Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence

Guest Author: Dana Marton & Giveaway!!

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I’m thrilled to have Dana Marton back on the blog today.  Dana writes fast-paced action-adventure romances that take her readers all over the globe. She is a Rita Award finalist and the winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, and she’s been published in seven languages in eleven different countries.  Obviously, she’s both a talented and accomplished writer!  Let’s find out what’s going on with Dana, shall we?

Many in the publishing biz say that romantic suspense is a genre on life support, but I think all the evidence is to the contrary.  Why do you think readers enjoy romantic suspense so much?

Suspense on its way out?! Never! I’m a huge fan of romantic suspense. They’ll have to pry RS out of my cold, dead fingers! And I know the genre has a lot of readers like me. Danger goes so beautifully with romance. What’s more romantic than a hero willing to risk anything, even lay down his life for the heroine? Thanks to my amazing readers, DEATHSCAPE, the first book in my Broslin Creek series was an Amazon bestseller when it came out last year. I hope that means my beloved genre is as strong as ever.

What’s the hook for this series?


Broslin is a small town in Pennsylvania with farmers and mushroom growers, horse farms, simple, honest people. It’s very much like the town I live in where people actually know their neighbors. (And we go to the country store for ice cream 🙂 My heroes all work for the Broslin Police Department. They are very different men, some deeply scarred, yet they form a brotherhood. They are true heroes who will go to any length to serve and protect. So on one hand, here is this sweet little town with the gazebo and the band stand on Main Square, a place where kids ride their bikes down the street. But things happen that will make your toes curl. I love the juxtaposition of that. I’m immensely enjoying writing this series.

What’s your new book, DEATHTRAP, about?

Sophie Curtis is a heart-transplant recipient with some spooky body memories. She’s been in her own antiseptic bubble for so long, she just might not be able to venture out into the real world again.

Whatever shred of optimism Ethan Bing had left after becoming Broslin Chief of Police has been seared out of him by the unsolved murder of his wife two years ago. Then Sophie pops into his life and gets through his defenses like no other before, but he doesn’t think he deserves to move on until he brought his wife’s killer to justice. He doesn’t know that Sophie has been selected as the killer’s next victim.

Sophie also has a secret, which truly tries Bing. How much would you be willing to accept/forgive for the person you love? Is there a limit?

I have to say, I loved writing these characters. They both have weaknesses, but they fight on regardless. I like writing characters that I’d like to be friends with, people who inspire me.

What’s next in Dana’s writing world?

Next up is DEATHWATCH in the Broslin Creek series.

She’s a government witness hunted by an assassin, the only person who can identify the most notorious hit man in the country. The witness protection program is supposed to protect her, but when her safety net fails, Kate Bridges has to run for her life. Murphy Dolan is in the Army Reserves, returning from his 2nd tour of duty, only to find a stranger hiding in his house. She’s scared spitless. He’s completely burned-out on violence. Neither of them has any trust left to give.

If the best of the FBI couldn’t protect her from the country’s most notorious assassin, does a burned-out small town cop have a prayer? 

For my readers today, Dana is giving away a digital copy of Deathscape, book one in her series.  Just tell us what you think about romantic suspense—one life support, or still alive and kicking?  One person who comments will win Dana’s wonderful book!

**Breaking News**  For a limited time, Deathscape is now free on Amazon!  You can download it here!

Guest Author: Cheryl Bolen & Giveaway!!

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I’m so pleased to have acclaimed historical and romantic suspense writer Cheryl Bolen on the blog today.  Cheryl is the author of more than a dozen Regency-set historical romance novels. Her books have placed in several writing contests, including the Daphne du Maurier, and have been translated into 11 languages. She was named Notable New Author in 1999, and in 2006 she won the Holt Medallion (Honoring Outstanding Literary Talent) for Best Short Historical Novel. Her books have become Barnes & Noble and Amazon bestsellers.

Cheryl also writes romantic suspense as well as Regency romance, so let’s find out about that, too.

You had a distinguished career as a journalist before you began writing romance.  Why the switch and why the Regency Period?

I didn’t consciously decide to switch. I wrote the two simultaneously for many years. My first efforts at fiction were romantic suspense, but I wasn’t able to sell those. After I sold my first book, a historical romance titled A Duke Deceived, in 1997, I just decided I’d rather write fiction exclusively. I still like doing articles and blogging about Regency England, which is all non-fiction.

You’ve recently taken another branch in your career – writing for Amazon’s Montlake imprint.  Was it hard to switch gears from historical romance to romantic suspense?

When Montlake originally approached me to write for them, it was on the strength of my historical romance sales, but then when they said they were looking for serial authors, I instantly thought romantic suspense was a better fit for serials. Before I sold my first book, I’d had a lot of success with romantic suspense in contests for unpublished authors, but after I sold a historical, I put all my eggs in one basket, which isn’t the best thing to do for job security. After I started indie publishing some of my out-of-print historicals, I decided to publish some—but not all—of the romantic suspense novels that had never found a publisher. Not every one was well written enough, but surprisingly, the first book I ever wrote (Capitol Offense) when I was in my early twenties didn’t suck too badly. After re-editing it and updating it a lot, it’s now out, and the reviews have been favorable.

What can you tell us about the new book.  It’s in serial form, right?

So glad you asked about my serial, Vanessa! In my Kindle Serial I’ve combined two of my favorite things: traveling to see England’s stately homes with researching English history. My lighthearted romantic suspense, Falling for Frederick, is about a lovely doctoral student who comes across the dead body of the curator of archives in the basement of Siddley Manor, owned by Frederick Percy, Lord of Rockford. Together, my heroine and Frederick have to crisscross England, searching stately homes for a priceless medieval artifact which may lead them to the murderer.

I’d like to say a word here about the Kindle Serials. At present, they offer a new episode of approximately 10,000 words (3 chapters for me) every two weeks. They may be changing the frequency to every week. Whenever someone purchases one of these serials, they pay a one-time fee of $1.99 and automatically get all episodes that have thus far been published. Then each new installment is free. When mine is finished at the end of April, Falling for Frederick will be available as a full-length novel as well as an audio book. It won’t be available internationally until that time. Currently, it’s only available at Amazon.

What’s up next in Cheryl’s writing world?

I’ve been catching my breath. I just finished writing the serial. I had two books come out in October, including a Regency-set inspirational romance (Marriage of Inconvenience) for Love Inspired Historical, a division of Harlequin. Like with Montlake, the senior editor there asked me to write for Love Inspired. She was a joy to work with, and I’ve found a huge market of readers who don’t necessarily want their romances sexy. I need to do proposals for a second stately home murder featuring Frederick and Antonia as well as Book 3 in my well-received Regent Mystery series.

Sounds great!  Folks, Cheryl is graciously giving away a copy of her new Harlequin book, Marriage of Inconvenience.  To be eligible to win, just tell us which genre you prefer, historical romance or romantic suspense, and a bit about why.  Or do you like both?

And by sure to stop by Cheryl’s website for info on all her books!

Guest Author: Dana Marton & Giveaway!

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Frequent visitors to my blog know I love romantic suspense, which often vies with historical romance as my favorite genre.  So I’m really pleased to be featuring the wonderful Dana Marton on the blog today.  Dana writes fast-paced, action-adventure romances for Harlequin Intrigue.  Her books get great reviews, she’s finaled in many contests—including in the Rita Awards of the Romance Writers of America—and she’s won the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence.

Here’s what Noveltalk had to say about Dana’s books:

I have read nearly every book Dana Marton has ever written and I am amazed by her superb stories that just keep getting better and better with each book she writes. I have not been able to put down any one of her books until I have finished them in a matter of hours. Her stories intrigue me!

RT Book Reviews has consistently given Dana great reviews, including a Top Pick for Sheik Protector, which RT called “action-filled and riveting.”


I don’t know about you, but I love me a good sheik story—especially one with suspense and danger—and Dana is a master at writing these kinds of books.  Make sure you check out her Books page to get a full listing of her books, including those with her sexy sheiks!

In addition to her Intrigues for Harlequin, Dana has three new digital novellas she’s recently released, all part of her Agents Under Fire series.  The first in the series Guardian Agent.


Here’s the blurb for Guardian Agent:

When Gabe Cannon’s commando team is tasked with bringing down a rogue solider, he doesn’t expect to come face-to-face with the target’s sister at the showdown instead of the man himself.

Jasmine is trying to lead the team away from her injured brother. Recognizing one of the hunters as her teenage crush is definitely a shock to her system. To save her family, she must convince Gabe that her brother was framed. But can she stop from falling in love with him all over again?

Sexy commandos and first crushes—count me in!

The second book in the series is Avenging Agent, and the third book, Warrior Agent, was just released this month.


Here’s the blurb for Warrior Agent:

Troy Hill has been tirelessly working for months to bring down a corrupt congressman. When the man’s goons capture him and lock him up, he knows they can’t afford to leave him alive. His only chance at escape is the congressman’s new security guard, Claire Montgomery. He expects he’ll have to either manipulate her into setting him free or kill her. He doesn’t expect to fall in love with her.

You can’t go wrong with a story that New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery calls “action packed and breathtakingly romantic!”  If you haven’t ever read any of Dana’s books, these novellas are the perfect opportunity to try them out.

For my readers today, Dana will be giving away copies of her novellas.  Since we’re talking about suspense books, let’s stick with that.  Who are some of your favorite suspense or thriller authors?  Do you like Karen Rose or Brenda Novak, or do you go more for the thriller type book by someone like Lee Child or John Grisham?  Inquiring minds want to know!  Three people who comment will each win one of Dana’s fab novellas.

 

 

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