BRAIN, DON'T DESERT ME NOW!

TWO giveaways...in ebook form...one of Blue Ribbon to one reader. One of Red Hot to another.

I heard a suspicious whine in the air so I thought I'd better fortify the Over Coffee bar. Hot scones will be out of the oven soon, meanwhile help yourself to the fresh coffee and tea. Made cookies last night and they're great with coffee and kick butt on the whine. Just sayin' 

My guest is romance author, Carolyn Brown. She's been dancin' around with way too many sexy cowboys the past couple of weeks, but I'll let her tell you about that problem...

***

So I was about to send a note off to Sia to ask her for an interview rather than a post. My brain was coming up totally empty and for me that’s a first. I can always talk the ears off a politician so what was wrong with my brain. Did I have something terminal? Good Lord, was I going to blank out on the WIP? It’s only a few thousand words over the half way mark…brain don’t desert me now!

Then that little voice inside my head said, “Hey, you have given your brain cells a workout this past two weeks and they are demanding a vacation? Plus you've been layin’ off sugar and your fat cells are whinin’. The brain cells demand the right to whine along with them.”

One can not argue with the truth but it can be explained.

I was typing along on the third book in the Burnt Boot series and was on top of the mountain. That’s when I hit the half way mark. I've climbed, struggled, slipped in several places and slid backwards in even more. But now I’m on the top. I can see where I've been and where I’m going and the backside doesn't look nearly as formidable as getting to the top.

Then I got the first round edits for Daisies in the Canyon and it does involve more than adding commas and question marks. No problem, put the WIP on hold. I've reached the top so it’s not any big deal, right?’

Wrong! I get half way through the Daisies in the Canyon and I get the first round edits for The Trouble with Texas Cowboys. Both of my publishers are putting out a book next January—one at the beginning of the month; one at the end. So I leave Daisies in the Canyon and work on The Trouble with Texas Cowboys because the deadline for it comes first. Remember now, I was half way through with the WIP, One Cowboy Too Many.

Three sets of characters dashing around in my head which means a lot of hot cowboys. I turned on the fans and drank a lot of really cold water. I could do this. I could eat an elephant a bite at a time. So still no problem, right?”

Wrong again! My awesome editor called to say that since we’d decided to go another route with the last two books in the Burnt Boot series, the launch materials did not fit anymore. So I left behind Daisies in the Canyon, The Trouble with Texas Cowboys and One Cowboy Too Many and whipped out new launch materials. Then I had five sets of characters in my head, all of them involving hot cowboys and I needed more than a fan, dear hearts! Where were those little white pills to prevent hot flashes? I know I had some left in the cabinet.

And that is why my brain cells are whining today! But hey, I wanted to be a writer. I asked all the higher powers to let me be a writer. And now I am one so my brain cells can suck it up and help me think of a decent post so Sia won’t be disappointed. And my fat cells can be

The one and only Chester Fat Boy. He told
Boots Randolph Terminator Outlaw, it was
his turn to be the star.

quiet, too, or I’ll start cleaning house and sweat a few of them out just to show them I’m still the boss.

Oh, and I finished all the edits, the launch materials and worked on a few more new ideas for the WIP. Got to admit I probably couldn't have done it without my muse so meet Chester Fat Boy, who has been beside me every day for two weeks. Yes, he does have his own pillow and yes, he does sleep a lot but he never forsakes me. I bet he’d even have something very interesting to write a post about and he wouldn't whine like my brain and fat cells!

I spent a week in Cadillac, Texas (you can read about it here). Both books are great stories and you have a chance to win an e-book of either, The Blue-Ribbon Jalapeno Society (Book I) or the current book, The Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off (Book II and they can be read as a stand-alone). 

BTW, Sia is never disappointed with any of Carolyn Brown's writing. Just sayin'.

                                                                                                                                                          

BUY: AMAZON, B&N,
CHAPTERS INDIGO ca, INDIEBOUND

More Than the Chili's Heating Up Cadillac, Texas

Carlene Lovelle, co-owner of Bless My Bloomers lingerie shop, found a pair of fancy red-silk panties in her husband's briefcase, and all hell is breaking loose. She custom-made those fancy bloomers herself—and she remembers the bimbo who bought them. If her husband had a lick of sense, he'd known there are no secrets in a town like Cadillac.

Carlene's cohorts—and their mamas—plan to exact revenge on Lenny Joe where it'll hurt the most: break his ten-year winning streak at the prestigious Red-Hot Chili Cook-Off. Never before has a woman dared to compete. But the ladies of Bless My Bloomers are cooking up a storm...and it seems the whole town is taking sides in the showdown.

Welcome to Cadillac, Texas, where the chili is hot, the gossip is hotter, and friends stick by each other, no matter what the challenge.

                                                                                                                     

Carolyn Brown is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author with more than fifty books published, and credits her eclectic family for her humor and writing ideas. She writes bestselling single title cowboy and country music mass market romances. Born in Texas and raised in southern Oklahoma, Carolyn and her husband now make their home in the town of Davis, Oklahoma, where she continues to write more cowboy romances! For more information, please visit www.CarolynLBrown.com and Facebook.

REMEMBERING YOU—REVIEW

My apologies, this was scheduled to post early this morning and for whatever reason, it didn't.

I recently bought a book by Anne Gallagher, aka Robynn Rand. Now, I won't tell you I've read all her books, but what I have read I've liked. She's an excellent storyteller. I read the premise behind her first women's fiction novel and thought, hmm, sounds interesting. It was beyond interesting—it was a wonderful character driven story of love and family. If you haven't had a chance to pick up, you should.

AMAZON

Remembering You [Kindle Edition]

Robynne Rand/Anne Gallagher

Publisher: Shore Road Publishing; 

2nd edition (July 13, 2012)

Print Length: 243 pages

When Genna goes home to Rhode Island to spend a long-awaited vacation, she finds that her family is falling apart and she has only twenty-one days to put them back together. 

Her new promotion as Executive Chef at the posh Littlefield Country Club in Delaware is a dream job. It’s more than the pay and benefits; she has the chance to achieve what she’s always wanted – her own kitchen – and Genna can’t wait to get started when she returns after the Fourth of July holiday.

However, her vacation is far from relaxing. Two men are vying for her attention – an ex-fiancé who wants to fix the mistakes of the past, and an old school chum who finds her irresistible, and inspires mutual feelings in Genna. Her aunt’s forgetfulness is also causing concern. However, the family is in denial; her cousins are unable to cope with their mother’s changing behavior and her beloved uncle, dealing with all the stress, has a heart attack. 

Genna steps in to keep his diner open and the family together while he recuperates, and she questions what’s more important – breaking the glass ceiling or remaining with her family. The clock runs out and Genna finds she is needed at her new job, needed by her family, and by lovers old and new. Now Genna must search her soul to find out what she needs. EXCERPT

MY THOUGHTS:

Remembering You ripples across your emotions like strumming a fine guitar and leaves a warm echo in your heart.

This is a love story. Una storia bella di amore.

The love isn’t only romantic—although there is that element—but love between family members. Family is a complicated circle filled with complex relationships and emotions. There are squabbles and fights, laughter and joys, sorrow and tragedies. Any one of these pieces can be in play at any given time or be in place simultaneously. This is especially so in close knit extended families—siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles. Home is not so much a place with four walls, or a town with familiar places and streets; it’s family. It’s our safety net and our bedrock from which we explore the world.

The main character, Genna, left home nursing a broken heart after a traumatic break with her fiancé and stayed away, aside from short visits, for ten years. She has worked hard during that time to hone her skills as a chef and restaurateur. It’s paid off. She’s been offered a dream job managing a large country club with several restaurants venues and a team of chefs. She takes three weeks to go home for an extended vacation before starting her new job.

Can you ever really go home? Yes, but it’s never what you left. It grows and changes, ebbs and flows. Home is familiar yet different. And so Genna discovers. She also learns you can’t really run from home and problems because they’re still waiting for you when you return.

I love Genna’s family. It’s a big New England Italian family (I married into one complete with a Diner). And Robynne Rand makes you a part of it. Uncle Sally is wonderful and I had to laugh at his choice of music in the diner, pithy comments, and intense love for his family.  All the characters are well drawn and feel very real. They make you laugh out loud—a lot. Your heart hurts as you see Auntie Fortuna’s problems, what cousin Angie is facing, the hard choices facing Genna. You’re right there with the family in their opinion of Tony (the lying cheating weasel), the ex, and humming right along with oh so sexy Petie (È l'uomo perfetto per voi!).

This is a story you wish wouldn’t end. If you don’t have a family like Genna’s you’ll wish you did or they were friends and you could pop into the diner for a cup of coffee and fresh slice of life, Gennovase styled, for dessert.

I’m looking forward to the next Robynne Rand story!

~*~*~*~ 

Robynne Rand grew up on the shores of Rhode Island. Now residing in the Foothills of the Piedmont in North Carolina with her daughter, Rand writes about her old home state while staring at 25 acres of a soybean field. Sometimes if she squints just right as the fog rolls in from the mountains, it almost looks like the ocean.

Rand has had three literary short stories published in small press anthologies. She also writes Regency romance under the pen name -- AnneGallagher Website.

REMEMBERING YOU is her first foray into contemporary Women’s Fiction.

A FIRESIDE CHAT WITH THE TALENTED JESSICA BELL

Not every woman in this world lives without regret, knows exactly what they want, and has the courage to put every essence of their being into achieving their dreams...Does that mean a less strong-minded woman doesn't have an interesting story to tell? Jessica Bell

Tell me a bit about you—you have a furry baby don't you? Are you single or have a significant other?

Yes, I have a four-year-old Dalmatian named Holly (Holly Bolly Wallywood, yep, that’s her full name!). I really don’t know what I’d do without her. And, yes, I do have a significant other, but he doesn't want to be exposed! J Almost seven years, now, we've been together.

You're the daughter of two rock musicians. That had to be an interesting childhood. Give me a great memory of that time.

Well, the upside of having musicians as parents is that I was encouraged to write songs at a very young age—when I was about eleven or twelve.

The greatest memory of that time is the day my mother decided to sell her twelve-string acoustic guitar to get a bit of extra cash. I saw it sitting by the front door. I think someone was coming over to take a look at it. I remember opening the case and thinking that it just looked so beautiful, magical and special, and I remember wondering why in the world Mum would want to get rid of it? I think she was in the music room at the time and I interrupted one of her recording sessions to ask about the guitar. When she told me she was selling it, I asked her whether I could have it instead. She said that I could if I learned to play. From that moment I had that guitar in my hands every single day until I moved to Greece in 2002. I taught myself how to play. The first song I ever wrote was played on one string and sung in a very awful high-pitched voice. I hope that cassette never gets dug up!

[laughing] I bet not! I've a few things I've created I feel the same about.

Did you get to accompany your parents on their tours? What would be a down side?

Downside? Well, there weren’t really that many. My parents were very good at spending quality time with me. The worst thing was being dragged along to rehearsals late into the night and falling asleep on stinky carpet that smelled of old melted gaffer tape and amplifier wheel grease. I never went with them on tours. I usually stayed at a babysitter’s. That was another downside. I hated sleeping in weird beds.

Home base was Australia. How did you end up in Greece? 

My stepfather is Greek so I spent a lot of my childhood here. It became my second home. I couldn’t live without one or the other. Thank goodness for planes!

You speak Greek. How hard was it to learn? (Speaking would be one thing, but writing quite another. Or did you learn as a child?

I learned bits and pieces as a child, but mainly picked it up naturally by living here, so I never ‘struggled’ as it had pretty much become a familiar sound to me over the years. I can’t write or read it very well though. Takes me about half an hour to read through one page, and it would probably take me two hours to write one page.

You work as a freelance writer and editor. You're a very creative person—poetry, songwriter/musician, and you have a beautiful voice. Sounds like a very full life. What made you decide to write women's fiction?

I don’t think I ever ‘chose’ to write women’s fiction, it’s just what came naturally. In fact, I didn’t decide what genre it was until I started seeking agents and publishers. If I could class my writing non-traditionally, I’d probably call it ‘Real Fiction.’ Oxymoron, you say? Definitely not. You’ll just have to read my book to find out why! Ha!

Which has the biggest pull in your life, music or writing?

Music doesn't define me as much as writing does, but it’s still a big part of my life.

What’s the hardest thing you've had to face as a writer? How did you overcome it?

The hardest thing I’ve ever had to face, and still face, is the self-doubt. I don’t think I’m ever going to overcome this. Sometimes it isn’t as strong, but it’s always haunting me. Some days I’m confident enough to tell it to shove off, other days, it sends me into an emotional downward spiral. I think this is just a given for us creative types. 

Perhaps because creative types are striving the perfect note, word, or image. We hear it perfectly in our minds. Get frustrated when we can't translate that perfection to the printed page or whatever medium we're using. I also think creative types are harder on themselves than any critic could be. 


So, tell me about Melody Hill. What do you like about her? What is it about her that readers can relate to even not being in music?

Melody is a very strong-minded woman, but also significantly vulnerable—she can sometimes be an over-emotional doormat. But what I love about her is that she recognizes her flaws and really tries to rectify them.

The inspiration for Melody came from thinking about a time in my life when music was all I ever wanted to breathe. Even though my priorities had changed then, I still wanted to write about the power music has over someone who is so passionate about it that it consumes their every day. But I think music could be replaced by any sort of passion in String Bridge, because basically the story is about needing something more than you need yourself.

You took an unusual approach to writing Melody Hill’s story. I can’t say I’ve ever seen a book with a ‘soundtrack.’ This might be a case of what came first, the chicken or the egg, but how was this story born? Did it start with the music? Or the story?

The process was pretty circular. The thing with this book is that I never really ‘focused’ on plot. It was more about the characters and their emotions and their interactions with each other. Music evokes this sort of deeper feeling, too, I think.

The inspiration for the book came about when I was thinking about a time in my life when music was all I ever wanted to breathe. I wanted to write about the power music has over someone who is passionate about it.

And the music?

The songs that appear in the book started off as poems. Then it occurred to me that I could create and produce an album for Melody. That’s when the idea for my book trailer came about after listening to a few of my mother’s songs on YouTube. The poems then turned into lyrics. When I finished the final revisions I sat down and wrote music to the four songs that appear in the book. Once those were done, I wrote six more songs to create Melody’s album.

As you know, I absolutely love the book trailer music. Aside from it truly showcasing the story, it is a beautiful piece of work, both vocally and the lyrics.

Where can you buy the CD? And is there a way to get a sampling of the rest of the album?

If you go to www.stringbridge.com, you’ll find all the information you need for that. It will link you to iTunes, where you can sample 45 seconds of each song.

I’m curious, I know you’re promoting your work, but will you be also promoting your music? If so, how?

Actually, I have already been promoting my music. In fact, during my blog tour for String Bridge, I gave away many copies of the album to purchasers of the book on a specific day. It was a great incentive to buy and worked out really well, pushing String Bridge into the bestseller charts on both Amazon US and Amazon UK.

I’ve also done a live radio interview, here in Greece, and featured on Australian radio as well. I’ll continue to do all I can possibly do for both the book and the music.

What’s next for Jessica Bell? Are you working on a new story? Would you tell us a bit about it and when it will be released?

My next novel is called, Bitter Like Orange Peel. It’s complete and being considered by an Australian publisher, as I want to get more recognition in my home country.

It’s about a twenty-five year old Australian archaeology undergraduate named Kit, who doesn’t like to get her hands dirty. She feels misplaced and comes to the conclusion that meeting her father, Roger, will make some sense of her life, despite him being worth the rotting orange rind in her backyard. Well, at least that’s what she’s been conditioned to think of him by the three women in her life: Ailish, her mother—an English literature professor who communicates in quotes and clichés, and who still hasn’t learned how to express emotion on her face; Ivy, her half-sister—a depressed professional archaeologist, with a slight case of nymphomania, who fled to America after a divorce to become a waitress; and Eleanor, Ivy’s mother—a pediatric surgeon who embellishes her feelings with medical jargon, and who named her daughter after intravenous. Against all three women’s wishes, Kit decides to find Roger, but in doing so, discovers he is not the only rotten fruit.

For my third, Muted, I’ve applied for a writing fellowship in order to fund all the research I want to do for it. So fingers crossed for that!

Muted is set in Arles, France, in a totalitarian society where it is illegal to wear clothes. In some streets, it's also illegal to sing without accompanying instruments. Concetta, a famous Italian a cappella singer from before “the change,” breaks these laws. As punishment, her vocal chords are brutally slashed and her eardrums surgically perforated. Unable to cope with living a life without song, she resolves to drown herself in the river, clothed in a dress stained with performance memories from her hometown, Milan. But Concetta's suicide attempt is cut short as someone grabs her by the throat and pulls her to the surface. Is it the busking harpist, who encouraged her to feel music through vibration, acting as saviour? Or a street warden on the prowl for another offender to detain? From this moment, the reader will discover how Concetta came to be in this position, and what will happen to her after the suicide attempt.

Muted will explore a variety of themes such as overcoming loss, coping with mental illness and disability, dealing with discrimination, loss of freedom, inhibited self-expression, motivation to succeed, escaping oppression, expression through art and music, self-sacrifice, channelling the thoughts of the deceased, and challenging moral views and values.

Whew! There is quite a bit to be looking for from you. Muted has a very interesting premise. A bit sci-fi/fantasy in tone. I'll be watching for that.

Jessica, I wish you much success with all this and thank you for taking the time from your busy schedule to chat with me.

Thank you for having me!

Greek cuisine, smog and domestic drudgery was not the life Australian musician, Melody, was expecting when she married a Greek music promoter and settled in Athens, Greece.

Keen to play in her new shoes, though, Melody trades her guitar for a ‘proper' career and her music for motherhood. That is, until she can bear it no longer and plots a return to the stage—and the person she used to be.

However, the obstacles she faces along the way are nothing compared to the tragedy that awaits ....EXCERPT 

BOOK TRAILER (very well done and Jessica is singing FAMOUS on the soundtrack) If you want to hear three of her songs in entirety visit Jessica's Facebook music page.

BUY: AMAZON, AMAZON UK, BARNES and NOBLE, 

You can also find Jessica on her blog: The Alliterative Allomorph, Official String Bridge Website (Lyrics, music and the book), Twitter, Goodreads, and Website.

Interview with Tonya Kappes

It's my pleasure to have my friend finally visit me here Over Coffee. It feels like I've been waiting forever. So it's with great pleasure I introduce, women's fiction author, Tonya Kappes. To reward her for visiting I decided to put her on the hot seat and ask lots of questions.

Before I get to the questions I have to tell you I read her latest book, Carpe Bead 'Em. I loved it! It's a fun summer read that leaves you feeling good after you put it down. I'll admit, I shook my Kindle in disbelief when I got to the end. I was sure it would magically continue on with Hallie's story, but alas it didn't. Darn it. Her story shares the best elements of women's fiction and chick-lit and yes, there are quirky characters, lots of laughs, and few tears. I would recommend Carpe Bead 'Em for a fun summer read and introduce you an excellent story teller.

 You can read the Blurb and Excerpt here

Buy: Amazon, Smashwords Available Kindle and Paperback

Carpe Bead 'Em book trailer

Tonya, I'm so glad to have you visiting here Over Coffee. Tell me a bit about you. I know you’re married and the mother of four teenaged boys. From what I know of you the past few years, it sounds like a big boisterous family setting. Do you work outside the home?

Yes! I do work outside the home with….KIDS!! Can you believe it? I can’t escape it!

I’m a Developmental Therapist for children birth to three-years old. I work with all sorts of children with disorders like shaken baby syndrome to speech therapy etc…


How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?


I put it on my head and hope it sinks in while walking really fast.

No, seriously. I keep all my writing stuff with me at all times. When I have a free second between therapy appointments I pull it out. When we are at one of many sporting events~I pull it out. The community we live in is use to seeing me with pencil, paper, laptop in hand.


What do you do to relax and recharge?


What? We can do that?? I do walk my dogs every day. Being with my family keeps me going. Plus I love my day job, and I get rewarded from helping those sweet little ones. It charges me up.


You’ve been writing for some years, how long have you had the goal to be published?


From day one. From the day I started seriously writing, I was writing for publication. I only wanted my name on a book. When that happened, I wanted to touch readers. Readers are my number one priority. It doesn’t matter about the amount of books sold, or the amount of money, it’s all about my readers.


How did you go about making that a reality? (How did writing groups, continuing education, etc help?)


I have to say, I’m very blessed to be surrounded by such a great group of writing women. My local RWA chapter has Lori Foster, Shelley Shepard Gray, Heather Webber, Jules Bennett, Dianne Castell, Toni Blake, Cathy Liggett, Kay Stockham, Becke Davis, Gabrielle Edwards, Tina Wolfer, just to name a few. They are great women who encourage me. Plus my critique group, that I meet with every other week, Heather Webber, Shelley Shepard Grey, Hilda Linder-Knepp, and Cathy Liggett, keep it real for me.


I really took a lot of classes to hone my craft. The story part is easy and flows, it’s all those grammar rules that flub me up. WHO NEEDS RULES??


You have a blog, The Naked Hero, with Misa Ramirez. How did the blog help you with fulfilling your goal to be published?

Yes, Misa Ramirez! Amazing woman! It helped me build a platform and establish a presence on line before I was published. I really do believe in connecting with readers and I found it there. I make sure I email each person who comments on my blog. I want them to feel like I hear them. I do.


How have you handled discouragement that comes with submitting and getting rejections?


I’m a “glass is half full” girl! I’m all about karma, destiny, and giving back. When I got rejections, and I did, I never got upset. It only fueled my fire, and I continued. I would send out sixty-one-hundred queries at a time. I can honestly say, I never ever got mad or upset. I accepted it and moved on.


I teach my children this every day!


You tout yourself as a high-class hillbilly (*snork), so does this tag make Tonya Kappes quirky? Or does designing and beading make her quirky?


Ummm…it’s me! I love to go barefoot, packing my Gucci bag, and calling everyone y’all. I’m a people person and can get along with the richest and the poorest, the smartest and the dumbest. There is good in everyone and I find it no matter what.


You say you love writing about, “quirky characters and even quirkier situations.” So, define for me quirky, and how it applies to your writing?


Quirky, to me, is living outside the box and letting the world know it is okay. Society lives in this box of rules, and I don’t, nor do my kids.


I love writing about these kinds of characters. They are entertaining and make a great character! It takes my reader away from their life and makes them smile.


You write woman’s fiction. What drew you to this genre?


I love reading about the growth, learning something to make your life better. It was just a natural write for me. I’m sure it’s because it was all I use to read. Now I read anything I can get my hands on.


What’s something you admire about Hallie, your heroine in Carpe Bead ‘em?


I love the fact she was able to come full circle in her life before it was too late. She discovers how important family is no matter where you come from. She has such a wonderful growth and her spirit, in the end, was gold.


(I love her friends and her interaction with Bo and his shirts, cracks me up.)


This might be like asking a mother to pick her favorite kid, but do you have a favorite scene?


I love all the scenes when Aunt Grace calls her in the middle of the night. Hallie never, not once, didn’t take her Aunt’s call.


What's easiest (or hardest) for you-dialogue, plot, character, or something else?


I love to cross tenses! My editor always corrects me for this. I write the full novel, then go back and make myself look at the tenses. It should get easier with each novel, but it hasn’t.


I know you are hard at work on a series. Can you tell us a bit about it and when it will be released?


OH! I love this series. It’s my first series that just flowed through me. All three novels are set in a fictitious town of Grandberry Falls, and centered around the residents there. The town is so charming with a waterfall in the middle of town square where you can throw in a penny for good luck, have lunch at The Fatted Pig, dessert at The Trembling Cup Café, or a cocktail at The Thirsty Turtle. It’s a town you will want to live in.


The Ladybug Jinx is the first in the series that will be released at the end of July. The second book, Happy New Life, will be released in September. The third and final book (I say that…) is Never Tell Your Dreams Before Breakfast, and will be released in January.


Readers will follow this town and some main characters throughout a major growth in all their life and community.

Tonya, I'm eagerly awaiting reading this series! You are such a good storyteller. Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.

~*~*~

Tonya Kappes, the queen, princess, and jester in her family of 4 boys, 2 dogs, and best friend husband, is the author of two novels, Carpe Bead 'Em and The Ladybug Jinx. She writes contemporary women's fiction and humorous cozy mysteries with quirky characters and quirkier situations. Tonya teaches on-line classes at savvyauthor.com about those heroes/heroines/villains we love to write and read about. Tonya's Promotional Toolbox is a must-go-to workshop, where Tonya works with authors on how to effectively promote and market themselves and their books. She is the co-founder of The Naked Hero(thenakedhero.com) website, and The Writer's Guide to E Publishing (www.thewritersguidetoepublishing.com). Find out what's going on with Tonya at www.tonyakappes.com. You can also find Tonya on Facebook.

Morning Coffee Dates with Friends

My guest is award winning women's fiction author, Marilyn Brant. I love that she could visit on a Friday.

I like stories that deal with issues, concerns and worries that face me as a woman and those issues are different than when I was a young and barely twenty something. I also enjoy humor and the ability to laugh at both myself and situations I face. As I've grown up, I find girlfriends are all the more precious. I need that commonality of shared experiences, laughter, and grounding that true friends give you (and their opinions)--whether you want it or not, lol!

So, as you can imagine, I like Marilyn's books and really enjoyed her article. I hope you will too.

I'm thrilled to be back visiting Sia and everyone here today! I was lucky enough to be here the first time after the release of my debut novel, According to Jane, but I'm especially excited to visit again this fall...on a Friday...and to get to discuss the subject of friends and relationships with you all Over Coffee. It's particularly fun for me because my second novel, called Friday Mornings at Nine, is about three women friends who get together once a week (bet you can guess which day -- LOL) over coffee (!!) to talk about their relationships. So, this is one of those cool 'virtual life' meets 'real life' meets 'writing life' kinds of moments!

Anyway, one of the reasons I wrote this novel was to explore the idea of What-If relationships, even for women who might be (or seem to be) happy with their current ones. The three women in my story are 40-something suburban moms who have all been married for a decade or two. They think they know what their friends' marriages are like but, it turns out, they have a lot to learn -- not only about each other, but about their spouses and themselves. Complicating matters are three other men (not these women's husbands!) whom my main characters are becoming increasingly more aware of and, at times, attracted to... Bridget admires the warmth and cooking skill of her boss, a dentist in the office where she works. Tamara is noticing the divorced (younger) neighbor guy down the street who works from home. And Jennifer has been reconnecting with her college ex-boyfriend via text message and email because he'd contacted her about an upcoming reunion. All of them begin to wonder -- in light of their attraction to these other people -- if they made the right decision in marrying the man they did.

In real life, I also meet my friends for coffee once every week or so and we, too, discuss our families, jobs and lives. Over the years, one of the things I've noticed is that my friends not only help me sort through whatever ups and downs might be going on somewhere in my world, but they've frequently provided a sounding board for any What-If relationship scenarios that may come up, including: old flames who suddenly resurface via Facebook (!!) or that really handsome fitness trainer at the gym or my longstanding obsession with Ryan Reynolds and his REALLY great abs. (C'mon, who here doesn't have a bit of a celebrity crush on him?!)

For me, I've found that hearing what my friends have to say during our coffee dates is incredibly valuable because it reaffirms that -- most of the time, at least -- what I'm experiencing is something normal. And listening to my friends talk about whatever issues they might be wrestling with in their lives is just as helpful. I learn a lot from them about how to handle situations I haven't yet encountered myself, or I simply get to know more about my friends' lives and beliefs and passions, which is fascinating. During this time of year I'm especially thankful for them...for always being there when I need them, for helping me stay grounded/calm in the face of good or bad news, and for always making our outings such fun!

• What about you? Do you have a group of friends you get together with regularly? If so, where do you like to meet and what do you most enjoy talking about with them?

I'll draw one name randomly from all of the commenters below (on late Sunday night, 12/5) and give away a signed copy of Friday Mornings at Nine and an individual serving of Starbucks VIA Christmas Blend to one winner. Happy Holidays, everyone!!

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FRIDAY MORNINGS AT NINE

Every woman remembers her firsts: Her first kiss. Her first lover. And her first time contemplating an affair...

Each Friday morning at the Indigo Moon Café, Jennifer, Bridget and Tamara meet to swap stories about marriage, kids and work. But one day, spurred by recent e-mails from her college ex, Jennifer poses questions they've never faced before. What if they all married the wrong man? What if they're living the wrong life? And what would happen if, just once, they gave in to temptation...

Soon each woman is second-guessing the choices she's made--and the ones she can unmake--as she becomes aware of new opportunities around every corner, from attentive colleagues and sexy neighbors to flirtatious past lovers. And as fantasies blur with real life, Jennifer, Bridget and Tamara begin to realize how little they know about each other, their marriages and themselves, and how much there is to gain--and lose--when you step outside the rules. EXCERPT

BUY: Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble, Doubleday Book Club

Marilyn is the award-winning women's fiction author of ACCORDING TO JANE (2009), FRIDAY MORNINGS AT NINE (2010) and her upcoming novel, A SUMMER IN EUROPE (November 29, 2011), all from Kensington Books.

She received her M.A. in educational psychology from Loyola University Chicago, dabbled in both fiction and art at Northwestern University, studied the works of Austen at Oxford University and is an active member of the Jane Austen Society of North America. Her debut novel featuring "Jane" won the Romance Writers of America's prestigious Golden Heart® Award.


Marilyn has traveled to 45 states and over 30 countries (so far -- she's not done yet!), but she now lives in the Chicago suburbs with her family. When she isn't rereading Jane's books or enjoying the latest releases by her writer friends, she's working on her next novel, eating chocolate indiscriminately and hiding from the laundry.
 

Brandt Flakes, Marilyn's Blog

 

SNOW GLOBES AND STORIES

My guest is women’s fiction author Sheila Roberts. She writes things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate (oh, I love this woman!).

Before she started writing about those things, she wrote music (still does), was in a band, and—are you ready for this? —She owned a singing telegram business. Yep, she was the perky person who sang them to you. I’m not sure if she wore costumes or not, but kudos to her. I can sing to you and no problems from a stage, but in person and at your door, restaurant, or in your office? Um, that would be no.


Sheila sent me an Arc of Snow Globe (did I mention I love this woman?) and it was my first (but certainly not my last) introduction to her writing. I reviewed the book here and on Night Owl Reviews.


Sheila says she originally wanted to create a story that would become a Christmas Classic, “serious and heartwarming and a real tearjerker.” But I’ll let her tell you about that.


Don’t you love snow globes? I sure do! There is something peaceful about that charming scene frozen under glass that simply fascinates me. And I’m not the only one. These pretty ornaments are highly collectible (especially some of the Disney ones) and can go for a small fortune on eBay. I understand how that bidding fever can take over a girl, believe me.

Last year at a girlfriend party I got, well, let’s just say highly competitive over a gorgeous snow globe that someone had brought to our annual Christmas party. We were playing the old steal-each-other’s- presents game and, wouldn’t you know? I was the first to pick the package with the gorgeous globe. Needless to say, I didn’t hang onto it long. I tried every sneaky strategy I could think of to get it back. And failed. And complained loudly. All to no avail. There SHOULD NOT be a limit on how many times you can snitch a gift when you’re playing that game, and that’s all I’m going to say about that. Oh, except that I actually found an even prettier one at TJ Max on the way home from the party. My reward for (almost) being a good sport! :-)

Not only do I enjoy snow globes, I also love Christmas. It’s my favorite holiday. And I wanted to write a book that could become a Christmas classic, something people could read and enjoy every year. I wanted it to be serious and heartwarming and a real tear-jerker, like The Christmas Box. And I had a big, dark, tear-jerker plot all figured out. Well, somehow the book morphed from big, dark, and tear-jerking to sweet and funny. But also, I hope, encouraging. And I’m very happy with it.

Maybe someday I’ll write Snow Globe 2 and get to write my deep, sad, story. But for now I’ll simply be happy with the tale I’ve told and celebrate the season of miracles. And bring out my snow globe!

• Snow Globes do seem to make me think of winter and Christmas. What makes you think of Christmas?

Snow Globe:


On a blustery afternoon, Kylie Gray wanders into an antique shop and buys an enchanting snow globe. “There’s a story behind that snow globe,” the antique dealer tells her. The original owner, he explains, was a German toymaker who lost his wife and son right before Christmas. When the grieving widower received the handcrafted snow globe as a Christmas gift, he saw the image of a beautiful woman beneath the glass—a woman who would come into his life, mend his broken heart and bring him back to the world of the living. For years, the snow globe has passed from generation to generation, somehow always landing in the hands of a person in special need of a Christmas miracle.


Kiley could use a miracle herself. This year, all she wants for Christmas is someone to love. A hopeful shake leads her on an adventure that makes a believer out of her. When Kylie shares the story of the snow globe with her best friends—two women with problems of their own—they don’t believe it. But they’re about to discover that at Christmastime, sometimes the impossible becomes possible and miracles really do come true. Excerpt

Discover an unforgettable holiday treasure in Sheila Roberts’ heartwarming tale of love and laughter, magic and miracles, friendship and coming home…

Buy: Amazon, Barnes &Noble, Books a Million

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Sheila Roberts lives on a lake in the Pacific Northwest. She’s happily married and has three children. She’s been writing since 1989, but she did lots of things before settling in to her writing career, including owning a singing telegram company and playing in a band. Her band days are over, but she still enjoys writing songs. When she’s not speaking to women’s groups or at conferences or hanging out with her girlfriends she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.

Be sure to check out Sheila's Contests, Blog (she talks about MAKING snow globes) Facebook.

Dancing With Murphy's Law

Apologies for not having a Monday Blog. Lightning took out our phone lines and internet over the weekend. No Internet.

• "Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong." Murphy's Law
  
  
  I'm pleased to have the indomitable Francis Ray as guest today. The New York Times bestselling author writes multicultural romance and women's fiction.
  
  My first introduction to Francis was the anthology, Living Large. I loved Monica's story, STRICTLY BUSINESS. To be honest, I enjoyed the work of all four authors so much I sought out other stories by them.
  
  What impressed me about Francis Ray's stories is the sense of humor and well developed characters. Another thing I like about her stories is her strong, successful women, who are sassy, fun, and confident. She's a wonderful storyteller and I love the way she makes her characters work for their happiness. No pat HEA for her.

• I recently finished IT HAD TO BE YOU. An engaging story about the romance between RD and Laurel. The setting is in the music business with two artists at polar ends of music. This is a story rich in atmosphere of the business but without drowning you in unnecessary factoid backstory. Each piece is woven in as texture to the dialog happening right then or inner dialog happening at the moment--the now. I liked the way Francis worked in how misconceptions and prejudgements can color perception and that love is worth fighting for despite it. It's a story that makes you realize just why Ms. Ray consistently hits the bestseller list.

Francis Ray, is a successful author. She has over thirty books in print and you would think she's made the climb to success without any glitches, smooth sailing all the way, right? And you couldn't be more wrong.

Francis shares with us her ambition to succeed despite a lot of dancing with Murphy's Law.


I published 16 short stories before I sold my first full-length book. While I enjoyed writing short stories for confession magazines, I dreamed of publishing a book with greater depth, richer characters. I wrote FALLEN ANGEL with that dream in mind. Unfortunately, two editors didn't agree with me on the merit of the book. With each rejection, my dream seemed less attainable. Finally, on December 24, 1991, I received The Call.


FALLEN ANGEL was released November 1992. I had a book signing and sold 88 books! I thought I was on my way to having a long and successful career as a published writer. Unfortunately, the publishing house went under a few months later and I was left wondering what to do next.

After a few months of tears, doubts, and self-pity, because of the unwavering support of my family and my critique group, I decided to finish the two books I had been working on. Once that was done, I promptly sent both in the same envelope to Kensington. Although I knew you were supposed to send to a specific editor, I just put "editor" because one book was a Victorian historical romance and the other a contemporary romance. Once that was done I began the long difficult wait. At the 1993 RWA conference I was stunned when Denise Little approached me and made an offer for the historical, THE BARGAIN. At that same conference Monica Harris, an editor for Kensington, indicated she was looking for African-American romances. Yes, she'd read my book and would get back to me. A few weeks later she called to tell me she wanted to buy FOREVER YOURS, and best of all, it would co-launch the Arabesque line.


FOREVER YOURS went into 7 printings and was named one of the top 25 books of 1994 by The Library Journal. Once again I thought my worries were over.

I should have known better.

I received a quick reality check regarding distribution, shelf space, positioning, and spine out vs face out. I learned that writing the book might be the easiest thing a writer does, and perhaps the only thing she/he has some control over. Once the book leaves your house, things can and do go wrong.

When my 6th book, INCOGNITO, was the first BET TV movie, I forgot about past bumps and thought surly it would be smooth sailing from now on. Wrong. Once again I wanted to write a bigger book. I made the difficult decision to leave a wonderful editor who purchased every proposal I sent, and find a house that published women's fiction. Talk about scared, but I had a great agent and thankfully, I was picked up by St. Martin's Press. I was ecstatic. Not only could I write women's fiction, but romances as well. My editor even published my Living Large series about full-figured women!For me, writing is a journey. You never know what the next day or the next phone call will bring. Case in point, several months ago I was in the kitchen getting a Pepsi and the phone rang. It was my always supportive and fantastic editor telling me that NOBODY BUT YOU had made the New York Times extended bestselling list. I didn't believe her. My goal was to one day possibly hit the USA Today list. When it sunk in I was elated and already worried whether the next book would hit.

It didn't.

I was crushed. I had to remember that in publishing things can and do go wrong, you can be up one day and in the depths of depression the next. All that really matters is the work that will remain long after the writer is gone.

I love weaving stories and have no intention of quitting. Plots might be similar, but no one else can tell the story that I envision. My goal with each and every book is to make it the best that I can, and always be proud of the finished product. After all, it has my name on the cover and that and the story are the only things I can control.

• How about you? Have you danced much with Murphy's Law? How have you handled setbacks in your writing career?

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• Francis is giving away and autographed copy of IT HAD TO BE YOU to a commenter today.

It Had To Be You Blurb

IT HAD TO BE HER

Most musicians would do anything to work with the hot, young record producer known as “Rolling Deep.” R.D. can pick and choose any artist he wants—and he wants Laurel Raineau. A classical violinist, Laurel plays soaring music that touches R.D. to his very soul. But the last thing Laurel wants is to work with someone whose exploits with the ladies appear in the tabloids every week.

IT HAD TO BE...WHO?

Not one to take no for an answer, R.D. keeps trying and failing—to let Laurel know that he’s not the player he’s made out to be. So he introduces himself to her by his real name, Zachary Wilder, hoping to win her over. But it’s Zach who falls under this beauty’s spell. Now it’s only a matter of time before Laurel learns who the man she’s losing her heart to really is—but can she walk away from a passion that feels so right?
Review from Urban-Reviews.com
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Click Here to Read an Excerpt

Buy: Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million

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Francis Ray is a native Texan and lives in Dallas. A graduate of Texas Woman's University, she is a School Nurse Practitioner with the Dallas Independent School District. In 1999 and 2000 she was nominated for Texas Woman's University Distinguished Alumni Award.

Ms. Ray's titles consistently make bestseller's lists such as Blackboard and Essence Magazine. INCOGNITO, her sixth title, was the first made-for-TV movie for BET. She has written forty titles to date. Awards include Romantic Times Career Achievement, EMMA, The Golden Pen, The Atlantic Choice, and Borders 2008 Romance Award for Bestselling Multicultural Romance.

• Website (which has the blurbs and trailers for her books)