Susan Mallery Q and A on Summer Days and Giveaway!

Susan Mallery Q&A on SUMMER DAYS (Fool’s Gold Book 7)

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that move them. Publisher’s Weekly calls Susan’s prose “luscious and provocative,” and Booklist says, “Novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.” Visit Susan online at www.susanmallery.com.

Tell us about SUMMER DAYS.

SUMMER DAYS is the perfect beach read. It’s funny, romantic, sexy, and it’s light both in tone and in actual weight – you can toss the paperback into your beach bag and go. (It’s also available wherever ebooks are sold.)

Heidi Simpson had a vagabond childhood with her grandfather. The one thing she wanted most in the world was a home of her own. Now, in her late 20s, she finally has one, but her ranch is put on the line by a scam her grandfather pulled in order to pay for a friend’s surgery. Rafe Stryker is the son of the woman whose money was stolen, and the first of the Stryker brothers to move to Fool’s Gold. He’s on a tear when he arrives, determined to protect his mother’s interests at all costs.

Since possession is nine-tenths of the law, neither is willing to leave the ranch until a judge can decide the matter. Sparks fly right from page one between Heidi and Rafe! The people of Fool’s Gold take sides in a pretty hysterical way.

You can find SUMMER DAYS wherever books are sold – bookstores, online, even the grocery store check-out line. You can read a free excerpt on my website, www.susanmallery.com or in the free app for iPhone and Android (www.mobileroadie.com/apps/susanmallery).

Who are these Fool’s Gold cheerleaders I keep hearing about?

Oh, the cheerleaders are beyond fabulous! This year’s squad is made up of 60 Fool’s Gold super fans who are earning prizes all summer for telling other readers about Fool’s Gold. They’re driving around with Fool’s Gold car magnets, wearing Fool’s Gold T-shirts, handing out bookmarks like candy to everyone they meet.

Fool's Gold Bracelet created by one of the Fool's Gold Cheerleaders

For those of my followers who have never read a Fool’s Gold book, tell us about the small town known as the Land of Happy Endings.

SUMMER DAYS is the seventh book in my series set in fictional Fool’s Gold, California. Fool’s Gold is a small town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It’s a quaint place where people truly support each other – mostly with casseroles. And margaritas. Women rule in Fool’s Gold. For many years, there was a man shortage, which is just now beginning to level out, thanks to the town’s efforts to bring in some pretty spectacular men.

Fool’s Gold is the most popular series I’ve ever written. In fact, last year, one of the Fool’s Gold books hit #3 on the New York Times and #8 on the USA Today bestsellers lists. Those were personal bests for me and very thrilling.

Each book is written as a standalone, which means that you can jump in and start with SUMMER DAYS, and you won’t feel lost or confused. While previous characters make an appearance, you don’t need to know their stories to understand this one.

Why did you decide to write about three cowboy brothers?

With each year’s Fool’s Gold books, I try to create heroes who represent iconic male archetypes. The men of Fool’s Gold have been athletes, businessmen, pilots, surgeons. Each is a leader, powerful in his own way. His strength goes deeper than the physical. He does what’s right even when it’s not easy. When he falls, he falls hard… and he loves forever.

This summer, three cowboy brothers will ride into Fool’s Gold on horseback in SUMMER DAYS, SUMMER NIGHTS, and ALL SUMMER LONG. The Stryker men represent everything I love about a cowboy hero. They are protective, honest, tall and strong. And wow, do they do nice things to a pair of blue jeans!

Since this is Fool’s Gold, these cowboys come with a special twist – humor. Rafe is undone by Heidi the Goat Girl. Shane has to teach the local librarian how to do the ancient Dance of the Happy Virgin – while riding a horse. And Clay, the youngest, made his fortune as a Hollywood butt double.

What’s next for Fool’s Gold?

In SUMMER NIGHTS (July), Shane Stryker will meet Annabelle who, oh my WORD, do I love! Annabelle is my gift to all the librarians who have supported me so wonderfully over the years, putting my books into readers’ hands with a fervent, “You’re going to love this!” Annabelle is a librarian who defies the stereotypes – she’s fashionable, modern… a dangerous, pint-sized sexpot, as far as Shane is concerned. He’s completely undone by her the first time they meet, so much so that he can’t even remember his own name.

Then comes Charlie, to be paired with Clay in ALL SUMMER LONG (August). Oh, Charlie. She’s so tough and oh, so wounded. She’s got that hard-as-nails firefighter exterior, but when it comes to matters of the heart, she is as vulnerable as they come. Something happened in Charlie’s past that has made her afraid of intimacy with a man. She’s the kind of person who tackles her problems head-on, much to Clay Stryker’s delight. She’s determined to learn how to be with a man, and she’s decided to ask Clay to teach her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About Susan

New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery has entertained millions of readers with her witty and emotional stories about women and the relationships that move them.Publisher’s Weekly calls Susan’s prose “luscious and provocative,” and Booklist says, “Novels don’t get much better than Mallery’s expert blend of emotional nuance, humor and superb storytelling.” While Susan appreciates the critical praise, she is most honored by the enthusiastic readers who write to tell her that her books made them laugh, made them cry, and made the world a happier place to live. Susan lives in Seattle with her husband and her tiny but intrepid toy poodle. She’s there for the coffee, not the weather.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Happy Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a federal holiday observed annually in the U.S. to remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.  Originally known as "Decoration Day" this holiday began after the end of the U.S. Civil war as a way to commemorate the fallen Union Soldiers.  Southern ladies' organizations and southern schoolchildren had decorated Confederate graves in Richmond and other cities during the Civil War, but each region had its own date. Most dates were in May.

Many people observe the holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorial services for their fallen loved ones. It's traditional to fly the U.S. Flag in front of you home from dawn to noon at half-mast and then fully open after noon,.

While originally known as "Decoration Day", in 1968 with the passage of the "Uniform Holidays Bill" the holiday became known as "Memorial Day" and the date was changed from the last day in May to the last Monday in May.  Many families now observe the holiday by remembering loved lost ones and having a picnic.

In remembrance of the soldiers in my family who fought and served their country,  I will be giving away a "Patriotic" pair of earrings like these:

To Enter The Contest

Simply leave a comment below letting me know how you are observing Memorial Day.  Open only to U.S. and Canada.

Contest to run through Friday, June 1, 2012.

Book Beginnings and Friday 56 - The Rebel wife by Taylor M. Polites

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Gilion at Rose City Reader. To play along, please do the following:

1. Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments. 
2. Make sure to share the name of the book and the author so we know what you're reading. 
3. Feel free to share your first impressions with us based on the first line. 
4. Link your post at Rose City Reader, or if you don't have a blog, leave it in the comments below. 

The book I picked up for this today is The Rebel Wife by Taylor M. Polites:

                              

I knew that Eli is dying.

     Rachel said the rattlesnakes were a bad sign, but that doesn't signify.  The Negroes give so much credence to conjuring and signs.  But there is something about Eli.  He looks so much like Pa before he died.  Eli trembles in his bed like Pa did.  He has the same fever in his eyes.  Loosing Pa was terrible, but I don't feel that with Eli.  He is not a bad husband, but it will not be like when Pa died.  

My Thoughts:  To be honest, I'm not sure how I feel about this as a book beginning.  I know this book covers the civil war but I'm just a tad uncomfortable with the main characters thoughts and her dialogue.  

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice. To play along:

1. Grab the book closest to you, any book will do.
2. Turn to page 56.
3. Choose the fifth (5th) sentence or a few more (just don't spoil it too much).
4. Post it on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, post it in the comments below.
5. Link your post to Freda's Voice.

I'm using the same book for my Friday 56 (The Rebel Wife) 

     Mama and I road in the carriage while Hill and Mike walked behind the hearse.  Behind us, the whole town and  virtually every servant in the neighborhood walked in silent mourning, such was the great love my father's people felt for him.  They came all the way from the farthest plantations in the county simply to walk him to his burial place. 

So what are you Friday Book Beginnings and Friday 56?  Please play along and if you decide to follow my blog, let me know in the comments and I'll return the favor.

About The Rebel Wife:

Augusta Branson, born of a prominent Southern family made destitute by the Civil War, is forced by her family into marriage with a wealthy upstart. Ten years after her marriage and the end of the war, she watches her husband, Eli, die from a horrifying blood fever.

Newly widowed, Augusta begins to wake to the realities that surround her: her social standing is stained by her marriage, she is alone and unprotected in a community that is being destroyed by racial prejudice and violence, the fortune she thought she would inherit does not exist, and the deadly blood fever is spreading like wildfire. Nothing is as she believed, everyone she trusts is hiding something from her, and if Augusta can’t find a missing package, she and her son face certain death.

Using the Southern Gothic tradition to subvert literary archetypes like the white Southern Gentleman, the good Mammy, the conniving scalawag, and the defenseless Southern Belle, The Rebel Wife shatters the myths that still cling to the antebellum South and creates an unforgettable heroine for our time.

          

TEASER TUESDAY - ALL SALES FATAL BY LAURA DISILVERIO

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read 
• Open to a random page 
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week my Teaser Tuesday is from All Sales Fatal by Laura DiSilverio (Book 2 in the 

A Mall Cop series):  

From Page 141:

     Lily-scented perfume assailed me as I crossed into Nordstrom.  A half dozen cosmetic counters lay in front of me, laden with face products worth as much as the annual budget of a midsize city.  Dodging a woman who wanted to spritz me with the perfume, I caught up with a clerk and asked if she'd seen a dark-haired teen in a hurry.  She pointed wordlessly towards the lingerie department.  I knew an exit door was on the far side of the bras and pajamas, so I zipped along as quickly as I could.  The Segway gave me a little extra height as I scanned the department, able to see over the revolving racks and displays.  

About All Sales Final:

For mall cop E.J. Ferris, catching customers who “forgot to pay” is quite a change of pace from her former life in the military. But when a real crisis heats up her climate-controlled domain, her old instincts come back quicker than last year’s skinny jeans.


On good days, Fernglen Galleria is a tranquil haven of capitalist splendor—but today is not one of those days. Arriving for her morning shift, E.J. spots a sleeping homeless person outside the east entrance. But the teenage boy turns out to be neither homeless nor asleep. He is, however, dead.


With half the security cameras sabotaged, no one can be sure what happened. E.J. is determined to help solve the case—whether Homicide Detective Helland likes it or not. Uncovering a deadly conspiracy right in her own mall, E.J is about to catch a killer, or get put on lay-away for good…


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

Virtual Book Tour - Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire by K. Reed

Please join me as I welcome K. Reed on her Virtual Blog Tour for "Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire".  She was kind enough to answer my interview questions below.  Please be sure to leave a comment or question below as K. will award nine Post-apocalypse survival baskets (which include tea, a fan, a shawl, a bracelet and more -- Plus ONE Grand Prize basket will include an iPod Touch) to randomly drawn commenters during the tour  - US/Canada only.

My Interview with K:

Me:  Can you tell us what prompted you to see your dystopian novel in Regency England during the year 1804?

K:  I’m a fan of a great many genres, I like science fiction, contemporary books and movies, and I absolutely adore historicals. Some of the stuff I’ve seen and enjoyed lately have either been contemporary thrillers or futuristic in some manner. So I gave it some thought and knew I wanted to step into the Regency Romance world, since that is one of my favorite genres. But I wanted to find a way to give an edge to a Regency Romance it might not normally have.

Around this time I saw several History Channel shows, one on the French Revolution, one on what would happen in a post-apocalyptic world…and so the idea for Dark Inheritance was born. I chose 1804 specifically after a lot of educated reasoning and knowing how I wanted the plague in the books to originate.

As for the Regency aspect of it, Dark Inheritance is undoubtedly a Regency Romance book set in a very unusual setting. I had noticed that a lot of contemporary and futuristic stories are heavily action based and most historicals are character based. While I’m a huge fan of the character-driven story (you can’t have a story without great characters) I wanted more of a bite to my historical.

Me:  What is it about Harwich that drew you to set your book in that specific area?

K: I did fictionalize the landscape a bit, but the location itself is prime for how I wanted my story to develop. Harwich is set off the North Sea, making the wind, sea, entire beach locale a supporting character. Its location on the North Sea allows for movement along the coast and other locations. Harwich itself also becomes an important, supporting character…at least my fictionalized version of it does!

Me:  Can you tell us if we'll recognize the Plague that hits the society you have built?  Is it something modern medicine created by accident at the time?

K:  Nope. You won’t recognize the plague, it’s completely fictionalized. However, I did take elements of diseases known at that time and the 1804 modern-day knowledge into account. Plus, the plague itself, and where it originated, isn’t outside the realm of possibility.

Me:  Grayson, one of the main characters of your story, seems to be a conflicted hero with many secrets.  Will his story continue through the series or will each of the books in your "Fallen Empire" series be standalone novels?

K:  We’ll see Grayson again in the background of other stories as the series progresses. However, each story will focus on a different hero and heroine.

Me:  Lady Juliet appears to be at the end of her rope at the beginning of this story; she's ready to join her brother in death.  As the story progresses, she clearly is not weak.  Can you tell us who or what inspired you to write her character as you did?

K:  In the last 20-30 years, there’ve been an increasing amount of strong female characters in books and movies. I’m a product of that age. I love strong female characters that have their own convictions and missions. But even these strong women are often faced with hurdles that they maybe not necessarily can’t overcome, but they’ve been so beaten down that for the moment they might not want to.

That’s part of the human experience. We’ve all been faced with a moment when we want to give up, but some part deep within us rallies.

Me:  How many novels are you planning overall in this series?

K:  Currently the plan for the Fallen Empire universe is approximately 6 novels. But I’m also considering adding on a series of short stories to compliment the full length stories.

Me:   Have you seen "The Hunger Games" movie and if yes, what was your general impression?

K:  Yes, I did have the pleasure of seeing the Hunger Games movie. I enjoyed it very much, even if they cut out significant portions from the book that I feel would have made the movie a little better rounded. What I liked most about the movie was that it also showed behind-the-scenes at the Capital, and a couple other Districts that we don’t know about in the books until much later. I think they did a great job with that.

Me:  Can you tell us something about your writing process?  I know you have a day job but do you write on a daily basis or set writing goals for yourself? 

K:  I write therefore I have no life. I am that woman with the bulging day planner.

Seriously, though, I do try to set writing goals for myself and try to meet them within a couple weeks of setting them. But yes, I do have to plan out my days, even weeks in advance, because of so much juggling. This doesn’t mean I’m not flexible with changing plans, but I need to have an idea for what’s going to happen and when.

Me:  Are you more of a plotter or a write by the seat of your pants type of writer?

K:  I am a plotter. I outline very specifically before I start writing to make sure there are no problems in the structure of my story. Particularly insurmountable problems. However, during the course of writing a specific story, I do add in elements (spontaneously even) that grow organically from a character’s actions.

Me:  Can you share with us what you are currently reading?

K:  The Lost City of Z by David Grann, but it’s a nonfiction narrative about explores in the Amazon during the early 1900s. When I’m really into my writing, I try not to read whatever genre I’m currently writing.

The Quick Five:

1.   Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate
2.   Wine or Beer? Wine
3.   Romantic Comedy or Action Adventure Film? Action Adventure
4.   Favorite season of the year (Spring,Summer, Fall,Winter)? Summer
5.   Favorite Color: Red

Thank you K. for answering my questions!

Dark Inheritance: Fallen Empire

by K. Reed

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

The once glittering ballrooms of Regency England now lay desolate. A plague has ravaged the countryside. The government has fallen. What vestiges of order remained have been consumed by the endless funeral pyres.

Grayson, once the Baron of Harwich, sought only to protect his people. Rescuing a half-dead woman was not among his plans. But something about her pulled at him. Perhaps it was her beauty, still evident beneath the pallor of loss. Perhaps it was the recently fired rifle at her side. Or maybe he was simply tried of death. All he knew was that the plague had taken too much already. He couldn’t let it take her as well.

Lady Juliette Adair had been ready to die with her brother. She didn't expect to be shown mercy in a world that had no room for mercy. When Grayson saved her she questioned his motives but soon found herself intrigued by him, drawn to him.

Societal rules were a thing of the past, dead along with the ton. Juliette had no manner by which to measure her growing closeness to Grayson any longer. But when she discovers he may not be the man she thought she knew more is at stake than just her heart. The secrets she carries could make a king or destroy one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Excerpt 1:

He didn’t know what made him look, what sound captured his attention, but he suddenly knew he was not alone. Cursing his carelessness, he drew his sword and looked around. There, on the opposite side of the bed, pushed against the wall.

She lay on a settee, head resting on one arm, dark hair falling down the side of the sofa. He glanced to the bed, to the man there, and wondered who the dead pair were. She looked to have survived the plague; her face and neck were thin and smooth. Died of neglect, then. The last living being in the house and she couldn’t summon the strength to feed herself.

His eyes locked on the rifle lying just under her reach. Sheathing his sword, it was then he noticed that powder marks blackened her hands and were smudged along her face and neck. He quickly scanned the area, a small bag of powder and a case of shot rested on a nearby chair.

Cautiously walking closer, Grayson crouched before the prone figure and surprised himself by reaching out to touch her. He stopped just short of her cheek, curling his fingers into a fist. He took a brief moment to admire her beauty.

Even in death, she captivated.

Standing, he picked up the rifle and backed away, turning to search the rest of the room before he’d take the powder and shot.

That was when he heard her moan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Romance author with an historical twist.

Too many post-apocalyptic stories, movies, and what-ifs crowded her head, and K Reed decided to do something about it. So she plotted one out, decided an historical post-apocalyptic romance was the way to go, and wrote that one instead.

A lover of all things historical, of strong heroes with equally strong heroines, and of sexy pirates, she’s going to explore the post-apocalyptic world of plague-ridden 1804 and the gritty criminal element of Victorian England.

Luckily she has an understanding family, supportive friends, and a day job that offers her the flexibility she needs to plot, plan, and write. Sure, one day she’d like to travel the country in search of fantastic storylines and great locale pictures, but for now she’ll stick to the east coast and the internet.

@kreedauthor

www.kreedauthor.com

kreedauthor@yahoo.com

Please remember to leave a comment or question below for K. to be entered in her giveaway for one of nine Post-apocalypse survival baskets (which include tea, a fan, a shawl, a bracelet and more -- Plus ONE Grand Prize basket will include an iPod Touch) to randomly drawn commenters during the tour  - US/Canada only.

You can follow her tour here.

 

Waiting on Wednesday - Kiss of Steel

"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine which highlights upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating.


This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is Kiss of Steel by Bec McMaster

Release date: September 1, 2012

 

He craves her like no other...

Honoria Todd has no choice. Only in the dreaded Whitechapel district can she escape the long reach of the Duke of Vickers. But seeking refuge there will put her straight into the hands of Blade, legendary master of the rookeries. No one would dare cross him, but what price would he demand to keep her safe?

Ever since Vickers infected him with the craving, Blade has been quicker, stronger, almost immortal—and terrified of losing control of the monster within. Honoria could be his perfect revenge against the duke…or the salvation he never dared to dream of.

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Want to play along?  Just post your WoW entry on your blog and leave your link at Breaking the Spine and below.

Winner of Book Beginnings and Friday 56- Summer Days by Susan Mallery

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Beginnings & Friday 56 & A Giveaway - Summer Days (Fool's Gold 7) by Susan Mallery

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Gillian at Rose City Reader. To play along, please do the following: 

1. Share the first line (or two) of the book you are currently reading on your blog or in the comments.      
2. Make sure to share the name of the book and the author so we know what you're reading.   
3. Feel free to share your first impressions with us based on the first line. 
4. Link your post at Rose City Reader, or if you don't have a blog, leave it in the comments below.  

My choice this week for Book Beginnings and Friday 56 will be Summer Days by Susan Mallery.  I will also be giving away a print copy of this book at the end of the post.

ONLY in Fool's Gold would a Mercedes be brought to a stop by a goat.  Rafe Stryker turned off the engine of the powerful sedan and climbed out.  The goat in the middle of the road surveyed him with a confident gleam in her dark eyes.  If he hadn't known better, he would have sworn she was telling him this was her road and if anyone was going to back down in this battle of wills, it would be him.  

My Thoughts:  Already this book is off to a fun start, this scene with a goat made me laugh.

The Friday 56 is a weekly meme hosted by Freda at Freda's Voice. To play along:

1. Grab the book closest to you, any book will do.
2. Turn to page 56.
3. Choose the fifth (5th) sentence or a few more (just don't spoil it too much).
4. Post it on your blog, or if you don't have a blog, post it in the comments below.
5. Link your post to Freda's Voice.

My 56 is also from Summer Days by Susan Mallery:

     Heidi took in Rafe's well tailored suit and expensive shoes.  Even if she ignored them, there was still the man himself.  Everything about him screamed stubborn and arrogant.  Sure he was handsome, and it would be easy to get lost in his dark eyes, but she had a feeling falling under his spell would be a lot like a rabbit getting mesmerized by a cobra.

My Thoughts:  I have to admit, Rafe sounds yummy ....well except about the stubborn and arrogant part...lol

Now for the Giveaway:  I will be giving away a print copy of Summer Days (Received Early Copy in my Harlequin Order).  Just enter using the Rafflecopter Form below:

 




a Rafflecopter giveaway

Last Minute Mother's Day 2012 Contest!

I'm Late, I'm Late for a very important date!  Or so said the White Rabbit in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.

I meant to post this contest two weeks ago but forgot.  Hopefully I will get this prize which I ordered in time to 

ship it to the winner so they can have it for Mother's Day.  

The Prize 

These gorgeous, unique, and handcrafted glass earrings are made with faceted Lampwork floral beads, plum purple pearls, Tibetan silver beads caps, and 6 x 8 mm and 3mm fuchsia Swarovski crystals. The leverback ear wires are nickel free for sensitive ears.

Virtual Blog Tour- Moving On - A Prairie Romance by Annette Bower

Please join me as I welcome Annette Bower on her Virtual Blog Tour for book Moving On: A Prairie Romance.  Annette was kind enough to answer my interview questions below.  Please make sure to leave a comment below because Annette will award a $25 GC to All Romance eBooks to one randomly drawn commenter at the end of the tour.

Me: Can you tell us what inspired you to write “Moving On, A Prairie Romance”

Annette: When my sons were school aged we lived in the Town of Regina Beach. During summer holidays we went to the beach almost every day. I usually took two books with me, a notebook for writing a romance story and a cook book to plan dinner when I wasn’t watching them in the water or talking with friends.

I had a female protagonist in mind who played the guitar and sang and I wanted to play cupid. Anna changed over the years from a full time entertainer to singing as a hobby. Nick, my male protagonist began as a business man but he changed into an injured soldier because I wanted to explore a theme. I wanted to journey with two people coming together after significant losses in their lives as they healed, trusted and loved again.

Me:  Are you a full time writer or do you have an additional career on top of your writing?

Annette:  I am a full time writer now. I have worked as a rehabilitation nurse, gerontology nurse, intensive care pediatric nurse, house mother for emotionally disturbed children, administrative stenographer, town administrator, elected official, sales person, teacher’s assistant, plus volunteer in many capacities.  All in all, these experiences help to build my stories with life experiences. Oh yes, my other side, wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend add experiences of the heart. 

Me:   Did you always want to be a writer?

Annette:  I have always liked telling stories. I began as a teenage poet. When my nursing school friends and I get together they recall the time after the basement flooded in the house we shared, when I hung my wet poetry on a clothes line because it suffered water damage. I have some of that poetry today water marks and all. I enjoy distillation or showing a story in as few words as possible.

I admire John Donne’s epigram: [page 75, Complete English Poems, Everyman, 1994]

A lame begger

I am unable, younder begger cries,

To stand, or move; if he say true, hee lies.

Me:  Who would you say has been the greatest influence on your writing?

Annette:  The Saskatchewan writing community has both been unhelpful and helpful. Way back I submitted an application to join a summer writing school and I was rejected. Because I didn’t know that there were many reasons to refuse an application, I felt it was a rejection on my ability to write. I didn’t pursue writing as hard as I should have for a very long time. However, since I began again, the Saskatchewan writing community and the programs through the Saskatchewan Writers Guild have helped me grow as a writer.

Me:  Is your family supportive of your writing?

Annette:  Yes, my husband supports me one hundred and ten percent, and my children, children-in-law, my siblings, cousins and their children attend readings, purchase magazines, anthologies and now e-readers and my e-novel. They promote me as their “wife, mother, mother-in-law, sister, cousin, aunt” who writes. 

Me:  Can you tell us what you are currently working on?

Annette:  I am working on two things.  I have a novel ready to send out with the working title, Woman of Substance, A Prairie Romance about Robbie, a female university master’s student who wears a disguise to further her research and this is problematic to Jake, the male protagonist. It becomes an issue of trust. I am exploring where to send this book because like Moving On, A Prairie Romance it doesn’t quite fit the typical romance form.

Along with the two week blog tour I am on through Goddess Fish Promotions, I’m developing the female character and theme for my next novel and I’m excited by the possibilities.

Me:  Are you planning more romance novels set in the Canadian “Prairie”?

Annette:  Yes, the working title, Woman of Substance, A Prairie Romance is set in the Canadian city of Regina, Saskatchewan as well as a small town of Lumsden, Saskatchewan.

I know my city and surrounding area and since I have travelled, I realize that people enjoy reading about where they live and readers from away find the Canadian prairie landscape and culture exotic too.

Me:  If you could have dinner with two authors, living or dead, who would they be?

Annette:  I would dine on tea and hot baking powder biscuits with Lucy Maud Montgomery and discuss her world popular Anne Shirley character and ask her if she ever imagined she would help exported Canadian literature and culture around the world through her freckled-faced, red-haired orphan and her mismatched family of unmarried Marilla and shy, bachelor Mathew.

I would love to discuss with Robert B. Parker his style of writing. He makes story telling appear deceptively effortless with minimal description and plenty of witty dialogue over a Spenser’s doughnut and a glass of Sunny Randle’s sauvignon blanc.

Me:  What are you currently reading?

Annette:  Stray Love by Kyo Maclear a novel about the power a character’s past and the effects on their present and future. 

Me:  Quick Five to Get to Know the Woman behind the Author:

Coffee, tea or soda? Coffee with milk.

Cookies, cake or pie? Cookies with just a bit of crunch.

Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate and Vanilla side by side, like one of those twirled soft ice cream cones.

Movie choice—comedy, romance or horror? Romantic comedy. I won’t pass up an opportunity to watch Miss Congeniality with Sandra Bullock at least once a year.

Favorite Season—Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter? I will favor sunshine in all the seasons. I live in Saskatchewan, a province that boasts on balance 2,256 sunshine hours annually. So if the sun is shining I’m happy.

 

 

Moving On: A Prairie Romance

by Annette Bower

BLURB:

Anna is a mysterious woman that has just moved to Regina Beach. The residents of the small town know everyone’s business and they are very interested in discovering Anna’s secrets. Nick was a Sergeant in the Canadian Army, doing active duty until a horrific accident sent him home to recover. He helps Anna feel safe and comfortable in her new environment, just as he has always done for his men in strange, dangerous places. Meanwhile, he focuses on preparing for his future physical endurance test to prove that he is capable of returning to active duty.

Anna doesn’t talk about her past, and Nick doesn’t talk about his future therefore she is shocked to discover that his greatest wish is to return to active duty. She won’t love a man who may die on the job again. Intellectually, she knows that all life cycles end, but emotionally, she doesn’t know if she has the strength to support Nick.

Excerpt 1:

Anna plowed through fallen leaves and broken twigs that were spread over the stone pathway leading to the stairs. The screened summer door sprung open but the solid weather door refused to budge. She twisted the key, jiggled the door knob and finally she turned sideways and bumped her hip against the stubborn paint- encrusted door. Banging against something and having it move felt wonderful. The momentary hip sting was an annoyance compared to the pain that she’d endured over the last year. Taking a deep breath she pushed the door open, inhaled stale air and watched dust motes floating on current of outside air.

The lawyer hadn’t known if Murray had spent any time here. Part of her wanted to look around and think of him as a carefree child, then a young man whole and alive, while the other part of her wanted a clean slate.    

Anna ran her hand over the white refrigerator and matching stove and trailed a finger in the dust on the country kitchen table and solid chairs. Through a large window was an expansive view of blue water. Her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth reminding her that she was thirsty. Anna turned the taps at the kitchen sink. They squeaked, but nothing came. All that water out there but none where she was going to live. She walked down a hallway and peered into rooms until she found the bathroom. The taps in the sink and tub repeated the noise and the toilet had green liquid in the bottom. She stomped her feet against the tiled floor. Damn. There were a few bottles of water in the car, but how would she use the other facilities? She didn’t know how to rough it; Murray was supposed to teach her how to camp in the wilds.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Annette Bower lives and writes in Regina, SK Canada. She is an author of many short stories published in anthologies and magazines in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. She explores women in families, women in communities and women at the beginning and end of love and their quest for love. She pursues the writing craft in workshops, conferences, Writing with Style, Banff Centre for the Arts, Victoria School of Writing, Sage Hill Writing Experience, the Surrey International Writing Conferences and the Romance Writing of America Conferences. 

When she isn’t writing she walks or bikes around the streets and parks in her neighborhood imagining complex worlds behind seemingly ordinary events.

Her first contemporary romance, Moving On A Prairie Romance is published by XoXo Publishing™ a division of Ninni Group Inc.

Website: http://www.annettebower.com/

Blog:   http://www.annettebower.com/blog

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Annette-Bower-XOXO-Publishing-Author/378438088839629

 

Please remember to leave a comment or question for Annette below as an entry in her contest for the $25 GC to All Romance eBooks to one randomly drawn commenter.  You can follow her tour here.