Introducing Nancy Holland

Hey GLIAS Fans! I’m so very excited to introduce my guest today. Nancy Holland is a fabulous debut author with a wonderful new book you'll definitely want on your shelves, OWED: ONE WEDDING NIGHT. But Nancy is also my chapter mate, she was a 2010 Unsinkable Golden Heart sister, she is an amazing critique partner and, most of all, she’s a dear friend. I’m so proud of this book and of Nancy. I know you’ll all love this wonderful story.

Welcome to  Get Lost in a Story!

MEET NANCY

Born in California (and always a California girl at heart), I'm now a teacher in the Upper Midwest. I wrote my first novel at the age of seven – a saga about a family of chipmunks and the family of ducks who lived in the pond next door. I’ve been writing ever since.

My husband and I are lucky enough to have two smart, wonderful children who live on opposite coasts of the US. Since I've become a Harper Impulse author, my remaining daydream is to live in Paris or London.

NANCY HOLLAND

Owed: One Wedding Night

Harper Impulse (UK)

OWED: ONE WEDDING NIGHT

Jake Carlyle always gets what he wants...especially when it comes to his runaway bride. To save her family's business, Madison Ellsworth must turn to Jake Carlyle, her ex-lover and the man she left standing at the altar. Jake eventually agrees to help, but on one condition - he gets what he's owed. His wedding night. Still in love with Jake, Madison agrees, but once the passionate honeymoon is over, she can't help but wonder if their marriage is based on convenience, love - or revenge. As they deal with the failing business, Madison and Jake soon learn that high-stakes games played in the boardroom inevitable will spill over into the bedroom!

EXCERPT

Jake escorted her out of the Yacht Club dining room, ignoring the stares of people who remembered, or had heard, about their past together.

When they stepped out into the foggy night, he didn’t ask where she was parked, but took the path that ran along the water. She moved to pull away, but when he took hold of the sleeve of her jacket, she fell into step with him.

Out of habit he led her to the empty slip he’d held onto in case someday he could bear to sail the Bay again. He stopped and rested his elbows on the weathered wooden gate, one foot raised to the bottom rail. Beside him, Madison stared over at the next dock, at her family’s old slip and the yacht that her Grandfather Moore had had built fifty years ago and named after her mother. The “Dana Marie” was now the “Blue Sky”.

The mist had curled the hair around Madison’s face. Her eyes were wide and wistful, like a poor kid peering into a toy-store window at Christmas. Not because she wanted the yacht back. She’d always been more interested in sunbathing on the deck than sailing. No, she had to want her old life back.

Something sharp wrapped itself around his heart, but he willed it away.

He hadn't taken that life away from her. Her father had.

Jake hadn’t taken anything away from her. She was the one who’d walked out on him, hurt him, humiliated him. . .

She must have felt him watching her, because she turned to look at him. But the wistful, wanting expression on her face didn’t go away. Instead it grew darker, hotter.

A foghorn sounded. Somewhere a buoy bell clanged on the waves. A car drove by, leaving a trail of loud music in its wake.

“What happened, Madi?”

The question seemed to surprise her as much as it surprised him. She didn’t answer, but stared past him toward the water.

“What happened to us?” he asked again.

  

PURCHASE OWED: ONE WEDDING NIGHT

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FUN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH NANCY HOLLAND

LIZ: How often do you get lost in a story?

NANCY: As often as I can. I read while I'm on the elliptical at the Y and at home whenever I have time, mostly on the weekends and during vacations. And of course, I get lost in a book any time I feel the need to get away from real life.

LIZ: What are the next five books on your ‘to be read’ pile?

NANCY: I'm in the middle of Jennifer McAndrew's Ill-Gotten Panes. I don't usually read mysteries, even cozies, but I make an exception for hers. So far it's great! After that, I have the third book in Barbara Longley's Loch Moigh series, The Highlander's Folly, Love Me Always (Last Year's Bride by Anne McAllister and Make Believe Wedding by Sarah Mayberry), The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin, and Tall, Dark, and Dead by Tate Hallaway. As you can see, I read a lot of books by friends. Luckily, my friends are great writers.

LIZ: What’s your favorite fairy tale?

NANCY: Cinderella. Maybe because that was my first Disney movie, but I also love the surprise of it when she realizes she can be loved, despite what the evil stepmother and stepsisters have been telling her all these years.

LIZ: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

NANCY: Pogo. Whoops! Did I just give away my age? Anyway, he was so humble, yet so wise (for a possum).

LIZ: Cast your book using fairy tale or cartoon characters.

NANCY: Madison's not Cinderella. She's a (formerly) rich girl who's working hard to make her mark on the world. Maybe Snow White? Except Jake does much more than amble in and kiss her. He thwarts her, makes her mad -- and loves her passionately through it all.

LIZ: Name three things that are, at this moment, in your heroine’s purse, satchel, reticule, weapons belt or amulet bag (or whatever she carries)?

NANCY: It's a designer black leather bag big enough to hold her tablet computer, just in case Jake gives her a chance to talk business. Besides the computer, you'll find the keys to her Ferrari and a wallet with no credit cards (at least until after she marries Jake).

LIZ: What sound or noise do you love?

NANCY: The sound of waves on a beach or water running in a stream. Very soothing.

   

LIZ: Who’s your favorite villain?

NANCY: Very specific answer -- Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook in Mary Martin's "Peter Pan." (There I go being old again.) He was so charmingly, deliciously evil. And he danced!

LIZ: What do you hope for the future of romance publishing?

NANCY: I hope it keeps getting richer and more diverse, but maybe less chaotic. I've found so many wonderful voices out there to learn from and enjoy, but I hate that others might have trouble finding them, too.

LIZ HAS GOTTA ASK: What’s the most personal thing you’ve ever put in one of your books?

NANCY: I won't go into any detail, but it's one of the scenes in this book.

DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Owed: One Wedding Night takes place in one of my favorite US cities, San Francisco. What US city do you think is most romantic -- and why?

The winning commenter will have a choice of the ebook in Kindle or Nook format right away, or an autographed, hot-off-the-press print copy after they become available.

CONTACT NANCY:

Contact e-mail: nancy@nancyhollandwriter.com 

Website: nancyhollandwriter.com 

Facebook: Nancy Holland 

Twitter: nancyholland5

UP NEXT:

I have another book contracted with Harper Impulse that is scheduled for late this year or early next. And Owed: One Wedding Night will be available in paper in July/August.