ROMANCE BY FIRELIGHT- GIVEAWAY!
IT DOESN’T GET MUCH BETTER THAN ROMANCE BY FIRELIGHT!
All-Genres Romance Giveaway
November 5-25 2018
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Whether staring up at the stars or lounging on a soft, furry rug in front of a hearth, nothing is more romantic than snuggle-time beside a roaring fire. Join us for a celebratory giveaway of the season. You could win a Kindle Fire, ebook prize pack, or Amazon gift card!
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Enjoy every minute of fall’s romantic days and nights with our page full of discount ebooks. Over 40 titles, every one of them 2.99 or less, plus don’t miss out on the FREE Shortie Download and bonus giveaway!
(This giveaway is sponsored by the 44 talented authors listed below)
Tena Stetler •Amanda Uhl • Ashlee Price • Aubrey Wynne • Carrie Whitethorne • Constance Bretes • Crystal Dawn • Debbie White • Elizabeth Sa Fleur • Fiona Murphy • Gemma Snow • Holly Cortelyou • Honey Phillips • Jacqueline Diamond • Jacquie Biggar • JC Andrijeski • Jennifer Wilck • Jordyn White • Josie Riviera • Karyn Gerrard • Laura A. Barnes • Laura Ashwood • Leigh LaValle • Linda Mooney • Liz Durano • Lucy Lakestone • Maria Geraci • Marilyn Peake • Melissa Belle • Mona Sedrak • Nina Crespo • S.L. Sterling • Shaniel Watson • Simone Leigh • Soraya Naomi • Stacy Gold • Stephanie Queen • Suzanne Jenkins • Tabitha Barret • Tracey Cramer-Kelly • Victoria Grant • Zoe Dawson • Zoey Gong • Aileen Harkwood
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Amazon Gift Cards, Boodfair, Ebook prize packs, Firelight, Giveaway, Kindle Fire7, Romance by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Interview Peggy Jaeger Author of Hope’s Dream
Happy Book Birthday to our guest today! Give a big welcome to Peggy Jaeger, author of Hope’s Dream. A Deerbourn Inn novella released today!
Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Lets see what Peggy’s new release Hope’s Dream is all about. Thanks for joining us!
What inspired this particular story?
Sometime in 2018, during one of the Tuesday night Wild Rose Press chats, the call went out for a new series that would be set in a fictional town of Vermont and revolve around a two centuries-old Inn. The WRP powers-that-be wanted stories from any time period, any genre, and any heat level, but the stipulation had to be that one of the protagonists be a visitor at the DEERBOURNE INN. The minute I read the series bible, which described the tiny New England town, I knew I had to write a story for the series, because I live in what could be Willow Springs’ doppelganger. I live in a tiny New Hampshire town that I swear is the town the WRP powers-that-be decided to depict their fictional one on, straight down to the town square gazebo. Once I decided I needed to submit a story for consideration, I spent the rest of the night outlining it and by Wednesday morning I had my synopsis written and ready to submit – which I did.
Why did you choose the cover concept you did?
Since Hope Kildarie is a ski instructor in Willow Springs, and my story is a contemporary romance about forgiveness and acceptance, I knew I wanted a ski scene on the cover, and that I wanted it to be a happy one because so much of Hope’s recent life has been sad. She had to give up on her dream of becoming a nurse practitioner; her lost her father in a horrific car crash; her mother is an invalid who lives at home. So many things that could make the story – and Hope – a downer, but didn’t. I wanted the cover to reflect her happy mien.
What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?
You know, I wish it was a secret cure, but it isn’t. I simply keep typing. Even when what I’m writing I know isn’t good, I keep going until I need to take a break. Then I go back and reread the dredge. Typically I can find one gem to pull from it. Walking away from the computer is never an option for me because I consider this my job. My occupation. You can’t simply walk off a job if you’re not feeling it one day, or if a co worker is being a pain. SO when my blocking becomes a “pain” I barrel through it just as I would at an office.
What do you want your readers to take away from your books?
That everyone deserves their own Happily ever after and that hope, faith in yourself, and the strength of your family can get you through anything life tosses at you. The good, the bad, the really ugly! My tagline is I write about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them. That sums up my philosophy on my book themes in a nutshell!
Do you find it easier to write from a male or female point of view?
Great question. When I write first person, I only write female. When I write in third person, I do both male and female POVs. Why? Obviously, I’m a girl and I think like one, so the first person female POV is easy for me. I have a hard time speaking like a male character in first person, but not in third. I can’t explain why this is, but in third person male, I’m a little removed from the actual mind of the hero, so I can assume what he is thinking and what he will say. I know that sounds wonky, but hey! It’s me we’re talking about here. Wonky is my Confirmation name!
SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN:
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: GONE WITH THE WIND
Favorite book: PRIDE AND PREJUDICE
Last book read: LEAN IN
Favorite color: GREEN
Stilettos or flipflops: STILETTOS
Coffee or tea: TEA
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: EBOOK
Pencil or pen: LAPTOP!
Favorite song: SECRET AGENT MAN
Streak or not: NEVER
Favorite dessert: CHOCOLATE CAKE
Favorite junk food: PEPPERMINT PATTY CANDIES
Favorite thing to do to relax: READ
Champagne or gin: NEITHER – I DON’T DRINK ALCOHOL
Paranormal or Historical: REGENCY
Wonder Woman or Top Model: WONDER WOMAN
Favorite TV show: I LOVE LUCY
Hot or cold: COLD
POV: THIRD
I’d die if I don’t have: DIET MOUNTAIN DEW EVERYDAY
Review or Not: REVIEW
Tell us a little about Hope’s Dream
Hope Kildaire gave up her dream of becoming a nurse practitioner when a car accident killed her father and left her mother an invalid. Working two jobs and caring for her mother leaves the twenty-seven-year-old with no time for fun or relationships. When a law firm representing her paternal grandparents sends her several letters, Hope ignores them. She despises the family who disowned her father and wants nothing to do with them.
Lawyer Tyler Coleman’s job is simply to obtain Hope’s signature on a legal document. Getting it is harder than planned, though, when an unexpected attraction blossoms between them. If Ty is honest with Hope about why he’s in Willow Springs, he’ll fulfill his assignment but may risk hurting her.
The opportunity to have everything she’s ever desired is at Hope’s fingertips. Will her dream come true at the expense of Tyler’s love?
A sneak peek between the pages of Hope’s Dream!
Hope stood behind the bar, filling two glasses with draft beer. She hadn’t spotted him approach, so he took the moment to observe her unawares.
A reserved smile graced her face as the guy waiting for his order chatted her up. Early twenties by Tyler’s guess, the kid stared at Hope with a serious case of attraction. He knew how the younger man felt.
During their lesson her hair had been woven into a braid. In the lodge, when she’d removed her hat, he’d likened the colors to butterscotch and honey. Now with it unbraided and freely floating down past her shoulders, the colors burst into life. Gold and red highlights shimmered from the waves framing her face, as if each strand had been hand painted for emphasis. In the tavern’s subdued lighting, Hope was a bright, vibrant beacon, sparkling with health and life.
Tyler was drawn to her light, her vitality, as if he’d spent his existence until that moment in perpetual darkness.
Hope turned, reached for something behind her, and caught his eye.
For a moment her body froze, her hand still outstretched, her eyes widening in surprise when they lit on him. She dipped her chin and regarded him from under her eyelashes as she finger-swiped the hair falling across her face behind her ear. A quick head bob his way indicated she’d be right with him.
With an expert’s finesse she uncorked a bottle of Jameson’s, poured a thimbleful each into two shot glasses, then added them to beer-guy’s order. He slid a bill into her hand and then waved off the change she tried to give him back. He scooped the drinks, then carried them back to his table. Hope slid the change into one of the jelly jars behind the bar marked with several names, hers among them, and made her way over to him.
“Hey, New York.” Sweet laughter warmed with surprise rang in her voice. “How are the legs?”
Tyler groaned and stretched them out in front of him. “Better after a long, hot soak, but I’m betting they’re gonna feel worse in the morning.”
She tossed him a quick, sympathetic look. “Make sure you take some kind of analgesic before going to sleep tonight. It’ll help. Trust me.”
“Will do.”
“What can I get you?”
He spurted off the name of one of the draft beers.
She pulled it and then brought it back to him. “Anything to eat? I know the inn doesn’t serve dinner.”
He glanced up at the selection board again and asked, “What do you recommend?”
“The soup’s hot and fabulous. Comes with a salad or fresh bread. The burgers here are always great, but I’m biased.” Her open smile charmed him.
“Sold.”
“So,” he said after she came back from placing his order, “you’re a woman of many talents. Ski instructor. Bartender.”
The brighter colors in her hair glistened when she shook her head. “We in the business prefer the term mixologist.”
Buy Links:
AMAZON THE WILD ROSE PRESS NOOK ITUNES
About the author:
Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance writer who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all topics of daily life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.
Tying into her love of families, her children’s book, THE KINDNESS TALES, was illustrated by her artist mother-in-law.
Peggy holds a master’s degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer’s Disease during her time running an Alzheimer’s in-patient care unit during the 1990s.
In 2013, she placed first in two categories in the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest: Single Title Contemporary Romance and Short/Long Contemporary Romance.
In 2017 she came in 3rd in the New England Reader’s Choice contest for A KISS UNDER THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS and was a finalist in the 2017 STILETTO contest for the same title.
In 2018, Peggy was a finalist in the HOLT MEDALLION Award and once again in the 2018 Stiletto Contest.
A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.
You can find her at the following social media sites.
Website/Blog: http://peggyjaeger.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/peggy_jaeger
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00T8E5LN0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peggy-Jaeger-Author/825914814095072?ref=bookmarks
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13478796.Peggy_Jaeger
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mmj122687/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/peggy-jaeger
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Hope’s Dream!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary Romance, Deerbourne Inn, Hope's Dream, Peggy Jaeger by Tena Stetler with 12 comments.
Finding Magic Annalise’s Quest by Author Blair Drake
Happy Holidays to all! Give a warm welcome to Blair Drake author of Finding Magic Annalise’s Quest.
A sneak peek between the pages of Finding Magic – Annalise’s Quest.
It seemed like the wind just wouldn’t stop. It flew and twisted around Annalise as if it could lift her off her feet. Considering she didn’t know what she was standing on, she wouldn’t put it past the strength of the darkness to have already done just that. She found nobody here, and the loneliness was getting to her. She wanted the storm to die down so she could assess where the hell she ended up, but it wasn’t showing that kind of appeasement.
Just when she figured she would never get out of this, the wind eased back, and a hand landed on her shoulder. She shrieked and spun around…and stared. A young man’s face stared back at her. But, even as she watched, it splintered and disintegrated into nothingness, the wind sweeping through it.
She outstretched both hands, waving them about as if to touch him. “Hello? Where are you? Don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me.”
But the image was gone. She touched her shoulder where the hand had been, wondering if she was going nuts in this weird isolation chamber. Had she felt a hand on her shoulder, or was it just her imagination?
“Can you come back?” she cried out. “Please don’t leave me alone here.”
“I’m here,” came the man’s whispery voice.
The wind was so loud in her ears, it was hard to hear the voice. She tilted her head sideways, seeing if she could glimpse the man again, but there was no face in the darkness. She spun to look all the way around but still found nothing. She crouched again, realizing the noise was slightly less down below. Squatting like she was, she called out again, “Can you hear me?”
“Yes. I can hear you.” came the same voice, only stronger.
“Who are you? Where are we?”
“I’m Trace,” he whispered. “I was lost here a long time ago.”
And Annalise’s heart skipped a beat. “What you mean by lost?”
“I was caught up in the darkness—just me here all this time. I couldn’t get out. I was on some quest, but I couldn’t reach the end in time,” he said in frustration. “And, when I was about to succeed and cross back to the school, I dropped my talisman, and my time ran out. The darkness snagged me up, and here I’ve been ever since.”
And Annalise’s jaw dropped. “Quest? Time running out? What are you talking about?”
She could almost hear the puzzled silence around her. But of course there was no silence with the winds raging on. Yet it’s almost like she had a weird 3-D perception of this person’s voice, as if it were inside her mind and not outside.
“That’s because you’re new here. You will figure it out.” That odd silence came again as Trace said, “But why are you here? If you don’t know about the quests, that means you didn’t fail yours. So how did you come to be here?”
Annalise held her hands out, palm up. “I have no idea. A group of students were on the roof, and this strange wind came around, like a storm. I ran over to Melissa. And it’s like I was caught up in the energy and sucked in. I heard Headmistress Hettie calling for me. I saw her hand reaching, but I just couldn’t grab it. It was already too late. Next thing I knew, I was here in this darkness.”
“Oh, no,” the man said slowly. “Maybe you weren’t supposed to come.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Every person in that group was headed for a challenge—a quest. They don’t know ahead of time. They don’t know what the challenges are until they arrive at their unique experience, and none of us really understand what we’re supposed to do except to somehow get home.” He coughed slightly. “At least that’s what happened to me. I almost made it back to the school but was dumped here.”
“Like a test? Like a worst-nightmare exam run by the school?” She didn’t get it how they could do that. “They shouldn’t be allowed to do shit like this. Surely there was a law against it?”
“The thing about Gray Cliffs Academy is, a lot of the students have special abilities. They don’t know about them before the quest. They are forced to dredge up these abilities from their own heritage to overcome their challenges.” The voice rolled through the fog in a weird echo.
“So, you’re saying you came back with a special ability but didn’t make it home in time? And because you failed, you ended up here?” Annalise asked, in shock. “I wasn’t even sent on a quest. I’m just here—wait. Do you mean we’re not on the roof of the school anymore? This isn’t just a weird fog or storm happening?” Her voice rose. “If we’re not at the school, then where are we? Dumped here?” she asked, her voice darkening. “What the hell does that mean? Where is here?”
“I don’t know where here is,” he said, his voice heavy. “This gray world is all I’ve seen since I arrived. There have been tiny slices of the normal world on the odd occasions when I managed to make contact. But other than that…this is my life. That you’re here now could mean you weren’t supposed to be part of the group that left.”
Annalise cried out in surprise, overlaid with horror.
The voice paused a bit. “I don’t know for sure. But I must admit I’m absolutely delighted to have you with me. I’ve been so lonely.”
“How long have you been here?” Annalise asked slowly. “I don’t remember ever hearing about you.”
Trace gave a half sob. “Since the last quest cycle I think. So maybe a full year. In a way that seems like yesterday, and yet, in another way, it seems like forever.”
Annalise shook her head in horror. “A whole year caught in this darkness? What did you eat? What did you drink?”
Trace said, “I didn’t do either. It’s like I’m caught in between dimensions. There’s no food, but I’m not hungry. There’s nothing to drink, but I’m not thirsty. Thankfully, sleeping works here as I spend the majority of my time doing that. It’s almost like I’m in a comatose state most of the time, only waking up because of some disturbance. And there have been a lot of disturbances lately. So I knew something was happening. Then I caught sight of Melissa…at least I think it was her. It was hard to see. I do know what she looks like though,” he said, his voice changing, softening. “She was a year younger than me, a year behind. That’s when I considered a whole year might have passed, and a new quest cycle started—her quest cycle. If only I returned in time,” he said. “But my talisman slipped out of my hand as I approached the roof. I was that close. I could see Hettie and the headmaster standing there, waiting for me, expecting me to make it, smiles on their faces …”
He gulped, his voice shaking as he continued. “I also saw their faces as the horror filled their gazes when they realized I wouldn’t make it.” Trace shuddered, the movement obvious in his voice as he said, “And I knew something really bad would happen.”
“All that said, no way am I staying here for a whole year,” Annalise said. “I don’t even belong here at all. I wasn’t part of the group. I wasn’t supposed to be on the roof. I used to go up there when I needed some space. So that’s why I was up there at that time. When I saw the darkness, I lunged for the headmistress but was caught up in this mess. Hettie must have recognized I shouldn’t be there because she tried to pull me out of it.”
“That’s possible. You probably weren’t scheduled to do your quest for another year.”
“Or it’s possible I don’t have any abilities, like you all have, and wasn’t meant to come at all,” she said in disgust. “Wouldn’t it be so typical of my world I get involved in a group of the chosen, and yet I’m not one of them?” But instead of stressed or teary-eyed, she just got angry. “Why the hell is this happening to me? I didn’t even want to go to the damn school in the first place.”
Trace gave a shocked gasp. “What do you mean? Why didn’t you want to come to the school? It’s the best school ever.”
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Analise's Quest Finding Magic, Blair Drake, Paranormal Romance by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
NaNoWriMo – A Tale of 50,000 Words in Thirty Days – WOW!
Along with millions of writers around the world, (okay maybe not millions, but close) I’m participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWrimo).
A challenge to
write fifty-thousand words in thirty days. For weeks, our minds have worked out the logistics of the story, our fingers are twitching to tap that keyboard and kick off the race to our latest novel. The National Novel Writing Month challenge is a great confidence builder and something we writers look forward to November 1st every year.
NaNoWriMo as it’s fondly referred to has become somewhat of a tradition for me starting in 2010. I’ve made my goal of at least 50,000 words every year since with the exception of 2013. That year I failed miserably at only 17000 words. My day job was a monster, the hours were long,and by the time I arrived home, I was the monster. Anyone know what I mean? But I digress, at 17,000 I still had a working story, plot and characters. Yeah! Finished it up in the months that followed, polished the manuscript and submitted it. Since that time, I left the monster of a day job and writing is now my full-time job, and I love it. CHARM ME AGAIN is my 10th novel since 2015.
Click on the cover to read more or purchase.
Ten novels that NaNoWriMo helped me to create have been published by The Wild Rose Press. Last year’s NaNo project, CHARM ME AGAIN is available for pre-order right now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble. and itunes Yippee! CHARM ME AGAIN releases December 9, 2019, just in time for Holiday shopping! Psssst…. to help you with your holiday shopping, my e-book of A WITCH’S HOLIDAY WEDDING is on sale beginning November 15th for 99 cents for a limited time at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and itunes. Download a copy today and join the magical, romantic fantasy adventure, you’ll never want to leave!
This year for NaNoWriMo I’ll be working on GYPSY MAGIC the third book in A Witch’s Journey Series. I’m so excited to share Brock and Gwen’s story and return to the world of Pepper and Lathen and wildlife rescue!
Along with the Romance Writers of America and Pikes Peak Writers group, who gave me the tools, NaNoWriMo gave me the confidence needed to stick my toe in the murky waters of the publishing industry. The 50,000 words, approximately 1,667 per day, usually is three-quarters of a pretty darn good novel. Each year I build on what I’ve learned throughout the year and use it to complete the NaNoWriMo challenge. The camaraderie among participants is phenomenal making the challenge a fun way to kick off the holidays!
Wish me luck! Keep checking back for updates on my progress this year. Will I make the 50,000 words? Only time will tell, but you can bet I’ll do my best! I know you’ll be cheering me on! If you have a chance, I’d love you to leave me comments of encouragement.
Have a fun and safe Thanksgiving! Eat lots of turkey and enjoy family and friends. After all that’s what its all about!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged 000 words, 30 days, 50, A Witch's Holiday Wedding, Charm Me Again, NaNoWriMo, Novel Contest, November, Paranormal Romance, Tena Stetler, World wide, Writers by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
