Tales of an Extraordinary Girl--Gena Showalter

PLAYING WITH FIRE

• Publisher: HQN Books
  Subject: Fiction : Romance - Paranormal
  Publication Date: October 2009

Earth, Wind & Fire aren't just a band anymore . . .

Twenty-four-year-old barista Belle Jamison dreams of a better job and a decent love life. Until a crazy scientist spikes her mocha latte! Suddenly Belle can wield the four elements - earth, wind, fire and water - with only a thought. Coffee too hot? No problem. Hair in need of a blow-dry? Done.



Gorgeous government agent Rome Masters has been sent to neutralize Belle. But he's not the only one after her. Together they must outrun the rogue agents on their trail and find a way to control her powers. There's just one problem: the sparks Belle and Rome generate are even hotter than the ones flying from her eyes-and with her future on the line, now is the worst possible time to fall in love...

• My thoughts:

I have never been a big fan of first person POV. However, Gena writes such an engaging tale that you forget the POV and laugh over Belle's antics and drool over Rome. Yah, I'd like to make that Cat purr.

This is a fun pararomantic romp that had me laughing in more than one place. I really like Belle, she's a hoot. It's not all fun and
games, though, there are major bad guys, murder, kidnapping attempts, unexpected fire, rain, and wind popping up everywhere, a guy who can become electricity and travel through electrical lines, a fun empath sidekick whose young male bravado is endearing. The whole story evolves around an ordinary girl--well sorta--and her unexpectedly being given powers she had no idea existed much less knows how to deal with. Moral: never leave your Mocha Latte unattended.

I really enjoyed this story and it's almost comic book overtones, loved the wit and humor. I haven't read the next one but as soon as I can get my hands on it, I will.

• And speaking of the next in the series...

TWICE AS HOT





Publisher: HQN Books
Subject: Fiction : Romance - Paranormal
Publication Date: February 2010

Belle Jamison is finally starting to feel like a normal girl again. Her job as a paranormal investigator is going well, she's learned to control her supernatural abilities (mostly) and she's just gotten engaged to Rome Masters, the ultra-sexy operative who once tried to neutralize her!

But planning a wedding is never easy, especially when the bride keeps accidentally torching her dress, the groom returns from a dangerous mission with selective memory loss and the man responsible now wants Belle for himself. With Rome's ex determined to win him back and a new band of supervillains on the horizon, it will take all Belle's powers—plus a little help from her trusty empath sidekick—to save the day, salvage the wedding and prove that true love really does conquer all.

• There’s an excerpt up at the Amazon page. http://www.amazon.com/Twice-Hot-Hqn-Gena-Showalter/dp/0373774370/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1266331708&sr=8-4

I had the chance to chat a bit with Gena about this series.

• Tell me a bit about Belle. I cracked up when I read her resume and the interview she had and she's definitely a bit of a scatterbrain.

Tragically, Belle’s crazy apple didn’t fall too far from her creator’s tree. The resume is true to – God, I can’t believe I’m admitting this -- my life. Well, my old life. For years, I couldn’t hold down a job, was often fired or quit within just a few weeks, and never finished anything I started. Writing changed that for me, and I developed terrible OCD (now I can’t start anything without obsessing until I finish) But the scatterbrain part . . . I hang my head in shame. Classic “what did I do with that?” Gena. The hair trigger emotions . . . shame . . . spiraling . . .

• You create an organization to handle those who are enhanced, like Belle, what's the deal with them?

I wanted a place where enhanced humans (and even non-humans) could congregate, study, train, learn to fight/use their powers, and learn to hunt those abusing their powers. Yet I also wanted PSI (Paranormal Studies and Investigations) to be a place that was grounded in some kind of reality -- like the FBI – so that readers could relate.

• What do you like about your hero? What makes him sexy?

Rome Masters . . . dreamy sigh. I love me an alpha hero. And he’s definitely alpha. Strong, assertive, brave, willing to die for his family. Horribly, if necessary. He’s protective, not afraid to laugh, stubborn, sarcastic, and when he loves, he loves with his whole heart. There’s no other woman for him. Belle’s his one and only. Now, always. Nothing could tempt him away from her.

• What was your favorite scene in Playing With Fire?

When Tanner shoots a bad guy with his eyes closed, and Belle tasers Rome. I had so much fun writing that scene. I chuckled the whole time.

*snork, oh that was funny.

• What's coming from the pen of Gene Showalter in 2010?

In May, I have Into the Dark, featuring three short stories (two of which are written in the Lords of the Underworld world, and one in the Atlantis world) as well as a bonus Lords of the Underworld guide.

In June, I have The Darkest Passion, featuring Aeron, keeper of the demon of Wrath. His heroine is the angel sent to kill him. In July, I have The Darkest Lie, featuring Gideon, keeper of the demon of Lies. His heroine is a woman possessed by the demon of Nightmares. She claims to be his wife, but he can’t remember wedding – or bedding – her. Also in July is The Bodyguard, an anthology with the incredible Cherry Adair and Lorie O’Clare (my story features a man who can control shadows).

In August is the reissue of Intertwined. And in September is the sequel, Unraveled.

Oh, and I can’t forget my next alien huntress tale, Ecstasy in Darkness, featuring a vampire hero who can manipulate time and the agent in training who’s supposed to lock him up. That book will hit stores sometime in late 2010.

• Good Grief! When you say obsessive about writing you aren't kidding.

• I will tell you I'm a fan of yours and I've read several books in different series. You are one of the few authors I will pick up on name alone because of the quality of your writing. Your books are always a good read. Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions.

~*~*~*~*~

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 25 books, ranging from white-hot paranormal romances set all over the world (and even in some places that do not technically exist), sexy contemporary novels and other-worldly young adult novels.

You can visit with Gena on her website. She loves to hear from her readers.

Why I Came Back To Harlequin

~Sia McKye~

I have to be honest; I stopped reading most Harlequins some years ago. The stories had become trite and tired—outdated if you will. How many stories can you read about Tycoons, Sheiks, Millionaires, Nurses, Females too stupid to live, or surprise babies without getting bored. Where were the sassy, independent women? The hot realistic heroes that made you go, Whoa, yah baby! Realistic stories that fit today’s women? Where were the meaty stories with a sizzle?

Let me give you the reason I returned to reading Harlequin this past eighteen months: authors like Tawny Weber, Samantha Hunter, Alison Kent, Gena Showalter, Susan Gable, Holly Jacobs, Rhonda Nelson, Diana Duncan, and Brenda Joyce. Anyone of these authors, in my opinion, regardless of the particular imprint with Harlequin they write, all tell involving stories, characters that act and react realistically, good storylines, well-paced enjoyable stories. Even those that write for the lighter end have well-thought and entertaining stories. Books that I don’t want to throw across the room and hope they hit the trash can.

Today, I’m talking about two books I’ve recently read that I’ve enjoyed and can recommend reading. An example from two different ends of the spectrum, if you will. Tawny Weber and Brenda Joyce. One is new to me and one is an author I’ve enjoyed reading for some years ( I started with the Bragg Saga and loved the deWarrens).

Tawny writes for Blaze. I enjoy Blaze. They’re fun hot reads. Some are lighter than others, but I’ve really enjoyed Tawny’s. Her latest one was fun, with smart characters, hot without being too blatant (which is why I read very few erotica, but that’s a subject for another blog).

Here’s the blurb for Tawny Weber’s latest book available this month.


Hello, hot blast from the past!

Zoe Gaston needs to unmask a mystery man for work. She also must survive her dreaded high school reunion—and the costume party that opens it. So Zoe, once voted Girl Most Likely to Die a Virgin, comes dressed as a leather-clad dominatrix…whip and all!Her scandalous costume catches a secret lover. He seems so deliciously familiar under his disguise…. He's gotta be her long-ago crush.But Zoe is shocked to discover the sexy body she's been so thoroughly enjoying belongs to Dexter Drake—her oldest friend! And he's hiding something bigger than just his identity….

Dressed to Thrill: The best part of dressing up is taking it off!


Read an excerpt: http://www.eharlequin.com/store.html?itemid=20045&cid=416


Now, what captured my interest was the line that said Zoe had been voted the Girl Most Likely To Die A Virgin and then she shows up in a leather-clad dominatrix outfit (funny, my muse wears the same outfit. Wonder if she got hers from Dressed To Thrill Fantasy Shop?) Right away, that whole idea just tickled my funny bone. Now that’s a woman with moxy, lol! My kind of woman. Especially given the last thing Zoe wants to do is go to her High School Reunion.

What intrigued me was she was on a quest to find a mystery man to help her brother—also something I could relate to. Zoe finds that her classmates are still living out their high school glories ten years later and she’s regretting mightily being talked into this adventure. So begins several escapades and a sexy encounter with a hot man in costume that rings all her bells. I won’t spoil it but parts of her story cracked me up and parts made go, ‘Whoa, Yah, you go girl!’ I thoroughly enjoyed Zoe. I have to tell you, I wouldn’t mind going a few rounds with the masked hottie either!


If you haven't checked out Tawny Weber's books, I recommend you search them out. They're well worth it. They can be ordered directly from Harlequin Blaze website: http://www.eharlequin.com/



The second book I enjoyed, is written by Brenda Joyce. She writes a series called The Masters of Time. Definitely a (cue Austin Powers) ‘yah baby’ series. Brenda’s books are paranormal Romance for HQN and about Highland warriors sworn to protect Innocence through the ages... Any who read my blog know I’m a bit partial to Scott warriors, preferably kilted.

The blurb for her latest book, Dark Lover.


Highland Warriors, sworn to protect innocence through the ages...

Ian Maclean’s arrogance hides a terrible secret—for decades he was held prisoner by demons. Not a day goes by that he isn’t tormented by his darkest fears of powerlessness. Now he is about to sell to the highest bidder a page he’s stolen from the Book of Power—if one woman doesn’t stop him.

Every Rose woman has her destiny

Slayer Samantha Rose’s latest mission is to recover the stolen page—and get payback from the only man who’s ever rejected her. What she hasn’t counted on is the raging attraction between them—or her growing realization of what MacLean has survived. As the powers of the evil from his past gather, Sam will do anything to help him—even if it means following him into time and facing his worst nightmares with him...

If you want to read and excerpt: http://mastersoftimebooks.com/excerpts/lover_one.html


I’ve been following the series. It a hot, sensual time travel story about powerful and sexual medieval warrior warriors of old Scotland whose job it is to protect the innocent from demonic forces and evil. These warriors can jump through time to fight their battles and do and in the process meet up with some strong, independent modern women that knock these alpha males for a loop. The warriors are dark with some real emotional hang-ups and have lived hundreds of years battling evil and personal loss. Brenda’s characters are layered and intense, but have a strong sense of honor. Some are at the point of where you aren’t sure they will remain heroes or become the enemy. Enter the smart women that fall for them and the adventures begin.

What I enjoyed about Dark Lover is the combining of disparate characters—at least on the surface. We have Ian MacLean, an intensely private man scarred by unspeakable torture and one who no longer cares about right and wrong, or so he thinks, but is all about looking out for number one. Ian’s strong, definitely alpha male, but he’s also vulnerable. Then you have Samantha Rose, modern day woman and warrior. She’s feisty and smart mouthed and she makes me laugh even in dangerous time. I like her a lot. Sam is a woman sure of her destiny, her strengths, her sexuality and knows how to use it to her advantage. Sam is one of the good ‘guys’. She’s a tough woman and dangerous. She’s also scarred from her past and it because of this she is a slayer. When the two come together it’s sparks and fire all the way. And danger.

Brenda Joyce is a fabulous writer. Her characters complex and three-dimensional and I like that. Her stories have laughter, danger, hot sexual encounters, magic and an engrossing story. Good wins, but not without paying a high cost.

If you haven’t checked out the Masters of Time series, I highly recommend doing so.


Just two reasons why l came back to Harlequin. Do you have any recommendation? Why?

GENA SHOWALTER ON WRITING, DISTRACTIONS, AND BEST FRIENDS

New York Times Best-selling author Gena Showalter is my guest Over Coffee. Gena writes Urban Fantasy, Paranormal and Contemporary Romance.

I’ve read and enjoyed her Atlantis series and am looking forward to reading Alien Huntress series next. She has written four series and assorted novels. I think what impress me most about Gena’s writing, aside from her vivid imagination and prolific writing, is the way she builds her worlds. They’re worlds that are so complete that the reader feels as if they could book a flight to them. I also love her strong characters and the research she’s done to make the characters and her worlds believable.

Gena also is a warm and genuinely funny person. I love her sense of humor. She also has a sometimes-mean Muse, who has its work cut out to keep her from being distracted, and thankfully, best friends who work their magic to get her over the 'stupid moment' humps.

Today, she shares with us a typical writing day…

I’m always asked how I write so quickly. So, I thought I’d share a typical writing day for me to better explain my . . . process.

• 7:00 am – Wake up. Wish I could sleep a little more, but drag myself out of bed anyway, threatening to kill all the characters in my book to make myself feel better.
  
  


• 7:10 – Drink coffee. It’s either that or send a family member to the hospital to patch abrasions caused by a flying . . . anything I can get my hands on. Respond to emails.
  
  


• 8:00 – Close email. Drink more coffee. It’s either that or yell at every member of my family for an imagined infraction. Open current Work In Progress document, realize that killing all the characters does not fit the current plotline, grumble about it, accept it, and start writing. Goal: write an entire chapter.
  
  


• 8:30 – Become distracted by thoughts of new emails. Check emails. Respond. Panic that I won’t reach my writing goal. Start writing again.
  
  


• 9:00 – Hit brick wall in plot. Start cutting spilt ends from hair to “think about the plot problem.”
  
  


• 9:35 – Realize the brick wall can be used in plot. Call best friend and fellow author Jill Monroe to tell her how brilliant I am.
  
  


• 10:00 – Check email. Respond. Take picture of myself making a face and email it to other best friend and fellow author Kresley Cole. Panic that I won’t reach my goal. Start writing again.
  
  


• 11:30 – Aching back convinces me to take a break. Go for a walk and – on the special days -- rescue some type of animal who jumps out from behind a tree and scares the crap out of me.
  
  


• 12:30 – Get home. Eat lunch – always the leftovers from dinner -- and check email.
  
  


• 1:00 – Decide I can’t write while I am a sweaty pig, so take shower. Come up with another brilliant idea and leap out of bathroom.
  
  


• 1:10 -- Start writing while dripping wet from shower because I am in a rush to write down this new, brilliant idea.
  
  


• 2:00 – Hit another brick wall. Call Jill Monroe again, this time to tell her how stupid I am.
  
  


• 2:15 – Laugh. Monroe has worked her magic. Check email. Respond. Panic that I won’t reach goal. Start writing again.
  
  


• 3:30 – Finish writing chapter, thereby reaching goal. Luxuriate in feelings of happiness, knowing I can relax for the rest of day.
  
  


• 3:35 -- Answer door. See that a manuscript has arrived for edits. Cry a little.
  
  


• 3:40 – Pick myself up and start editing.
  
  


• 4:30 -- Really feel like I am in a zone. Nothing can distract me.
  
  


• 4:35 – Check email. Respond. Feel guilty for slacking while a stack of papers that literally has my name on every page beckons. Panic that I won’t reach tomorrow’s Work in Progress goal because I didn’t edit enough on this second manuscript. Get back to editing.
  
  


• 5:30 – Wrists and back start to ache, along with brain. Decide to take break and eat a snack. Vacillate between Cheetos Puffs and Wheat Thins. Puffs win.
  
  


• 6:00 – Panic kicks in, demanding (loudly) that I return to work. Get back to work.
  
  


• 7:00 – Decide enough has been done for one workday because, well, the brain has been tapped dry. Collapse on couch. Wish the Puffs had not been devoured earlier.
  
  


• 7:10 – Panic kicks in again, demanding (even more loudly) that I return to work to get a jump-start on tomorrow’s goal. Resist. Or not.
  

And there you have it. A typical workday for me. I do get distracted easily, and I do panic often. But as strange as this sounds, I really do love the process. I love creating. I love watching a story take shape and the characters grow and change. I love twisting the plot so that even I’m surprised. But most of all, I love holding the finish product in my hands, as it’s a culmination of the blood, sweat and tears I poured into it. I hope you enjoy the results!

***
Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of breathtaking paranormal and contemporary romances, cutting edge young adult novels, and stunning urban fantasy. Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan and Seventeen Magazine, and on MTV. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise."