Guest Author: Pamela Aares & Giveaway!

I have a very special guest with me today.  She’s Pamela Aares, and she writes historical romance with an interesting twist.  Let’s have a chat with Pamela and find out about her books, shall we?

Pamela, before you began writing historical romance you had a fascinating and varied career.  Can you tell us a bit about it, and how that work influences your writing today?  I was particularly struck by the story on your bio page about the bookseller trying to sell you fiction books.  Has your approach to life, working with animals & non-profits, influenced your writing? 

After years of producing and directing films, working on national and international campaigns to help wild animals and then marrying the director of the Center for the Story of the Universe (more on that on my website www.PamelaAares.com ), it became clear that we are all creatures of story. More than that, it was clear that love and allurement not only drive all of us; they power everything that happens in the universe.   Even the astrophysicists have discovered that attraction, the power at the heart of allurement, fuels the unfolding of the galaxies!

I love romance. On my website bio I talk about a bookseller who pushed a bunch of dreary non-fiction books at me and when I asked about their romance section, she told me they didn’t have any of those. In the end it was clear that if I wanted to read stories that explored the deep power of romance and included nature and spirit, I’d have to write them myself. It’s been an amazing journey!

Your current book, Jane Austen and the Archangel, has an unusual high concept.  Can you tell us about the book and why the subject matter spoke to you?

Sometimes (most times!) life reaches out and grabs hold of us, surprises us. I was just finishing The Lady and the Patriot (coming out January 2013) the first book in The Nature of Love series, when Michael Grace, the archangel hero of Jane Austen and the Archangel, grabbed me and would not let go. I think you’ll find him more than intriguing and his love for Jane as irresistible as I did.

As I wrote, I loved that Jane, who never had a proper love in her short life, was finally going to have a full-blown experience of deep and lasting love.

Angels are pretty popular these days in paranormal romance.  Why do you think that’s so?

I think we know that there is a world beyond that which we see. The quantum physicists have proven it and the sensitive among us have experienced it. The stories abound since humans have begun telling stories.

Whether it’s the mystics like Hildegard of Bingen, or the insights from Emerson or Einstein, or the most recent book exploring yet another near death experience, Proof of Heaven, so many experiences point to a force that sustains and supports us if we remember to call upon it. Angels are just one way of experiencing or understanding that power of life.

In addition to the Angels Come to Earth series, I see you’re also working on another series called The Nature of Love series.  What can you tell us about that?

The Lady and the Patriot is the first book in The Nature of Love series (it will be out just after the first of the year). The series follows feisty and independent heroines and the adventurous and daring heroes who fall in love with them. What’s new is the transforming power of nature and the places they travel. It changes the nature of their love stories and takes readers on a journey of powerful exploration of time and place.

The series is set in 1851, a time of great change in the world, a time much like our own. The Great Exhibition in London (the first ever World’s Fair) and the craze for natural history were cracking open awareness and fueling new dreams. Venice, London, Boston (think Louisa May Alcott) and Gold Rush California all play important roles in the love stories.

And I can also give you a sneak peek into my new contemporary series The Heart of the Game, although the first book won’t be out until after Valentine’s Day 2013.

Some of my readers know that I’m married to a Major League Baseball All-Star who happens to also be an expert on the whole story of the universe (the film Journey of the Universe won an Emmy this year, it was very exciting!)— anyway, editors and publishers have been asking for my ‘baseball’ book for a long time, so it’s finally on its way to readers. I had such fun writing it and the characters came alive as if they’d been waiting on the sidelines. It’s always wonderful when that happens!

And now for the fun question – if you were stranded on a deserted island with the love of your life, what two luxury items would you want to bring along?

Ah. It is a fun question. I asked my husband, just for a lark, what he’d bring. He said the Alexandrian Library and room service! Hard to top that. I think I’d want my iPod for music and something to write with!  I loved what Nora Roberts said last week when someone asked why she keeps writing. She said—“What would I do with all the stories in my head just waiting to be told?” Loved it. Love her. Maybe I’d take her on the desert island—can you take people?

Vanessa, here.  Absolutely you can take people, Pamela, and I think Nora would be a great choice.  And your husband sounds very interesting too! Thank you so much for visiting with us today – I really enjoyed your interview!

Readers, Pamela is graciously giving away a print copy of Jane Austen And The Archangel.  To be eligible, just answer this question: how has an experience in nature changed you or inspired your life?  One person who comments will win a copy of Pamela’s book.

What’s to be done with an angel who breaks the rules? Introduce him to a woman known for her propriety, of course.

Until then passion had lived only on the page…

Jane Austen hasn’t written a  creative word in months. She secretly fears she may not have it in her to write a single word more about love. Yet when the mysterious Michael Grace appears on her doorstep, she’s cast into a world of emotion beyond even her wildest imaginings. Though she fears he might be a spy, she enlists his help to find her friend’s fiancé, missing in the Peninsular War. But Michael isn’t what he seems, and the passion and doubts he ignites turn everything Jane trusts upside down. What Jane doesn’t know is that her mystery man is an angel. One who’s never failed to get what he goes after.

Some rules just beg to be broken…

It’s not easy being a bad-boy angel and Michael is paying the penalty. Demoted to working undercover in a sleepy English village, he’s chafing to launch the dangerous mission he’s been sent to command. But when he meets Jane, he’s irresistibly drawn to her, even though involvement with her could jeopardize her life and his status as an angel.

When Lucifer tries to use Jane as a pawn in his vile schemes, Michael discovers that fighting the forces of darkness is nothing compared to the challenge of telling Jane the truth. Can the angel who’s never lost a battle win the heart of a woman who’s afraid of love?

Be sure to visit Pamela’s lovely website for details on all her books, and for her buy links to Jane Austen And The Archangel.  You can also find her on facebook and Twitter.

Update:  I’m visiting with the fabulous Kieran Kramer today, so after you respond to Pamela’s question why don’t you hop on over and chat with me, too.  I’m giving away a copy of His Mistletoe Bride!


The Naughty List Ladies & Giveaway!

I have a real treat on the blog today:  three fantastic authors for the price of one, and just in time for Christmas!  How is this possible, you might ask?  Well, take a look at today’s featured book.  It’s The Naughty List, a contemporary seasonal anthology with stories by three of my favorite authors, Donna Kauffman, Cynthia Eden, and Susan Fox.  I love Christmas anthologies, and this is a really good one.  It received a 5 blue ribbons review from Romance Junkies, which called it “a perfect feel good book for any time of year.”

Here’s the blurb for The Naughty List:

Naughty But Nice, by Donna Kauffman

Businessman Griffin’s never believed in luck…until sassy-sweet small-town baker Melody turns his world around. Except there’s a catch: There’s no way he’ll be able to build his empire and hold on to her. His new “lucky charm” could destroy all his dreams…or make this Christmas better than he ever imagined possible…

All I Want For Christmas, by Cynthia Eden

Good girl toy inventor Christie takes a walk on the naughty side when she sparks a no-strings fling with Santa—actually, sexy cop Jonas in a Santa suit. She loves her new “bad girl” persona, except as the holidays approach, she starts falling, and hard, for this known’ “love ’em and leave ’em” ladies man…

Tattoos And Mistletoe, by Susan Fox

Charlie returns to her hometown to fix up her aunt’s B&B, but she doesn’t count on LJ handling the renovations. Nerdy LJ pined for her in school, but now he’s grown into the town’s hottest bachelor. Charlie’s been burned before and won’t let him get close. But LJ’s determined to break down her walls and make her dearest Christmas wish come true.

Luckily for my readers, I was able to score an exclusive interview with the authors of this fun Christmas anthology.  Let’s see if we can get to know these ladies a little better!

Donna Kauffman

We all know that writing is hard work. What do you do to fill the creative well?

Donna: In addition to writing full time, my “play job” is freelance teaching arts/craft classes at a local craft shop here in northern Virginia.  My mom owned a craft shop while I was growing up, so it’s something that has always been a part of my life. I love the balance of creating things with my mind…and with my hands.  And teaching others has its own special joys as well.  (Plus it has the added benefit of getting me out around “non-fictional” folks for at least part of my week! 🙂  My other love is hiking.  I live right near the Potomac river and there are many wonderful trails literally in my backyard.  You’ll find me on them for some part of pretty much every day, year round.  I am also close to the Blue Ridge mountains and the Shenandoah Valley and hike there often as well.

Cynthia:  Writing is hard, but, to me, incredibly fun work.  When I need to replenish that creative supply, I talk long walks, watch some great movies (I am big into escapism) or head to the beach. I’m very fortunate because I live just 45 minutes away from the beach—definitely close enough for a creative excursion!

Susan:  The biggest thing for me is reading. I’m addicted! Other than that, I love watching a little TV, getting outside for a walk, exploring nature with my camera, and sharing dinner and a bottle of wine with a good friend. I try to exercise regularly and do my stretches, though that’s more about keeping in decent shape than filling the creative well. Man, I’m a pretty boring person, aren’t I?

Cynthia Eden

When you’re not writing “naughty” stuff, what do you like to read in your down time? Do you read in the genre you’re working in at the time, or does that mess with your head? What’s your favorite type of relaxation read?

Donna:  I read all sorts of things when I’m writing, which is pretty much all the time.  I don’t take any real breaks between books, so if I only read my own genre when I wasn’t writing it, I’d never have the chance to read it again. 🙂  It doesn’t mess with my head at all.  After 20 years in the business, I am very comfortable with my “voice” and feel confident that when I write it’s coming from my own well, and not influenced by anyone else’s work.  However, all reading, in all genres, definitely keeps me well immersed in the variety of storytelling that’s out there.  There are so many author’s voices I truly love and admire, across all genres.  If anything, reading their work only helps me define my voice even better.  You see how distinctly different we all are, and it helps me realize just how distinct and unique my brand of storytelling is.

For relaxation, my favorite kind of book is the kind I write, meaning “feel good” stories.  My editor once described my books as “humor with heart…and a lot of heat!”  Which…I’m good with that!  And that’s what I like when I sit down to read, too.  On my “anxiously awaiting list” is The Next Forever, the first in a new trilogy from Nora Roberts.  She’s been a friend of mine for more than 20 years now, so I am personally attached to this particular series as it’s based on her own Inn BoonsBoro, which I saw come to life in reality over these past couple of years.  I can’t wait to see how she’s brought something so dear to her heart into her fiction.

Cynthia:  I love to read paranormals, romantic suspense tales, and horror novels.  When I’m working on a particular story, I try not to read within that same genre (it just helps me to better distance myself). So I save all of those in-genre reads as rewards for when I finish my story. Once I’m done writing, I dive in for some prime reading time.  And my favourite type of relaxation read? I enjoy funny tales that can take me away.  Funny stories are great for relieving stress!

Susan:  Mainly, I read contemporary romance, women’s fiction, and romantic suspense—and then a smattering of everything else. At least everything else that’s fiction. I’m not much of a non-fiction reader. Give me escapism every time! But I do like to escape with characters and worlds I can relate to, so I’m not big on paranormal. When choosing what I’m going to read next, I like mixing things up. For example, I just read The Help, and now I’m on a gritty Lisa Gardner suspense novel, and I’m sure next it will be a romance. No, it doesn’t mess with my head to read the same kind of thing I’m writing. Reading is entertainment for me. I’m not analytical about it and I don’t compare other authors’ writing to my own. For a pure relaxation read—like to enjoy in a bubble bath at the end of a long day (which is sounding like a very good idea at the time I’m writing this!)—it will usually be romance or a more “lightweight” women’s fiction without a lot of angsty issues. Not that I don’t love those more angsty books, but not when I want pure R&R.

Susan Fox

If you were stranded on a desert island with just the basics for survival and you were allowed only one luxury item, what would it be?

Donna: Mark Harmon. 🙂   If he’s not available (given he’s been married forever to Pam Dawber and all…) then please substitute George Clooney.  He’ll always be single. 🙂

Cynthia:  Chocolate!  Oh, yes, that would definitely be my luxury item. I just can’t live without it!

Susan:  The longest book in the world! But no, I don’t count books as luxury items. For me, they’re necessities. So, how about a very fit, very hot, very smart guy? Or, no, maybe he falls more in the necessity category too. LOL. For pure luxury, I’ll settle for a fountain with an unending supply of chilled pinot grigio wine. Care to join me?

Vanessa, here.  Chocolate, men, and a glass of chilled pinot grigio…I like the way you ladies think!  Thanks so much for joining me on the blog today.  And I can’t wait to read The Naughty List.  Now that I know how y’all think, I know your stories are going to be lots of (naughty) fun!

And for my readers today, we’ll be giving away a copy of The Naughty List.  Just tell me the one luxury item you would bring to a deserted island.  One person who comments will win a copy of this fab book.

 


It’s (Mostly) Fun And Games At The Bookstore

I stopped by my local Barnes and Noble yesterday to pick up a few books.  Four great-looking reads in four genres:  a contemporary romance by Toni Blake, a paranormal romance by Angela Knight, a historical romance by Jennifer Haymore, and a romantic suspense by Laura Griffen.

My idea of a good time

Angela Knight and Toni Blake are on my auto-buy list, and I love Jennifer Haymore’s elegant and heartfelt historical romances.  Since my latest project is a Christmas historical romance, I thought I could pick up some tips from Jennifer and enjoy a great read at the same time.  I’m new to Laura Griffen, but I’m always looking for a good romantic suspense.

It wasn’t all fun and games at the bookstore, though.  Every time I stop by one of the big chains, I notice less shelf space for books.  At Barnes and Noble, some of that space has been given over to the NOOK display, which is all about reading and buying books.  So that’s great.  But more and more floor space seems to be going to kid’s toys and games, and lifestyle products.  In the romance section, shelf space for authors’ back titles is really contracting.  There’s quite a bit of room for new releases, but if you’re not one of the big dogs, forget about seeing back titles.  And even for most of the big dogs the bookstores only carry a few back titles for each author in stock.  Unless you’re looking for a book by Nora Roberts or Fern Michaels, good luck finding an older book.

I have mixed feelings about this.  More romance readers are buying on-line, either at Amazon or from e-book retailers, and that’s great.  But I really like to browse for back titles and it frustrates the hell out of me when I can’t find them in the bookstore.  I guess that most stores have just given up trying to compete with Amazon, and I think that’s a crying shame.  I adore hanging out in bookstores, but there’s less and less incentive for me to go there.  Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy.

What about you?  Are bookstores still a place you like visiting, or have they become an exercise in readership frustration?


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