Aug 2, 2017 | August 2017, Blog, Coffee With, Eliza Knight
Rae: First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking an Iced Coffee with Coconut Milk. 🙂 What would you order?
Eliza: It depends on the day and hour, lol. If its morning, I’m getting a hot coffee. In the afternoon, I tend to go with ice. I am seriously into cinnamon lattes. I prefer coconut milk, but if they don’t have it, I’ll go with cream.
Rae: Thanks so much for hanging out with me today.
Eliza: Thank you so much for having me! I’m thrilled to be here–I do LOVE coffee! Yum!
Rae: Congratulations on the release of Destination Love, how did this project come about?
Eliza: Thank you so much! I’m so thrilled to be a part of it! So, about 4 years ago, I started to write my novella, Wherever You Are, for fun, after a trip to the Caribbean. I’d showed some beginning chapters to Christi and she loved them, but then deadlines got in the way, so I never finished to story. Last year, she approached me about doing an anthology and wanted me to finish that story, so I said yes!
Rae: It’s a change from the historical romance stories that you’ve released. How did you collaborate for this?
Eliza: It’s definitely a shift from my usual historical, but it is connected with another contemporary I wrote about five years ago, The Rebound Pact. Those of us involved in the set came pretty naturally. We all belong to Maryland Romance Writers, and once a month, a few of us get together for dinner, and at some point, all of us have had dinner a couple times over the years.
Rae: How are each of the stories connected?
Eliza: Every story in our anthology has characters traveling somewhere, so when readers pick up the set, they can take a journey with our characters as they fall in love.
Rae: You currently have eight series in historical romance and also write contemporary. Can you tell us a little about each? How do you keep all of your characters straight? Do you have a “Bible” or file with all the details?
Eliza: I definitely have a series bible, its important, especially for series that end up with as many books as my Stolen Bride series has, and its spin-off the Conquered Bride have (17! and another on the way!). For historical, I mostly write sexy Scottish. I have a few Regencies, westerns and ancient history as well.
Rae: When did you know that you wanted to write historical romance? Did anything from that trip wind up in your book?
Eliza: I would say I knew I wanted to write historical romance in high school. I used to write fan-fiction using characters from my favorite romance novels. But I did it for fun and shared with friends. I continued to write throughout college, developing my own stories and characters, but only for myself, until about 2006 that I started to seriously pursue a career as a novelist. I joined Romance Writers of America in early 2007.
Rae: Have you had a chance to take a research trip to Scotland?
Eliza: I have taken two research trips to Scotland and have a 3rd coming up this fall. I have also traveled to Ireland and France, and the islands. Every time I go, I have a purpose in mind, and every one of my books is laced with information or experiences I’ve had overseas, whether its the way the bark looks on a tree, how drafty a castle is, or the shape of the stones, or the smell of the ocean, it will find its way into the story.
Rae: How often do you have to travel for research to make that you have all the smells and feels down?
Eliza: I travel every 1-2 years. I take a lot of pictures/videos and I take notes. On my trip this fall, we’re immersing ourself in a coastal village with a castle up on the hill. It’s going to be amazing.
Rae: What is the biggest obstacle of publishing as an Indie author?
Eliza: I am lucky because I have a great team on the indie side of publishing, which is key. If you don’t have a good team, your job gets a lot harder. I think its important to have people who are experts in certain areas like cover design, publicity, advertising, copyrights, editing, copyediting, formatting, distribution. I want to be able to concentrate on writing. And though the business side still takes up a lot of time, its not nearly as much as it would be if I didn’t have those people in place to help me. The thing is, when you go indie, you’re not only an author anymore. You’re now a publisher, and you have to treat your business that way.
Rae: Your covers are fantastic, do you design them?
Eliza: My cover designer has been with me since the beginning–and I’ve been with her since she started out. She’s phenomenal.
Rae: In addition to writing you also manage two blogs, your Author Blog and History Undressed. When do you have time?
Eliza: One blog gets a lot more attention than the other! History Undressed is my baby, and I started it in 2009. I used to post weekly, but now I only get to write on it much more sparingly. However, I do have regular bloggers that post on their slotted days, and they are seriously awesome!
Rae: RWA has just ended, what were your favorite moments?
Eliza: RWA is one of my favorite times in the year! My favorite moments… there were so many!!! Rooming with one of my dearest friends (who goes with me to Scotland!), dancing at the dance party, meeting up with colleagues, sharing in the excitement of friends who won awards, chatting with first time attendees and seeing the excitement in their eyes! Best of all? It fills the well! I come home inspired and filled with an intense energy.
Rae: What was your favorite panel and why?
Eliza: My favorite panel was done by Mark Dawson on social networking. It was a wealth of information, and I learned a lot of about Facebook that I didn’t even know about.
Rae: Can you tell us when and where you will be in the upcoming months?
Eliza: In September, I will be signing my Tudor series at the Maryland Renaissance Festival on September 9th. Also from September 27-Oct 1, I will be at the Historical Romance Retreat!
***** 8 Tantalizing Tidbits *****
1. What is a must read book and why? I have a few on my list right now. Historical Fiction: The Alice Network by Kate Quinn, because it is FREAKING AWESOME, and it was chosen for the Reese Witherspoon book club. For romance classics, I just finished listening to the audio book, Pride and Prejudice read by Rosamund Pike, and it was the best version I’ve read so far because of all the voices she did. My favorite historical romance, The Bride by Julie Garwood!
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? Vineyards! In the town where I live, we have THREE wineries!
3. Best vacation destination? Scotland! Are you surprised?
4. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? I had to have a reading specialist in first/second grade, because I just didn’t get it! Look at me now 🙂
5. Hard Rock or Classical? Favorite Band or Artist? Everything and Everyone! I love music of all kinds. I literally don’t have a favorite…
6. If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world where would you go? Scotland! Are you surprised?
7. What is your guilty pleasure? Wine and chocolate
8. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one? I have two tattoos. A rose on my back (I call it my Tudor rose), and on my wrist I have a one in type-set font that says, Nevertheless, she persisted, a reminder to myself to keep moving forward, to never give up in the pursuit of my dreams and happiness. This one is especially dear to me, because I got it along with four other author friends at a conference. We are now forever tat sisters 🙂
Still want to know more about Eliza? Head over to her webpage and explore!
Aug 1, 2017 | August 2017, Blog, Boxed Set
Official blurb:
Go the distance, fall farther than you planned…
Don’t bother with your passport – you can watch our HOT couples fall in love from the comfort of your couch! USA Today bestsellers Christi Barth, Eliza Knight, Misty D. Waters and Piper J. Drake, and Christina Elle take you along on sexy, romance-drenched vacations all over the globe. Enjoy the exotic settings, the steamy vacation flings that become something more. Take the plunge with five couples as they throw caution to the wind and give in to temptation. The final destination in this itinerary is love, and you’re in for the trip of your life.
Cruising Toward Love by Christi Barth
Can an unexplained breakup and ten years of heartache be cured by the romance – and endless buffets – of a tropical cruise? When her sister is left at the altar, small town librarian Zoe Balis jumps at the chance to take the bride’s unused ticket for the honeymoon cruise. But she didn’t count on sharing a cabin with the man who broke her heart ten years ago!
Wherever You Are by Eliza Knight
After life takes a heart-breaking turn, Calista Adams indulges in a fling while on vacation. But that steamy encounter fills her heart with something she thought never to have again. Maxwell Dane can’t stop thinking about Calista, but he’s home in Paris, she’s an ocean away. Until Calista takes a nine-week sabbatical to travel Europe. With a second chance in sight, Max won’t let her push him away. This could be the forever kind of love, and there’s only one way to find out.
Tell Me No Lies by Misty D. Waters
A handsome B&B owner plus an exotic vacation equals a rare opportunity for overworked single mom Amelia Spenser: a chance to be someone else. For one week, she’s free to be anyone he wants. And she wants to be his perfect match. He doesn’t have to know who she really is. What’s a few lies for the sake of a week they’ll never forget? It’s not like they’ll fall in love…
Finding His Mark by Piper J. Drake
Security chief Michael Hunt brings in wet work specialist Sushar “Su” Sakda to pose as his woman, find his mark, and eliminate the threat—an assassin hunting in his organization. They make a potent pair for this job, and if they survive, their sizzling pretense could become the real thing.
Anywhere With You by Christina Elle
Teegan Michaels has attended six weddings for her sorority sisters dateless and she refuses to go to the last one alone. Not when she has a perfectly respectable—not to mention hot—NFL player ready to save her from humiliation. Who cares that he’s the bride’s ex-fiancĂ© and only wants to go for revenge? What’s the worst that could happen?
***This anthology is filled with original content, brand new from the authors. On sale for a limited time for only #99cents !***
Be sure to check the blog tomorrow for Coffee With Eliza Knight and my reviews of Destination Love later this week.
Jul 27, 2017 | Blog, July 2017
Congratulations to all the Golden Heart and RITA Finalists this year.
Tune in at www.RWA.org where the awards ceremony will be streamed LIVE from 7-9 PM EST. live from Orlando, Florida.
A toast to the finalists for your nomination!
Jul 26, 2017 | Blog, July 2017
What is the one book that you can re-read a thousand times and always find something new? Do you have a staple book that you can read for inspiration or comfort?
Let us know!
If you’re headed on vacation or RWA this week, what’s in your e-reader?
Jul 25, 2017 | Barbara Devlin, Blog, July 2017
Exerpt:
CHAPTER ONE
The steady drumbeat of rain pounded the roof, followed by a rumble of thunder, and roused Nautionnier Knight Morgan Le Aguillon from blissful slumber and an ale-induced stupor, as he stretched long and yawned. As he ordered his thoughts, after a night of drinking and wenching, his favorite pursuits, he grazed warm flesh with his toes and smiled. To his right, a supple female form posed a delicious temptation. To his left, another enticing whore snored none too elegantly, and he sat upright.
Naked, a condition he preferred to the heavy garb of his station, he rubbed his eyes, slid from the bed, belched, and scratched his bare arse. At the basin, he poured water from the pitcher, washed his face, and cleaned his teeth. After running his fingers through his hair, he collected his garb from the floor.
As he stepped into his breeches, he noticed a sliver of light filtering through a hole in the linen that covered the window, and he stepped toward the wall, peered outside—and started.
“No.”
In a strange dance, he sprang into action, yanking on his black chausses, slipping his feet into his boots, and pulling on his doublet. At last, he donned his tunic and grabbed his cloak. From a small bag, he drew a fistful of coins, tossed them atop a table, and made his exit.
On the street, he glanced at the grey sky, realized he was very late, and cursed. “Arucard is going to kill me.”
After locating his destrier, he leaped into the saddle. Flicking the reins, he heeled the flanks of his stallion and sped through the narrow thoroughfares of London, as he had not a moment to spare.
Given the amount of activity in the various businesses, as well as the number of people out and about, Morgan urged his mount faster, until the painfully familiar shadow of Westminster Abbey loomed in the distance. It was then he slowed his horse and continued at his leisure, because he was in no rush to meet his fate.
A Nautionnier Knight in service to the Crown, he had been born into a noble family with valuable connections to the House of Capet, but with equally slim coffers, in the crowded town of Rouen, on the River Seine. At the age of eight, he had been sent to La Rochelle, along with a slew of other second sons, for whom their families had no use and could ill afford, and commenced his training as a Templar, the warriors of the Crusades, at Vauclair Castle.
That was where he forged an alliance with his lifelong friends—his brothers.
After Philip the Fair was denied entry into the estimable Order, he conspired with Pope Clement V to steal the vast treasure the knights had amassed, accused the Templars of heresy, as well as a slew of other foul crimes, hunted, tortured, and executed the great men. Naught in Morgan’s world had been the same, since he fled France and sought refuge in England.
And that was what brought him to Westminster Abbey, on that dark and dreary morning.
At the east entrance, in the midst of a slew of coaches and horses, he drew rein and jumped to the ground. In a series of quick strides, he navigated the cloister walk, which brought him to a double-door entry topped by a Portland stone tympanum.
On the left lingered the other four knights that made up the Brethren of the Coast, along with three wives, and it was another marriage that brought him to the Chapter House steps.
“Reprehensible silk-snatcher, you are late for your own wedding.” Ever the venerable leader, Arucard scowled and folded his arms. “His Majesty was just about to dispatch a compliment of soldiers to hunt you down and drag you hither—after he installed us in the tower.
Want more? You know you do….one-click for your copy here:Morgan (Brethren Origins Book 4)
Author Info:
Bestselling author Barbara Devlin was born a storyteller. A Texan, through and through, Barbara hasn’t been without a book in her possession since she was in kindergarten. She wrote her first short story, a really cheesy murder-mystery, in high school, but it was a Christmas gift, a lovely little diary with a bronze lock, given to her in the fifth grade that truly inspired her love of writing.
After completing part of her undergraduate studies at the University of London, where she developed a love of all things British, Barbara returned home and began a career in banking. But the late 80s weren’t too promising for the financial industry, and every bank that hired Barbara soon folded. So she searched for a stable occupation, and the local police department offered the answer to her prayers.
Initially, Barbara wasn’t too sure about her new career in law enforcement, but she soon came to love being a police officer. And then one uncharacteristically cold and icy day in December 1998, Barbara was struck by a car and pinned against a guardrail while working an accident on a major highway. Permanently disabled, she retired from the police department and devoted her time and energy to physical therapy.
Once Barbara got back on her feet, she focused on a new career in academia. She earned an MA in English and continued a course of study for a Doctorate in Literature and Rhetoric. She happily considered herself an exceedingly eccentric English professor, until success in Indie publishing lured her into writing, full-time, featuring her fictional knighthood, the Brethren of the Coast.
Jul 24, 2017 | Blog, Brazen, July 2017
Happy Book Birthday to One Week With The Marine by Allison Gatta.
A Little Tease for you….
Excerpt:
“You wanted to give this a try. This, us, thing.”
“I do.” He scrubbed a hand over the bristle of his chin and she fought back the urge to drool. Why did he have to look like a damn Brawny advertisement during their serious discussion?
She joined him on the couch. “Okay. Let’s do it. I’ve made a list of terms and conditions–”
“No terms, no conditions.” His mouth was a hard line of determination.
He slid closer–so that her knee grazed the firm muscle of his leg. Even that slight touch sent an electric spark surging between her thighs. He had her. It was over.
A one hit K. O.
“Then what–”
“You’ll belong to me–”
“Belong seems a little caveman-ish–”
“We’re together. That’s it.” He cupped his strong hand around her nape and every ounce of air in her body was gone. There was only him, the mintiness of his breath, and the scorching heat of his firm lips as he kissed her.
She responded to him without thinking, deepening the touch until she lost herself in the swirl of his tongue, the taste of his mouth.
When he pulled away, the room was spinning, moving in slow motion circles and all she could see was the handsome face in front of her. If this was the hard sell, then she’d fallen for it.
Hook, line, and sucker.
About the author:
Allison Gatta is an avid writer of steamy contemporary romance, an obsessive viewer of bad television, and an occasional player of overly-complex board games. In her free time, she thinks up fun, new characters and argues with her family over sci-fi trivia. She is a firm believer that Voldemort would vanquish Darth Vader in a duel.
Allison lives in the bustling city of New Haven, CT with her husband and their scrappy pup, Sophie. She is fueled by coffee and feedback, so feel free to get to know Allison though twitter (@Allison_Gatta), Facebook (Allison Gatta), or her website www.AllisonGatta.com.
Excerpt:
Lexi wasn’t sure what woke her. Her eyes blinked open. For a few seconds, she couldn’t work out where she was. The room was pitch black, the bed hard and unfamiliar, and a woodsy scent permeated the air. A cicada chirped outside and a frog croaked. She forced herself awake, waited for the fog to lift, and then she remembered.
She was with Adam, in his cabin. In his bed, where they’d made love long into the night.
So what had woken her?
A muffled sound like a soft cough echoed through the house. She rolled over and reached for Adam. He wasn’t there.
The sound grew louder. A painful, drawn-in breath followed by a moan had her sitting bolt upright. Then came the sobbing, like cries wrenched from a tortured soul.
She threw off the covers and slipped out of bed. Holding her hands in front of her, she made her way through the inky blackness. The tormented cries guided her down the passage and into the lounge.
It wasn’t quite so dark in there—the moon shone through the open windows, bathing the room in pale light. Adam lay on his back on the couch. One hand was raised above his head, the other arm flung out over the edge of the cushion. Tears fell uninterrupted down his cheeks, and his face was contorted in an agonized mask. Harsh, barking sobs jarred the stillness around him.
Lexi’s stomach clenched. Tears filled her own eyes. She watched helplessly as once again, Adam endured his unspeakable grief alone.
“Adam?” she whispered but received no response. She edged nearer, crouched before him on the carpet. “Riley?” He didn’t move. She peered closely at him and realized with a start that he was asleep. “Oh, Adam,” she breathed, her heart close to breaking. She took his hand, cradled it in hers and let him cry. Her own tears spilled over, and she wiped at her cheeks.
Time passed, how much Lexi wasn’t sure. Slowly, the distressed sobbing subsided. His cries became more subdued then turned into soft and steady weeping.
Careful not to wake him, she retrieved a roll of toilet paper from the bathroom and used it to blot his tears. The knot in her stomach eased as his weeping gradually diminished, leaving only the ragged breaths that rattled his body.
About the author:
An avid romance reader since her early teens, Jess knew one day, when she grew up, she’d have to write her own love stories. And she did. Although the first one was pretty awful.
But once she discovered it was okay to leave the bedroom door open in her romance novels, she decided to leave everything open. Buttons, zips, pants, number of lovers… Which is why her books are all steamy erotic romances.
Jess’s first published story was originally contracted in 2005. Since then, she’s completed over 30 books, and is finally doing the work she loves most— writing romance.
While Jess lived most of her life in South Africa, the last fourteen years have been spent in Australia. From the fast-paced Sydney lifestyle to the laid-back islands and beaches, there’s always another gorgeous Aussie setting for a contemporary romance.
Excerpt:
She waited for just the right moment, pushing to her feet when she saw her opening. She was zoned in on her target, gun lifting in his direction—and was suddenly flying through the air.
“Hey!”
Somebody had hold of her and they were going down. She braced herself for impact with the hard ground, but landed on a firm chest instead. A chest that smelled suspiciously like…Zane Price.
She was rolled off his body and found herself staring up at his face. He looked kind of angry. Huh. She wasn’t expecting that. She could feel his package grinding against her pelvis, so she certainly wasn’t mad about anything. A package that was quickly hardening, by the way.
“Did you just tackle me?” she asked in bewilderment.
She saw him swallow as his eyes flew over her face. “I believe I did, yes.”
Their position on the ground was far too sexual—not that she was doing anything about it. His upper body was hovering over hers so as not to crush her, but their lower bodies were in close contact.
Very close contact.
She cleared her throat. “Why?”
“Because you were about to become a casualty,” he whispered. “I saved your life.”
“My hero.” She’d meant it to sound sarcastic. But her voice came out a lot huskier than she’d intended.
He noticed.
His eyes darkened in response.
Everything below her belly clenched with need, a reaction that his own body mirrored. She felt him grow thick against her thigh, and though he didn’t say anything, she knew they were both aware of what was happening south of the border.
“And you’re still on top of me, why?”
“Because part of me is quite comfortable here,” he admitted. “And a different part of me is about to be in a world of pain once I move. I’m trying to decide which part I should listen to.”
“Do I get a say in this?”
He gave a small thrust of his hips against her, making her gasp. One quick grind that allowed her to feel the full extent of his manhood in all of its stiff glory.
She was a goner.
His eyelids lowered to half-mast as he took in her reaction. “Do you want a say in this?”
About the author:
Melanie grew up in a small town in rural Missouri. After marrying her husband, she decided she wanted to try coastal life. A few months later, they moved to North Carolina where she discovered her passion for writing, and they never looked back.
Melanie’s other passion is traveling and seeing the world. With anthropology degrees under their belts, she and her husband have made it their goal in life to see as many archaeological sites around the world as possible.
She has a horrible food addiction to pasta and candy (not together…ew). And she gets sad when her wine rack is empty.
At the end of the day, she is a true romantic at heart. She loves writing the cheesy and corny of romantic comedies, and the sassy and sexy of suspenses. She aims to make her readers swoon, laugh out loud, maybe sweat a little, and above all, fall in love.
