I’d like to first thank Fresh Fiction for inviting me to blog on their wonderful site – Thanks so much! I’m so lucky to have such great support from the various book websites and review sites throughout the Internet. It has been one of many unexpected surprises when I became a published author. Another happy and unexpected result has been reader emails. Now some of you may be thinking, of course you’d get emails. But I had been so focused on getting my story published; that I hadn’t really considered what would happen once the book hit the shelves. Click to read the rest of Maria’s blog and to comment. Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

I love a great many things about romance, but I like the fantasy aspect the most. Daydreaming is such a wonderful pastime, isn’t it? And it’s free! I did get to indulge in a big way while writing SAVED BY THE MONARCH. Since I’m scared to death of flying, I make a point to do it at least once a year. If there’s anything I’ve learned from my intrepid heroines, it’s that life is too short to let fear win. When I travel, I see as people wait for their loved ones at airports, or for strangers holding up signs with names. And since I’m a writer, I see book ideas everywhere… What if someone went on vacation to Europe, to a small kingdom her parents had left behind when she’d been a very young child? And what if the surprise of a lifetime waited for her when she arrived? Click to read the rest of Dana’s blog and to leave a comment. Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

Believe it or not summer is upon us and that means VACATIONS! Okay, maybe just a mini vacation or even a short weekend away from work but it’s the state of mind that’s important here, so let Fresh Fiction authors and friends help you! We’ve got the best contests with all kinds of goodies to enable even the worst procrastinators to get ready to hit the beach or run off to a summer vacation! Most of these contests end on June 14th so don’t delay and enter today! More Vacation Planning Do you have BIG plans for this summer? Or maybe a series of little mini-vacations? Or are you using the time to “redo” your life? Share with us and someone will win a $25 Amazon gift certificate to help ya! Tell us your favorite summer recipe, or perhaps your vacation plans, or even memories of school rattling in head what you did last summer! And help your fellow readers, tell us your reading list for the summer! We’re all curious. Beach and Vacation Totes contestsVacation Stories and Reading Lists Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

Borders can be pretty dangerous places. People slip over them in the dead of night, bringing desperate travelers, contraband goods and stolen identities. I knew I was inviting in all kinds of delicious plot complications when I set my novel, The Better to Hold You, on an invisible boundary line between realities. I tried not to think about the complications I was inviting by setting my sequel, Moonburn, on the borderline between paranormal romance and urban fantasy. At first, when I thought about writing a sequel, I thought I would concentrate on another couple, and leave my main characters to get on with the business of living happily ever after. But the truth is, I’ve always had a bit of a problem believing that couples will transition straight from a passionately conflicted courtship to a stress-free marriage. In my novels, I’ve always ended things optimistically, but assumed that there was another book, never to be written, about what happened next. And all of a sudden, I wanted to write the forbidden book. In The Better to Hold You, my heroine, Abra, becomes infected with the lycanthropy virus and discovers how to listen to her instincts. But what if her condition…

When I was writing my current Harlequin romance release, KISSING THE MAN NEXT DOOR (Kimani, May 2009), I couldn’t help but wonder just how many romances in real life actually develop with the gorgeous and available woman or hot, single man next door? A friend of mine told me after the novel had been published that she had a relationship for a couple of years with the hunk that moved in next door. Though they eventually went their separate ways, she still spoke of the romance enthusiastically and as a memory she wouldn’t be opposed to reliving. Or recreating with a new man should the opportunity come along. In KISSING THE MAN NEXT DOOR, it starts innocently enough as my hairstylist/jazz singer protagonist, divorced with her teenage son living across the country with his father, welcomes the new next door radio deejay neighbor to town. Sparks fly instantly and soon turn into all consuming flames. Click here to read the rest of Devon’s blog or comment. Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

Sandi has a sweet spotOriginally uploaded by freshfiction This last week found me once again attending a book signing with the wonderful ladies of the DFWTEA Readers. We were attending assigning Jen Lancaster who was signing copies of her latest book Pretty In Plaid. Per my usual style I arrived with plenty of time to spare. As I wandered the bookstore I noticed it was 4:00 and that would mean plenty of browsing time before the 5:00 dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. As I browsed I saw that there were already people sitting in the chairs at the signing area and the signing didn’t start until 7:00! Never having read Jen Lancaster before I really didn’t understand why these people would be lining up (well sitting) so early. Later I would find out, but that’s another story! So anyway back on track…with them arriving so early I wondered what kind of person some of you are. Are you like me and like to be early, and might find a corner to read in while waiting? Are you a right on time sort of person? Perhaps you are a better late than never type of person. Until next week I wish…

I was passing time with a fellow reader this week, waiting for books to arrive for processing and our conversation wandered as most readers do to books: what we’re reading, what we’re looking to read and pet peeves. This time it was two biggies; where do they get these “weird” character names and electronic book devices. We’ll let the devices linger for the future but concentrate on the character names. Now, I’ve read my share of books with totally unpronounceable (for me at least) names but it usually doesn’t bother me because I just give them a nickname. For example, Iphiginia Bright in MISTRESS became “Ippie” to me throughout the entire book. I was so entranced by the story I didn’t let an unfamiliar name bog me down. On the other hand, when there are too many “s” or “p” names in the same book, I give up and start to skip scenes for one or the other “S” character. Not sure if it is a deep-seated personal problem or if it just clashes too much in my head for me to continue. I can’t remember the name of the book but it had a Steve and Stephen in it….

How many times have you had to defend your reading preferences? If you read mysteries, science fiction, or even thrillers, I’ll bet you’ve rarely had to explain their appeal to a doubting audience. But if you read romance, that’s a whole different proposition. Why do I read romance? Because the women never settle. They expect–and get total respect from the men in their lives. They expect—and get unconditional love. That’s it. They expect—and get the mate who is perfect for them. That’s the whole answer in a nutshell. Don’t stop now, read the rest and find out about a cool contest Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

For me, the main appeal of a reunion romance is the prospect of getting a second chance at love. Have you ever wondered “if only …?” or “I wish I had known then what I know now”? Time and experience seasons us, and the reunion romance offers characters the opportunity to right past wrongs. As an author, writing a reunion romance can be fun (I get to start off with the passion and emotion), but it can also be challenging as the lead characters already know each other; there’s no “getting to know you” period, for the hero and heroine already share a history. I, then, have to inform the reader about the characters’ pasts, weave their time together “off stage” into the central story. In the end, the effort is worthwhile. Click here to read the rest of Alexandra’s blog and to leave a comment. Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.

“Life is a cabaret, old chum, come to the cabaret!” sings Sally Bowles in Cabaret, the movie musical set in 1931 Berlin. Who wouldn’t want to hear the singers? Watch the scantily clad dancers? Try to guess who was a woman and who was just dressed like one? Taste illegal absinthe? So I went. My novel, A TRACE OF SMOKE, is set in the world of 1931 Berlin. It’s where cabaret nightingale Ernst Vogel, the murder victim, flitted from one dangerous man to the next. Need to know more? Of course you do, so read on… Visit FreshFiction.com to learn more about books and authors.