It's been a long while since I've post! I've been busy writing Guarding the Quarterback and I am halfway there. I thought I revive my Quotes by Famous Women series. Since it was her birthday the other day, Hedy Lemarr is the perfect woman to reboot these posts!
Men are most virile and most attractive between the ages of 35 and 55. Under 35 a man has too much to learn, and I don't have time to teach him. - Hedy Lemarr Any girl can look glamorous. All you have to do is stand still and look stupid. - Hedy Lemarr American men, as a group, seem to be interested in only two things, money and breasts. It seems a very narrow outlook. - Hedy Lemarr Dirt makes a man look masculine. Let your hair blow in the wind, and all that. It's OK. All you have to do is look neat when you have to look neat. - Hedy Lamarr
I'm in the process of updating the outside of our house. We took down a huge tree that after 25plus years had torn up the driveway. It was a beautiful tree and I hugged it before it was cut down. But it was a good thing we did. The tree was rotting on the inside. So better a controlled cut down versus it falling on the house. My husband wanted the driveway widen and it led to this...
The driveway is now leveled and graveled and next week the blacktop will go in. My husband is building a retaining wall. I'll post pics when its done.
Meanwhile, I'm starting a new series called Champions of the Heart. The genre is still sports romance but I'm building the series so I can write about the other sports that I love. The series will focus on the New York sports scene. The first book will be about football though. The team, the New York Kings are the cross town rivals of my Fantasy Football Romance series, the New York Cougars - kind of like the Giants and Jets of NY. I thought it would be a nice bridge between the two series!
And along with my makeovers at home and in my books - the heroine of my next book, Alexa Reeves will also be getting a makeover!
I'm really excited about this book and Champions of the Heart!
Do you ever get restless to start over? Or to make over a room in your house?
I'll be holding onto summer for a few more days but...
I went to the Train concert up at Bethel Woods (original Woodstock Site) with my niece Kristen. We had the VIP experience. 4th row and met some of the guys in the band. I also went to see Florida Georgia Line with another niece. No VIP tickets - redneck seats on the lawn - LOL!
I attended the Romance Writers of America conference and signed books at the Literacy Book Fair.
Then I spent a week at Pt. Pleasant with my sister! It was a perfect beach weather.
Here are a couple of pics...
"Were with the band...
My Red Carpet pose
We are VIPs
at Florida Georgia Line with my niece.
out to dinner in NYC with fab writers Yolanda and Alison
My flyer for the signing
RESEARCH
my sister and I at Pt Pleasant
Summer is not over yet and I still have the Van Halen concert coming up. What did you do on your summer vacation?
Today we are featuring the
cover reveal for the HOT IN THE HAMPTONS series! This series includes the
titles SUMMER SINS by Jennifer Probst, SUMMER DREAMING by Liz Matis, and SUMMER
TEMPTATION by Wendy S. Marcus.
The
HOT IN THE HAMPTONS series
will be released August 4th, 2015.
Blurb:
I’m looking for a hero. Not.
You’d
think as a new college grad I’d be looking for
the perfect job and the perfect man. Well, I’m
not. Summer is here and instead of plotting my future, I’m playing in the Hamptons with my two best
friends. Sun and sex is all I’m
looking for. Then I meet Sean Dempsey,
my fantasy lifeguard in the flesh. But he is more than just a hot bod with a
whistle. And after he makes a daring save, I’m
thinking a hero is exactly what I’ve
been looking for all along.
To the rescue...
By day I guard the beaches in the
Hamptons, by night I’ve had my fair
share of summer flings. Then I meet Kelsey Mitchell, a girl with eyes like the
setting
sun and I burn for more. Something I
have no right to ask of her...forever.
Love burns hotter in
the Hamptons. Come play.
-----------------------------
Blurb:
Summer fun before my
wedding...
I have one goal this summer. Hang with
my besties for some much needed sun, sand, and relaxation while I put the final
touches on my idyllic wedding. I didn't count on meeting a smart-mouthed, bad
boy biker whose gaze burns hotter than a beach bonfire. I never planned to lose
myself, body and soul, and question my entire future. Now, I have to make a
choice that’s tearing me
apart, and could shatter the lives of the two men I love...
Turns into summer
sins....
I have one goal this summer. CHILL. Do
nothing. Nada. I need simple before I have to head into Manhattan to take on a
high powered position on Wall Street. I didn't count on a dark haired, inky-
eyed spitfire who'd spin my world upside down, or make me burn for things I
never thought I wanted. I vowed to make her my summer fling, but had no idea
she was claimed by another. And now that she possessed not only my body but my
soul, the stakes are too high for me to lose her...
Love burns hotter in
the Hamptons. Come play.
-----------------------------
Blurb:
Meet Leigh DeGray...
After graduating college with honors and landing the
job of my dreams in New York City, I’m
off
to The Hamptons to spend the summer with my two best
friends.
My life seems perfect, right? It’s not. The truth is, I have a secret that may
make the future I’d planned so
carefully completely fall apart. A hot summer romance is the absolute last
thing I’m looking for...
Until I meet a man who tempts me like no other and shows me a hot summer
romance is exactly what I need.
Meet Nick Kenzy...
After two years of working my ass
off as a Wall Street analyst, I’m out of a job, with no warning, no
thank you, and no severance. Am I angry? You’re
damn right I
am. So when I head to the Hamptons for the weekend to
spend time with my granddad, I plan to regroup and relax before I return to the
city to hit the job search hard. I don’t
need any distractions. Then I meet Leigh. Suddenly, a summer temptation makes
me question everything I want for my future...
For each book that gets to 500 adds, 5 pages of that novella will
be released! 10 pages will be released after 1000 adds, and 15 pages after 1500
adds! So, spread the word and be sure to add each book to your goodreads list.
I'm honored to be part of the RWA's Readers For Life Autographing. I'll be signing The Quarterback Sneak. If you are in NYC on July 22 stop by the Marriott Hotel and say hello. It's all for a great cause!
A couple of weeks ago I went to see Train in concert. I splurged on VIP tickets because I wanted the 4th row - front and center! It was worth the splurge. I really enjoy their music and before the concert my niece and I hung out in the VIP tent. Free food and free diet Pepsi -(we were in our glory). LOL. No alcohol for us - all we needed was the music. Then a couple of members from the band came out and we got to have our picture taken with them. It was fun. My favorite song of the night had to Calling on Angels. Love that song.
Here are some of the pics...
My Red Carpet Pose :)
We are VIPs!
'Were with the band'
What about you are you going to any concerts this summer?
When I write I usually listen to classical music but when I'm thinking about my story or more accurately about the couple in my story, I listen to songs that remind me of them. Song 5 on Sean and Kelsey's Playlist is Mermaid by Train. Kelsey teased Sean that she is a mermaid and I even have Kelsey singing this song on her way to her first date with Sean. Summer Dreaming release 8/4/15!!!!! On a side note I recently saw Train in concert. They were awesome! I'll share pics in a later this week. Meanwhile... here is the music video to Mermaids by Train.
When I write I usually listen to classical music but when I'm thinking about my story or more accurately about the couple in my story, I listen to songs that remind me of them. Song 4 on Kelsey and Sean's playlist is This Love by Taylor Swift. There is no You-Tube video, but you can list to a sample of the sone on iTunes here... This Love on iTunes I think the opening lines of the song just grab you. Maybe, because Summer Dreaming setting is the beach. Whenever I hear this song I will forever think of Kelsey and Sean! Clear blue water, high tides came And brought you in And I could go on and on, on and on And I will
In the front of my books I usually put a poem but with Summer Dreaming (releasing 8/4/15) I didn't even though I had written it. Why? Because of the way the poem ended - it wasn't the happily-ever-after I was going for. I thought I'd share it on my blog.
When I write I usually listen to classical music but when I'm thinking about my story or more accurately about the couple in my story, I listen to songs that remind me of them. Song 3 on Kelsey and Sean's playlist is You'll Accompany Me by Bob Segar. It's oldie but goodie. There is no video to share . The concert videos on You-Tube are grainy. But here is the link to iTunes if you want to hear a snippet... You'll Accompany Me and here are some lyrics from the song that remind me of Kelsey and Sean in Summer Dreaming - coming 8/4/15!
When I write I usually listen to classical music but when I'm thinking about my story or more accurately about the couple in my story, I listen to songs that remind me of them.
Song 2 from Kelsey and Sean's 'Playlist' is Bright by Echosmith... its young , fresh, and sweet (except the love scenes-lol) like Summer Dreaming coming August 4, 2015.
When I write I usually listen to classical music but when I'm thinking about my story or more accurately about the couple in my story, I listen to songs that remind me of them.
Song 1 from Kelsey and Sean's 'Playlist' is Love Me Like You Mean It. The singer and her love interest in the music video remind me of my couple in Summer Dreaming - releasing August 4, 2015.
Do you like when an author gives you a playlist of their book?
Here is a rambling post about the William
Patterson University Spring Writers Conference that I attended on Saturday,
April 18.
Sometimes when I go to writing
conferences I get wrapped up in taking notes, but this time I sat back
and just absorbed myself in the day.
The keynote speaker, Porochista Khapour,
author of The Last Illusion was inspiring, generous, and interesting.
Here are some things I took away
from the keynote speech…
- Social media while great, is an artificial
pulse… Porchista advises us to slow down.
- Encourages you to get out of the
house.Talk to people.
- Position yourself to be lucky…how do you
do this? BY getting out of the house. By saying yes to things.
- Give yourself permission not to write everyday.
But live life everyday. Read everyday.
Then I attended Porochista workshop on writing
endings. We read endings of a couple of books and talked about different endings and well, okay – maybe I
should have taken notes…
Then we broke for lunch.
Porochista gravitated with a group of us outside of
the classroom and we ended up lunching together with my fellow writer friend Marianne
Sciucco, workshop teacher/poet Soroya Shalforoosh, and two other lovely
ladies.
The topics of discussion ranged from women
writers supporting each other, to books, to life. I really could've spoke with these women all day.
After lunch I attended Finding and Writing
Your Inner Teenager with Robin Wasserman, author of several YA novels, including the The Seven Deadly Sins series.
I took this workshop because I’m planning
to write a Young Adult story over the summer.
Robin handed out several pieces of writing
about teenagers and we had to guess if it was from adult fiction or from a YA novel. It was a great exercise.
I took these one-line notes…
-nail the details of teenage life
-flavor of way teenager talk
-teenager have a small life but big dreams
-it’s either a sunny day or doom and gloom
-every emotion is operatic
-teenagers weigh their choices differently than adults
-lots of decisions aren’t up to them
-try to emotionally connect to who we were
as teens
-ask what is the relevancy of
family/adults to the story and if relevant do not make adults cookie cutter.
-YA is a lot about 'firsts' .. first
date…first kiss, etc. I feel better prepared to write this YA! Thanks Robin! It was a great day. So glad I 'got out of the house'. I picked up a copy of The Last Illusion, which I can't wait to delve into. I couldn't help though to take a peek at the opening line... Exactly ONCE UPON A time in a small village in Northern Iran, a child of the wrong color was born.
I been a bad, bad blogger, but I've been writing Summer Dreaming, which releases August 4, 2015! And then there is my day job as a mild-mannered accountant!
So today I'm bring back an old, but popular post about writing the male POV...
Even though my male Peruvian dance instructor
reads/writes poetry, says that East of Eden reminds him of Thanksgiving and
writes things on Facebook like, “When I’m with you, there is a million dances
but not enough songs.” and “Fingerprints that you left in my soul.” he will
then post as his Facebook status:
Counting sheep is boring…. one Playmate, two
Playmates….
As a female writing from the male point of view you
need to remember that
men like sex. Men think about sex. All the time.
What else do you need to know? You need to decode
what men say.
For instance below are the results from a Men’s
Health magazine survey that asked men to list of The Top 5 Qualities Men Want
in a Wife.
And as a public service to women writers I will
decode this list – what these men are really thinking are in the parenthesis.
The Top 5 Qualities Men Want in a Wife Decoded:
1. Financial Savvy (will not spend more than $100
on a single item of clothing – including shoes and handbags)
2. Independent (has her own stuff going on so she
won’t notice if I go out with the guys for a beer)
3. Intelligent (knows not to walk in front of the
TV or talk during a game)
4. Loyal (will not disclosed embarrassing info
about him to her girlfriends/family)
5. Sexually Adventurous (will have sex more than
once a week)
So there you have it – men decoded.
Here’s a sample from Playing For Keeps - Fantasy Football Romance (Season 1)
Once
seated, Ryan did his best with small talk as dinner was served. Having Jake and
Hannah act as chaperones helped. It kept him from jumping Samantha, who at the
moment seemed to be interested in the intricacies of her place setting, leaving
her dinner plate untouched.
“You’re not eating,”
commented Ryan.
“I’m supposed to tell
you I’m not hungry, but I’d be lying. The truth is, my dress is ready to bust
at the seams.”
Bust. He couldn’t
help it. Really, he couldn’t. His eyes dropped to the material straining
against her full breasts. An amber necklace fell just above her cleavage like a
sign saying ‘This Way’. Would he be a complete degenerate if he silently wished
for the fabric to give way? No, he didn’t think so. He was being a man. That’s
what men did, they wished, fantasized, and dreamt of sex. Statistics proved it.
Who was he to fight Mother Nature?
“Ryan?”
Whoops,
caught in the act. “Just admiring your necklace.” Taking a sip of water, he
looked across the table at Jake.
“By the look on your
face you want to be my necklace.”
He choked on the
water as a laugh threatened to burst out. If he wasn’t mistaken she was flirting
with him and he responded in kind. “Or your dress.”
I know, it doesn't add up, does it! That's writer's math for you! LOL. Real Men Don't Drink Appletinis is part of the box set called Escape Into Romance. Get your copy today! *** Only 99 cents! *** The ESCAPE INTO ROMANCE boxed set is LIVE! 11 novels / 11 authors / 2,000+ pages for one low price! Get books from award-winning and USA Today bestselling Addictive Reads authors Cate Dean, Anna Erishkigal, Kiru Taye, Liz Matis, Nana Malone, Kristine Cayne, Stacey Joy Netzel, Tamara Ward, Dana Delamar, Lily Silver, and Natalie G. Owens. This collection has it all—contemporary romance, futuristic romance, romantic suspense, mystery romance, and paranormal romance—with a wide range of heroes, from time travelers, ex-soldiers, Navy SEALs, and multi-millionaire CEOs, to tennis stars, firefighters, Mafia princes, and rock stars! Heat levels range from sweet to sizzling, so there’s something to suit every mood.
I've started a new blog centered around my heroines of the Fantasy Football Romance series. I plan to post stuff from each heroine. So far Supermodel Hannah Hahn is taking center stage. If you've read Going For It, you know that's no surprise!
