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For months it has been raining in my kitchen. Whenever the clouds break, the water comes—through the roof, through the new ceiling, down the columns of new paint. The roofers say they're coming. I wait. I wait. And while I wait, storm by storm, I stand on a stool holding towels to the ceiling. 4 AM. 5 AM. Almost dawn.

Last night, while I was still in bed, I dreamed that the Beatles came to help hold back the storm. John and Ringo. (Paul was off getting married again and George was—absent.) Wearing white shirts, they sang their songs while they pressed old towels to the ceiling. When I woke at 3:30 they were no longer singing. It was up to me to stopper the storm.

Lucky for me, then, that I had ONE MORE DAY, the third novel by my friend Kelly Simmons, to keep me company. One toweled hand pressed to the ceiling, one hand cradling the book, my bare feet balanced on the old black stool, I read the last 100 pages of this novel from 4 AM to just right now, thinking, as I read, about all the conversations Kelly and I have had (during walks, over non-tea, in her house, in her yard, turning our turn-it-around bracelets on our arms) while this novel was in its stir. News of the first galvanizing surge of idea that sent Kelly to the page. News of the first electrifying email from Kelly's agent. News of the novel's sale to Sourcebooks. News of the story unfolding and again unfolding as Kelly worked through edits and revisions. News of our shared excerpt moment in Main Line Today. Kelly was writing something new to her, taking risks, exploring the idea of the supernatural set against the backdrop of a mother's loss. She was onto something.

A few days ago, ONE MORE DAY arrived, courtesy of Lathea Williams, and I began reading at once. I am a fan of Kelly's work—her lovely sentences, her twists of humor, her insights into shame and longing. (Read my reviews of STANDING STILL and THE BIRD HOUSE.) ONE MORE DAY, with its limning of relationships and its multiplying secrets, is vintage Kelly with more than a soupcon of the otherworldly strange. A mother's kidnapped child returns for a single day. Ghosts appear—a grandmother, an old boyfriend, a childhood pet. The losses are real, the hurt is real, the secrets are real—but what is poor Carrie, the bereft mother, to think about these visitations? And what is her husband to think? Her mother? The police? The intruding newswoman? The neighbors? Libby, her friend from church? What are any of them supposed to believe, and what are we, the readers, to make of it all?

Whose side are we on?

Where do we come down on faith in things that rise up and then vanish?

I needed to know. I was so eager to find out that I didn't even notice that my suspended, book-cradling arm was shaking until I closed the book. Kelly, my copy is mottled with the unstoppered parts of today's storm. I hope you won't mind. I hope you won't mind, either, if I quote back to you my favorite passage in this book. You're so good at seeing this place we both call home. And you're so good at feeling that apartness that I, too, so often feel. And you're so good at writing sentences that sound just like this:

It was the type of neighborhood that was all proximity; you could turn left or right at any point off the boulevard and find a house that would inspire longing, part of your neighborhood technically, but not part of your world, with a quiet, lumbering grace that marked nobility, remove, other. Carrie was separate from all those people, she knew, and always had been. Not more deserving or less, just different from everyone else.

Congratulations, KellyKellyKelly.

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The Trouble With Harryby Katie MacAlister. Sourcebooks Casablanca. 2014. Library copy.


The Plot: Regency England. Lord Harry Rosse thought he'd faced danger as a spy. But that he could handle... what he can't handle is life, now, raising five children alone. What he needs, what he wants, is a wife: someone to love his children, with all their antics and high spirits. Such high spirits he sometimes hides from them...

A wife for company and companionship. Not one of those pretty young things only interested in his title and status, eager for children of her own.

So he places an ad for a wife, leaving out a few details. Like the children. And the title. Or his past as a spy.

Plum sees the advertisement for a wife and thinks its the answer. All she wants is a decent man; the chance to have a child of her own; someone who will be kind to her the niece she's raised; and someone she can respect. She doesn't deliberately leave out details -- like her disastrous elopement twenty years ago, to a man who already had a wife. (She didn't know!! He lied!) Or that book she wrote under an assumed name, the book that helped support her when her family and friends and society shunned her for her involvement with a married man.

The Good: The Trouble with Harry was a lot of fun: it's like a sexytimes Nanny McPhee. The children are terrible, and cause so much problems. I kept giggling as I read it.

This is one of the titles recommended back when I asked about books featuring those 40 and over: Plum is 40, Harry is 45. Each are hiding secrets, and those secrets come create problems for them. But what I liked is that despite those secrets they are keeping from each other, they are honest with each other in what matters: their emotions and their feelings. Both are also frank about their attraction and physical needs and desire for each other. Perhaps more than frank -- let's just say that the book Plum wrote isn't some Jane Austen or Bronte inspired work of art.

Because both are older, Harry and Plum are for the most part secure in who they are. They don't have unrealistic expectations of each other; Harry particularly doesn't want some young wife full of romantic dreams. But that earned dose of reality is what makes their relationship and growing love so romantic and meaningful.

So, thank you very much for the recommendation, and I look forward to reading the others in this series!




Amazon Affiliate. If you click from here to Amazon and buy something, I receive a percentage of the purchase price.

© Elizabeth Burns of A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy

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Recently I had the pleasure of attending the AAP Tri-State Book Buzz for Children’s and Teen Librarians here in NYC.  This is an event where a whole heaping helpful of publishers gather together to do a kind of massive librarian preview for folks like myself.  It’s a mix of big folks (Macmillan, Random House, etc.) and smaller houses you might not hear from otherwise.  With that in mind, I’ve either already attended or am about to attend some of the big guys, so I’ll leave them off of this particular preview.  Additionally, I had a meeting in the morning of the Book Buzz day so those publishers who just happened to present anything prior to 1 p.m. pretty much fell off of my radar.  Sorry, guys!

Even though I only spent a small portion of my time at the Book Buzz I’m just going to highlight the books that caught my particular attention.  Because honestly there were some truly interesting titles on display.  Here’s just a small sampling of what I happened to see. First up:

Sourcebooks 

 Changes: A Child’s First Poetry Collection by Charlotte Zolotow, ill. Tiphanie Beeke (9781492601685)

This year (2014) I had a great deal of difficulty finding good poetry books.  Honestly, at times it felt like I was pulling teeth to find anything halfway decent.  This shouldn’t be so hard!  So I was keeping a very sharp eye out for anything verse-like.  I was quickly rewarded by this, the first collection of ALL of Zolotow’s seasonal poetry.  You remember Ms. Zolotow, yes?  Worked under Ursula Nordstrom?  Mother of Crescent Dragonwagon?  Yep, well I’ve always been a fan of her book Seasons as illustrated by Erik Blegvad so this is just a natural follow-up.  It’s coming out in the same year when she would have celebrated her 100^th birthday. If the illustrator (Tiphanie Beeke) looks somewhat familiar that may be because she was behind that rather lovely little book Fletcher and the Falling Leaves which came out a couple years ago.

Fairy Tale Reform School: Flunked by Jen Calonita (9781492601562)

On the middle grade side of things we have Fairy Tale Reform School: Flunked by Jen Calonita.  Written by the author of  the YA novel Secrets of my Hollywood Life the premise behind this one is that when a villain is vanquished in a tale it’s time for them to go to reform school.  Our heroine is a normal girl who lives in a shoe with her siblings and is so poor that she’s forced to steal.  One thing leads to another and the next thing she knows she’s in a reform school where all the teachers are former villains.  Kinda writes itself, right?

This Book is Gay by James Dawson (9781492617822)

I don’t cover YA usually but for this book I shall make an exception. It was a little bit difficult to parse but insofar as I could tell this appears to be a handbook for dealing with sexual identity.  It’s a YA nonfiction title with a forward is by David Levithan and it’s full of sketches, illustrations, and jokes.  As they say, it’s for anyone exploring their own identity.

 

National Geographic Kids

Why’d They Wear That? by Sarah Albee (forward by Tim Gunn) (9781426319204)

Now see, the reason I like National Geographic Kids is that they’re reliable.  Take Why’d They Wear That?, for example.  You know what you’re getting here, even if you don’t know the details.  Mind you, the details are where all the good stuff is.  Chronicling the history of the world through the lens of fashion, the book covers everything from the Syrian warriors who rode into battle in fishnets to an Archbishop of Canterbury who wore a hair shirt so full of bugs that they left his body and flew into the cold when he was assassinated.  From togas to mini skirts, this book talks about clothing and explains why folks wore one thing or another with plenty of historical context.

Untamed: The Wild Life of Jane Goodall by Anita Silvey (9781426315190)

I think I heard about this book a little while ago and got very excited . . . until I realized that it wasn’t coming out until 2015.  Fortunately that year is breathing down our neck and so tis nigh! Nigh, I say, nigh!  From her childhood in WWII England to the jungles of Gombe this book covers everything Jane related.  Riveting and full of images (including the photography of Michael Neugebauer) this has lots of great content from the field.  It’s the most up-to-date title out there for kids.  At least for an older readership.

Dirtmeister’s Nitty Gritty: Planet Earth by Steve Tomecek (9781426319037)

Steve Tomecek, the Executive Director and founder of Science Plus, Inc., and Digger his prairie dog sidekick talk all about dirt.  Or, put another cuter way, dish the dirt on dirt.  Tomecek had a New York Kids show on WNYC radio in New York City for eight years so he’s old school.  In his book, Fred Harper from Marvel illustrates multiple peppy comic book sections that start off each chapter.  Inside you’ll find DIY experiments, facts, and science bios along with lots of STEM connections.  Happy science stuff.

How to Speak Cat by Aline Alexander Newman and NPR’s Dr. Gary Weitzman (President of the San Diego Animal Humane Society) (9781426318634)

This would be a companion to the previously published How to Speak Dog.  The dog vs. cat voice in my head wonders which of the two books will sell better.  In any case in this tome you get, amongst other things, an explanation of what the 30 different cat poses mean.  Lots of expert cat training advice is in this one as well.

1000 Facts About the Bible (9781426318665)

You don’t have to be a library in a religious community to appreciate what National Geographic is going for here.  Big and small pieces of information give some great background.  Little facts include the tidbit that David was crowned with a 75-pound crown and, elsewhere, that the blue of the robes mentioned in the text came from sea snails.  Easy to understand words are helped in no small part by the Biblical scholars who were consulted.  Naturally this makes me wonder how long it took them to write the darn thing.  My suspicion: quite a while.

Maddeningly they also teased us with Fall 2015 titles as well.  With that in mind look for . . .

Book of Nature Poetry edited by J. Patrick Lewis

Treasury of Norse Mythology by Donna Jo Napoli

Welcome to Mars by Buzz Aldrin

At this point in the proceedings, mention was made of a magazine I’d not heard of before.  It’s not like I’ve been following the periodical trends for teens and pre-teens since I was one myself.  So to hear that there’s a publication out there called Justine that contains “more teen book reviews than any other magazine” . . . well that’s just downright cool it is. Voila:

Quirk Books

Based out of Philly. A quarter of this little publisher’s output consists of books for kids.  I often say that small publishers just need one book to sustain them for life.  Well Quirk produced Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children so I’d say they’re pretty much good to go.  For, like, ever.  Most of their children’s books coming out in 2015 are just sequels, but there was one adult title that actually caught my eye.

Horrorstor by Grady Hendrix (9781322126760)

A classic horror novel set in a Swedish furniture store, written like an IKEA catalog.

Sterling

Next up, Chris Vaccari, a man clever enough to name drop his local library branch (Kips Bay).  Chris thrives in a BookBuzz atmosphere.  He is calm.  He is at ease.  And yet, all at the same time, he is capable of packing in loads of information about the books Sterling is producing soon.  Case in point:

Good Question: History Series: Did Christopher Columbus Really Discover America? by Emma Carlson Berne (9781454912590)

This is a series that dare to question history.  Particularly useful when we’re talking about that ever so controversial Italian Columbus.

Little Traveler series – How Tiger Says Thank You (9781454914976), How Penguin Says Please (9781454914969) by Abigail Samoun, illustrated by Sarah Watts

These are the latest two books in this series to come out.  I should note though that my librarians are BIG fans of these books.  They’re finding them easy to hand sell and really filling a need for those parents that wish to get their small children interested in other languages.

ABC Universe – done in conjunction with the American Museum of Natural History (9781454914099)

Just consider it an oversized board book for the budding little astronomers in your life.

I’m Not Reading by Jonathan Allen(978-1910126240)

Man. Way back at the beginning of my blogging career, around 2006 I reviewed the Jonathan Allen baby owl book I’m Not Cute.  It’s nice to see the series not only still kicking around but upgrading to a whole new board book form.

Ally-Saurus by Richard Torrey (9781454911791)

Who says only boys get to love dinosaurs?  Yet when Ally starts school she finds she’s the only girl there who’s into dinosaurs.  She is subsequently snubbed by princess lovers (and on this, the 10^th anniversary of Mean Girls).  I know I’ll be looking forward to this.

A Dozen Cousins by Lori Houran, ill. Sam Usher (9781454910626)

The plot is simple: one girl has a dozen boy cousins.  She loves them but they sure do bug the heck out of her.  Nice and multicultural, this is utterly pleasant (and more interesting than a lot of the other “big family” tales out there).

North/South

The Birthday Cake: The Adventures of Pettson and Findus by Sven Nordquist (978-0735842038)

I believe this is a reprint of an older title.  In it, Pettson is a forgetful farmer and his neighbor gives him a kitten named Findus.  So he reads the kitten so much that the cat starts to talk.  In this book it’s Findus’s birthday (which somehow happens more than once in a year).  The dilemma?  Our intrepid heroes need flour for a cake.  To get the flour they need a bike, to fix a tower they need to get into the shed, to get into the shed they need a ladder to get to the sunroof, and so on and such.  Phil Pullman did the blurb for the books and said that it has a folktale feel.  Noted.

Mr. Squirrel and the Moon by Sebastian Meschenmoser (978-0735841567)

If you buy nothing else I mention to you today, buy this.  Show some of the art.  On the endpages you see a boy with his father and one of the man’s wheels of cheese is rolling down the hill and flies into the sky.  Later, a squirrel wonders how the moon got into his tree.  Worried that someone will think he’s the thief he tries to roll it off the tree.  The cheese next gets stuck on a hedgehog and a goat gets stuck in it.  The art is the real lure here.  A-maze-ing.

The Bernadette Watts Collection: Stories and Fairy Tales by Bernadette Watts (978-0735842120)

Turns out, Ms. Watts is beloved in Europe.  They just call her Bernadette there.  In this book you will find thirty-eight timeless tales with an Eric Carle forward.  The result is a book containing pitch perfect, sumptuous backgrounds.

 

Perseus Books Groups (Running Press Kids)

Go, Pea, Go! by Joe Moshier and Chris Sonnenburg (978-0762456789)

I’ll give ‘em this.  I have never seen a potty book that used peas in some manner.  This book features one such rhyming pea.  He is told by his family to go.  See the world.  A potty chart and stickers are part of the ensemble.

Butterfly Park by Elly Mackay (978-0762453399)

A paper cut artist takes it to the next level.  In this story a girl moves next to a butterfly park and then goes and sees that there aren’t any there.  She then gets the community together to plant the plants that attract butterflies.

My Life in Dioramas by Tara Altebrando (978-0762456819)

In this tale a 12-year-old girl’s family is selling their red barn home.  She’s against this move so she creates dioramas of each room to best preserve her memories.  She also tries to throw a wrench in the works to prevent the sales.  One color illustrated dioramas for each chapter.  Essentially, it’s all about moving forward.

And that was that.  Phew!  I can’t imagine how tricky it would be to organize such a thing.  Many thanks to the folks who presented.  I’ve high hopes for these books.

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I'm really excited to share this interview with author/illustrator AJ Smith. His picture book, Even Monsters, came out earlier this month and it chock-full of monsters, cooties, and a silliness that kids and grownups alike will really love. So let's get right into the wit and wisdom, shall we?

G: I love the rich, layered look to your art for Even Monsters. What is your process like?

A: My process involves a hodge-podge of mixed media: pencil, ballpoint pen, sometimes technical pens or brush pens, acrylic paint, cut paper, a shoddy laptop (donations welcome!), lots of caffeine, with a dab of old school Crayola crayons! I work different depending on the client but the common denominator is always rough pencil sketches on 8.5 x 11" copy paper.


G: What came first for you with Even Monsters: the words or the visuals?

A: Mostly the words came first for Even Monsters (way back in 2006). As I revised it, I began to ping pong ideas back and forth: a written idea would become a sketch and then that would ignite some new writing brainstorms and 'round and 'round we go...

G: Could you share one sparkling nugget of advice for aspiring author/illustrators?

A: First, have a sound foundation in drawing and/or in writing. Practice often and always. If you want to write and illustrate picture books,you should be reading picture books! Beyond that, I think you have to bring something new to the table. Have a unique voice, unique style. Be yourself. Be different. Do the art you want to do. You will meet rejection at every stage of the game (I'm always surprised to hear how much Jane Yolen is STILL rejected) so be doing the art you want to be making, not what you think publishers/editors want to see.
G: You are one busy guy - speaking at events, creating fun videos, and throwing awesome monster book parties. What has been the best part of promoting Even Monsters so far?

A: To me promotion is something an author/illustrator HAS to do. It's part of the job. And that is not always something that's easy to grasp. The tricky part is that you don't get paid to promote your book. In fact, it's been quite the opposite in my empty-pocketed experience. That said there is a reason I do it: To help the book do well (I'm terrified and convinced that this cannot happen on its own unless you are already a bestselling author/illustrator) and to network: meet new people -- educators, librarians, parents, KIDS. Promotion is not just promoting your book. It's promoting and fostering literacy. And if that didn't answer your question, I'd say making videos where I dress up like this has been the best part:


G: What's your next project? And does it involve having the readers spot cooties? (I do love the cooties! They are little orange puffs with silly eyes. Can you spot 3 in the illustration below?)

A: My next book is Even Dinosaurs, which comes out in 2015. There might be cooties. If there are, they'll be Cave Cooties. Still toying with that idea, but I really like the idea of adding an "Easter Egg" element to the book that kids can hunt for on a second read of a book. I hope kids really like them... Really like them or say "eww, gross -- cooties!" Either would be perfect really.



*FYI: My kids LOVE finding the cooties. Like it's their job. And everyone at the book launch loved the way AJ kept 'finding' cooties.

Many thanks to AJ for his thoughtful answers and insight. Be sure to visit www.evenmonsters.com to see where you can buy his book, see more silly videos, learn how to draw Skeebu and Glubb, have your kids enter in his Monster Art Contest, and even design your own silly underpants. I know what my kids will be doing after breakfast!

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Tomorrow I will be posting a fun interview with my super talented friend, AJ Smith. We'll be talking about his new picture book, Even Monsters, available now! Until then, enjoy his awesome book trailer!

I was way lucky enough to go to his official book launch a few weeks ago - check out my mug in his oversize monster board! (The things mommies do to get our kids to do something silly too!) I was blown away with all the layers of fun he built into the book launch. He has tons of events in the New England area, be sure to visit www.evenmonsters.com for more info and fun for the kids.
Check back tomorrow for the interview!!!

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Please welcome Fulke FitzWarin, hero of Elizabeth Chadwick’s The Outlaw Knight  to the virtual offices this morning. 

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in five words or less.

[Fulke FitzWarin] Honourable, strong, loyal, virile, chivalric

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share a typical day in the life of Fulke FitzWarin?

[Fulke FitzWarin] It would be different things at different points of my life. But let’s take it as an outlaw on the run:

1.Get up in morning and hope it hasn’t rained in the night and made everything damp.

2. See to the horses, eat whatever food might be to hand, provided either from handouts, from foraging, or from a spot of judicious thievery.

3. Discuss the day’s plans with the men. One of King John’s treasure carts is supposed to be coming through the area.

4. Cover up signs of the camp and head off to ambush the treasure cart.

5. Apprehend the treasure cart after a bit of fighting. Take the treasure and remove it to a safe hiding place.

6.When it starts to rain heavily go to the manor house of a sympathizer and take shelter there, paying for the meal and board with part of King John’s treasure.

7. Spend the night there by the fire telling tales and sharpening weapons. Write a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury who is sympathetic to my cause even while he serves King John.

8. Next morning leave and move on before word gets out and the heavy mob arrives.

9. Select next target.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you describe your relationship with King John?

[Fulke FitzWarin] He hates me and he’s jealous of me. He bears a grudge against me because I once got the better of him at chess when we were youths. It came to blows and I knocked him down. I have no love for him and rebelled against him when he took away my land and gave it to someone else just to spite me. He covets and harasses my lovely wife too. He is my king, yet how can I bend the knee to such a tyrant?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What irks you most about him?

[Fulke FitzWarin] The fact that he took away my land when I was grieving over the death of my father, and gave it to another man without justification. I will never forgive him for that.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you could change one thing you’ve done in your life, what would it be?

[Fulke FitzWarin] I would not let feuding over land become the be-all and end-all of my life.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What’s one thing you won’t leave home without?

[Fulke FitzWarin] A good thick cloak.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t antagonizing a king?

[Fulke FitzWarin] To sit around the fire with my brothers swapping tales. To lie abed with my wife and just admire her beauty. To go riding with her and know we are not threatened. To teach my sons the paths they must follow to manhood.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share your dreams for the future in five words or less.

[Fulke FitzWarin] Grandchildren, stability, peace, decent king!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

[Fulke FitzWarin] Thank you, you are welcome!

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Please welcome special guest Henry Middlebrook to the virtual offices today!  Henry is the red-hot hero of Theresa Romain’s It Takes Two to Tangle. 

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in five words or less.

[Henry] Determined. Embattled but not defeated.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share a typical day in the life of Henry Middlebrook?

[Henry] I wish such a thing as a typical day existed for me. During my years in the army, I could rely on a steady routine of early rising, marching, camping, shouting, helping, and any other verb that might occur to a person. Since selling my commission, I have found life among the ton in London to be less dangerous but more unsettling. At the moment, I reside with my brother the Earl of Tallant and tolerate his excessive helpfulness. It is kindly meant—and with one arm useless, I need more help than I care to admit. Nothing from correspondence to paying calls to dressing to dancing is the same as it used to be before wartime and my recent injury.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words come to mind when you think of Frances?

[Henry] Stubborn, brilliant, unexpected.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you find most exasperating about her?

[Henry] She wants my trust, but she won’t give me hers. In the years since she was widowed, she has relied on her own wits and scraped by at the edge of respectability as companion to her wealthy cousin. She is proud of the life she’s built on her own terms, and quite rightly. But secrets have become a habit with her. How I shall ever convince her to trust me, I don’t know. I shall probably have to spill a few secrets of my own…

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you could change one thing you’ve done in your life, what would it be?

[Henry] I would not ask a soldier without medical training to adjust my dislocated shoulder. The result was…let me say, unfortunate. I cannot regret my years defending England, though. And sometimes I wonder what sort of turns my life would have taken had I not been injured. Would I still be a soldier? If so, I would be nearly a stranger to my brother. And I would never have been given the chance to know Frances.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What’s one thing you won’t leave home without?

[Henry] A passionate letter from “a friend.” So it is signed, but I know who wrote it. On the letters from “a friend,” I pin many hopes. These letters remind me that there is much good to be found in a new sort of life, and that love is within reach.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t attempting to woo potential brides?

[Henry] I have always liked to paint with oils, though since losing the use of my right arm, the results of my painting are not pleasing to the eye. Thinking about color and understanding the art of others is still a favorite pastime of mine. I enjoy every trip to the British Institution to look at new paintings. And if my lifelong friend Bart Crosby comes along and tries to pretend he isn’t bored within five minutes—well, that’s always good for a grin.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share your dreams for the future in five words or less.

[Henry] Paint, love, laugh, teach, learn.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

[Henry] Thank you. It is my honor to engage in conversation with such a gracious hostess.

About the book:

IT TAKES TWO TO TANGLE BY THERESA ROMAIN – IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2013

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest and is working on more Regency romances. Please visit http://theresaromain.com/ for more information.

To Purchase It Takes Two to Tangle:

Barnes and Noble

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IndieBound

Chapters/Indigo

iBookstore

Sourcebooks

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Sourcebooks and Julie Ann Walker are celebrating the release of Born Wild with some swag and a giveaway! Full details below.  You can also enter below for a chance to win Thrill Ride!

 

A Gift for You, for Pre-Ordering BORN WILD by New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Julie Ann Walker

For US and Canadian Black Knights Inc. Lovers!

Send us your proof of pre-order and we’ll send you a Black Knights Inc. bandana!

We’ll send a bandana to anyone who shows us their pre-order receipt until October 31, or supplies run out. Just email your receipt to [email protected]. 

As an added bonus: EVERYONE who receives a bandana will have an opportunity to win a fabulous motorcycle-themed gift basket, inspired by the Black Knights.

- All you have to do is post a photo of you with your bandana and show it to us!

o Post your photo to one of the following places:

§ Julie Ann Walker’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jawalkerauthor

§ Sourcebooks Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/sourcebooks

§ Or you can Tweet your photo—be sure to tag @jawalkerauthor or @SourcebooksCasa

- You have until November 15, 2013 to send us your photo! The winner will be chosen at random, and announced on Julie Ann Walker’s Facebook Page on Monday, November 18.

About the book:

 

And now for my giveaway! Thanks to Sourcebooks, I have a copy of Thrill Ride to give to one of you!

 

About the book

 

 

US and Canadian addresses only, please

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Today’s special guest is Winslow, the sexy and secretive hero of Shana Galen’s latest release True Spies.  After meeting Winslow, enter for a chance to win a copy of True Spies!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in five words or less.

[Winslow] Charming, witty, deadly

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share a typical day in the life of one of England’s elite spies?

[Winslow] I don’t know anything about spies. I’m just a baron who has to travel a lot to oversee his estates. I don’t know anything about spying or the Barbican group or that madman trying to topple the monarchy.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words come to mind when you think of Elinor?

[Winslow] I don’t think I can share the first three words that come to mind. The second three are smart, brave, and sensual.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you find most exasperating about her?

[Winslow] Is she going to see this interview? If not, the most exasperating thing about her is that she doesn’t seem to understand that women do not make good operatives. She should stay out of the way when it comes to the business of spying—not that I know anything about spies. If she is going to see this interview, then nothing about her exasperates me. She’s perfect as she is.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you could change one thing you’ve done in your life, what would it be?

[Winslow] I would change the kind of father I’ve been. I haven’t been present enough in my daughters’ lives. I am changing that now.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What’s one thing you won’t leave home without?

[Winslow] Letters of transit. One never knows when one might be called upon to take an unscheduled trip to somewhere classified to—you know—oversee an estate.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t conducting covert operations?

[Winslow] I don’t conduct covert operations, but if I did and I had a few days’ respite, I’d spend it in my wife’s bed.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share your dreams for the future in five words or less.

[Winslow] More time in bed.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

[Winslow] Thank you, but let’s keep this conversation classified.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Mum’s the word!

About the book:

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shana Galen is the author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the Lord and Lady Spy Series, the Jewels of the Ton Series, as well as the Sons of the Revolution Trilogy. A former English teacher in Houston’s inner city, Shana now writes full time, and is working on more regency romance novels! She’s happily married to the Ultimate Sportsfan and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.

To Purchase True Spies:

Barnes and Noble

Books-a-Million

IndieBound

Chapters/Indigo

iBookstore

Sourcebooks

Giveaway!

Enter to win True Spies.  US and Canada only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Please welcome Drake Cameron, hero of Ashlyn Chase’s How to Date a Dragon, to the virtual offices this morning!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in five words or less.

[Drake] Independent, Leader, Protective, Supportive, Integrity

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share a typical day in the life of Drake Cameron?

[Drake] I get out of the bed I built; shower and dress in my uniform; walk to Station #3 of the Boston Fire Department; have breakfast with the guys; and respond to whatever emergencies occur during my shift. After work I pop over to Boston Uncommon for a beer with my fellow paranormals—unless I need to discuss something with my firefighter brotherhood, then I meet them at The Ladder. Either way, I’m a social being and I like to flirt. I haven’t asked anyone out in a while, because I’m searching for a female dragon to mate with and save the species. I don’t think there are any available, and not many women are dragon tolerant. I might have to give up on the promise I made to my mother on her death bed.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words come to mind when you think of Bliss?

[Drake] Feisty, Funny, Beautiful

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you find most exasperating about her?

[Drake] She’s impatient and strong-willed. Snarky comments are her forte, and she’s even managed to turn it into a business. She’s the designer behind Hall-Snark cards.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you could change one thing you’ve done in your life, what would it be?

[Drake] I wouldn’t have left Nova Scotia and gone to live with my uncle in New York. How was I to know he was a mob boss? After that I had to disappear and make a whole new life for myself. I had heard there might be a female dragon in Boston, which is how I wound up here. I suppose without that experience, however, I wouldn’t have become who I am today.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What’s one thing you won’t leave home without?

[Drake] My phone. I’m willing to work overtime when needed, and lately there have been a rash of fires. Also, I like to call Bliss after she gets off work and before she goes to bed.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t saving damsels in distress?

[Drake] I like to work with my hands. I build furniture. I’ve thought about taking up sailing, but fire and water…well, you know how those two things don’t mix.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you share your dreams for the future in five words or less.

[Drake] Loving a dragon-tolerant woman

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

[Drake] Thanks for asking about me. I’m not used to being in the spotlight. It’s Bliss who’s on TV all the time.

About the book:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ashlyn Chase describes herself as an Almond Joy bar. A little nutty, a little flaky, but basically sweet, wanting only to give her readers a satisfying experience.

She holds a degree in behavioral sciences, worked as a psychiatric RN for several years and spent a few more years working for the American Red Cross. She credits her sense of humor to her former careers since comedy helped preserve whatever was left of her sanity. She is a multi-published, award-winning author of humorous erotic and paranormal romances, represented by the Seymour Agency.

She lives in beautiful New Hampshire with her true-life hero husband who’d look like Hugh Jackman if you dyed his hair, and they’re owned by a spoiled brat cat. For more information, please visit www.ashlynchase.com, follow her on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/GoddessAsh, and like her on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAshlynChase.

To Purchase How To Date a Dragon:

Barnes and Noble

Books-a-Million

IndieBound

Chapters/Indigo

iBookstore

Sourcebooks

Giveaway!

Enter to win 1 copy of Flirting Under a Full Moon (Book 1 in the Flirting with Fangs series, directly preceding How to Date a Dragon).  US and Canada only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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I’m excited to have Rebecca York in the virtual offices this morning.  She dropped in to chat about Bad Nights, and she brought along a copy for one of you to win!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Rebecca] I’m a stubborn, determined woman who has the best job in the world—making up exciting, romantic stories and sharing them with readers.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Bad Nights?

[Rebecca] it’s the story of two people who never would have met under ordinary circumstances. Although they are very different from each other, they fall in love as they fight to save their lives from a homegrown militia led by a dangerous fanatic. There’s a synopsis of the story below.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Rebecca] I wanted a tough hero with a military background who was reckless enough to infiltrate a militia bent on attacking the U.S. Capitol. And I wanted him to meet the heroine of the story in a completely unexpected way.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Morgan?

[Rebecca] She’s intelligent. At the beginning of the story, she’s sad, still mourning the loss of her husband. Later, she’s determined to survive and forge a bond with Jack Brandt.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Jack had a theme song, what would it be?

[Rebecca] Well, I keep thinking about Jack determined not to cave in under torture. Maybe his song is “I Won’t Back Down.”

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Morgan is never without.

[Rebecca] Her training as a psychologist.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Jack’s bedroom?

[Rebecca] You know, this has to change as a result of Jack’s falling in love with Morgan. At the beginning he’d never have silk sheets, family photos or a bathrobe. I think she gets him into all three.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Rebecca] I have been greatly influenced by two writers: Jack Williamson and Ken Follett. Williamson because his was the first werewolf book I read, and I loved the concept. Follett because he’s a master of romantic suspense. When I read his Key to Rebecca, my reaction was, “That’s what I want to write.”

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Rebecca] A laptop computer. A comfortable place to sit. (Not at a desk.) And a glass of iced tea.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What was your biggest distraction while working on Bad Nights?

[Rebecca] The usual. E-mail, Facebook and Twitter.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Rebecca] Brilliance, by Marcus Sakey

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Rebecca] I am dyslexic and had a terrible time learning to read. My mom read to me, until I got the hang of it. One of the first books I enjoyed reading on my own was Red Planet, by Robert Heinlein.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Rebecca] I love cooking, gardening, decorating my house, hanging out with my husband and the cats, traveling, reading.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Rebecca] You can find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebecca-York/122426234846?ref=hl and at my web page www.rebeccayork.com

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Giveaway!

US addresses only please

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the book:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rebecca York’s writing has been compared to Dick Francis, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Maggie Shayne. Her books have been translated into twenty-two languages and optioned for film. She lives in Maryland, near Washington, D.C., which is often the setting of her romantic suspense novels. Rebecca’s next romantic suspense novel from Sourcebooks Casablanca, Betrayed, will be in stores in July 2014. For more information, please visit http://rebeccayork.com/.

To Purchase Bad Nights:

(Affiliate link)

Barnes and Noble

Books-a-Million

IndieBound

Chapters/Indigo

iBookstore

Sourcebooks

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Please give a warm welcome to Ella MacKenzie, feisty heroine of Victoria Roberts latest release To Wed A Wicked Highlander.  After the interview, enter for a chance to win a copy of To Wed a Wicked Highlander!

[Manga Maniac Café]  Describe yourself in five words or less.

[Ella MacKenzie] First, thank ye so much for having me here today. ?Tisnae often I’m asked to speak to people from the outskirts of Glengarry. Ciamar a tha sibh? For ye non-Gaelic speaking folk, I asked how ye were today.

Mmm…back to the matter at hand. If I had to describe myself in five words or less, I’d have to say that I’m the adventurous type.

[Manga Maniac Café]  Can you share a typical day in the life of Sybella MacKenzie?

[Ella MacKenzie] Ye can usually find me in the garden with Aunt Iseabail tending to the flowers and pulling weeds. I find the task soothes the soul. And when I’m nae in the garden, I’m probably hunting with my bow or riding to the loch. Aunt Iseabail’s mind still comes and goes so I try to stay close to home.

[Manga Maniac Café]  What three words come to mind when you think of Alex?

[Ella MacKenzie] Kind, compassionate, and aye, sometimes infuriating.

[Manga Maniac Café]  What do you find most exasperating about him?

[Ella MacKenzie] I tell the man something once and he doesnae listen. For instance, I told him many times that I am a superior rider. What does he do? He gives me a quiet mount that is more suited for Aunt Iseabail. I had to look twice to make certain the poor beast wasnae dead. In the end, he realized what I said to be true, but if he would’ve only listened to me in the first place…Men. Stubborn lot.

[Manga Maniac Café]  If you could change one thing you’ve done in your life, what would it be?

[Ella MacKenzie] I would’ve ne’er let Alexander kiss me at the waterfall when we were young. I should’ve known better because the boy was arrogant even then. And he was a MacDonell. What did I expect? I honestly didnae know what was I thinking at the time. If my brother had come down and seen a MacDonell’s lips upon mine, there would’ve been a bloody war. But I was young and didnae know any better.

[Manga Maniac Café]  What’s one thing you won’t leave home without?

[Ella MacKenzie] An escort. Someone has taken aim at me a few times in the woods and Alex insists I have a chaperone—although the man knows I can take care of myself.

[Manga Maniac Café]  What do you like to do when you aren’t spying on your new husband and his family?

[Ella MacKenzie] I find spying to be such a harsh word. I ne’er spied on Alex, Aunt Iseabail, Rosalia or Ciaran. I merely searched for my clan’s seeing stone. I actually do enjoy their company. Sometimes Rosalia and I poke fun at the men. That is always a good time.

[Manga Maniac Café]  Can you share your dreams for the future in five words or less.

[Ella MacKenzie] MacDonell and MacKenzie as one.

Mòran taing for having me here today. If Alex and I were to travel out of Scotland, do ye recommend a place for us to visit? Victoria just reminded me that Sourcebooks will give away one copy of To Wed a Wicked Highlander to a lucky commenter.

(US and Canada only, please)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the book:

Praise for To Wed a Wicked Highlander:

Reviewer Top Pick

“Victoria Roberts knocked it outta the ballpark with this one!!! It is Highland romance at its best, loaded with likable characters, and an engaging plot with lots of angst and heartache that put a few tears in this reader’s eye. It was so good that I couldn’t put it down.”

?Night Owl Reviews

Reviewer Top Pick

“Roberts has created the baddest boy of the Highlands for her third in her series. This action-packed romance has everything Roberts’ fans adore: a strong heroine who meets her match in a to-die-for hero, deception, betrayal, love and redemption. To Wed a Wicked Highlander has all the elements that make readers sigh with pleasure.”

?RT Book Reviews

About Victoria Roberts:

Victoria Roberts writes Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. She was named by RT Book Reviews as "one of the most promising debut authors across the genres" and was also a 2012 Reviewers Choice nominee for Best First Historical for Temptation in a Kilt.

X Marks the Scot and To Wed a Wicked Highlander (Bad Boys of the Highlands #2 and #3) were reviewer TOP PICKS, and the first of Victoria’s new Royal Rebellion series is scheduled for release fall 2014.  
Represented by Jill Marsal of the Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, Victoria is a member of Romance Writers of America®, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, several local chapters, as well as a contributing author to the online magazine Celtic Guide. 
Victoria lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband of twenty years and their two beautiful children—not to mention one spoiled dog. When she is not plotting her next Scottish romp, she enjoys reading, nature, and antiques. She also drags her clan to every Scottish festival under the sun.

Purchase/Links:

Sourcebooks: http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/to-wed-a-wicked-highlander.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Wed-Wicked-Highlander-Victoria-Roberts/dp/1402270127/ref=tmm_mmp_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1373572622&sr=1-1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-wed-a-wicked-highlander-victoria-roberts/1114828092?ean=9781402270123

Website: www.victoriarobertsauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/victoria.roberts.395

Celtic Guide: www.thecelticguide.com

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{ED – I received this notice from Sourcebooks and thought you might be interested in joining their chats with some historical authors.  There will be giveaways for your to win}

 

Join us for our largest author event yet. It’s a party of historic proportions. On Wednesday September 4, 2013 we’re hosting six bestselling historical romance authors for an all day event—including 3 live author chats with fabulous giveaways. Additionally, the authors will be blogging throughout the day and giving away books, edibles, jewelry, and more to readers who comment. This is sure to be one AMAZING day. Do not miss it!

Event Schedule

NOTE: All times are Eastern Standard Time

8am-9:30am EST – Kieran Kramer will be blogging and giving away prizes

9:30am-11am – Miranda Neville will be joining the blog and giving away prizes

LIVE CHAT #1: 11am-12pm – Join us as we chat with Kieran Kramer and Miranda Neville and have a chance to win some great prizes including a $25 gift certificate to the online bookseller of your choice (open to US and International readers), a “Love” bracelet, copies of The Earl is Mine, and a 30-minute long Skype book club session with Kieran Kramer.

12pm-1:30pm – Shana Galen will be blogging and giving away prizes

1:30pm-3pm – Theresa Romain will be joining the blog and giving away prizes

LIVE CHAT #2: 3pm-4pm – Join us as we chat with Katharine and Theresa and have a change to win some great prizes including: a copy of the new release It Takes Two to Tangle, an audiobook of Georgette Heyer’s Venetia, read by Richard Armitage (open to US and International readers), a latte mug and copies of Swept Away by a Kiss and In the Arms of a Marquess.

4pm-5:30pm – Katharine Ashe will be blogging and giving away prizes

5:30pm-7pm – Erin Knightley will be joining the blog and giving away prizes

LIVE CHAT #3: 7pm-8pm – Join us as we chat with Shana and Erin and have a chance to win some great prizes including: an audiobook of More Than a Stranger and a copy of the new release Flirting With Fortune, a copy of True Spies and the I Love Darcy bag collection, featuring: 1 “I Heart Darcy” tote bag, four Darcy buttons, one “I Heart Darcy” keyring, and and “I Heart Darcy” bumper sticker.

 

Get all of the details here

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Victoria Roberts is visiting the virtual offices today to discuss her book X Marks the Scot. Please give her a warm welcome!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Victoria Roberts] First, thank you so much for having me today. I’m a hard-working mother of two, and I’m married to my own knight for almost twenty years now. Home is in western Pennsylvania, but my heart is in the Highlands.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about X Marks the Scot?

[Victoria Roberts] This story is about Declan MacGregor (Laird Ciaran MacGregor’s bad boy brother from Temptation in a Kilt) and Lady Liadain Campbell (the bloody Campbell’s sister from Temptation in a Kilt.) I think the back cover blurb says it best.

He was a Highland Rogue—Wicked with a Bow and Just as Wicked with the Ladies.

Declan MacGregor hadn’t a care in the world beyond finding a soft bed and a willing woman…until he had to escort Lady Liadain Campbell to the English court. The woman needles him at every turn, but he can’t just abandon her to that vipers’ nest without protection.

She Never Asked for a Bodyguard…

Liadain wasn’t thrilled to be left in the care of her clan’s archrival. It was as if the man never had a lady tell him no before! And yet as whispers of treason swirl through the court and the threat of danger grows even sharper, her bitter enemy soon becomes the only one she can trust…

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Victoria Roberts] Declan’s character formed while I wrote Temptation in a Kilt. He was so good at being so verra bad. I knew instantly that Highland bad boy needed to have a story of his own. I loved the idea of mixing the feuding Campbells and MacGregors.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Liadain?

[Victoria Roberts] Passionate. Patient. Caring.

[Manga Maniac Café] If Declan had a theme song, what would it be?

[Victoria Roberts] Why does the song Bad Boys suddenly come to mind?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Liadain is never without.

[Victoria Roberts] Compassion. She has to be the most caring soul ever. No spoilers here.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Declan’s greatest regret?

[Victoria Roberts] Declan was so consumed with the idea that he was only a third son and would never amount to anything that he was blinded by sheer stupidity. He missed what was right before his very eyes. But…it’s never too late for redemption, even for an infamous rogue like Declan MacGregor.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Victoria Roberts] Scotland, sword-wielding Highlanders and kilts. lol

[Manga Maniac Café] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Victoria Roberts] Silence. Water. My muse. It’s nice to have all three.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Victoria Roberts] Eliza Knight, The Highlander’s Conquest.

[Manga Maniac Café] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Victoria Roberts] VC Andrews, Flowers in the Attic. Wow and wow. I think that was the first “adult” novel that sucked me in.

[Manga Maniac Café] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Victoria Roberts] Between carting two kids around to basketball, basketball and basketball, I do like to browse through antique stores. I love finding little treasures, especially ones that come with a story behind them.

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  Thank you!

[Victoria Roberts] Thanks so much for having me today. Sourcebooks will give away one copy of X Marks the Scot to a lucky commenter.

Please fill out the widget below to enter for your chance to win a copy of X Marks the Scot.  US addresses only, please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Didn’t win?  You can purchase X Marks the Scot from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below.

Praise for X Marks the Scot:

5/5 – Reviewer Top Pick
"Enthralling Highlander romance. One of the best Highlander stories I’ve ever read. This is one author who just keeps on getting better."

?Night Owl Reviews

“For a complex story brimming over with pride and passion, betrayal, trust and most of all the power to make a bad boy a hero, pick up this read."

?RT Book Reviews/4 ½ Star Review

About Victoria Roberts:

Victoria Roberts writes sexy, Scottish historical romances about kilted heroes and warriors from the past. She was named by RT Book Reviews as "one of the most promising debut authors across the genres" and is also a 2012 Reviewers Choice Nominee for Best First Historical novel for her debut, Temptation in a Kilt.

Her second novel, X Marks the Scot, is available February 2013 and the third, To Wed a Wicked Highlander, September 2013.

Victoria is a member of Romance Writers of America®, Celtic Hearts Romance Writers, Western Pennsylvania Romance Writers, as well as a contributing author to the online magazine, Celtic Guide.

Victoria lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband of nineteen years and their two beautiful children—not to mention one spoiled dog. When she is not plotting her next Scottish romp, she enjoys reading, nature, and antiques.

Purchase/Links:

Sourcebooks: http://www.sourcebooks.com/store/x-marks-the-scot.html

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/x-marks-the-scot-victoria-roberts/1112689759?ean=9781402270093

Book Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M27gsMb4Ro

Website: www.victoriarobertsauthor.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/#!/victoria.roberts.395

Celtic Guide: www.thecelticguide.com

Add a Comment

Please welcome Tracey Devlyn to the virtual offices today!  Tracey is celebrating the release of Checkmate, My Lord. Check out what she has to say about her latest release, and after the interview, enter for your chance to win a copy of Checkmate, My Lord!

[Tracey Devlyn] Thanks so much for having me at the Café! I really look forward to chatting with everyone.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Tracey Devlyn] Author of historical romantic thrillers, nature lover, dog wrangler, hopeless house cleaner, loyal wife and friend, git-R-done girl

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Checkmate, My Lord?

[Tracey Devlyn] CHECKMATE is about an exiled spymaster, whose enemy is forcing his neighbor to spy on him, or risk losing her seven-year-old daughter. It’s the second novel in the Nexus series.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Tracey Devlyn] Readers met Lord Somerton, Sebastian Danvers, in my debut novel, A Lady’s Revenge. I knew I wanted to move Sebastian’s story to the country and then the idea of his beautiful neighbor spying on him—England’s greatest spymaster—came to mind.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Catherine?

[Tracey Devlyn] Protective, list maker, passionate

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Sebastian had a theme song, what would it be?

[Tracey Devlyn] I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing by Aerosmith (Armageddon theme song)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Catherine is never without.

[Tracey Devlyn] Paper and pen. It’s the list maker in her.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What  will you never find in Sebastian’s bedroom?

[Tracey Devlyn] An orangutan?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Catherine’s greatest regret?

[Tracey Devlyn] That her daughter Sophie was without a father for so many years.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Tracey Devlyn] Reading, reading, reading. After that, my brainstorming buddies—Adrienne Giordano, Kelsey Browning, and Theresa Stevens—help me enrich my stories in countless ways.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Tracey Devlyn] Computer, quiet, and determination

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Tracey Devlyn] Divergent by Veronica Roth. Fantastic young adult dystopian series.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Tracey Devlyn] The Raven and the Rose by Virginia Henley. R and R was my first romance and it made me cry. I knew nothing about romance, so didn’t realize each story has a guaranteed happy ending. I was hooked from book one. It opened up a whole new world for me.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Tracey Devlyn] I enjoy watching movies with my husband and hiking in state and national parks.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Tracey Devlyn] A ton of different ways!

TraceyDevlyn.com | Dangerous Darlings Street Team | Newsletter

Twitter.com/TraceyDevlyn | Facebook.com/AuthorTraceyDevlyn LadyJanesSalonNaperville.com | Goodreads.com/TraceyDevlyn | Discover a New Love

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Ready for your chance to win a copy of Checkmate, My Lord? Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following. US addresses only, please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can order Checkmate, My Lord from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below.

About the book:

REVIEWS:

“Devlyn’s seamless writing will entice readers and keep them eager for the next installment.” ~ Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

“Devlyn delivers an emotional, powerful read.” ~ RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“Devlyn’s edgy and sexy series is gaining momentum, and historical-romantic suspense fans, particularly those who enjoy Brenda Joyce, will delight in this.” ~ Booklist

“Love the characters, lots of mystery, murderers, spies and lots of romance!!!!!!!! CHECKMATE MY LORD is an edge of your seat exciting read!” ~ Fresh Fiction

About the author:

Tracey Devlyn writes historical romantic thrillers (translation: a slightly more grievous journey Toward the heroine’s happy ending). She’s a co-founder of Romance University, a group blog dedicated to readers and writers of romance, and Lady Jane’s Salon-Naperville, Chicagoland’s exciting new reading salon devoted to romantic fiction.

An Illinois native, Tracey spends her evenings harassing her once-in-a-lifetime husband and her weekends torturing her characters. For more information on Tracey, including her Internet haunts, contest updates, and details on her upcoming novels, please visit her website at: www.TraceyDevlyn.com.

http://TraceyDevlyn.com

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTraceyDevlyn/app_208195102528120 (Street Team)

http://traceydevlyn.com/contact/

http://Twitter.com/TraceyDevlyn

http://Facebook.com/AuthorTraceyDevlyn

http://www.Goodreads.com/TraceyDevlyn

http://CasablancaAuthors.blogspot.com

http://www.discoveranewlove.com

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Today, we have a very special guest!  Please welcome the multi-talented Jane Ashford to the virtual offices.  Jane is celebrating the release of her first book in 10 years and I am absolutely thrilled that she was able to drop by for a chat!  

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Jane] I love learning. I practice kindness. I’m a story junkie and inveterate storyteller.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Once Again a Bride?

[Jane] It’s a double love story. Charlotte Wylde and her maid Lucy Bowman both find their perfect matches after enduring a miserable year in a cold, rigid household.

Charlotte’s father, knowing he was losing his mental faculties, married her off to an acquaintance he thought would keep her safe. Unfortunately, his judgment was flawed, and Henry Wylde cares only about Charlotte’s dowry. He treats her with contempt and allows his servants to do the same. Charlotte is determined to rebel when Henry is murdered in the dark streets of London. She’s freed from the shackles of a horrible marriage, but penniless.

Henry’s nephew Alec is amazed to discover that his unpleasant old uncle left a lovely young widow. He’s drawn to her against his better judgment, and soon embroiled in the tangle his uncle left behind. Alec’s sassy young footman finds Lucy equally entrancing.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Charlotte?

[Jane] Determined, sadder and wiser.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Alec is never without.

[Jane] His sense of responsibility.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Alec’s bedroom?

[Jane] Laudanum, handcuffs and his little sister’s fearsome cat.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Charlotte’s greatest regret?

[Jane] That she didn’t understand her father’s failing mind more clearly and speak up when he was trying to settle her future.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Jane] My aunt gave me Pride and Prejudice for Christmas when I was twelve years old, and I’ve loved Jane Austen ever since. My small town public library gave me Georgette Heyer, an enduring delight. In college, I studied English literature – Beowulf to James Joyce and beyond. I was intimidated for a while by all that greatness. : ) But my longing to tell stories of my own eventually revived.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Jane] Well, my Mac laptop. A strong cup of English Breakfast tea. And the sign on the outside of my office door that says “working” and means “interrupt only for real emergencies.”

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  What has changed the most in publishing since you started your career as an author?

[Jane] The proliferation of resources on the Internet and in groups like RWA. There are so many new ways for writers to get stories out there and to interact with readers and each other. It’s become a wonderful community.

[Manga Maniac Cafe]  How do you feel the romance genre has changed?

[Jane] I think it’s more inclusive, a larger world. There are many more kinds of love stories being told – in terms of protagonists, settings and sensibility.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Jane] Folly by Laurie King.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Jane] Read, of course! Get together with good friends. I love country walks. I’ve been spending some time in southern California and learning a whole new ecosystem. The blue jays look quite different from their Massachusetts kin! I enjoy going to the movies (the whole experience — popcorn, being part of an audience, previews, as well as the feature).

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Jane] My website is janeashford.com and my Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Ashford/154028944714495. I’ll be at the RT Booklovers Convention in May and hope to see lots of people there!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

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About the book:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Ashford discovered Georgette Heyer in junior high school and was captivated by the glittering world and witty language of Regency England. That delight led her to study English literature and travel widely in Britain and Europe. Jane’s historical and contemporary romances have been published all over the world, and she has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. Eighteen of her Regency romances will be published by Sourcebooks in the near future! Born in Ohio, Jane currently lives in Boston. For more information, please visit www.janeashford.com.

To Purchase Once Again a Bride:

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Chapters/Indigo

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Please welcome Elisabeth Staab to the virtual offices today.  Elisabeth is celebrating the release of her latest novel, Prince of Power.  Check out what she has to say about her new book, and after, enter for your chance to win a copy!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Elisabeth Staab] Well, I started hunting zombies back in the early 18…no wait…that’s my secret bio. Let’s see…

Aside from writing and vampires I am obsessed with music, caffeine, and documentaries, and I can turn almost anything into a dirty joke.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Prince of Power?

[Elisabeth Staab] Prince of Power is the sequel to my debut novel, King of Darkness. Anton is a wizard, an enemy of the vampires, who fell in love with the half-sister of the vampire king after he was sent to kidnap her. Tyra is a vampire-hybrid who spends her days helping the less fortunate and her nights killing Anton’s kind. From the start, it would seem like their relationship is doomed to fail. Their story is about whether or not their love can triumph and survive the war between their species.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Elisabeth Staab] I liked the idea of an enemy/outsider falling in love with one of the good guys, the challenges that would bring, and also the hero/heroine role-reversal. A more beta hero, a badass heroine with a little bit of a death wish. However, from the very beginning, Anton has driven this story. I “met” Anton early on when I was writing King of Darkness. He was in a dark room waiting to be tortured for defying his father on a mission. He kind of “told” me as I wrote that his mission had been about Tyra, that he’d effed up on purpose, and why. I had seen Tyra already with a fighter named Siddoh, but I realized that their relationship was in the past. Anton made it clear that he was the one for Tyra. So almost from the start of King of Darkness I knew where Prince of Power would go. That it would be Anton and Tyra’s story. And an enemy coming in from the outside, falling in love with a vampire? Talk about conflict!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Tyra?

[Elisabeth Staab] Fierce. Determined. Loyal.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Anton had a theme song, what would it be?

[Elisabeth Staab] Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” – There’s actually a really great scene near the end of Prince of Power where Anton and Tyra have a fight. A literal, physical fight while the snow is falling and she gets so mad at him that she tries to set him on fire. For me, the song fits both of them literally and symbolically. So it’s a little ballad-y for a hero, but for me this song was perfect for Anton and his overwhelm of emotion for Tyra. Not to mention her pyrokenisis. I made a whole playlist for Prince of Power, but this was “their” song.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Anton won’t leave the house without.

[Elisabeth Staab] Actually, I think the great thing about Anton is he pretty much can leave home with nothing. He was raised without much so his material needs are few. Even as weapons go, he has a supernatural ability, the power to heat things from the inside-out, and the power to heal, so he’d be okay in a pinch. If there were anything he wouldn’t want to leave home without, I think it would be Tyra.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Tyra’s pockets?

[Elisabeth Staab] Never. Hmm. Makeup or accessories. Aside from something to pull her hair out of the way when she’s fighting, it’s not really her bag. Keys. She can teleport so she doesn’t need them. Food. She’s awful about remembering to eat.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Tyra’s greatest regret?

[Elisabeth Staab] Not knowing her mother. Not making peace with her father before his death. Those are difficult burdens.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Elisabeth Staab] From reading alone, Suzanne Brockmann and JR Ward are the biggies. I discovered my love multi-POV multi-story arc novels thanks to them. Going all the way back to my teenager-hood though I read everything from Christopher Pike to Stephen King and I think you can see a tiny touch of those darker influences. I watch tons of comedy movies and stand-up, and even though I write dark I like to slide humor into my writing to breathe a little light into the darkness. Also, I’m incredibly lucky to have Damon Suede and Mary Calmes to trade beta reading with, and their suggestions have influenced my creative process heavily. I’m a far better writer thanks to them and I’m very grateful.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Elisabeth Staab] These days, my laptop and reliable childcare are the two things I absolutely must have. Anyone who has tried to write a love scene while two toddlers are doing battle in the background will understand! Music and coffee are extremely helpful pluses, and I used to be pickier about my writing space, but lately so long as my kids are safe in their beds or with someone I trust enough that I can relax and let the words flow, I’m good.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Elisabeth Staab] The last thing I read that really blew my mind was Broken by Megan Hart. I cried a good deal of the way through reading, and her books always leave me feeling conflicted. They’re intensely erotic and beautifully written, but emotionally they put me through the wringer.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Elisabeth Staab] Sati, by Christopher Pike, I think I read it way back in middle school or high school or something. I think it was probably the first thing I read that wasn’t required by my literature class. The “adult” ideas that it presented (about a woman who claimed to be God) in a both funny and philosophical way were very eye-opening.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Elisabeth Staab] Well I don’t get a whole lot of down time. What little I do have is spent with my kids, or reading, or watching a rare movie with my husband. When I can find a friend who’s game I actually like to go out and grab dinner, drinks, and dancing, but these days we’ve all got kids so that dicey, lol. Usually it’s reading. Which is fine, because then I can go anywhere.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Elisabeth Staab] Web: http://elisabethstaab.com

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/lajoT

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ElisabethStaab

Myspace: https://new.myspace.com/elisabethstaab/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/ElisabethStaab

G+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/115495970841282334338/posts/

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Ready for your chance to win a copy of Prince of Power?  Just fill out the widget below.  Earn extra entries for following. US and Canadian addresses only, please.

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Didn’t win? You can purchase Prince of Power from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the links below.

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Anne Elizabeth, author of SEAL at Heart, is visiting the virtual offices today.  Please give her a warm welcome! After the interview, enter for your chance to win a copy of SEAL at Heart!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 words or less.

[Anne Elizabeth] I’m a romance writer, comic book creator, monthly columnist, wife, step-mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, godmother, daughter, sister, friend, and adventurer. 

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about SEAL at Heart?

[Anne Elizabeth] Being a SEAL means everything to Petty Officer First Class John Roaker. So when a head injury coupled with a bout of amnesia takes him out of the action, he has to find a way to heal his wounds and recover his lost memories. Enlisting the help of beautiful physical therapist Laurie Smith, he heals his body and discovers that his unlocked memories hold a dangerous secret about his last mission that threatens his life, his country, and the woman he’s starting to fall in love with.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Anne Elizabeth] One night, my husband and I were sitting around the dinner table with a friend talking about SEALS and romance. The idea popped out of my mouth and I knew it was the one. BTW, my husband is retired from the Teams.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Laurie?

[Anne Elizabeth] Courageous, passionate, and determined.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Jack had a theme song, what would it be?

[Anne Elizabeth] Queen, WE WILL ROCK YOU

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Laurie won’t leave the house without.

[Anne Elizabeth] Laurie would never leave the house without her purse. It holds all the magical things she cannot live without during the day–from lipstick to a small first aid kit. 

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Jack’s bedroom?

[Anne Elizabeth] Collectible figurines, framed photographs, and large pieces of furniture—Jack doesn’t have any of those things.  Instead, he can pack and be out the door in under an hour with everything he owns packed in duffel bags. 

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Anne Elizabeth] I have a lot of creative influences. From my husband’s presence to the nature surrounding us, I draw it all in and it ends up in my stories.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Anne Elizabeth] In order to craft, I need a strong connection with my story and characters, support from my family and friends, and my laptop. I also need time–an opportunity to research, think, and type.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Anne Elizabeth] I read a lot of books. I am huge fan of Cathy Maxwell, Suzanne Brockmann, and Anne Rice. I’ve loved all of their latest books!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Anne Elizabeth] Dante’s THE DIVINE COMEDY—I’ve read that book at least a hundred times.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Anne Elizabeth] I love adventures! Kayaking on the ocean, biking or hiking in the mountains with my husband and our dog, cooking for family and friends, flying, or reading a book—these are some of my favorite activities.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Anne Elizabeth] Fans can contact me through my website and I’m on facebook and twitter, too.

Link to website: www.AnneElizabeth.net

Twitter: http://twitter.com/aeanneelizabeth

Link to personal Amazon page: http://www.amazon.com/Anne-Elizabeth/e/B002BX3M7C/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Link to book on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/SEAL-at-Heart-Anne-Elizabeth/dp/1402268904/ref=la_B002BX3M7C_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353888262&sr=1-1

I have a monthly column in RT BOOK REVIEWS magazine on comics, manga, and graphic novels. I also attend the Comic Cons in New York and San Diego as well as the RT BOOK LOVERS CONVENTION.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Ready to enter for a chance to win SEAL at Heart? Just fill out the widget below for your chance to win!  Earn extra entries for following.

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You can order SEAL at Heart from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the covers below.  Available in print and digital.

About the book:

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Pamela Sherwood’s debut novel, Waltz With A Stranger,  recently hit store shelves.  Pamela dropped by the virtual offices to answer a few questions about her first release, so please give her a warm welcome! After the interview, enter for your chance to Waltz with a Stranger!

[Pamela Sherwood] Hello, everyone, and thank you, Julie, for having me at Manga Maniac Café!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you! Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Pamela Sherwood] Historical enthusiast, lifelong reader, & writer of “romance plus”: romance + mystery/adventure/family saga, the stories that made me fall in love with the genre.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Waltz With a Stranger?

[Pamela Sherwood] Set in late Victorian England, Waltz with a Stranger is the story of twin American heiresses–one beautiful and ambitious, one crippled and shy–and the man caught between them. Amy, the ambitious twin, intends to make a brilliant marriage to an English lord, thus improving her “new rich” family’s social status. Aurelia, the shy twin, has come mainly as a companion to her sister. But one night, while hiding in the conservatory during a ball, she meets a handsome stranger who coaxes her out of her shell by asking her to dance. For the first time since the riding accident that scarred and crippled her, Aurelia feels beautiful and desirable. After a year abroad to recover her health, she returns to England–and finds to her shock that her dance partner is now an earl, and engaged to Amy.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Pamela Sherwood] I’ve long been fascinated by the transatlantic marriage market, in which wealthy American heiresses married financially strapped English aristocrats, bringing new money and new vigor to the “ruling class.” Some of these marriages were deeply unhappy, but others developed into enduring love matches.

I’d toyed with the idea of writing such a story, but I’d always assumed that, if I did, there would be one hero and one heroine. When I began plotting out the first chapters, I never expected the hero to walk out of the ballroom, where the ostensible heroine was holding court, wander into the conservatory, and meet the actual heroine dancing by herself in the moonlight. But there they were: James, Aurelia, and Amy–a triangle in the making.

Another important influence was Tennyson’s poem, “The Sisters,” in which a man inadvertently courts identical twins, with tragic results. The story stayed with me, over the years, and after James and the Newbold twins sprang into being, it attached itself to them as though they were made for each other. Three decent people, making a powerful amount of trouble for themselves as they try to reconcile their desires with their sense of honor. The resolution in Waltz with a Stranger is much happier than in Tennyson’s poem, however!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Aurelia?

[Pamela Sherwood] Loyal, resilient, and determined.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Aurelia had a theme song, what would it be?

[Pamela Sherwood] She has one in the novel: “Aura Lea,” a popular love song written in the 1860s. The song gave her her first name. Although if we’re considering a more modern song relevant to her situation, I’d have to go with “This Must Be Love (For I Don’t Feel So Well)” from the musical The Boys from Syracuse–the heroine, Luciana, has just realized to her horror that she’s fallen in love with the man she thinks is her sister’s husband!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing James won’t leave the house without.

[Pamela Sherwood] Other than his clothes? Money–he worked for his living before inheriting an earldom, and he understands better than most gentlemen how important it is never to be caught short of funds.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in James’ pockets?

[Pamela Sherwood] A cigar, a flask, or the address to a brothel!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Aurelia’s greatest regret?

[Pamela Sherwood] Riding too recklessly one certain day three years before the story begins–disaster for her and her poor horse.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Pamela Sherwood] Poetry–sometimes a line or an image sticks in my mind, and then comes out in an unexpected way. Or the poem tells a story that I want to explore further, or wish to approach from a different angle, as with “The Sisters.”

Music. If poetry supplies me with ideas, music provides me with emotional fodder. A song will evoke a particular mood or atmosphere that I want to recapture in my writing.

Random details that my imagination seizes upon. And those can be pretty much anything–an obscure historical fact, a bit of trivia, an unexpected insight that, on tweaking, germinates into a plot.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Pamela Sherwood] Privacy, relative quiet, and an uninterrupted stretch of time.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Pamela Sherwood] In the romance genre: Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne. I love the world of Napoleonic espionage as she portrays it, which is as much John LeCarre as it is Ian Fleming. She doesn’t downplay the grunt work of intelligence gathering, and her characters–male and female–are ferociously competent and vividly drawn.

Out of the romance genre: Book of Days by Deborah Grabien, a contemporary mystery set in the music world. She captures the excitement of live performance, the no less potent thrill of musicians playing and creating together, and the details–glamorous and mundane–of life as part of a touring rock band.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Pamela Sherwood] Just one? I’m not sure that’s possible! For as long as I can remember, I’ve been turned on to reading. That’s what happens when you have a mother who’s a teacher and former children’s librarian! But I remember being enthralled by Beatrix Potter’s books and Rudyard Kipling’s The Elephant’s Child when I was a kid, so my passion for reading may have started with those.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Pamela Sherwood] Read! Or cook, because that is a creative process too, in which you’re working with concrete objects that don’t shift and morph constantly (unlike writing!)–and if you get it right, the results are delicious!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Pamela Sherwood] My website at pamelasherwood.com

My twitter addy; http://www.twitter.com/pamela_sherwood

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Ready to enter for a chance to win Waltz with a Stranger? Just fill out the widget below for your chance to win!  Earn extra entries for following.

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You can purchase Waltz With a Stranger from your favorite bookseller or by  clicking the covers below. Available in print and digital.

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Title: How to Tame a Willful Wife Author: Christy English

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

Review:

I had high hopes for How to Tame a Willful Wife, and I was left disappointed for one reason; I didn’t like the hero, and he never won me over.  Caroline, on the other hand, was a fun heroine, full of spunk and not willing to just sit around and wait on her overbearing husband.  She was overindulged as a child, and allowed to explore life in her own way.  Her father, a rough and crusty sort of guy, saw no problem with his daughter learning how to wield weapons and learn to defend herself.   The world wasn’t a safe place, after all, what with all of the conflicts going on around them.  Raised by fighters, Caroline is unrepentant that she isn’t a girly type of a girl.  Her mother is less than thrilled, and constantly harps on her to grow up and act like a lady, but Caroline is too stubborn and too independent to listen.

One of the things that I liked about her was that despite being a rough and tumble girl, she was always aware that she had a duty to uphold.  Her reputation was everything, and she tried not to bring any embarrassment or scandal to the family.  After her hasty, unwanted marriage to Anthony, whose wealth saved her family from poverty, she finds that nothing she does is good enough for her husband.  She’s not allowed to be herself, and he expects her to conform to his idea of the perfect wife.  No more riding aside, no more weapons lessons, no more, well, FUN, and Caroline doesn’t like that at all.  What I didn’t like was that Anthony expected her to change who she was, without making any changes to himself.  He still intended to carry on as before he was married, with his wife tucked away at his country estate.  He would continue his own pursuits in London, and that included visits to his mistress.  While that might have worked in Shakespeare’s day, it didn’t work for me.

My greatest disappointment with the book was my least favorite plot device, and it’s one that’s used too often in YA novels.  The hero has made a terrible enemy, an awful man who ruined his younger sister.  Instead of explaining the situation to Caroline, Anthony becomes evasive and refuses to tell her why she must stay away from one of the only friendly and welcoming people she’s met.  Why, why, why must she never speak to Lord Carlyle?  By not treating Caroline like an adult, by not being upfront with her, all he did was push her into danger.  Carlyle is a smooth operator, always kind and helpful, more so than her husband.  I found Anthony annoying and thought Caroline deserved better.  I did enjoy the author’s writing style, and hope that the hero of the next book in the series is a little more likable for me.

Grade:  C+

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Macy Beckett, author of Sultry With a Twist, dropped by the virtual offices recently for a chat.  She brought along a copy of her new book for one of you to win, too!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Macy Beckett] Author of hot & humorous romance for adults and witty sci-fi for teens. Daydreams excessively and doesn’t eat her veggies. Toaster lover.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Sultry with a Twist?

[Macy Beckett] Sure, I’ll give you the condensed version: A bogus warrant forces June Augustine to return to her tiny Texas hometown for a month of community service…under the supervision of her first love, the devilishly sexy Luke Gallagher.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Macy Beckett] It was a bit unconventional. The characters came to me first. I saw June and Luke’s entire relationship arc unfold before my eyes in the shower one day. All I needed was a reason to get June back in town with Luke—and keep her there—so they could fall in love again. That was the hard part. I brainstormed for weeks, but all my ideas felt too clichéd.

Then I read about a guy who had to travel out of state to settle a ten-year-old traffic ticket. Because so much time had passed, that simple speeding violation had snowballed into a legal nightmare. Inspiration struck, and I decided to use legal action to get June back in Sultry Springs.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe June?

[Macy Beckett] Selfless, brave, kind. She’s the type of person I strive to be…though I sometimes fall short.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are three things Luke would never have in his bedroom?

[Macy Beckett] Well, this may sound strange, but you wouldn’t find furniture in Luke’s bedroom. He flips houses for a living, and he crashes on an air mattress in the home he’s currently renovating. You also wouldn’t spot any designer clothes or fancy cologne—Luke’s a rough-n-tumble guy. Also, you’d rarely find a woman in Luke’s bedroom. Much like his heart, he’s protective of his personal space, so any hookups happen on neutral ground. Can June change that? You’ll have to read and find out.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Luke had a theme song, what would it be?

[Macy Beckett] I wouldn’t call it a theme song, but “Half of My Heart,” by John Mayer, was popular when I wrote Sultry with a Twist. Every time I heard that song, it made me think of Luke because he wasn’t willing to give his whole heart to June.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Macy Beckett] I wish I knew! My process is pretty organic. I don’t understand where the creativity comes from…I just pray it doesn’t dry up. However, I try to do things that nurture my spirit, as corny as that sounds: take walks, read, dance, laugh. It’s important to refill the well from time to time.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Macy Beckett] 1. My laptop (obviously) 2. A mug of liquid motivation (aka: coffee) 3. “Freedom” (software that blocks me from accessing the sweet, seductive interwebs for an hour or two)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Macy Beckett] That’s hard because I’ve read so many great books lately. I’m going with something a little less known: SECRET KEEPERS, by Mindy Friddle. I hate gardening, (a strong theme in this novel), so I never would have picked it up on my own. Lucky for me, a friend gave me a copy, and I’ve worn it out since then. I love the way the author made me connect so completely with the point of view characters—an elderly widow, a shopaholic, a teenage boy, and an injured landscaper. It’s a simple-but-compelling read.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Macy Beckett] Man, you ask the tough questions, don’t you? Hmm. Looking back, I’d say my love of reading started around age ten, when my dad gave me a copy of THE HOBBIT. I’m a proud sci-fi/fantasy geek, so it was right up my alley.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Macy Beckett] Hahaha! When I’m not writing? You’re funny. I juggle two series, (romance and YA), so when I’m not writing, I’m thinking about writing. Ask my poor, neglected husband if you don’t believe me. But this raises a good point—I need to take a break. Didn’t I just mention the importance of “refilling the well”? I’d love to spend the weekend at a cabin in Hocking Hills, OH, and hike the fall trails. They’re so beautiful this time of year. Any volunteers to watch the kids for me? Anyone? Anyone?

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Macy Beckett] I love hearing from readers! You can drop me a line via my website, and I’m also active on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Website: http://macybeckett.com/

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MacyBeckett

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5142014.Macy_Beckett

Thanks so much for having me today! It was a pleasure. Stay in touch, and happy reading!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

You can enter for a chance to win a copy of Sultry With a Twist! Just fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following. US and Canadian mailing addresses only, please.

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Author Bio:

Macy Beckett writes hot and humorous romances set in Sultry Springs, Texas: where first loves find second chances. Her debut novel, SULTRY WITH A TWIST, is now available in stores, and two more Sultry Springs romances will follow in 2013.

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Terry Spear is no stranger to fans of paranormal romance.  She has been a fan favorite for years, and I was delighted when she took time out of her busy day to drop by the virtual offices for a chat.  She is celebrating the release of her latest novel, Savage Hunger, which is the kick-off of her new series, The Heart of the Jaguar.  She brought a present for one of you, too!  After the interview, enter for a chance to win a copy of Savage Hunger.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Terry Spear] I love creating things from teddy bears to books to photography. The first two I’ve won awards at. The last is just a hobby!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Savage Hunger?

[Terry Spear] In the beginning, there were wolves. Now jaguar shifters are on the scene. Not that werewolves exist as far as the jaguars are concerned, but…

The shifters need to take a break and become one with their wild nature from time to time. When Connor and his sister Maya visit their home away from home in the Amazon, Connor doesn’t expect to meet up with the same woman he’d rescued months ago on an Army mission gone wrong. Now she’s in the jungle again…and he can’t deny the way he feels about her, has felt about her since the first meeting. The problem? She’s human. And no way is he turning a human into one of their kind, IF they can even do such a thing. What does he know about it? He and his sister were born shifters. But he can’t deny wanting to turn Kathleen. And that could be a total disaster.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Terry Spear] My editor wanted me to come up with a new series, and so I thought what would be better? I already had a canine series. How about cat shifters? I wanted ones that live close enough to the States, and I wanted something exotic, rather than pumas/cougars that live all over the states. Though who knows. Maybe one of those will pop up in a future story. The characters evolve as the story moves along. I needed Kathleen to be in the jungle to meet up with Connor the first time. So she became an Army officer on a drug mission. Connor’s a big cat just relaxing in a tree when he has to come to her rescue. I wanted to show the shifter side of him right off to set the tone of the series.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Kathleen?

[Terry Spear] Spunky, fighter, lost (the lost part describes me. I finally got a GPS, but it wouldn’t help in the jungle)

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are three things Connor would never have in his bedroom?

[Terry Spear] A dog (it’s a cat thing, you know), a woman (not unless it’s Kathleen), waterbed (jaguars love the water, but claws on a waterbed could prove disastrous).

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Connor had a theme song, what would it be?

[Terry Spear] Connor’s more into the wild and nature…so something with a jungle beat, South American tune would suit him.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Terry Spear] Reading. The first shifter story I read was a children’s tale about a prince who was a polar bear by day and a man by night and had taken a woman as his wife, but she could never see him as a man or he’d be a polar bear forever. I fell in love with wolves through Jack London’s Call of the Wild and White Fang. Many of my childhood stories were about princes coming to rescue the princesses and living a happily ever after. Only in my tales, the princess is just as likely to save the prince as the other way around.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Terry Spear] Green tea, my open file if I’m writing on the computer, or a pad of paper, if I’m writing scenes without it. That’s it!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Terry Spear] I loved Kidnapped by Stevenson, and then I read a romance version of it that I totally loved.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Terry Spear] I devoured every book I could since I was little. My first books that I learned to read off and adored: Dick and Jane! That was the beginning. I couldn’t get enough of reading. I was way ahead in English classes, so spent most of the year during the English hour in the library reading books. When I was older, I loved Last of the Mohicans, which had me reading every kind of Native American story there was, and tales around the world. And I loved Jack London’s White Fang and Call of the Wild that influenced my love of wolves.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Terry Spear] I love taking pictures! I want to learn how to enhance them to make them even more interesting! And gardening—creating a forest as I live in a cornfield half the year, and forests mean shade from the hot Texas heat! Swimming—especially when it’s in crystal blue waters. Hiking—especially when it’s in cool Oregon forests, or New Hampshire woods, or Colorado forests, or…I love the woods! Making award-winning teddy bears, and reading, of course!!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Terry Spear] For more information, please visit www.terryspear.com, or follow me on Twitter, @TerrySpear.  I am also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/terry.spear .

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

 

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Ready for your chance to win a copy of Savage Hunger?  Just fill out the widget below.  Extra entries for following.  Open to US and Canadian addresses only.

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Didn’t win?  You can purchase Savage Hunger from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the widget below. Available in print and digital.

SAVAGE HUNGER BY TERRY SPEAR – OCTOBER 2012

USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has captured hearts worldwide by wrapping the realities of nature into the glorious romance of the wild. Now, she turns her award—winning imagination from the sexy werewolf hunt to the intense sizzle of jaguar shape-shifters.

As a jaguar he is graceful and gorgeous…

Speedy and stealthy…

Fierce, independent, and wild…

As a man he is passionate and powerful…

Willful and wonderful…

And he’ll stop at nothing to protect what’s his…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Terry Spear has written a couple of dozen paranormal romance novels and two medieval Highland historical romances. Her first werewolf romance, Heart of the Wolf, was named a 2008 Publishers Weekly’s Best Book of the Year, and her subsequent titles have garnered high praise and hit the USA Today bestseller list. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry lives in Crawford, Texas, where she is working on her next werewolf romance and continuing her new series about shapeshifting jaguars. For more information, please visit www.terryspear.com, or follow her on Twitter, @TerrySpear. She is also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/terry.spear .

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Shana Galen is the author of many historical romances.  She has a new series hitting stores, and the first book is When You Give a Duke a Diamond.  Shana stopped by the virtual offices to tell us about her new series, and she brought a present! You can enter to win a copy of When You Give a Duke a Diamond after the interview.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Shana Galen] mom, wife, author of fast-paced, adventurous Regency romances

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about When You Give a Duke a Diamond?

[Shana Galen] Absolutely! When You Give a Duke a Diamond is the first in my Jewels of the Ton series, which is about three glamorous Regency-era courtesans. Juliette, has been dubbed the Duchess of Dalliance, and she has a reputation as an ice queen. That’s not who she is at all, but she does have a reason to keep aloof and watch her back. Will is the sixth Duke of Pelham and boy does he ever know it! He has a lot of responsibility and likes his life orderly and routine. He doesn’t like scandal. He doesn’t like disruptions. And he doesn’t like Juliette. But when she witnesses the murder of his fiancée and becomes the killer’s next target, Will is honor-bound to protect her.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Shana Galen] I had been reading a book by Jo Manning titled My Lady Scandalous because I was researching female spies for Lord and Lady Spy. The book is about Grace Dalrymple Eliott, who was a famous Georgian courtesan and also spied for England during the French Revolution. I started thinking about how glamorous a courtesan’s life could have seemed on the outside and how very precarious their position in Society was. I thought a heroine like that would make an interesting character, especially if I threw a bit of intrigue her way, as I am wont to do.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Juliette?

[Shana Galen] smart, spontaneous, and fun-loving

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are three things William would never have in his pocket?

[Shana Galen] He wouldn’t have money. He’s a wealthy duke and his name would get him whatever he wanted. Most aristocrats put everything on credit during the Regency anyway. It was vulgar to carry money. He wouldn’t have house keys. He has servants who had better be waiting at attention when he arrives. And he wouldn’t have any IOUs. Gambling was hugely popular during that era and so many people gambled away everything they had. Will is a practical guy. He doesn’t believe in luck or games of chance.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Juliette’s single most prized possession?

[Shana Galen] Definitely her freedom. She’s been under a man’s thumb before, and she would never consent to have her independence taken away again.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Shana Galen] I never realized until I had a child how much I need quiet and time for reflection in order to be creative. So much of the time I have to run to my computer and start working as soon as my daughter takes a nap, but this way of working doesn’t inspire great writing. I have to get up at early o’clock a few times a week so I have a couple of hours of quiet and solitude to just think about my book and my characters and my plot. Occasionally, my husband has an early meeting, and he’ll come downstairs to find me sitting at the table, laptop closed, just thinking. I’m pretty sure he thinks I’m very weird.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Shana Galen] I can write no matter what, but if I could create the perfect situation, I’d have lots of time, silence, and a constantly replenished snack bowl.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Shana Galen] The Selection by Kiera Cass.  (The Selection)  It was such a fun read.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Shana Galen] Probably Gone with the Wind. The first time I read it I was in fourth grade. I already loved reading by then, but I’d never read something so complex or wonderfully romantic. I think I fell in love with historical romance reading that novel.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Shana Galen] Honestly? Sleep. I also love spending time with my daughter. She’s almost three, and we play in her toy kitchen, make play dough shapes, and read library books. She has a constant supply of energy and enthusiasm.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Shana Galen] My website is www.shanagalen.com; my Twitter handle is @ShanaGalen; and my Facebook page is www.facebook.com/ShanaGalen. I also blog with the Jaunty Quills (www.jauntyquills.com) and have a blog for moms called Peanut Butter on the Keyboard (www.peanutbutteronthekeyboard.wordpress.com). I love hearing from readers. My email is [email protected]. Finally, if readers have a smartphone, they can download my free author app for Apple http://bit.ly/Lc4IRz or Android http://bit.ly/LwaG2h devices. I always have fun app exclusive content.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Want to win a  copy of When You Give A Duke A Diamond?  Entering is easy! Just fill in the widget below.  Extra entries for following!  Open to US shipping addresses.

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Didn’t win? You can order When You Give A Duke A Diamond from your favorite bookseller, or by clicking the widget below. Available in print and digital

 

WHEN YOU GIVE A DUKE A DIAMOND BY SHANA GALEN – IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2012

He had a perfectly orderly life…

William, the sixth Duke of Pelham, enjoys his punctual, securely structured life. Orderly and predictable—that’s the way he likes it. But he’s in the public eye, and the scandal sheets will make up anything to sell papers. When the gossips link him to Juliette, one of the most beautiful and celebrated courtesans in London, chaos doesn’t begin to describe what happens next…

Until she came along…

Juliette is nicknamed the Duchess of Dalliance, and has the cream of the nobility at her beck and call. It’s seriously disruptive to have the duke who’s the biggest catch on the Marriage Mart scaring her other suitors away. Then she discovers William’s darkest secret and decides what he needs in his life is the kind of excitement only she can provide…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shana Galen is the award-winning author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals. She is a three-time RWA Rita Award finalist and a winner of the coveted RT Reviewer’s Choice KISS Award. A former English teacher in Houston’s inner city, Shana now writes full time. She is happily married, with one daughter and a spoiled cat. Look for the next book in the Jewels of the Ton series, If You Give a Rake a Ruby, in March 2013. For more information, please visit www.shanagalen.com, or follow her on Twitter, @ShanaGalen.

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Bec McMaster is the author of Kiss of Steel, a sexy steampunk romp that blazes with action and romance.  Bec dropped by the virtual offices to chat about her book, and she brought along a copy for one of you to win! Check out what she has to say, and then enter for your chance to win a copy of Kiss of Steel!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Bec McMaster] Dreamer, adventurer, glass half-full kind of gal with an addiction to paranormal romance, steampunk and alpha heroes. Wannabe world traveler.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Kiss of Steel?

[Bec McMaster] Kiss of Steel is set in a steam-fuelled London where the aristocratic Echelon rule with an iron fist and crush any and all who oppose them. With their puppet queen, blood taxes and automaton army, the only man they don’t dare touch is Blade, the notorious Devil of Whitechapel – and one of their own.

Fleeing from the Duke of Vickers with a secret he’d kill for, Honoria Todd is forced to accept Blade’s protection. Infected with the craving virus that makes the Echelon what they are, Blade has his own vendetta against the duke. When Honoria comes into his life she could be the key to bringing down his old enemy – or the very salvation he never dared dream of.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Bec McMaster] I’ve always had this idea about an aristocratic race – almost like a corruption of the ton – that rule a dark and dangerous world. Then this image sprang to mind of the steamy surrounds of Whitechapel and a desperate woman hurrying through the crowds, glancing over her shoulder. Watching her from the shadows was a dangerous man with his own intentions and secrets. I couldn’t wait to find out who they were.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Honoria?

[Bec McMaster] Uptight, fierce, protective.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are three things Blade would never have in his pocket?

[Bec McMaster] 1. A plain white cotton handkerchief. It would be silk and most likely something garish, like red, or gold.

2. A book. Raised in the rookeries, he’s never had the time to learn to read.

3. A pistol. He prefers something that will get him up close and personal in a fight – like brass knuckles or a cut-throat razor.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is Blade’s single most prized possession?

[Bec McMaster] Blade doesn’t really care about material things, but his most prized possession would be his home – and the adopted family of strays he’s gathered over the years. He never really had a home growing up, and he lost his sister at a young age, so the instinct to create his own family and to protect them is a strong one. He’ll fight to the death to keep it all.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Bec McMaster] My grandfather used to read to me every time I stayed at his place, and they would be wonderful, exciting stories that let my imagination roam as a child. He was the one who made me fascinated with reading and all of the amazing worlds out there in books.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Bec McMaster] 1. Tea and copious amounts of it. Preferably English Breakfast.

2. My ugg boots to keep my feet warm – and because writing is such a glamorous job.

3. Two cushions to prop me up nice and straight and keep my back comfortable.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Bec McMaster] Wicked as They Come by Delilah S. Dawson. I finished it last week and it was such pure steampunky-fun with blud-bunnies, an interesting take on the vampire mythos and a charming hero who has spent years waiting for his love to come to him.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Bec McMaster] Wow, this is really tough. As I said above, my grandfather read to me from a really early age (I can’t ever remember not reading or being read to), so it’s hard to know what grabbed my attention the most. A quick list of my favorite childhood books includes Brer Rabbit, Nicky and his Forest Friends, Hiawatha, the Children of Cherry Tree Farm, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and The Hobbit. I could go on. I obviously liked talking animal stories. And witches.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Bec McMaster] As any writer will probably tell you, this doesn’t happen very often. I love to read, though I need to make more opportunity for this (my TBR shelves groan in agreement), I love cooking, walking the dog, going to the gym, playing netball, hanging with my boyfriend, reading travel brochures and plotting my next trip.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Bec McMaster] At my website at www.becmcmaster.com, @BecMcMaster on Twitter and Facebook www.facebook.com/BecMcMaster. I love to hear from readers!

Thank you so much for having me!

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

Thanks to Sourcebooks, I have a copy of Kiss of Steel to give to one of you! Just fill out the widget to enter! Earn extra entries for following.  US and Canadian mailing addresses only, please.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Didn’t win? You can purchase Kiss of Steel from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the widget below. Available in both print and digital.

 

KISS OF STEEL BY BEC MCMASTER – IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2012

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author Bec McMaster lives in a small town in Australia and grew up with her nose in a book. A member of RWA, she writes sexy, dark paranormals and steampunk romance. When not writing, reading, or poring over travel brochures, she loves spending time with her very own hero or daydreaming about new worlds. For more information, please visit http://www.becmcmaster.com/ or follow her on Twitter, @BecMcMaster.

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Academy Award-winning actress Jessica Lange has inked a deal with Sourcebooks’ Jabberwocky imprint.

Her picture book, It Is About a Bird, will hit bookstores in fall 2013. The book itself will contain photographs taken and hand-colored by Lange, inspired by a story she told her grandchildren. Here’s more from the release:

It’s the charming, delightful story about two sisters, Ilse and Adah, and their grandmother, Mem, who lives on a quaint, rambling small farm.  During the visit to the farm, the sisters sneak into the ramshackle barn they’re normally forbidden to play in, and stumble on all kinds of strange and fascinating treasures, including an antique birdcage. The discovery prompts Mem to reminisce, and to tell her granddaughters about time she spent in Paris and Rome as a young woman, where she adopted a pet canary named Uccellino—Italian for ‘little bird’—that she brought back with her to the United States.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

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