Monday, January 26, 2015

Stormee Waters - A New Release from Lynda J Coker

Today I'm sharing the good news of Lynda's new release, available now at online retailers!

Dirk Savage never fails to acquire what he wants until he encounters Stormee Waters and a backwash of trouble...
Stormee Waters knows about hard times. Needing to care for her aging grandmother and teenage brother, she moves to Houston, Texas and takes a writing job for a popular magazine. Her first assignment is to interview a successful business man for a series of articles entitled, Make My Man Texas-Sized. Her target, Dirk Savage, appears to have the right criteria. He's adventurous with the air of a conqueror. Admired by his peers and coveted by beauty queens and debutantes, he's just the type of man that Stormee needs to make her first article sizzle and sell. But can she handle the heat when she catches his attention?

Dirk Savage is used to acquiring what he wants, except in the illusive quest for the one woman who can fill his heart. The shock of discovering her in the naive young woman assigned to interview him sets his jaded emotions on high alert. Can he convince her that his pursuit is genuine?

Excerpt

Her palm itched to slap his arrogant jaw. But hitting the most unpredictable man she’d ever met, even in a public restaurant, couldn’t be a smart move. She snatched her phone from his hand. “You’re past being impossible! Who do you think you are—my father?” She shook with indignation.

The bit about their age difference came out of nowhere. The tightening of his concrete jaw confirmed she’d hit the retaliation jackpot. She didn’t bother to hide the smugness in her expression or the satisfaction she received when his complexion darkened with indignation.

“If I were your father, Miss Waters, Id march you out to the car and tan your pretty little backside for not knowing what’s good for you.”

“Take me home,” she hissed through tight lips. Executing a dismissive turn, she stalked toward the exit.

 Dirk stepped in stride beside her and placed his hand in the middle of her back. “Exactly what I’d suggest since you have preparations to finish. A car will pick you up at 5:00 a.m. and get you to the airport in time to make a 6:00 a.m. flight.”
She stopped walking and turned to face him. “I can’t make a reservation that fast. I’m sure the earliest will be tomorrow afternoon, or evening.”

“I have a private plane. I can get you to Chicago quicker than a commercial flight.” He gripped her upper arm and urged her toward the exit.

Stormee balked and rolled her eyes. “I don’t care if you have a space shuttle. You’re not taking me to Chicago.”

Get to know Lynda

  • What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?
I love fabric and I enjoy designing original art pieces for my home. 
          
  • What books might we find on your bedside table?
At the moment, you'd find 18 books of varied genres and lengths. Since I enjoy doing book reviews for my blog, I read a diverse range of stories, including nonfiction.

  • How would you describe yourself in three words?
Dreamer - Procrastinator - Romantic



Lynda is an author of contemporary romance that lingers in a reader’s mind long after they’ve closed the book. She lives in Northeast Texas with her husband of fifty years. They enjoy traveling, trying new foods, spending time with family and friends, and doing community service work together. When she feels the need to take a break from writing, she enjoys creating fabric art.  She offers an open invitation to view both her writing and fabric art on her blog.

To Purchase


Find Lynda on

Friday, January 16, 2015

Annalisa Russo tells us about her "Angels"

Please welcome Annalisa Russo to the blog today. Her new release, An Angel Healed, is available at all online retailers.

Annalisa, do you plot or let the story unfold as you write?
I find using plotting cards to let the story unfold helps when you have to delete or add a scene. In the past I used an outline, but find the cards a great deal more flexible. You never know where your characters will take you!

Do you have trouble saying goodbye to characters?
I fell in love with a character from the first book in the Cavelli Angel Saga, Seth Truitt. He’s twelve in the first book and a “newsie” (a boy who hawks papers in the 1920’s). I couldn’t let gooooo of him, so the series that started out as a trilogy, turned into a Saga where, in the fourth book, Seth returns to Bellaluna, the Cavelli ancestral home as an adult. I don’t know what he’s been up to since he left, but I’m sure he’ll eventually tell me.

What tips would you give a new writer?
Write, write, write! After you send off the query letter, start another book. The first thing an editor will ask if she is interested in your book is “What else do you have for me?”

How did you come up with the title?
The Cavelli Angel Series is based on the love stories of three brothers, Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel Cavelli. Their mother named them after the archangels—and angels they’re not! The titles are An Angel’s Redemption (Michael’s story), An Angel Healed (Raphael’s story), and Angel Lost, Angel Found (Gabriel’s story). I’m writing Gabe’s story as we speak. I hope it will be available in late summer.

I love this! What a great concept.

How much of the book is realistic?
Since I grew up in an overpopulated, second generation, Italian family, the Cavelli Angel Saga books mirror my youthful experiences even though the stories occur in a different time period—the 1920’s. Family values don’t change, sibling loyalties and disagreements remain the same, and the love of parents for their children is timeless.

What are your current projects?
Besides writing the third book in the Cavelli Angel Saga, I’m taking notes for a Christmas story that has been rolling around in my head for a long time. It’s finally coming together, and I’d like to get it down on paper soon.

And now let’s get a little personal…

Who do you see as a hero in your life?
A quiet boy in the sixth grade who was the only one to stand up to the class bully. I’d say all of my heroes have some of the same qualities as that boy.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a teacher. Period. So I became one and then left teaching after a divorce because I couldn’t support my three children on a teacher’s salary. After I had an empty nest, I went back to the profession and taught fifth grade math. Go figure.

What is your favorite drink?
I make pretty good hot chocolate and there is nothing better than the middle of winter in the Midwest, a roaring fire, a good book, and hot chocolate (with a splash of Bailey’s) topped with whipped cream!

Are you fun to go on vacation with?
Yes, I’m flexible, adventurous, and like nothing better than new places. I have a file of torn out magazine articles for when I’m able to indulge myself.

What is your favorite comfort food?
From my childhood: polenta with sausage in tomato sauce and homemade ravioli, And, from my Nonna’s table, the soup of the day that mysteriously has yesterday’s leftover vegetables in it. Cooking is a hobby of mine, and I have a knack for knowing, by reading the recipe, if it will be worth making.

You can find out more on Annalisa by going to her website: www.annalisarusso.com


And follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/RussoAuthor

Find out more about Annalisa’s books on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jshapard

Purchase her books on Amazon