Fighting Dirty with Lori Foster, NY Times Bestselling Author!

The amazing Lori Foster is making her debut appearance on the blog today!  She's a prolific author who married her high school sweetheart, and she loves animals. (I'm gonna stop before I share the whole interview in one paragraph:)

Lori Foster is a New York Times bestselling author. She’s received the Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy and for Contemporary Romance; Amazon’s top-selling romance title for  Too Much Temptation; Amazon’s Top Ten editors’ picks in romance for Causing Havoc; Waldenbooks’ second “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance for  Say No To Joe; the BGI group’s “Bestselling Original Contemporary” romance for the The Secret Life of Bryan, “Bestselling Romantic Comedy” for Jude’s Law, “Bestselling Romantic Suspense” for Back in Black; and Amazon’s #1 Editors’ Pick in Romance for Servant: The Acceptance.
Lori has been featured as a clue in the New York Times crossword puzzle, and the USA Today “Quick Cross” puzzle.
To give back to the community, Lori does an annual “benefit” book where all advance and royalties go to a charity, and she hosts the annual “Reader & Author Get Together,” facilitating major interaction between readers, authors, and industry professionals while also donating all proceeds from raffles to local charities. Visit Lori at her website LoriFoster.com

FIGHTING DIRTY

He’s the hottest MMA fighter in the game, but one woman is ready to try out a few steamy moves of her own…

With the life he’s led and the muscles he’s gained, Armie Jacobson isn’t afraid of anything. Except maybe Merissa Colter’s effect on him. It’s not just that she’s his best friend’s little sister. Fact is, she deserves better. Women pursue him for one night of pleasure, and that’s all he wants to offer. Until rescuing Merissa from a robbery leads to the most erotic encounter of his life.

Good girl meets bad boy. It’s a story that rarely ends well. But Merissa is taking matters into her own hands. No matter how he views himself, the Armie she knows is brave, honorable, and completely loyal. And as past demons and present-day danger collide, they’re both about to learn what’s truly worth fighting for…

READ A LITTLE, BUY THE BOOK  Click Here

Jan Schliesman: How often do you Get Lost In A Story?

Lori Foster: Writing-wise, pretty much every day. Only on those rare occasions, like holidays or emergencies, do I skip writing. I feel somewhat bereft without it.
If we’re talking reading...not nearly as often. I do love to read, but I also spending time with hubby so when I’m not writing we’re often heading off to the movie theater. I probably only average reading 8 books a year. 

Jan: How did you catch the writing bug?

Lori: Years ago, long before I was even a reader, I got very sick and was confined to a bed. To help me pass the time, my sister brought me over a paperbag filled with romances - and I immediately got hooked. I’d never read romance! The books I had read (school assigned) had never even come close to instilling a love of reading. But from the very first romance I was hooked. I was only a voracious reader for a year or so before I tried my hand at writing. It still took me 5 years (and more than 10 books) to finally sell one, but I’ve never looked back!

Jan: How important is flexibility to an author these days?

Lori: I’m sure it depends on the author. I’m a creature of habit so I like to do the same thing, the same way, day after day. Chaos around me is fine, as long as it doesn’t interrupt my schedule too much. However, back when I was brand new at this, my 3 sons still lived at home and there was no such thing as a set writing schedule because, as a mom, my schedule was based around whatever they needed. I still made it work. Over the years I’ve written in many places, like the airport, a hotel, in my car, etc... to meet a deadline. I can do it - doesn’t mean I want to. ::grin::

Jan: What was the best advice you were ever given by another editor or author?

Lori: To write what I wanted to write without any thought to selling. Very rarely can you target the market. And if you, and you’re successful...then what? You’re forever committed to writing books that you don’t LOVE writing. Being published is awesome - I’d never say otherwise. It’s also hard work, regardless of how you enjoy it. (But it’s definitely not the same type of “hard work.” I can think of a million jobs that are far, far more difficult.) Writing is in large part awesome because I get to do what I enjoy doing, instead of working just for pay. I’ve worked for pay. My husband worked for pay. Being a published writer, for me, is better. ::grin::

Jan: You’ve been instrumental in pulling authors together for worthy causes. Tell us about the Animal Adoption Foundation.

Lori: I LOVE the AAF. It’s amazing. A very friendly, caring no-kill animal shelter, rescuing animals and finding them loving homes. It breaks my heart - like, literally makes my heart hurt - to think of any animal alone, hungry, cold, afraid. I wish I could save them all. I can’t, so I help support my local shelter. www.AAFPets.org. Each year I write one book that I dedicate to them. All advance and royalties go directly to the shelter. In an effort to do even more, my husband and I catch feral cats, get them spayed or neutered, get any shots they need, then turn them loose again. They tend to hang out on our wrap-around porch (currently 20 or so) and twice a day we fill numerous dishes with cat food, put water in the heated dish so it doesn’t freeze, and we keep hay-filled shelters available for them so they can get out of the cold. Every so often, a feral will sneak into the house - which is how I’ve ended up with 5 cats. You don’t come to the Foster household if you can’t take a little fur here and there.

Jan: What are you currently reading?

Lori: I told you I don’t read often, but I never miss a Katie McGarry book. I got an early copy of WALK THE EDGE and, like the rest of her books, it’s *amazing.* I just finished a book by Linda Howard/Linda Jones, and before that was a Jill Shalvis book.

Jan: It was love at first sight when I met Mr. Wonderful. How did you meet your hubby and/or do you believe in love at first sight?

Lori: I believe in instant attraction on a very basic level - and if given a chance, it grows into love. I met my hubby on the 3rd day of our sophomore year of high school. We married right out of high school. We’ve been together a long time. I thought I was crazy in love with him when we married, but every year I love him even more. That’s a pretty wonderful thing.

Jan:  If you could live anywhere but Ohio, where would you go?

Lori: Anyone who’s read me could probably answer this: Kentucky. By a lake. Or North Carolina. By a lake. lol. I love being on the lake, and I’ve set many books in KY and NC.

Jan’s GOTTA ASK: 

Lori’s GOTTA ANSWER: I LOVE vanilla bean first and foremost. Nothing too exciting for me. But second and third from that is strawberry and peach. In fact, in the summer, one of my favorite treats is vanilla bean ice cream with strawberries or peaches on top. Delicious!

FIND LORI FOSTER:

 Website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, Newletter

THANKS SO MUCH, LORI, FOR VISITING THE BLOG TODAY! 

LORI IS GIVING AWAY COPIES OF THREE OF HER BOOKS:

SEE THE RAFFLECOPTER BELOW TO ENTER!

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Get Lost with Brethren of the Coast from Bestseller Barbara Devlin

On sale at Amazon

Bestselling author Barbara Devlin writes ruthlessly accurate historical romances that feature flawed heroes who may know how to seduce a woman but know nothing of marriage. And she prefers feisty but smart heroines who sometimes save the hero, before they find their happily ever after.

Here's a taste of Book 1 of the Brethren Origins.

WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE.

It is the year of Our Lord 1307, and by papal decree, Templar Knight Arucard of Villiers is a hunted man. One of a handful of mariners to escape the Inquisition and Philip the Fair’s treachery, Arucard sets sail for England, where good King Edward II has outlawed torture. While the Crown is more than happy to offer exile and create a new Order to accommodate the famed warriors of the Crusades, such assistance comes with a price. But is the cost one Arucard is willing to pay?

The world in which Isolde de Tyreswelle exists defines her as chattel. Nothing more than a means to an end, she is a puppet in her unscrupulous father’s dastardly play and is thrown into the courtly arena. To further her family’s political aspirations, she is betrothed to a man she has never met and, with her husband, must fight to survive the intrigues and betrayals of her new life. With good reason, she fears men. Can Isolde learn to trust Arucard before they are destroyed by their enemies?

Arucard Excerpt

       The battle for control of Winchester commenced the following morrow.  Side by side, in an impressive display of military might, the Nautionnier Knights of the Brethren of the Coast rode into the storm, wearing the unique ailette with the wind-star design.  Yet Arucard fought not for His Majesty, his faith, or his honor.

       As he charged into the fray, unconcerned for his own being, he suspected he had left the noblest part of himself in Chichester, with Isolde, to shield her whilst she recovered, as he owed her that much.  That bit of himself, unspoiled and unsullied, belonged to her.  What remained was the beast inside him, and the animal was hungry.

       Killing indiscriminately, he maimed, beheaded, impaled, and slaughtered untold numbers, ignoring their cries for mercy, as no one had spared his wife.  Whereas before he always struggled with guilt when taking a life, on that miserable day he suffered no such compunction and, therefore, tempered not his rage. 

       Given no one had pardoned her, he would extend no reprieve.  Every enemy combatant he struck down he counted as right and good retribution for Isolde, as none of them had defended her, and no matter how many souls he claimed it was not enough.  It would never be enough.  Not until he came face to face with the person responsible for her suffering—the earl of Rochester.

The entire Brethren of the Coast series, plus Arucard, book 1 of the Brethren Origins, is on sale in July for just 99 cents each. 

Learn more about Barbara's series on her author page at Amazon.

Meet Barbara

Bestselling author Barbara Devlin was born a storyteller, but it was a weeklong vacation to Bethany Beach, DE that forever changed her life. The little house her parents rented had a collection of books by Kathleen Woodiwiss, which exposed Barbara to the world of romance, and Shanna remains a personal favorite. 

Barbara earned an MA in English and continued a course of study for a Doctorate in Literature and Rhetoric. She happily considered herself an exceedingly eccentric English professor, until success in Indie publishing lured her into writing, full-time, featuring her fictional knighthood, the Brethren of the Coast.

Author Contact Info:

Website:  BarbaraDevlin.com

Facebook  

Twitter:  @barbara_devlin

E.E.: How often do you get lost in a story?  

Barbara: Well, if it’s someone else’s work, that depends on the author.  I love horror, and I read Stephen King, Dean R. Koontz, and John Saul.  They are masters of storytelling, and I can always find an escape in their work.

E.E.: What turns you off like nothing else? 

Barbara: If I’m reading historical fiction, my biggest turnoff is contemporary dialogue, although it seems to be a trend in historical romance. When I pick up a book, I want to be transported to that place and time, and nothing pulls me out of the story like inconsistent dialogue.

E.E.: Can you tell us about a real-life hero you’ve met?

Barbara: I met a real-life hero more than twenty years ago.  He’s a 30-year veteran firefighter, and he happens to be my husband.  In the wake of 9-11, Americans realized the dedication to duty and bravery inherent in the fire service, but my husband was my hero long before 9-11.  He earned the Congressman’s Medal of Valor for pulling five children from a burning house, and that’s just one of many amazing deeds he’s performed.  He’s a wonderful provider and, much like my heroes, a good man.

E.E.: What sound or noise do you love? 

Barbara: I love the sound of ocean waves crashing ashore.  My husband and I married on Maui, and we honeymooned on the Hawaiian Islands.  Everywhere we stayed, we booked a place on the beach, and I loved going to sleep and waking to the sound of the incoming tide.

E.E: Do you write while listening to music?  If so, what kind? 

Barbara: I usually have something playing in the background while I write, and, more often than not, it’s P!nk.  She writes raw, edgy, and emotional songs that hold nothing back, and I like to think I write in the same vein.  I compose stories of acceptance—of ourselves and others, and P!nk’s music captures that feel for me.

E.E.: What’s the first thing you do when you finish writing a book? 

Barbara: Begin another book.  Seriously, it’s not enough to write a book—you have to keep going.  You don’t ever want to lose the momentum.  I actually keep a document open on my desktop, in case any spur of the moment ideas strike, so I can jot down my thoughts while they’re fresh.

E.E.: If you were given a chance to travel to the past, where would you go? 

Barbara: I’d love to visit the Regency era and meet Jane Austen.  I’d love to exist in a time of elegance and conquest, given the Peninsular Wars.  It was such a brutal yet refined world.  I’d love to know Lord Nelson and Wellington, and I’d give anything to attend a ball at Almack’s or Vauxhall Gardens.

E.E.: What one thing about your hero drives his heroine crazy?  

Barbara: He’s a virgin.  

E.E.: What one thing about your heroine drives her hero nuts?  

Barbara: She’s a virgin.  Yes, both the hero and the heroine are virgins, which made for an interesting consummation, as neither party knew what they were doing, but it was a lot of fun to write.

Today Barbara is generously giving away a 6" KINDLE FIRE HD loaded with the eBook Arucard to one lucky commenter. Four runners up will get an eBook copy of Arucard.

If you could travel back to the past, where would you go and who would you like to meet?

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E.E. Burke's BEST OF THE WEST with the amazing CINDY NORD

Today, my BEST OF THE WEST guest is best-selling author Cindy Nord. Her debut romance No Greater Glory was the #1 Civil War Romance on Amazon for over a year! Her second book in The Cutteridge Series, With Open Arms, is also #1 Historical Romance on Amazon. Here's a sneak peek:

A war-weary ex-soldier.  An untamable hellion.  Love doesn’t stand a chance in hell…

Available Amazon | B&N

Hardened in childhood by the death of her parents, then left to run the family’s southwestern territory ranch when her brother rode off to fight for the Union years before, Callie Cutteridge hides her heartbreak behind a mask of self-sufficiency. Breaking horses for the army proves she’s neither delicate nor helpless. When a former cavalry officer shows up claiming to own her brother’s half of the Arizona ranch, she steels herself to resist the handsome stranger’s intention to govern even one single aspect of her life. After all, loving means losing…to her it always has.

For months, Jackson Neale has looked forward to putting the bloodstained battlefields back east behind him. Callie isn’t the agreeable angel her brother led him to believe, but he’s damned well not the useless rake this foul-mouthed hellion thinks he is, either. His quest for calm stability contradicts sharply with her need for control, yet still their heartstrings tangle. But how can these mistrusting partners transform their fiery passion into a happily-ever-after when all Callie knows how to do is fight…and all Jackson wants is peace?

Here's an excerpt:  http://www.cindynord.com/with-open-arms-3/?action=excerpt

Meet Cindy

Say hello to Bestselling Historical Romance writer, Cindy Nord, author of NO GREATER GLORY, a #1 Civil War Romance at Amazon for over one full year, and book one in her four-book The Cutteridge Series. Book two, WITH OPEN ARMS, debuted in August, 2014, as a #1 Bestselling Historical Western Romance. 

Cindy is also pleased to be a contributor alongside many New York Times writers in the delightful non-fiction anthology SCRIBBLING WOMEN & THE REAL-LIFE ROMANCE HEROES WHO LOVE THEM (all proceeds from the sale of this book go to the ‘Women In Need’ shelter in NYC). 

Available Amazon | B&N

Cindy’s work has finaled or won countless times in competitions -- including the prestigious Romance Writers of America National Golden Heart Contest.  A luscious blend of history and romance, her love stories meld both genres around fast-paced action and emotionally driven characters.  She is honored by the recent invitation to join 35 other fabulous historical romance authors in hosting the upcoming Historical Romance Retreat in Spokane, Washington next September. With a limited attendance of only 300, she suggests readers get their registrations in early…this’n will fill up fast! For more details go here: www.historicalromanceretreat.com 

E.E. and Cindy 

I started "stalking" Cindy via Facebook, and I recently had the opportunity to meet her at the RT Readers and Writers Event in Dallas. She's just as delightful in person as she is online, and boy does she know how to dress! 

Cindy is a social butterfly. You can find her "virtually" everywhere...

Her website: www.cindynord.com

Facebook Coffee Klatch

Twitter: @cnord2

Goodreads Author Page

Amazon Author Page

LinkedIn, Google+ and Pinterest

Now, on to the Q&A...

E.E.:  What inspired your love of books, or the desire to be a story-teller/writer?

Cindy:  Ooooh, Elisabeth….great question. Does a glutton for punishment work? LOL.  No, I’m just teasing. In reality, as a child coming from a family of educators, I’d always been encouraged to read. I soon found that novels opened whole new vistas for me. I devoured books by the dozens.  From exciting Nancy Drew mysteries to Zane Grey westerns to everything else in-between, these glorious books expanded my world. As I grew older, I also fell in love with history, more specifically, the enchanting Victorian era. For my twenty-first birthday, I bought my first historical romance. Needless to say, I never looked back. I relish factual details that are liberally sprinkled throughout a storyline, and coupled with an unrestrained romantic entanglement. Well, this combination just couldn’t be beat! Eventually, I felt moved to put pen to paper and craft my own love story. And the rest, as they say, is….history.

 E.E.:  Do you have a very organized day, or do you write around ‘life’, but to set targets?

Cindy:  Organized? Oh my darlin’, I’m lucky if I can find my writing desk on any given day. LOL…But, okay, let’s see…even if the stars are aligned and my feng shui is in a groove, balancing my time and attention between writing, social media, my family and my friends is always a difficult task. Nonetheless, I try to set up a schedule with mornings spent on the internet and my social media sites, and my afternoons devoted to writing. In the evening, the hubster usually listens as I read what I’ve written for the day, and offers suggestions where he sees fit. This is a routine that works well for me. See, I’m what they call a ‘pantser’ (writing without an outline), and must completely finish each chapter before moving on to the next. I wouldn’t advise anyone else to follow this writing style, so say all those ‘plot-first’ experts, but it does seem to work for me. Now, if only I could find my desk!! HA…☺

E.E.:  What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Cindy:  LOL….now THIS one is easy:  GONE WITH THE WIND.

E.E.: Along with other writers, I understand you’ve contributed to an anthology for ‘Women in Need’. Could you tell us something about this work and the charity?

Cindy:  Absolutely!  I was invited by romance writer-extraordinaire, Hope Tarr, to be part of her project entitled, Scribbling Women and the Real-Life Romance Heroes Who Love Them," a non-fiction anthology where I joined several New York Times & USA Today romance fiction writers.  I am so honored to have been asked to participate.  Each real-life story in this body of work details how we writers met, wed and love—and are loved and supported by—our spouses and life partners. And all proceeds from this literary compilation go directly to Women In Need, a New York City women’s shelter for abused females & their children.  Indeed, “Happily Ever After” isn’t only the stuff of romance novels and fairy tales. 

E.E.:  In your career to date, what memorable moments stand out?

Cindy:  Oh my, another great question. Let’s see…I’ll begin with being a Romance Writers of America National Golden heart finalist with No Greater Glory (which started this whole incredible journey) -- The day I signed with my fabulous literary agent, Louise Fury of the Jenny Bent Agency in NYC. The day my first box of books arrived from my publisher. Being a USA Today Lifeblog ‘Recommended Read’ author. My first invitation to be a keynote speaker at an RWA affiliated chapter. AND having my very first book signing at Barnes & Noble…These (and so many more) have truly brought me joy.

E.E.: What characteristics do you think are essential in a hero or heroine?

Cindy:  Mmmm, let’s do the hero first! I want mine to be strong, involved and engaged. A man who transforms compassion into heroic action with a unique leadership ability that separates him from the rest of the pack. Of course, he’s not perfect, he does have his weaknesses, AND, ultimately, it will be the heroine who helps him overcome those internal conflicts and imperfections. And, then my heroine…likewise, I want her to have a resourceful and internal focus that becomes challenged when she meets her hero. She must have a resilient sense of purpose with an unfulfilled need that even she doesn’t know she has. And, in turn, the hero, at first overwhelming and unwanted, eventually fills this void inside her heart. Of course, the romance wrapped around these two individuals is the catalyst that spurs them onward to completing their tumultuous journey to happily-ever-after.

E.E.: Reliable research is essential to historical authors, but when did you first become involved in Civil War re-enactments?

Cindy:  As a Victorian lecturer and historian, I truly appreciate those finer details that breathe a character to life upon the pages. You know, those wonderful tidbits that immerse my readers fully into the time period.  And my experience in re-enacting only helped solidify this love and knowledge. Many years ago as I was writing my first novel I read in the newspaper that they were having a Civil War ‘living history weekend’ at our local university. Holy Toledo! I couldn’t believe they actually did this sort of thing.  Here was American history brought to life. The acrid aroma of campfires. The thundering gallop of cavalry horses. Women clad in Victorian gowns sashaying across a lawn. Every single thing I was writing about at the time. I was swept straight back into the nineteenth century, and fell head-over-heels in love with this whole new experience. Immediately, I threw myself into the hobby, and even met my future husband on the battlefield.  Although we no longer re-enact now, I’ll forevermore cherish those years we spent living in the time period I love so well.

E.E.:  Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?

Cindy:  Funny you should ask! I host a popular FB page that I fondly call my COFFEE KLATCH! So, yep, my morning drink of choice is ORGANIC COFFEE…and on occasion, I’ll add two creams…You know, so it’s blonde, like I like my men, or, I should say, my handsome hubster. LOL. 

E.E.:  What is your hope for the future of romance publishing?

Cindy:  I can answer this one in four simple words:  LONG LIVE HISTORICAL ROMANCE. 

E.E.: What can your readers expect from a Cindy Nord novel?

Cindy:  First and foremost, my readers ROCK MY WORLD.  And I can’t thank them enough for giving me the gift of my career.  In return, I promise them historical romance books filled with passion. And emotion. And hard-driving conflict. As well as a spot-on and historically accurate immersion. All those things plus an ardent love story filled with sensations that tug at a readers’ heartstrings, THESE are my driving focus and I bleed over every single word for them. Getting my characters to ‘The End’ is a hard won journey, for sure. And the greatest test of success for any writer is when their cherished readers make the trip through their novels and never want the story to end. ♥

Today, Cindy is generously giving away FIVE eB00k copies of her latest book, WITH OPEN ARMS. All you have to do is comment and enter the drawing.

What is your favorite historical time period (for romances) and why?

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