Fourth of July Fun

I am gearing up for two blog hops right here on my blog, centered around patriotism and our military heroes. Right in the middle of that, exactly on the Fourth of July, I will be hanging out at The Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads party with a (super easy) question about A Man Worth Fighting For. That's three chances to win a copy of A Man Worth Fighting For and introduce yourself to the fabulous (if I do say so myself) Wiccan Haus series.

So, before the fireworks, after the parade, wherever you have a minute between grilling burgers (i.e. anytime between midnight and 11:59pm EST) on July 4, 2012, sign in to The Romance Reviews Sizzling Summer Reads party and answer the question to be entered in their drawing to win a copy of A Man Worth Fighting For.


Then don't forget to comment here for Celebrating Independence and Cocked, Loaded and Blasting blog hops. If you happen to win twice, I will give the book to the friend of your choice or you can trade it in for a past or future book of mine. Your choice!

My Story with Musa Publishing

Everyone has a story. I have a story. You have a story. Companies have a story too. More to the point, each person that makes up a company has a story that contributes to the company's overall story. One of those companies that I work for--the main one, in fact--has an amazing story, a story with a lot of heart and a lot of soul. You can read about it here.

I'd been writing for fun and my personal pleasure and escape since I was ten years old. My publishing story starts in 2002 I wanted writing to define my career. Despite a college degree and masters in a completely unrelated field, when people asked what I did, in my heart of hearts, I was a writer.

In 2006 I signed my first publishing contract. The following year my debut novel come out in beautiful EXPENSIVE hardcover. I was contacted by an editor a couple times through the process, but otherwise I was left alone to discover the process and muddle through promotional efforts on my own. Months later when my royalty statement arrived, I contacted my agent for the book for help interpreting it. She didn't have the answers and suggested I contact the publisher. I tried and received no reply. Not surprisingly, the book and my relationships with the publisher and agent disappeared quietly into oblivion.

Fast forward to 2011:  I had much more confidence in my writing and myself as an author. Most importantly, I was ready to fight to make my dreams a reality. Sharon DeVita was member of my local writing group, and she had just signed with a brand new publisher, so new it hadn't even opened its doors yet.

I'd heard from multiple sources to wait a year or two after a publisher opened its doors to see if it was still around. But if this publisher was good enough for Sharon, that was all I needed to know. I read their story on their website, looked at their contract and submission guidelines and sent off my polished manuscript. Within a week, I had signed with Musa Publishing and had made friends and found support and guidance with the other authors. I hadn't just found a home for my book. I'd found a MY home. Because the wonderful folks at Musa Publishing had a vision and a story, I'm living my dream today.

Up in my Tree House

Recently, a rash of tree house pictures and emails began circulating among the authors of the Wiccan Haus series.  I don't know what started the trend, but they were nothing like the rickety, crumbling, barely-room-to-sit tree houses I'd inhabited as a child.

This tree house here inspired me the most.  I looked at it and immediately thought, "I want to sit in the very top room and write."  As an introvert, being  in the most remote space, alone with the thoughts in my head, is sheer bliss.

Unfortunately, this summer I feel like I've been stuck at the bottom of the tree pretending to be an extrovert.  The constant traffic of people and activities have blocked the stairway to the quiet space in my head where I can sit alone and write.  Without the quiet place of inspiration, my writing has stalled.

So I'm going to keep looking at this picture, letting that quiet upper room with the fantastic view through the trees call to me until I can push everything else aside, climb the stairs, and write.

Fathers That Leave Me Lovestruck

For me nothing can compare to those wonderful men who are not just romance heroes but amazing fathers too.  Sometimes, they're naturals.  Sometimes, they're bumbling or pulled into it kicking and screaming, but by the end they are one hundred percent dedicated to their kids, and we (the reader) are one hundred percent in love with them.

In honor of Father's Day I have created an unofficial list of father heroes that leave me lovestruck.  Here they are in no particular order:

1) Mat Jorik from First Lady by Susan Elizabeth Phillips:  Mat was such a stubborn, reluctant dad, and it is so beautiful to watch him fall for the girls (and the heroine) against his will.  Nobody creates amazing larger-than-life characters better than SEP!

2) Cameron Quinn from Sea Swept by Nora Roberts:  This is the first book in the Chesapeake Bay series, and Cameron has to drop everything to care for his much younger brother when his father dies.

3)  Greg Bellamy from Dockside by Susan Wiggs:  Dockside is part of the Lakeshore Chronicles series, and Greg is a single dad of two children, determined to do what's right for them.

4) Ben Discoll from One Wet Summer by Ann Montclair:  Ben turns his life upside down to care for his daughter and vows to protect her from future heartache and disappointment.

5)  Jack O'Neill from Some Men's Dreams by Kathleen Korbel:  He's a doctor, he loves his daughter, and he has a painful secret in his past.  What more does a romance reader need to fall in love?

6)  Drake McGuire from Heartbeats by Susan Rae:  Drake is a special agent who doesn't know he has a daughter, but that doesn't stop him from looking out for her.  Then he learns their bond is biological, and he must race to save her from harm.

7)  Alan Francisco (aka Frisco) from Frisco's Kid by Suzanne Brockmann:  This is part of the Tall, Dark and Dangerous Navy SEALs series.  Frisco is a wounded alpha-hero, whose soft spot for his abandoned niece makes him irresistible.

8) Caleb Paden from Mr. Forever by Sara Daniel:  Yep, this is my book.  Caleb is one of those guys who didn't know he had a son, and now that the baby's here and the mother is not, he's determined to do what is right--even when it becomes increasingly clear that what he thinks is right is completely wrong!

To be entered to win a copy of  Mr. Forever, leave a comment telling me who your favorite father hero is (in fiction or real life). Then like my page on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, and follow my blog here. I'll pick one random winner to receive a copy of  Mr. Forever. Make sure to include your email address and your preferred file type (Kindle, Nook or pdf) in your comments. Contest is open internationally.

Return to blog hop here

Shameless Summer Giveaway

There's nothing like water and heat to bring out the shameless needs in us all. Holly Walters knows a little bit about this. When her boyfriend breaks up with her through an eight-word text message, she sets aside her pride to hunt him down and get a real explanation. But who wants to settle for an explanation when she can get him alone naked in their own private hot springs? To see how shameless Holly and Justin can be, you'll have to pick up a copy of A Man Worth Fighting For. Just be prepared to jump into an ice cold pool to cool yourself off.

The Wiccan Haus: A Man Worth Fighting For

He has nothing left to offer. She's determined to show him just how much he's worth.

Shot by a member of his military team, Justin Lawson retreats to the Wiccan Haus. Holly Walters refuses to accept her boyfriend's out-of-the-blue rejection without an explanation, even if getting the answers forces her to be trapped on a bizarre island for an entire week. She's going to use every minute to work Justin out of her system once and for all. Justin's body and spirit begin to heal under Holly's loving ministrations. As she talks about never seeing each other again, he realizes he never wants to let her go. But the rogue assassin who had gone after Justin before is after him again. Before he can fight to make Holly believe in their love, he'll have to fight for both their lives.

To enter to win a copy of A Man Worth Fighting For, leave a comment telling me your favorite way to cool off after a hot summer read. Then like my page on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, and follow my blog here. I'll pick one random winner to receive a copy of A Man Worth Fighting For. Make sure to include your email address and your preferred file type (Kindle, Nook or pdf) in your comments. Contest is open internationally.

Return to blog hop here

Summer Kick Off Blog Hop

To kick off summer with a fun twist, I decided to invite marriage therapist Dr. Caleb Paden onto my blog to tell you about The Forever Marriage that he created.  At the end of the post, I'm hosting a giveaway of Mr. Forever, starring Caleb as himself and Olivia Wells as...well, I'll let her tell you where she comes in.

Caleb:  I'm so glad to be here.  Spreading the word about Forever is my life's ambition.  Forever is a proven method for keeping marriages together and creating a stable home for children to grow up in.  The seven principles in Forever correspond to each letter in the word forever:

F -- Friendship before all physical encounters.

O -- Open communications.

R -- Really listen.

E -- Explore each other's world.

V -- Validate each other's dreams.

E -- Each person must use good manners

R -- Respect.

Wait a minute.  We're talking about marriage.  Shouldn't love be a part of it?

Caleb:  No.  Absolutely not.  Love and passion are the enemy.  Forever has no rollercoaster of emotions.  No one fights or shouts or slams the door, leaving their kids to wonder when or if they'll return.

Gee, it sounds like you have some childhood trauma you need to work through.

Caleb:  I don't--

Olivia:  He sure does.  I'm Olivia Wells.  I'm going to loosen up this stuffed shirt while he's staying in my inn.  First of all, we're going to add a few things to his misguided theories:  Sex, tenderness, intimacy, needs, kissing, and sentimentality.  Now we can call it Forever Stinks.

Caleb:  This is my interview, Olivia.  You're not supposed to be here.

Olivia:  Why Caleb, I believe you're yelling at me and showing emotion.  We're making progress already.

Let's get this interview back on track.  The title of the book is Mr. Forever.  Does this mean, Caleb, that you're Olivia's Mr. Forever?

Caleb:  No.  I would never involve myself with a woman who doesn't respect my theories.

Olivia:  Oh, he's involved with me, all right.  But he's absolutely not my Mr. Forever.  He'd have to believe in love first, and that will never happen.

Hmm.  I guess we'll have to read  Mr. Forever to find out what does happen…

***

The discovery of a secret baby threatens Caleb's professional reputation. Falling for the woman who loves this baby would ruin him.

Marriage therapist Caleb Paden has just found out he has a son from a one-night stand, making a mockery of his core belief of stable relationships--"friendship above all physical encounters." On his way to take the child for a paternity test, a snowstorm leaves him stranded with single mom Olivia Wells, who blames his advice for breaking up her marriage. Caleb finds himself fighting the urge for the most basic of physical encounters. Olivia would like nothing more than to destroy the career he spent a lifetime building, but her maternal instincts draw her to help Caleb bond with his child. Soon, she finds herself falling for both of them. Nowhere in any of his advice does Caleb have an answer for how to make a relationship work if he loses his heart to love.

To be entered to win, leave a comment telling me the most memorable marriage advice you've ever heard (good or bad). Then like my page on Facebook, follow me on Twitter, and follow my blog here. I'll pick one random winner to receive a copy of Mr. Forever. Make sure to include your email address and your preferred file type (Kindle, Nook or pdf) in your comments. Contest is open internationally.

Return to blog hop here
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