It's Conference Time

If you know any romance writers, chances are you’ve heard us talking about writers’ conferences—if nothing else, you’ve seen photos of the shoes we’re planning to bring (lots, and way more than we could possibly wear). But just in case I’m the ONLY romance writer you know, let me clue you in.

This week in New York City is the Romance Writers of America’s annual four-day conference. It’s a big deal. There are famous writers who speak—Nora Roberts, for example; workshops on everything from what not to do at a conference—don’t accost editors and agents in the bathroom—to how to market your books to how to self-publish; and pitching sessions, where we get a chance to talk about our manuscripts to our dream editor and agents in the hopes that they’ll love them as much as we do. 

It’s exhausting and inspiring and filled to the brim with noise and people and food and workshops and drinks.

I’m not officially going this year. Despite its proximity to my house, the timing doesn’t work for me. So instead, I’m taking the train into the city on one of the days to mingle in the lobby and meet up with writer friends I only know via social media. Plus, I’m having dinner with my editor—there are about 30 of us and we’re having a pizza party in her hotel room. Just picture that many romance writers in one hotel room. Together. Oh boy.

And, it means I can wear whatever cute shoes I want. They don’t have to be comfortable for four days of walking; just comfortable enough to get me from the subway to the hotel. I will be eating more food than I’ve ever wanted, since I’m meeting up with people throughout the day and each meeting seems to involve a meal and/or coffee. I might jet out to a museum to take up some downtime between unofficial appointments. And I’ll probably join the multitudes of writers sitting in the lobby, hogging an outlet as we charge our computers and write. 

Writing is a solitary experience. We spend most of our time alone at home on our computers. So when we have the chance to mingle with other writers, even the most introverted of us takes the opportunity. Besides, there are few other people who understand our quirks and can banter along with us about sex scenes without getting arrested or written up for inappropriate workplace talk. 

Don't Quit

I needed to see this quote today.

What do you do when you’re frustrated or discouraged? 

Writing is tough. It’s tough to find the inspiration and the words. And when you do find them, it’s even tougher to get them on the page the way they formed in your head. And convincing others to publish them and read them and review them? 

Sometimes I wonder whether or not it’s worth it. But even if I take a break, I still think about writing and how much I love doing it. And I still get inspired by the “what ifs.” And I still make plans.

So, if you’re like me, keep going. Don’t give up. Take a walk, take a trip, eat something yummy, find something beautiful and then go back to it. Because giving up is never an option.

A New Book By Peggy Jaeger

In a scene from the movie version of Sex and the City, Carrie reads the Cinderella fairy tale story to Charlotte’s daughter Lily. At the end of the telling, Lily wants to hear it again and looks completely enraptured with the tale. Carrie gives her a wary look and asks, “You know this isn’t true, right? It doesn’t happen in real life?”

Lily just looks up at her and says, “Again,” meaning she wants to hear the story, not Carrie’s negative take on it.

Like Lily, I was enamored with the Cinderella fairy tale when I was a kid. I watched the Leslie Ann Warren version of the Rogers and Hammerstein musical on tv about 100 times. As an adult, one who writes romantic fiction for a living, Cinderella still does it for me as far as the whole Happily Ever after theme goes, and I’ve dreamed of writing my own version of the tale for years.

But….

This is 2019 and my Cynderella ain’t no broken down stepchild sittin’ in the corner covered in dirt and used as unpaid labor for a biatchof a menopausal step-monster.

My Cynderella Jones is the CEO of a company she founded called DIRTY DAMSELS, which caters to New York’s rich and elite who pay her company to keep their condos, mansions, and pied-a-terres spotless. Cynderella manages a stable of 20 and 30-something out of work actresses and between jobs models as her cleaning crew and she treats them with respect and kindness.

No more rags for this Cynderella, either. She wears designer labels and red power suits now. And she isn’t sitting at home by the dirty fireplace waiting for a prince to come and snatch her from penury. She made her success happen all by herself with an MBA from Columbia and a sound business plan.

And although Ella doesn’t need a man in her life she sure would like one, not to support her financially, but emotionally.  

Like the fairy tale of yore, my version of Cynderella sports a handsome, rich, Prince, who is smitten with Ella. But each of them has a secret they’re keeping from the other, and when it’s discovered, their fairy tale HEA is in some serious jeopardy.

Blurb: 

When I first saw Cynderella all covered in soot in that sexy maid uniform, I knew I wanted to be her Prince.

She’s a small and savvy businesswoman who’s built her cleaning company from the ground up. But now that Dirty Damsels is booming, I’ve been hired to arrange a hostile takeover.

But the temptation of having her was too much to ignore… We ended up spending one night together—a night neither of will forget. Now, I want more. I need more. I want to spend every night, skin-on-skin, with my beautiful Ella.

Problem is, when she finds out who I really am, she’ll never forgive me.

Excerpt:

“You feel it too, don’t you?” he asked softly, the pressure on my hand tightening a little. “I’m not wrong, am I?”

I shook my head and sighed. “No.” I admitted, stunned at myself. Disclosure is not my strong point in relationships. I tend not to be a great trust-er and don’t like revealing my thoughts and feelings. It goes way back to when my dad married my stepmother. She didn’t like me, and her two daughters didn’t, either. Any time I tried to be friends with them, or get them to like me, I got shot down, ridiculed, and treated like dirt. When my dad died, it got worse.

Way worse.

“From the moment you turned around from the fireplace I haven’t been able to think much of anything else but you.” He leaned in closer across the table. “When I saw you in the club, for a moment I thought jet lag had gotten to me and I was hallucinating. Happily hallucinating,” he added with a grin. “I couldn’t stop myself from going over to see if it really wasyou. I’m not usually the kind of guy who does that.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off of his face. If he was handing me a line, it was the best one I’d heard in a while, and boy, did I want to believe it.

“Even minus the kerchief I recognized you. Your face…well…it’s unforgettable, even without ashes across your cheek.”

His fingers started doing the knuckle swirling thing again and all my nerve endings jumped.

“I hope I’m not embarrassing you,” he said.

“No. Embarrassed isn’t what I’m feeling.” I lifted the coffee mug with my free hand and, miraculously, got it up to my mouth without spilling it all over myself.

I watched his striking eyes widen over the rim of the mug. “A statement like that gives a guy a huge amount of hope.” 

Buy lInks:

Amazon:

Kindle version: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TBBPHM8

Print Version: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1640348409

Bio 
Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance writer who writes Romantic Comedies about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them. If she can make you cry on one page and bring you out of tears rolling with laughter the next, she’s done her job as a writer!

Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, she brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she’s created the families she wanted as that lonely child.

When she’s not writing Peggy is usually painting, crafting, scrapbooking or decoupaging old steamer trunks she finds at rummage stores and garage sales.

A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, Peggy is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.

As a lifelong diarist, she caught the blogging bug early on, and you can visit her at peggyjaeger.com where she blogs daily about life, writing, and stuff that makes her go "What??!"

Social Media links:

Website/Blog: http://peggyjaeger.com/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/peggy_jaeger

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00T8E5LN0

Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peggy-Jaeger-Author/825914814095072?ref=bookmarks

Pinterest:https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13478796.Peggy_Jaeger

Instagram: https://instagram.com/mmj122687/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/peggy-jaeger

You-Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDR8RRIlssIyS0FYZWeGqsg/videos?view_as=subscriber

Best Beach Vacations

Please welcome Julie Howard, talking about her best beach vacations and highlighting her latest book. 

In honor of July 4 weekend, I’m writing about my top five beach vacations EVER.

I’ve been to a lot of beaches. A California native, I consider myself an expert. I’ve been from the Mexico border all the way up to Oregon – and why stop? – past the Canadian border and into Alaska. I’ve been to Monte Carlo and Spain, Greece and Hawaii, Mexico and Italy. There’s a lot of water in this world and that means stunning beaches everywhere.

But travel is personal and we view life through our own filter. I can only tell you which beach vacations of mine were the best. Here they are:

1.    Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii. If you never watched the movie South Pacific, you need to search Netflix or your library right away. The beautiful scenery from this movie is from this beach and it looks exactlythe same. The steep green cliffs meeting the blue water lapping the white sand is stunning. My family did a long-awaited reunion there a few years ago and this enriches my memory of this vacation. We ate grilled yellowfin tuna my husband and son caught, hiked to waterfalls, lazed on the beach, and enjoyed time together. Perfect!

2.    MacKerricher State Park, northern California. We camped in this park, 150 miles north of San Francisco, when our kids were young. Nearby were giant redwoods, tidal pools, hiking trails, and always, always, the sound of surf hitting the shore. We went horseback riding during the day and roasted gooey marshmallows at night over a crackling campfire. The place offered enough beauty to fill my soul while being family friendly too.

3.    La Paz, Mexico. I’d be remiss if I didn’t include the place where my husband proposed. We boated out to an island one evening for dinner and shared our dreams for the future. Maybe this was a test to make sure our plans aligned, but by dessert we were engaged. I’ll never forget the beach, the town, or the traditional old church in the town square.

4.    Glass Beach, Oregon. There are “sea glass beaches” in several locations but the one we stopped at a couple of years ago in Lincoln City was amazing! The beach was made up of polished glass pebbles, in all the colors of the rainbow. I joined others in sifting through the small rocks – the green ones were my favorites – and collecting a handful to take home. They remain on my counter as a reminder of this visit.

5.    Not all beaches are along the ocean. One of my favorite beaches is along Redfish Lake in my home state of Idaho. This pristine mountain lake, the story goes, gained its name because the salmon runs used to be so plentiful that the lake would turn red with their mature bodies when the fish returned to spawn. Redfish Lake sits high in the Sawtooth Mountains and some of the tallest jagged peaks are visible from the lake’s edge. The lake is snow fed and the water, while cold for swimming, is crystal clear. A gorgeous stop-over if you’re ever in Idaho. It’s a local favorite.

The remote and haunting Sawtooth Mountains is also the setting for my Wild Crime series. Book Two, Crime Times Two, is on sale for 99 cents for just a few more days! 

Tagline:

When divorce is out of the question, can murder be forgiven?

Blurb from “Crime Times Two” 

Meredith knows three things: First, the man in the library begged her to help him. Second, he was afraid of his wife. Third, now he’s dead.

While the evidence first points to a natural death, Meredith is certain there’s more to discover. People are tight-lipped in this small mountain village, and the man’s wife isn't talking either. Then a second death occurs, with remarkable similarities. It’s time to talk about murder. 

As a slow-burning relationship heats up in her own life, Meredith struggles with concepts of love and hate, belief and suspicion, and absolution and guilt. Nothing is clear cut…

She must decide: Is guilt, like evil, something you can choose to believe in?

Excerpt from “Crime Times Two”:

Jowls quivered under the man’s weak chin, and Meredith noted the stained and frayed shirt of someone who spent a lot of time alone in dark rooms, sending out a better version of himself into the virtual world. His eyes were anxious and beseeching at her as though she should have a clear understanding of him and his life.

Somehow, over the past hour and a half they’d been sitting next to each other – him playing video games and sharing his life story and her ignoring him the best she could – she had become his confessor and friend.

Meredith gave him what she hoped was an impartial-though-quasi-friendly smile. She reached for her purse and papers and rose from her chair. “Well. Nice talking with you.”

The man was lost in his own train of thought and seemed only slightly aware that Meredith was leaving.

He shook his head, morose.

“To make a long story short,” he summed up, “I think my wife is trying to kill me.”

Bio:

Julie Howard is the author of the Wild Crime series and Spirited Quest. She is a former journalist and editor who has covered topics ranging from crime to cowboy poetry. She is a member of the Idaho Writers Guild, editor of the Potato Soup Journal, and founder of the Boise chapter of Shut Up & Write. Learn more at juliemhoward.com.

Website: http://juliemhoward.com

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/juliemhowardauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18116047.Julie_Howard

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B07D6CS4NQ

Twitter @_juliemhoward

 

Sale Links

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2VMZlUv

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/crime-times-two-julie-howard/1129472600?ean=2940161941164

https://books.apple.com/au/book/crime-times-two/id1436345028

It's A Book Anniversary!

Two years ago this month, Addicted to Love was published by The Wild Rose Press. Many of you reading this blog are aware of this, although you might not realize that July is the anniversary of its publishing. But for those of you who are new to my blog, or have been living under a rock, I’m going to tell you a little about it.

Book anniversaries are special. The books themselves are tangible proof that an author has actually done something. We’ve followed through on our dream and put written words on a page. More than that, someone has decided those words were worthy enough to be published, and someone else decided they wanted to read the book. 

Addicted to Love was my first published book after a long dry spell. I’m forever grateful to The Wild Rose Press for seeing its possibilities and taking a chance on me. Romance is a tough business. Jewish romance is even tougher. But enough people have liked it that my publisher went ahead with the rest of the series. 

I’ve taken a break again—I tend to publish in spurts, which might not be great for the business side, but works with my creative side—though I hope to have announcements soon. In the meantime, this month I’m celebrating my book anniversary. For those who haven’t purchased Addicted to Love, it’s going on sale later this month, so keep an eye out. For those who have purchased it, have you left a review? I’d love you to do so on Amazon, Goodreads or the site of your choice. The more reviews a book gets (good or bad), the more attention readers and Amazon itself pays to a book. So if you read it, please tell others about it.

And for those looking to find it, here you go:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Addicted-Love-Serendipity-Book-1/dp/B07L8M5FVL

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/addicted-to-love-jennifer-wilck/1126454796?ean=9781509215355

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/addicted-to-love/id1241567277

Interview with Sadira Stone

Please welcome Rhonda Gilmour, who writes as Sadira Stone, my fellow Wild Rose Press Author!

1.   What is your writing style or schedule?

I tumble out of bed around 7:30—a great luxury after so many years of rising at 5:30 for my teaching job—pull on comfy loungewear, pour a mug of coffee, and get to work. Morning is my optimal focus time, once the coffee kicks in. I’ll usually write until mid-day or early afternoon.

2.  Where do you actually write?

I have a sweet little office painted celery green, with overstuffed bookshelves, an overloaded corkboard, and a stand-up/sit-down desk. My cushy floor mat from Costco is heaven for my feet.

3.   Do you write linearly or not?

Kinda/sorta. I plan the major plot points and dive into the first draft, but somewhere around the one-third mark I circle back to weave in new plot threads.

4.     What sort of other activities keep you from actually writing? 

Besides social media, you mean? I’m retired, but most of our family live elsewhere, so family visits make it difficult to write. Promo/marketing can eat up a huge chunk of actual writing time; I’m working on balancing that important aspect of the writing biz.

5.  Do you have support, either from family and friends or a writing group?

Hubs is very supportive, bless him. Ditto my RWA Olympia, Washington chapter and my weekly critique group. Online writing communities prove a lot of emotional support as well.

6.  How long does it normally take you to write a novel?

So far, I tend to write long, around the 90K mark. From start to final edits (by me and beta readers), it takes me 9 months to a year. Many in the writing/publishing community advocate writing fast and releasing frequently. While I’m working to improve my speed and write shorter novels, I’m not going to subject myself to burnout. This is supposed to be fun, right?

7.  Who or what are your inspirations?

I learn so much by reading the romance greats who write at my heat level, whether contemporary or historical. Writing courses and critique partners help too, but there’s nothing like watching a masterful performance from the likes of Alisha Rai, Allysa Cole, Lauren Dane, Damon Suede, Tessa Dare, Victoria Dahl, Joanna Shupe, Penny Reid, Sarah MacLean…

8.  If there’s a single aspect to writing that really frustrates you, what is it?

Promo, I guess. It’s a part of the business, but I grumble about how much time it takes away from actually writing. Also having to defend the romance genre to those who see it as nothing more than “Mommy Porn.”

9.  Given unlimited resources, what would be your ideal writing environment?

How about a plush office with a view of the sea. Behind me, a yoga mat and treadmill for quick exercise breaks, and a mini-fridge full of healthy snacks. Don’t forget the coffee machine!

10.     Tell me about your latest book.

Runaway Love Story, Book Two in the Book Nirvanaseries, is set in/around an indie bookshop in Eugene, Oregon, a lovely college town with a lively arts scene and a strong counterculture tradition dating back to the hippie era. 

Doug Garvey is a divorced high school history teacher who featured in Book One of the series, Through the Red Door. Tall and lanky, with a shaved head and blond scruff, he spends long, lonely hours running along the Willamette River trail—until he runs into Laurel Jepsen. 

A new employee at Book Nirvana (and also a runner), Laurel’s in town to help her beloved great-aunt Maxie, age 90, move into assisted living. But this is just a detour. As soon as Maxie’s settled, Laurel will pursue a job lead in San Francisco. Lacking confidence in her own artistic talent but deeply in love with the art world, her dream is to run a glamorous art gallery.

Dazzled by Laurel’s spirit, honesty, and beauty, Doug pursues her on her terms—just a temporary friendship, though he’s hoping to persuade her to stay. 

Laurel is torn: her connection with Doug feels like the real deal. But damn it, her career plan has been her emotional anchor through years of false starts and failures. Aunt Maxie always said, “A woman with a plan is unstoppable.”

Unable to leave Eugene because he cares for his dementia-afflicted mother, Doug’s only hope is to convince Laurel those big-city lights have nothing on her inner sparkle.

11.     Where did you get your inspiration for your book?

(Spoiler alert) After Through the Red Door, it broke my heart to leave Doug lonely—so of course I had to create his happy ending. Laurel carries a bit of my own story in that she doesn’t get family support for her artistic dreams. Instead, they urge her to settle for “sensible.” Rather than squashing her ambition, their disapproval only sharpens her determination to show them, and the world, what she can do. 

12.     Do you have a favorite character and if so, who and why?

Ninety-year-old Great Aunt Maxie is by far my favorite character. Tiny, birdlike, with wispy henna-red hair and outrageous outfits, she charges through life leaning on her bedazzled cane. An artist herself, she’s also a foster-grandmother to many young artists in Eugene. She’s lived a big, sparkly life, and her loving encouragement keeps Laurel’s dreams afloat.

13.  What are you working on now?

I’m writing Book Three of the series, which features Elmer, a muscly, tattooed, ginger-bearded ceramics artist introduced in Runaway Love Story, and Margot, the youngest staff member at the Book Nirvana bookshop. A university student and aspiring graphic artist, Margot’s an important secondary character in Books One and Two. (Notice my fascination with artistic characters?)

Thanks so much, Jennifer, for hosting me on your blog and giving me the chance to meet your readers!

Back-Cover Blurb: 

She hates average...he's as average as they come.

High school history teacher Doug Garvey is trying to enjoy his last few weeks of summer vacation, but receiving his final divorce decree hits him harder than expected. After a brief fling fizzles, he fears love just isn't in the cards for him. If only he could find someone who's real, someone interested in something beyond herself…maybe a new running partner who can keep up with his more carnal appetite. When sexy, straight-talking Laurel runs across his path, he dares to hope again.

He's done with social-climbing posers...she's ambitious and has big dreams.

Fired from an art gallery, Laurel Jepsen shelves her pursuit of an art career in San Francisco to help her beloved great aunt Maxie move into assisted living. While out on a morning run, she's harassed by a group of teens until a tall, broad-shouldered hottie steps in, pretending to be her boyfriend with a kiss that makes her wish it were true. But she's only passing through, not looking for a relationship.

Their fierce chemistry burns up the sheets—and the couch, the shower, the forest—but falling in love would ruin everything. Laurel can't stay in Eugene, and he can't leave. Doug's only hope is to convince her the glittery life she's after could blind her to the opportunities already in her path.

Excerpt: 

                  “I’m sorry she called you the S word.” 

                  “Huh?” 

                  “Sensible.” 

                  She laughed. “Yeah. That’s a curse word, as far as I’m concerned.” She leaned her head on his shoulder.  

                  “I’ll strike it from my vocabulary. Your S word is sparkle.” He traced her jawline with a feather-light touch. “Look at you, Laurel. You’re blinding.” His twilight-blue gaze made her heart dance—a steamy tango with swirls and dangerous dips. He kissed her, and, for a moment, she forgot all about caution, about cutting things off before they became too serious, about San Francisco. Her focus narrowed to his lips on hers, his nearness heating her whole body, opening her like a blossom, soft and willing. Ripe for the plucking. 

                  “God, I’ve missed you.” He scooped her legs across his lap. One hand cradling her nape, the other gripping her thigh, he kissed her senseless. His velvet tongue teased her lips apart. He tasted of sugary coffee. The world around them faded—just two bodies, calling and answering, breathing in sync, their pulses beating the same rhythm.

Another Excerpt

                  Laurel’s conscience nudged the grin off her face. The customer was right—Doug was a natural with kids. He deserved a nice woman who’d stay in Eugene and build a family with him. She was just distracting him from his true path. If it weren’t for the chemistry pulling them together like an industrial-strength electromagnet, she’d never pick a guy like Doug. Sweet, dependable, generous, outdoorsy… 

                  Shit. Except for not being an artist, he’s pretty much perfect. Leaving him in December is going to be damned painful.

                  Still, she’d been honest with him. He knew about her plans, and he wasn’t holding back. Why should she? Why deny herself his friendship, and a physical connection of volcanic proportions? 

                  Because she was messing with his heart, that’s why. And her own.

Book tropes and themes:

Seasoned romance (hero is 39), beta hero, teacher hero, artistic heroine, opposites attract, indie bookshop, unsupportive family, dealing with dementia, caretaking for elderly relatives, social media, small-town vs. big-city, ambition vs. family obligations, feisty old lady, heroine with commitment issues, divorced hero, running, inconvenient attraction, irresistible chemistry

Pre-order Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Runaway-Love-Story-Book-Nirvana-ebook/dp/B07QBHS1ZQ/

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/runaway-love-story-sadira-stone/1131145865

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/runaway-love-story/id1460549153

Google Play Books: https://play.google.com/store/search?c=books&q=Runaway+Love+Story+by+Sadira+Stone

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/runaway-love-story