One of the most common questions asked of writers is where our ideas come from, but far less frequently asked is where our characters come from. I remember reading that J.K. Rowling said that Harry Potter walked fully-formed into her head. Other writers such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle acknowledge that their characters, like Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, are based on acquaintances at least in part. With most romance writers, I’d imagine the path to how we develop our heroes isn’t quite as clear because few of us take some guy we knew in college and plop him unchanged in our romance. Why? We didn’t date millionaire tycoons in college. Believe it or not. Or, in my case, I have never, to my knowledge, dated a werewolf. But we might borrow characteristics and mannerisms and even events from the men we’ve been in contact with. Sometimes from a guy we had a crush on. Maybe we’re borrowing from the guy that held the elevator for us. Okay, I’ll admit it…it’s not always guys we know. It might be someone we see on TV. We’ll swipe a character trait from this man, and the smile from this other guy and the sum…

If you stop to think about your life’s story, as a whole, you’ll discover each layer is composed of many chapters filled with mystery, romance, relationships, and outcomes – both good and bad. There are innocent moments that take your breath away and if you’re lucky, instances that will define you. When I look over my own life’s story, I always stop on my college years as a favorite chapter. One packed with its own set of angst, friendships, heartbreak and insanely fun moments. As a writer, it’s those new adult experiences that fascinate me the most. These are the years when you truly are just starting out in life. You’re in a transitional period between adolescence and adulthood, one where you tend to experience love and friendships on a completely different level. Eighteen to twenty-four is an amazing time where anything and everything seem possible. The world is completely open for you to create your own journey, make your own destiny and figure out what’s worth fighting for. New adult books explore these levels of emotions, relationships, and journeys. The stories written in this genre can be darker in themes, edgy and raw when dealing with a more mature…

Someone asked me if I could do any other profession except write, what it would be. I would have become a veterinarian. I’ve always loved animals. I think I got that from my parents. Both were avid animal lovers and I can remember one time when my dad brought home an injured pregnant bunny rabbit. The poor thing was used to humans, so it was probably someone’s pet that either got lost or was dumped. My father was over six feet tall. He was big and strong and always made life an adventure. I only saw him cry once and that was when lightning struck our Great Dane. The last photo taken of my mom shows her with a small dog in her arms. I can remember the names of all the pets that were in my life as I was growing up. Ladybug—a terrier, Lucky Max—a mixed breed I rescued from a trash dump, Brutus—a Great Dane, Moochie—a Pekingese, Ski—a Poodle, Hobo—a German Shepherd, and Chick—a Great Dane. With all the sweet pets we had and all the unconditional love pets give back, I cannot understand how anyone could harm an animal. I saw an article recently by Robert…

Exclusive Excerpt from THE LAWS OF SEDUCTION Chapter One Alpha Nailed Center City District Police Headquarters Philadelphia Monday, September 29 11:35 p.m. In her fifteen years as an attorney Charlotte had never let anyone throw her off her game, and she wasn’t about to let it happen now. So why was she shaking in her Louboutins? “Put your briefcase and purse on the belt, keys in the tray, and step through,” the officer said, waving her into the metal detector. She complied, cold washing through her as the gate behind her clanged shut. She glanced over her shoulder, thinking how much better she liked it when her interpretation of bar remained singular. “Name . . . ?” asked the other cop at the desk. “Charlotte Andreko.” He ran down the list, checking her off, then held out his hand, waggling it. “Photo ID and attorney card.” She grabbed her purse from the other side of the metal detector and dug into it, producing both. After the officer examined them he sat back with a smirk. “So you’re here for that Frenchie dude, huh? What’s he—some kinda big deal?” She eyed him coolly, hefting her briefcase from the belt. “They’re all…

It’s that time of year when all the holiday meals, goodies and treats surround us with the aromas and tastes to kill for… at least in fiction. Hopefully in real life, people will stop short of murder and share a bite of their decadent deserts with their loved one sitting at the table next to them. But with food on my brain twenty-four seven, (no, I’m not pregnant, I’m planning the shopping list for my son’s return from college), I found myself drawn to two new releases featuring a quilt shop owner hosting a sleigh ride that makes a stop at every shop in town for a course in the holiday meal, and a food critics adventures at a tropical restaurant enlisting her houseboat up for a lighted boat parade. Remember to take a break through the holidays and pick up a copy of one of these great cozy mysteries. You don’t want to miss these quirky characters, loveable pets, and great settings for a mystery to remember. Look for the added bonuses of tips on how to make an Amish quilted snowman and learn recipes to die for! MURDER, SERVED SIMPLY by Isabella Alan MURDER, SERVED SIMPLY Amish quilt…

You are what you eat, or so the saying goes. As a retired personal chef, I know this all too well. It’s amazing how picky some people can be when it comes to their food. I’d meet with a client to go over their list of likes, dislikes, allergies, and possible menus. One person would love the taste of onions, but didn’t want to see them in their food. The texture made them gag. Another couldn’t abide green peppers, while the next would be a total vegan. Learning to cook around these constraints was a challenge. It made me wonder what is it about our psyche that affects the way we look at and relate to our food. The taste of homemade chicken and dumplings comforts, or the smell of fish or cabbage can remind a person of a bad experience. Food is necessary for life, but it can also be an addiction. It can lead us into judgment of others. I know I’m guilty of watching an obese person eat and wondering why they can’t control their appetites. This is a case of the pot calling the kettle black, because I’m overweight, and I’m sure the skinny girl at…

IF THE SHOE KILLS is set in the days just before Thanksgiving. Like Jill Gardner, my amateur sleuth, I stress about the upcoming holidays. Will the turkey be done? Will it be dry? Does Uncle Leo like ham better than turkey? Should we serve both? This year, I’m adding in a medical procedure so I’ll be out of commission for a few days mid-November. Which adds to the stress as I can’t do the cleaning, cooking and shopping I enjoy. But I’ve decided to think of my limitations as a forced take care of Lynn time.  J So let’s chat about strategies to make the holidays a soothing time rather than a stressful time. Add in your favorites too. Here are my top five must do’s – Schedule only the things you want to do. I know, family responsibilities may take you places where you just don’t want to go, but for the other things, do you have to say yes to every invitation? Chose the ones you enjoy, do a few required events, and the rest, politely decline citing prior commitments. They don’t need to know your commitment is a planned evening at home watching the Charlie Brown special….

Hello to everyone at Fresh Fiction! I’m so excited to be here on the launch date of A SPY UNMASKED. It’s the first book in The Crown’s Secret Service series and introduces a master spy and safecracker and the feisty lady inventor who captures his heart. I have always loved romance novels with lots of intrigue. Romances with spies are one of my favorites. I was excited when I came up with the idea for my new historical romance, A SPY UNMASKED, but before I sat down to write the series I thought of all the reasons why spies are so popular. They’re mysterious and dangerous You never know what they’re thinking. Is our hero good or does he side with the villain? Spies blur the lines leaving the reader with an irresistible need to unearth all their secrets and find out the truth. They’re also dangerous and can hold their own in a fight and have training far beyond the average person. They have close calls, narrow escapes, but somehow they always end up escaping. Of course, it helps that they’re athletic and the men are always well-built. I also love when the intrigue surrounding the spying is interwoven with the…

1. I devised one of the best heroes I could conceive to fit the story…(Forget that he’s modeled after Chris Pine) Looks are important, yes, but Jude Lyons needed to be complicated from a psychological perspective—He comes from money but doesn’t have a driving need to pursue it. He’s gentle and loving but suffered extreme emotional abuse as a child and young adult. He’s so intellectual at times that his body needs to remind him of the blessings of living in the physical world—including being married to a stunning nineteen year old Amisch girl. And he’s determined to remain celibate with her but doesn’t count on the simmering desire that mounts against his innate practicality. 2. Mary Lyons, the heroine and bride, is genuinely innocent in an otherwise tricked out world. When she has to leave her beloved home on Ice Mountain to live in Metro-Atlanta, she faces Jude’s devious and manipulating ex-fiancée’ but finds the internal strength to counter the other girl through her faith and plain wanting of her handsome husband. Mary’s gentle tenderness is tinder to Jude’s masculinity and she can turn heads without even giving it a second thought. She longs to love her at-times unlovable…

A recent reviewer said it best when she described Slow Hand as not your “typical” western romance. “Vane entwined the old west with the new west and gave us a whole new contemporary romance cowboy.” There’s no question that all of the heroes in my hot new contemporary Western series are cowboys, but the word “cowboy” doesn’t define what a man does, it defines who he is. In SLOW HAND, Wade Knowlton is a workaholic lawyer and part time rancher who’s constantly at odds with his brother. Wade only sees the hardships and struggles of modern day ranching and wants to provide a comfortable retirement for his parents, especially after his father’s triple bypass. In his interactions with the heroine, Nikki, however, he is a shameless flirt and a total charmer. Excerpt from SLOW HAND He crossed his arms over his broad chest and leaned on the door frame studying her. “Miz Powell, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were undressing me with those pretty blue-green eyes of yours.” A guilty flush infused her face but she refused to give him the advantage. She opted for a strong offense instead. “So what if I was? Weren’t you quite…