuable commodity. I wish I could write a book that thrilled everyone who read it. That's still my goal.

In case you're one of the two or three people who read the Shades of Suspense blog, it's going, going and will be gone very soon.

Marie-Nicole
http://marienicoleryan.com

Giveaway at Author Island

2010-08-21T06:44:00.003-05:00

Today LOVE ME IF YOU CAN is the Book of the Day Giveaway at Author Island. Details are on the front page of the site.

Character Interview with Scott and Tess

2010-08-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

LOVE ME IF YOU CAN

Music City Heat Series (Maybe)

Nashville sizzles in the summer.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thankfully I conducted this interview the weekend before the spring flood here in Nashville because a week later this place was under water! (Before I forget, LOVE ME IF YOU CAN is for sale in print and electronic formats.)

I met P.I. Scott Holt at the Hard Rock Café just off First Avenue South. He runs a family-owned P.I. Agency located a couple blocks away. He’s my kind of guy if you must know: tall, dark and delicious. He strolls into the restaurant right on time. His puppy-dog eyes are deep brown, like dark chocolate, and his black hair is neatly trimmed. Take it from me, his boyish grin is guaran-damn-teed to melt any woman’s heart.

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day for this interview.

Scott: It’s my pleasure, Ms. Ryan.

His voice is a nice baritone rumble and gives me goose bumps.

Ms. Ryan sounds so stuffy. Please call me Marie.

Scott: Sure thing, Marie. By the way, Tess’ll be late. Nothing new about that. She’s got a crime scene thing going on.

Tess is a homicide detective with Metro.Nashville P.D. And Scott’s yummy southern accent is definitely sexy. Let’s just say he’s droppin’ his Gs.

I guess that’s par for the course. So how did the two of you meet?

Scott: At a local coffee shop. That woman has the worst caffeine addiction. Worse than mine. And that’s saying a lot.

He gives me a sheepish grin before he continues.

Scott: She was ahead of me in line and couldn’t make up her mind whether or not to have skim or whole.

He rolls his eyes and shrugs some very wide shoulders. Man, could I snuggle on those, but I digress.

Scott: So I was a jerk and tried to hurry her along. She threatened to arrest me for being a public nuisance. Instead I asked her out to dinner.

And that worked?

He shakes his head and sends me a rueful half grin.

Scott: Not at all. The woman blew past me like a police cruiser on a call.

I trust the situation between you two has improved since then?

Scott grins and his dark eyes glitter. Awe inspiring, folks, let me tell you! Tess is one lucky gal. My heart is certainly beating a little faster.

Scott: Definitely. We’ve just bought a condo in a downtown high rise. Tess’ condo was tiny. We’re moving this week. I say “we”, but I’ll be the one organizing the move. Tess’ll be called out—never fails.

I hear rapid footsteps, look up, and it’s none other than Detective Tess O’Malley. She’s a fiery redhead with amazing silver gray eyes. I can just imagine a suspect quailing before her intense gaze. Scott hops up and plants a kiss on her cheek. Her fair skin flushes and a besotted smile lights up her face. Can’t say as I blame her.

Tess: Sorry. I really tried to get away earlier, but—

She shrugs.

Not a problem. I'm so glad you can take time for the interview.

Tess: I appreciate your understanding. Scott already knows I’ll be late for a lot of dinners. His father was a cop before he became a P.I.

So there’s a family tradition of serving and protecting with both of you. Scott was just telling me you threatened to arrest him when you first met. Truth, or was he exaggerating?

Tess grins and casts a teasing glance at Scott. The connection between this couple is absolutely sizzling.

Tess: I might’ve badged him and thrown a threat or two his way. Of course, I thought he was very hot, but completely obnoxious all because I was a little slow with my coffee order… Jeez, Louise.

Not a very auspicious beginning I have to say.

.

Tess giggles and flutters her lashes. These two obviously are so into each other.

Tess: No it wasn’t. Our next meeting was fraught with even more tension. I interrogated him about a cold case and, for a while, I considered he might be a serial killer. Thankfully, I was able to clear him and get on with the case.

Right. Or this interview might be taking place somewhere else…like prison.

Scott: Or not at all.

Tess: Oh, definitely not happening in prison. I’m so not one of those women who marry serial killers behind bars.

Scott does his best to pull a hangdog expression, but his eyes twinkle with good humor.

Scott: Not even me?

Tess: Hell, no! She glances around quickly. Excuse me, I guess that was a little loud.

But somehow you worked out your differences because if I’m not mistaken I see a big old rock on the third finger of Tess’ left hand.

Scott’s eyes shine with love as he covers her slender fingers with his strong hand. Tess glows in response, and I’m beginning to feel like a very large fifth wheel.

Scott: That would be a yes. We’re already looking for a house or condo. Tess’ place is tiny. There’s one closet. There’s not enough room for my clothes.

The man is wearing Armani, so I’m guessing he takes his clothes as seriously as Tess does. But she’s already checking her watch—that tells me I need to hurry up and get to the good questions.

Before Tess gets called away to another crime scene, I’d better ask some quick questions. Favorite time of day to make love?

Tess: W-what?

Come on, hon. These are romance readers who want to know all about you. So share…

Scott winks and lets me know he’ll play, even if Tess won’t.

Scott: That would be anytime Tess is within my sight.

Tess rolls her eyes and shakes her head and flushes.

Favorite sexual position?

Tess: Spooning in the morning. That’s my favorite. She smiles with satisfaction of having beat Scott’s answer. But his eyes glow with mischief.

Scott: What about when I go down–?

Tess smacks the back of his hand.

Tess: Hold on there, bud. That’s on the order of TMI. I don’t care who’s reading this stuff. What are they—pervs?

No, my readers are just healthy women who love to read about romance and all that goes along with it.

Before we can get a waiter’s attention, Tess and Scott’s cell phones both chime. Actually hers plays a Dixie Chicks tune and Scott’s has a classical ring tone. I have an uneasy feeling they’re both about to skip out on me. They both leave the table to take their calls in private. Scott returns first.

Scott: Sorry, we have a solid lead on my youngest sister who’s been missing for years. I have to go.

I wave him away, and then Tess returns with a regretful expression.

Tess: Sorry, I have to meet my partner at a crime scene. And just when this interview was getting interesting.

Uh-huh. You can’t fool me.

Tess giggle, turns to leave, then stops.

Tess: Maybe you should join the MNPD. You’re pretty good at reading people.

I shake my head. No way. I’d rather write them. Thanks again. I think my readers will have fun reading about your adventures with Scott.

~~~~~~~~~~

That's it for the aborted interview with Scott Holt and Tess O'Malley, but you can read about their adventures in LOVE ME IF YOU CAN...if you buy the book.

Buy Links:

http://marienicoleryan.com/

GRAND PRIZE WINNER--ArmeniaF

2010-08-06T14:00:00.000-05:00

The Grand Prize Winner of a signed copy of LOVE ME IF YOU CAN is: ArmeniaF.

Congratulations, Armenia!

Marie-Nicole

Believe in the dream... Beware the danger.

http://marienicoleryan.com/

Week 10 Winner--CaityM

2010-08-06T12:23:00.002-05:00

CaityM is the week 10 winner in my August release Contest.

I'll be back later today to announce the Grand Prize Winner of a signed copy of my new release, LOVE ME IF YOU CAN.

Marie-Nicole
Believe in the dream... Beware the danger.
http://marienicoleryan.com

Week 9--August Release Contest Winner

2010-07-30T08:51:00.003-05:00

KristineG is the week nine winner. Congratulations, Kris. She has chosen TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

Folks, you have one more week to enter my contest. On August 6th I'll draw a weekly winner, then from those ten weekly winners, Random.org will pick the winner of my new release, LOVE ME IF YOU CAN.

Details on how to enter: http://marienicoleryan.com/contests.htm

Marie-Nicole

Week 8 Winner in August Release Contest

2010-07-23T10:54:00.004-05:00

Okay, Kissinoak, you've won one of my print Samhain backlist. You have seven days to claim your prize, TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.

Marie-Nicole
http://marienicoleryan.com/mybooks.htm

Available for order--LOVE ME IF YOU CAN

2010-07-19T07:05:00.004-05:00

Early Bird Special!

I'm so excited. LOVE ME IF YOU CAN, in paperback, is now available for ordering at The Wild Rose Press. This book fought a long hard road through multiple revisions and rewrites. I hope you'll love the result.

e-book will still be released on 8/6/10.

LOVE ME IF YOU CAN
Romantic Suspense
ISBN: 9781601547767
Spicy--356 pages

Summertime in Nashville gets pretty steamy. No wonder Tess and Scott combust.

Nashville Homicide Detective Tess O’Malley has a lot to prove. She comes from a long line of police officers, including her father and older brothers. First, she and her partner are taken off a high-profile case and sidelined with a cold case instead. After reviewing the files, she’s certain her cold case is connected to the current one, and she sets out to prove it. Too bad it means locking horns with a handsome PI who could win her heart and derail her career.

Scott Holt is all business when it comes to running his family’s PI firm. When the lovely Detective O’Malley comes to question him about his possible involvement in her cold case, he has everything but business on his mind. Like locking lips with the fiery redhead.

(Pages 356) Spicy

Excerpt:

Tess took another bite of pizza, her silver gaze never leaving his. “You going to help me out or not? Forbes is your client, after all.” Her voice rose and, again, heads turned in their direction.

“Calm down. I’d like to live long enough to walk you home…and maybe get a goodnight kiss.”

Taking a deep breath, she leaned back and signaled everything was cool. “You want to walk me home and kiss me goodnight? How sweet.” Her soft tone mocked him, but he didn’t care.

“Like we’re high school sweethearts.” She wrinkled her nose, but her eyes shone with moderate good humor.

“Would you rather I said what I was really thinking?”

Her lashes fluttered briefly, then she eyeballed him directly. “Maybe. Depends on what you were really thinking.”

He lowered his tone a notch. “About pressing you up against the wall and having my way with you.”

For a second, her gray eyes flashed silver. Damn. He was a goner—as in, he’d gone too far. Said too much. Too soon.

She leaned forward. “I’ll have you know I don’t engage in up-against-the-wall, wild animal sex on the first date, not that this is even a date.” Her tone was matter-of-fact, but her cheeks flushed a pretty pink. Maybe he could still pull his nuts out of the fire before they went up in smoke.

“A guy can always hope,” he said, without a chance in the world she wouldn’t kick him to the curb. Or have one of her fellow officers do the honors.

“A guy can hold his breath…until he turns purple.”

I can see I’ve put my foot in it. I’m sorry… But damn, the sight of your mouth. Your skin. Your eyes. Dammit. You’re driving me up a wall.”

“Another reference to the wall? Would that be the same wall?”

“Bad choice of words.”

---------------------

Week 7 Winner!

2010-07-16T15:11:00.004-05:00

This week's winner of a signed copy of TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE is LouiseL. I sure hope she enjoys her romantic suspense on the hot side because Mac and Rilla are two of my hottest characters.

The sheriff has the hots for her prime suspect. What’s a girl to do?

Sheriff Rilla Devane has sworn to serve and protect, just as her father did before he was murdered. An influx of party drugs has killed two teenagers, but she has a suspect: handsome, rich newcomer Mackenzie Callahan, a published author seeking small-town atmosphere.

To build her case, she moves closer to Mackenzie and his dangerous brand of seductive charm. She’ll risk everything for her investigation, even when it means letting her guard down and falling for her suspect.

Mac Callahan lives and breathes for undercover work. But his last mission ended in near disaster, and he has one last chance to prove his value to the DEA. Taking sexy Sheriff Rilla to bed might ruin his career—or lead him to the love of his life.

Warning: this title contains the following: explicit sex, very graphic language, and a modicum of violence.

There are three more weeks in the contest, three more winners who will be entered into the final giveaway contest. One of the weekly winners will win a print copy of my newest release, LOVE ME IF YOU CAN.

It's not too late to enter and possibly win. Deets here.

Marie-Nicole

Week 6 Winner

2010-07-10T07:09:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to ArmeniaF, the week 6 winner of my August Release Contest. She has chosen Holding Her Own as her prize.

Week 5 Winner!

2010-07-04T20:15:00.002-05:00

My week 5 winner is TerraM. Addendum: For Terra's win, she chose SEDUCING THE SHERIFF.

Week 4 winner Mary P chose ONE TOO MANY for her prize. Still waiting to hear from Week 3 winner.

Week 3 & 4 Winners

2010-06-25T11:52:00.003-05:00

Week 3 winner--ElizabethK--still waiting to hear back from her.

Week 4 winner--MaryP--just notified her this morning, so still waiting to hear from her as well.

Back to the batcave.

Marie

Teaser for LOVE ME IF YOU CAN

2010-06-19T07:40:00.005-05:00

Found a typo, so naturally had to tweak and re-upload.

Upcoming Blog Tour

2010-06-17T06:22:00.005-05:00

Here are the upcoming blog tour dates for my August 6th release, LOVE ME IF YOU CAN:

July 23: Cynthia Eden's "Deadly Days of Summer"

August 6: Melissa Schroeder's "Summer of Love"

August 9: Candice Gilmer "Romantic Comedy Trivia Contest"

I realize that's a small list, but coming up with fresh material is getting more and more difficult. I just saw another small press author's list for her upcoming release and it contains something like twenty to twenty-five back-to-back blog appearances. Most blog authors want fresh material, not just buy info and a blurb/excerpt.

What this all boils down to: is anyone but me finding it more and more difficult to blog? With the advent of Twitter, Face Book and a myriad other social networking sites, authors are expected to engage and be engaging. The latter is more difficult than you might imagine.

Be sure to come back tomorrow because I'll be announcing the week three winner in my August release contest.

Marie-Nicole
http://marienicoleryan.com/

August Release Contest--Week 2 Winner

2010-06-11T19:33:00.004-05:00

My week 2 winner is Catslady5, and she's chosen LOVE ON THE RUN, my first published book. It originally was released in 2002 and then re-edited and re-released in print in 2008.

Congratulations!

Week 1 Winner--Leni K

2010-06-04T07:21:00.004-05:00

The first winner of a signed copy in my August Release--Win a Book a Week Contest is Leni K. She was chosen using the Random.org site.

For her free book, Leni chose LOVE ON THE RUN. I hope she enjoys David and Randi's love story.

Win a Book a Week June 4 thru August 6th.

2010-05-21T17:46:00.002-05:00

Starting June 4, a Friday, I'm giving away an autographed print book a week to celebrate my August 6th release of LOVE ME IF YOU CAN. The contest ends on August 6th when one of the weekly winners will win a signed copy of the new release.

All you have to do to enter is e-mail me at marienicoleryan AT yahoo DOT com with "August contest" in the subject line. You can enter now. All entries will remain in the pot until the grand prize winner is chosen.

Details on my web site: http://marienicoleryan.com/contests.htm

Marie-Nicole

Soap Opera Gold on General Hospital of All Places

2010-05-19T07:06:00.004-05:00

The dialogue and acting-- No, can't call it acting because the scene on Tuesday's episode of General Hospital between Dahlia Salem's Claire Walsh and Jonathan Jackson's Lucky Spencer was so natural and sparkling, it would be an understatement to call it acting.

What a revelation and what a reason to make me stop multi-tasking and actually watch the entire scene AND go back and watch it twice more. Was this a test for chemistry between these two stellar actors? I think so. If so, there was chemistry galore. Whether this is romantic chemistry remains to be seen.

In this scene which was mainly a nattering, but immensely revealing, monologue by Ms. Salem, Jackson's subtle and nuanced reactions were priceless. Finally I get it--the lionization of this particular actor's portrayal of Lucky Spencer. I remember him as a kid, then watched a series of actors play the part. Never cared for Jacob Young's shouting portrayal (although he's a superb J.R. Chandler). I was very fond of Greg Vaughan's portrayal and felt betrayed when he was fired and Jackson brought back to play the role he created.

Jackson is still young, late twenties, but unfortunately could still pass for a teen. He's chosen to wear a scruffy beard to appear older and more mature which helps.

I want to see more interaction between these two characters because their actors bring a tremendous and dynamic presence to the screen.

Please, please, TPTB, do NOT give her character to Maurice Benard's Sonny Corinthos as a love interest. Enough already. Either bring back Vanessa Marcil's character, Brenda, or forget it. The writers jumped the shark for me when they had Sonny shoot undercover cop Dominic point blank. That destroyed any possibility that I will ever care about his character again. The fact that Dominic turned out to be his son Dante and Sonny's really sorry is a who-gives-a-f#)* plot point. You went too far and destroyed the character's appeal. I'd never seen Sonny kill someone before, other than self-defense, and to have him willfully shoot a police dectective because he'd been betrayed by the undercover cop was too much.

Rant over. Don't get me wrong. I've been a Maurice Benard fan since he was Niko Kelly on All My Children and will continue to be one.

Back to Dahlia Salem, her character Claire Walsh has to potential to be a great female presence on General Hospital. Her interactions with Nancy G. Grahn's Alexis Davis and Carolyn Hennesey's Diane Miller help to off-set the ever-present mob influence. It was especially to hear Claire's respect for Diane as a litigator.

From now on, I'll be paying more attention to Ms. Salem's scenes and particularly those involving three time daytime Emmy winner Jonathan Jackson.

Marie-Nicole
Believe in the dream... Beware the danger.
http://marienicoleryan.com

Spring Showers Promo at Coffee Time Romance

2010-05-15T14:04:00.002-05:00

Head on over to Coffee Time Romance or click on the banner above. Seventy-five excerpts and prizes by some of your favorite authors, including me. My excerpt will debut starting tomorrow May 16th. For the life of me I can't remember what my prize is. I guess I'm having a senior moment.

Marie-Nicole

http://marienicoleryan.com

Blog-inertia

2010-04-25T19:45:00.007-05:00

I know it's been ten days since I posted something here, but I find as time goes on I have less and less to say. Maybe it's because the decluttering, renovating and staging my house and getting it on the market have consumed the last six to seven months, and writing has taken a backseat. I'm trying to get back in the writer's seat, but it's slow going. Writing is a muscle and I haven't exercised it recently. The muscle will strengthen if I keep it up.

Honestly I have to do something besides run around like a crazed version of Martha Stewart and wait, wait, wait until the house sells and I can head up I-24 to Kentucky.

And maybe it's because I spend more time on Facebook. I find I can keep up with my son and my relatives, not to mention fans, better when I'm on FB. Social networking becomes addictive. The more opportunities or social networking site I join the less time I have to write or spend on any of them--meaning I participate less and less on some of the older ones.

I don't know the answer, and the longer lull between books leaves me less inclined to participate as well.

Until the next time I remember I have a blog...

Marie-Nicole

http://marienicoleryan.com/

Facebook Fan Page

2010-04-14T11:52:00.005-05:00

Confession time: I've finally succumbed to creating a Facebook Fan Page for my authorly self. Here's the link:

I'm all the way up to sixty-two fans and I find it difficult to believe I have that many. LOL. Facebook is a much quicker way to interact with fans and since few seldom comment on blog posts, maybe FB will be an easier way to comment without going to the trouble of signing into Blogger.

LOVE ME IF YOU CAN, Coming August 6
Blurb:

Summertime in Nashville gets pretty steamy. No wonder Tess and Scott combust.

Nashville Homicide Detective Tess O’Malley has a lot to prove. She comes from a long line of police officers, including her father and older brothers. First she and her partner are taken off a high profile case and sidelined with a cold case instead. After reviewing the files, she’s certain her cold case is connected to the current one, and she sets out to prove it. Too bad it means locking horns with a handsome PI who could win her heart and derail her career.

Scott Holt is all business when it comes to running his family’s PI firm. When the lovely Detective O’Malley comes to question him about his possible involvement in her cold case, he has everything but business on his mind. Like locking lips with the fiery redhead.

Read an excerpt here.

Free Reads Bash at CataRomance

2010-04-14T08:26:00.004-05:00

Due to real life being so hectic, I forgot to post about this great event over at CataRomance. It's running every single day of April with a new free read every day. Here's the link to PILLOW TALK.

Marie-Nicole

LASR Easter Egg Hunt 3/29-4/3

2010-03-30T09:06:00.003-05:00

For some reason Blogger didn't love me yesterday. I couldn't post photographs or banners or anything and most of the photos on the blog were a simple red X.

Fortunately that's not longer the case today, so I can tell you about The Long and Short of it Reviews Easter Egg Hunt. There are prizes galore, and I'm offering a $15.00 Amazon GC as my prize. Click on the banner above for all the details on how to enter and go on the Easter egg scavenger hunt.

Marie-Nicole

Selling--Whether it's a Book or a House

2010-03-22T11:23:00.000-05:00

This was taken a couple of days ago. The butterfly bushes are fairly bare and won't bloom until summer. The irises were planted in the fall of 2008 and they didn't bloom in 2009, although there was some foliage. I'm hopeful they'll bloom this year. The new pansies planted on Friday morning have survived until Monday morning, thus far. Keeping my fingers crossed they live long enough for someone to see my house and sign a contract.

There's a lot to be said for comparing selling a house and selling a book. Now that the inside changes are complete on my house, the outside required some attention as well. Mulch, removing and moving some plants, and then planting annuals for curb appeal.

Every book is begun with a lot of hope that it will grow and bloom into a full-fledged novel which everyone will want to read. But first you have to make it pretty on the outside to tempt someone to pick it up and read the back cover copy. Curb appeal will encourage a prospective buyer to park their car and actually walk into the house. A great cover is the best curb appeal for a book.

I knew I wanted this house the moment I walked through the front door. Fortunately with my design background I could ignore the dysfunctional furniture arrangement and the dark dining room. I could envision what I would do with the house to make it mine. I was still young enough and physically healthy so the painting needed didn't bother me at all.

Every book starts with a vision, and while the vision may evolve during the writing process, so has my vision for the house. I'm no longer writing strictly for myself as I was when I moved in here, and now that all the updating is done, it's no longer for myself, it's for the next person who walks through the door, takes a deep breath and thinks, Home.

What readers and home buyers expect has changed. With the proliferation of shows on HGTV and other home improvement channels, buyers expect a home to be STAGED, in addition to being like new if not actually new. Readers, too, have grown more discerning and expect more from books which have grown more and more expensive over the years.

While flowered wallpaper is definitely out, a good story still has to grab the reader and pull them into the world of our heroes and heroines and keep them reading until the HEA.

Marie, who's keeping her fingers crossed while she tries to sell her house and finish her current WIP.

New Erotic Release for Cherie Denis

2010-03-12T11:04:00.007-06:00

Here's my friend Cherie Denis' new erotic romance release.

CINNAMON

By: Cherie Denis

Other books by Cherie Denis

Categories: Erotic Romance, Contemporary

Word Count: 18,514

Heat Level: SIZZLING

Published By: Siren-Bookstrand, Inc.

Link to Buy: http://bookstrand.com/cinnamon

[Siren Classic: Contemporary Role-Playing Romance]

Cynthia and Tony Crenshaw enjoy adding a little spice to their sex life. An empty Montana train station and a hot summer night hardly seem likely to feature in a sexual fantasy, but it does.
After a visit with her elderly grandmother, Cynthia is taking the train to meet Tony when a rock slide leaves her stranded in the station. She is shocked when her gorgeous husband enters and introduces himself as Rod Hardfelt. A delighted Cynthia quickly falls into Tony's fantasy and becomes Cinnamon.

After the stationmaster leaves for the night, it isn't long before Rod has Cinnamon nude and begging for satisfaction. They spend the night steaming up the station in pursuit of sexual perfection.

Morning finds Cinnamon alone, but achingly happy. Eventually the train arrives and Tony is waiting in the sleeper car wearing his Stetson and a smile.

A Siren Erotic Romance

Cinnamon
Available in: Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Reader, HTML, Mobipocket, EPUBPrice: $2.99

Reader Appreciation Week & Read an e-Book Week

2010-03-08T13:12:00.005-06:00

Samhain Publishing is having a great week of prizes and fun. It's Reader Appreciation Week and Read an e-Book Week. It's taking place all this week at the Samhain Cafe. All you have to do the fun is click on the icon below. I'll be there on the 10th, sharing excerpts and having a contest of my own at 7:30 PM EST.

In addition Samhain is giving away lots and lots of prizes. What do you have to do, you ask. Just come on in and chat with everyone. The cafe moderators will be awarding prizes to random posters.Take a look a the great prize list below.

Samhain will be giving away 7 ebooks every day, from Sunday, March 7 to Saturday March, 13!! All chatting for the prior 24 hours are included in the ebook contests.

They will be giving away 4 SP swag-filled surprise boxes at random during the week!!

And last but definitely not least they will be giving away a grand prize of a KINDLE READER!!!

Adopt-a-Pet Blog

2010-02-23T19:19:00.004-06:00

You could say my Cassie is a special needs--okay, maybe that's stretching it a little. She's on a restricted diet due to the fact that this 13 inch Sheltie weighed 27 pounds the first of January in 2009. By monitoring her food intake with a special low calorie dog food, the Middle TN Sheltie Rescue organization had her weight down to 20.2 pounds when I adopted her the middle of April 2009. Since then she's lost another 3 pounds and almost at her ideal weight of 16 pounds.

There's a wide range of dogs with special needs who need someone to adopt and love them.

Check out the Adopt-a-Pet blog for more information about animals with special needs.

http://blog.adoptapet.com/special-needs-animals-being-given-a-second-chance/

Marie

Tribute to British Mystery Writer, Dick Francis

2010-02-15T07:32:00.005-06:00

I spent many hours reading books by Dick Francis, who recently passed away at his home in Grand Cayman. He was a National Hunt jockey before he started writing the stories which made him even more famous.

He had an absolute gift for sucking me into his story from the first page coupled with a gift for creating likable characters also within the first page or two. What always amazed me was the amount of physical torture he put his protagonists through in the process of achieving justice.

Two of my favorite heroes Sid Halley and Christmas (Kit) Fielding. Those were two that he wrote about more than once. While getting involved in my own writing career I discovered I had less time to read mysteries, which remain my favorite genre, so I've not kept up with his books over the last five to ten years, but I'm relieved to learn one of his son's will carry on the tradition.

My condolences to his sons and their families.

Marie

Snow and Dogs

2010-02-12T15:23:00.001-06:00

If you look closely (left hand lower corner), you'll be able to see the white pit bull who lives next door. He and Cassie love to race up and down the fence.
What is dis white stuff? My feetz are getting wetz.

Cassie walks on top of the snow (ice). If she ran too fast, she slid, but didn't seem to mind. She's walking on about five inches of snow and a half inch layer of ice on top.

I know it doesn't compare with the snow dumped on the east coast, but it was plenty for Nashville. I don't think I left the house for four or five days.

Besides the Snopocalypse wherein everyone descends on the grocery store for milk, eggs and bread, there's a phenomenon called "snow eating." No, I'm not talking about snow cream, which I haven't had since I was a kid, I'm talking about the tendency to hunker down and eat our favorite comfort foods when it's icy and we're snowed in.

As you can probably tell, I don't have a lot to say today. I'm too busy packing and cleaning out closets. Carpet measuring fellow for Home Depot will be here later.

Marie
Believe in the dream... Beware the danger.

Major Stories in ABC Soaps

2010-02-06T12:20:00.004-06:00

I haven't posted much lately about my ABC soap viewing habit, but things are really cooking on all three shows this month. Of course, it's February Sweeps, so it's expected.

Here's what I'm enjoying and what I'm not:
ALL MY CHILDREN
Thumbs up for the David/Greenlee pairing. Whether or not they marry as the spoilers indicate they "might", they work well together and it's wonderful to see my fave soap actor, Vincent Irizarry smile. His character, David Hayward, spends most of his time being dastardly and devious, basically screwing up the lives of the other Pine Valley inhabitants so he doesn't have many reasons to smile, even when one of his schemes comes to fruition. But yesterday he and Greenlee were having fun. Of course she's wacked out and bent on revenge, but who cares. Working with a superb actor is really upping Rebecaa Budig's game.

Thumbs down for the Ryan/Erica pairing. It's gone on way too long, and I'm so glad that Jackson's coming back to give Ms. Kane a reality check.

ONE LIFE TO LIVE
Thumbs up that everyone is learning Rex isn't the father of Slut Stacy's baby. Also thumbs up for Kim and Clint. He's so onto her game, but he's enjoying it so I say, go for it, Cowboy! Kim has a lot more staying power than Stacy so it's good she has another story line because I understand Stacy's character is leaving soon. Thanks be to the powers that be.

Thumbs down for the omnipotent, omniscent Mitch story. OMG, there are so many things wrong that I can't number them all. Although kudos for Bree Williamson's blank wall portrayal post electroshock therapy. If that character has any brain cells left after being scrambled by a nonprofessional application of EST, I'll be surprised. And this story arc is another example of an over-the-top villain without a grain of humanity. Hey, writers, the best villains retain something to which a normal human can relate.

GENERAL HOSPITAL
Thumbs up: The Sonny finds out Dominic/Dante is an undercover cop AND his son is great stuff. However, IMHO, I feel Sonny's shooting Dominic is out of character. Maybe he had a bipolar surge or something. BUT the acting was flawless between both characters. Awesome even. Could not take my eyes away. More great stuff to come, too.
Also liking the Jason/Sam getting back together, in spite of all the crap she pulled a couple years ago. She's the only broad who can deal with his life. Not the whiney Elizabeth--please no more of her for Jason.
Also liking how Sonny's kids are reacting to discovering just how ruthless he is.

Thumbs down: Nikolas and Elizabeth getting hot and sweaty *shakes head*. Miss Goody Two Shoes Elizabeth is the mother of two kids, neither by her DH. Now she's about to find out she's preggers again and doesn't know who the papa is AGAIN. All I can say is if she worked a typical nurse's twelve hour shift, she wouldn't have time or energery for all that screwing around. This from a former nurse, who worked eight hour shifts which didn't leave a lot of time or energy for that particular activity either.

Now back to the writer cave.

Marie-Nicole

Pointing to Adopt-A-Pet Blog

2010-02-04T13:00:00.006-06:00

Instead of blathering on about myself and my books today, here's a link to a great blog at Adopt-A-Pet: 10 Reasons Pets Are Good For Kids.

http://blog.adoptapet.com/10-reasons-pets-are-good-for-kids/

Just in case you're wondering who the beautiful Sheltie is, it's my adopted pet, Cassie. As you can see she makes herself at home and loves to pose for the camera. She came from the Middle TN Sheltie Rescue organization.

Back to work on my WIP.
Marie-Nicole

Writing Cross Genres

2010-01-30T06:11:00.000-06:00

The first book I set out to write (not counting the historical novel I started back in the late 70s) was more of a mainstream women's fiction/paranormal/romantic suspense novel. For the eighteen months, I struggled to write it, the title was simply THE MASQUE. An antique French mask plays a significant part of the story and connects the hero and heroine through all their lives--both past and present. And since this story contains several stories within the major framework of this story, there is a historical element as well.

I don't recommend crossing at least four-five genres in your first book, but this was the book of my heart, a story that cried to be written, and I'm not sorry I made the attempt. It was the story I wrote before I knew all those "rules" that everyone in the romance community comments about.

All I knew was I wanted to tell a story of two lovers who'd shared past lives as well as a current one, and how events in past lives affected the present. I have to give credit to Anya Seton whose novel, Green Darkness, influenced my choice. I loved that book so much. While it seemed the majority of her wonderful book focused on the past lives of her characters, the majority of my story concentrates on the contemporary world of today with glimpses of their past lives from their dreams.

When I told a friend of mine, a multi-published author, the story I had in mind, she said it was a "very ambitious project." Now that I'm looking back at the effort it took to bring that story to life, I realize that was writer-speak for maybe "you might've bitten off more than you can chew."

Truly it was an awesome undertaking and such a thrill when eighteen months later I had a 142k first draft. After setting it aside for two weeks, I went back in for revisions and eventually I cut 14k from the total, bringing in the "baby" at a mere 128k words.

Sometime during the gestional process,I joined RWA and the local RWA chapter MCRW. After I completed the revisions, I started sending query letter to agents and publishers--such a fruitless task but such a necessary part of the process of getting published. In the meantime, I started my second novel, determined not to write such a long one. My next was a romantic suspense and it was around 72k words and only took five months for the first draft.

See You in My Dreams was published in 2003 by a small press, Wings ePress. A requested partial languished with Pocket for three years. Not being a patient person in a profession which requires above everything (including talent) is patience, I started looking elsewhere. I'd already published my second novel, Love on the Run, with Wings ePress, so I chose them again when I finally gave up hope that See You in My Dreams would find the right agent or publisher.

I've had the rights returned to me for this book, and I'm excited to say it is available at Amazon in e-book (Kindle) format right now. It remains the book of my heart and is often the one people tell me is their favorite.

Another wrinkle is the book takes place over a ten year time period. The heroine is only sixteen when she meets the hero, who unfortunately in this life is eleven years older. She has to grow up before their hearts' desires can be realized. Even then it's not so easy for these two to connect.

Blurb:

Don't believe in reincarnation? Neither did Max nor Nikki until the dreams began.

A chance meeting thrusts Maxim Devereaux, head of an international modeling agency, and runaway Nikki Prentice into a tormented relationship as Maxim transforms Nikki into a super model.

Plagued by obstacles in their tragic past lives, they have one more chance together. But danger lurks when a stalker decides Nikki is the woman of his dreams.

EXCERPT:

Nikki stretched on tiptoe to remove the new mask from its place in the rustic oak display case. She ran her fingers over the curves of the mask, smiling despite her funky mood. The mask was in wonderful condition for something over two-hundred-years-old. The white-leather face had turned to a creamy ivory, and gold trim was still visible in places around the eyes. Remnants of pale, blue ostrich feathers trailed down the sides. An ivory wand was still attached on the right side of the mask.

She held it by the wand and peered into a nearby mirror. As she placed the mask over her face, she was overcome by waves of vertigo.

***

The landscape was strange…yet familiar. Something about it said home. Tall rows of poplars lined the lane on both sides. Sounds of cannon fire thundered in the distance, but the vibrations were felt by all those who rushed to flee Paris. The Nazis had taken Paris, the City of Light. Unthinkable! Now, brazen Nazis strolled down her wide boulevards. Nicole and her fiancé fled Paris with little more than the clothes on their backs and the antique mask he’d given her on her last birthday.

If Maxime’s ancient Citroen didn’t fall apart before they reached Dijon, they would join their waiting families. Once she was safe in the bosom of her family, she feared he would slip into one of the surrounding forests and join the resistance movement. While he had yet to tell her of his plan, she knew him well enough to know he would never sit idly by while the Germans occupied their homeland.

“Are the guns closer? How long will it take us to reach Dijon? Do you think we will really be safe there?” From the squaring of his shoulders and the faraway look in his eyes, she knew her questions disturbed him. “What are you keeping from me? What’s wrong?” she demanded, forcing the issue.

He sighed. “Ma petite, you will be safe, but I am going to join the Maquis. I must,” he said softly. Removing a hand from the steering wheel, he reached over and caressed her cheek. For a moment, he turned toward her, his green eyes, looking at her with a familiar hunger…and with an unspoken plea for her understanding.

There. He’d finally admitted it. “I knew it.” Still, she must change his mind. “Please don’t. I can’t live without you. Stay with me.” Her eyes filled with tears as she gazed into his darkening green ones.

“I have to go. My country needs me.”

“I will go with you. I will join the Maquis too,” she declared, raising her chin in defiance.

“You will not do any such thing,” he replied, shaking his head, his tone firm. He watched the road, but cast darting glances toward her. “I will be nearby, but it will be too dangerous for me to see you.”

“But, Maxime, I will miss you so much. I will miss your…” she faltered. His announcement had ripped apart her heart. “We must make the most of every moment until we are separated,” she said, a renewed determination in her voice, “N’est-ce pas?” She reached for his thigh and stroked.

“You are crazy, my little one. We’re running from the Nazis, and you talk of making love. I am not made of steel. Hush. This is not the time.”

“Wh-what if there isn’t another time?” She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes, then slipped her hand higher along his strong thigh. “I need you, my love. I need to feel your touch and your lips.” she whispered. “Je t’aime.”

“Any other time, we would stop, right now.” He looked at her, as if pleading for her understanding. “If Paris had not been invaded, we would have already been married. Our families are waiting for us.” He groaned. “Why torture me this way?”

“I love you. I need you.” She inched her hand further up his thigh, stopping short of the growing bulge in his trousers.

Maxime bit his lip. “Mmm,” the moan escaped anyway.

She giggled. “Désolé.

Carefully he took her mischievous hand and replaced it in her lap. “Behave.”

“Maxime.”

He sputtered, “St-stop this silliness. Right now.”

She saluted. “Oui, mon capitain.”

“This is war,” he muttered through gritted teeth, keeping his eyes focused on the road ahead of them.

“I am certainly aware of that,” she muttered, in a peevish frame of mind. Now he had spoiled her playful mood. She folded her arms across her chest and looked out her side window.

His words proved prophetic. Fifty feet away, a shell exploded, raining clods of earth on the window shield.

“M-Max.” She screamed and hid her eyes. “Let’s get out of here. Please.”

“Merde,” he swore. “I am driving as fast as I can. I cannot run over people.”

“I-I’m sorry.” She began crying. “I just want to go home.”

“I know, my love. I know.”

--------
You can read more about Max and Nikki at my web page.

Pets2Vets Adoption Program

2010-01-26T10:20:00.003-06:00

More good news in the pet adoption world:

http://blog.adoptapet.com/good-news-in-pet-adoption-1-21-2010/

It's called Pets2Vets. How cool, especially when you consider how healing taking care of an animal can be. Many of our brave veterans return to the U.S. with injuries, both physical and mental. Click on the link above for the full story.

I know my attitude has improved since adopting my sheltie, Cassie, and I haven't been to war, lost a limb or seen a buddy killed by an IED. Caring for a homeless animal and receiving love in return is an amazing experience.

Marie-Nicole

Detective Mystery Author Robert B. Parker: Dies at 77

2010-01-20T09:37:00.002-06:00

When I read the first Tweet about Robert B. Parker's passing yesterday, my first response was, "Oh, no. No more Spenser or Jesse Stone." I first discovered Parker when Spenser for Hire was on TV. I loved the late Robert Urich's portrayal of the Boston P.I. who loved good food and shrink Susan Silverman, not necessarily in that order. I understand the author didn't care for the show, but it led me to his Spenser novels and later to the Jesse Stones.

As great as the loss is to his readers, it is, of course, much greater for his family. All my sympathies to his wife and sons for the loss of a husband and father.

None of us know how many days are alotted for this life, and it's up to us to make the most of them. If you're an aspiring writer, finish the damn book. If you're published, get busy on edits or your WIP and stop watching the soaps--okay, that's specifically for me--but you get my drift.

Sadder and probably no wiser,
Marie-Nicole

Adopt-a-Pet

2010-01-18T13:07:00.005-06:00

Over the past few months between promoting my recent releases and general writing nothingness, I might've mentioned I adopted a rescue doggie, a darling little Sheltie by the name of Cassie, who also likes to post and promote my books, too.

Over the last couple of weeks I did a mini-blog tour and ran into some wonderful people who posted their stories about their pets many of whom were adopted as well. One of those folks was from Adopt-a-Pet and he asked me to include a link to their site and to their blog. Occasionally I'll highlight and link to their blog.

You'll also note I've added links to Adopt-a-Pet and some local Nashville animal rescue agencies to my sidebar.

Here's a link to last week's blog at Adopt-a-Pet:
http://blog.adoptapet.com/animal-adoption-stories-by-the-book-full/

Please consider giving a deserving pet a forever home. I've never regretted my decision to adopt a rescue. And if your circumstances preclude adoption, there are so many other ways you can assist these deserving agencies.

Marie-Nicole
http://marienicoleryan.com

Kindle Re-release--The Man for the Job

2010-01-15T19:55:00.005-06:00

Now for THE MAN FOR THE JOB. This is a revised, re-edited, re-release of a 2004 release. I had the rights returned to me last year with the idea of uploading it to Amazon for their Kindle program. I finally got around to revising and re-editing it and setting it up so it would work well in html format. That's the best format for uploading using Amazon's Digital Platform.

I had to come up with a fresh new cover, and I discovered cover model Jimmy Thomas' web site, Romance Novel Covers, which is set up specifically for--you guessed it--romance novel covers. This is what I came up for my romantic suspense novel. It was formerly released by Wings ePress, was nominated for a Psyche Award by The Romance Studio.

Here's a short blurb:

Lust at first sight.Ex-police Detective Mike Carlton considers bodyguard work a necessary evil--it pays the bills. But he changes his mind as soon as attorney Gwyn waltzes into his office.

A stalker? Yes, he'll guard her all night long if necessary. All he has to do is convince this uptight attorney with a fondness for Italian shoes and a propensity for getting into trouble that he's THE MAN FOR THE JOB...and the man for her.

EXCERPT:

Like an armored tank brooking no obstacles, Gwyneth strode along the busy streets of the Big Apple. For once she wasn't worried about being mugged or stalked--just let someone try.“Wilford Wells, just wait until I get hold of you. I'll wring your wrinkled old neck for the trick you've played on me,” she muttered, knowing she must look as demented as half the people around her.

Still, she didn't give a damn what anyone thought.“’Now then, sugar’, Uncle Wil had said, ‘This Mike Carlton, I checked him out. He's the best.’”The best? If that phony cretin was the best, she'd hate to see the worst. She'd show her uncle what she thought of the best. She'd pull his gray, stringy ponytail out by the roots.

Dammit. She'd presented herself at Mike Carlton's office, expecting to be treated with due respect, and instead he'd hit on her like she was a lap dancer in a stripper bar. He'd even had the nerve to kiss her in the back seat of a taxi. Never mind that Richard's kisseshad never made her hot and squishy inside. Mike's lips were tender and warm, and he'd tasted of his morning coffee.

How could one kiss--a kiss that reminded her of a rich burgundy, dark and earthy--upset her so?

What was the matter with her? She had no business thinking about Mike's lips or his earthiness--no matter that she already had. Keeping her head on straight was of paramount importance. At least it always had been.

Gwyneth entered her office building and managed a semblance of self-control while riding the creaky elevator to the tenth floor. True, she and her uncle could have afforded offices in a better location, but Uncle Wil had argued that their clients might be intimidated by more ostentatious surroundings. And these were certainly humble.

Humble or not, the sight of Wells and Wells, Attorneys-at-Law always made her feel proud, even if the faux gold paint was a touch tarnished. She loved her uncle, but he was in for a shellacking. And she was just the woman to wield the brush.

“He in?” Gwyneth asked the assistant she shared with her uncle. Without waiting for an answer, she flung open the door to his office.

“Good afternoon to you too, sugar.”

She leaned across her uncle's desk, resisting the urge to throttle the only relative with whom she could stand to be in the same room. “You have some explaining to do.”

An expression of total bewilderment took up residence on her uncle's grizzled face. Rearing back in his chair, he frowned. “What the hell's the matter with you?”

“Th-that detective you referred me to--he's a joke. That's what's the matter with me.”

“You saw Mike Carlton, right? Not one of his flunkies?”

“Yeah, I saw him. He's arrogant, rude and a throwback.”

Maybe it was the glint in her uncle's faded blue eyes and the twitch of his lips--or maybe it was the prickle on the back of her neck--but something made her stop mid-rant. “He's standing right behind me, isn't he?”

“You got that right,” came the already too familiar voice.

Gwyneth whirled. “You!” Advancing on the arrogant upstart leaning against the door frame, looking ever so pleased with himself, she shouted, “I can't believe you'd have the effrontery to show your face in my office after your unconscionable behavior in the taxi.”

“You hired me, Counselor,” Mike replied with a shrug, turning his palms upward. “What else could I do?”

“I distinctly remember firing you,” she bluffed, all too aware that she'd done no such thing.His forehead furrowed, but crystal green eyes shone under thick, dark eyebrows.

“Fired? No, I think I'd remember if you'd fired me.”“I did,” she insisted, barely refraining from stamping her foot. “I'm sure I did.”

“Were we in the taxi when you supposedly fired me?”

“Of course we were.” The nerve of the man--acting so innocent, when all the time he knew exactly what had transpired between them.

Removing his fedora, Mike ran his fingers through wavy, dark-brown hair while he appeared to consider her words. Honestly, if she weren't so mad, she wouldn't mind tangling her fingers in those curls and…

Great! The man had cast a spell over her. She was on the verge of turning into a gibbering, over-sexed hedonist.Then he smiled. He had such a sexy mouth and gorgeous eyes, but she didn't trust his expression. She took it as a sign that he was about to say--or do--something totally outrageous.

“That's not what I remember happening in the taxi.”

Then, as if remembering they weren't alone in the room, Mike stepped around her and approached her uncle. “Sorry, Mr. Wells. We weren't properly introduced. I'm Mike Carlton.”

Mike offered his hand to her traitorous uncle who was actually smiling at the P.I. “Your niece has hired me to find out who's stalking her.”

“I fired you!” Gwyneth gave in and stamped her foot.

“You didn't.”

“Well, I am now.” She fumbled in her purse and pulled out a roll of bills. “Here. Take this for your time and no effort. You are officially fired--as officially fired as I know how to fire anyone.”

Mike took her money, ruffled the bills, then handed them back to her. “Too much, and besides, the taxi ride was pure pleasure on my part. You're very entertaining, Counselor.”

Outraged, she turned back to her uncle. “See what I mean? He's… he's…"

“Got you all stirred up. That's what I see, sugar.” Uncle Wil’s shoulders shook with laughter.

Exasperated, Gwyneth took a deep breath in a feeble effort to regain control--then another.“Why aren't you leaving?” she managed to ask in her most dulcet tone. “You have been dismissed. I no longer have any need of your services. Must I say it in another language perhaps?”

“I understand English, Counselor. It was my first language.” He nodded at her uncle. “Sir, it was a pleasure meeting you, however brief our acquaintance.”

“What's this butter-won't-melt-in-your-mouth act you're putting on for my uncle? That's not how you talked to me.”All she received for a reply from the outrageous phony was a smirking half-grin as he turned to leave.

“Mike,” Uncle Wil called after the wretched detective. “I think we can do business. Since my misguided niece has fired you, I take it you're free for another job?”

“No!” she cried, unable to stop herself.

Ignoring her, Mike stopped, turned around and smiled. “Yes, as it happens I am.”

“Good, 'cause I'm putting you on retainer. I want you to find Gwyn's stalker.”

“I'd be more than happy to work for you, Mr. Wells.”

----------

You can download this fun story for a mere $1.99 using Amazon's Whispernet technology, but you have to have a Kindle or Kindle for PC software.

Marie-Nicole

http://marienicoleryan.com/

Added Location for Mini-Blog Tour

2010-01-10T16:20:00.002-06:00

Just to show what a total "promo-ho" I am, I'll be at the Savvy Readers Blog answering 5 Quirky Question on Friday, January 15th. Come on over and enjoy the fun.

Marie-Nicole
http://marienicoleryan.com

Blog Tour

2010-01-04T18:50:00.002-06:00

I'll be touring this week and part of next and giving away a prize at each blog.

January 12: I'll be blogging at Terry's Place. Come by, comment and you'll be entered in a contest to win one of my e-books. I'll be blogging about animal rescue.

January 10: Join me at the Cowboy Lovin' Event at The Cozy Page. Win a $10 Amazon or Samhain Publishing gift certificate. All you have to do is comment, and you'll be entered in the drawing. I'll be blogging about--what else--Cowboys! Actually this event lasts all of January, but I'll be there on the 10th.

January 8: Join me at The Black Raven Erotic Cafe. I'm the featured author, and there's an interview, too. Comment and you'll be entered in a drawing for my latest release, Seducing the Sheriff.

That's it, and I hope to see you at one of these events.

Marie-Nicole

Happy New Year 2010!

2010-01-01T06:00:00.000-06:00

Whether or not you do resolutions or goals, 2010 is certainly the beginning of a new decade and hopefully a better world. I could dwell on all the problems we face on a daily basis, but they're a part of life. I almost feel guilty because I didn't lose my job or have health problems. Okay, maybe having two root canals and laser treatment of one area of gingivits qualifies as a health problem, but once it was quickly dealt with, I haven't had any more problems. Of course, it'll take two years to pay off the dentist, but I'm managing.

I think having to incur additional debt spurred me to downsize, declutter, and get my house ready to sell. The thing is I don't see these issues as negative. The positive aspects are many. I'm going back to my home town and renewing old friendships and I'll be closer to my aging mom. She had quite a few health problems the first five months of the year, but she's back to her normal state of affairs, and for this I'm very grateful.

On Twitter today there was a thread #10yearsago and it was quite revealing to see what changes the other Tweeple had made. Ten years ago, I was finishing my first book. I was still working a day job, and started working from home that year. I was still recovering from a tibial plateau fracture (incurred in late 1998) and I was sixty pounds heavier. Since then I've had a total of seven books published and one more ready for an August release this year. I've achieved a long-held dream, but that doesn't mean it's all over. I've made some new friends who've encouraged me and some I've had the privilege to return the favor.

I guess I'm just glad to be here as this new decade starts. Let's not forget those who aren't with us anymore and remember their families. All said and done, I hope to see you all again next year for 2011.

Award winning romantic suspense author Marie-Nicole Ryan has had a life-long love affair with books. It was only natural she should write some of her own. A former nurse case manager she now writes full time and loves every single moment she spends at the keyboard.

Believe in the dream... Beware the danger.

Seducing the Sheriff # 1

2009-12-23T11:56:00.004-06:00

My most recent release has been in the number one position on Samhain's Top Ten Best Seller list since Sunday, and I thought I'd better announce it before it started dropping in the list. LOL

Best Sellers:
1. Seducing the Sheriff by Marie-Nicole Ryan
2. Doll by Juniper Bell
3. Lessons in Temptation by Charlie Cochrane
4. Winter Solstice by Eden Bradley
5. Be My Baby by Meg Benjamin
6. Merry Christmas, Paige by Mackenzie McKade
7. Midnight Savior by D. McEntire
8. Heidi and the Kaiser by Selena Kitt
9. Unbridled by Delilah Devlin
10. What She Deserves by Ellie Marvel

Merry Christmas to me!

Marie-Nicole

Samhain Cafe Party December 21st.

2009-12-17T15:32:00.004-06:00

How awesome is Samhain Publishing, you ask? VERY, I tell you.

Each hour from 10 to 10 on Monday, December 21st, we will be giving away not one, but TWO ebooks. And that's not all!

Each hour from 10 to 10 *EST* on Monday, we will be giving away a PRINT book! But still, that's not all!

Le Grand Prize will be ...

drum roll please ...

A KINDLE! Yep, a Kindle! This contest will be open overnight so our friends around the globe can participate and celebrate with us!

So there you have it. SAMHAIN ROCKS!

Ladies (and gentlemen), start your engines!

Just have to wonder if that straw itches?

Happy Holidays!

Marie-Nicole

Samhain Publishing Top Ten Best Seller List

2009-12-16T16:29:00.003-06:00

Check it out! Seducing the Sheriff made the Top Ten list the day after its release.

Best Sellers:
1. Be My Baby
by Meg Benjamin

2. Merry Christmas, Paige
by Mackenzie McKade

3. All Worked Up
by Cathryn Fox

4. Unbridled
by Delilah Devlin

5. Night is Darkest
by Jayne Rylon

6. Holiday Bound
by Beth Kery

7. Wedding Bell Blues
by Meg Benjamin

8. Seducing the Sheriff
by Marie-Nicole Ryan

9. Venus in Blue Jeans
by Meg Benjamin

10. An Improper Holiday
by K. A. Mitchell

Happy Holidays!

Marie-Nicole

Release Day for Seducing the Sheriff

2009-12-15T10:56:00.005-06:00

This is my first officially erotic romance, and it releases today from Samhain Publishing. I hope you'll check out Seducing the Sheriff.

Over 18 rated excerpt. Just scroll down until you see the cover for Seducing the Sheriff.

Buy Link:

Happy Holidays!

Marie-Nicole
Hold on for the ride...
http://marienicoleryan.com/

Free e-Book Available Today

2009-12-11T08:30:00.003-06:00

MISTLETOE AND MARIO

By Marie-Nicole Ryan

E-Book Release: December 11, 2009

Length: Short Story (~8200 words)

Genre: Contemporary Romance (spicy)

Price: Free!

From: The Samhain Authors

About the story:

It's almost Christmas Eve and Alexa Devereaux is a young interior designer with a deadline. She definitely doesn't need her old teenage boyfriend showing up unexpectedly. After all the sucker went off to the Naval Academy and other than three lousy e-mails, sent years ago, hasn't heard a word from hinm since. No way is she going to send the gorgeous Navy officer off to sea with a smile. Not if she can help it.

Lieutenant Mario Judson is a Navy JAG lawyer getting ready to deploy on his first shipboard JAG assigment. His last ten years have been filled with school, first the Naval Academy and then law school, but he's never forgotten his first love, Alexa. With an encouraging nudge from her stepmother, Nikki, Mario finds his way to Alexa's Soho loft.

Will he be able to convince her he's sincere in starting over, in spite of his immiment deployment? Or will she continue to present him with a very cold shoulder? You'll just have to read Mistletoe and Mario to find out.

Back Story:

Alexa and Mario (and yes, he was envisioned as Mario Lopez) were teenagers and secondary characters in one of my early romantic suspense novels, See You in My Dreams. Alexa was the hero's daughter (Maxim Devereaux) and played matchmaker with her dad and supermodel Nikki Prentice. Alexa ran off from her exclusive boarding school with Mario. His mother, an FBI profiler, was none too pleased.

I hope you enjoy their steamy reunion.

Marie-Nicole

The Work Goes On

2009-12-09T10:01:00.005-06:00

As much as I've always liked to multi-task, there's one area where multi-tasking doesn't work for me: writing. I know authors who work on multiple stories at a time. Authors who can work on edits and then go on the same day to work on their WIPs. I simply can't.

If I receive edits, then that's what I do to the exclusion of anything else. Frankly edits can be a lot of hard work. Correcting typos and quick glitches is one thing, but if the editor wants major revisions, then that's some of the most difficult work involved in getting a story ready for publication. I've had easy first round edits that only took a day's work, and I've had one book with first round edits where the editor (bless her heart) gave me six weeks to get them back to her. I managed to get them back in four weeks.

I've finished preliminary edits on my upcoming Wild Rose Press release, Love Me If You Can, and now I can get back to working on Promises Not Kept. Two or three of you might remember my freebie short story from last year, Pillow Talk. Promises Not Kept is the sequel to that freebie, and at least two or three of you have been hounding me about when I'm going to finish it. Well, I can now tell you that I'm working on it again, and as of last night I have about 14k words to go. I'm in the muddle of the middle, and that's always the most difficult part of the story for me, especially when I already know how it's going to end. Once the story's end is clear in my mind, I have a difficult time in just getting there.

I admire authors who can work on different stories at the same time. I have this sequel to the freebie and I've also started the next book in my Loving the Lawman series, which will follow the sexy adventures of the Pinkerton agent who appeared as a secondary character in Seducing the Sheriff. I also find it difficult to leave a story unfinished to work on another one. Because even if I'm at a tricky point in the story, it keeps bugging me until I come back and finish.

Ideally I would love to have a first draft by the end of the year, but with the holidays and being on the road a couple of days, I'm not sure if it'll happen. Obviously any author whose daily word goals are in the 5k range would laugh at me and have the story finished by Monday at the latest. Sometimes the words come quickly and sometimes they don't.

So enough postponing. Time to write.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Marie-Nicole

Free Reads Daily at The Samhellions

2009-12-06T09:08:00.007-06:00

In addition to the Scavenger Hunt (click on photo above for details), the Samhain authors are offering new holiday-themed free reads. Today's free read is Karin Shah's futuristic romance, Star Song.

My free read, Mistletoe and Mario, will be available on Friday, December 11th. All you have to do is go to http://thesamhellions.com and click on the cover to download the pdf formatted story.

Happy Holidays!

Marie-Nicole

Goodies Galore

2009-12-04T06:20:00.004-06:00

Want to win a Kindle 2 or a Pocket Sony e-reader? The Samhain authors from The Samhellion are running a four week scavenger hunt and contest with two Kindles and two Pocket Sony e-readers up for grabs--one will be awarded to a very lucky winner each week of the contest. The first week runs from 12/4 noon until 12/10 at noon EST.

All of us authors will be offering up the chance to win a free e-book as well. My 2008 EPPIE Winner, Too Good to be True, is the e-book I'm offering as my prize in the first week of the contest. If you have a Twitter account, you can follow the updates on Twitter. The graphic on the right of this post is the graphic for my part of the scavenger hunt. I don't have all the details yet, but you can check them out as they appear on the Samhellion site.

I also have a freebie short story, Mistletoe and Mario, which will be released at the same site on December 11. I don't have a link for it yet, but I'll post it on my web site and Twitter as soon as I have it, along with the cover. Mario and Alexa appeared in See You in My Dreams as teenagers, but now they're all grown and renewing their relationship after nearly ten years apart.

And last but not least, Seducing the Sheriff releases from Samhain Publishing on December 15th.

Half dressed and going for naked…

Starlight Tyler needs to lose her virginity, as in yesterday. With her mother, a Pinkerton, and a wealthy man she doesn’t love on her tail, there’s only one place to cut their cruel intentions off at the pass—get herself back into the arms of long-lost love Cordero Tate. Pronto.

She never expected to be tripped up by someone else’s past.

Sheriff Cordero Tate is a haunted man on a mission. Come hell or high water, he’ll round up every member of the gang responsible for the deaths of his wife and unborn child…and make damned sure he never puts his heart on the line again. As in never impregnating another woman. One look at Star, though, and all the old feelings come back in a rush. Worse, she’s just as determined to brand him as hers as he is to keep her chaste.

Their exploration of ways around that impasse leads to three nights of unbearable sensual pleasure. Until her past catches up to her…

Warning: This story contains a lot of hard ridin’, some ass kickin’, and a whole lot of lovin’ goin’ on. No doors left unopened.

You can read a PG-13 excerpt here.

Marie-Nicole

http://marienicoleryan.com/

Free Electronic Holiday Cookbook From The Wild Rose Press

2009-11-28T13:51:00.006-06:00

It's that time of year, and you know the drill. There's this party and that party, so the Wild Rose Press authors and the Wilder Rose Press authors have donated their favorite recipes for the holiday season. The electronic cookbook, 2009 Garden Gourmet, is a free download, but if you want a print copy you can get it from Lulu.com. Additional instructions are on the web site cookbook page.

All you have to do is click on the banner and it'll take you to The Wild Rose Press. You can check out my favorite recipe for Italian Roast Beef.

Happy Holidays!

Marie-Nicole
http://marienicoleryan.com

Turkey Day's Over?

2009-11-27T19:26:00.004-06:00

I can't believe it's been two weeks since I posted, but I've been so busy decluttering my house and getting ready for the visiting relatives and all the excursions to the grocery for all the food to be prepared in anticipation of the Thanksgiving feast, I had to let something slide.

But don't forget my November contest is running until December 14. I'm celebrating the December 15 release of Seducing the Sheriff. Check the contest link for details.

And now back to the bat cave because this old bat is knackered.

For an excerpt click here: