I remember the first time I visited Las Vegas – striding down the ramp and out into the terminal, eager to pick up my bags and head out for my hotel. It was like any other airport I’d visited, noisy and filled with commuters racing to catch their flights or grab their luggage and head out into the city. But this wasn’t any other airport. Right beside the luggage carousel sat rows of slot machines, waiting to take my money as I watched for my bags to arrive. I couldn’t stop looking over at the noisy, eye-catching displays tempting me with the chance of beginning my winning streak before getting to my hotel. An attendant walked up and down the aisles, exchanging money for eager players. And they won. I saw more than one machine explode into loud bells and whistles, flashing lights as it paid out. It made the usually boring wait for my luggage that much more interesting as I fought to keep from losing all of my gambling money before even leaving McCarran Airport. I went on from there to the hotel and my week-long stay where night only meant it got a bit cooler outside –…

The room where it happens…keep it lit or fade to black? In her renowned 1975 novel, FOREVER, Judy Blume took teens Katherine and Michael from first meeting to first kiss, first base to second, second to third. Then with the lights still shining bright and no doubt the rapt attention of each young reader, Katherine and Michael had their first sexual experience together–no fading to black, no glossing over the technicalities with flowery ambiguous language. There was no hidden agenda with this novel, no political statement to be made. It was simply there to show us (or remind us) of what it’s like to be a young person in love, dating, having sexual experiences for the first time. I grew up reading Judy Blume, learning about buying a bra and first periods from Margaret, then later learning about sex from Katherine and Michael. In high school, I had my own “Michael” and a first-serious-relationship experience that was frighteningly similar to this fictional couples’ story. So it’s no surprise that when I began writing YA, I took a small note from Ms. Blume. As much as we’d like to say that our characters make these decisions when it comes to sex…

It’s Unexpected What? The “bad girl” in book two is the heroine of book three? Are you serious? That late-to-work, doesn’t-give-a-hoot smart mouth? Her? The one we wished would take a permanent hike, and—she’s baaaack? It’s a Stretch Though we applaud ourselves for being nonjudgmental (admittedly easier in fiction) and open-minded regarding stories, we probably do “label” characters. We expect to see a bad guy—maybe we want that, a character we love to hate. So if that label was neatly tied to a character in book two and suddenly we’re asked to root for her in the next story . . . yes, that’s a big stretch. It Makes Us Dig Deeper There’s nothing more yawn-worthy than a “cardboard” villain; writers are taught this from day one. Readers expect much better. But moving a bad girl (or guy) into believable heroine status requires investment. Proof. We must ferret out what shaped this character, truly understand what made her “go dark,” before we can agree to wave her banner. It Makes Us a Secret Sidekick If the author’s done her job, there comes a point in such a story when readers know the villain-turned-hero better than anyone. We understand what makes…

Like most authors, I get frequent questions about how much of myself is in my books, and I always have to think about how to answer. On the one hand, I include quite a bit based on personal experience. For instance, I truly believe our animal companions can understand a lot about what we think, which is why, in A WEE HOMICIDE IN THE HOTEL, I wrote several scenes from the point of view of Silla, the Scottish Terrier that eventually becomes Peggy’s dog. I don’t think this is a spoiler, because it’s probably pretty obvious from the first time the dog shows up that Silla will become an integral part of the ScotShop. Here’s an example of one of those scenes: Silla pranced beside her person. She did not like the other one, but she enjoyed the walk along the winding streets. She tried not to listen to the two people. When they moved between two houses, left the buildings behind, and entered the forest path, she fairly quivered with excitement. This was a new place, one she had never seen before. “Okay, you win,” her person said, and Silla heard the sadness in his voice. “But after that,…

Thank you so much for hosting me to talk about my recent release, UNEXPECTEDLY HERS. Fans of the Sterling Canyon series have already met Emma Duffy–the shy, conservative innkeeper and supportive friend. What they didn’t know is that she’s also secretly written an erotica romance (Steep and Deep) under a pen name. What motivated this? Let’s face it—Emma is sexually repressed. As a teen, she watched casual sex destroy her family, which thrust her into being a caretaker for her uptight, conservative yet devastated mother. That dynamic eventually turned into a co-dependent pattern of Emma doing (and not doing) things to keep her mother happy. Add to that the fact that Emma lacks any privacy because she also still lives at and manages the inn with her mother, and you’ve got loads of repression. But years of pent up tension needed an outlet, which led to an atypical one-night-stand with a champion snowboarder when she was out of town three years ago. That tryst spurred the idea for her secret novel. Given how her mother and others in her community might feel about it—and her own conflicted feelings about her sexuality—she’s kept it a secret from everyone. It would all…

Writes: Across genre! However, be assured there’s a love story in all Laura Spinella novels—hotter love stories in my L. J. Wilson Clairmont Series Novels. But today I’d love to chat about Unstrung, my newest book baby—women’s fiction with a serious crush on romance. About: I’m the something for everybody author—unless you’re totally opposed to finding a love story in your novel. In that case, we might make good shopping buddies, or share a coffee, but I’m probably not your cup of tea. So what do I mean by “writing across genre?” Well, my books can be ethereal, like in Ghost Gifts, where readers can indulge in mystery, a psychic gift, and slow burning romance. On the other hand, Unstrung travels a different path—grittier, more emotional, a story that examines the “why” behind our choices, as seen through one precarious violinist’s calamitous life. In either case, my writing probably appeals to readers who crave copious amounts of plot and character. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Pace. If you enjoy a story that moves, we might be a match. I appreciate delicate, deft descriptions, but my books focus more on storytelling. If nearly every chapter ends with…

2016 was a year of changes in my life. We closed a business, moved house, and my first book, this one, was prepared for publication. All three changes required a lot of work, but in the end they all worked out well. Rising to the challenges involved was worth the effort. For Rosco and Kitty, in TANGLING WITH THE LONDON TYCOON, the challenges they encounter are more risky, and more far-reaching. Back to childhood, to promises made to their younger selves, and to hurts buried deep beneath adult responsibilities. Hounded by those paparazzi they’re forced together to grapple with the unfairness of the invasion of their privacy. To meet the challenges of facing those childhood hurts, and to dare to trust the rewards of the sizzling attraction they try, at first, to ignore. For them the changes required to reap the rewards of a happily-ever-after are life changing. I loved following Kitty and Rosco around London, with the paparazzi close behind, and I hope you do too. TANGLING WITH THE LONDON TYCOON by Suzi Jennings Brick Square #1 London publishing tycoon Rosco Redmond closely guards his family, his business, and his privacy. When his sister’s wedding brings the paparazzi baying…

Many people use reading as a means to escape reality and step into another life; one filled with glamour, intrigue, and adventure. The genre doesn’t always matter, it is the author’s ability to transport a reader to another world. Many find enjoyment in reading historical romance, I find enjoyment in writing it. The characters roaming in my mind are given names, homes, families, and entire lives. My heroine can wear a daring midnight blue silk gown or my hero can avenge the honor of his fair lady. It is all up to me. I am writing my own adventures. Stories I want to explore and read. Escape is at my fingertips. I can write about a pirate with a heart of gold or a courtesan in search of an honorable man. I write the stories I love. If others love them too, that is a bonus for me. I adore independent heroines and men who prefer to stand side by side with their women. The bond between siblings and friends also plays a prominent role in stories I enjoy writing. With THEODORA I wanted to explore the idea of a large family; the struggles they face, their interactions and individual…

I love fairy tales. As you might have guessed since the books in my Bachelor Auction series are all loosely based on them. 🙂 But really, some of my best memories including my mother, sister and I sitting on the couch while she read The Boy Who Cried Wolf and Billy Goat Gruff to us. *sigh* Those were great times. Great stories. While I’ve had some “I want a Prince Charming” moments, I also had some serious WTF moments, too. Listen, I know the great thing about fairy tales is the happily-ever-after but, man, some characters were stuck with really raw deals! I mean they were shafted! I know what you’re thinking. That’s crazy talk! But follow me here for a moment… The Six Swans. In this story, obviously the people most wronged are the six brothers that were turned into swans by their evil stepmother. But the sister, who not only has to sew six shirts for them is also struck mute and unable to laugh for six years—the number of years she has to complete these shirts before the enchantment is permanent. Raw deal #1. Then a king sees her, is mesmerized by her beauty and marries her….

HIS FANTASY BRIDE, by Nina Croft is on sale! Only 99 cents (usual price $3.99) for one week only. I can’t marry you. You don’t love me. Two sentences, that’s all Gabrielle Harper left Vito D’Ascensio when she vanished the night before their wedding. If he wants his bride back, he’s going to have to hunt her down and prove his love. But when he searches for Gabrielle, he finds Gabby instead; it seems his perfect bride is nothing but a fantasy. Buy HIS FANTASY BRIDE only 99¢: Kindle | BN.com | iTunes/iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR HIS FANTASY BRIDE by Nina Croft Things To Do Before You Die #3 She’s his everything… I can’t marry you. You don’t love me. Two sentences, that’s all Gabrielle Harper left Vito D’Ascensio when she vanished the night before their wedding. If he wants his bride back, he’s going to have to hunt her down and prove his love. But when he searches for Gabrielle, he finds Gabby instead; it seems his perfect bride is nothing but a fantasy. After six months, Gabby presumes it’s over, an episode in her…