Interview Amber Daulton Author of Lyrical Embrace
Give a warm welcome to Amber Daulton, author of Lyrical Embrace, fourth book in A Deerbourne Inn Series.
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Amber and Lyrical Embrace.
Why should we read this book/series and what sets you apart from the rest and makes your book/series unique?
Lyrical Embrace is book four in the Deerbourne Inn series, a multi-author collaboration of novellas all set in the small fictional town of Willow Springs, Vermont. My story, in particular, is about a young woman who is trying to find herself after getting out of a bad relationship, and I’m sure a lot of women could relate to her.
Each story in the series focuses on one couple, the inn, small town life, and finding a happily ever after. The authors are sharing some of their characters, and it’s been great fun working with them and tossing ideas back and forth. The series stock characters include most of the town’s inhabitants, and those secondary characters jump from story to story, so you never know who will show up in the next book.
The stories range in heat level between sweet, sensual, and erotic. Some stories take place in the 1800s (around the town’s founding) and others are set in modern day.
What secret do you use to blast through writer’s block?
When I cannot concentrate or when everything I’m writing sounds wrong, I take time off to read in the genre I’m trying to write in. If I’m writing a romantic suspense, for example, I have to read RS books and nothing else. Usually, after a few weeks, my creative muse starts flowing, and I can finally get back to work!
How long have you been writing?
I published my first book when I was 26, but I’ve been writing since I was 12 after sneaking a Harlequin book out of my mom’s bedroom.
Lyrical Embrace is my eleventh publication, but I have about ten more manuscripts on my computer waiting to see publication.
Why do you write what you write?
I write in a variety of romantic sub-genres because I love them all. They include contemporary, romantic suspense, historical, western, NA, erotic romance, time travel, and paranormal. Some story ideas can fit in multiple settings and genres, but others fit in only one or two categories, so I like to keep my options open and my muse flowing to wherever it takes me.
What’s your approach to writing? Are you a plotter or follow your characters flow (Pantser)?
I plot as much as I can, but sometimes I get new ideas after I start writing. I usually follow the new path but always try to spin the story back on track. To plot, I use a pen, lots of paper, and highlighters. Sometimes I jot notes down in a Word doc. Before and during the writing of the MS, I write up character descriptions for every character in the book (no matter how minor) in a Word doc, which usually defines the character’s name, age, height, hair and eye color, important miscellaneous facts, and what articles of clothing they wear in each chapter. Doing these character write-ups helps me keep little mistakes down to zero. For example, it’s frustrating for me as a reader to read a story where the heroine is wearing a blue shirt in one chapter and then wearing a green shirt in the next chapter, and she wasn’t supposed to have changed her clothes. Little mistakes like that always draw me out of a story, so I definitely don’t want to make similar mistakes in my own writing.
SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN:
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: Die Hard
Favorite color: Purple
Stilettos or flipflops: Boots!
Coffee or tea: Tea
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: Paperback
Pencil or pen: Pen
Streak or not: Yes!
Favorite dessert: Chocolate
Favorite junk food: Doritos
Favorite thing to do to relax: Binge watch TV shows
Champagne or gin: Vodka
Paranormal or Historical: Paranormal
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Wonder Woman
Favorite TV show: Supernatural
Hot or cold: Cold
POV: Third
I’d die if I don’t have: My hubby, Greg
Review or Not: Review
A little about Lyrical Embrace
Out-of-work violinist Erica Timberly decides enough is enough. She leaves her abusive boyfriend and flees the big city, but then her car breaks down in the middle of the night. Though wary of men, she accepts help from Dylan Haynes, a stranger driving by on the road, and soon recognizes him as the sexy former drummer of her favorite indie rock band. Maybe, just maybe, her run of bad luck is finally turning around.
Music teacher Dylan Haynes knows Erica is in trouble, and her black eye is only the first clue. The stubborn yet vulnerable woman needs a friend, but he’s determined to give her everything she deserves.
Will Erica listen to the music in her heart and trust Dylan, or will her past always threaten her future?
A sneak peek between the pages of Lyrical Embrace!
Erica checked her watch. “It’s almost nine o’clock. What do you want to do now?”
“I have something in mind, but I’d like to surprise you.”
“Ooooh, interesting.” She braced her elbows on the table, weaving her fingers together, and braced her chin on her linked hands. “The movie theater in Montpelier?”
“Nah, it’s too late to go there tonight. The back-to-back movie marathons will have already started by now.”
“You’ve piqued my interest. C’mon, let’s go.” Erica handled the check, to Dylan’s irritation—she asked him to dinner, after all—but he took care of the tip.
After they left the tavern, Dylan pulled her close and circled his strong arms around her waist. Heat radiated from his body as he kissed her in the parking lot.
The shock of his lips on hers stilled Erica’s heart, but then the organ jump-started like an engine. Erica kissed back, desperate to taste him, and she savored the hint of spice on his tongue. She moaned and gripped the soft fabric of his shirt, almost ready to tear his clothes off.
Buy Links:
Goodreads , Amazon, Barnes and Noble
About the Author
Amber Daulton is the author of the romantic-suspense series Arresting Onyx and several standalone novellas. Her books are published through The Wild Rose Press and Books to Go Now, and are available in ebook, print on demand, audio, and foreign language formats.
Amber lives in North Carolina with her husband and four demanding cats. Feel free to visit her at http://www.amberdaultonauthor.blogspot.com.
Social Media Links
Facebook Author Page – www.facebook.com/amber.daulton.author
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AmberDaulton1
Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/amberdaulton5/
Goodreads – www.goodreads.com/author/show/6624921.Amber_Daulton
Amazon Author Page – http://amzn.to/14JoZff
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/amberdaultonauthor/
Book Bub – https://www.bookbub.com/profile/amber-daulton
Book Gorilla – https://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B00ALQITWY/amber-daulton/kcc
Smashwords – https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/amberdaulton
LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/pub/amber-daulton/87/538/368
Google Plus – https://plus.google.com/u/0/+AmberDaulton
The Wild Rose Press – https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/2362_amber-daulton
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Lyrical Embrace!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Amber Daulton, Contemporary Romance, Deerbourne Inn, Lyrical Embrace, romantic suspense by Tena Stetler with 21 comments.
Interview Ani Gonzalez Author of The Christmas Countdown
Happy holidays to all! Give a big welcome to Ani Gonzales, author of The Christmas Countdown. 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 find out a little about Ani and The Christmas Countdown. Thanks for joining us! Psst… don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway at the bottom of this post!
Thanks for featuring my book, The Christmas Countdown, on the blog. It’s a fast-paced, hilarious and adorable sweet holiday romance which was a blast to write and I’m super excited to share it with readers.
My pleasure. Now tell us what defines you as an author? As a person? Are they one and the same?
I’m known for my funny, quirky small towns, my madcap situations, and my creative use of folklore and traditions. This new series, for example, is set in the Holiday Lake, Minnesota, a town that celebrates Christmas 365 days of the year. It takes place in December, so things are already pretty crazy. I take things up to 11, however, when my event planner heroine, Nat Quinn, is asked to arrange a perfect family Christmas in twenty-four hours. Nat is known as “The Christmas Queen,” but is she up to the job and the romance that is coming her way?
What is Christmas like where you live? Don’t be shy, tell us your secrets.
I’m originally from Puerto Rico and Christmas is a HUGE deal down there. The holiday season starts with Thanksgiving and doesn’t end until late January with the Feast of St. Sebastian. It’s one big non-stop party.
What inspired this particular story?
I lived in Minnesota for two years and spent a ton of time traveling across the Midwest. One of our road trips took us to the town of Amana in Iowa. It was settled by German immigrants and still retains its original Bavarian architecture. As soon as I saw those adorable gingerbread buildings (and the many, many shops selling Christmas ornaments) I knew I had my holiday town.
Why should we read this book/series and what sets you apart from the rest and makes your book/series unique?
Definitely the mix of humor and heart. My books are funny and lighthearted, but also heartwarming., and there’s always a little twist or a surprise at the end.
What’s your favorite part of being an author?
I get to live in the worlds I create! My readers always say that they would love to move to my little towns and I get to live there all year round. It’s fantastic.
Speed Round FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN: (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh> And she can’t do it. LOL Oh well we don’t care. It all for fun!
Favorite Christmas Movie: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Favorite Christmas Book: The Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie
Last Christmas or Holiday Book Read:
Favorite color: Orange
Stilettos or flipflops or elf shoes: I live in the Midwest so Uggs are the preferred footwear right now.
Coffee or Tea or Hot Chocolate: Constant Comment tea from Bigelow
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: Ebook!
Pencil or pen or candy cane: Pencil, so I can erase mistakes.
Favorite Christmas Carol or song: Carol of the Bells, particularly the Lindsey Stirling version from last year. I also love Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s Sarajevo 1985.
All-time Favorite Christmas Present: A cowboy Barbie I got when I was ten. I wrote a holiday story based on her, One Night in the Chupacabras Ranch, and you can get it by signing up for my newsletter.
Favorite dessert: Strawberry pie.
Christmas Candy or Cake: Collin Street Texas Fruitcake. It’s the best.
Favorite Thing To Do to Relax During the Holidays: Watch Hallmark Movies
Champagne or gin or eggnog: I have a favorite recipe for Puerto Rican coconut eggnog. It’s delicious and it’s on my blog.
Paranormal or Historical: Both!
Wonder Woman or Top Model or Tinkerbell: Tink for the win!
Favorite Christmas or holiday TV show: The Grinch!
Hot or cold: Cold!
POV: Third person
I’d die if I don’t have: Candy Corn (that’s why my other series is all about Halloween!)
Review or Not: Review!
Holiday Lake
satisfied. That was one action item taken care of.
mahogany cabinet that served as the study’s bar and grabbed a bottle of scotch
and a glass. A perfect Christmas with his kids. This was worth celebrating.
and poured the amber liquid into the glass. The cut-glass pattern made
everything sparkle, which was rather festive. Now all he had to do was get the
kids on the plane. Everything else would be taken care of.
giving his children the perfect Christmas, there was more to his feeling of
jubilation. He smiled as he realized that the quirky holiday decorator had
improved his mood. She seemed almost entirely too Christmassy to be real, but
she also appeared to be someone you could count on, a quality that was lacking in
this world.
feeling the fiery liquid slide down this throat. That had been a good
negotiation.
forward to the next one. As Nat had said, everyone wanted the perfect Christmas
and it wasn’t all that easy. An eleventh-hour version would, he was certain,
encounter a few challenges, and he had a feeling he would enjoy maneuvering
through them with Ms. Quinn. He felt a lot more confident after talking with
her, like a weight had fallen off his back.
studio, all well-tailored slacks and glossy hair. She definitely wasn’t the
slouchy sweater and Ugg boots type.
packing,” she said, a tinge of worry in her voice. “They sound really
excited. Is she going to do it?”
Cyrus replied. “Did you have any doubts?”
exclaimed with a happy smile. “She was dead set against it. How did you
convince her?”
and bottomless margaritas,” he replied.
accurate. Ms. Quinn had given in when he’d mentioned his kids. That had been
her weak spot. It made sense that a holiday specialist would be a sucker for
kids. They were the point of her job, after all.
know about this Nat Quinn, Leah?” He asked.
fantastic,” Leah answered, eyes shining. “You know Christmas is not
my thing, so it takes quite a lot to wow me.”
Jewish, and she’d worked for some of the wealthiest families in Manhattan and
London. She was notoriously hard to impress.
hired me one week before Christmas and I was blown away. We drove up to the
lodge and it looked amazing with a ten-foot-tall tree, garlands everywhere, and
Mrs. Hagen’s favorite vintage German decorations. Ms. Quinn even found the
large old-fashioned bulbs that Mrs. Hagen wanted. She had an intact set and
everything.”
At least he wasn’t demanding rare Christmas lights and antique ornaments. Ms.
Quinn was likely relieved about that.
was divine,” Leah continued. “The main restaurant has an
all-year-round holiday buffet with a citrus cranberry chutney that is out of
this world. You can use it as a sandwich spread for the leftovers too.”
dreamy as she described the food.
makes this amazing Black Forest cake with cherry Kirsch.” Leah gave a deep
sigh of longing. “It has so much alcohol you can’t drive after you eat it,
but it is delicious. Absolutely worth being housebound afterwards.”
back for the food?” Cyrus asked, swirling the amber liquid in his glass.
by an awkward silence.
“Er, not exactly. The town is lovely and the people are, um, quite
pleasant.” She paused. “Particularly Ms. Quinn. She even gave us some
Chinese food for Christmas Eve dinner, which was very thoughtful.” Her
eyes grew dreamy again. “The kung pao chicken was delicious. I hear the
place closed though, which is a pity.”
hope Ms. Quinn can whip us something similar despite the time constraints.
Given what we’ve given her to work with, we’ll be lucky if she can find a
Christmas tree.”
Noah’s dad—”
her mouth, eyes wide.
raised a brow. “Who’s Noah?”
across her cheeks. “No one. I’ll, er, go check on the kids now.”
the room.
Leah had been working for him for almost two years now, and she’d become part
of the family. Yet he’d never seen her blush, not once.
be a lot more interesting than he’d expected.
computer. A picture of his kids popped up on the screen. It was from the last
time he’d taken Jack to the FDNY open house. His son stood in front of a fire
truck grinning widely while his sister made bunny ears behind his head.
picture, partly because he’d made it to the field trip for a change, but mostly
because Jack was wearing a t-shirt that read “Firefighters Like It
Hot”, seemingly oblivious to the double entendre.
Internet browser icon and waited for the program to load. An e-mail came as he
waited. The sender was Nat Queen at TheChristmasQueen-dot-com and the subject
line read “Contract for Immediate Signature.” The words were
punctuated with a dozen exclamation marks.
was quite efficient, a woman after his own heart.
opened, he typed in “Nat Quinn Holiday Lake Minnesota.” A
surprisingly large number of sites popped up, most of them featuring the
Christmas Queen motto and a mistletoe crown logo.
was a busy gal. She’d appeared on various morning shows, giving holiday
decorating tips. She wrote a column on how to plan the perfect holiday. She had
authored numerous magazine articles on virtually every challenge one could
encounter during the holidays, and at least three of the articles dealt with
gravy consistency. She had done sets for holiday movies.
a beach holiday. The poor woman must be exhausted. She even had a sponsorship
agreement with a candle company. The ads boasted that her Citrus Cranberry
Christmas Delight Candle was their all-time best-seller.
things one could be remembered for.
TheChristmasQueen.com, and was immediately assaulted by loud music, The
Carol of the Bells, if he was not mistaken.
admirable Ms. Quinn had one serious character flaw: She was one of those people
who had pop-up music on her website.
scrolled down. There was another mistletoe crown logo, a recipe section, and
several pictures of lavishly decorated houses.
Ms. Quinn could put on a show. She’d even done a party with a real sleigh and
live reindeer. He peered at the computer screen, jaw dropping in disbelief as
he counted the animals. Eight reindeer, all suitably labeled. She’d done a
holiday party with eight reindeer.
Christmas in a day.
site. She had social media accounts with current pictures of the town. It had
snowed recently and Holiday Lake could rightfully claim that it would be a
white Christmas. The bakery that Leah loved was shaped like a Swiss chalet with
twinkling lights and a giant Black Forest cake replica in front.
it turned out, was re-opening. Leah would no doubt be overjoyed. The Bavarian
Brathaus sounded intriguing and the Holiday Lake Inn would be sponsoring a
Christmas carol concert tomorrow night. The kids would enjoy that.
have a fetish for measuring things. All their statistics were carefully noted
on the various websites. They’d received sixteen inches of snow last week. The
Holiday Lake Inn’s all-you-can-eat turkey buffet had served seventeen gallons
of citrus-cranberry chutney on December 26 of last year. Year-to-date, the tree
farm had sold eight hundred and twenty-two trees.
social media accounts and checked all the friends lists, but try as he might he
could not find what he was looking for.
Leah’s mysterious Noah.
pictures of Nat Quinn. The Christmas Queen seemed surprisingly shy. No pictures
of herself on her website. No selfies on her social media. Nothing.
images search tab and found that the local Christmas tree vendors had a picture
of her. The image was blurry, so all he could make out was a slender woman
standing next to an enormous Christmas tree, but clicking on the picture took
him to the tree seller’s website.
Quinn had filmed a television segment with Northstar Tree Farm, which had aired
on the Minneapolis public television station. The tree farm had the video on
its website.
back to watch.
woman with bright red hair, green eyes, and a loud cheerful laugh. She knew
more than any human being should about decorative conifers, and she could make
a Christmas wreath in five minutes flat. She liked Balsam firs because they
looked shaggy and natural, but she admired the Fraser fir’s longevity. She
wielded a chainsaw like a pro and she did not like artificial trees. As far as
she was concerned, they were an abomination in the eyes of the Lord. She owned
thirty-seven ugly Christmas sweaters and her favorite featured an
unhappy-looking antlered Chihuahua. And she was single.
smiling. Nat Quinn was adorable.
about Christmas.
choice for this job. Even the single part. Not that he cared, of course, not personally.
It just left her free to concentrate on the job.
consideration here, the job.
He scrolled up. He could swear he’d seen—
the top of the website. There it was in all its glory—The Northstar Tree Farm’s
Christmas tree counter.
“zero.”
Zero balsams. Zero Frasers.
he pulled up Nat’s email, opened the contract, and affixed his electronic
signature.
what the Christmas Queen would do.
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Ani Gonzales, Contemporary Romance, Romantic Comedy, The Christmas Countdown by Tena Stetler with comments disabled.
Peggy Jaeger Author of Christmas & Cannolis
Happy holidays to all! Give a big welcome to Peggy Jaeger, author of Christmas & Cannolis. 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 find out a little about Peggy and her Christmas & Cannolis. Thanks for joining us!
What inspired this particular story? I love big families. Since I’m an only child, that makes sense, no? Hee Hee. And I love the American/Italian family I created in 3 WISHES, the San Valentinos. They have a lot of branches on their family tree and I’ve mentioned the pseudo-wiseguy member, Uncle Sonny in both 3 Wishes and A Kiss Under The Christmas Lights, so I wanted to explore him and his family branch. Because family is everything to Sonny, he has a big one. 4 sons and his bellissima figlia, Regina. Regina has known heartache in her life but has been able to pick herself up and move forward with the help of her family. When a new man comes into her life that she’s willing to pledge herself to, her domineering – yet loving – family intervenes, comically though it is, and throws a wrench into her potential happiness. How Sonny deals with the new man is typical of a proud and over protective Italian father. I knew this needed to be a Christmas story because the holidays are all about love, family, and faith, and this family has all
What is your favorite Christmas tradition? When we decorate the four trees I have in my house every holiday season, I play Christmas CD’s all day while I bake and decorate. The smells coming from the oven warm my heart, as do the myriad of brightly decorated trees around my house.
Why did you choose the cover concept you did? Regina San Valentino owns her own bakery, so I knew I wanted at least some kind of bakery or baking scene on the cover. And since the title mentions my favorite Italian dessert – cannoli – I knew I had to have some kind of representation of it as well. Since this is a Christmas story about two people who find each other around the Christmas holidays, the character depiction needed to be festive and positive. What’s more festive than a pair of lovers, garbed in Santa hats, kissing for a romance cover?
Favorite holiday memory : The year my “Santa” left Rock’em Sock’em Robots for me under the tree. Quick backstory: I’m an only child and a girl, to boot, but my favorite toy to ask Santa for when I was 6 was Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots. I didn’t get it, so I asked again when I was 7…then 8….then 9. When I added it to my list on my 10th Christmas, my mother told me that Santa wouldn’t be bringing that to me because I’m a girl and the toy I was asking for was a “boy toy.” Can you spell c-r-u-s-h-e-d? Fast forward 30 years and I told that story around the dinner table of my husband’s parents when we were visiting for the holidays. On Christmas morning there was a huge present under the tree with my name on it and when I opened it…yup! Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots. “Santa” brought the perfect present, 30 years after I asked for it. Love that man!
If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why? Like Wonder Woman’s lasso of truth, I’d want to be able to know when someone is lying. Of all the vices there are in the world – and there are a lot! – I hate lying most of all. I’d use my superpowers to force criminals to tell the truth, politicians to be held accountable for their lies, and force people in general who have hurt one another through vicious lying to be punished.
SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN:
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite Christmas movie: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE 1946, Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed “Every time a bells rings, an angel gets her wings!”
Favorite Christmas book: Scrooge – gotta love a holiday redemption story!
Last Christmas or holiday book read: (HeeHee) my own, CHRISTMAS AND CANNOLIS (!)
Favorite color: green
Stilettos or flipflops or elf shoes: stilettos
Coffee or tea or hot chocolate: WATER!
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: ebook
Pencil or pen or candy cane: candy cane
Favorite Christmas Carole or song: A Cool Yule, by Bette Midler
All-time favorite Christmas present: Rock ‘em Sock’em robots – long story, fav gift!
Favorite dessert: Death By Chocolate Trifle
Christmas Candy or Cake: Cake -always
Favorite thing to do to relax during the holidays Read by the fire
Champagne or gin or eggnog: None. I don’t drink alcohol
Paranormal or Historical: Regency
Wonder Woman or Top Model or Tinkerbell: Wonder Woman
Favorite Christmas or holiday TV show: The original Cartoon GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS ( again, gotta love a holiday redemption story!)
Hot or cold: cold
POV: third
I’d die if I don’t have: Diet Mountain Dew
Review or Not: review!
Tell us a little about Christmas & Cannolis!
With Christmas season in full swing, baker Regina San Valentino is up to her elbows in cake batter and cookie dough. Between running her own business, filling her bursting holiday order book, and managing her crazy Italian family, she’s got no time to relax, no room for more custom cake orders, and no desire to find love. A failed marriage and a personal tragedy have convinced her she’s better off alone. Then a handsome stranger enters her bakery begging for help. Regina can’t find it in her heart to refuse him.
Connor Gilhooly is in a bind. He needs a specialty cake for an upcoming fundraiser and puts himself—and his company’s reputation—in Regina’s capable hands. What he doesn’t plan on is falling for a woman with heartbreak in her eyes or dealing with a wise-guy father and a disapproving family.
Can Regina lay her past to rest and trust the man who’s awoken her heart?
A peek between the pages of Christmas & Cannolis:
It had been a long, long time since a guy’s hands had been on me in anything resembling a carnal way. My ex had decamped to parts unknown five years ago after signing the divorce papers and I’d been so busy rebuilding my life that adding any kind of relationship to it wasn’t even a notion. Besides, with my hovering parents, one of whom worked for me while the other popped in daily to check up on their only daughter, I had enough on my plate fending off the men they wanted to introduce me to. Guys who, for the most part, had shady lifestyles, carried concealed, and owed my father innumerable favors. And by favors I mean the kind that usually get signed for in blood and paid back the same way.
Welcome to mia familia.
Buy Links: Amazon: WILD ROSE PRESS Nook
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.
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
You-Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDR8RRIlssIyS0FYZWeGqsg/videos
BookGorilla: https://www.bookgorilla.com/author/B00T8E5LN0/peggy-jaeger/kcc
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Christmas & Cannolis!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged big American/Italian family, Christmas & Cannolis, Contemporary Romance, Peggy Jaeger by Tena Stetler with 14 comments.
Interviews – Jennifer Wilck Author of Learning To Love
Happy holidays to all! Give a big welcome to Jennifer Wilck, author of Learning to Love. 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. Jennifer, I see you brought friends.
Yes, Tena, I sure did. Meet Adam and Dina from Learning to Love.
Thanks for joining us! Let just hop right in and put Adam on the hot seat first. <Snicker>
Tell us about the real you—I’m a lawyer with my father’s law firm in NJ. I’m trying to make junior partner, which is a crap shoot right now because my dad is a hard ass and I have a bad reputation (some of which is deserved, but most isn’t). I’ve always thought surface reputation is important, but lately, I’m having a change of heart.
What makes you laugh out loud? My best friend, Jake, has always been able to make me laugh. But recently, since meeting Dina, it’s listening to the random pieces of trivia she says in the oddest of situations. You should have been there when we went to my father’s house for dinner. That man is cold and formal, but when Dina started talking about lining whiskey bottles from here to Edinburgh, I thought he was going to fall over.
What makes you angry? Injustice, whether it’s against me, my clients or the people I love—especially when it’s against the people I love.
What event in your past has left the most indelible impression on you? No one told me these questions were going to get so personal. [stares into space for a few minutes] My mom leaving when I was a kid. I don’t understand why she did that, and my father was never the same.
What do you most value? Trustworthiness. I don’t find it a lot, but when I do, man, there’s nothing like it. It’s actually pretty scary at first, especially when I realized that Dina could see through all my bullshit. But then I realized that it just made us closer and that she wasn’t planning on using anything to hurt me. I’d do anything for her.
What do you sleep in at night? Ha! Well, when Dina spent the night (on the sofa—I tried giving her the bed and she refused), I wore flannel pajama bottoms—at least when I came out and made her coffee. But I’m most comfortable sleeping in the nude.
What is the type of woman you want to spend the rest of your life with? That’s easy. Dina Jacobs. If she’d let me. Right now, I’m not so sure. She’s relegated me to the friend zone because she says she’s not my type. But I can’t imagine living without her. She’s warm and funny and brilliant and her hair, god, I love her hair. She makes me feel good about myself and when I’m with her, all I want to do is make her happy.
What do you consider most important in life? Before I met Dina, I would have said a successful career. And I still think that’s important. I mean, if I can’t contribute financially to a relationship, then what am I doing there? But now that I’ve met Dina, I’d have to add someone to share my life with. I’m hoping she’ll agree to share mine.
What is your biggest secret? My dad fired me from the family law firm. A case I was working on got messed up, actually, a few of them, but it wasn’t my fault. Unfortunately, I have a reputation that says otherwise and now I’m paying for it. I haven’t told anyone, including Dina. Right now, I’m trying to find another job. Once I do, then I can tell her everything because she’ll see I’ve overcome adversity and didn’t let it stop me. And then we can be together.
On that note, it’s Dina’s turn.
Who are you really? I’m a librarian and a genius. I’ve never fit in with people my own age. I love to spend the weekend reading and spending time with my few close friends from work or temple.
What makes you laugh out loud? Well, as I said, I’m a librarian, and we’re known for enforcing the quiet, but when I’m not in the library, a really funny book with snappy dialogue and smart wit will make me laugh out loud. By the way, did you know we laugh up to 30 times more when we are in the company of others than when we are by ourselves?
What makes you angry? Mean people. Most recently, Adam’s dad. He has these unreasonable expectations and he insults his son in front of others, including me.
What do you sleep in at night? Well that’s a really personal question! Can we just leave it at pajamas, which, by the way, is a word derived from two Hindi words.
Who were the biggest role models in your life? My parents play a huge role in my life. They’ve always supported me in whatever I’ve wanted to do, even if I haven’t been driven toward high-pressure jobs like my siblings.
What kind of man do you want to spend the rest of your life with? [blushes] Well, I used to think someone exactly like me. And I was recently set up on a date with this guy named Zach who on paper should have been perfect for me—intelligent, kind, considerate. But as nice as he was, he was boring. I’m starting to think Adam is someone I’d want to be with, even though we’re totally wrong for each other.
What kind of man would you never choose? I shouldn’t choose someone like Adam. He’s concerned with surface appearances and goes for those gorgeous, slinky models. [points to her curves and frizzy hair] As you can see, that’s totally not me. But perhaps I’ve been too hasty, because beneath the outer layer that he shows to the world is a deeper man with soul. So I really don’t know how to answer that question.
What is most important to you in life? The most important thing would be books. The most important people are my family, my friends Tracy and Rebecca, and, I’m starting to think, Adam.
What is your biggest fear? Currently, it’s going to my high school reunion. I really don’t want to see the people who looked at me only as someone who could help them cheat on tests. But Adam is telling me I have to go and he’s volunteered to take me. Tracy thinks it’s a great idea, so I guess I’m going to have to face my fear and go.
Thank you for your time Dina. Now let’s see what Jennifer has to say.
Tell us a little about writing this story. Was it fun or difficult? Do your characters always act as you expect? Are you a plotter, or fly (write) by the seat of your pants?
This story was so much fun to write! I knew I needed to write a story for Adam, who has appeared in the previous two books and I wanted a chance for him to redeem himself. And then Dina popped into my head as the perfect love interest for him—quirky and totally different from what Adam thinks he wants. Researching trivia for Dina to spout was a blast. My characters tend to take on a life of their own and these two really did that. I was just along to record their journey.
Oh, I know how that goes! My characters do that all the time. LOL Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to talk with me. Tell us a little more about Learning To Love.
Dina Jacobs is a single librarian who has never fit in due to her off-the-charts intelligence, frizzy hair and rounder-than-socially-acceptable figure. She left her past behind until she receives an invitation to her ten-year high school reunion, and all her insecurities return.
Adam Mandel is a single corporate attorney who just missed his third deadline at his father’s law firm, the law firm where he is up for junior partner. With his reputation on the line, Adam needs all the help he can get to convince his father that he deserves the promotion.
When Dina and Adam run into each other on a deserted road, Dina thinks Mr. Flashypants can’t possibly be interested in someone like her. Adam thinks Dina is just the person to help him improve his reputation. Lies and insecurities force them to take a look at themselves. Can they trust each other to look beyond the surface?
How about a sneak peek between the pages of Learning To Love!
What the hell just happened?She wanted to be friends.The only kind of “friend” he wanted to be with her
had “boy” attached to it. No, that wasn’t true. He enjoyed her friendship because he loved talking to her, hearing her opinions, sharing himself with her.
But he was becoming more attracted to her. So far, they’d only kissed, but that one kiss, that unbelievable kiss, haunted him. His lips still burned where they’d touched hers, his insides still turned to jelly when he thought about it. In fact, he’d been hoping there would have been more kissing in her apartment once he’d apologized for his gaffe.
But she’d focused on their arrangement and her overreaction, and here he was pulling away from the curb into rush hour traffic.
She thought he was dating her only to impress his father. If he were one hundred percent honest with himself, he’d acknowledge the partial truth in that statement. But the more time he spent time with her, when he wasn’t royally screwing things up with her, the more he wanted to move beyond their arrangement.
His head was another matter. It was still focused on not making a fool of himself, on maintaining the right reputation, on spinning the right message.
But listening to his head was probably what had gotten him into this mess in the first place. As unbelievable as it might sound, it was time to follow his heart.
Available from : Amazon, Apple, and Barnes & Noble
More about the Author:
Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.
In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. When she’s not writing, she loves to laugh with her family and friends, is a pro at finding whatever her kids lost in plain sight, and spends way too much time closing doors that should never have been left open in the first place. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.
She writes contemporary romance, some of which are mainstream and some of which involve Jewish characters. She’s published with The Wild Rose Press and all her books are available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Learning To Love!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary Romance, Jennifer Wilck, Lawyer, Librarian by Tena Stetler with 10 comments.
