Get Lost Between the Pages of Sarah's Cowboy

The New Year’s Eve Club – Five women. One night. One year to get it right.

Sarah's Cowboy
Terry Irene Blain
Borough's Publishing Group

On New Year’s Eve five women friends make a pact to meet next New Year’s with a man who meets the qualities of Mr. Right.  Practical school teacher Sarah Alexander decides she’d like a little adventure. With her summer job teaching child actors on a western movie set, she just might get more than she bargained for.  Cowboy stuntman Kit Stewart is adventure with a capital A. 

Excerpt:
     A hand touched Sarah’s arm. “Yes?” she turned and there he was. Kit Stewart, the man who saved her from certain harm her first day on the film set. The man who continued to intrude on her thoughts. At least this time he wasn’t mad.
     Darn if his half-smile didn’t make her heart thump just as hard today as almost being run down by galloping horses had that first day.
     Still in cowboy garb, he thumbed back his hat in a gesture she’d seen a million times in the movies. “I wanted to say I’m sorry for yelling at you the other day.
     An apology. How gentlemanly. And unexpected.  She supposed it was her turn. 
     “I wasn’t watching where I was going. I’m, ah, new to all this. ”
     His smile got even bigger drawing an answering grin from her. 
     “I’m Kit, the stunt coordinator.” He held out his hand.
     She accepted his gesture, allowed his fingers, warm and just a little rough, to wrap around hers. “I’m Sarah, the school teacher.” She winced, “That sounds so, I don’t know.” She usually wasn’t at such a loss for words. But standing here with a low grade current running from his hand to hers caused her thoughts to scatter on the pine scented breeze. 
     He grinned. “I’ve always liked school. And school teachers.”
     Wow, her heart kicked up another beat. She could actually feel the sparks flying between them. Were his nerves sizzling like hers? She took a breath and withdrew her hand, hoping to regain her composure. “I accept your apology and I hope you accept mine.” 
    “Of course.” He smiled then winked at her. “See you around.”
     Oh lord, she hoped so.
     He turned and walked away giving her a view of leather chaps outlining one fine butt.

Jillian: Welcome to Get Lost in a Story, Terry. First off, I'd love to share your bio with readers:

Terry Irene Blain was lucky enough to grow up in a large Midwestern family with a rich oral tradition. As a child she heard stories of ancestors’ adventures with Indians, wildlife, weather and frontier life in general, so she naturally gravitated to the study of history, completing a BA and MA and teaching history at the college level. Married to a sailor, now retired, she’s had the chance to live in various parts of the country as well as travel to foreign places such as Hong Kong, Australia, England and Scotland. She currently writes historicals and contemporaries set in the American West.  

Jillian: How often do you get lost in a book?
Terry: If I’m really into a book I don’t see the words on the page, just the ‘film’ of the visual images of the story in my mind.  What John Gardner calls the ‘fictive dream’.  As an example I remember a story my Western Civilization teacher told when I was in college.  He’d gone to school on the GI bill after WWII, and one of his neighbors was a southern girl married to a friend of his from Ohio.  The story goes that the wife was reading Gone with the Wind when her husband came home and asked what was for dinner.  She’d been so into the book that she slammed the book shut and said, “Get it yourself, you damn Yankee.”  That's getting lost in a book!  I only hope that my stories can do that for a reader (or two!).  I often read historicals, and I’ve had my husband ask me a question and I’ll look up and it takes me a few seconds to come back several centuries where I was to the present so I can answer his question. 

Jillian: Is writing or story-telling easier for you?
Terry: For me, the story-telling is easier.  I think this comes from teaching history, where you really are telling as story.  You tell about Henry VII and all his wives, or about George Washington and the American Revolution, or the hoplite phalanx and how it connects to democracy.  When you can make your lecture around a person/character or an event, you can relate it to something that resonates with the student.  I can ‘see’ the story in my head and never am really sure that I get what I see translated on to the page so that the reader sees exactly what I see.  And I guess the reader doesn’t have to see exactly what I see, as long as they enjoy the story.  

Hoplite phalanx

Jillian: What was the first story you remember writing?
Terry: I’m not one of those authors who say they started writing early.  Really the first story I wrote was Kentucky Green, my first historical novel.  I taught US History and Western Civilization in at the college level, and to me teaching history is really storytelling to keep the class interested.

And being a history teacher, I wasn’t deterred by doing research to write a story that takes place in 1794, basically on the American frontier.  Fortunately, Kentucky Green was published as a Kensington Precious Gems and now is available as an ebook from Boroughs Publishing Group. 

Jillian: What’s the first book you remember reading?
Terry: Humm? My parents tell me I learned to read at an early age, around five or six, but don’t really remember actually reading any of the children’s stories I remember.   So I’m going to say the first book I really remember reading was Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransom.  Its set in England in the Lake District, and it’s about the four children’s adventures during the summer and the adventure they have with their sailboat, The Swallow.  The Amazons are two sisters that also have a sailboat.  All the action and adventure is from the children’s point of view, and the adults are very much background characters. 

Jillian: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
Terry: Both of my grandmothers drank tea, so I leaned to drink tea instead of coffee.  I remember my one grandmother saying, “Unless the kettle boiling be, filling the tea pot spoils the tea.”  So I’m very particular about my tea.  I actually order my tea from a company in Canada, and make it with boiling water in a tea pot.  I admit that I do use tea bags instead of loose tea.  My usual tea is a black and green blend with a little sugar to bring out the flavor.  If it’s a stronger tea, then I have used a little milk (and no, I have no opinion as to whether the tea or the milk should go in to the cup first).

You’ll notice in The New Year’s Eve Club that Sarah (my character) does drink tea.  Jackie Leigh Allen (A Real Man) had Sarah drinking Earl Grey tea in the draft of her ms. and I asked her to change it as I really hate Earl Grey.  So to make our stories match, Jackie changed her manuscript so The New Year’s Eve Club novellas would be in sync. Thanks, Jackie.
Jillian: What do you do to relax and unwind? 
Terry: I like to watch television in the evenings and do counted cross stitch.  I’m currently working on a cross stitch birth announcement for our first grandchild due in June.   

Jillian: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?
Terry: I guess the play list for reading would be the same as I listened to while writing.  When I wrote my historicals, I did search for a good soundtrack for writing the story.  As an example I used the soundtrack for The Last of the Mohicans when writing Kentucky Green.  For Colorado Silver, Colorado Gold which is set in Durango in 1888, I found a CD called Durango Saloon.  CD covers – Durango Saloon, Last of the Mohicans
However, since Sarah’s Cowboy is a contemporary, I really didn’t search for specific music.  Since most of Sarah’s Cowboy takes place on a western movie set, I just listened to the country station, and used the songs that the station was currently playing. I do mention a couple of specific country songs in Sarah’s Cowboy.  

Jillian: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
Terry: My favorite movie is Red River (1948). It’s a classic western with John Wayne and Montgomery Cliff.  It’s about the first cattle drive from Texas to Kansas (a very fictionalized version).  I saw the movie on television when I was a young.  Not only does it have cowboys, but it’s a coming of age story, a revenge story and a romance.  (Red River ranked #5 on the American Film Institute’s list of the 10 greatest films in the “Western” genre.)

Could this be why all my heroes have been cowboys (to name another movie)? Perhaps this is why when we five authors brainstormed the characters and stories for The New Year’s Eve Club, I chose a stuntman in a western movie for the hero in Sarah’s Cowboy?

Terry has a question for commenters: Who is your favorite cowboy hero or your favorite book/movie set in the west? Terry is giving away an ebook copy of SARAH'S COWBOY to one lucky commenter. 

Here's where you can find Terry online: 
Website: http://www.terryireneblain.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerryBlainAuthor 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNewYearsEveClub

Reminder to Commenters: You must leave your email contact info with your comment to be included in the raffle! 

***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

Get Lost in a Love Story with Teresa Carpenter

Chef's Delight
Teresa Carpenter


Heather Brown has one stipulation when it comes to finding Mr. Right: anyone but the boy next door. Ex-SEAL Joss Stone may live next door, but he’s anything but a boy. And he’s the one thing standing between her and everything she’s lost. 

Here's an Excerpt: 

Heather sighed as she watched Joss jog away, his fine tush showed to advantage in thin knit shorts. She was so hot for his bod and all she got from him was a peck on the cheek. Wasn’t that the story of her life? Men thought of her as a friend or sister, rarely as a lover. 
Maybe he was right. Maybe she was too nice. 
And maybe she needed to do something about that.
A few weeks ago she wouldn’t have done it. She’d be too timid, too nice to contemplate such a bold move. But the hurt she’d suffered and the resulting anger gave her an edge. She didn’t really care if she provoked a little anger in exchange.
She climbed into her car, drove ahead of Joss, and leaned against her car waiting for his arrival. As she anticipated, he stopped when he reached her. Lord, he wasn’t even breathing hard. But he had removed his shirt and his broad chest glistened with sweat. 
He had a light dusting of dark hair on his pecs that narrowed into a thin line bisecting his abs. She licked her lips. Sometimes a girl had to go after what she wanted. 
“What?” he demanded.
“This.” And she threw her arms around his neck. Dragging his head down to hers, she plastered her mouth to his running her tongue along the seam of his lips.


Jillian: Steamy excerpt! I am thrilled to welcome Teresa Carpenter to GLIAS! Teresa enjoys a long and  successful partnership with Harlequin Books, as well as her new relationship with Boroughs Publishing Group.

Teresa Carpenter believes with love and family anything is possible. The author of twelve romance novels for Harlequin, Teresa 's books have rated a Top Pick by Romantic Times and The Romance Review and The Sheriff’s Doorstep Baby was nominated for Best Contemporary Romance of the Year (2012) on The Romance Review. She lives in San Diego surrounded by her large family. Her day job is in the exciting world of banking. When she’s not writing, she’s reading or attending one of her nieces or nephews sporting events. Her "Princess Camp" trilogy is based on fairy tales.

Jillian: Where do you read and how often?
Teresa: Everywhere and as often as possible. I love to read. It’s one of my greatest joys in life. I carry my book with me wherever I go and whenever I have a few minutes, I’ll read. Watching the kids in the front yard, in between innings at my nieces’ softball games, in line at the store, waiting for the movie to start are all opportunities to get in a few pages. But my favorite time is a lazy Sunday morning in bed. Unfortunately, I don’t get too many of those.

Jillian: What is your favorite tradition from your childhood that you would love to pass on or did pass on to your children?
Teresa: I have a large close-knit family and I think the best tradition that’s been passed down is we love and support each other no matter what. In fact, my moto is With Love and Family Anything is Possible. I’m the main cruise director in our crowd and I hope what I’ve passed on is the importance of celebrating each other. Birthdays, holidays, special accomplishments need to be acknowledged and celebrate. It’s a way of showing each other you’re important to me.   

Jillian: How often do you get lost in a story?
Teresa: Every day. In two stories, the one I'm reading and the one I'm writing. And when I'm not actually doing one or the other, it's always a good sign when it's the one I'm writing that occupies my thoughts. If not, it becomes a good news, bad news scenario, because it means the book I'm reading is really great but I have to push through and finish it because it's messing with my creative process.

Jillian: What’s your favorite fairy tale?
Teresa: I love fairy tales. The whole idea of finding true love and overcoming impossible barriers to reach happily ever after is the basis for all romance stories. My favorite is Beauty and the Beast. What can I say; I just melt when a wounded Alpha male is tamed by a gentle beauty with spirit and loyalty. In fact my Princess Camp series for Harlequin Romance is a trilogy loosely based on fairy tales. My give away book, The Sheriff’s Doorstep Baby the first in the series, is based on Sleeping Beauty. Of course I had to do Beauty and the Beast, which is book two, Baby Under the Christmas Tree. And in June 2013 is Rapunzel with The Making of a Princess. Love the cover. (you could insert picture of my cover here, this is from 

Jillian: What's the first book you remember reading?
Teresa: The Flame and Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss. I heard my mom talking about it with her friends and I thought it sounded really intriguing. Of course I had to read it under my covers because I was only thirteen and she would have had a fit. I loved it. And then I spied a Harlequin romance sample in the store for fifteen cents and talked my mom into getting it for me. I've been hooked ever since.  My younger brother was named Brandon after the character in The Flame and the Flower. He's going to be 40 this year. 

Jillian: Tea or coffee? And how do you take it? 
Teresa: Iced tea, no sweetener, no lemon. You're probably thinking ugh. My family wrinkles their noses at me, but then someone is always stealing a sip! I don't care for the taste of mocha in anything drink, candy, ice cream. But I love the smell of fresh ground coffee beans.   

Teresa has a question for readers: Who's your favorite fairy tale heroine? I’m giving away a copy of the first book in the Princess Camp series, The Sheriff’s Doorstep Baby to one commenter drawn by randomizer. Good luck!

Previous Books:

Baby Under the Christmas Tree (Princess Camp)
The Sheriff’s Doorstep Baby (Princess Camp)
The Playboy’s Gift
The Boss’s Surprise Son
Sparks Fly With Mr. Mayor
Sheriff Needs a Nanny
Flirting With Fireworks
Her Baby, His Proposal
Baby Twins: Parents Needed
Daddy’s Little Memento
The Baby Due Date

Books Coming Soon:

Chef’s Delight, Boroughs Publishing
The Making of a Princess, Harlequin Romance June 2013 (Princess Camp)

Find Teresa Here:

My Website    Facebook    Amazon   

***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

Get Lost in a Mystery with Mama, Mia, and a Few Rotten Olives!

"Great idea for a series and full of fun characters." 

–Janet Evanovich

The Spia Family Presses On
Mary Leo



It's been two long years of hard work for Mia Spia and her overly optimistic mom, all the while keeping their family of former wise guys on the straight and narrow.

That is until ex-con Cousin Dickey arrives to throw a rotten olive into the mix.

Soon there's a dead body, a nosy sheriff's detective, a curious finacée, a severed pinky finger, and a randy past lover to contend with, prompting Mia to enlist her best friend, survival expert Lisa Lin, for help. 

While trying to avoid being killed, the two women unravel family secrets, set a trap for a killer, and uncover information about Mia's missing father that can only lead to more rotten olives.

"This is a deliciously entertaining murder mystery ensconced in olive oil." 

Publishers Weekly, Beyond Her Book--Michelle

Jillian: I am happy to welcome Mary Leo to Get Lost in a Story. Tell us a little about yourself––where you grew up, how you came to be a writer.

Mary: I grew up on the south side of Chicago, where my two best-friends and I made up countless love stories about the Beatles. I guess that’s how this whole writing-thing got started---three little girls writing romance about Paul, John George and Ringo.
 
Romance is simply part of my DNA and I can’t seem to write much of anything else. Even my mysteries have an element of romance in them.  I intend to keep on writing in the romance genre for many years to come. I love a happy ending.

Jillian: Where do you read and how often?
Mary:  On my patio either in the early morning or at dusk, with a cup of hot tea. I put my feet up, lean back and get lost in another world. I try to read at least an hour each day. 
Jillian: What sound or noise do you love? 
Mary: I have two, actually. I love the sound of kids playing…and the sound of birds heralding in the new day. 
Jillian: Describe your favorite kind of hero to read/write?
Mary:  I love a hero who is attracted to the heroine despite the fact that he knows he shouldn’t be. He keeps coming back, can’t say no to her and has a sense of humor. A hero who is willing to wait it out while she finds her footing, and who will put his love out there even when he thinks she’ll walk away. 
Jillian: Who’s your favorite villain? 
Mary: J. R. Ewing
Jillian: What do you do to unwind and relax? 
Mary: I watch TV for about an hour every night. I have my favorite shows which help clear my head after a long day. I’m really into the new Dallas…love a good family drama. And Bones, Castle, The Mentalist and the Amazing Race to name a few. 
Jillian: What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing? 
Mary: Good friends. I was a lonely kid. My sister is ten years older than me, so she was always off doing her own thing. I had two or three really close girlfriends when I was growing up, but those friendships were always conditional. When I finally took my writing seriously, I joined Writers Anonymous, a group of ten women where the average age was 75. At first I was a bit hesitant about joining…I was in my late 30’s and they seemed ancient. But after only two meetings, I realized the lessons I would learn from these incredible, self-reliant, talented women would impact my entire life…and they did. Not only did they teach me the fundamentals of good storytelling, but they taught me invaluable lessons about the different stages of a woman’s life.  Since that time, I’ve joined many other writing groups, RWA being one of them, where I’ve met so many remarkable and brilliant women that I feel truly blessed to be a part of their lives.  
Jillian: Tea or Coffee? 
Mary: And how do you take it? I love tea, Harney & Sons is my favorite brand. On the weekends I make a pot of Palm Court mixed with a little Formosa Oolong. I add honey and steamed milk, with a sprinkle of cocoa. Yum! During the week, it’s Irish Breakfast or an organic black tea with warmed milk and honey. In the evening, I’ll drink decaf or an herbal. I’m a hot tea die-hard. Very seldom do I drink iced tea unless it’s mixed with a little lemonade. 
Jillian: What’s your favorite kid joke?
Mary: Why is six afraid of seven?  Because seven eight nine.

Mary's got a question for commenters: Whose your favorite wise guy? Could it be Tony Soprano portrayed by James Gandolfini? Ronny Cammarerie played by Nicolas Cage in Moonstruck? Or maybe Harry Valentini, played by Danny DeVito in Wise Guys? Ray Liotta in Goodfellas? Al Pacino as Michael Corleone in the Godfather?  

So many wise guys to choose from! Pick your favorite bad boy or share another! Mary is giving away two ebook copies of her Spia snooks to two lucky commenters.  

Mary's Contacts: Website: http://maryleo.net  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mary.leo.754

***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

Beach House No. 9 = Love Shack

The Love Shack
Christie Ridgway



Globe-trotting photojournalist Gage Lowell spent carefree childhood summers in Crescent Cove. Now that he desperately needs some R & R, he books a vacation at Beach House No. 9—ready to soak up some sun and surprise old friend and property manager Skye Alexander. Their long-distance letters got him through a dangerous time he can't otherwise talk about. But when he arrives, the tightly wound beauty isn't exactly happy to see him.

Skye knows any red-blooded woman would be thrilled to spend time with gorgeous, sexy Gage. But she harbors secrets of her own, including that she might just be a little bit in love with him. And she's convinced the restless wanderer won't stay long enough for her to dare share her past—or dream of a future together. Luckily for them both, summer at Crescent Cove has a way of making the impossible happen….

Join me in welcoming guest author, Christie Ridgway. 

Christie Ridgway is the USA Today bestselling author of over forty contemporary romances. She's received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, another for Best Contemporary Romance, and is a five-time finalist for the prestigious RITA award from Romance Writers of America. A native of California, she sets most of her books in her home state and is always hoping to make readers both laugh and cry. Though she has a degree in English Language and Literature, she spent years in the techy field of computer programming before trying her hand at her dream job—writing romance. Christie also pens a monthly column highlighting new romances for BookPage, a review publication with both a print and online presence. She lives with her college-sweetheart husband, two sons, a dog, a cat, and a tortoise in Southern California.1.

Jillian: How often to you get lost in a story?
Christie: I am always reading! I read books for my BookPage column, books by my favorite authors, books for my book group. I listen to audio books while I clean, cook, and exercise.

Jillian: What’s the first book you remember reading?
Christie: I remember reading Bobbsey Twin books...those must have been early favorites. But the childhood book that keeps popping into my head when I think of "first" is The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken. After I exhausted the Children's section of my local library, my mom, a mystery lover, introduced me to romantic suspense novels (she already knew my penchant for romance!). The first book I picked from the adult section all by myself (and that I adore to this day and read at least once a year) is These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer.

Jillian: Where do you read and how often?
Christie: As I mentioned above, I read all over the place because I'm listening to books while I vacuum, dust, do laundry. But my favorite place to read is propped up on pillows on my bed, our yellow Lab, Hank, softly snoring nearby. Sometimes our cat, Goblin, will gift me with her presence by my feet.

Jillian: Describe your favorite kind of hero to read/write?
Christie: I love a strong hero hiding a wound. He might be just a bit broody...until the heroine gets her hands on him and helps him lighten up! I like a hero with a dry sense of humor and a tender heart that he guards with everything he has.

Jillian: What was the first story you remember writing?
Christie: I wrote a story in third grade about gypsies. It was a love story, of course, and my mom typed it up for me so it looked "published." In eighth grade I wrote my first "book." It was a rhyming children's story (also illustrated by me) titled "How Jo Jo Jones Found Happiness or A Small Tin Box with a Fortune Inside." There was no love interest—just hapless Jo Jo Jones.

Jillian: Be honest, when reading 1st person...do you miss the hero’s POV?
Christie: I really enjoy writing the hero's POV. I'm married, I have two sons, and I think I know the way the guy-mind works...I have fun exploring that. But when reading...there is something to going without the hero's thought processes. It makes him more mysterious and is how we experience men in real life.

Jillian: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?
Christie: A romance of course! I read all kinds of books, but it's romance novels that make me the happiest. I don't know why, but that's the kind of story I'd choose if I was gathering what I could for my stay on a deserted island.

Christie has a question for commenters: So, your ship is going down and you have just a few minutes to toss things into your lifeboat—it's a short row to the deserted island you see ahead. You have plenty of food, water, and stuff to shelter with. What's going to be your reading material? You can name an author, a title, or a genre. (I'm thinking I'll grab the entire Nora Roberts oeuvre.)

One commenter chosen by randomizer will receive Beach House No. 9, the first full-length book in the Beach House series.

How to contact Christie:
website: www.christieridgway.com
Twitter: @ChristieRidgway
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChristieRidgway

***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

Get Lost in Sharon Lynn Fisher's World: Ghost Planet!

READER, BE YE WARNED: There is a big surprise at the end of chapter 1. If you don’t want to know, skip both blurb and excerpt! 

Psychologist Elizabeth Cole prepared for the worst when she accepted a job on a newly discovered world -- a world where every colonist is tethered to an alien who manifests in the form of a dead loved one. But she never expected she'd struggle with the requirement to shun these “ghosts.” She never expected to be so attracted to the charming Irishman assigned as her supervisor. And she certainly never expected to discover she died in a transport crash en route to the planet.

 Reincarnated as a ghost, Elizabeth is symbiotically linked to her supervisor, Murphy -- creator of the Ghost Protocol, which forbids him to acknowledge or interact with her. Confused and alone -- oppressed by her ghost status and tormented by forbidden love - Elizabeth works to unlock the secrets of her own existence.

 But her quest for answers lands her in a tug-of-war between powerful interests, and she soon finds herself a pawn in the struggle for control of the planet…a struggle that could separate her forever from the man she loves.

EXCERPT:

We trotted up half a dozen steps and were passing through the glass doors when Murphy said, “We’ll be scanned by security just inside. I hate them being here, raising people’s anxiety level in a place where we want them to feel safe. But all new arrivals pass through here, and someone decided it was a good idea.”

Thinking about the illicit-substance and weapons scans in all the airports and public buildings back home, I raised my eyebrows. “What’s it for?”
“To get a sort of fingerprint on everyone,” he explained, walking through the doorframe-shaped scanner. “Just to make sure we know who’s who. They can’t do it at the transport terminal because no one has ghosts when they first arrive.”
I followed him through the scanner, and a long beep sounded somewhere off to my left as I joined him inside. Murphy’s head jerked toward the sound. His eyes moved to the glass doors we’d just come through, and slowly back to me. He glanced at the security desk on our right.
“Where is it?” Murphy called to the guard, whose fingers were flying over his keyboard. The guard’s ghost leaned against the wall behind him, little more than a shadow.
The man stopped typing and looked up. “I’m sorry, Dr. Murphy?”
“I heard the alert go off, but I don’t see her. My ghost, Simon,” Murphy added, growing impatient. “Do you see her?”
The guard blinked at him a couple times. Then he cleared his throat. “She’s standing right next to you, Dr. Murphy.” 

*  *  *

Murphy looked at me, startled. He shook his head and walked over to the security desk.
I turned halfway around, searching for the missing Aunt Maeve.
Though the colonists were far from any real understanding of the aliens, Ardagh 1’s scientists had established that they were nearly identical to us physiologically. Only a specialized medical scan could reveal the differences in their insular cortex and limbic structures.
So the security scan was identifying ghosts—creating a record to help keep track of who was and wasn’t human. I joined Murphy at the security desk, and the guard swung the display around so Murphy could see it.
The screen was split into two halves, a picture of me filling one side. Opposite the photo was a crisp 3-D brain scan. Murphy touched the screen to manipulate the image, zooming in on a half dozen small, flashing red patches. He dropped his hand and stood staring at the screen.   
“No question, Dr. Murphy,” said the guard. “This has never happened before. I’ll have to file a report, and I’ll need to do a full workup on this new one. My shift is over at three. Do you have time then for me to ask you some questions?”
Wait. One. Minute. The guard’s face wheeled as the ground lurched under my feet.

Sharon Lynn Fisher is the author of GHOST PLANET, a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist that Publishers Weekly calls “an absorbing and exciting story full of science, sex, and intriguing plot twists.” She lives in the Pacific Northwest, where she is hard at work on her next Tor novel and battles writerly angst with baked goods, Irish tea, and champagne. You can visit her online at SharonLynnFisher.com.


Jillian: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?
Sharon: I heart playlists! They help me engage with my characters and story, and even influence my world-building. I compiled one for GHOST PLANET, available on both iTunes and Spotify. The list includes artists such as Swell Season, Snow Patrol, and Ben Harper. There are several Irish artists, as my hero (Murphy) is an Irishman. Also because I heart Ireland as much as I heart playlists.

Jillian: Be honest, when reading 1st person...do you miss the hero’s POV? 
Sharon: Since GP is first-person with no hero POV, I guess I better say “no.”  Honestly I don’t, though. I think the reason for that is most of the romance books I read fall more in the “strong romantic elements” category, and it never occurred to me that it can make the romance feel more complete to spend time in the hero’s head. With that said, however, almost all of the stories I’ve worked on since GP have included the hero’s POV. I think GP is a story for which first-person works especially well. I’m not sure I’d go that route again, because I’ve found I really enjoy writing male POVs! (Never say never, eh?)

Jillian: What’s something you’d like to tell your fans?
Sharon: Thanks. Seriously. You guys ROCK. I hope I never let you down. And regarding a second book in the GP world: I hope I will get that opportunity! 

Jillian: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book? 
Sharon: Breathe a ginormous sigh of RELIEF. I don’t know what other people’s muses are like, but mine is more like Golem than the shiny, benevolent being you might envision. I never know what she’s going to get up to. She can disappear for days. WEEKS. With no forwarding address. Sometimes when she comes back she has all kinds of half-baked, half-CRAZY ideas. 

“I hate writing, I love having written,” said Dorothy Parker. I don’t hate writing really, or I wouldn’t do it. Because when you’re in the zone there is nothing that feels better. Almost nothing.  But it can be a lonely, scary journey at times. 

So to finally answer the question, when I finish writing a book, I break out the champagne, and Golem and me crank up the music, precious, and go whirling arm-and-arm around my apartment cackling like the deranged creatures we are.

Jillian: What is your favorite tradition from your childhood that you would love to pass on or did pass on to your children?
Sharon: When I was a little girl, I had a pocket fairy for an imaginary friend. I was painfully shy, and when I was at school, she would hop out of my pocket and sit on the edge of my desk, making it feel like not such a scary place. 

My daughter (6) has the same interest in fairies (though thankfully NOT the shyness). A good friend of mine bought her the book HOW TO SEE FAIRIES, which has a pop-up page with a compartment for leaving them gifts and notes. She has been corresponding with them for a few months now.  
Jillian: Does she know about the fairy doors in the town of Ann Arbor, Michigan? Really, here's a link: http://urban-fairies.com/locationspages/locations.html

Jillian: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
Sharon: I do read reviews, yes. Compulsively. (Doesn’t everyone?) When they’re positive I like to roll around in them like a horse does when first loosed into the pasture. When they criticize, I try to hear them with an open mind. Clearly reviews are subjective. One reviewer will praise an aspect another will blast. I think the road to madness lies in taking every criticism to heart. But I think criticisms taken as a whole can point to areas for improvement. 

Jillian: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?
Sharon: In Seattle the answer to this question can be complicated. I used to chuckle when I’d overhear in Starbucks, “Grande, extra-hot, nonfat, vanilla latte with double syrup and lots of foam.” I chuckle no longer. My current hot beverage of choice is a tall Irish tea latte made with 1/3 water, 1/3 lactose-free milk, and 1/3 almond milk, no sugar. I could explain why, but seriously? Just chuckle at me. I deserve it.

Jillian: What does it mean to love someone?
Sharon: I love this question, because discovering the answer has been a life-long journey for me. In my current stage of life, I believe true love is about celebrating someone for exactly who they are, and wanting them to be happy, no matter what that means. Once we start loving a person for who we want them to be -- expecting them to be what we think we need -- everyone is unhappy. 

Jillian: What would you say is your most interesting quirk? 
Sharon: My split personality. I feel like I am exactly one half logical and rational and critical-thinking, and one half completely open to everything. Just as an example, if you told me you believed in ghosts, very skeptical feelings would arise in me. If you told me you *didn’t*, I would start working up my argument for their existence. I think this is probably common among the writerly tribe. I think it’s the “open” side that writes and the “rational” side that edits. But damn, it can be unsettling at times. 

On that note, half of me believes in psychic ability, and more specifically, that I have premonitions. I sometimes dream about stuff that happens the next day. Little stuff, like an ad I’ll see on the side of a bus. Never anything useful, like lottery numbers. 

I hope 2013 will be a year of opening up more to that curious and open side of my nature, for the sake of creativity as well as overall happiness.

Jillian: What’s your favorite kid joke?
Sharon: My daughter once looked me in the eye and observed, “Ear boogers don’t taste good.” As opposed to the nose kind, you know. Which are delicious. 
Jillian: HA!

Sharon has a question for commenters: Please share one quirk about yourself, something not many people know about you, or something about yourself that makes you blush! (I promise not to put it in a book. At least not with your name attached. ;)

As an alternate: What thing has happened to you that you consider “magical” in some way? (ESP, ghosts, fairies, or just everyday magic)

Sharon has  a copy of Ghost Planet to give away to one lucky commenter chosen at random. Please leave e-mail contact information if you wish to be included in the drawing.

Sharon's Contact Information: 

http://www.sharonlynnfisher.com/

http://www.facebook.com/sharonlynnfisher

https://twitter.com/sharonfisher

https://plus.google.com/u/0/113082084407415133850/posts

***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

This Blog is All About Men in Kilts!

The Great Kilt

Have you ever wondered about the origins of the kilt? Especially how the tartan was folded and worn? I think the demo takes place in the great hall of the Royal Palace, Edinburgh Castle. If you have the time, this is entertaining and informative.

Formal Kilt w/Bow Tie

The kilt ensemble most often seen at weddings or other formal affairs.

Modern Prince Charlie Style Kilt

Another popular look for weddings and formal receptions. Needless to say there are a number of accessories that accompany the wearing of a kilt. The sporran, hose and flash, neckties and sashes, Ghillie Brogues, Spats, and of course the Sgian Dubhs (dagger) which is slipped under the hose cuff.

Formal kilt looks by MacGregor MacDuff

Drummer Kilt

Piper's or Drummer's Doublet Jacket. Check out those epaulettes!

 Modern Informal Kilt

An updated look featuring an open shirt with lace trim.

Street Kilt

This is the everyday kilt look you see on the streets in Edinburgh.

Modern Leather Kilt

No accessorizing required with torso above.

The Military Kilt

No matter what kind of kilt, underwear is optional, if not discouraged! 

Question for Commenters:

Do you have a favorite kilt look? Please share! I'm giving away a signed copy of A Private Duel wit Agent Gunn to a one lucky commenters chosen at random.

Purchase links:

B&N     AMAZON     BAM!     BOOK DEPOSITORY      INDIEBOUND

Jillian's Contact Information:

 Website  Facebook  Twitter

***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

Character Notes for the Hero and Heroine of A Private Duel with Agent Gunn

A Hero with Soldier’s Heart
A rare glimpse at Finn's smile.

One of the things I get to do as an author is endow my heroes......with personality traits! LOL!  I enjoy giving them quirky mannerisms, expressions, as well as charming lopsided smiles (see above). Every hero has a unique sense of humor–as well as physical traits, like how muscular, how tall, or how long he wears his hair–unkempt mane or neat and well-groomed?

Most importantly, my heroes must have flaws, at the very least, weaknesses. Otherwise, these Gentlemen of Scotland Yard are just not interesting enough, not for me anyway. Beyond the demands of the cases they are working on, I want them to overcome, or at least confront, some personal challenges. 

I dug through some of my early character notes on Agent Gunn and thought I would share some of them with blog readers. Enjoy!

Name: Phineas “Finn” Gunn aka Hugh Curzon (uses Curzon working undercover)

Age: 31

Physical Characteristics: Big Scot 6’2” Thick, waves of dark hair, a bit longish, more of a wild mane. Likes to ride, so is often seen in tall boots and a long, great coat. 

Personality Traits: Can be cool, even aloof, but has reasonably good social skills. He does not suffer fools, prefers the company of his brother and few close friends. At one time Finn was a bit of a rake, but has settled in with a mistress. A risk taker in the field, he is always several moves ahead of his enemies. He is also brave to fault, which is how he gets injured.

Education: Trinity College, University of Oxford

Skills: Marksman (with a name like Gunn, he has be) bruising rider, cunning, intelligent–a top notch criminologist. 

Avocation: A talented writer of crime fiction as well as scholarly works in the field of forensic science. When he is feeling well enough, he accepts uncover assignments from both Scotland Yard and the Admiralty.

Hobbies: Fencing lessons twice a week. He also has an interest in gemology, which has grown into a lucrative appraisal business–more of a side business.

Faults: His is an acute recluse at times, due to a pitiable condition called Soldier’s Heart. Finn was stationed in the Northern Territories of India, and fought in Afghanistan during the Second Anglo-Afghan War. On patrol in Afghanistan he and his men were captured and tortured. 

Notes on Soldier’s Heart: Doctors used to call it shell shock, soldier's heart, or nostalgia. Soldiers would shake uncontrollably, experience heart palpitations, or go blind after witnessing trauma on the battlefield. From as far back as ancient Greece, history reveals the psychological toll of war on soldiers. Today we call the condition post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Greek historian Herodotus describes an Athenian warrior who became blind when a soldier standing next to him was killed during the Battle of Marathon in 490 B.C.

The condition called Soldier’s Heart was first described by an American civil war surgeon and was thought to be an actual heart malady, likely because of the rapid, erratic pulse.

A Ballerina Heroine.

Or is she also a jewel thief, as well as a clever spy?

When I imagined the heroine for this tale of romance, espionage and adventure I knew I had to make her every bit as intelligent and talented as Agent Gunn. Here are a few of my notes on Cate:

Name: Cate Willoughby aka Catriona de Dovia (stage name)

Age: 24-ish

Physical Characteristics: Statuesque, with a dancers body which means she is strong and flexible. Raven hair, striking blue eyes, and a well-defined cupid’s bow that drives Finn wild.

Personality Traits: When she is angry she goes off in Spanish (a la Ricky Ricardo) Fiercely independent, Cate can be impulsive at times, and though she claims she not an adventurer, she is often daring. She has a bohemian, artistic streak, as well.

Faults: Major trust issues. Somewhat of a loner. She fears getting close to anyone, especially after recently losing her only brother and her dear departed uncle. She has lost every one she has ever loved.

Avocation: Dance, thievery and spying.

Education: Paris Opera Ballet School

Back Story: Born to a British father and Spanish mother, Cate Willoughby is both a proper young English lady, and a hot tempered Catalan beauty. She also happens to be the inheritor of a near bankrupt estate. And as for Miss Catriona de Dovia? She is a celebrated prima ballerina as well as an anarchist sympathizer. Or might she be an infiltrator? Or scheming operative?

I am not a spoiler, but this is what I can say about A PRIVATE DUEL WITH AGENT GUNN: I have endeavored to write a love story between two clever protagonists, who have constructed false identities and employ a number of devious and cunning skills to solve the case. One of them even manages to fool the other right up to the very last pages of the novel!

Sh-h-h! I can say no more.

Question for Commenters:

Cover model Paul Marron portrays Agent Gunn. I'm told he is just about the hottest cover model going and has a legion of fans. Do you have a favorite romance cover model? If so, please share him!

I’m giving away a signed copy of A PRIVATE DUEL WITH AGENT GUNN to one lucky commenter today.

Purchase links:

B&N     AMAZON     BAM!     BOOK DEPOSITORY      INDIEBOUND

Jillian's Contact Information:

 Website  Facebook  Twitter

***Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North America  addresses only. If an Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) is available, the author may utilize that option for International participants. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.