Feb 5, 2015 | Amanda Aksel, Blog, Coffee With, February 2015
First, If we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte š What would you order?Ā A soy latte š
Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions.
How many books have you planned for this series? The Marin Test Series will be four books to conclude in 2016.
Was there anything that surprised you while writing a series with relationship issues? Nothing surprises me, but I think there were some things in The Man Test that surprised the readers.
What type of research did you do to prep for this series? I did a lot of San Francisco real estate research. There’s an apartment hunt in The Commitment Test. San Francisco is such a cool city.
Will we have to wait a while for the next book? I expect my next book to be out in the summertime, however it’s outside of the series and that’s all I can say for now. The next book in The Marin Test Series is expected to be out in winter 2015! Hope that’s not too long š
Thanks so much for hanging out š
8 Tantalizing Tidbits:
1. A Must read book and why? The Alchemist. It’s not women’s fiction, but it’s an incredible story that’s relevant to all people. One word. Amazing!
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? If you don’t live near an ocean, then definitely the beach. Last summer, I watched a group of dolphins play in the surf. It was pretty incredible.
3. What is your favorite movie of all time and why? I’ve had the same favorite movie since I was 5 years old. Dirty Dancing. It’s sexy romance, a coming of age, plus there’s dancing. And I love dancing. Why was I watching Dirty Dancing at 5 years old? I had a young, hip mother.
4. What is on your playlist when you write? IĀ makeĀ a new list with every project I work on and add songs along the way. Here’s my spotify playlist for The Commitment Test: The Commitment Test
5. Do you watch a TV show weekly or binge watch? Both! I’m a huge TVĀ fan. In fact, I hope to write a TV one day. My dream job would be writing for Grey’s Anatomy.
6. What’s your guilty pleasure? Cheese. I know that sounds weird, but I’m a non-dairy pescatarian. Cheese is a treat and I absolutely LOVE IT!
7. Biggest celebrity crush? My best friend and I keep a running top 5 list. Orlando Bloom has been at the top for over a decade.
8. If you could invite FIVE people to dinner (not family or friends – that’s too easy) who would you invite? It can be someone from the past or present, living or deceased.
Daisaku Ikeda- He’s an incredible example of a global citizen and humanitarian
Sara Bareilles- I’m a HUGE fan
Michael Jackson- Enough said!
Larry David- Someone needs to bring the jokes
Marie Forleo – She’s super smart and seems like a lot of fun
BIO:
Amanda Aksel is an author with an affinity for love. Becoming a couples therapist was her ābackupā career, and after completing her BA in Psychology she was on her way to solving loveās most complicated quandaries one couple at a time. Now she plans to solve loveās most complicated quandaries one novel at a time.
Social media links
Website: www.amandaaksel.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/amandaaksel
Twitter: @amandaaksel
Instagram: https://instagram.com/amandaaksel
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Link to buy Amanda’s first novelĀ The Man Test (The Marin Test Series: Book One)
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Feb 3, 2015 | Anna Sugden, Blog, Coffee With
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte š
What would you order? A skinny latte with a shot of mint or a chocolate mint frappuchino ā depends on how Iām feeling.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions. My pleasure ā delighted to take part!
I LOVE books about hockey and your series about The New Jersey Ice Cats is on my wish list š Aww thank you. And yay to finding another person who loves books about hockey!
How many books do you anticipate in this series? The plan at the moment is for six books, a few novellas and some shorts. Iām currently writing book 4 and have book 5 outlined.
How much research did you do for this? Lots! Aside from watching a lot of hockey J, attending a number of NHL team hockey practices, I read a lot of hockey non-fiction, especially biographies, and watched some behind the scenes documentaries like 24/7: The Road to the Winter Classic. I was lucky enough that my favourite team (for whom we had season tickets) ā the New Jersey Devils ā graciously agreed to help me with my research. The then-owner, Jeff Vanderbeek, set me up with a ābackstageā tour of the arena and an interview with former Devils great, Ken Daneyko. You can read about those on my website (www.annasugden.com/extras/readers) and even see me on my Zamboni ride!
Were you a fan of hockey before you started writing this series? Definitely!
What was the inspiration for writing a hockey series? It actually started with the inspiration for writing about one player, Jake āBad Boyā Badoletti (the hero of A Perfect Distraction). I was intrigued by the difference between the on-ice and off-ice personas of several great hockey players ā especially one of my favourite players, Scott Stevens. How someone who was a hard man of the ice and caused numerous concussions, could be a quiet, humble, generous and kind person off the ice. And once I got to thinking about him, the rest of the team followed!
I can only imagine how much fun that would be! The best!
Were you able to hang out with any hunky ice-hockey players? Oh yes! Of course, the best was actually hanging out with Scott Stevens himself!
8 Tantalizing Tidbits š
1. A Must read book and why? OMG just one?! I canāt even pick just one author or even one genre, let alone one book! Itās hard enough to choose a top ten! So, Iām going to cheat and give you two – Tess Gerritsenās The Surgeon and Lisa Gardnerās Say Goodbye. Both are beautifully crafted romantic suspense/thrillers which gripped me from the first word and which stayed with me for a long time after. They did what few books do and surprised me, with really clever twists.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? Cambridge is a beautiful, historic city and the colleges that make up the famous university are awe-inspiring. A tour of those would be well worth it!
3. Castles or Beaches? Beaches. Castles are interesting, but we have the odd one or two here in England J. I LOVE a beautiful beach. I think there is something about water that speaks to my soul because I feel at peace when Iām on a beach with my toes in the sand and water lapping around my ankles.
4. Hard Rock or Classical? Favorite Band or Artist? Rock chick all the way ā though I admit to having very eclectic tastes (which includes classical!). I donāt have a particular favourite, but if there was one band I could have seen in its heyday, it would have been Queen.
5. If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world for research, where would you go? Iād actually like to do a trip which took in everywhere that penguins live, including Antartica. So Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Falklands etc.
6. What is your guilty pleasure? Hmm which one to choose? LOL shoes or opals? Probably shoes, because I canāt feel too guilty about opals š
7. Tats or No Tats? If tats, how many and what did you choose for your first one? I donāt have any, but wish I was brave enough to have them. If I could have one, it would be a red gerbera daisy with a K in the middle (for my husband) and Iād have it high on my thigh.
8. If you could invite 5 people to dinner (not friends and family – that’s too easy) who would you invite? It could be anyone past or present. Cary Grant, Errol Flynn, Audrey Hepburn, Katherine Hepburn and Paul Newman. Wouldnāt that be a fun evening?!
THANK YOU SO MUCH for your time.
BIO:
Award-winning, Harlequin SuperRomance author, Anna Sugden, loves reading romance novels and watching films with happy endings. She also loves watching hockey and football, where she prefers a happy ending for her teams (Go Devils, Man UTD, Exeter, āSkins!). When sheās not researching hockey players (for her books, of course), she makes craft projects and collects penguins, autographs and memorabilia, and great shoes.
A former marketing executive and primary teacher, Anna lives in Cambridge, England, with her husband and two bossy black cats. Learn more about Anna, her books and her shoes at www.annasugden.com .
You can also follow her on Facebook (facebook.com/annasugden.romanceauthor) , Twitter (twitter.com/annasugden), Pinterest(pinterest.com/annasugden) and on the Romance Bandits blog (www.romancebandits.com).
Jan 27, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, January 2015
First, If we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte š
What would you order? Cappuccino! But I love lattes.
Thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions.
How many books do you plan to write with the men of the New Jersey Sonics? THE BOYS OF SUMMER series will consist of four books.
What inspired you to write about a Baseball Team? I was inspired to do a baseball romance theory by the Philadelphia Phillies. My daughter and I had Sunday season tickets for years. I had written historical’s previously, but in watching those gorgeous baseball players, I realized no swashbuckling hero of the past had anything on these boys!
What type of research did you do to prep for this series? I became an avid fan, watched the games consistently, read about the players in the paper to understand more about their personal lives, interviewed an expert (my daughter), and actually met the team at a charity event which inspired the first book BRING ON THE HEAT.
Congratulations and Happy Release Day for TOO HOT TO HANDLE! How long will we have to wait for the next book? Book 3, the HEAT OF THE MOMENT will debut late spring.
8 Tantalizing Tidbits:
1. A Must read book and why? There are so many great books! But I’d have to sayĀ TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. It was written with such sensitivity, not only about the trial and racial issues, but even the scenes with some of the less fortunate people in town show such a keen understanding of human nature. It is one of my absolute favorites.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? The Log cabins and the lakes. There are 22 lakes and over 150 log cabins, most of which were built in the early 1900s. There are also two very talented psychic mediums in our area. The experience is amazing.
3. What is your favorite movie of all time and why? RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. I know I should say something more intellectual, but I can’t help it. I’ve been in love with Harrison Ford since I can remember and true love lasts a lifetime.
4. When you plot out your book do you know how it will end or do you figure it out as you go? I start with the general idea of the story and the characters. I then write the first couple of chapters to get a feel for these people, and the situation. I then write a synopsis. I’ve read Michael Hauge’s books about plot structure, and highly recommend them.
5. What is on your playlist when you write? I like the house quiet.
6. Do you watch a TV show weekly or binge watch? I am guilty of watching the Bachelor and Bachelorette. The tweets are awesome!
7. What’s your guilty pleasure? See above.
8. Ā What is the craziest souvenir you picked up while traveling? Do you collect things when you travel? I have a Guinness pebble in my purse that you get in Ireland when you go on the tour. It says: Believe, and contains a drop of stout. It’s a good luck charm for me. I lost it one time, and my brother actually ordered a replacement for me.
Hire someone to do the job or fix it yourself? I have a handyman who has saved my life. I can’t paint without getting it everywhere, and if I attempted household repairs it would look an old Three Stooges episode.
Thank you so much I had a great time! Thanks again!
BIO:
Ā
Katie Rose is the award-winning author of 12 historical, three novellas, and two contemporary romances published under the name of Katie Rose and Colleen Quinn. Katie made her contemporary debut in 2014 with a baseball romance series entitled the Boys of Summer. BRING ON THE HEAT was published in August 2014, and the second book of the series, TOO HOT TO HANDLE will appear January 27, 2015. A long time Phillies fan, Katie combines her love of baseball, romance, and fun in the sports themed romances. A graduate of Temple University with a BA in Journalism, Katie is the recipient of the Doug Perry award, and the Romantic Times Achievement Award. Katie lives on a lake in Medford Lakes New Jersey, and is hard at work on the next book of the series, the HEAT OF THE MOMENT
Jan 8, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, January 2015
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte š
What would you order? Ooh, I do love a good latte, but I’d probably get a plain old coffee with cream and sugar. I’m a creature of habit.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions.Ā Ā What made you decide to write a story about a Breast Cancer survivor who is dealt the ultimate discovery when everything she wants is in her reach?Ā I really wanted to explore what happens in a young, heady relationship when one person gets that devastating diagnosis ā that they’re not going to be able to live the happily ever after. I suppose that sounds morbid, but I wanted to rise to the challenge of writing about a depressing topic, without making it too maudlin. It was important to me to be able to find the funny ā even in such a dire situation.
For many readers this is a subject matter that’s very close to their heart via a friend or family member who’s is currently battling breast cancer (or any cancer).Ā Sometimes those strong and courageous people passĀ away from thatĀ long and challenging fight.Ā If those readers, the ones who were so closely affectedĀ decide to pick up this book, what do you hope they get out of it? What about the people who have never personally experienced a friend or family member battle cancer? My greatest hope for both people who have dealt with cancer and those who haven’t is that they have an emotional connection to the book. My favorite novels are the ones that make me feelā the ones that make me cry, laugh, even scream in frustration at the characters’ choices. I would love for others to have the same experience with my book.
I admire you for tackling such a sensitive subject matter and look forward to posting my reviewĀ this SaturdayĀ on my Blog.Ā
8 Tantalizing Tidbits
1. A Must read book and why? Where’d You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple It’s brilliantly funny, and who doesn’t like to laugh?
2.What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? The Georgia Aquarium. Try to ignore the poorly placed seafood restaurant across the street, though (somebody did not think that through).
3. What is your favorite movie of all time and why?Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. TheĀ genius concept, the acting,Ā all the feels. It is everything a movie should be.
4. What was on your playlist while writing “Before I Go?” A lot of Mumford & Sons, Ray LaMontagne, Maxwell, The Lumieers, The Counting Crows, and Bruce Springsteen.
5. What’s your guilty pleasure? Gorging on moose tracks ice cream while watchingĀ The Biggest Loser.
6. First concert you attended? Hootie and the Blowfish
7. What are you afraid of?Ā The usual heights. Snakes. That I have something in my teeth when I’m talking to someone.
Thank you so much for hanging out with meĀ and have a great tour! Thank you!
BIO:
Colleen Oakley’s articles, essays, and interviews have been featured in The New York Times, Ladiesā Home Journal, Marie Claire, Womenās Health, Redbook and Martha Stewart Weddings. She’s the former editor-in-chief of Women’s Health & Fitness and senior editor of Marie Claire. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, two painfully cute kids and a huge lapdog named Bailey. Before I Go is her debut novel.
Jan 6, 2015 | Blog, Coffee With, January 2015
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte š What would you order? I almost always order a grande soy no water chai. The no water makes it extra yummy!
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions.Ā Ā I’m a HUGE fan of your books. Your Christmas With the Duke’s Arms was publishedĀ in OctoberĀ and is a collection of stories from fourĀ talented and amazing writers.Ā What was it like to put this book together and what was the mostĀ challenging part of writing this Christmas book?Ā I know this one wasĀ on many holiday wish lists including my own!
It was actually really fun working with Miranda, Grace, and Carolyn to put the book together. Iām so used to working in isolation that itās a pleasure to brainstorm ideas with other authors, especially writers as clever as they are. The best part for me was that the three of them are all good in areas where I lack knowledge. Carolyn knows so much about formatting and metadata and stuff like that. Grace is really smart about back cover copy and the craft of writing. Miranda is great with the financial stuff.
The challenging part for me was the cover. It was a long, onerous process, and it was tough to get us all to agree on pretty much every aspect of the cover.
Congratulations on yourĀ novella thatĀ released earlier today –Ā Happy Release Day! I reviewed it yesterday and it was fantastic! (link to review) Your next book in the Covent Garden Cubs Series “Earls Just Want to Have Fun” will be released on February 2nd and I’ll be posting my review of that later this month!Ā I’m impressed, you must write with super power speed!Ā
I donāt write particularly fast, I just donāt sleep a lot.
8 Tantalizing Tidbits
1. A Must read book and why?Ā Enclave by Ann Aguirre. What? Shana Galen is
recommending a dystopian YA? Yep. Itās very historical in tone, and no
oneĀ doesĀ action and suspense like Aguirre. I learned a lot from reading the
Razorland series, and thoroughly enjoyed myself too!
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown?I live in Houston, and if
you come here, you should see NASA. I recently visited again after not having
gone for more than a decade, and itās just so fascinating. If I hadnāt been with my
daughter, I could have stayed for hours.
3. What is one thing readers would be surprised to know about you? Iām aĀ vegetarian andĀ havenāt eaten meat in 28 years.
4. When you are traveling do you prefer to road trip it or fly it? Definitely fly. I donāt likeĀ driving or being stuck in the car. I want to get there fast.
5.Ā If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world for research, where wouldĀ you go? No brainer. London. Iād stay for six weeks and tour all of the UK. I just
love the UK, and I havenāt been in 15 years.
6. What are you afraid of? Crickets are super icky to me. I donāt like their black bodies
and legs. Surprisingly, spiders donāt bother me much. Those are minor fears,
though. My real and true fear is that something horrible will happen to my
daughter. I think most moms fear for their childrenās safety.
7. Organized or Free Floating? So, so organized. I have lists of lists. Nothing makes
me smile like checking something off my to-do list.
8. Do you love to cook or go out to eat? I am the worst cook. Itās because cooking
doesnāt allow for revision. I always mess something crucial up and then I canāt go
back and fix it. I throw a lot out. I like to go out to eat.
Thanks for stopping by Shana! Thanks so much for having me!
***********NOW CLOSED *******Ā Ā GIVEAWAY***********
Shana Galen is giving away anĀ e-book (Kindle, Nook, Kobo or Google Play)Ā of The Viscount of Vice toĀ one person who comments today.Ā For your chance to win let us knowĀ –Ā If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world,Ā where wouldĀ you go?
This is one book you will want to have in your e-reader š
Ā
BIO:
Shana Galen is the bestselling author of passionate Regency romps, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Kirkus says of her books, “The road to happily-ever-after is intense, conflicted, suspenseful and fun,” and RT Bookreviews calls her books ālighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching.” She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers, so send her an email or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.
Dec 23, 2014 | Anna Campbell, Blog, Coffee With, December 2014
First, if we were meeting at a coffee shop I’d be drinking a Latte š What would you order?
Hi Ā Rae! Thanks for having me as your guest today. In Australia, we have a thing called a flat white which is like a cappuccino without the cap ā so strong milk coffee basically. I didnāt realize that flat whites were a local specialty until I tried to order one at Starbucks in the U.S. and they looked at me like I was a lunatic!
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer a few questions.Ā Ā I am a HUGE fan of yourĀ Sons of Sin seriesĀ and see that Book 4Ā will be out in April, 2015. After that,Ā how many books you anticipate in this series?
Thanks so much for saying that. Sons of Sin is my first series and I must say Iām now hooked on the concept of writing linked books. I love being able to hint at future stories and go back to revisit earlier characters. Iām not quite sure where the series goes after Leath as far as full-length stories go, but Iām planning at least two more novellas to tie up a few stray characters like Elias and Marianne and tell the story of how Richard got together with Sirius the mutt. I LOVE Sirius the mutt!
8 Tantalizing Tidbits
1. A Must read book and why? Recently a Facebook friend introduced me to Susanna Kearsley and I read her THE SHADOWY HORSES. Absolutely loved it ā archeology, a romance, a mystery, suspense, a ghost story and wonderful, wonderful characters, not to mention a great and atmospheric Scottish setting.
2. What is one place that I should see if I visit your hometown? I live on the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. One of my favorite places to take visitors locally is Mary Cairncross Park up in the mountainous hinterland about half an hour away. Itās a fragment of the original subtropical rainforest that originally covered a lot of this area. Itās like another world, something from the dinosaur days, and youāll see an amazing selection of native birds and animals. Itās also accessible for less mobile visitors. Not to mention, thereās one of the best views of the world famous Glasshouse Mountains from the car park. Hereās the link: https://www.mary-cairncross.com.au/
3. Castles or Beaches? Canāt I have both? Here in Australia we have the worldās best beaches. But when I travel, I love going to old houses. One of my favorite castles, Bamburgh in Northumberland is right on the beach: http:www.bamburghcastle.com/ That has the best of both worlds.
4. One thing readers would be surprised to know about you. I canāt drive.
5. When you are travelling do you prefer to road trip it or fly it? I prefer a road trip ā you see so much more. Sadly, flying is more convenient when time is short. Iām a rotten air traveler. I get jet lag just looking at a photo of an airport!
6. If you had an all expenses paid trip anywhere in the world for research, where would you go? Definitely the UK! Iāve been there often and use my travels to inspire my stories, but thereās so much more to see still and Iād love to go back to some of my favorite places. Iām hoping to do a UK trip next year- sadly, all the expenses will be paid, by ME!
7. Whatās your favorite movie of all time and why? The answer to this one would change daily, but right now my favorite movie is Dirty Dancing. I think itās just so romantic and the characters stay in your heart.
8. Do you love to cook or go out to eat? I love eating out, especially in good restaurants. Iām fairly traditional- an authentic French bistro would probably be my choice.
Ā 
BIO:
ANNA CAMPBELL has written nine multi award-winning historical romances for Grand Central Publishing and Avon HarperCollins and her work is published in sixteen languages. Anna has won numerous awards for her Regency-set stories including Romantic Times Reviewers Choice, the Booksellers Best, the Golden Quill (three times), the Heart of Excellence (twice), the Write Touch, the Aspen Gold (twice) and the Australian Romance Readers Association’s favorite historical romance (five times). Her books have three times been nominated for Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA Award and three times for Australia’s Romantic Book of the Year. Anna is currently engaged in writing the “Sons of Sin” series, which started in 2012 with Ā SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUEāS BED. Look out for A SCOUNDREL BY MOONLIGHT in April 2015. Anna lives on the beautiful east coast of Australia where she writes full-time. Her website is: www.annacampbell.info
Twitter: @AnnaCampbellOz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaCampbellFans?ref=br_rs
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/296477.Anna_Campbell
