Liz Fielding on Inspiration and GIVEAWAYS!

I invited author Liz Fielding to share with us how she deals with her writing space and inspiration and she came with some GIVEAWAYS!

                                                   A WRITER’S TOOLS

I’m a writer and my office is crammed with the tools of my craft. Pens of course, paper, notebooks (I love notebooks!), my computer, printer, a basket filled with ink cartridges. But these are the nuts and bolts of the job. The hardware.

As with my computer, it’s the software that really matters.

How could I work without my Roget’s Thesaurus, for instance? I have a Rodale’s too, but I grew up with Roget – he’s a very old friend and I’m comfortable with him. I’m busy wearing out my fourth or possibly my fifth copy. (It’s okay, I have spare!)

Where would I be without my Shorter Oxford English Dictionary (the one I have to keep on the top of my stationery cupboard where I can open it, because I can’t lift it). Or my books of names - A Name for Your Baby and the Penguin books of Surnames?

There are a stack of research books, some bought for one particular book, some in constant use; Bradt’s Botswana; Chambers Office Oracle (it’s years out of date but it has all those tricky aristocratic forms of address, world time zones and public holidays); the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations; Love Quotations; Plants of the British Isles; a Dictionary of Differences; the History of Ice Cream; The Oxford Dictionaries of  Nursery Rhymes, and Proverbs and a load of other stuff (wherever would we be without Oxford!) and a Collins Westminster dictionary that has terrific sections on words “with a story”, abbreviations and foreign words and phrases.

There is a ton of writing books I’ve collected over the years (some of them even quote me). There’s Snoopy’s Guide to the Writing Life (for when I need a laugh – and great advice) and Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit (for when I need reminding that books don’t write themselves).

Then there are the inspirational books; Angela Carter’s Bloody Chamber in which fairy tales are retold – bloodily. Mondays Are Red by Nicola Morgan – reminds me that synaesthesia is a gift I’m blessed with, and which needs to be taken out and exercised on a regular basis. And a favourite book or two for when the muse goes walkabout and needs to be tempted back.

There’s a big fat folder stuffed with photographs to inspire me. Great women, good looking men, houses, scenery… Have you ever looked at a photograph and wondered what the person in the picture is looking at? What is going on just out of sight?

Oh, then there’s the notice board. It’s where I pin lists, and reminders, pictures of my characters, a calendar, cards from all over the world, photographs of great moments, photographs of my granddaughter and my Mum and Dad and photographs of my children and the Best Beloved, because they are my air.

Without them I couldn’t breath. Without them I wouldn’t be the person – the writer - that I am.

What inspires you? Tell me and I’ll draw a winner from the comments for an eBook download of  Eloping With Emmy , a signed copy of my new Harlequin Romance, The Last Woman He’d Ever Date and an eBook download of Liz Fielding’s Little Book of Writing Romance


THE LAST WOMAN HE'D EVER DATE

Back Blurb

Claire Thackeray: Hardworking single mom and gossip columnist. Hoping for the inside scoop on sexy billionaire Hal North, aka her teen crush!

Most wary of: Gorgeous men who set her heart racing. (Been there, got the T-shirt—and the baby!)

Hal North: Bad boy made good. Back in his hometown as new owner of the Cranbrook Park estate. Determined to put his troubled past behind him.

Most wary of: Journalists—especially pretty ones, like new neighbor and tenant Claire Thackeray.

Eloping With Emmy

Back Blurb


Hot shot legal eagle, Tom Brodie, has been landed with an assignment to test any man to his limits - do whatever it takes to prevent headstrong heiress Emerald Carlisle from marrying a fortune-hunter. He is not happy about it, and when Emmy stows away in his car, his day goes from bad to worse, but since she's the only one who knows where to find the man in question he has no choice but take her along for the ride.

It's a bumpy one!

Emmy is not a woman to sit back and let things fall as they will. She has a plan and she keeps Brodie on his toes in a rollercoaster chase across the UK and France. He's more than up to the challenge, but falling in love with Emmy along the way is always going to end with his heart in pieces.

Liz Fielding’sLittle Book of Writing Romance

This little book is a primer - an entry level aid for the writer who has a story to tell, but is struggling to get it out of her head and onto paper. To quote the theme song for the movie of Erich Segal’s bestselling book Love Story, “How do you begin. . . ”

I know how that feels, I’ve been there and I have written the book I wish I’d had when I was starting out.

My purpose is to explain, in the simplest terms — no jargon! — and using examples from my own work, how to make the transition from the story in your head to words on paper. How to write a compelling opening, deepen conflict, write honest emotion, hopefully with a touch of humour to leaven the mix. How to write crisp dialogue, develop the romance, add a little sizzle.

It will be useful to anyone who wants to write popular fiction but, before we get down to the nitty-gritty, I’d like to say a few words about romantic fiction in particular. Why readers love it and come back for more.

Liz Fielding around the web:

Website          Blog            Twitter      Facebook

Sarah Morgan on The Forbidden Ferrara and her RITA® Nomination!

Today, we have UK based author Sarah Morgan and I asked her some serious and some fun questions! And then I found out she's just been nominated for the prestigious RITA® awards by the Romance Writers of America®.

Sarah around the web:

      Website        Facebook         Twitter

What do you love most about writing for Harlequin Presents?

The stories are fairy tales for grown ups! I love the intensity and glamour of Presents. It’s the perfect escape, both to write and to read. The emotions are relatable, but the lifestyle and setting can be dreamy, exotic and luxurious (but you know all about dreamy and exotic as you live in Fiji, Nas! Can you hear my envious sigh as I reach for my umbrella yet again….) And of course Presents is the home of the Alpha Male…… need I say more?

What do you think makes a good story?

A good story has strong conflict and interesting characters. Whether you’re reading a thriller where much of the conflict might be external (being chased by the bad guys) or a romance where it might be internal (‘I know love hurts so I’m not going to fall in love’) – conflict is essential to keep readers turning the pages. We read to find out ‘what happens next’ but we only care about what happens next if we’re interested in the characters and sympathize with them.

Tell us a little about your current release The Forbidden Ferrara.

The Forbidden Ferrara is an intense, passionate story set on the stunning Mediterranean island of Sicily. The hero is Santo, a hot-blooded Sicilian and the youngest of two brothers (I wrote about the first brother in Once A Ferrara Wife) and the heroine, Fia, is a chef with a dark and troubled past. This is a story with plenty of conflict!

You write about exotic places in Presents – what is your ideal holiday destination?

Island of Corsica

At the moment, anywhere warm! I love the Mediterranean, particularly Greece and the island of Corsica, which is wild, mountainous and beautiful.

Anywhere you haven’t travelled you would like to go?

Capital of Brazil- Brasilia

Brazil. I set one of my stories in the Brazilian rainforest and did a lot of research, which made me desperate to visit.

What one item do you always pack when you travel?

A book!

What did you feel when you received the ‘Call’ to tell you that your book, Doukakis’s Apprentice is a RITA® finalist?

I was stunned and very, very happy! I was a finalist last year with my book Dare She Date the Dreamy Doc, so I didn’t think there was any way I would final two years running – that made it extra special. There is no feeling quite like getting that phone call!

[Congratulations Sarah! I'm so happy and excited for you!]

Once A Ferrara Wife

Blurb

Laurel Ferrara wouldn't know a happy ending if she fell over it—of course her whirlwind wedding was always going to end in disaster. But it wasn't as simple as just walking away. From the moment she is summoned back to Sicily, the shivers of unease set in….

The command comes from legendary billionaire Cristiano Ferrara, the husband she can't forget—but it might as well have come from the devil himself. The outrageously gorgeous Cristiano's power is a potent reminder of this Sicilian dynasty's unbreakable rule: once a Ferrara wife, always a Ferrara wife….

The Forbidden Ferrara

Blurb

A Ferrara should never share a bed with a Baracchi—however high the stakes!
Dark-hearted Santino Ferrara has always remembered how long-legged, hot-tempered Fia Baracchi felt in his arms—much to his frustration. Then a million-dollar business deal throws them together, and keeping his distance is no longer an option.

But Fia is living a lie. If it's ever discovered that her precious little son is Santino's heir, she'll be disowned—their families' feud is legendary! But her real fear? That she can't forget the scorching memories of her one night with the enemy—and that she still craves more.…




So friends, where would you like to travel? And what item would you pack to take away?

Donna Alward on her RITA Nomination!

Romance author Donna Alward was pleasantly surprised when she received the 'Call!' Read on for which call this was as she was already published!
Donna around the web:

Website    Blog       Twitter        Facebook

Over to Donna....

Being a Romance writer is a wonderful thing, and going to RWA National Conference is an experience unlike any other. This year will only be my third year attending, believe it or not. My first conference was in Washington DC in 2009. Once you go, you want to go EVERY year. It’s just that awesome. There’s an energy about it that is so validating. There is something so equalizing about having romance writers at any stage of their career – unpublished, published, bestsellers – all in the same room together. All joined through their love of the genre. AMAZING.

I wasn’t going to go this year. The West Coast is pretty expensive for us, plus last year I went to New York and we didn’t get a family vacay at all. But we did strike a deal – if I happened to final in the RITAS, I’d go.

I pretty much figured I wasn’t going.

But on March 26, just like every year, I was a bundle of nerves and jumped every time the phone rang. Because no matter how long the long shot, you always hold the tiniest bit of hope that by some fluke, this year might be IT.

And then the phone rang.

And it was a strange area code.

And when I heard the words “from the board” I started to cry.

I can’t explain why. I didn’t even cry when I got THE CALL. I guess maybe because in Romance land, this is IT – the big one.  Or maybe because the longer I’m in this business I realize how wonderful and also incredibly difficult it is. It takes a lot of work to have a career in publishing.  And five of my peers read this book and considered it one of the best. That’s huge – because authors are also readers. But they are readers who read like authors, which makes them a very tough audience indeed.

Anyway, once I got off the phone I stopped crying and calmed down enough to simply shake for an hour or two. And that night I registered for conference.

What has been even more strange and amazing is the overall response that HOW A COWBOY STOLE HER HEART -has had from the contest circuit. I enter a bunch of contests every year with a variety of titles, and simply hope that at some point one of them might final. So far this year, this particular book has finalled in the RITA, the National Reader’s Choice Award, the Booksellers’ Best Award, and the Colorado Award of Excellence (which it won).  It is humbling and overwhelming and thrilling all at once. A bit hard to believe, really.

But you know, despite the hype and the excitement of buying a dress for the ceremony and shoes and plane tickets and all the other craziness, the truth is I’ve been too busy to think a whole lot about it. Because at the end of the day, I’m a working writer who is trying to meet a few deadlines so she can take some relaxing family time over the summer.  The next books aren’t going to write themselves! The saying that I heard lots when I was unpublished really is true – it’s all about the next book.

And truthfully, it doesn’t matter if I win or not. And that’s the most awesome thing about Romance writers in the end. We are all excited and happy for each other. We celebrate each other’s victories and commiserate with the losses.  It’s a hugely supportive community because honestly – we practice what we preach:

Love. J

If any of you are in Anaheim for conference in July, please say hi if you see me roaming around. I’ll be the Canadian with the big smile.

Best wishes,

Donna

PS In the meantime, you can check out THE LAST REAL COWBOY, out this month from Harlequin Romance, and THE GREATEST GIFT: A MOTHER’S DAY COLLECTION featuring a short story by me and also one by my fellow RITA nominee, Tanya Michaels!

Currently Donna is having a contest and will be giving this book away!

Romantic Suspense Author Linda Conrad with a GIVEAWAY!

Today I invited Harlequin Suspense author Linda Conrad to tell us a little about her upcoming releases! But she came bearing gifts! She's promised a book from this series to one lucky commenter!

Linda Conrad on Facebook. Her Website and Twitter. Please connect and talk to her!

So here she is now...

Thanks for inviting me to talk about my latest mini-series for Harlequin Romantic Suspense, called Chance, Texas, and the first two books in the series: TEXAS BABY SANCTUARY and TEXAS MANHUNT, both out now.  The  Chance, Texas series tells the story of a large family of Texas siblings who were orphaned young, faced a great deal of difficulties and now run a mega ranching empire.

Writing about a family of mostly young men who have faced enormous difficulties in their lives has been a lot of fun for me.   Each brother has a past they must overcome in order to find love.  The oldest brother, Sam, is riddled with guilt. But he has found his chance for redemption in saving Grace Baker and her young son.

TEXASBABY SANCTUARY
Back Blurb:

There was nowhere safe for Grace Baker and her baby to run.  Even the law was no match for the ruthless drug lord who’d fathered her child.  Serrano had spies everywhere and wouldn’t stop till he captured his son and killed Grace.  Now Marshal Sam Chance was suddenly back in her life offering protection…could she dare to refuse?

Sam believed his family ranch was the one place Grace would be safe.  Here they found refuge in each other’s arms.  But returning home only reminded Sam of his past failure to protect those he loved.  This time had to be different.  Because Grace and her baby meant more to him than life itself. 

The second son in the Chance family is larger than life Travis.  He runs the huge ranching operation and most of the town of Chance.  He was a difficult character to write because he controls his world with an iron fist.  But almost everyone who knows him loves him and sees right into his soft heart of pure gold.

TEXASMANHUNT

Back Blurb:

Rancher Travis Chance has a soft spot for lost souls.  Stranded and broke in Chance, Texas, Summer Wheeler ignites in him a fierce desire to protect her.  Clearly the fragile beauty is hiding something.  But despite his disastrous romantic history, Travis knows in his gut he can trust her.

Summer comes to Chance looking for one of the men who devastated her life.  Though she hates lying to him, Travis’s job offer provides a means to her end.  But she never counted on falling for the sexy rancher and his troubled little girl.  Then “accidents” start happening at the family homestead.  Has Summer brought the danger to the two people who are teaching her to love again?

So do you love characters with difficult pasts? Or would you rather read about rich heroes who’ve lived relatively easy lives until they ran into a difficult woman who turns their worlds’ around?   Any particular books that you loved with a wounded hero? I'll give away one book from this series to one lucky commenter!