Huddle Up Cover!

COMING SOON!!!!!

Coming Soon! Huddle Up (Fantasy Football - Season 3)!!

I'm editing Huddle Up the next in my Fantasy Football Romance series. Here is the opening lines and a teaser pic!

Less than twenty-four hours ago Billy Burner discovered he’d fathered a child. Maybe. Now he stood outside O’Malley’s clutching the court papers in his hand.

Huddle Up!

The first draft of the formerly titled Kiss Shot...  now titled... Huddle Up (Fantasy Football - Season 3) is complete! The cover needs to be updated or I maybe I'll have a whole new one created. For now though here is blurb:

When nursing student Angel O’Malley is left penniless by her deceased father’s gambling debts, she is forced to sue pro football player Billy Burner for child support. Blindsided with a five-year-old daughter, he tackles fatherhood with the same commitment he gives to the game, but he has his eye on a bigger prize: Angel’s heart.

       She agrees to Billy’s plan to play house to ensure the new father makes no rookie mistakes. Though their passions burn hotter than ever they must overcome old betrayals, past hurts, and new insecurities if they are to prevent history from repeating itself.

     Can a long ago summer love turn into an everlasting one?

and here is my Bitstrip celebrating the first draft completion!

Cure for an obsession: get another one. Mason Cooley

My current obsession is the Bitstrips App on Facebook. You create an avatar for yourself and then select one of the comics they have and your avatar gets placed in the strip. You can either leave the caption or create your own.

Here are some examples... and yes I wear pearls with jeans and sneakers ... LOL

SO what do you think? Should I get over myself or what? 

...angel, I am here to stay... Future Days Pearl Jam

I'm loving the new song from Pearl Jam called Future Days. The lyrics are beautiful and the melody haunting.

It reminds me of my hero and heroine of Kiss Shot. As teenage loves the song that represented their relationship would be Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovi, but now as young adults and parents, the song Future Days really hits home for them.

I actually teared up listening to the song and thinking about Angel and Billy. Which is a good thing for a writer. I'm so emotionally tied to them and want them to have their happy ever after. There's even the line 'angel, I'm here to stay' in the song.

Here is the video of Pearl Jam singing Future Days...

“Do it because you love it. Not for the fame, or the perks.” Stephen Dorff - @ the Woodstock Film Festival

 This weekend I attended the Woodstock Film Festival. My favorite part of this festival is the Actor Dialogue Panel.

Every year the panel is moderated by Martha Frankel and this year’s panel of actors included Stephen Dorff and Golden Globe winner, Andy Garcia.

Both actors were engaging, funny, and charming. And, oh yeah, handsome too. Both are romance novel hero worthy… in fact… wait a second …  swoon … *THUD*

But seriously, as a writer I think it’s interesting to hear actors talk about their craft. After all they are interpreting the written word.

Garcia and Dorff both look for great writing.

Garcia says, “If you have a great script, you’ll attract great actors.”

Vera Farmiga, Garcia’s co-star of At Middleton, said at the screening. “The writing is everything……  a beautifully crafted script makes it easy.” (also said working with Andy 'is like doing the Argentine Tango')

Dorff said the script to The Motel Life was so wonderful that “he fought for the role.”

These are independent films, folks. They are not breaking the bank by acting in these films yet they will fight to be in it because the writing is powerful.

When fighting for roles both actors would go to the audition ‘in character’. Garcia says, “Assume you are not going to get it. But go all out. Even if you don’t get the part they’ll be ‘Wow’ and put you into their ‘go to file’ for something else.”

Garcia likes directors who encourage you to experiment. He calls it a “Free actors take.” He says, (and I’m paraphrasing here… “Don’t worry about the end result …. Do not judge the work while gathering information…. Can lead to happy accidents.”

This is great writing advice as well. Write the scene in a different way. Have your character do something outlandish. You can always go back or it could change everything.

Garcia said that the “big studio films play to demographics… a film is edited to a focus group…. In independent films no one cares what you’re doing, it’s not about focus groups…  independent films free the creative process.

Garcia’s advice for young actors? “Preparation. Learn your craft.” Sage advice for actors and writers.

Dorff says, “Do it because you love it. Not for the fame, or the perks.”

That’s why I write, because I love it. Maybe there will come a day when one of my books is made into a film. Josh Holloway may have been my inspiration for Russ Rowland in Love By Design but if Stephen Dorff wants the role then who am I to say no...then again...let him fight for it. Oh yeah. 

Give Me Books hosts the Extreme Jock Giveaway!

Playing For Keeps is part of the Extreme Jock Giveaway hosted by Give Me Books. Lots a great prizes!

Click on the link below to enter!

Extreme Jock Giveaway

Introducing Billy Burner of the NY Cougars...

Here is a little something from the hero of Kiss Shot - (Fantasy Football - Season 3) Coming Soon!

Help me decide! Chair or Chaise?

The chaise lounge I wanted did not fit into my office and I had to send it back. It was way, way too big. WAY BIG.

So I've narrowed it down to 2 choices. What do you think? If you've read Love By Design which one would interior designer, Victoria Bryce, choose?

"What's your game, stranger?" Angel O'Malley in Kiss Shot

Progress on Kiss Shot, the third season of my Fantasy Football Romance series, is slow. But word by word I'll get it done. Here is a photo I purchased for the book trailer I'll create once the book is done. It's close to how I envision Angel O'Malley, the heroine of Kiss Shot. What do you think?

Cover Reveal! Sugar and Sin Boxed Set

I'm proud to announce that Love By Design is part of the Sugar and Sin Boxed Set! Here is the beautiful cover and a little more about the bundle.

In the land of Happily Ever After, six romance authors have banded together to bring readers a super-sexy dose of Sugar and Sin with fun, sassy heroines and the oh-so-sexy men who fall for them.

We hope you enjoy the books and meet some characters you won't soon forget.

The Official Book Launch will be in September!


Six full length books from six top selling authors. If you like your contemporary romance on the steamy side this book is for you! Titles include:

Chasin’ Mason by Stacey Joy Netzel
Catch the stallion ~ win the ranch. A simple competition between bitter enemies, but once tempers and passions flare in the Texas heat, all bets are off.

Deadly Addiction by Kristine Cayne
A violent clash of cultures tests the forbidden love between a Native American man and a white female cop.
When police sergeant Alyssa Morgan and Rémi Whitedeer meet, their forbidden attraction flips both their lives ass over teakettle, but they aren't the only ones in turmoil. After the duo uncovers a drug-fueled conspiracy on the Blackriver Reservation, blood is pitted against blood, and Rémi has everything to lose.


His Lady Godiva by L.C. Giroux
Dr. Michael Dennison put broken bodies back together so no one would have to live like he did. As many obstacles as he had overcome, he never wanted to burden a woman with his disability. He was safer never to risk his heart. Violet Bellows lived a guarded life. The accident had taken so much from her but she still had something to give. For her surgeon she would risk everything to make him hers, body and soul.

Love by Design by Liz Matis
In this Sex in the City meets HGTV romp sparks fly on camera as interior designer Victoria Bryce breaks in temporary co-host Aussie Russ Rowland. Arguments over design plans and measurement mishaps ignite passions behind the scenes. But when the past collides with the present will the foundation they built withstand the final reveal?

Run Rosie Run by C.C. Mackenzie
Think Easy Virtue meets No Reservations
She’d wasted enough of her life madly in love with a man she could never have…Perhaps it was time to give another man a chance... But now Rosie has two men who want her and will stop at nothing to win her heart…Which one will she choose...

Sexy in Stilettos by Nana Malone
Organized, event planner, Jaya Trudeaux is used to doing things by the book and never making waves. The only thing that can tie carefree, playboy, Alec Danthers down is a promise he made to his mother. Can Jaya put the lists down long enough to enjoy the ride?

Here is the Amazon just in case you can't wait until the official launch date:

Sugar and Sin - Boxed Set
Coming Soon to Nook, Kobo, ITunes!

"You need that guy like a giraffe needs strep throat." - Ann Landers

It's time for another post in my Quotes by Famous Women series. 

After the 1955 death of the original Ann Landers, Ruth Crowley, Eppie Lederer took over the advice column until her death in 2002.

Here are some wise words to remember... 

Sensual pleasures have the fleeting brilliance of a comet; a happy marriage has the tranquillity of a lovely sunset. - Ann Landers 

Nobody gets to live life backward. Look ahead, that is where your future lies. - Ann Landers

Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognize them. - Ann Landers

Too many people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. - Ann Landers.

Did you ever read Ann Landers column? Or any other advice columns? 

Pin It!

Do you use Pinterest? I love it though I try not to visit often because it is addictive! I pinned this from my friend Michele's board...

Source: 29.media.tumblr.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Source: 29.media.tumblr.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Robert Pattinson Quote : "If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are. Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable."

I find this incredibly sweet.
Do you think its too sweet? Too sensitive? Is he hero material?   

Here is the link to my Pinterest Board if you want to follow me..
Liz on Pinterest

Love By Design - part of the Chick Lit Author Blog Hop!

If a reader opened up your book and turned to page 25 what would she find? That is part of the Chick Lit Author Blog Hop. Here is what's on page 25 in Love By Design by Liz Matis...

“I’ve got one more.” The predator gaze was back in full force. “Australian kiss.”

Her eyebrows drew together trying to think of what an Australian kiss was, but she couldn’t think beyond what it would be like to kiss him, Australian or otherwise.

“Come on, think about it.”

“Got me,” said Ava.

“Me, too,” admitted Victoria.

Russ’s smile turned lethal. “It’s a French kiss, down under.” Love By Design is a Sex and the City (Win the grand prize! The 16th secret word in the 25-word sentence is: hoppers) meets HGTV romp!

Keep hopping! Click here to return to the list of blogs. Blog Hop Links 

New to blog hops? Want to learn how to win the grand prize? Find complete information here. 

Learn how the blog hop works! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chick Lit Author Blog Hop : May 20-27

I'll be sharing 'what's on page 25' in Love By Design as part of the Chick Lit Author Blog Hop. It starts May 20th and runs through May 27th.

 So stop back on May 20th to read what's on page 25 and discover the link that will take you on an awesome adventure of blog hopping!

It's a Doll's Life by Liz Matis - FREE SHORT SHORT STORY

I thought I re-share this short story I wrote in 2009. I hope you enjoy it!

It’s a Doll’s Life

by

Liz Matis

Dusting the shelves of Laurel’s Playhouse was the worst part of owning a business. As if cleaning her house wasn’t enough.

The chimes rang cheerfully announcing her first customer of the day. Grateful for the interruption, she put on her best smile and made for door.

The man who entered towered over the dolls and miniature houses like Gulliver over the inhabitants of Lilliput. Blonde hair wisped out from underneath a cap. Wearing jeans, a blue work shirt and construction boots, he was dusty as he was big. He turned away from the row of shelves she stood behind and her gaze immediately lowered. Still, she wouldn’t mind wiping that bit of dirt off his rear and not with a feather duster. Such tasks required a hands-on approach.

He looked out of place among the frilly lace and ribbons. The expression ‘bull in a china shop’ came to mind. Except this bull was in her doll shop.

Laurel stole out of her hiding place. “Can I help you?”

He turned and smiled. “I’m looking for a gift for my sister’s birthday.”

His twinkling blue eyes were a pleasant relief to the lifeless stares of her collection. Standing next to him she felt like one of those dolls: petite and very feminine. “How old?” she managed to ask.

“Sixteen.”

“Ahh, sweet sixteen.”

“Darling, you haven’t met my sister.”

She laughed at his joke, but foolishly blushed at the endearment. “What are her interests?”

Laurel twisted her hands in an effort not to brush away the dirt on his shirt. Where had her aversion to cleaning gone?

“Boys,” he said, his tone exasperated.

Again she laughed. “And she still collects dolls?”

He nodded. “Not that she’ll admit to.”

Laurel ran the inventory in her head. “Come with me.” She led him over to a display by the front window praying he wouldn’t knock anything over. It was cute how careful he was not to. “I think she might appreciate one of these.”

He was looking directly at Laurel when he said, “Perfect.”

She smiled as she carefully picked up one of her favorites, a sophisticated Gibson Girl doll that was about a foot tall. The figurine reminded Laurel of a bygone era when men were gentlemen or at least pretended to be. “Do you want it wrapped?”

“Yes.” He held up his hands. “These can save a plant from the compost pile, but when it comes to wrapping I’m all thumbs.”

Good looking and a great sense of humor. It had been a long time since a man made her laugh. As she worked the ribbon around the box she wondered if he was married. He didn’t have a ring on his finger, but that didn’t mean anything. Who’d wear a ring if they were making mud pies, which is exactly what he’d looked like he’d been doing before he entered her shop. She took his credit card and shamelessly noted the name. Ethan Edwards.

Laurel slid the bill across the counter and held out a pen. “Please sign at the bottom.”

Ethan’s fingers brushed hers. Her breath hitched and the pen fell to the counter. It could’ve been static electricity except the feeling was pleasant. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be.” Ethan picked up the pen and his hand hovered for a moment over the paper like he’d forgotten how to write his name. “Thanks for the help Laurel. It is Laurel, right?”

She hoped the surprise she felt did not show on her face. It seemed he took note of the name of her store. “Yes it is. Come again.”

She could have smacked herself. Sure, he had every reason to stop by and browse in her doll shop – unless he had more sisters. Or nieces. Please, please don’t let him have daughters. That meant at best an ex-wife, at worst, a wife.

“By the way, I’m Ethan. I’m opening a gardening center down the street.”

“That explains the dirt.” The comment was out of her mouth before she could stop the words. Her flirting skills obviously needed polishing. A year had passed since her ex-finance had broken her heart. Maybe, she needed a refresher course.

But he wasn’t offended and laughed. “Yeah, sorry about that.”

The chimes dimly sang out as he departed.

When Laurel drove by his store during the following week she noted how it sprung to life with the arrival of plants and flowers. As she inventoried the backroom she mentally planned out the changes she wanted to make to her own garden. Perhaps she could ask Ethan for advice. Lame, but it was a perfectly acceptable excuse to see him again.

. The chimes rang and by the force of the sound she knew it was Ethan.

She barely recognized the man holding the bouquet of sunflowers. He wore khakis and a pressed white shirt, his hair neatly combed back. Not a spot of dirt on him.

“Hi Ethan. Did your sister like the doll?”

“Bea loved it.” Ethan shuffled his feet. “These are for you.”

She took the flowers he offered and raised the bouquet to her nose to breathe in the scent. “Thank you, but you didn’t have to.”

“I’ve been busy with the opening but when I saw them I remembered your smile.”

“Oh. How sweet.” Laurel blushed.

“Will you have dinner with me tonight?”

Laurel said yes. After all, Ethan cleaned up real nice.

Writing is a socially acceptable form of schizophrenia. ~E.L. Doctorow

In keeping with the above quote here are my HVRWA partners in crime at todays Author Talk/Readings at the Newburgh Library.

Liz Matis and Allie Boniface 

Elizabeth Shore, Charmaine Gordon, & Elf Ehearn

Elf Ahearn and Janet Lane Walters

Wendy Marcus, Janet Lane Walter, and Tanya Goodwin

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. ~Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

Every year Brenda Novak hold an Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research. There are lots of great items to bid on and it's all for a great cause. It runs May 1 - 31st.

I'm involved with 4 auction items and below are the links to all 4. If none of then interest you please browse the other items. Click on the links below!


Twice as Nice - Partial critique and marketing advice from Allie Boniface and Liz Matis

Audio Book Download of Playing For Keeps and Love By Design

Hudson Valley RWA Basket of Goodies

Nook HD loaded with Contemporary Romance titles


Go forth and bid!
I know I am! Well not for my stuff but you know what I mean. 

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~William Wordsworth

Writing Status Update: I'm almost 3,000 words into Kiss Shot ("Fantasy" Football - Season 3) and while I'm very please with the start I have to say its slow going. I'm the slowest writer on the planet. It's not so much that I don't have the time to write but on my best day - and I mean all day long - I wrote 1,000 words. This is discouraging.

As I write this I'm reminded that in the past I would skip to a scene later in the book if I was having trouble with a current chapter. This is what I must do now.

I'm hoping to complete Kiss Shot by the end of June and have an August release date. If you haven't seen it yet here is the cover! I have it posted above my desk to keep me motivated.

The inspiration behind my hero Grady O'Flynn.

When I begin a story I usually have a celebrity in mind for my hero.
Playing For Keeps = a mashup of Hugh Jackman and Kevin Nash
Going For It = Vin Diesel
Love By Design = Josh Holloway (of Lost fame)

About the time I was thinking of writing a sexy short titled Real Men Don't Drink Appletinis, there was a TV show on the air called Stars Earn Stripes. Celebrities were paired up with a military/police personnel and competed in training missions.

I immediately fell in love with Grady Powell, a former Green Beret who was paired up with WWE wrestler Eva Torres.

And thus Grady O'Flynn was born. I couldn't help but keep his first name and I made him a Navy SEAL.

Here is a little snippet from Real Men Don't Drink Appletinis

Navy SEAL Grady O’Flynn wasn’t often knocked back on his heels but the bombshell in front of him knocked him back and rocked his world. She reminded him of a movie starlet from the Forties. All curves and all sass. And those baby blues? Man, they nearly had him babbling like an infant.     

“So what do you do for a living?”

Amused by her obvious deflection, he’d decided to let his question go unanswered since he couldn’t be an open book either. He didn’t want to lie but he couldn’t reveal who he was or why he was in New York City. “I’m on extended leave.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m between assignments.” He took a sip of scotch.

“Am I going to have to waterboard you for information?”

Grady nearly spit out his drink but recovered quickly with, “There are far more pleasurable ways to get information.”

“Ooo.”

God, he loved the way her ruby lips formed an O. He wouldn’t take the thought a step further and fantasize about what that mouth could do to him. 

Release Day for Real Men Don't Drink Appletinis!

Today is release day! Real Men Don't Drink Appletinis is a sexy short (novelette). I'll be donating 50% of my proceeds to the Wounded Warriors Project. There is a page on my blog that I will update every quarter with the donation.

Here is blurb for the story:

Hollywood’s handsomest men surround celebrity agent Ava Gardner but none are as intriguing as larger-than-life Grady O’Flynn. The Navy SEAL is on an unsanctioned mission when they end up starring in their own romantic comedy. 
Will they continue to sizzle when Grady has to report back to duty? 

Buy link for Kindle  only .99cents!

Buy link for NOOK  only .99cents!

Here is an excerpt:

Ava slipped from the stool and slid next to her target. “You know this is a martini bar?” She held up her empty glass. Despite the number of people waiting for drinks, he only had to nod at the bartender to order her a refill.

His gaze then captured hers. “I’m a rebel.”

Ethereal green. That was the only way to describe his eyes. Almost lost in the depth of his stare she forced herself to speak. “So you’re looking for a girl who can belt back a scotch?”

A smile appeared on his face. “That would be asking too much. I’d settle for a girl who liked a cold beer.”

“Wine?”

 Still smiling he shook his head. “High maintenance.”

“You came to the wrong place then.”

He handed her the drink and said, “From where I’m standing I’m in exactly the right place.” 

This Kiss...

This Kiss by Faith Hill is one of those songs I listen to before I write a first kiss scene.

Who said "No woman gets an orgasm from shining the kitchen floor."?

Betty Friedan said it! March is Women's History Month. In my continuing series of Quotes by Famous Women here are some quotes by Betty Friedan, author of The Feminine Mystique and one of the founders of NOW (National Organization for Women)

A girl should not expect special privileges because of her sex but neither should she adjust to prejudice and discrimination.

Aging is not "lost youth" but a new stage of opportunity and strength.

 It is easier to live through someone else than to become complete yourself.

When she stopped conforming to the conventional picture of femininity she finally began to enjoy being a woman.

You can show more of the reality of yourself instead of hding behind a mask for fear of revealing too much.

Such great quotes! Which is your favorite? 

Coming soon....

The revisions to my sexy novelette, Real Men Don't Drink Appletinis are complete. I hoping to have it out by March but it still needs line editing and then it's off to the formatter. Keep your fingers crossed.

Here is the cover and a little snippet!

Ava slipped from the stool and slid next to her target. “You know this is a martini bar?” She held up her empty glass. Despite the number of people waiting for drinks, he only had to nod at the bartender to order her a refill.

His gaze then captured hers. “I’m a rebel.”

Ethereal green. That was the only way to describe his eyes. Almost lost in the depth of his stare she forced herself to speak. “So you’re looking for a girl who can belt back a scotch?”

A smile appeared on his face. “That would be asking too much. I’d settle for a girl who liked a cold beer.”

“Wine?”

 Still smiling he shook his head. “High maintenance.”

“You came to the wrong place then.”

He handed her the drink and said, “From where I’m standing I’m in exactly the right place.” 

2013 Edition of... And the Oscar goes to....

ME! When I was a little girl I'd flip thru magazines and pick out the dress I would wear to accept the Oscar not for Best Actress but Best Writing - Adapted Screenplay (from my novel, of course).  Now that I'm older .... well... actually the only difference today is now I scroll through images on Yahoo.  So let's play pretend! Which dress should I wear on Sunday, February 24? Leave a comment and let me know!

Dramatic red?

Demure gray?

Sexy back?

Loving you is a man's job, baby... Bruce Springsteen

AS I'm writing the bonus scenes to Real Men Don't Drink Appletinis this song is playing inside my head. It's Bruce Springsteen's Man's Job (Loving you is a man's job.)

Love me and the world is mine. ~David Reed

Happy Valentine's Day! Here are some beautiful quotes to go along with the day!

Oh, if it be to choose and call thee mine, love, thou art every day my Valentine!  ~Thomas Hood

A hundred hearts would be too few
To carry all my love for you.
~Author Unknown

Grow old with me!  The best is yet to be.  ~Robert Browning

I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach.  ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Take away love and our earth is a tomb.  ~Robert Browning

Soul meets soul on lovers' lips.  ~Percy Bysshe Shelley