Happy Australia Day! & Tagged!

I've been tagged by Debra St John, Viola Estrella and Helen Hardt!

The rules are simple. Link to the person who tagged you; write down six things that make you happy; post the rules; tag six others and let them know you’ve done it; tell the person who tagged you when your entry is up.

Ok here goes.

1. My husband. Yeah yeah, I know. But it's true. I look at him and he's always 18 to me! But that's ok, because I'm still 16. hehehe. I'm delusional and proud of it!!!

2. My kids. Even when they're driving me up the wall and down the other side, they're exactly what I always wanted and luckily ended up with!!!

3. A nice glass of Chardonnay. Or even two glasses. I'm not that fussy.

4. Yummy Lindt chocolate, and on special occasions white Lindt balls. OMG. Scrummy central!!!

5. Seeing a rainbow. I love rainbows. Stuff all the scientific facts, they are pure MAGIC!!!

6. Sunday morning lie-ins. Yeeesssss... say no more!!!

I think almost everyone I know has been tagged on this one!!! But consider yourself tagged if you fancy having a go!

Tempt the Devil - Anna Campbell

Check out that cover!! An interview, and a hot guy to drool over! *Ahem*

Please welcome my special guest this week, the lovely Anna Campbell who is celebrating her third Avon release this month, Tempt the Devil.

Always a voracious reader, Anna Campbell decided when she was a child that she wanted to be a writer. Her first historical romance for Avon was the multi-award winning CLAIMING THE COURTESAN, followed by another Regency noir, UNTOUCHED, which featured on several ‘best of the year’ lists. Both UNTOUCHED and CLAIMING THE COURTESAN finaled in the 2008 RITA Awards and CLAIMING THE COURTESAN was a finalist in the 2008 Romance Writers of Australia Romantic Book of the Year Award. Her current Avon release is TEMPT THE DEVIL (a Romantic Times Top Pick) which came out in January, 2009. Her work has sold to Germany, Australia, Turkey, Spain, Italy, Russia, Japan and Norway. When she’s not writing passionate, intense stories featuring gorgeous Regency heroes and the women who are their destiny, Anna loves to travel and listen to all kinds of music. She has settled near the sea on the east coast of Australia where she’s losing her battle with an overgrown subtropical garden.

Thanks for joining us today, Anna. Can you tell us a little about your book, Tempt the Devil?

Tempt the Devil is another dark, sexy Regency redemption story. It tells the story of Olivia Raines, London’s most notorious courtesan, and the infamous rake, the Earl of Erith. Erith returns to London to make peace with his estranged family and as is his wont, he takes the most prestigious cyprian as his mistress for the duration of his stay. Little does he know that this decision will result in an overwhelming, passionate love that puts everything he wants at risk.

How did the idea for the plot come about?

This story was inspired by the classic film An Affair to Remember. It was my late mother’s favourite film so I watched it a LOT. We only had an old video version I’d taped off TV and I had to zap the ads for Mum. Because I saw it in bits, I started to think about the story beyond the grand romantic sweep which is the most obvious element of the movie. I realised that in many ways these characters could fit perfectly into the Regency. Terry Mackay was a kept woman, in other words a courtesan. Nicky Ferrante was if not a gigolo, certainly a rake. These charming, sophisticated people had set up lives that suited them fine until love came along and knocked them for a six. I liked the way they used wit to keep the world at bay. I liked the way they had very strict personal codes of honour, even if the codes of honour had nothing to do with conventional morality. I liked that they were older and thought they’d lost any chance at a life-changing love. So that was the genesis for Tempt the Devil!

I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

Actually I love sale stories too! I loved them before I was published – they made me think there was hope for me too! I finished my first book, a medieval historical romance, in between high school and university so I time my search for publication from then. 27 long years later, just before Easter in 2006, Claiming the Courtesan went to auction and Avon books bought me. Yay! As you can imagine, there were a lot of false starts, false trails and disappointments over that 27 years. One thing that kept me going was I did OK in writing contests so as a result, I would really encourage people to enter competitions. It’s a great way to get validation from someone who isn’t your mother or your cousin or your best friend and you never know, it might lead to something further down the track. I know a lot of people who sold their first book as a result of a writing competition.

What an inspirational story, Anna, and proof we must never give up when the going gets tough! Well, we're all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

How long have you got, Christina? Sadly, I’m a bit of a tart when it comes to favourites! One is never enough! I’ve got a list of favourite movies on my website although it does tend to change every week! I’d say right now my favourite movies are Dirty Dancing, Lawrence of Arabia, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and How to Steal a Million. My favourite TV show would be Spicks and Specks – for those who don’t get Aussie TV, it’s a game show about music and it’s huge fun! I pine the whole time it’s off over the Christmas season. Otherwise I love watching Jeopardy on cable. I seem to be a game show tragic, don’t I? Again, I’ve listed favourite romances on my website but my favourite classic books would be Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Pride and Prejudice, Middlemarch, War and Peace and the Lord Peter Wimsey mysteries. My favourite romances would be the Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett (not strictly a romance but wow, what books!), Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase, Flowers from the Storm by Laura Kinsale, A Countess Below Stairs by Eva Ibbotson and A Rose at Midnight by Anne Stuart.

I'm a bit of tart in that way too!! What are you working on now?

I’ve just started another Regency noir set in the 1820s. It’s one of those “oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive” books.

Can't wait! How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

I have a website which I update every month. I pop in every few weeks to add to my author’s page on HarperCollins . I blog with the Romance Bandits and you never know what will happen there.

Touch of the Demon - Release Date!

I have a release date for Touch of the Demon!!! 13th March 2009 which is only seven and a half weeks away! Plus it's a Friday the thirteenth!! Yay!!!

This book is described as Futuristic/Fantasy. I'm stoked! I had no idea!!!

Lady of the Stars - Linda Banche

Please welcome my special guest this week, TWRP author Linda Banche, whose debut novel, Lady of the Stars, was released last week!

Linda is giving away a pdf copy of her book to one lucky person who leaves a comment!

Linda, over to you!

Hi Christina. Thanks for having me.

Can you tell us a little about your book Lady of the Stars?

Lady of the Stars is a Regency time travel novella. Here’s the blurb:

A legend spanning time and the man and woman caught in it.
Caroline knows something is wrong the instant she steps into that unusual gazebo with two doors. But when a man she thought forever gone appears outside, she flings caution aside and plunges through the back door, crashing into the man--and 1817.

A voyage through time? Impossible. Richard refuses to believe the strange woman's outlandish tale. Still, the lady is lost and alone, and he helps the stranded wayfarer.
But as attraction flares between these two lonely people, Richard's family legend grinds to its ultimate fulfillment--will it bring them together, or tear them apart forever?

Culture shock abounds on both sides, and provides some of the humor in the story. Someone who read my blurb asked if Caroline already knows Richard. Does she? How could she? And what’s this legend? I can’t tell more without giving the entire story away, but I have an excerpt on my website.

How did the idea for the plot come about?

In 2007, The Wild Rose Press ran a time travel contest called Through the Garden Gate. The heroine walks through a garden gate into the past. Frankly, I never considered writing a time travel, but they promised a free critique from A Real Editor. So I wrote Lady of the Stars.

I'm not quite sure how the rest of the story came about. I've always liked astronomy and I found a picture of an antique telescope, like the one pictured on the cover. Although astronomy figures in the book, the title Lady of the Stars does not refer to astronomy.

One thing I do like is a funny story. Although the overall tone is serious, Lady of the Stars does contain comedy, such as when Caroline and Richard first meet—she literally runs into him. Then there’s the condom joke. But I’m not going to tell you what it is!

I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

I lost the contest. In hindsight, of course I lost. I didn’t even know what POV was. But the editor said she would consider publishing the story if I made some changes. By then I had found out what POV was, and I fixed those errors, rewrote the whole story, and resubmitted. I resubmitted twice. And the second time, they accepted it. My first contract!

We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

I don’t know if I really have any. Besides the fact that I like blond heroes, maybe because my husband's hair is light, I can't think of what I use for inspiration. My stories come out of my warped imagination. I’ve read tons of Regencies, and I’ve come across some of the same themes so often, I wanted something different. I take these hackneyed Regency standbys and twist them slightly. For example, one of the standard Regency characters is the rich, handsome, powerful nobleman hero. Not that I will never write such a hero, but Richard, the hero in Lady of the Stars, is a poor teacher. Of course he’s handsome—all romance is part fantasy. And he will be rewarded, besides getting the heroine, which is reward in itself.

What are you working on now?

I have a Regency Halloween comedy, Pumpkinnapper, also under contract at The Wild Rose Press. While Lady of the Stars has its humorous moments, Pumpkinnapper is funny from the start, what with that title, then the incidents in the story. Here’s the one line blurb:

Pumpkin thieves, a youthful love rekindled and a jealous goose. Oh my.

How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

Like everyone else on the planet, I have a website, two blogs, myspace, facebook and goodreads. On my website I have excerpts of both my books.

Also, I’m part of the Wild Rose Press Winter Sony eReader Giveaway contest. Anyone who buys a copy of Lady of the Stars from The Wild Rose Press website from January 11 through March 17, 2009 has a chance to win a Sony eReader.

I'll give away a PDF copy of Lady of the Stars to one of the people who comment on this post.

Here are my links.

Email: linda@lindabanche.com
http://www.lindabanche.com/
http://lindabanche.blogspot.com/
http://happilyeverafterauthors2.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/lindabanche
http://www.facebook.com/people/Linda-Banche/1059787652
http://www.goodreads.com/profile/lindabanche

Please send me a friend request!

Thank you all,
Linda

Demon ... Coming Soon

Thank you, Catherine, for letting me know Touch of a Demon is up on the Coming Soon page at The Wild Rose Press! It gives me a real thrill to see my title there!

Then this morning I received my Demon galleys, so I spent today going through them and have just returned them to my editor. Hopefully this means it won't be too long before I get a release date!

Don't forget to pop by tomorrow when I'll be interviewing TWRP author Linda Banche, who will be giving away a pdf copy of her time travel romance, Lady of the Stars, to one lucky person who leaves a comment!

A Feast for the Eyes

I have been dying to post this photo on my blog. Can anyone blame me?! Look at those gorgeous eyes! And that face. OMG. Fallen angel, anyone?

Now, I have a confession. I first stumbled across the divine Henri Castelli over at Cari's blog just before Christmas. I was so smitten, I had to keep sneaking back just to drool over the pics she'd posted. Then Viola also posted a few of him, and the other day so did Helen. I pinched this photo from Helen's blog, because... well, do I really need to explain?!

What do you think? Inspirational? The things I do in the name of research...

And the Winner of...

the download of Passion in Paradise is...

Sami Lee from my blog!

and

Monique Wood from Sandie Hudson's blog!!

Congratulations ladies! Please contact Suz by clicking on her little butterfly!

Passion in Paradise - Suzanne Brandyn

Please welcome my special guest this week, Suzanne Brandyn, whose debut book, Passion in Paradise, was released on Wednesday from The Wild Rose Press!

Suzanne Brandyn lives on the Mid-North Coast of NSW, Australia, where she enjoys the ocean and the country. It is here amidst the peace and quiet she dreams her stories and moulds her characters toward that Happily Ever After. In the warmer months of the year you will find her walking along the beach or sitting under the shade of a palm tree jotting down notes for her next story. Suzanne would like her readers to know that the Happy Ever After is not only reserved for children’s fairytales but also has a place in the life of an adult.

Suz, thanks for joining me today, and congratulations on Passion in Paradise already hitting the #1 spot on the novellas best selling list at TWRP!

Everyone who leaves a comment for Suz here will be entered into a draw to win a copy of Passion in Paradise!

Can you tell us a little about your debut book, ‘Passion in Paradise?’

‘Passion In Paradise’ was a manuscript I undertook in a National Novelist Writing Month. It was also listed as a finalist in the first round of the Emerald Competition with the Romance Writers of Australia. I withdrew it from the second round as it got accepted for publication.

Passion In Paradise is set at a luxurious resort on the Whitsunday Coast, the edge of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea and Sydney.

Wow, certainly sounds like a taste of Paradise! How did the idea for the plot come about?

I wanted to have two people stranded on an island as I love the tropics and islands. It eventuated from there. I did a great deal of diving off the Whitsunday coast many years ago, and fell in love with the area.

It had to have an aircraft in the story. Re-my husband is a private pilot. The heroine takes a scenic flight over the Great Barrier Reef not knowing the pilot, the love of her life, will be flying. They drift off course, a fire erupts in the cockpit and the hero makes an emergency landing over the Pacific Ocean, but he hits his head and is unconscious. The heroine rescues him by getting them both safely to a deserted island.

I love it when the heroine rescues the hero!! As you know, I also love sale stories! So can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?


Well my email story. It said they loved my story, the plot flows nicely and my characters are vivid and appealing, and the emotion is well drawn. Then it read they would like to contract it.
You can imagine the state I was in. I re-read that email repeatedly. The next day I continued to read it and I lost count. I was numbish, with a big grin on my face. I think it took a few days for it to sink in. It’s such a buzz to get an email like that in your inbox. It was in the hands of one editor and she liked it, but ended up in the hands of another. Oh boy, my thoughts were, “What if she doesn’t like it?” Just because one editor liked my story didn’t mean another would. Luckily she did.

I so empathise with the big grin!! We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

My favourite books well, I don’t really have any favourites. I have an assortment. Nora Roberts, Danielle Steele, Melissa James, Claire Baxter, Liz Fielding, Marion Thomas, Bronwyn Jamieson, the list is endless. I read a diversity of novels but Norah Roberts stories draw my attention.

Fantasy squeeze - Hugh Jackman. His looks, his smile and personality shines through his character roles.

Oh yeah, have to agree. What's not to love with our Hugh!! Can you tell us what you're working on now?

I have recently completed two category manuscripts. The first one is set in outback Australia, the second in Sydney.

How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

By taking a peek at my blog, website or visit The Wild Rose Press website.

Thank you Christina for having me. It’s been very enjoyable. I would also like to thank any visitors that pop by and leave a comment. Don’t forget you go into a draw a few weeks after this interview to win a Pdf copy of ‘Passion In Paradise'.

Party Time! YAY!!!!

I'm very excited because today my very good mate, Suzanne Brandyn, has the release of her debut novel, Passion in Paradise, from the Champagne Line of The Wild Rose Press!

Suz is going to be partying like it's 1999 over the next couple of days so do please pop over to her blog to say hi! I'm going away for a couple of days so am going to miss all the excitment BUT Suz will be over here on Saturday when I'll be pinning her to the seat and firing my in-depth interview questions at her!

And everyone who stops by and leaves a comment on the interview post on Saturday will be entered into a draw to win a copy of Passion in Paradise!

Congratulations, Suz! Can't wait to read your book!

MySpace Glitters

Touch of the Demon - Cover Art

OMG!!! What a fantastic New Year's pressie. The cover art for my upcoming Scarlet Rosette was waiting for me in my inbox this morning. Isn't it absolutely gorgeous? My wonderful cover artist, Angela Anderson, even included the magical stiletto (which I had entirely forgotten to mention in the art sheets!) I also love the way she's reflected and transposed the cover of Foretaste of Forever.

I'd love to know what you think!

And here's the excerpt:

“I’ll beg you for nothing.” It was a lie. If Celeste thought begging could get her anywhere, then she would already be on her knees before him. She kept that knowledge locked deep in her heart.

Rafe took a step toward her and her heart hammered in her breast. He was taller than any human she had known over the years. But then, he wasn’t human. Beneath the long leather coat he wore against the night’s chill air, his broad shoulders all but blotted out the rest of the world.

She sucked in a suddenly panicked breath, and his evocative scent of other worldly essences, meshed with hot, heavy male enveloped her. Against every principle she stood for, her nipples strained against the fabric of her bodice, peaking with desire and disgust and pure, animal heat.

A mocking smile twisted his full sensual lips. “I could make you beg, human.” His finger traced the outline of her face and she shuddered, hating the way she reacted and yet unable to help herself. “I might even listen to your pleas.” His smoky whisper shimmered along her senses, searing with words unsaid.

Lovely Boxing Day Pressie

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Foretaste of Forever is up for Best Book of the Week at Whipped Cream reviews! If anyone has a spare moment and would like to vote for FOF, here's the link to the poll. There's no need to register or sign in or anything!

Merry Christmas!!!

MySpace Glitters

16 Things About Me

The lovely Anna Campbell tagged me on Facebook but since I only have to look at Facebook to get confused, she let me off and said I could do it here instead!

So here we go.

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 16 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

Okay here are my 16 random things about me which you will wish you never knew!!!

1. I met my husband-to-be when I was just fifteen and he was 18. Not quite Romeo and Juliet, but it does mean I've never been able to say to my daughters, with any conviction, that they were too young to fall in love!!!

2. The first thing I noticed about him was his brilliant blue eyes. Ever since I've had to struggle against the urge to give all my fictional heroes piercing blue eyes!!

3. I once met Valerie Singleton from Blue Peter. I can't remember why now, but I do have the huge black and white photos to prove it!!! (and no, unfortunately that baby elephant wasn't around at the time!)

4. I have a secret obsession with Meat Loaf's Bat Out of Hell CD.

5. I listen endlessly to said CD whenever I'm in dire need of inspiration for my writing.

6. I love and adore fudge. Any and all fudges unless there are nuts involved (present company excepted!)

7. I'm also totally addicted to fresh ground coffee.

8. Half a glass of Chardonnay and I'll attempt to cook dinner.

9. A whole glass and I'll even eat the charred offerings!!

10. I'm allergic to perfume, band aids and housework.

11. Currently experiencing withdrawal symptoms over not being able to get my sticky paws on Season Four of Battlestar Galactia **watches Eleni run for cover**!!

12. I still haven't mastered the technicalities of Facebook!!!

13. My very first crush was Les Mackeown from the Bay City Rollers. If you must know, I'm currently listening to their Greatest Hits CD (and I might have just been dancing round the kitchen singing along to Be My Baby... or then again, I might not)

14. I am twenty-nine years old. I'm not sure why people keel over laughing fit to pop when I tell them this, because obviously it's impossible I can be any older despite three children who, inexplicably, tower over me.

15. It's a highly guarded secret, but my fantasty squeeze is Clive Owen.

16. If Clive is unavailable I'll make do with Hugh Jackman (or, as Monique once said, I could make a sandwich out of them... I'm still giggling over that image!!!)

Because I'm such a nice caring person, and there are only a couple of days until Christmas Eve so obviously every one is just, you know, sitting around just waiting to be tagged... I'm now going to tag 16 others... hehhe...

Amanda Ashby
Sara Hantz
Pat Posner
Suzanne Brandyn
Helen Hardt
April Vine
Shelley Munro
Nell Dixon
Eleni
Monique Wood
Kaye Manro
Rachael Johns
Judith Leger
Debs-daydream-in-the-shed
Sandie Hudson
and Anna Campbell!!!

Outlaw in Petticoats - Paty Jager

Please welcome my special guest today, Western romance author Paty Jager, who writes for The Wild Rose Press. Outlaw in Petticoats is Paty's second book about the Halsey brothers.

Wife, mother, grandmother, and the one who cleans pens and delivers the hay; Paty Jager has not only brought her husband of twenty-nine years to maturity, but four children and over a hundred head of cattle and swine.

She began her writing career as a freelance reporter for local newspapers. Found RWA (Romance Writers of America) and after eight years of attending many conferences, workshops, and being a finalist in eight contests, she broke into the publishing industry with a new e-book and POD publisher, The Wild Rose Press. She credits the RWA organization for helping her work on her craft to become a published author and giving her the contacts necessary to build her career.

Two western romance historical books were published in 2006. Marshal in Petticoats and Gambling on an Angel. Her third romance novel, Perfectly Good Nanny, a contemporary western romance, won the 2008 EPPIE for Best Contemporary Romance. The second book of the Halsey brothers series, Outlaw in Petticoats, is available in e-book and will be in print November 7, 2008. All books may be purchased in both electronic and print formats at all e-book and print distributors. To learn more about Paty, her books, and to enter her website contest go to www.patyjager.com

Over to you, Paty!

My books can be purchased in e-book through The Wild Rose Press or any e-book outlet. If you are interested in a print book, you can purchase those through any book store or print book outlet by ordering it if it isn't on the shelf.

Can you tell us a little about your book ?

Outlaw in Petticoats is the second book in the Halsey Brother series. Zeke is the second oldest of the five brothers. He is smitten with a prickly school teacher and determined to help her overcome her dislike of miners, which she uses to keep him at a distance, even though he sees interest smoldering in her eyes. Maeve 's father left her and her mother hunting for gold and never came back. At least that's what she's believed all her life. Through unexpected circumstances, she and Zeke set out to find the truth behind her father's disappearance.

How did the idea for the plot come about?

The plot came about because I'd written the first book, Marshal in Petticoats, originally with the idea of writing a series. When it took a while for the book to sell, I changed my mind. then it sold and readers wanted more of the Halseys, and I'd left a dangler in the first book that many wanted resolved. So by using the dangler has a jumping off point, I started plotting, Outlaw in Petticoats.

I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

I've been a member of Romance Writers of America for ten years. I've finaled in many contests and have had loved it but, rejection letters from agents and editors over the years, finally three years ago, a critique partner said, "There's a new e-book publisher starting up. Send your Marshal story to them". So I did and I now have four books published at The Wild Rose Press and a fifth book is contracted and I should have a release date soon.

We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

My favorite books are LaVyrle Spencer's "Hummingbird", Patricia Rice's "Paper Tiger" Karyna DaRosa's "Dry Moon" Linda Lael Miller westerns, and Nora Robert's "Born in" trilogy. My favorite movies are: "Dirty Dancing","Hairspray", "Mulan", "EverAfter", Favortie TV shows: Dancing with the Stars, Cold Case, The Mentalist, CSI, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance. And my current fantasy squeeze - the book I'm writing now, the hero is fashioned after football player Jason Taylor.

What are you working on now?

I just finished a contemporary western. The hero is a bare back bronc rider and the heroine is an ER nurse. They find a connection through their art and pasts. However it could be their pasts that destroys what they have found. And my WIP is 'hopefully' the first of a historical western series. I have a combustible relationship between a female Pinkerton agent and a U.S. Marshal who has left a trail of dead bodies because of an outlaw's crazy revenge.

How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

My website I have a blog: And I have facebook: www.facebook.com/people/Paty_Jager/1162542381 My contemporary western romance- "Perfectly Good Nanny" Won an EPPIE for Best Contemporary in 2008.

And the Winner of...

Ana Aragon's Stroke of Midnight is angietheresa!

Please email me at christina @ christinaphillips dot com (no spaces) so I can forward your details onto Ana.

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Stroke of Midnight - Ana Aragon

Please welcome my special guest today, Ana Aragon, new Scarlet author for The Wild Rose Press. Ana's Stroke of Midnight is part of the anthology with April Vine, Devon Gray and Paisley Scott.

Ana, please tell us a little about yourself!

Ana Aragón lives in the North Georgia hills with her husband and Walker hound dog, Max. Born in New Mexico, she loves writing stories that include elements of her native Hispanic culture. Stroke of Midnight is her first erotic romance and she's hooked! Ana also writes hot contemporaries in the Champagne line of The Wild Rose Press.

Can you tell us a little about your book?

Stroke of Midnight is the reunion story of Ro Garcia and Jake Anderson, who broke up fourteen years ago and went their separate ways. Sparks fly when they meet again and they can't keep their hands off each other. Reeling from a messy divorce, Ro agrees to a sex-only rendezvous in Santa Fe, New Mexico, hoping it'll finally get Jake out of her system. Jake wants more than the sex she's offering and he's willing to do anything to prove he's the man for her. Oh, and there's lots of sex...hot, squirm in your seat, sex!

How did the idea for the plot come about?

I've always wanted to write a story based on one of my favorite Dan Fogelberg songs, Same Auld Lang Syne, but with a "happily ever after" ending. When the opportunity presented itself, I jumped on it!

I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

I've been writing for years and my New Year's resolution in 2006 was to join RWA and pursue a romance writing career. I queried my first book, Sidelined by Love, to the Wild Rose Press in December of 2006 and within five minutes, Roseann Armstrong, Senior editor of the Champagne line, requested the synopsis and partial. I polished, polished, and polished, then sent it to her. Within a couple of days, she wanted to see the full manuscript. I went over and over and over it before submitting. Within a week or so, I had a contract offer!

We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

I spend most of my time writing, but when I do have the time, I enjoy reading historical romance, romantic suspense and hot romance. In the last year or so, I've become a voracious reader of erotic romance, especially books from our own Scarlet line. I love romantic comedies--just saw Four Christmases with Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon--what fun! I can get addicted to television, so I try to stay away...but I do love "The Office" and "Law and Order." Current fantasy squeeze? Jake Anderson, my latest hero, of course! I always fall in love with my hero, don't you?

What are you working on now?

I have two more novellas I'm hoping to pitch to Scarlet and am busy writing them. I also have a romantic suspense on the back burner, waiting for a block of time to finish...maybe by next summer. I'm revising Strike Three-You're Mine and planning to resubmit the manuscript to Champagne Rose.

How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

Drop me a note at anaaragonwrites@yahoo.com or visit Ana's website or MySpace

Touch of the Demon - Excerpt

Here's a taster of my upcoming Scarlet Rosette, Touch of the Demon. Hope you enjoy!!



“I’ll beg you for nothing.” It was a lie. If Celeste thought begging could get her anywhere, then she would already be on her knees before him. She kept that knowledge locked deep in her heart.

Rafe took a step toward her and her heart hammered in her breast. He was taller than any human she had known over the years. But then, he wasn’t human. Beneath the long leather coat he wore against the night’s chill air, his broad shoulders all but blotted out the rest of the world.

She sucked in a suddenly panicked breath, and his evocative scent of other worldly essences, meshed with hot, heavy male enveloped her. Against every principle she stood for, her nipples strained against the fabric of her bodice, peaking with desire and disgust and pure, animal heat.

A mocking smile twisted his full sensual lips. “I could make you beg, human.” His finger traced the outline of her face and she shuddered, hating the way she reacted and yet unable to help herself. “I might even listen.” His smoky whisper shimmered along her senses, searing with words unsaid.

Zombie Contest & Happy Holiday!!!

It looks like 2009 is going to be the Year of the Zombie, and my fab CP Amanda is holding a contest to give away the very last arc of her awesome book, Zombie Queen of Newbury High. Just hop over and tell her your best zombie survival tip (because everyone has one, yes?!) There's still time to enter, the contest doesn't close until Sunday night!!

I also want to give a shout out to my friend Helen, who's just returned from the most incredible holiday EVER!!! Do pop over to her blog and read all about it. You won't be disappointed!!

Playing for Keeps - Devon Gray

Please welcome my special guest today, bestselling author Devon Gray, who writes for the Scarlet line of The Wild Rose Press. Devon's latest release is Playing for Keeps.

Over to you, Devon!

Can you tell us a little about your book?

Playing for Keeps is a story of reunited love and all the obstacles a couple must face to overcome their past to forge a future. Here is the blurb:

Pasts are best left behind, hidden deep in your memory—that is where I buried mine. The feel of his hands and mouth on my body, the height of sensuality I reached beneath his touch. I'd fought so hard to forget—how could just the sight of him bring it all back, forcing me to become lost in him?

Again.

Years before I had watched him, craved him—a guitarist in a band riding the wave to stardom—my brother's best friend. On the verge of womanhood, I never dared to reveal how I yearned. Until a cold New Year's Eve when I offered myself as the woman I'd become, bringing to fruition the deepest of wants. As that night turned, so did my life. Devastatingly so.

I never dreamed I'd become another of his one night stands.

Can pasts be exorcised if they come back to haunt you? And when a notorious playboy who broke your heart offers you his…how do you know if he's playing for keeps?



How did the idea for the plot come about?

I was asked to participate in an anthology with three other authors. Our assignment? Write a book based on the song “Same Old Lang Syne” by Dan Fogelberg. The end result is four stories of reunited love with the theme of New Year’s Eve woven through them. The other books in the anthology are: Sugar Shack by Paisley Scott, Blindfolded by Lust by April Vine and Stroke of Midnight by Ana Aragon. Each book is available now through The Wild Rose Press-The Wilder Roses, and they will be in a print anthology available for the 2009 holiday season.

I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

My first published book was Addicted. I was talking to a fellow author friend about the new project and she told me she had worked with an editor from the Scarlet line of the Wild Rose Press and thought my book would be something she would have an interest in. I sent her a query, and she requested the manuscript. Not too long after that I was offered a contract on Addicted. Two months later I was invited to participate in the anthology.

We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

I’m really into Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series now. Obviously, they are outstanding books. I am reading the series for the second time now, and from a writer’s perspective, I am completely awed with the intricate plot (which progresses over 2500 pages in four books, one picking up where the previous left off) and the author’s talent of keeping the reader engrossed and surprised. My favorite Harlequin Blaze author is Sarah Mayberry. Her stories are very emotional and HOT! She also puts a humorous spin into her work—delivering some lines that make me laugh out loud. I am also a big fan of Judith McNaught—her historical and contemporary romances. As for movies, some of my favorites are Love Actually, Oceans 11, Titanic, and, of course, Twilight. I really don’t watch much tv…there are too many good books to read! As for a fantasy squeeze, it would have to be the hero in my current wip…

What are you working on now?

I have completed a category romance and am currently in the polishing stage. It is the story of a woman who escapes a painful divorce by relocating to rural Georgia to refurbish a dilapidated farmhouse. She is intent on throwing herself into the project and using the time and solitude to forget her past. It seems like the perfect plan…until her new neighbor walks through her door.

How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

Readers can visit me at www.authordevongray.com

               

Bad Enough - Lara Dien

Please welcome my special guest today, Scarlet Rose author Lara Dien, whose book, Bad Enough, was recently released by The Wild Rose Press.

Tell us a little about yourself, Lara!

About me, hmm? Mostly weird, maybe a little interesting . I live in Orlando, Florida—the not-so-Sunshine-State this summer! I am a voracious reader—I’ll at least try any genre or sub-genre, but my true loves are romantic suspense/romantic thrillers and erotic romance. I started reading at the tender age of two or so—although at that age, I was reading Dr. Seuss and the Berenstain Bears—romance came along much later! I have a couple of college degrees I don’t use, love the idea of travel, but somehow never get around to it, and I make a mean Cosmopolitan..... Aside from writing, I’m in marketing to pay the bills (for now LOL), I’m into ancient religions, mythology, and imagining possibilities. My favorite quote is Tommy Lee Jones’ line from Men in Black: imagine what you’ll know tomorrow. That pretty much sums me up—curious as the proverbial cat.

Can you tell us a little about your book Bad Enough?

Beside the fact that it has the world’s yummiest hero, Rafe Montero? I’m not biased, really! This is not the official blurb, btw—to me that’s like teaching from the handouts .

In Bad Enough, the heroine, Lindy Cooper, is a PI who’s gone to Costa Rica for a much-needed vacation. She’s just solved a big case, turning everyone’s lives upside down—especially hers. She dumps her fiancé, packs her bags, and goes off to spend a week exploring her ‘bad girl’ side.

Rafe follows her. They’ve been running and drinking buddies for several years and they’ve always had this underlying attraction that she-of-the-low-self-esteem wouldn’t have believed if he’d told her and he considered off-limits due to her boyfriend/fiancé. In Costa Rica, though, the heat definitely rises! Hot, hot sex (there’s a waterfall scene ) ratchets the relationship heat up, leaving them with only one real question—what happens when they get back home? Rafe likes bad girls, Lindy wants to be one...but just what does it take to be bad enough?

How did the idea for the plot come about?

You know, I don’t remember. Lindy appears in The Fortuneteller’s Lay (my first release) as a name character only—Miranda makes one reference to her. So I had this random thought about spinning off from that story and .... that was it. Somehow I ended up with this question of what might happen when a woman who’s spent her life living up to other people’s expectations might do once she decided she needed to live up to her own!

I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

Not nearly as exciting as you think! I’m still working on my first novel—YEARS in the making. Last year, as I was setting my writing goals for the year, in addition to “this year I will finish this book and I mean it!” I included a “check out e-publication” goal—kind of a throwaway goal. Not dismissing e-publishing, but it wasn’t something I’d really thought about—I was going to write romantic suspense and nothing else. And having read a few erotic romances online, I didn’t think I could write hot enough for the genre. Yeah. Underestimating myself just a bit, apparently! Anyway, another publisher was doing a call for submissions and I saw it, said, what the heck, I can probably write that! I wrote it, my guinea pig readers all came back with the same comment—this is hot!—and I submitted it. Got a ‘revise/resubmit’ request. Six months later, got the rejection.

Rhonda Penders, publisher of The Wild Rose Press gave a presentation at my RWA chapter around the same time. After talking to her, I was practically praying for a rejection. A week later, I’d submitted, got the contract offer a few weeks later...via email, not call....and that was it. I have an incredible editor who makes my pretty-good writing REALLY good, and my 3rd book, Hungarian Masquerade is on its way, too.

We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

Impossible! Did I mention the reading voraciously thing? I’ll mention some fav authors, though—and I’m very eclectic! Love Jane Austen, of course, and Georgette Heyer. GH was one of the early Regency Romance authors, although she also wrote contemporary (well, for her) mysteries...witty, funny....I still read Regencies today because of her. Romantic suspense: Karen Rose if you like intense; Roxanne St. Claire—a bit more romantic and less intense than KR; Terri Garey, paranormal; Rachel Gibson, Kelley St. John, Marianne Stillings...a dozen more. What they all have in common, mostly, is they’re compelling storytellers. I can’t buy KR’s latest on a weekday, because I’ll stay up all night to finish it. Erotic romance authors I love include the Wilder Rose authors (of course!), Bella Andre, who is wonderfully steamy and fully romantic...

What are you working on now?

In addition to Dreamwalk (my r/s), I’ve got three erotic romances that I’m about ready to query to my editor. They range in length from around 10,000 words (that’s about a 40-45 page story when all is said and done) to closer to 20,000. Understand these are working titles that will probably bear no resemblance to the final. Art of Seduction is set in an art museum in Italy. Dance with Me is erotic, but a little on the poignant side, as the heroine has just begun to think she can consider another relationship after the death of her husband...and goes to the dance studio where they took lessons....and there’s the dance teacher, who’d loved and wanted her secretly for years....; the last is Soldier Boy, which I hope will be good enough for the Cougar Club at The Wild Rose Press. The heroine falls for a soldier, despite her best plans, because he’s so young...only to realize he’s the best thing that ever happened to her, and age doesn’t mean a thing. And now that I’ve given away my plots, maybe you can help me petition my editor for a contract in a hurry?

How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

90% of the time, my life is insane, however, I do update my blog and website when I have a chance—or a new title on the way. I got woefully behind this summer, since I had two pending at the same time, but you can find me online at my website and blog .

Linkages

As some of you might have guessed, I'm very partial to my cover (!) My cover artist, Angela Anderson, has uploaded her cover designs here and they are all rather gorgeous.

The other day I was trawling the net and came across an informative post by the lovely Jane Porter on promo. It's not a recent one, but I found it fascinating to discover which types of promo Jane found the most cost effective. Well worth a read.

Finally, if anyone loves Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling world, do hop over to her blog where she recently held a Q&A session. I didn't find out for sure who Hawke would end up with (and I've been hanging out for his story since he first appeared in Slave to Sensation!!) but I read nothing to change my mind on who she would be!!!

The Secret She Keeps - Jennifer Leeland

Please welcome my special guest today, Jennifer Leeland, who writes for the Scarlet line at The Wild Rose Press. Jennifer's most recent Scarlet release is The Secret She Keeps

Over to you, Jennifer!

Can you tell us a little about your book ?

"The Secrets She Keeps" is the second book in a series set in a small town on the California coast that began with "The Mask She Wears". I actually wrote most of it before "Mask" and the heroine, Tessa, was very clear in my mind. Zac was a little more difficult. Here's the blurb:

Tessa Aden has it all...a great job, good friends, and a fantastic boyfriend. She just has one problem, she's never had an orgasm during sex. When Zac misinterprets an Instant Message from a friend as a complaint about his technique in the bedroom, she'd rather let him walk away than admit her dark desires.

Fearing she wouldn't understand his dominant nature, Zac Shandler gave up the BDSM lifestyle to be a part of Tessa's vanilla life. Yet he seems to be losing her anyway. Will Zac put his heart on the line to claim Tessa's love and finally force her to reveal the secret she keeps?

How did the idea for the plot come about?

I was discussing a topic on my favorite forum, Romance Divas, about orgasms. If you get enough women together honestly talking about this subject, it's amazing what information is revealed. Several woman admitted to never having an orgasm. Then, Tessa spoke up and said, "So what? Neither have I." and the story went from there. One of the things about Tessa is she didn't talk about sex at all, which I think is more common than we think. Even in this day and age where sex is bandied about like cereal commercials, honest discussion about intimacy is completely lost. Tessa has to learn this lesson and Zac helps her open up.

I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

The Wild Rose Press was my first actual contract. When they first opened their doors, they had a contest and I entered. "Garden of Sin" was my first contract. I remember I called Crystal Jordan with shaking hands and had to read the thing over the phone. I didn't even know what was normal in a contract! But there was nothing to worry about and I signed it. After that things went pretty fast. I contracted two more erotic short stories and wrote like a fiend. Diana Carlile, my editor at The Scarlet Rose line is awesome and helped me every step of the way.

We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

Mmmm. I have so many. When I'm completely uninspired romantically, I watch "Pride and Prejudice" with Colin Firth. It always gives me that wonderful feeling. When I was writing "The Mask She Wears" and "The Secrets She Keeps", it was music that kept that mood going and I gathered a soundtrack that included Streams Of Passion, After Forever, Evanescence and Garbage. To recharge, I really like to read Joey W. Hill, a fabulous erotic author.

What are you working on now?

I have another series with a different publisher and I'm writing the third in that series. I've started the book that comes after "The Secret She Keeps" which is David Peters' story (finally). The next one may come as a surprise. I also have another pen name, Jennifer McKenzie, who has a series set in Alaska and I'm writing the third in THAT series. I try and keep pretty busy with the writing and the ideas come fast and furious.

How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

The best place is my blog "The Redneck Romance Writer" and my website

Seventh Circle - F.E. Heaton

Please welcome my special guest today, Felicity Heaton, who writes paranormal romance for Alinar Publishing

Dark, sensual and fast-paced, Seventh Circle is a story of forbidden love so strong that it will save the world.

Born with strange powers similar to a vampire's, Lilith has spent her life hunting demons for Section Seven. Now, on the very same night that she watches a vampire kill her best friend, she's faced with her worse nightmare.

A client who is not only attractive, but a vampire.

Lincoln, a powerful pure blood vampire, has a problem. The prophecy he's caught up in is coming to pass and his only chance of survival is relying on those he hates most–vampire hunters. It has been foretold that one will save him, a female hunter, and when he meets her, the attraction he feels is both instantaneous and forbidden.

Their mutual attraction becomes difficult to deny as they work to unravel the mystery of a contract between Lincoln's lord and the Devil. The barriers around their hearts fall, but is there only pain ahead of them? With Lincoln's life on the line, can Lilith find the strength to protect him and embrace a side of herself that she wished didn't exist? Can Lincoln overcome his fear in order to save Lilith even if it means parting from her forever? What price will they pay to be together?

Please tell us a little about yourself, Felicity!

I write romance ebooks in various genres as Felicity Heaton, including paranormal romance, romantic suspense, historical pirate romance, historical western romance, and contemporary romance. As F E Heaton, I write the Vampires Realm novels--vampire romance / dark urban fantasy ebooks. A writer of emotion and life, I always strive to touch a chord of familiarity in my readers and give them characters they can love and a read to remember.

Can you tell us a little about your book?

Seventh Circle is a story about Lincoln, the Chosen Son of the Vehemens bloodline whose Lord has made a pact with the Devil. Since this pact involves Lincoln's death, he's not about to let it happen. Told by three witches that a woman will save him, he goes in search of her. His only problem? It turns out that she's working for Section Seven, an elite vampire hunter organisation. Lilith can't believe her terrible luck when her first paying client turns out to be not only a vampire, but incredibly attractive. It's bad enough that she has to work with him, let alone the fact that no matter how much she tries, she can't deny the way he makes her feel. Both fighting their feelings for different reasons, they work together to unravel the mystery of the contract and find a way to stop the dreadful prophecy from coming to pass. If the Devil captures him, not only will Lincoln die, but all Hell will be unleashed unto the Earth! Lilith enters Lincoln's world when the realisation of her heritage and that those she loved have lied to her shatter her own world. As they fight the forces of Hell itself, Lilith fights to be strong enough to save Lincoln, the man who she has come to love.

How did the idea for the plot come about?

I'm never sure where the plots come from, but this one was influenced in a way by Dante's Inferno. I liked the idea of the circles of Hell, and the landscape, as well as the idea of angels gone bad, and the Devil being involved. I also wanted to explore the idea that a vampire might perhaps have a healthy fear of death and that it's only made worse because he's an immortal demon and knows that he's going to Hell when he dies. He's basically had a long time to think about death, and the longer he lives, the worse he fears it. I also like the idea of coupling a hero and heroine at odds. Lilith is headstrong, fiesty, and unlikely to let her moral code slip. Lincoln fights his feelings as much as she does, but he just can't help himself. The whole thing is made worse when he accidentally bonds with her!

I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

I've sold a few ebooks before, and normally it's an email that pops into your inbox and a momentary feeling of madness. It's always exciting when you sell a book. I'm yet to sell a book to a traditional publishing house though. That one is still to come. Right now I'm working on stories for sending out to agents... I'll keep you posted! I'm hoping for a juicy call story too.

We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

I grew up reading classic romance and gothic horror, and watching Hammer House of Horror movies. My favourite books are Jane Eyre, Persuasion, and North & South. Movie-wise, I love films and can't think of one single or even just a couple that I could call my favourite. It really depends on my mood. I enjoyed the Underworld films, the Nightwatch, X-men movies, and a slew of romantic comedies. I'm a sucker for them! TV shows I'm into right now are Heroes, as well as anime such as Ga-Rei Zero, Macross Frontier, Kuroshitsuji and Bleach. I love reading manga too, and playing my PS3, on which I'm playing Assassin's Creed and Devil May Cry 4 (I love Dante! Can I have his babies?). In terms of my fantasy squeezes, with so many heroes in my head it's hard to decide. It's got to be one of them, I'm afraid. Actually two. At the moment I'm planning two novels and I love the heroes in them--Julian and Taig. They're such different characters, but both incredibly strong and devoted to the woman they love.

What are you working on now?

A lot of editing! I've managed to accumulate a queue of books that need editing/second drafts. Mostly I'm working on a werewolf romance short called Embracing the Wolf, and the next Vampires Realm story, Winter's Kiss. I can't wait for Winter's Kiss to come out. It's such a contrast to Seventh Circle. Seventh Circle has a lot of twisting, dark plot working alongside the romance. Winter's Kiss is different because it's more romance driven. It's about the characters more than the plot. I think people will enjoy the change.

How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

Well, that's easy. They can check out my books at my websites -

http://www.felicityheaton.co.uk and http://www.vampiresrealm.com

As for keeping up with me, they can do that at my blog and Myspace I'm always there posting about something, whether it's what I've been writing or a teaser for a new book, or a cover, or just what I've been up to recently.

The Midnight Rose - April Vine

Please welcome my special guest this week, Scarlet Rose author April Vine whose debut Scarlet Rosette, The Midnight Rose, was released a couple of weeks ago by The Wild Rose Press. And April's second Scarlet Rose, Blindfolded by Lust, was released on Wednesday!

Over to you, April.

I’m South African by birth, wife to a wonderful husband, mother to two amazing boys, a slave to chocolate, devout to books, dangerous to my stove. I’m pretty normal during the day, I’d like to think, but come night I transform myself into Vine, April Vine, License to Erotize. Thanks to The Wild Rose Press – The Wilder Roses, my stories don’t self- destruct before they get read…at least once.

I love your bio! It always makes me smile. Can you tell us a little about your book, The Midnight Rose?

Firstly, thank you so much for having me, Christina, and again congratulations on all Foretaste of Forever’s success. It’s so well deserved.

The Midnight Rose is a short erotic story about boundaries. Ryan Redford is secret agent with the South African government. He’s gorgeous, tough as nails, there isn’t an organisation he can’t infiltrate, a criminal lord he can’t break, but there’s there one thing that scares the life out of him and she comes in the form of his best friend’s little sister, Leah Jenkins.

He goes out of his way to avoid her because he’s so afraid that he might break that code he shares with her brother, which puts her off limits. But then Leah takes matters into her own hands and there’s no place he can hide.

How did the idea for the plot come about?

In a roundabout way. I actually sent out something a bit milder and instead got asked by my wonderful editor to try out something for Scarlet. She recommended I read a few Scarlet’s to get a proper feel and I did. It had to be extra hot with a sizzling equal amount of conflict. There’s just something so nobly sexy about a man who resists his best friend’s little sister. And Leah Jenkins was created for that reason exactly, virgin on a rampage with a little help of course from a set of underwear called The Midnight Rose.

But what does a man like Ryan Redford do when he’s pushed too far? That’s what the plots about.

Poor Ryan! I'm sure he doesn't stand a chance!! As you know, I'm a sucker for sale stories so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

I grew up with romance. My mother was a Barbara Cartland fanatic; she has stacks and stacks of them. So my first romance was very tapered, very clean. Then someone at school passed me a Zebra Historical and even though I can’t remember the title I know I read it gaping, twice. So I figured then already I liked my books racy, my plots daring and my characters physical. I just didn’t know I could write one until my first attempt which was The Midnight Rose. I’m still blushing.

Anyway, I was making breakfast for my family on a Saturday morning when I opened my mail and found a contract inside. I calmly closed my computer and then restarted it. The contract was still there. I’ve never been able to cook a breakfast since then without burning it - it reawakens that unique feeling for me.

We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

Favorite books, too many to name, but I’ll read anything by Nora Roberts, Lori Foster, Jodi Picoult, Linda Howard, Jill Mansell, Marian Keyes. I love Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne series and Harry Potter. But the book that stays with me and probably will forever in a troublesome way is One hundred strokes of the brush by Melissa P, scary stuff.

You’ll always find a copy of my contract under my pillow and books by the wonderful Scarlet Rose writers steaming up my computer.

Movies, without a doubt any version of Pride and Prejudice.

TV shows, there’s only one, House, I love his crassness, even his limp is sexy. Half of the time I have no idea what he’s saying but it doesn’t matter because it’s just the way he says it, I think it’s an age thing with me. The only soapie I’ll follow is All my children and I think I’m way behind the rest of America. Bianca is finally going to learn the truth about baby Bess.

Now my fantasy squeeze has to be my husband. Firstly he knows I exist and secondly he loves me right back.

Aww! I love that. And I agree, my husband is my fantasy squeeze too! What are you working on now?

My WIP in progress is about a billionaire who wants my heroine’s virginity, well, just because it’s so novel to him.

I have a second story out with The Wilder Roses called Blindfolded by Lust. It’s part of an anthology based on Dan Fogelberg’s song ‘Same Old Lang Syne.” It consists of four authors, Ana Aragon, Devon Gray, Paisley Scott and myself, collectively known as the Scarlet Redhots.
Check out the interview Devon did with our talented editor, Jennifer Haley, to see how it all came about.

And be sure to check out Paisley’s Sugar Shack and Devon’s Playing for Keeps out already at The Wilder Roses.

How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

There’s my website:
My blog

MySpace

My publisher

Thanks again. Can’t wait for your next book.

Firefly Contest

I admit I came late into the Firefly world, mainly because when the episodes did finally hit our tv screens down here, they were all over the place which annoys me no end. When Serenity came out my husband mocked and said he'd rather eat nails than see something by the creator of Buffy (I paraphrase but you get the gist!)



One day he came home with a pile of DVDs including Serenity. I mocked back, and he of course denied ever saying it was rubbish before even watching it. And then he did actually watch it. And became totally and utterly addicted. Last year, he was watching it on average about twice a week (and I'm being conservative with the numbers here). It got to the stage where even I got fed up with seeing it on the telly - Nathan notwithstanding!!!



However, the point of this rant is this. I have still yet to watch the entire season of Firefly, although I'm hoping to get the DVD set this Christmas (for my husband, because I'm that much of a good wife. ha!) (yes, it really does have nothing to do with the fact Nathan gets nekkid in one of the episodes. Honestly. Would I lie to you?)



So if you fancy the chance of winning the Firefly season on Blu Ray DVD, hop on over to Amanda Ashby's blog where she is having a contest. All you have to do is leave a comment. It's that easy!!

Happy Thanksgiving on Thursday to everyone who celebrates. And please pop back on Friday when I'm interviewing new Scarlet Rosette author, the very lovely and funny April Vine!!

And I also want to give a big Thank You to Eleni for awarding me the I Love Your Blog Award! Thank you!!

Foretaste of Forever Review - 4 Klovers

Foretaste of Forever has just been reviewed by CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. The reviewer, Anne, said this in part:

FORETASTE OF FOREVER is a dark, almost disturbing book. In fact, the beginning had me concerned with the obsessive, almost fanatical nature of the relationship between Elyesha and Ben. But Christina Phillips knew exactly what she was doing as the book takes an unexpected and yet brilliant twist. I won’t spoil the details but suffice to say that the ending more than satisfied my earlier qualms about the tale as all the pieces fit perfectly together as the story unfolded.

The full review can be found here

I was shaking as I read this review. This is so exactly how I saw Elyesha and Ben's relationship.

I'm off to get a coffee for my nerves now!!!

Protecting Our Work & Hottest Guy Alive

Over the weekend, Kaye Manro had a very special guest blogger, Rhonda Dove, talking about copywrite and how to protect our 'thoughts, ideas and stories online', and discusses what tools are available to help prevent unauthorised pilfering. It's a very interesting discussion and well worth a read, although I admit I didn't fully understand everything! But thankfully my daughter appeared unfazed when I mentioned certain aspects to her, so I have my fingers crossed she'll be able to give me hand at putting some of these safety features into practice.



In other news, the lovely Nicola Marsh wanted to know who our personal sexiest man alive was. Phew, now that's a hard question!!!!!!!! After due thought and consideration I had no choice but to nominate a certain hot guy who shall remain nameless in this post. Nicola did, unsurprisingly I might add! agree he was a hottie and posted a pic of him.







Here is a random photo of some guy I totally pinched off Helen's blog. I think it's the Roman armor that does it for me!!!!

Strings Attached - Elisabeth Rose

Please welcome my special guest this week, Elisabeth Rose, who writes romantic comedy for The Wild Rose Press and whose latest book, Strings Attached, is available now!

Please tell us a little about yourself, Lis!

The wisdom is ‘write what you know’ so for me that means music and tai chi plus those myriad other life things a woman picks up after many decades as a wife and mother. I read constantly and have done since childhood. I was introduced to the delights of romance during summer holidays at my cousins—three girls. They had all Georgette Heyer’s books and I loved them.

Apart from two years in Europe I have lived all my life in Canberra, Australia’s capital.
I have two books out with Avalon Books and a third release in April. Find out more about me at my website

‘Strings Attached’ is my first book for The Wild Rose Press.

Can you tell us a little about your book, Strings Attached?

I write contemporary romance. Most of my stories have humour in them to some degree but this one is definitely a romantic comedy.

The first half is basically a road trip about four musicians including the violinist heroine Hannah, and two hangers-on – the hero, photographer Jack, and the irritating wife of the group leader -- travelling about country NSW on a concert tour which is disrupted by flooding. The second half is set in Sydney where Hannah and Jack, fighting a losing battle against intense physical attraction, attempt to get their act together. Not easy when their ambitions and life goals are precisely opposite and they’ve just spent the previous week annoying each other in the close confines of a car.

Strings Attached is a Champagne Rose, available now, and out in print in January 2009

How did the idea for the plot come about?

The initial idea came from a documentary on TV about The Australian String Quartet on a concert tour of the outback. They played outdoors in the desert, in shearing sheds etc
As a professional musician I’ve done several concert tours and the enforced closeness is great for stimulating emotions of all sorts eg the annoying people become more annoying, friends become closer, people fall in love. I also wanted to use a lot of funny anecdotes and situations I’d been told or experienced over the years so I stuck them all in, and laughed myself silly as I wrote! Just about every ridiculous happening in Strings Attached is based on a true story.

I love sale stories (ok I am just nosy!!) so can you tell us about your road to publication - and your call story?

My first sale was to Avalon Books. I’d had years of rejections but Avalon seemed to like my writing. They showed interest and then I didn’t hear anything for nearly a year. Very frustrating. They had a few editorial changes but to my queries I’d have an email saying, we like your story we’ll let you know. Finally they did. The Right Chord was accepted in 2006 and came out in April 2007.

Strings Attached did the rounds before being picked up by The Wild Rose Press. Most of the rejections were ‘good’ in that editors liked it thought it was funny etc but just not enough. I persisted because I love these two characters and knew they would find a home eventually. It’s unsuitable for my publisher Avalon because of the sex scene and the single title length.
I was delighted to get the confirmation email from The Wild Rose Press offering a contract. At last!!!

We are all about the love here, so please share your fave books, movies, TV shows or current fantasy squeeze (it's all in the line of research!)

I don’t have a favourite book that leaps to mind although I really like Jane Austen’s Emma, and Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor Of Casterbridge. My favourite series is Anthony Powell’s A Dance To The Music of Time. Depends how I feel what I like to read or watch.

I’m a sucker for Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies and The Philadelphia Story is fantastic. Love Cary Grant. Audrey Hepburn is gorgeous. More contemporary? Al Pacino and Paul Newman. More recently Johnny Depp, Clive Owen, Damien Lewis.


What are you working on now?

I’m working on an idea I had while attending my niece’s wedding. Her groom had two best men. They were three best mates, two of whom are now married but the third stated he was never getting himself tied down—he crews on a luxury yacht in the Mediterranean (True!!!!) The celebrant was wonderful, a young woman who absolutely adored the concept of marriage. . . Get my drift? Now how to get them together . . .

I also have a thriller on the go and a mystery. Both are ticking along slowly in between the romances. There’s also a paranormal idea I had years ago which I’d really like to develop one day.

How can readers keep up with your writing and books?

Go to my website

I also have a link to my blog there where I announce the latest developments in my writing life.
For the month of October I am the featured author on the Avalon website.

Thanks for the opportunity to talk about my books!
Best wishes and happy reading everyone
Elisabeth

I Love Your Blog Award!

The lovely Suz gave me this award on Friday (thank you, Suz!!) Since I've just drugged myself up to the eyeballs and dragged myself from my sick bed (it's not the flu, but doing its very best to pretend it is... sigh!) I thought I'd pass this award on to seven other bloggers I love visiting. Of course I love visiting a lot more than seven but them are the rules!!

Amanda Ashby - there's always something here to make me giggle, and let's be honest - where else would I learn so much about the secret habits of zombies?!

Sara Hantz - where I can unleash my inner teen. Not that my inner teen ever really went anywhere, but still!!

Pat Posner - I'm pretty sure Pat already has this award, but I don't think that matters - here's another one!!

Shelley Munro - There's always something happening over at Shelley's, along with the most fascinating links!!

Helen Hardt - aka Helen's Heroes, aka Yummy Hotties!!! What's not to love there?!

Kaye Manro - Kaye poses thought provoking questions, and also has medieval knights. A winning combination!!

Suzanne Brandyn - am I allowed to award you back? I think I am... consider yourself awarded!!

And don't forget to pop over to Free Book Friday Teens because this week Sara Hantz, author of The Second Virginity of Suzy Green is being featured. There are two autographed copies up for grabs and all you have to do is sign up for a chance to win one.