Susan Sey

Susan Sey lives and writes in St. Paul, MN, where she has two charming children, a lovely husband and an accidental prairie in her front yard. She’s dreamed of seeing her name on the cover of a book even longer than her neighbors have dreamed of seeing her mow the lawn.

Her Golden Heart winner MONEY, HONEY was published by Berkley Sensation July 2010. Her follow up novel, MONEY SHOT, will be released June 2011, thus proving that when it comes to dreams, unlikely isn’t the same as impossible. Though you may not want to share that with her neighbors, who still cherish hopes regarding her lawn.

A three-time Golden Heart finalist, Susan loves her family, ice cream and happy endings, in that order. She also loves to hear from readers, who can contact her at susan@susansey.com.

MONEY SHOT

READY…

Secret Service Agent Maria “Goose” di Guzman knows something about penance. A tragic mistake forced her to replace the dangerous, impulsive girl she’d been with someone better, smarter. Someone sexy, cool and utterly controlled. But one crack in her perfect façade lands Goose on tiny Mishkwa Island, investigating naked hippies, frisky moose, and a red hot park ranger who sees straight through her.

AIM…

When Rush Guthrie traded in an elite military career to police his tiny island home town, he got a pretty good deal: a park ranger’s badge, a resurrected conscience, and signs of life from his MIA sense of humor. A guy couldn’t want anything more. But when Goose turns up--all sexy curves, sad eyes, and thorny questions--Rush realizes he can want more. A lot more.

FIRE!

While Goose pursues the island’s deepest secrets, Rush pursues the brave, funny woman inside all that careful perfection. But the truths they uncover put everything on the line--life, death and true love. And they’ll only get one shot at all of it.

CAT: Where do you read and how often?

SUSAN: Okay, if I confess this I don’t want any flack from the book police. I’m a stay at home mom and when it comes to squeezing in time for my favorite addiction (before even Diet Coke, and that’s saying something) I can be ruthless. So brace yourselves. Are you ready?

I read in the shower. Yeah, that’s right. I said *shower*. With the water on. I tried sitting in the dry shower but the kids caught on and now I have to actually be standing under the spray for them to leave me alone. It’s murder on a paperback, but so far my Kindle is holding up remarkably well.

CAT: What was the first story you remember writing?

SUSAN: Oh, my. I believe I tried my hand at a historical set during the American Revolution back when I was in middle school. A romance, of course. Remember the 80s? All those heaving bosoms and swashbuckling pirates? Man. Good times.

Anyway, I wrote maybe a chapter before I realized a) this writing gig was tougher than it looked. And b) I didn’t know my Revolutionary history all that well. Now I write contemporaries. And yeah, writing is still tougher than it looks.

CAT: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

SUSAN: I think I could watch Emma (the Gwyneth Paltrow version) forever. Jeremy Northam as Mr. Knightley? Yes, please.

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

SUSAN: I panic because it’s so much easier to revise and polish than produce new pages. But there’s something so hopeful and optimistic about the blank page, too, especially after you’ve spent months fixing and polishing and correcting. Every time I fight my way clear of the last book’s tragic flaws I think to myself, “Okay, lesson learned. I’m never writing myself into that particular corner again.” Turns out there are limitless corners into which a girl can write herself if she’s really hell-bent on hosing up a perfectly good idea. And I bet I’ve spent time in 90% of them.

CAT: If you were given a chance to travel to the past where would you go and specifically why?

SUSAN: Well, it’s not the past, technically. Or, hey, it might be. How the heck do I know? I want to go to the Seven Kingdoms from George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones series. He’s created such a rich and tactile world, so detailed and vivid. I want to visit Winterfell and ride up to the wall with the Dark Watch. I want to see High Gardens and Storm’s End. I want to meet those dragons and experience a summer that lasts seven years. I think that’s the big draw right there, actually. Minnesota sort of failed to produce spring this year and the idea that summer (if it ever gets here) could last a few years really appeals to me.

CAT: What do you do to unwind and relax?

SUSAN: Read. Oh, I love reading. You might think writers get sick of books the way bakers get sick of bread but I have books all over the house. One at the table to read with my lunch, one on my night stand to read before bed. One in my purse in case I get stuck somewhere for a few minutes. And then there’s the To Be Read stack, currently tall enough to be a danger to small children and pets under thirty pounds but I cherish fond hopes toward every paperback in it.

CAT: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

SUSAN: I’d love to tell you I don’t read them but I’d be a filthy liar. Of course I read them! I’m not making art here; I’m writing genre fiction. I love writing it, but my priority isn’t fulfilling my muse. I’m here to entertain people. Lots of people, if I do it right. So I have to know what people think of what I’m writing. And the only way to find out is to log onto Good Reads or Amazon and experience the savagery. Not always fun but definitely necessary.

CAT: What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

SUSAN: Seeing my first book on the shelf at my local library. It was better than seeing it at the bookstore, to tell you the truth, because there were many stretches of my life where bookstores were outside the budget. But the library was always there, and my gratitude knows no bounds. I love to look up my books on the computer to see how many copies are checked out. It’s more satisfying than checking my sales numbers any old day.

CAT: What’s your favorite kid joke?

SUSAN:

Knock, kock.

Who’s there?

Interrupting pig.

Interupting pi--

OINK.

Heh. Love that one. It my 4 y.o.’s favorite. She’s been telling it for months but only sporadically times it correctly or supplies the right punch line. Any old animal noise will do as far as she’s concerned. Or sometimes she’ll just yell out a barnyard animal at random. She’s funnier than the joke itself.

CAT’S GOTTA ASK – SUSAN’S GOTTA ANSWER

If you were a t-shirt, what color would you be and why?

Basic black, baby. Never out of fashion, always slimming, hides the dirt nicely.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

In MONEY SHOT, my heroine begins the story exquisitely groomed and in complete control. And when she starts to lose control, the way you do when you’re falling in love, her perfectly straightened hair is the first casualty. When you lose your grip on the status quo, what’s the first sign? Curly hair? Popcorn for dinner? Obsessive housekeeping? (If yes to that last one, you have a standing invitation to visit me.)

Susan will be giving away a signed copy of MONEY SHOT (Berkley Sensation, June 7. 2011!) to one lucky commenter.**

**Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North American 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

Debra Mullins!!!

Get Lost in This Story…

Having already been deceived by a heartless fiancé, Genevieve Wallington-Willis knows better than to trust any man—which is why her attraction to John Ready is so very disturbing. Though devilishly handsome, he is far too mysterious—and a humble coachman, no less! But one inadvertent kiss and Genevieve is lost.

John dares not reveal his true identity to anyone or it's the gallows for certain! He must concentrate on clearing his name—and prevent the fiend who sullied it, the notorious Raventhorpe, from working his evil on another innocent victim. But being this close to the clever, courageous, and exquisite Miss Wallington-Willis is driving him to distraction. And surrendering to his desire—not to mention to love—may prove the most dangerous risk of all.

I am thrilled to host fellow historical author, Debra Mullins, on the blog today.

Born in New York City as the oldest of four sisters, Debra Mullins moved to New Jersey with her family when she was 4 years old and lived there most of her life. She wrote her first historical romance during her seventh grade English class. That story went on to become her first published novel, Once a Mistress.

Since the publication of her first novel in 1999, Mullins has written a total of 14 historical romances for Avon Books. She has been nominated for awards in some of the most prestigious writing contests for romance writers, such as the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart® and RITA® awards, and the Virginia Romance Writers' Holt Medallion. In 2003 she won the New Jersey Romance Writers' Golden Leaf Award for Best Historical for her book A Necessary Bride.

Recently she accepted an offer from Tor books to write a contemporary paranormal trilogy, the first of which hits the shelves in August 2012. An avid computer geek, Debra lives in California with her family.

Isn’t that the most fascinating bio? Well, there’s more to come. Let’s get right to The Get Lost Interview…

Heather: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Debra: The Quiet Man with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara

Heather: How often to you get lost in a story?

Debra: All the time. Everything is a story, every book, TV show, movie, conversation

Heather: What turns you off like nothing else?

Debra: Entitlement, people who feel they can break the rules that everyone else is expected to follow.

Heather: Where do you read and how often?

Debra: I read everywhere, every chance I get. Lately I have been reading a lot in the car on the way to work, especially since I got my Kindle. I carpool, so I’m not driving! <G>

Heather: What sound or noise do you love?

Debra: Rain on the roof on a day when I don’t have to go out in it. <G>

Heather: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

Debra: Yes, I write while listening to music. This was a habit I developed when my children were little and we had a small apartment with my computer in the living room. I’d write at night when my husband came home, and headphones helped shut out the TV. <G>The type of music varies depending on the book I am writing and the mood I am trying to create on the page.

Heather: What was the first story you remember writing?

Debra: A pirate novel entitled Vagabond Love that I wrote in 7^th grade. That book eventually developed into my first published novel, Once A Mistress, which will soon be re-released as an e-book by Samhain Publishing.

Heather: If you couldn’t be a writer anymore, what profession would you take up?

Debra: I actually have a day job in technical support, so I think I would follow that career path.

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

Debra: Sit in front of the TV. Since I work full time, I spend a lot of evenings writing my books. Being able to watch a marathon of Buffy or Angel or NCIS is my idea of heaven.

Heather: What is your favorite tradition from your childhood that you would love to pass on or did pass on to your children?

Debra: Corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day while The Quiet Man is on TV.

Heather: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

Debra: Yes, I read reviews, usually around the time the book is due out. While I try not to internalize the negative stuff, seeing the same comment in several reviews might help me learn as a writer.

Heather: Tea or Coffee? And how do you take it?

Debra: Never coffee, always tea. Black tea, not herbal, with milk (not cream!) and Splenda.

Heather: Have you ever written a character who wasn’t meant to be a hero/heroine but he/she wouldn’t go away?

Debra: There were two, and they both ended up in the same book: Jedidiah Brown and Susannah Calhoun from The Lawman’s Surrender (which also will be released in e-format from Samhain in the near future). Both of them were supposed to be walk-on characters. Well, they walked on and never walked off!

Heather: What is your favorite cheese?

Debra: Fresh mozzarella

Heather: Dog person or cat person?

Debra: Cat person, though I like dogs, too.

Heather: Which is your favorite language other than your native language?

Debra: I love French. I was a language nerd in high school (I speak four, counting English), and I got to spend a summer as an exchange student in Provence when I was sixteen. French will always hold a special place in my heart.

Heather’s GOTTA ASK – Debra’s GOTTA ANSWER J

Heather: So, I noticed on your website that we have something in common: a secret desire to be a torch singer! So set the scene for us…if voice were no object, where would you sing, what would you wear and most importantly, what song would you choose?

Debra: I love to sing, but hate to stand on a stage in front of people! But in my fantasy I wear a slinky, silky evening dress (and have the body to rock it!), and I’d sing some bluesy number like “Why Don’t You Do Right?” or “Crazy.” Maybe in a dimly lit piano bar or blues club.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Debra: What is the one thing you can’t resist in a hero? For me, it’s secret identities J

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?**

Debra: I am giving away a set of the first two books of the Nevarton Chase series, which includes Tempting A Proper Lady and Too Wicked To Love.

Thanks so much for being with us today, Debra! Where can your fans learn more about you on the web?

Website: www.debramullins.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/debramullins

Facebook: www.facebook.com/debramullins

**Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North American 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.

Join us tomorrow when Cat hosts Susan Sey!

Kady Cross

Welcome YA Steampunk author Kady Cross!!!

Get Lost in This Story…

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

I am thrilled to host YA Steampunk author, Kady Cross, on the blog today (who just happens to also be my lovely friend, Kathryn Smith). Her debut with Harlequin Teen is getting rave reviews calling it a perfect blend of steampunk, mystery, paranormal and romance all wrapped up in coming-of-age emotions…I can’t wait! I am currently reading The Strange Case of Finley Jayne, Kady’s exclusive e-prequel to her Steampunk Chronicles and can’t WAIT to delve into Finley’s story in The Girl in the Steel Corset!

Kady Cross is a pseudonym for USA Today bestselling author Kathryn Smith. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and a pride of cats. She likes singing with Rock Band on the 360, British guys, Vietnamese food, and makeup (she’s hopelessly addicted to YouTube makeup tutorials!). When she’s not writing Kady likes to catch up on her favorite TV shows, read a good book or make her own cosmetics.

Let’s get right to The Get Lost Interview…

Heather: What’s your favorite movie of all time?

Kady: It changes. Right now I love Despicable Me and Penelope.

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

Kady: As often as I possibly can. J I get lost in the story I’m reading, and the one I’m writing.

Heather: What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

Kady: Anything with some fantasy or paranormal elements, with some adventure and romance.

Heather: What’s your favorite cartoon character?

Kady: Pepe Le Peu, of course! The greatest romantic of all time!

Heather: What sound or noise do you love?

Kady: I love the sound of heels clicking on tile or pavement. Horse hooves too.

Heather: Do you write while listening to music? If so what kind?

Kady: A lot of the time, yes. I listen to whatever suits the story. Sometimes it’s heavy, other times orchestral, and sometimes power ballads!

Heather: What was the first story you remember writing?

Kady: Oh, dear. I was 9? It was a story about a girl whose father gave away her horse and years later she found it – and love on a ranch.

Heather: If you couldn’t be a writer anymore, what profession would you take up?

Kady: I’d probably be a makeup artist. Or a silversmith. I like to play with makeup, and I’m teaching myself to make jewelry now.

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

Kady: Laugh maniacally.

Heather: Which of your characters would you most/least to invite to dinner, and why?

Kady: I’d like to dine with Jack Dandy. I think he’d have good table manners, but he’d also gossip with me.

Heather: What soundtrack or playlist do you recommend for your current release?

Kady: Watered Down, Blood on My Hands by The Used, All I Need by Within Temptation, Black Bullet by Kidney Thieves, Asleep, Misery Loves Company, I Want My Innocence Back by Emilie Autumn

Heather: Have you ever written a character who wasn’t meant to be a hero/heroine but he/she wouldn’t go away?

Kady: Yes. Jack Dandy.

Heather: What is your favorite cheese?

Kady: Jalepeno Jack.

Heather: What would you do if you had a time machine?

Kady: I’d go back to the late 1800’s and hang out with Oscar Wilde. What wit! I’d also warn him that the whole Marquess of Queensbury thing was NOT going to be worth the suffering it would cause him.

Heather: What is your favorite thing about you? J

Kady: That people seem to feel that I’m nice. I try to be a good person. I don’t always succeed. ;-)

Heather’s GOTTA ASK – Kady’s GOTTA ANSWER J

Heather: So, I noticed on your website that you love to sing with Rock Band on your 360. Any particular songs that you totally nail? And if you could rock out with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?

Kady: Okay, I nail Let Me Roll It by Paul McCartney and Wings, Underneath it all by No Doubt, Bad Romance by Lady Gaga, More Than a Feeling by Boston, Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey, We Belong by Pat Benatar, Imagine by John Lennon, Radar Love by Golden Earring… There are a few more, but I don’t want to brag. LOL! I would love to rock out with Freddie Mercury, because he was freaking amazing. And I’d like to hang/rock out with Emilie Autumn, because I love her music and I think she would dye my hair for me, and we’d drink tea.

GOT A QUESTION YOU’D LIKE TO ASK YOUR FANS?

Kady: Who would YOU most like to rock out with? J

WILL YOU HAVE A DRAWING FROM THOSE LEAVING COMMENTS?**

Kady: Sure! How about an eyeshadow palette inspired by the book, The Girl in the Steel Corset.

Thanks so much for being with us today, Kady! Where can your fans learn more about you on the web?

KadyCross.com

FB = Kady Cross – Author

Twitter = @KadyCross

**Note: Offer void where prohibited. Prizes will be mailed to North American 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.

Join us Monday when I host historical author, Debra Mullins!!!

Elisabeth Naughton

Thanks for having me here today! It’s great to be with you all at Get Lost In a Story during release week for my new book, BODYGUARDS IN BED!

Yeah, it’s a hard job,
but someone’s gotta do it.

There’s just one cardinal rule when it comes to being a bodyguard: no matter how tempting it may be, never, ever get romantically involved with the person you’re supposed to be protecting. But as these sensual novellas prove, even the most important rules are made to be broken–again and again and again. Join acclaimed authors Lucy Monroe, Jamie Denton, and Elisabeth Naughton as they open the files on an undercover operative who finds a sexy surprise under his covers, a hot case involving mixed messages and mistaken identities, and a mission impossible protecting a provocative beauty who lives to love dangerously.

And super sexy, faced-paced novella is called Acapulco Heat:

Sun, sand, skin and plenty of sex. That’s the name of the game in beautiful Acapulco.

Bodyguard Finn Tiernay’s new gig in the sultry city is nothing short of perfect. Too bad he can’t stand it. Hired to protect supermodel Lauren Kauffman during her very public, very sexy cosmetic shoot on the beach, Finn’s itching for a serious assignment and the chance to get away from the hot bod who’s set her sights set on him. Their mutual attraction has been brewing for some time, but he’s got no use for the super wealthy, isn’t about to become another diva’s boy toy. His no-fun-at-work motto might get him booted out of her bed, but when danger strikes, she won’t be able to shake him. And when he discovers things aren’t what they seem and that she’s more than a pretty face and smokin’ body, all bets are off. Lauren Kauffman’s about to take Finn for a ride he never saw coming. And there’s no telling who will survive.

To read an excerpt from Acapulco Heat, go here: http://www.elisabethnaughton.com/books/bodyguards-in-bed/

Okay, okay. Get your minds off bodyguards and let's get to know Elisabeth Naughton.

DONNELL: Are you a big city or small town girl?

ELISABETH: I would say I’m a small town girl. Though the city I live in now is more medium than big or small. I grew up in a small town, however (Does anyone else hear John Mellencamp singing Small Town?), so that’s how I generally identify myself.

DONNELL: What/Where’s your favorite room in your house?

ELISABETH: Our great room. Even though it’s usually the noisiest room in the house. We added on a few years ago and I got to design the room just the way I wanted it. It’s 20x24, with a floor to ceiling stone fireplace, a gorgeous cherry mantle, and bookshelves that run the entire length of the wall on both sides of the fireplace. When we first built the room my husband said, “There’s no way you’ll ever fill all those bookshelves.” Of course, I did. J Pretty quickly, too.

DONNELL: Have you ever written a character who wasn’t meant to be a hero/heroine but he/she wouldn’t go away?

ELISABETH: Of course! Lisa Maxwell, the heroine in my debut, STOLEN FURY, was a secondary character in an earlier unpublished manuscript who definitely wouldn’t go away. I eventually gave in and wrote her book and it ended up being the first book I sold.

DONNELL: Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

ELISABETH: I do. I’m always curious what people are saying about my books. I’ve had glowing reviews and then I’ve had awful ones. My favorite awful one was a reader who said she wanted her money back on the free ebook download. When I first started out, reading that would have crushed me, but I’ve grown very thick skin. Not everyone is going to love everything I write, just as I’m not going to love everything other writers write. It’s easy to forget the praise and focus on the negative, but when I have those moments of doubt (which all writers have) I pull up my saved fan mail file and flip through a couple of emails to remind me that for every person who doesn’t like my books, there are ten more who love them.

DONNELL: What’s in your refrigerator right now?

ELISABETH: Oh, man. I’m afraid to look. I’ve been on deadline and just turned in a book yesterday. My twelve-year old daughter has been doing a lot of the cooking and while she’s getting good at it (she made the most amazing brie en croute the other day), she’s not so great about cleaning up.

DONNELL: What is something that not a lot of people know about you but you WISH more people COULD know?

ELISABETH: Reading my books is like talking to me. Friends tell me all the time they had trouble reading my first few books because I write the way I talk and they could literally “hear me” as they were reading. For an author, that’s an incredible compliment. Means my voice is definitely me. When I first started writing one criticism I remember receiving was that I was trying too hard to emulate other authors’ voices. Even now, remembering that feedback makes me laugh because anyone who knows me knows my books are all me. Every single one of them.

DONNELL: Is Elvis really dead?

ELISABETH: Yes. Though I’m thinking he might have been reincarnated into Justin Bieber.

DONNELL: If you could drive any car made, what would it be?

ELISABETH: Jeep Wrangler. Of course, then I’d need to live on a Hawaiian island so I could enjoy it.

DONNELL: What makes you happy? Then reverse this question. What turns you off?

ELISABETH: I make me happy. Happiness comes from within, not from the environment or those around me. When I’m accomplishing my goals, when I’m spending time with my family, when I’m taking time for me, I’m at my happiest.

As for what turns me off…stress. Nothing ruins my day more than a stressful event that’s completely out of my hands.

DONNELL: What do you do to unwind and relax?

ELISABETH: My favorite relaxation spot at home is a bubble bath, a glass of wine and a good book. My favorite relaxation spot elsewhere is a warm beach, a cool drink and a good book. (Hmm…I see a pattern here.)

DONNELL: Do you ever suffer from writer’s block? If so, what do you do about it?

ELISABETH: I think all writers get stuck now and then. For me, I don’t know that it’s writer’s block so much as it is procrastination block. I’m a major procrastinator. Writing, for me, is habit forming, and once I get out of that habit it’s very hard to get back into it. When I do get stuck while writing, it’s usually because I’ve veered off in a direction the story shouldn’t have gone. Reevaluating my plot always gets me back on track.

I have had true writer’s block, though, so I know it’s real. The real writer’s block—the kind where there is nothing happening in your head—is frightening. I experienced that after a two week stay in the hospital and an episode of sepsis. My body was working so hard to heal from an infection that there was nothing left for creativity. For months I thought I’d never write again. And then one day, the stories and voices and everything came back. I can’t tell you what a relief that was. I’ve since talked to other authors who have been through their own health issues like cancer and heart conditions, etc—even the emotional turmoil of a family death—and they told me they’ve experienced the same. True writer’s block is not easily overcome and it’s scary as hell for an author. But the good news is that eventually, it does pass. The body—especially the mind—is an amazing thing.

DONNELL: What dreams have been realized as a result of your writing?

ELISABETH: Holding my first published book was a dream come true. Seeing it on the shelf in a book store kicked that dream up a major notch. Double finaling in the RITAs in 2010 was a dream I never expected, but was thrilled to experience. But honestly, every step along the way is a new dream realized. I’ve learned to enjoy the victories, not sweat the small stuff, and worry only about the things I can control – like writing the next book and making it the best it can be.

DONNELL: Are you superstitious?

ELISABETH: Not really. I believe everything happens for a reason. Even when bad things happen, I try to see the good in them. We learn from every experience, even the trying ones.

DONNELL: What was one of the most surprising things you learned while writing/researching a book?

ELISABETH: EVERY book surprises me in one way or another. With this latest book, the biggest surprise was that I thought the theme was one thing, but when I reached the end and reread what I’d written, I realized the theme was something entirely different. I didn’t have to change anything to make the new theme work, it was right there all along. I just hadn’t “seen” it yet. In every book there’s a little magic…something I didn’t expect but which makes the book that much better. Its those moments of surprise that make writing—for me—so much fun.

DONNELL: Which era would you least liked to live in, fashion-wise? Most?

ELISABETH: Civil War era. The gowns were lovely but ack! Can't imagine squeezing into them. Or carting around all that extra weight of petticoats and hoops.

DONNELL: Dog or cat person?

ELISABETH: Dog person. We just got two Dalmatian pups. They're four months old now and into everything. (And eating everything too. . .including my baseboard molding.)

DONNELL: How much money does it take to be happy?

ELISABETH: No clue. I do know money doesn't make a person happy. It only eases financial stress.

DONNELL: What's the first thing you do when you finish a book?

ELISABETH: Hm…it’s never the same. But usually I finish in the dead of night so the FIRST thing I do is drop into bed and pass out.

As for celebratory things…when I finish a book I try to do one fun thing I’ve been putting off. Since I turned in a book yesterday, my reward today is catching The Hangover. Can’t wait to see it!

DONNELL: If you could interview anyone for a day (and it doesn’t have to be a writer) who would it be?

ELISABETH: Indiana Jones. I just want to pick his brain about all things adventure related. (He isn’t bad to look at either.)

What wonderful answers, Elisabeth. Now it's your turn. Do you have anything you want to ask our readers?

But—of course—the most exciting news TODAY is that I’m giving away an autographed copy of BODYGUARDS IN BED here! To be entered into the drawing, all you have to do is answer a question for me:

This is a two parter: 1) What is Finn Tierney’s nationality? (Hint: You MIGHT be able to find the answer on my website.) And 2) Are you a fan of bodyguard stories?

And for those that are interested, I’m hosting a release week party on my blog through Saturday, June 4, 2011. Stop by to join the fun and enter to win some fabulous giveaways at www.elisabethnaughton.com/blog.

A former junior high science teacher, Elisabeth Naughton traded in her red pen and test tube set for a laptop and research books. She now writes sexy romantic adventure and paranormal novels full time from her home in western Oregon where she lives with her husband and three children. Her work has been nominated for numerous awards including the prestigious RITA® awards by Romance Writers of America, the Australian Romance Reader Awards, The Golden Leaf and the Golden Heart. When not writing, Elisabeth can be found running, hanging out at the ballpark or dreaming up new and exciting adventures. Visit her at http://www.elisabethnaughton.com/ to learn more.

Wendy Lyn Watson

HUNGRY FOR A SWEET MURDER?

A PARFAIT MURDER
NAL
ISBN: 978-0451233806

Life has been good for Tallulah Jones, and nabbing a spot on the judging panel at the Lantana County Fair puts the cherry on top. But when Tally's cousin Bree spots her deadbeat ex-husband strolling the fairground with a vixen on his arm and fat wallet in his pocket, all the fun goes cold.

Bree immediately files for back child support, but then her ex's attorney is found dead at the fair and things look more than a little sticky because Bree is standing over the body with a gun in her hand. She pleads her innocence and begs Tally to clear her sweet name.

Will Tally prove Bree's innocence or will she find her cousin as committed the "parfait" crime.
~ ~ ~

Wendy Lyn Watson writes deliciously funny cozy mysteries with a dollop of romance. Her Mysteries a la Mode feature amateur sleuth Tallulah Jones, who solves murders in between scooping sundaes. While she does not commit--or solve--murders in real life, Wendy can kill a pint of ice cream in nothing flat. She's also passionately devoted to 80s music, Asian horror films, and reality TV.

EXTRA SCOOPS
ANGI: What’s the first book you remember reading?
WENDY: I read a lot as a kid. I always had a book with me and spent every possible lunch hour in my school library. The first book I really remember reading--like, actually turning pages and reading words--was a picture book called "Sam, Bangs, and Moonshine" (a Caldecott winner by Evaline Ness). I don't remember the story well, but Sam was a little girl and Bangs was a cat. Sam told tall tales and one of her bits of "moonshine" almost gets her friend killed. Pretty heavy for a picture book, but I loved it.

ANGI: What’s your favorite cartoon character?
WENDY: Geez, this one is tough … I love cartoons. There are a lot of good ones now, for grown-ups at least. But I'll stick with an old classic: Wile E. Coyote, Super Genius. I empathize with his tendency to make everything more difficult than it actually is as well as his sheer cussedness in pursuing his goal. And, let's face it, the anvil on the head never gets old.

ANGI: What turns you off like nothing else?
WENDY: People who are fake-y nice. I'd rather hang out with someone who is openly mean than with someone who is just pretending to be nice. All that syrupy baby talk and those brittle smiles … Makes me crazy.

ANGI: Is there a playlist you’d recommend for reading your latest release?
WENDY: Oh, fun! Well, there are two songs in the book: "Can't We Try" by Dan Hill and Vonda Shepard, and "Before He Cheats" by Carrie Underwood. I would also add "Hold Me Now" (The Thompson Twins), "Fancy" (Reba McEntire), and "Something to Talk About" (Bonnie Raitt).

ANGI: What sound or noise do you love?
WENDY: I love all my cats, but one of them--Todd--has the most wonderful, rumbly purr. He prefers to sit on people, tummy to tummy, and it's like feline valium.

ANGI: What was the first story you remember writing?
WENDY: We'll skip over the stories I started and gave up on and move right ahead to the first story I completed. In "Grandma," a sad-sack named Amos finds his wealthy grandmother dead at the foot of her stairwell. Terrified people will think he killed her, he decides to frame his sister (Mehetabel) by ditching the body in her basement. He hauls the body across town in his trunk, tucks her behind Mehetabel's Maytag, and then waits. When Mehetabel, on the lam, calls Amos, she expresses wonder that he somehow figured out she'd killed grandma … It was silly, but I guess my very first story was, at heart, a mystery.

ANGI: What’s your favorite movie of all time?
WENDY: "A Room with a View." Le sigh … so dreamy.

ANGI: Who’s your favorite villain?
WENDY: This may not be a fair answer, but Glenn Close. I know, she's not a villain. But she plays the best villains ever. Cruella De Vil, Alex Forrest in "Fatal Attraction," Isabelle de Merteuil in "Dangerous Liaisons," and most recently Patty Hewes on "Damages" . . . she manages to be super-bad but still human and relatable. I love her.

ANGI: Warm weather or Cold weather? And why please.
WENDY: Cold. Cold, cold, cold. I love cold weather accoutrements: a roaring fire, comfy quilts, hot cocoa, cuddling up with a good book. Besides, you can always put more clothes on …

there's only so much you can legally take off.

ANGI: What’s something you’d like to tell your fans?

WENDY: A lot of people ask where I get my story ideas, and the answer is "real life." I am a true crime junkie, and many of my stories are cobbled together from bits and pieces of the news (a motive here, a method there, a setting or red herring from someplace else). I could never be as creative as actual criminals.

ANGI’S GOTTA ASK: So, Wendy... I’m not certain if I love the story of how you met your husband more or the story reference of your names. Would you mind sharing hubby’s name and how you met?
WENDY’S GOTTA ANSWER: Aw, shucks. Mr. Wendy's real name is Peter, so we're Peter and Wendy -- just like Peter Pan. Adorable, huh?

We met online, through a matchmaking service (which shall remain nameless, lest they come after me for money). See, I signed up for the free trial week, entered all my info, and hit "submit." One person came up as a 99% match. I sent him a message and gave him my real e-mail address, confessing that I wasn't planning to pay to continue. Turns out he, too, was doing the free week and wasn't going to pay. We exchanged e-mails, phone cal

ls, met, and three years later we were married. And neither one of us ever paid that service a dime.

WENDY NEEDS TO KNOW: In "Scoop to Kill," I left my readers with a romantic cliffhanger … wondering whether Tally would choose the Boy Scout or the bad boy. The answer's coming out next week, so I can't change it … but I'd still like to know: do you prefer your heroes diligent or devilish?

Wendy will send one (North American) commenter a copy of A Parfa

it Murder. Check back here and on our WINNERS CIRCLE PAGE.

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.

You can find Wendy on the Internet at www.wendylynwatson on Fac

ebook: www.facebook.com/iscreamyouscream and her two Blogs: www.mysteryloverskitchen.com & www.killercharacters.com

DON’T FORGET to LIKE us on Facebook or FOLLOW us on Twitter to keep track of who's next to "Get Lost". Come back tomorrow when Donnell hosts Elizabeth Naughton and Friday Heather hosts Kady Cross. Til next Wednesday when I’ll be back with a unique GET LOST twist: YOU ASK Intrigue Author PAULA GRAVES anything! Send your questions to Angi@AngiMorgan.com and be entered for a $25 gift card. ~~ Angi