Meet Debra Druzy, Author of Sweet 'n Spicy Happily Ever Afters--She Brought Her Hero Nick Knight!

Debra is a fellow TWRP (The Wild Rose Press) author and she brought her hero along for a fun interview. He has a fabulous back, as you can see on the cover! Meet Debra AND Nick.

A married stay-at-home mom, she writes romance in between running errands and doing household chores. SLEEPING WITH SANTA is her first published book, but there are plenty of unfinished stories in the closet and under the bed, which is probably bad for feng shui, but a good lesson in persistence pays off.  

Contact Debra

Website 

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

About SLEEPING WITH SANTA:

When Nick reluctantly accepts the temporary transfer to the Scenic View Fire Department he doesn’t plan on playing Santa Claus for the kiddie Christmas party. Sticking around town for the special assignment will give him a chance to get to know lonely, local sweetheart Lily and find out why she wants nothing to do with him.

Lily is a lifelong fixture in Scenic View, sick of living hand-to-mouth in a place where everyone’s nose is in her personal business. Just when she’s ready to move out of town, she meets the gorgeous newcomer, and it’s lust at first sight. The only thing is she doesn’t date firemen, which is too bad, because charming Nick seems like a real keeper.

With a little Christmas magic and help from the Santa suit, will Nick find a way into Lily’s heart and change her mind?

You’re gonna have to sleep with Santa to find out.

Get SLEEPING WITH SANTA for .99 October 16 – 29.

For more information and buy links, visit Debra's website

 

 

Meet the Hero From SLEEPING WITH SANTA —Nick Knight

Thank You, Diana, for having me on the blog. And Hello to your fabulous followers!

I’m Debra Druzy, author of the contemporary romance story SLEEPING WITH SANTA.

It just so happens that I ran into the hero of the story on the sidewalk outside the diner, and he has enough time to answer a few burning questions before he needs to get back to the firehouse.

So without any further delay, meet Nick Knight.

DD:     Hey, Nick, it’s me—Debbie. Do you have a minute to spare? (He’s juggling two coffees in one big hand and a paper sack gripped in the other. Knowing Nick, there’s probably a few sticky donuts inside.)

NK:     Well, look at you, out in public like a regular person. (He winks with a wicked smile that makes my stomach flip.) Shouldn’t you be home on the computer, banging out the next World’s Best Seller?

DD:     (Nick says banging and my one-track mind goes straight into the gutter. I roll my eyes and feel my cheeks burn despite the brisk autumn breeze.) I am… I mean, I was. I’m taking a break to run some errands. I gotta pick up my husband’s dry cleaning. And then get the girls from school. (I ramble, wishing I could shut up, but I’m caught in the tractor beam of his whiskey eyes, reeling me in, wrecking my train of thought.)

NK:     So, what’s up?

DD:     Just a few questions for another blog interview.

NK:     (He sighs and juts his chin toward the bench outside Bob’s barbershop, a few doors down.)  I got a feeling we oughta sit for this. Has anyone ever mentioned you got a nosy set of friends? I’m not that interesting. Really. I don’t know why they want to know so much about me.

DD:     (For a sexy beast, he seems completely unaware of his magnetism. Lucky for me, this sweet stud is roughly based on my husband so there’s no chance of Mr. Druzy getting jealous.) How do you like Scenic View so far? (I could smack myself for wasting words on such a trivial question when I should be asking steamy stuff, like what’s his favorite position in bed, or what he’s really doing when he parks his truck down by the marina at night, alone.)

NK:     At first, I couldn’t wait to get the hell back home to Star Harbor. But the more time I spend here, the more I like it. Scenic View’s a real peaceful place, and the people are nice, although the grapevine seems to travel like wildfire. The best part about being here is my ex-wife has no idea where to find me. What I do find strange is you all start decorating for Christmas so early. It’s only October and there’s a full-sized animated Santa Claus dressed up as a wizard. (He points to the plate glass window of the magic shop across the street where Santa’s dressed up for Halloween.) That’s gonna be me in a couple of months.

DD:     You’re gonna be a wizard? (I tease, knowing his fate.)

NK:     (His lips press together in a tight line, unamused.) I’m talking about Santa. Don’t play dumb. You wrote the story. You know damn well I got picked to play the fat man for the fire department’s upcoming kiddie Christmas party.

DD:     Well, you didn’t have to say yes when the chief asked.

NK:     (He glares at me from the corner of his eye.) How could I say no? The guy’s doing me a favor.

DD:     It wasn’t all my idea. My sister was the one who suggested the title of the story. I just wrote around it.

NK:     How is your sister anyway? (He perks up with a bright smile.) I have a real sweet spot for redheads.

DD:     Is that so? (I grin, knowing how the story ends.) I’ll tell her you asked about her.

NK:     I’d love to sit here all day and chat, but I gotta get back to work. The chief’s coffee is getting cold. (He gets up, and my eyes zero in on the curve of his bottom in worn, fitted jeans. Then he stalls and turns, and now I’m staring at his crotch, praying he doesn’t notice me ogling.) Wait—I didn’t answer your questions, did I? (He smirks when he realizes where my eyes are aimed.)

DD:     I, uhh… (I blink, trying to regain my focus.) Never mind. I forgot what I was going to say.

Thanks again, Diana, for hosting me on your blog today. And thank you to your followers for stopping by. If you haven’t slept with Santa yet, you can get the e-book on sale for only 99 cents, October 16 – 29.

I wish you all a Happily-Ever-After,

Deb

Get SLEEPING WITH SANTA for .99 for a limited time

TWRP Store

Amazon

Kobo

All Romance Ebooks

Bookstrand.com

iTunes

B&N Nook

 

 

Meet My Guest Mit Sandru – Author, Artist, Composer--A True Renaissance Man!

I came across Mit's blog in some roundabout way--through a writer's forum, or another blog, I can't even remember where, but you know how one link leads to another--when I read his blog, I said, wow, I have to meet this guy! His life reads like a novel--and a page-turner at that. He's my guest, so enjoy meeting Mit and reading about his well-rounded life and many talents.

In His Own Words:

Now let’s be honest, am I capable to be a writer, a painter, and music composer? Well, yes. And you can see all my three abilities in the Book Trailer for “Arboregal-The Lorn Tree” if you click here

I write under three book genres and therefore three pen names:

Mit Sandru for Sci-fi, Paranormal Thriller, Vampire

D.G. Sandru for YA/Children Fantasy, Adventure and Survival

Dumitru Sandru for non-fiction

Where are you from? I was born in the last millennium in the western part of Transylvania, Romania. I’m not over the hill yet, but I do qualify for social security. I immigrated to United States when I was 18 years old, seeking glory, money, and fame. I’m still working hard to achieve them, and I still enjoy the process.

Why do you write? I have a very creative mind, and ideas come to me in abundance. In other words I’m a dreamer, day or night. Yes, some of my story ideas came from night dreams, like “Folding Reality.” Writing is one of the simplest ways to bring to life the stories that come to mind, and vicariously live in those stories. So far I’ve published 11 books, click here to see all my books.

When did you write your first book? How long did it take you to write it? I wrote my first book in 2001 and finished it in 2009, while I was working full time as a project manager in IT. Besides writing I painted many of the sceneries in the story. Click here and here to see the paintings. The first book was “Arboregal - The Lorn Tree” a YA Fantasy. It was published in 2011.

How do you write? Do your characters come to you first or the plot or the world of the story? How do you go on from there? Maybe you can give us an example with one of your books. For my first book “Arboregal - The Lorn Tree” the world was first, a world where all living things dwell in giant, mile-high trees. For “Vampire-Vlad V” the characters Dracula’s nephew –Vlad the Fifth– and Cat Sanders came first. Most of the time the character(s) tell me the story. In “Vampire” I didn’t know the ending and the plot until I was three chapters from the end.

Where do you get your ideas? Do you jot them down in a notebook, in case you forgot? I have more ideas than time to write them into books and they come from many stimuli, a name, a book, a movie, a picture, even one of my sketches. They all prompt me to say “what if?” I have a note pad, and I use a small digital recorder, but nowadays I am home most of the time and I write the ideas in certain files on my computer. It’s safer that way. To generate ideas simply ask, “What if?”

Which of your books feature your family/friends, etc? What characters are modeled after them? Why? In “Arboregal - The Lorn Tree” the four heroes are my two daughters Melissa and Michelle and my best friend’s two sons. I even wrote about myself in “Escape from Communism” which is a true story. In “Vampires of Transylvania” four minor characters were based on my aunts and uncles. They didn’t play the roles of the vampires. However, I don’t rely much on people I know, and most of the characters are strangers, and then they become my friends. I’m not sure if they love me or are afraid not to ‘kill’ them. My editor asked me not to kill one of the characters; she liked him a lot and he was not a vampire. He lived. For now.

Which of your heroes/heroines is most similar to you? Why? There will be a book that will be based on me. It will be extreme science-fiction. And it will be based on me, because unlike having a character that I have to create and expose him/her to the world I created, in this case I will expose myself to the new worlds. It is not vanity; it is like existing in another world, a virtual world like no other world.

Who is your strongest/sexiest/most lovable/hottest hero/heroine? Why? So far Cat Sanders in Vlad V series is my best heroine. I’m writing about her in the first person and at least one reader thought I was a woman writer. I took that as a compliment. The character starts as an innocent young woman and her transformation, while being exposed to blue-blood vampires, until she herself becomes a vampire. The series are Vampire, R.I.P., Vampire Slayers, Vampires of Transylvania, and The Queen of Vampires.

Have you ever wanted to write your book in one direction but your characters are moving it in another direction? What did you do in such a situation? It happens all the time, and I’m surprised where the characters take me, and the stories they spin. Some of the subplots are theirs. Occasionally, when I find that they ramble too much I know they derailed my story and throw them a curve, and see what they’ll do next. It always surprises me.

What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done? When I was 18 years old I ran away from home and escaped from communist Romania, a country at the time that resembled a concentration camp in Nazi Germany. Barbed wire fences, patrols with guns and dogs surrounded the country to prevent its people from escaping literally from Hell. I managed to escape without being shot, blown up, or caught and imprisoned, and I came to the Promised Land. I wrote about that story in “Escape from Communism.”

Where and when do you write? Tell us about your favorite work place and time. Any special reason? I prefer to write in my quiet office. I don’t listen to music, because it distracts me. I don’t have scheduled hours to write, but I write almost every day. Once I start a new story, I cannot stop until it’s finished. In a way I’m the first fan of my book, I have to find out how it ends.

Did you encounter any obstacles in writing? What are they? How did you overcome them? I don’t suffer from writer’s block, although one time I got stuck at the chapter about Auschwitz when I was writing “Folding Reality.” The solution was to start writing something else and that’s how I wrote the first book in the Vlad V series “Vampire.” If you have writer’s block just keep writing, even if it’s nonsense. Eventually you’ll get out of it. My biggest problem is that I cannot spend even more time writing.

Is there a process you stick to, or do you just write as it hits you? Common wisdom among writers is that you are either a planner or a pantser. The planner makes an outline, does the research, defines the characters, the settings, the conflicts and so on until the story is complete in a form of an outline. Then he/she writes the story. The pantser has an idea, or a character, or an imaginary world, and he/she begin writing, literally by the seat of his/her pants and discover where the story goes. Of the two methods the planner is more efficient, but the pantser is more creative. A pantser uses the right (creative) brain most of the time, and if you don’t intervene you’ll be amazed what appears on the screen. The planner uses the left (rational) brain during the planning stage. I’m more of a pantser writer.

What do you think about editing? Thou shalt not publish an unedited book. Editing is a must. I don’t publish any of my books without being thoroughly edited.

What genre(s) do you write? Why do you write the stories that you write? Fantasy and Science-Fiction are my first preferences. And if you push at the margins of Fantasy you get into Paranormal, as it is in “The Pregnant Pope” a paranormal mystery-thriller. I like these genres because I can use my imagination to create things that don’t exist in our world. It is a form of escapism.

What is your advice to aspiring writers? Write, write and write. And read or listen to books that are similar to what you’d like to write. By the way, there is a formula for success:

Results = Talent x Skill x Hard Work x Motivation

If any of those variables Talent, Skill, Hard Work, and Motivation is zero the results will be zero. I believe that everyone has some talent. Hard Work gives you the Skill and the writing output. Motivation is the ultimate maker or breaker of anyone who wants to achieve anything, including writing.

Any new projects, work in progress? My current project is “Arboregal -The Cascade Tree” the sequel to “Arboregal - The Lorn Tree.” Many readers have been waiting patiently for four years to see what will happen to Melissa, Michelle, Nathan and Perry in the strange world of Arboregal. And after that I have four new books lined up to write next year.

Can you tell us about your road to publication? Before my first book was published I got 99 rejections from Publishers and 100 rejections or no responses from Agents. But in the end I found this small publisher, Chivileri Publishing, which published my first book and all the others afterwards. In the spirit of full disclosure, I am the owner and CEO of Chivileri Publishing. In other words I am and Indie Author and Publisher. Some people may think that you are not validated unless a New York Publisher publishes you. You can take that route and wait forever. You may have written the best book the world has ever seen, but if a publisher thinks that your book will not sell, your book will die. So much for validation. In the end you have two choices, never be published or become and Indie Author. See Createspace and Kindle for that option. By the way you get 70% royalties from Amazon on eBooks.

E-books, print, or both?  Any preferences?  Why? Actually both are fine to read. E-Books are easier to publish, and you can be pricing the eBooks competitively. Most of my books are published in both formats.

How much time do you spend promoting your books? Not as much as I should. When you’re an Indie Author and Publisher you wear two hats, the creative and the business. The old saying - if you create a better mousetrap, the world will beat a path to your door - is not true if the world doesn’t know about you. Discoverability is a big issue for a new writer. You’ll have to burn the midnight oil and then some.

Tell us more about your latest release.

As I’m writing this I just published my eleventh book “Gold Rush Mystery.” America is back on the Moon. This time, we intend to stay and establish a self-sustaining permanent base for tourism and mining. Our first lunar base is named Gold Rush. Establishing permanent life on our closest, lifeless neighbor is a challenge. But the challenge turns into a mystery when life finds us first.

Gold Rush Mystery is a sci-fi book that is part of the Terraspantion Series. Although this is book 1 in the series, I wrote book 2 “Time Hole” first. Both books are hard science fiction with a dose of intrigue to spice things up.

 

CONTACT MIT:

Amazon Author Page and Books

Website

Author Facebook Page

E-mail Mit: mit@sandru.com

 

 

Meet Author Bernard Foong--(what a talent!) Read About His Amazing Life and His Amazing Books

Meet Bernard:


Bernard Foong is, first and foremost, a sensitivist. He finds nuance in everything. To experience the world he inhabits is an adventure which is mystical, childlike and refreshing. He has a rare ability to create beauty in a unique fashion. His palettes have been material, paint, words and human experiences.

By Christine Maynard (screenwriter and novelist)

Bernard Foong (designer) – A brief history 

 

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At the age of 8, he was assisting his aunt and cousin, learning the art of sewing and fabrics/colors matching. He attended an exclusive private boarding school in the United Kingdom before obtaining his Diploma in Fashion Design at the Harrow College of Art & Technology in London, England.  He went on to complete his Master of Design at the Royal College of Art & Design, London, England. During his college years he won several international fashion awards and was already retailing bridal and evening dresses to several well known department stores in England. Liberty of London, Selfridges, Harrods and Harvey Nichols to name a few that carried his designs. His Royal College of Art graduation wedding/evening wear collection was sold to Liberty of London and displayed in their store windows for the entire month of June that year.  

For four years, he worked for Liberty’s bridal department as their in-house designer until a trip to Hong Kong, while working on a freelance project for ‘Bird’s’(casual wear) company, he was recruited by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University as their Fashion professor for the next 6 years. During his stay in Hong Kong, he freelanced for numerous fashion companies. From designing casual wear, swimwear, lingerie, and fur garments, men’s wear, bridal and evening fashions to accessories (bags, shoes, and head-wear). He also participated and organized numerous fashion shows, events, functions, and presentations in the Asia Pacific region. 

Working for Keys Far East Hong Kong as chief lingerie designer - travelling extensively to the United States, he was soon  recruited as an Associate Fashion Design/Illustration Professor to the University of Wisconsin, Madison and also lectured at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design for a couple of years.

 

He was then appointed as the Fashion Development Manager by an established department store – Parkson Grand (22 stores in Malaysia and one in Shanghai, China). Producing under the label, Natural Life by Bernard Foong, he designed casual-wear collections for the Parkson Grand’s flagship store in Kuala Lumpur. After a couple of years later, he was invited by the Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore to join their design school to establish a Fashion Design department. For two years, he assisted several founding members of the design school - working on the fashion department’s teaching curriculum.  

The Fitzgerald Theatre Department, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Oahu, Hawaii awarded a full scholarship for Foong to complete his second Master of Art in Theatre Costuming. Now a resident on the Island of Maui, he has assisted many charity organizations in their fund raising events with his extravagant fashion and performance shows/presentations. In 2005, he and his partner, Mr. Walter Jay Bissett opened Fire Dragon Bistro Orient & Design Shop. He also designs costumes/fashions for numerous theatrical productions in Hawaii and abroad. 

Appointed as chief lingerie designer for Cerie International Limited – Hong Kong, his lingerie designs can be found in major department stores in Canada and the United Kingdom.  

He showcased the BERNARD FOONG R-T-W collections and BERNARD FOONG @ Modern Classic Ltd. (an established – Hong Kong bridal & evening wear company) collections in Hong Kong. His 2008 & 2009 bridal/evening/bridal lingerie fashion show, “Grace” & “Coming Up Roses” were premiered at Hong Kong Fashion Week in July 2007 and January 2008 respectively at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center, garnering positive interest in many Asian press reviews, including a China nationwide television broadcast of his latest collection. Aika (International Opera Singer) wore several Bernard Foong special occasion dresses at her Japan & European tour in September & October 2009.

He was the chief Creative Director for Official (Special Occasion fashion manufacturing company) Guangzhou, China  producing – BERNARD FOONG Couture (specialty one-of-a-kind creations), White (RTW - Wedding/Special Occasion wear), Foxy Cute (Smart Casual/Cocktail wear), SexZ  (decorative bustier) & Diva Bitch (sexual lingerie inner/outer-wear) collections.  

Besides working on his regular haute couture, R-T-W and lingerie collections he is a visiting consultant/advisor for:

·       Pivot Point fashion college, Chengdu, China.

·       Hong Kong Design Institute (fashion department), Hong Kong, SAR.

·       Hong Kong Poly/U, Hong Kong (School of Apparel Design & Merchandising), SAR.

·       Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association, Hong Kong.

·       Singapore Temasek Polytechnic – School of Apparel Design & Merchandising (ADM), Singapore.

Bernard is also writing his autobiography, a seven book series of Mr. Foong’s young life:

A Harem Boy’s Saga: A Memoir by Young.

This provocative story spanning 4 decades and 3 continents is about a boy who was sent to a very exclusive English boarding school in the 1960s where he was initiated into a clandestine sexual society and then spirited away to serve in wealthy and elite Middle Eastern harems ."

A Harem Boy’s Saga series is published by Solstice Publishing and is available in print and E-books internationally.

 

 

 

Synopsis: A Harem Boy Saga; A Memoir. Book 1 - INITIATION. 

This provocative story is about a young man who was initiated into a clandestine sexual society. He was spirited to the Middle East, from his UK boarding school. He attended the Bahriji School (Oasis,) in The United Arab Emirates in preparation for serving in Harems for the wealthy and elite.  

It is also a love story between the young man and his ‘Valet’ who served as his chaperone and mentor during the boy’s Harem service.Author’s note:

I had a privileged and unique upbringing in Malaysia, where I was known as a "sissy boy." Following in my brothers' footsteps, I was sent to an exclusive boarding school in England. It is there that I was inducted into a clandestine organization, E.R.O.S. The Enlightened Royal Oracle Society. For four years, unbeknownst to my family, I was willingly and happily part of a Harem. 

My story has been kept under wraps for close to 45 years. The correct moment has arrived for me to make known my unique education.

 

young@aharemboysaga.com

www.aharemboysaga.com

 

 

 

Unbridled is the sequel to Initiation - A provocative story about a young man who was initiated into a clandestine sexual society. He was spirited to the Middle East, from his UK boarding school. He attended the Bahriji School (Oasis,) in The United Arab Emirates in preparation for serving in Harems for the wealthy and elite.  

It is also a love story between the young man, his ‘Big Brother’ and his ‘Valet’ who served as his chaperones and mentors during the boy’s Harem services. 

This book follows the teenagers’ erotic and exotic adventures and experiences at their 2nd Arab Household Harem, the Sekham. They were apprentices and models, for the household patriarch’s controversial photography project, “Sacred Sex in Sacred Places”. 

The author's experiences present facts that are truthful. Through these truths, which are often demonized by contemporary societies that deem such behaviors inappropriate, the author hopes to dispel condemnations and negativity which relate to his experiences.  

 

Debauchery is the triquel to A Harem Boy’s Saga, a provocative story about a young man who was initiated into a clandestine sexual society through his UK boarding school. From there, he was spirited to the Middle East to attend the Bahriji (Oasis) School in The United Arab Emirates in preparation for Harem services for the wealthy elite. 

It is also a love story between the young man, his ‘Big Brother,’ and his ‘Valet,’ who served as his chaperones and mentors.

 

This book follows the teenagers’ erotic and exotic adventures and experiences at their third Arabian Household Harem, the Quwah. There, they became confidants to a prince, assistants in an international dance club venture, “Carousel,” and apprentices and models in a controversial photography project, “Sacred Sex in Sacred Places.”

This story is an account of the author’s experiences. Through these truths, often demonized by contemporary societies that deem such behaviors inappropriate, the author hopes to dispel condemnation and negativity related to sexuality, love, and personal freedom.  

A Harem Boy’s Saga is a series of seven volumes. 

For further information please visit or contact:

Bernard Foong (a.k.a. Young)

www.aharemboysaga.com

young@aharemboysaga.com

 Emerantia Antonia Parnall-Gilbert: Gilbert Literary Agency)

hawkspurrproductions@gmail.com

Melissa Miller: Solstice Publishing

solsticepublishing@live.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meet My Guest, Author Jeannine Atkins, Author of LITTLE WOMAN IN BLUE, a Novel About May Alcott

Concord, Massachusetts is one of my favorite places in the world. It's only 40 minutes from my home, so I get there every chance I get. I enjoy visiting all the historic sites over and over, and one such place is Orchard House, home of the Alcotts. I've been a huge Alcott fan ever since reading the classic LITTLE WOMEN in 4th grade. So when I saw a review of Jeannine's LITTLE WOMAN IN BLUE, I knew I had to read her book and meet her! I've ordered LITTLE WOMAN IN BLUE on Amazon and can't wait to read it. 

Meet Jeannine and read about LITTLE WOMAN IN BLUE.

Jeannine writes books about history for children and teens, including Aani and the Tree Huggers and Borrowed Names: Poems about Laura Ingalls Wilder, Madam C. J. Walker, Marie Curie and Their Daughters. Her most recent books are Views from a Window Seat: Thoughts on Writing and Life and Little Woman in Blue: A Novel of May Alcott.  

AN INTERVIEW WITH JEANNINE 

Note: Jeannine will be appearing at Barrow Books, 79 Main Street, Concord MA on Saturday October 17 at 4:30. Stop in and say hi if you're in the area.

Tell us about your latest release Little Woman in Blue: A Novel of May Alcott (She Writes Press) 

May Alcott spends her days sewing blue shirts for Union soldiers, but she dreams of painting a masterpiece—which many say is impossible for a woman—and of finding love, too. When she reads her sister’s wildly popular novel, Little Women, she is stung by Louisa’s portrayal of her as “Amy,” the youngest of four sisters who trades her desire to succeed as an artist for the joys of hearth and home. Determined to prove her talent, May makes plans to move far from Massachusetts and make a life for herself with room for both watercolors and a wedding dress. Can she succeed? And if she does, what price will she have to pay? 

Based on May Alcott’s letters and diaries, as well as memoirs written by her neighbors, Little Woman in Blue puts May at the center of the story she might have told about sisterhood and rivalry in an extraordinary family. 

Tell us about yourself.

As a girl, I liked to dress up as if I were Laura Ingalls in a little house in the woods or the prairie or imagine I was Jo March, writing in a garret. But when I played Little Women with my older sister, she wanted to be Jo. I became Amy, the sillier sister. Even back then, I wondered how much the youngest girl in the book was only her sister’s idea of who she was. Years later, I researched the real Alcott family and became enchanted with the real sister, May Alcott, who followed her dream of pursuing art and romance, too. While Louisa Alcott was independent and forward thinking, in the way May dreamed of “having it all,” she was more modern.

What kind of books do you love to read? Why?  

Growing up in an old house in New England, I felt at home in the past. I still like reading about nineteenth century girls and women – there’s some distance, with interesting clothes and vocabulary, but so much that’s familiar, too. I generally like to read fiction based on real women, such as Erika Robuck’s THE HOUSE OF HAWTHORNE, about the marriage of Sophia and Nathaniel, or Heather Webb’s RODIN’S LOVER, about the talented if tragic sculptor, Camille Claudel. 

When did you write your first book? How long did it take you to write it?  

The first book I wrote wasn’t the first book I published. I wrote stories in college, but having a child brought me back to the books I loved as a girl. I wrote BECOMING LITTLE WOMAN: LOUISA MAY AT FRUITLANDS, for young readers, based on the year that Louisa May Alcott was ten and lived on a utopian farm. It took about two years to research and write, then another four to find a publisher. 

How did you feel when you receive your first contract? What did you do? 

I’ll never forget getting a call from an editor when my daughter was four, and she and her friends were running around the house while I tried to speak calmly on the phone! After I hung up the phone, we all danced around.  

What is your advice to aspiring writers? 

It’s important to keep going, and to enjoy the process without stressing too much about publishing. For lots of us, that takes a while. None of us can know when we’ll find a publisher, or perhaps become one ourselves. My writing group has been crucial to me not only for their good advice about what works on the page, but we keep each other going, with our faith in each other. It’s good to have company who understand, who listen to frustrations and sometimes celebrate together! 

What else have you written? 

I’ve written books for children and teens, mostly about girls from the past, including GIRLS WHO LOOKED UNDER ROCKS; THE LIVES OF SIX NATURALISTS and MARY ANNING AND THE SEA DRAGON.  

What books are on your nightstand or by your chair? 

I’m engrossed in the latest Laura Lippman mystery. Every character in The Most Dangerous Thing is intriguing and seems so real. I’m inspired by reading poetry, and like the glimpses of history that Eavan Boland gives in her newest collection A WOMAN WITHOUT A COUNTRY.  

How would readers find out more about you? 

Please visit my website: www.Jeannineatkins.com or find me on Twitter: @jeannineatkins

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Friend and Fellow Author Tina Gayle has some Great Books and Giveaways

Today I’m hosting Tina Gayle. She is very excited about the last book in her Executive Wives’ Club series. To get readers interested in the series, she is offer the first book “Marketing Exec’s Widow” #free from Oct. 3 – 7. CEO’s Widow comes out Oct. 8, but can be picked up now on pre-order.

Tina grew up a dreamer and loved to escape into the world of books.
After years of working in the business world doing a variety of jobs, she decided to try her hand at writing and hope to incorporate the joy of being a mother into her books.

Currently working on a series about four executive wives, she is excited about combining elements of women fiction with the passion of romance. The first three books have been released and the last one is coming out in 2015.
Married twenty-five years, she and her husband love to travel and play golf.  She can’t wait for Mike to retire so they can do more of both.

Read the first chapter of any of her books by visiting her website 

Titles:  Celebrating the Last Book of the Executive Wives’ Club Series, #freebook, #romance

Marketing Exec’s Widow #free Oct. 3 -7 Pick up Your Copy Today

New Release CEO’s Widow – Celebrating with a #freebook  

 

Executives' Wives' Club series  

Genre: Contemporary Romance with strong women fiction elements

Four women...
One fatal car wreck...
Everyone's lives changed...

 

 

 Marketing Exec’s Widow

Jennifer Larson, having lost her husband, friends and the perfect life she’d had plan, now faces the biggest challenge of her life, moving into an unplanned future. While the rest of the Executive Wife Club is still wallowing in the past, Jen is tempted into the future by a sexy chiropractor, Hagan Chaney. But does he really love her or is he only after her money?

Facing the possibility of having breast cancer, Marianne must decide if she wants to give love another chance and build a future with whatever time she may have left.

 Blurb:

After surviving the grief from her husband’s death, Marianne Clark has built a new life with the help of the other Executive Wives. She plans to enjoy grandchildren and friends until her doctor tells her he found a lump in her breast. Her world turned upside down. She re-evaluates her priorities and decides she grab hold of life with both hands.

Knox Turner lost is first wife to cancer. He’s determined not to let Marianne face this challenge alone. 

Can this couple face the trails ahead and build a future together?

Excerpt

Incapable of resisting, Marianne set a hand on his chest and absorbed the pleasure of being in this man’s arms again. Too bad the bliss couldn’t last longer. He needed to get back to work. She had errands to run. “Knox, you’re making it harder and harder to resist you.”

“Then don’t. We’ve both had more than enough time to know what we want. Jack and Betty both died almost two years ago. We needed to move on.” He caressed a hand along her back, easing her body even closer to the hard line of his.

Marianne smiled. She’d known him for years as her husband’s boss and respected for all he’d accomplished in the business world. Her hang-up over their age difference grew less and less important as more time passed. “Shouldn’t we at least date a few other people first? Test the water. Make sure we’re not making a mistake by latching onto the first person we’re attracted to.”

“Good, so you admit you find me attractive?” He lowered his head and nuzzled the side of her neck, playfully nipping at her ear.

She sighed. His tantalizing touch and the deep rumble of his voice tempted her into sliding her hand along the back of his neck. Her fingers slid through his silky hair, and she marveled at sensual thrill of being so close to him. For months now, she’d convinced herself her life was full enough with just her kids and grandkids.

Could she be wrong?

Available at Amazon Worldwide Exclusively

 If you would like to sign up to be an exclusive member of Tina’s List simple visit:

http://www.tinagayle.net/newsletter.html

You'll receive a free short story – “My Future StepBrother.” This story leads you right into the story of the CEO’s Widow.

Find Tina Gayle everywhere

Home

Blog

Twitter

Goodreads

Facebook

Google+

Linkedin

Amazon