Please welcome Jennifer August, a new member to Yellow Rose RWA chapter. Jennifer admits she’s a bit of a drama-mama! Her whole life she’s been accused of being the ham, going round the barn to get in the barn door, talking too much in class and having a wicked, wild imagination. Of course, everyone knows that means she was destined to be a writer!
She loves to write and believes it’s challenging and energizing. Plus, it means all those voices she hears in her head are perfectly normal. Sound familiar? Most of all, though, she adores romance. She’s a total sucker for that happy ending. But she also loves the journey the characters take to find that ending.
Jennifer writes erotic historical novels, the first of which – HER DARK MASTER — will be published through Red Sage’s online E-book program on September 1st.
She says: “This erotic Regency was an incredibly fun project for me and I hope you will enjoy it. I’m hard at work on a new project, with plans for many more.”
CC: Jennifer, tell us how long you’ve been writing?
JA: Hi Carolyn, thanks for having me! How long have I been writing? Hmm, well, I hand wrote a 32 page masterpiece of romance when I was 16, but I don’t think that counts. I’ve been seriously pursuing and actively writing since 1997. That was the year my brother bought me admission to a writer’s conference. It came with a year’s membership to the Trinity Writers Workshop. Best thing that ever happened to me.
CC: Yes, Trinity Writers is a wonderful resource. Many of the Yellow Rose members participate in that group also. Who has been your greatest inspiration?
JA: My family. They have always been proponents of live free and without a net (and I don’t mean Funicello!) From my parents and my brother, I received constant support, heckling (that would be from my brother) and absolute confidence. Plus, we’re a disgustingly loving family – we’ve been told we make the Waltons look dysfunctional. Growing up surrounded by so much love and passion, always displayed openly and unabashedly, how could I not be inspired to write romance?
CC: What has helped your writing the most?
JA: Trinity Writer’s Workshop. I had NO clue about rules, formatting, POV – basically anything writers know, I didn’t. TWW is a multi-genre group which focuses weekly meetings on read and critique. It was the most invaluable experience I could have had as a new writer. Not only did I receive excellent help, I learned how other genres deal with pacing, characterization, etc. With all the cross-genre writing going on now, it was an excellent thing to learn. After that, finding the right critique partners was critical. It’s a very personal decision to have one or more and not everyone needs to. Plus chocolate and Diet Dr. Pepper. I could never write without those two staples.
CC: I’m with you on the chocolate and Dr Pepper, Jennifer! I wonder how people functioned before Dr Pepper was available? Do you set goals for yourself? How do you manage to write around a day job and family?
JA: Ah, goals. Such a small word with so much power. I do set goals, but of course I don’t always achieve them. I try not to beat myself up for that. But I also try not to let it slide too often. Back in the “old days” the term BIC-HOK was coined. Butt In Chair – Hands on Keyboard. And really, that’s all that matters in the end. If you sit down to write, you’ll get something done. Emails and FaceBook don’t count as writing (more’s the pity!)
Writing, like dieting, takes discipline. And like dieting, I’ve tried every method out there for setting and achieving my writing goals. Elaborate boards with dates and word/page counts; Excel docs that tabulate how many words or pages I need to write in order to hit a deadline; carrying a pen and paper with me at all times and scribbling notes every time I stop. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t.
I do have a full time job and a family. I have to ensure that they are getting their time with me and vice versa. I don’t want to be an absentee mom or daughter or sister, so when someone asks to go to the movies, garage saling or playing Rock Band, unless I’m seriously behind, I happily comply. I make time for writing and family and that’s helped keep both fresh and vibrant.
For method – I’ve found mental tricks and accountability help tremendously. My current regimen is this: I belong to Write_Now, a Yahoo Group based on Candace Havens’ Writing Game. Every day we receive an email with a random number of words that we must write or pages we must revise. Sometimes it’s high, sometimes it’s low. But it’s always there, waiting to be done. We all report our successes and failures and we support each other no matter what. It’s been great, especially to re-develop the discipline of writing every day. The other thing I do is give myself a sticker for every day I write. In my planner, I write the number of words I achieved and put a pretty, sparkly sticker there. I’m visual, so looking back at the calendar over the year really helps put in perspective what I’ve done! Yay me!
CC: Great advice. I hate people asking me where I get my ideas or, worse, could they give me their idea and then we could split the money after I write up the idea and sell it. What do you tell people who ask you where you get your ideas?
JA: LOL – it’s an interesting question to answer when you write erotica! Most of the time I tell an abbreviated version of the truth. I get a lot of ideas from words or phrases or crazy thoughts. “What if” are the two greatest words in a writer’s arsenal. What I don’t usually say is where those thoughts come from or how truly naughty they are. I’ll save that for the book when I write it.
CC: Do you write only historicals?
JA: No, I write contemporaries, too, but I prefer historicals. I just feel safer in those by-gone eras. I do have the habit of writing strong women in my historicals – ones who if they’d really acted that way back then would have been beaten and imprisoned. But hey, that’s why it’s fiction, right? I want the ambiance, but I want my heroines to be able to go toe-to-toe with their soulmates. Sassy is good.
CC: What are your favorite reads? What are you reading now?
JA: I am an official Julia Quinn stalker. I love her books. I really enjoy Regency, Medievals and the current upsurge in Victorian romances. Now that’s a trend I could get into. I also read contemporary romances that feature romantic suspense and home and hearth characters. Fantasy is also a huge thing for me. I’ve read David Eddings’ Belgariad series probably a hundred times, no exaggerating. Elfquest totally rocks. Right now I’m re-reading all the Julie Garwood historicals. I read one a night if time permits. I’m counting down the days til August 24 for Karen Hawkins’ last McLean Scotland book and I’m agonizing over the wait for Jo Davis’ next Fire book. If you have not read those, go get them NOW.
CC: I’ve read all the Julie Garwood books at least twice. Are you a heavy plotter, a pantser, or a combination of the two?
JA: I’ve mellowed into a combination of the two. I must know my characters first and foremost. They talk to me and they drive the story, the plot and all the twists. I try to jot down the big points, especially if there’s a mystery of any sort involved. Usually though, I have a few pages of handwritten notes and an outline that is one page long and a bullet list. It reads almost like a grocery list. No emotion, no description, just the facts. Joe Friday would be proud (blushing, but proud).
CC: Is there anything else you’d like to tell us about your writing or yourself?
JA: I love talking to and helping writers, especially new ones. I will forever be grateful to Sharon Rowe. She’s showed me with kindness, compassion and infinite patience how to be a good writer and to give back to the writing community. I aspire to be as great a mentor (highly doubtful, though) to new writers as Candace Havens is. I’m always available, so if you have questions about anything, ask me. If I don’t know the answer, I will make darn sure I find someone who does.
I’m always thinking of new stories, new characters and am looking forward to getting them all out there. I love talking to people and would love to hear what you think. Email me!
P.S. Bad jokes are da bomb! Here’s my favorite, ever: A three-legged dog walked into a bar and said, “I’m looking for the man who shot my paw.”
CC: Sharon Rowe has mentored many people. What a sweetie she is. But back to Jennifer August. Please submit your comments or questions for Jennifer. And please check her website at www.jenniferaugust.com and get her ebook HER DARK MASTER at www.eredsage.com
Jeanmarie Hamilton’s historical release release, SEDUCTION, from Highland Press has garnered great reviews. In addition, her novella, ARE YOU COMING TO THE DANCE?, is out this month in the anthology NORTHERN ROSES AND SOUTHERN BELLES from The Wild Rose Press. Please help me welcome long distance Yellow Rose member Jeanmarie to our Yellow Rose RWA blog.
CC: Jeanmarie, thank you for sharing your time with us. We want to learn more about you and your writing process. How long have you been writing?
JH: I’ve always wanted to write stories and have been writing since my first year in elementary school. My first story was so important to me that I remember sitting at the dining room table across from the side board. All by myself, I wrote my first story of about half a page on wide-lined paper.
CC: Your current releases are historical. Do you only write in that genre?
JH: Historical is my first love for writing. I’ve also discovered I like to write contemporary, shapeshifter– whether historical or contemporary, and fantasy.
CC: What is your favorite setting?
JH: I’d have to say that my favorite setting is the Old West, with Regency and Victorian England a close second.
CC: You mention on your website that you’re a Texas native and have a lot of ancestors from Texas. Do you ever use family lore in your writing?
JH: Yes! I’ve found so much inspiration from my Texas family stories. Since I’m writing fiction, I’m careful not to write about the actual people. My characters develop in my own imagination, usually in a scene sparked by a family story. The writing muse takes it from there.
CC: What are some occupations you’ve had, and do you ever use those in your writing?
JH: I’ve worked at several jobs. In college I worked part time at a department store and an insurance agency as a clerk. Later I worked as a real estate agent. Before I concentrated on writing, I worked in my parents’ garden center business as a silk flower arranger and greenhouse manager. We sold lots of orchid plants and our greenhouse was filled with their gorgeous blooms. One of my contemporary romances is centered around an old family garden center left to a granddaughter.
CC: Do you plot your books or are you a seat-of-the-pants writer?
JH: I have to plot my stories before I write. I like to write with a completed synopsis handy for reference. Sometimes my synopsis becomes so detailed I refer to it as a short first draft. I like to break the synopsis down to chapters. If I need to make adjustments or changes that’s easy enough to do as I write.
CC: When you’re not writing, what are your favorite past times?
JH: I enjoy reading my favorite authors when I have time. I also like to study sites and information about pre-historic people, those who lived in the Southwest before the pueblo period, paleontology and dinosaurs, geology and the fossil records, landscape and equine oil painting, garden landscaping, and interior decorating. I also love watching romantic movies new and old, and listening to music of all kinds, Rascal Flatts being my current favorite.
CC: Of what groups are you a member?
JH: I’m a member of many writing groups including RWA, Hearts Through History, From the Heart, Future Fantasy and Paranormal, Passionate Ink, Scandalous Victorians, and Yellow Rose RWA. I may have left out one or two.
CC: Tell us about writing SEDUCTION and a little of the plot.
JH: I wrote the idea for Seduction in my story idea notebook back in 1997. I worked on it off and on for several years, entered it in a few contests, in one of which it placed second. Put it away while I wrote a couple more novel length stories, and then edited it again and entered it in the American Title II contest in 2005. When it was picked as a finalist, I was thrilled. After the contest, I decided to find a publisher for it, and it was published this past March. It’s loosely sort of a pygmalion story. I based the heroine’s backstory on events in Texas following the Civil War, when raiders robbed people for horses and whatever valuables they could carry away. My Texas family was robbed by some raiders who also killed other innocent people. In SEDUCTION, the heroine has been supporting herself by singing in saloons and then opera houses in various towns, since losing her family to murderous raiders in Texas. Here’s a blurb for Seduction:
Belinda Rose is two people. On stage, she’s a confident vocalist who entertains her audiences. Alone, she longs for a secure home and her own opera house where she can entertain or book others to perform. She carries with her the painful memories of her past, but won’t be denied her future. Can her love for a handsome businessman derail her plans?
Cole MacPherson has become a wealthy entrepreneur in spite of his loveless childhood. Believing he doesn’t know how to love, he seeks power instead. What a shock when a beautiful singer knocks him for a loop. Could he learn to love? Does he dare?
CC: How did you come to participate in an anthology?
JH: Some of the members of Scandalous Victorians, an online group of historical writers, talked about writing novellas for a Civil War anthology for The Wild Rose Press. The stories could be based before, during, or after the war. I had wanted to write about the local militia units formed in Texas during the Civil War. Members of the local militias protected their towns, and that took the place of joining the Confederate army for some young men and their fathers in Texas. I joined the anthology with my novella, “Are You Going to the Dance?”
CC: Do you prefer writing full length novels or novellas?
JH: I like both. I wrote several full length novels before learning how to write the shorter novellas. Each one has its good points.
CC: What type books do you read most and who are some of your favorite writers?
JH: I read mostly western historical and regency or Victorian romance with some contemporary thrown in. Some of my favorite authors are Diana Cosby, Marin Thomas, Jane Leopold Quinn, Caroline Clemmons, Denise Eagan, Lorraine Heath, Mary J. Forbes, Kate St. James, Karen Whiddon, Sherrilyn Kenyon, and Stacey Kayne… the list goes on.
CC: Is there anything else you want readers to know about you?
JH: I also write erotic romance under the pseudonym, Jenette DuPris, and have a shapeshifter erotic romance novella, PURE HEAVEN, out now at Red Rose Publishing. It’s part of the “Legends of Loving, Texas,” series.
My western historical, SEDUCTION, is available in print at Amazon.com and Barnes and Nobles.com.
ARE YOU GOING TO THE DANCE? appears in the anthology, NORTHERN ROSES AND SOUTHERN BELLES. It’s available for pre-ordering now in both print and download at The Wild Rose Press. I’m involved with the other authors of this anthology, including Caroline Clemmons, in a blog tour the first week of August. I’ll be posting with them on Petticoats and Pistols on August 2, where I’ll be giving away a $10 certificate to use at The Wild Rose Press. Those who leave a comment are invited to enter a drawing for an autographed print copy of NORTHERN ROSES AND SOUTHERN BELLES. The drawing will be at the end of the blog tour. Hope to see you all there!
CC: Please help me thank Jeanmarie for sharing her evening with us. Check out Jeanmarie’s gorgeous website designed by Rae Monet at www.jeanmariehamilton.com
Please welcome Yellow Rose RWA Chapter President and published author Michelle Miles. Michelle began her prolific writing career long ago in junior high when she and her then best friend wrote and illustrated their own Indiana Jones comic books. Star Trek fan-fiction quickly followed, as did Star Wars. Later, she dabbled in her own science fiction stories and historical fiction–princesses, towers, and handsome princes! Michelle finally found her footing on contemporary ground with her first novella, TALK DIRTY TO ME. Michelle is a member of Romance Writers of America and is a native Texan residing in Fort Worth. In her spare time she enjoys watching hockey, reading, adding to her shoe collection, and drinking coffee. Michelle’s latest book, TAKE ME I’M YOURS is available now from Cobblestone Press.
CC: Were you one of those kids who daydreamed a lot?
MM: Oh, yes. I used to daydream my classroom hours away. I always imagined myself as being saved by some hunky guy (at the time it was either Indiana Jones or Han Solo–I sense a theme).
When I was little, I thought I would be a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader when I grew up. At the time, I took dance class from Texi Waterman, who was the choreographer for the cheerleaders (this was way back in the 1970’s. mind you) and so I go to meet a lot of them. As a youngling, I was awestruck by them. One of my favorite gifts as a child was my Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders pom-poms. I loved those things.
I took dance for fifteen years–classical ballet mostly. I really thought, when I was younger, that I would end up in the theater. But the theater bug never really bit me.
And then, when I first saw “Raiders Of The Lost Ark” I wanted to be an archaeologist. Of course, since I daydreamed my classroom hours away, I never really had the aptitude for school. By the time I hit high school, I was so over school. I knew college wasn’t for me. It was about that same time that I realized I could be anything I ever wanted to be–a damsel in distress, a cheerleader, and archaeologist–if I wrote books. And so, I wrote my first story and a writer was born. 
Sadly, I think my son has the daydream bug. He does it a lot. And I’m constantly battling the teachers about his inability to finish work and pay attention.
CC: When did you write your first story or book?
MM: The first story I wrote was in my freshman English class. My teacher was rather boring and English came easy to me. I always breezed through Grammar and Literature. So I filled the time by starting a short story about a princess, her evil uncle, the Duke, and the love who would save her from the Duke’s tyranny. Silly. Thank goodness it’s lost and gone forever.
Then later, I wrote my first full length novel. About 250 pages, handwritten, on notebook paper. Filled front and back. A science fiction story set in space and reminiscent of “Star Wars.”
CC: Did you read a lot as a child and, if so, what kind of books?
MM: I remember having tons of the Golden Books and playing Library with them. That’s one of my earliest memories of being surrounded by books. As a “tween” I read all the Laura Ingles Wilder books and then those really old books by Elswyth Thane my mother read as a girl. I was introduced to romance with Victoria Holt.
Then, I ignored books for a lot of years (tragic) because they forced us to read in school, which I hated. I never want to do anything if I’m told I have to do it. It’s just me. 
As I got older, I discovered my true love – fantasy. I devoured (and still do) everything by Patricia A. McKillip. She’s a fantastic fantasy author. And, all grown up, I rediscovered romance again. I’m still a fantasy fan of all sub-genres. Dark urban fantasy is a big fave right now.
CC: Lets talk about your own books. Tell us about the Coffee House Chronicles.
MM: Ah, yes. TALK DIRTY TO ME is the first of the Coffee House Chronicles. I wrote it on a whim. Just for fun.
Back in 2002, I wrote a really bad story for NaNoWriMo about nanotechnology and a bunch of other crazy stuff. It was awful writing, awful plot, awful everything. But in that story I had a coffee house–The Bitter End. It sort of spawned the idea for the first book. That was the first book to feature The Bitter End and then it just went from there. Fast forward to last year. I started writing TAKE ME I’M YOURS with Marion and I had no clue where itwas going. So I decided it would be another Coffee House book and, VOILA, Graeme was born. I decided Graeme needed to be a web designer by day and a painter by night. Because what’s more romantic than the two of them together?
CC: How did you come up with the BEND IN TIME sotry? Did it require a lot of research?
MM: One of my first writing gigs was a serial for Keep It Coming, now a defunt site. But, it gace me the first glimmer of what it would be like to be a paid writerwith deadlines. I had two serials with the site and they were bi-weekly. Issues went out on Tuedays and Fridays. Which meant I had to write like a fiend to keep up with both serials.
Oneof the serials was THE ADVENTURES OF RANSOM ANDFORTUNE and it was a time tracel about a firl and a hit man stuck in time together. I really wanted towrite a time travel. To up the ante on the story, I threw in the hitman (Dane Fortune).
I eventially sold it as a serial a second time to another now defunct site. But the saving grace with that was that my editor worked for Samhain as an editor and took the serial on as a novel. I was already writing the Coffee House books for Samhain, so it kept me with them. And so, A BEND IN TIME was born. My editor and I sectioned off the serial into two books and I sold the second one as A BREAK IN TIME. They’re both now in print.
CC: Name some ofthe books on your to-be-read stack.
MM: Do contest entries count? I’m judging some at the moment. The upcoming Karen Marie Monig boo, DREAMFEVER, for sure. I’ve already pre-ordered it. I’m currently reading Vicki Petterson’s SCENT OF SHADOWS, so the second book in that series is on my pile. Plus I have Nancy Haddock’s LAST VAMPIRE STANDING as well as her first book, LA VIDA VAMPIRE. Plus a whole bunch of other stuff I can’t think of off the top of my head.
CC: Are you a native Texan?
MM: YES! And a proud one. I was born in Mesquite.
CC: Does your writing reflect your real life?
MM: Oh, gracious no. It’s all made up.
CC: The Coffee House Chronicles sound like they were fun to write. How many more of this series are in yoru plans?
MM: I’m not sure. I do have one in progress about Marion’s friend, Delilah (from TAKE ME I’M YOURS) but I haven’t been very diligent about working on it. I got distracted by my gladiator book and now a futuristic that’s calling my name.
CC: Are you able to write every day? Do you set goals?
MM: I’m a sporadic writer. I wish I could write every day, but sometimes life-stuff gets in the way. Plus I volunteer for a lot morethan I should and my time has to be devoted to some things that involve writing, but not writing. If that makes sense. Now with it being summer and the kid home all the time, it makes it difficult for me to write at night. I kinda like hanging out with him and Man during the evenings and find myself ignoring the computer more and more. Now, all that said, when I do get the bug to write, I can usually crank out abour 30,000-40,000 words a month. Which is really not a good idea. I really must learn to set daily work counts and stick toit. Iadmire those who can.
CC: What words of advice to you have for someone struggling to become published?
MM: Never give up. Keep writing no matter what. And educate yourself on the industry as much as possible.
CC: Do you write in your day job, or is writing an escape or pressure valve for you?
MM: Fortunately, no. I don’t think I’d be good at technical writing at all. Writing is an escape for me. A way to get away from the doldrums and out of the real world into an imagined world where anything and everything can happen. I may not be writing every day, but I do think about it every single day in some form or fashion.
Welcome to the blog for the Yellow Rose Chapter of Romance Writers of America. Our guest interviewee today is multi-published author Denise Belinda McDonald. Denise wrote her first stories at age eight, sequels to her favorite moves, The Headless Horseman and When A Stranger Calls. Her writing definitely progressed over the years. When she read her first Nora Roberts’ novel, Denise thought she had found her niche. Although it’s not easy to fill Nora’s shoes, Denise is steadily building her career while raising four boys and a husband, participating in their events, and being active in writing groups. She is immediate Past President of Yellow Rose RWA and has served as President of Trinity Writers Workshop. She’s also a member of Dallas Area Romance Authors and of PASIC. Please welcome her.
CC: Not counting your early sequels, when did you begin writing your first novel?
DM: 2001 when I was pregnant with boy #4. I had read several romance novels and thought, I can do that. I sat down with a spiral notebook and a pen and cranked out two novels during my second trimester. Sure some was to quell the creative urge but some was to keep from going insane with #4 on the way, #3 in diapers, #2 in half day kindergarten and #1 in first grade. Instead of killed the hubby, I wrote about it (and yes, he knows, and has finally stopped sleeping with one eye open).
CC: Are there other writers in your family who encouraged you to write?
DM: My husband definitely, he is quite supportive. He wrote screenplays in college. My mother wrote poetry and has done any number of crafts. She has always been a great support, though every now and again when I get the “Gosh, I still can’t believe you’re published,” it makes me wonder….
Oddly enough my husband’s aunt (who also wrote screenplays) knew I was writing and got me hooked up with a multi-genre writing/critique group in my area. Through them, I found a few women with RWA and came to Yellow Rose, who have always been supportive. All my boys are published through their school too, (three before me) so when I sold my novella they all said it was about time. 
CC: What influenced your choice of genre? Contemporary versus historical?
DM: I’m pretty much a contemporary gal; I can’t say that any one thing influenced it specifically. To be honest, I hadn’t read my first historical novel until a few years ago (it came from the book of the month club by mistake. For fun one afternoon I started it and couldn’t put it down). As long as I can remember, I’ve played the “what if” game when a story on the news or something I hear sparks a germ of an idea. I always picture it in the here and now. And of course, I am the heroine and the hottie de jour-crush is the hero. That’s normal, right?
CC: Do you read a lot and, if so, what genre? Name a few of your favorite authors.
DM: All the time-and in multiple genres. I love Karen Robards, Nora Roberts, Susan Mallery (all of whom inspired me to want to write). As well as, John Sandford, Janet Evanovich and Dean Koontz. Of course, I read all the ‘Buds.
CC: This is really three questions together. What was your first publication? Please list your publications for us. Tell us about your Paintbrush Series.
DM: My first publication was a Novella called HER PASSION released in 2006. I have also published: DEADLY MISTAKES 2006, THE INN CROWD 2007, TRADING FACES 2008, SECOND CHANCES 2009 and coming this summer THE COWBOY PLAN (all from Samhain Publishing).
The Paintbrush series is set in fictional Paintbrush, Wyoming. It’s a ranching/farming community and I have always had a love for cowboys (thanks to my granddad). When the first book in the series came to thought, Wyoming seemed like the logical place. As I started work on the first story, there were so many characters that I hated to narrow it down to one book and instantly the plotlines for 2-4 came to me. Once I had some of book 2’s plot, book 5 formed in my mind-it all seemed natural. Now I have to get busy.
CC: Do you plot your books or are you a pantser?
DM: Both. Some of my books I will have a single scene idea and go from that, some I will plot out completely and some are a hybrid. I will have a few key points and the rest… comes as it comes. So yeah, no enlightenment there. Sorry.
CC: Other than the computer, what are tools you must have to write?
DM: I use my Alphasmart a lot. It fits in my bag (well, I bought the bag to fit the Alphasmart). Pen and paper are always on hand. And music doesn’t hurt-I listen to a lot of music. I have a few silly things too. I have a special writing ring-but only when it’s a first draft. I guess that falls under the superstitions like that of a baseball player. And chocolate. Never a bad thing in my opinion.
CC: With four active children, I imagine you have a hectic life. What is your writing schedule?
DM: While they are at school I try to work as much as possible-though laundry and dishes often beckon. On the weekends, when I have time to myself, I will hole up in my room and write. Oddly enough, if I am out somewhere with my Alphasmart I can usually get several pages done. I think it’s hyper-focus moments.
CC: I think you’ve participated in the November NANO writing challenge. Do you consistently set writing goals for yourself?
DM: I do. I have my list hanging right above my computer so I see it every time I sit down. I tend to make for goals probably twice as much as I think I can handle and that way if I get through half, it will feel like I accomplished something.
CC: What are you working on now?
DM: I am working on book 2 of the Paintbrush series as well as doing edits for a ghost story to start the submission process shortly. I have three or four projects lined up to conquer as well (can’t do one thing at a time).
CC: Is there anything new/different you’d like to try in your career’s future?
DM: That’s a hard one. I think I’d like to be more adventurous and get more work out there. Unfortunately that is a self pacing dictate and as a wife and mother writing can easily get pushed to the back burner (not because they demand my time, but because I worry about taking the time… ah the neurosis of a writer!)
Please thank Denise and/or ask her other questions. In addition, please check out her website at www.denisebelindamcdonald.com.
We’re pleased to have mystery author Misa Ramirez with us tonight from six until eight. Misa is the author of the successful Lola Cruz mystery series. The first, LIVING THE VIDA LOLA, was released by St. Martin’s Minotaur in January ‘09. It’s just been named a local (Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex) bestseller. Her next Lola Cruz novel will be released in 2010.
Misa is a former middle and high school teacher proud to be Latina by marriage. The blonde, green-eyed writer is a California transplant who lives with her husband and five children near Dallas. She has a passion for the Latino culture and Mexican food. Whether it’s contemplating belly button piercings or visiting nudist resorts, she’s always up to the challenge in the name of research. In the meantime, she’s hard at work on a new women’s fiction novel, is published in Woman’s World Magazine, and Romance Writers Report, and also has published a children’s book.
Let me start off the questions. Misa, what attracted you to mystery novels?
How can you not love an author whose heroine says “The minute I pulled into Comancho’s parking lot, the smell of hot oil and fried food carved through the heavy air and seemed to land smack on my thighs.” From LIVING THE VIDA LOLA by Misa Ramirez, published by St. Martin’s. Get the story on Misa and Lola’s success April 16, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Our meeting meeting will be held April 11 from 10 am to noon at the Merlot Room in Grapevine between Glade and Hall-Johnson off of Highway 121. We’re excited to welcome the North Texas Paranormal Investigators!
Come on how to hear about all the things that go bump in the night..and day. And then join us for lunch afterward at Cotton Patch Cafe (across Highway 121).
Our next meeting is Saturday, March 14 at the Merlot Room in Grapevine from 10 am to 12 pm. Lunch following at Cotton Patch Cafe across the highway.
Guest Speaker: Rosemary Clement-Moore
Rosemary Clement-Moore writes smart, funny supernatural mystery novels including the Maggie Quinn: Girl versus Evil series about a psychic girl detective. She writes for young adults—and less young ones who, like her, refuse to entirely grow up. A recovering thespian, she now puts her drama queen skills to work writing books full of “smart (and smart ass) characters” (Kilatt), which allows her to research weird subjects, work in her pajamas and take frequent breaks to play Guitar Hero.
Find Rosemary Online:
Her Webpage: www.readrosemary.com
Her Books: www.maggiequinnbooks.com
Press Page: http://rclementmoore.livejournal.com/135938.html
Publicity Pictures (including book covers): http://gallery.me.com/rclementmoore#100034
Rosemary’s third book, Highway to Hell, releases Tuesday, March 10. She will be signing books at Barnes & Noble in Hurst on Saturday, March 14 from 2-4 pm.
For the February meeting, which is also Valentine’s Day, we’re holding our “First Kiss” contest in lieu of a speaker. For those who wish to participate, submit a “first kiss” scene to be read aloud at the meeting. You can write something new or pull a scene from your current work in progress.Here’s how it will work. Bring your scene (1-2 pages) and turn them in to me at the beginning of the meeting. Please be sure to write your name at the top of the page. I will read the entries aloud to the group and then we vote for three winners: Hot, Hotter, and Hottest. Prizes are: (1) a bag of Dove chocolates; (2) a bottle of wine; and (3) a $10 gift card to Bath & Body Works.
We will continue to meet at the Merlot Room in Grapevine.
Today is the release day of my fifth book from Samhain Publishing.
Read An Excerpt Online
Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 978-1-60504-359-3
Length: Novel
Price: 5.50
Publication Date: January 13, 2009
Cover art by Natalie Winters
Be careful what you ask for. It might come with spurs—and baggage.
The Paintbrush Series
After catching her boyfriend with his pants around his knees while a walking, talking cliché takes “dictation”, Suzanne Walters quits her job, quits her man, quits Texas and moves to Wyoming to find the woman she used to be. Unfortunately, her first five minutes in Paintbrush finds her facing down the town bully in the local diner—and running smack into the one thing she’s not looking for: a wet dream in cowboy boots, Jacob Bowman.
Jacob excels at two things—flying under the radar, and saving his pennies in hopes of running his own ranch someday. He can’t stop thinking about the fantasy in tight Wranglers who nearly mowed him down exiting the diner. The curvy, vivacious spitfire makes his mouth go dry. She’s got her eye on him, as well, but her determination to prove her independence is just as strong as the sexual pull between them.
Life’s knocks have given them both strong hearts, and even stronger wills. As danger looms, that stubborn pride could cost their one chance to discover if there’s something more between them than great sex.
Will they swallow their pride, or will they lose it all?
Warning: Cowboys and horses and bullies OH MY! Sweet, sweet loving and a little rowdy behavior.