I’m often asked what it’s like to be a man writing romance. I’m never sure how to answer that question because I don’t know what it’s not supposed to be like. I’ve always been a man, and I’ve never written anything but romance. To me, it’s a perfectly natural thing to do. I think of a story, set my tush in the chair, and start typing. Roughly six months later, after periods of inspiration all too often followed by periods of exasperation, I end up with a book. I expect that’s pretty much how anyone comes up with a book whether it’s a romance, mystery, or action adventure. It must be natural to Nicholas Sparks as well. He’s undoubtedly the most successful of all male romance writers. I’ve never been in a position to ask, but I wonder if he’s asked the same question. I think what people are really asking is how can any man write romance? The underlying implication is that men aren’t romantic. I remember one time when I was at a table signing books and a reader came up and asked when my wife would be back. Clearly it didn’t occur to her that I could…

Walt Longmire #6 June 2011 On Sale: May 31, 2011 Featuring: Walt Longmire 320 pages ISBN: 0143119532 EAN: 9780143119531 Trade Size (reprint) $14.00  Add to Wish List Mystery Buy at Amazon.com Justice will be served… Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson A missing thumb and dead developers are only the beginning for Sheriff Walt Longmire It’s a volatile new economy in Durant, Wyoming, where the owners of a multi-million dollar development of ranchettes want to get rid of the adjacent junk-yard. When a severed thumb is discovered in the yard, conflicts erupt, and Walt Longmire, his trusty companion Dog, life-long friend Henry Standing Bear, and deputies Santiago Saizarbitoria and Victoria Moretti find themselves in a small town that feels more and more like a high plains pressure cooker. Craig Johnson’s award-winning Walt Longmire mysteries continue to find new fans, and Junkyard Dogs is sure to create many more devotees. The sixth book in the series is filled with Johnson’s signature blend of wisecracks, Western justice, and page-turning plot twists, as the beloved sheriff finds himself star-deep in the darker aspects of human nature, in a story of love, laughs, death, and derelict automobiles. Previous Picks

WordPress blog top for author picture and book cover Freud famously asked the question: “What do women want?” and apparently, men are still scratching their heads as they try to figure out an answer. A writer friend of mine once said, “If men really want to know what women want, they should read some romance novels.” Five women’s fiction and romance writers—Justine Davis, Eve Gaddy, Teresa Hill, Vicki Hinze and Judith Arnold—shared our thoughts about what makes our heroines heroic and why women want to read about them. What distinguishes the heroines of romance novels and women’s fiction from the heroines in other fiction genres? Vicki: In romance novels, the heroines face conflicts on multiple levels—physical, emotional and spiritual–and they tend to have the same types of complex conflicts average women do. Heroines share similar concerns, vulnerabilities, fears and doubts, and they address their challenges in ways women can see themselves addressing them. For them, the conflicts are rarely about just them, rarely impact just them, and rarely come at no personal cost. Judith: Women’s fiction and romance heroines aren’t some idealized version of Woman, or some male fantasy. They don’t have to be gorgeous, brilliant and sexually voracious. Nor…

Life can get so heavy sometimes, don’t you think?  Too often things that shouldn’t be taken seriously get completely misconstrued and out of hand – which is sorta how wars start.  Then there are those things we want to say, but politely veil behind other words – something a lot more people probably should do. It’s always good to keep life in perspective, to remember what’s really important…and what’s really not. All too often in relationships, communication is a sticky element that can really gum up the works.  I thought it would be fun to bring that into a new light – a humorous light.  Because its fun.  Because it might bring a few smiles.  And because if someone can gain a new perspective, well, that’s great too. Offer up one your own what-you-said vs. what-you-meant phrases (or one from your significant others’) and you’ll be entered to WIN a copy of my debut release FEVER, a fun read about a man with unusual powers whose been wrongly convicted of murder and escapes prison by abducting an innocent woman. Enjoy! What women say to men…  And what they really mean… 1. Fine: I’m right, this argument is over, and you’d…

SWEET ENEMY…A Veiled Seduction Novel ~ Book One “Historical intrigue and heart-pounding passion make Sweet Enemy a great read. Romance fans will love it.” ~#1NYT Bestselling Author JULIE GARWOOD Geoffrey Wentworth, a war hero and rising political star, never wanted to be the Earl, but when his brother dies, he knows his duty—take up the responsibility for his family’s estates.  His mother’s definition of duty differs from his, however, and can be summed up in one word—heirs.  When Geoffrey rushes home to answer her urgent summons, he finds himself host to a house full of women, all vying to become the next Countess of Stratford.  But his love is Parliament, where he wields his influence and reputation to better the lives of ex-soldiers, until a tempting houseguest and a secret from his past threaten his freedom…and his heart. Liliana Claremont, a brilliant chemist, doesn’t want to be any man’s wife, much less a countess.  If she had tuppence for every time she’d been told her place was filling the nursery, not experimenting in the laboratory, she could buy the Tower Bridge.  However, when she receives a coveted invitation to the Earl’s house party, she trades in her beakers for ball…

When I see someone say, sequel bait, my first reaction is, where?!  Because I love sequels, continuing stories, trilogies, series, you name it.  I also love television, so that’s probably helped along by the fact that the dramas are built on cliffhangers, not only season finales but episode to episode, sometimes for the entire life of the series.  And while I might complain about being too impatient for instant gratification, I’m addicted to the promise of what’s to come afterwards. If I’m going to get invested in someone – a character, a world – most of the time I want to know it’s going to continue onward, that they will be a chance of seeing or hearing about characters I’ve met in the past. Honestly, I can’t remember the last non-series book I read – no, wait, not true – I adored Nora Roberts’ ANGELS FALL.  And while it’s a romance, to me it read like more of a thriller, which is where I can accept the stand-alone more easily.  Even so, I wait anxiously for the new Karen Slaughter book, and although it’s not exactly romance, there’s enough promise to pull me along through each book in the series….

A lot of people have asked how I came to know the models featured on the Lux Series, and like everything revolving around OBSIDAN, it just… sort of happened. Actually, me and the editor on the series have deemed OBSIDAN a trail of  ‘stupid smart’ that kind of worked out in the end. When I sat down to write OBSIDAN, namely create the character Daemon Black, I had a very clear picture of him in my mind: tall, dark hair that waved, broad cheekbones, full lips, and a sort of exotic beauty to how his features pieced together. The next character I created was Katy. In my mind, she was of average height, but compared to Daemon insanely tall height, she’d looked very small. I wanted her to be a very pretty girl, but also had an innocence to way she looked.  Once the story was complete and the wonderful team over at Entangled started looking for the perfect image they, namely Liz Pelletier, stumbled across two cover models that she knew right off matched the description of the characters. She told me about them, and how she was going to feature both “Daemon” and “Katy” on the cover. I…

Hi, and a big thanks to the folks here at Fresh Fiction for inviting me to blog with them. Today I’d like to talk about reunions.  When an envelope arrives in the mail to announce a family or class reunion, the person receiving the invitation can react in many different ways.  With joy and anticipation.  With second thoughts and trepidation.  Or maybe with outright panic because two weeks won’t give him or her enough time to lose twenty pounds or to find the outfit that will make them look ten years younger. As a romance reader—and writer—I have always loved reunion stories, especially those books in which the hero or heroine returns home.  The character gets to do what we sometimes wish we could.  Grab a second chance.  Have an opportunity to make things better.  Get lucky enough to make things right.  But when the hero of my latest book, THE RODEO MAN’S DAUGHTER, returns to his hometown, he’s not looking to do any of those things.  In fact, he wants just the opposite. Caleb Cantrell’s a rodeo star who grew up dirt-poor and looked down upon by folks in town.  Still a teen, he took off for the fame…

One of the main differences between writing an Urban Fantasy vs a Paranormal Romance is the inclusion of an HEA (or Happily Ever After.)  PNRs need to have it, UF’s don’t.  Most PNRs are about a specific couple, whereas a UF might have a couple, but that couple doesn’t have to stay together. The heroine can hook up with the hero…or not. When I first wrote A BRUSH OF DARKNESS, it was definitely a PNR. I had a completely different ending in mind, but after I sold I was asked to turn it into a UF and bring in another potential love interest for A SLIVER OF SHADOW. I wasn’t sure about that at first. At the time I had my head fairly wrapped around the HEA concept, but the more I thought on it, the more I realized my editor was right. It’s hard sometimes – as an author I can spend years with my characters. Even though a book might span a timeframe of a few days or weeks (or hours, even) – it can feel like a lifetime for me. So I have trouble sometimes with not “rushing” the romantic elements. (Obviously, if the characters have some sort…

Hi! I’m Samantha Grace, debut author of the regency historical romance, MISS HILLARY SCHOOLS A SCOUNDREL. February has been a whirlwind month with the release of my book and blogging tour, and I’ve loved every minute of it. I’m especially happy to be at Fresh Fiction today in what will be one of my last guest stops. I’ve had some fun questions come up along the way, such as “Did you pick the guy on the cover?” No, my publisher deserves all the credit. “Do you mean I can find your book at Barnes & Noble?” And most any other place books are sold. “Will the guy on the cover be at your book signing?” Um, no. “Do you know the guy on the cover?” Okay, enough already about the hot cover model. “Do you think I should hit the gym again?” You’re perfect just the way you are, honey. Now, could you please let someone else ask a question? I’m just kidding, of course. My hubby didn’t ask those questions. Actually, his only response to the cover was “I’ll never wear a puffy shirt.” Now I want to find a puffy shirt to test his conviction. Here’s another question…