A New Addiction

I'm addicted to chocolate.
And I'm addicted to Coca Cola.
Hell, I've even been addicted to love. 

But lately, it's something else.  Something new.  It's...it's...PicMonkey.

Yes, you read that right, PicMonkey.  What is that, you ask?  It's a photo-editing site that not only allows you to edit your photos, but it's a GREAT place for spazzy people like me to create promos for books and collages and that sort of thing.  It's crazy!  I'm seriously addicted to it.

So what do I do with it?  Well, here are just a few of the things I've done lately:

Pretty, right?  So bold.  So colorful!  So. Stinking. Cute!!

I got a little more creative with this one.  I inserted the picture and the text on the note pad.  And believe me when I tell you, I cannot figure out things like Photoshop.

Not a great one, but I had to try.  And that's the thing...they're not all masterpieces but to me - because I'm normally so clueless with things like this - this is awesome!!

I'm almost giddy at this point and doing victory laps around my desk!

Last one.  I promise.

So there is hope - people like me who are scared of the computer!  You can do it!  It can be done!!  Don't get me wrong, when the graphics department with my publisher wants to do some work for me, I am certainly NOT going to say no.  But in the mean time, I am having a blast!!

Any favorites??

Fictional Father Issues...

Interesting conversation the other day - my father was visiting with my sister for Easter.  He lives in Florida and she's here in NC with me but three hours away.  So he got serious with her and asked her if she noticed that all the fathers in my books are really bad people.

Seriously??

So she comes for lunch the other day and tells me this and I burst out laughing.  Why?  Because I know he's read a LOT of my books and I know that I have written some pretty bad/unloving parents, but not in all of my books!!  So I decided to make this post about the fictional fathers and see how it really plays out.  Are you ready?  Here are the books - in order - and let's figure out this mystery together!

1.  Jordan's Return:  Jordan's ex-husband is an abusive man (which is why she's no longer married to him) and he does opt to give up custody of his children.  Score 1 for bad dad.

2.  The Christmas Cottage:  Every father in the book is loving and supportive and really quite secondary to the overall story.

3.  Ever After:  Not a whole lot of mention of fathers in this one except in the same capacity as the Christmas Cottage.

4.  Catering to the CEO:  Supportive dad to Cassie and her siblings.  Adam's father was absentee and kind of a jerk but he got maybe one paragraph of storyline so I'm not counting him.  BUT...I'll be fair and give the point.  Score 2 for bad dad.

5. Eye of the Storm:  Another absentee dad who walked out on his family and again, only a paragraph or two of storyline.  Okay...maybe I'm seeing a pattern.  Score 3 for bad dad.

6.  Wait for Me:  William Montgomery is the best father EVER.  No points on this one, dad!

7.  Trust in Me:  William Montgomery is back and STILL awesome.  No points.

8.  Stay With Me:  William Montgomery for the triple play.  And Gina's father - though absentee - loved his daughter and stayed away to make her life better and in the end they had a great reconciliation.  No bad dad points here either!

9.  A Touch of Heaven:  One father had passed away and no bad storyline to go with it and the other dad was funny and charming.  No bad points again!

10.  The Snowflake Inn:  Both fathers had passed away and no history to them.  No bad dad anywhere in the story!

11.  Mistletoe Between Friends:  Both families were friends and loving and supportive.  No points this round!

12.  More of Me:  The Montgomerys again.  Nothing happening in the bad dad category here.

13.  The Baby Arrangement:  The baby's biological father was a player who didn't know he had fathered a child and he opted to walk away.  Okay, bad dad.  Score 4.

14.  Baby, I'm Yours:  All the dad's here were good.  Even Josh, who didn't know he was a dad until his daughter was 3, once he knew he was the best.  No points happening here!

15.  Baby, Be Mine:  Um...father to twin newborns.  Steps up to the plate.  That's a good dad!

16.  Exclusive:  I know Taylor's mom is a single mom but I don't even remember giving her father a history.  Just that he's not there.  So nothing bad to report.

17.  Moonlight in Winter Park:  Both sets of parents were gone so really, no issues.  No points.

18.  Return to You:  Yes.  I will give him this one.  Selena's dad was the WORST.  Score 5 for the bad dad theory.

19.  Meant for You:  Sort of.  Robert Montgomery is not as nice as his brother William and he's a little overbearing.  I'm not going to say that he's the worst but I'll be generous and give the point.  Score 6.

20.  Duty Bound:  Harper's dad was a good guy and so was Levi's.  No points.

21.  Honor Bound:  Sebastian's dad was a manipulative control freak and Ali's dad was weak. So okay, bad.  Score 7.

22.  Forever Bound:  No bad parents in the bunch.  We don't discuss them much.  So no points there.

23.  Home Bound:  Yes, Cole's dad was a jerk who deserved the bad things that happened to him.  Fine!  Score 8.

So let's say about 30% of the books have a bad dad somewhere in the plot.  That's not completely horrible, is it?  And really, their badness is never a major plot-point or contributing factor.

It's just funny how different people look at the books and see different things or will focus on different things.  Odd...

North Shore Author Signing

So tomorrow I'm going to be in Boston for the North Shore Author Signing.  I'm super excited about it and am really looking forward to meeting some amazing people - readers and authors!  We'll be at the Peabody for the event and if you're in the area, stop by and say hello!!

Here's the link with the info:  
http://northshoreauthorsigning.com/event-info/

Observations of a Writer...

In my mind, I've been a writer my entire life.  Well, maybe not my ENTIRE life, but pretty darn close.  The reality is that I've been recognized as a writer only within the last four years.  Since that time, I've witnessed a lot of weird, unusual and sometimes offensive behavior from people around me - and only some of it have I used in a book!

Here's just my top ten:

- Everyone you know or are related to will automatically assume that someone in your book is them.  This happens particularly when the character is heinous in some way.  And they won't come right out and ask me, but they'll speculate amongst themselves until someone just comes out and asks.

- Everyone is suddenly an aspiring author.  Only they don't want to actually write.  They have ideas.  Oh, boy, do they have ideas.  They just want to tell them to me and have me write them down and make them into something.

- Most people who are supposed to love you, will not buy your book.  They want it for free or they find excuses not to buy them.

- They won't write reviews either.

- And the ones who are SUPER excited for you and tell you they love you 47 times a day start to creep you out with their affection.  And believe it or not, sometimes they just want to actually BE you.  Trust me.  It's happened.

 - I honestly don't talk about my books to my family or friends while I'm writing them.  And to be fair, hardly anyone asks.  All I say is "I'm working on a book" and they're like, "Okay". 

- It's super cool when readers love your characters as much as you do.

- My husband still smirks (and occasionally chuckle) when he reads the blurbs or the tag lines on any and all of my books.  Such a boy!

- Some of the most generous people who encourage and support me are people I've never met.

-  Everyone - and I mean everyone - thinks that they are an editor.  And I don't mean that in a good way.

Who's With Me??

"Meant for You" is HERE!!!

Seriously, it's here!  It's live!!  And I'd write more but I am running out the door to sign some copies in the stores!!

Hope you pick up your copy of "Return to You" today and please leave a comment and let me know that you loved it!

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!!

And the countdown is on...

You know what's funny?  I've been writing/publishing books for almost four years.  To date, I have twenty-one contemporary romances on the shelves (so to speak) and yet the waiting for release day is suddenly new and different.  Why?  Because I am actually IN stores!  It's the weirdest thing!  Before when I was e-publishing, it was just a matter of hitting "publish" and waiting for it to pop up on Amazon or Barnes and Noble.  But now?  It's a whole new world!

Tomorrow when "Meant for You" is officially released - rumor has it that it's already on the shelves in a LOT of stores - I will hit my local Barnes and Nobles and Walmarts and go and see where they are on the shelves and take pictures.  It may sound silly but it just makes me so happy to see them there!

So if you're in Central North Carolina tomorrow and cruising around the area bookstores, look for me!  I'll be the one taking selfies with the books!  LOL!

It's all about the pug...

I don't know if I've mentioned this, but I have a pug. 

And I love her to pieces!!!

I got her by default.  You see, she was my son's dog.  He bought her as a puppy, he trained her, he loved her, but he just couldn't take care of her the way she needed.  So because I had fallen completely in love with her at first sight, it was only fitting that we adopt her when the time came.  She is my sassy sidekick, my pretty girl and - more times than not - my biggest headache.  Have you ever heard how noisy a pug can be?  Sheesh!  That dog snores louder than my husband and that's saying something!

But...snoring aside, my little Maylene brings me a ton of joy.  So it was only fitting when I wanted to include a pet in "Meant for You" that I let that honor go to my girl.  She may not realize the honor I've bestowed upon her, but it makes me smile. 

Wicked Reads: Wicked Reads Reviews – Return to You by Samantha C...

Just wanted to share this wonderful review of "Return to You"!!  I love when people enjoy my stories!



Wicked Reads: Wicked Reads Reviews – Return to You by Samantha C...: She will never forget their past... He can't stop thinking about their future... James Montgomery has achieved everything he'...

All of my babies are home...

And by babies, I mean books.

Yes, I have children.  No, they don't all live at home.  Pretty much whenever that happens it's more like a drive-by than an actual visit.  He comes home for the weekend and it's over super fast.  So, no.  Those are not the babies of which I speak.

I'm talking Montgomerys.

Sigh.

Yesterday was the BEST UPS delivery ever.  Although to the driver it was just another delivery, I almost hugged him.  He backed away slowly as I did a happy dance at the sight of the boxes. 

Inside those two boxes were my copies of "Meant for You" and the "Stay With Me/More of Me" duo.  So you know what this means right?  All of the Montgomery series stories are now in paperback and on my shelves!!!  And soon to be on book store shelves all over the place too!!

Yeah, heads up Barnes and Noble - I'm coming to multiple locations next week and taking pictures again and screeching like a fangirl over my own books.  Warn security.  Maybe have Starbucks on alert with a muffin and a tall hot chocolate (no whip!) ready as a distraction.  Just sayin.

I love looking over at this bookcase and seeing it full with these books.  I can't describe the feeling to you.  When the first two books came to me, I cried.  Like a big, sad, ugly cry.  My husband and 15 year old son sort of looked at one another awkwardly as they tried to figure out what the heck was wrong with me. 

And then wanted me to pose for a picture!  Without fixing my makeup!  Men!

I know I write.  I know I publish.  But for so many years my books have been something that you can SEE on your Kindle, your NOOK, your iPad and whatnot.  But to hold them in my hands??  Well, that really was something amazingly emotional.  And while I admit I do cry easily - and sometimes at completely inappropriate times - the emotion here was real.

The only problem with that picture you see?  You'll note the three white spots on the wall.  In reality it looks like a lower-case 'n' and an exclamation point and yes, it's left over from the construction.  No, the walls aren't finished.  The ceilings aren't finished.  And no one has come back.  I have a feeling that is some kind of message on the wall that the painters and drywall guys were using to communicate with one another that I'm a crazy person.  What do you think?

TGIFWNC...

Sure it's not easy to say and it doesn't flow.  It's kind of long.  But hey, today that is my mantra.

TGIFWNC.

Thank God it's Friday with no construction.

For now.

Yesterday was a seriously depressing day.  The builder came in and took one look at the ceilings and after EIGHT DAYS of people in my home trying to make them right, they are now in worse condition than they were before. 

FOR REAL????  How is that even possible??  I didn't think it WAS possible, but there it is.  After so many days of living in rooms that look like this, you would think that everything would be better.  But it's not.  And what have I got to show for it?  Dust, everywhere.  Furniture, all over the place but not IN it's place.  I had to go to the doctor to get medication because I can't breathe.  So now I'm on a steroid, OTC allergy pills and a cough suppressant.  I thought the worst was over.  I thought there was light at the end of the tunnel, but there's not.  The issue isn't resolved and on top of it, every wall in my house has to be re-painted!  And not by the builder, but by us!  Why?  Because we had custom painted the house when we moved in and the builder will only paint with standard colors.

Can I seriously not get a break here???

Okay, I'm done complaining.  Let's talk about something more pleasant. 

Books.  Writing.  Ahhh...that makes me happy.  I'm totally in the zone with all of that right now.  In less than two weeks, "Meant for You" will be out!  Although I did have a friend in Alabama who found it on the shelves at her local bookstore already!  Now I want to go out and see for myself if that's happening here! 

I'm more than 2/3 of the way done with Shaughnessy book two, but book three is already playing out in my mind so I took the day yesterday to write what was screaming at me and ended up with 10,000 words!  I was feeling pretty good about myself and did a victory lap around my office and ended up tripping on construction debris.

Just more reason to have rage.

No.  No.  No.  Good thoughts.  Happy thoughts. 

I'm learning to get a little more creative with photoshop - except, NOT photoshop.  I'm using some online
photo editing software (PicMonkey) to create some new promos for the books.  I'm not great with it by any means.  Actually, it scares the bejeezus out of me but I'm making attempts and they don't suck so...winning! I was lucky enough to have some talented friends and family help me out with some of it but I'm making progress and maybe a year from now I'll be able to do it all by myself!  It's good to learn a new skill - even if it's only really useful to me!  Lol!

So this is me.  Reveling in having the house - somewhat - to myself today.  Hubby just came home after only being gone for 2 hours.  No work today.  Bummer.  So he'll work on other projects NOT related to the ceiling debacle.  Someday I'll have this house in order and time to myself to sit at my desk with nothing but my writing and maybe some Andy Gibb playing on my iPod.

A girl can dream...

Memories from Myrtle Beach

I had a GREAT time this year at Authors in the City.  Last year, the event was held in New York City.  That in itself was amazing.  I had the chance to do some major sightseeing and got to spend some time with my agent.  It was my first-ever signing and I was majorly overwhelmed.

This year I was a little more prepared and a lot more relaxed.  We were in Myrtle Beach - a place I had never been to before.  It was one of those places that I was always like "Um...yeah.  I'd really like to go there" but then never did.  Overall, I wasn't overly impressed with the area.  It was all fine and well but it's a tourist town.  Lots of shopping, restaurants, hotels and traffic. 

Yawn.

But our hotel was beautiful and when I checked in, I asked for an upgrade and got a room on the top floor facing the ocean.  We were two blocks in but the view was really great.  The weather wasn't good for three of the four days - rainy, cloudy, heavy winds.  Definitely not beach weather.  But that was all right because I wasn't there to go to the beach.

I was there to runaway from home for four days!  LOL!

It was a great girls weekend - we went out for nice dinners, had a spa day and were completely rested and ready to meet some amazing fans and authors for the actual AITC event.  I have to say that this was one of the nicest crowds I've ever experienced at an event.  Everyone was so friendly and happy and just plain awesome! 

We were exhausted by the end of the day and treated ourselves to a gourmet steak dinner.  Then reality hit.  We had to go home.  We packed up and loaded the car and on Sunday - the only nice day we had - we hit the beach before getting on the road.  Well, actually, we hit a TON of stores on our way out of town and did a little retail therapy before really getting on the road.  It was total bliss! 

Slowly slipping into insanity...

I'm still pretty much in construction hell.

I know I should be thankful that the work is getting done at no cost to us - gotta love a two-year home guarantee - and I am, BUT...I am so out of sorts that I'm walking around here like Mr. Magoo.  My
entire schedule is out of whack.  I have to get up earlier than usual to make sure that I am showered, dressed and everything is put away before the crew arrives at 8 a.m.  I have to take the dog to doggy daycare - and when did THAT become a thing??  And then during the day I am pretty much secluded in my office with a cloud of dust swirling around throughout the house.

I'm coughing.
I'm tired.
And I am not having fun.

I will say this, the crew has been very accommodating.  If you don't count the time they just taped and plastic-ed me into the office and kind of forgot about me. Or that half the time the crew pretends that they don't understand English when I try to pinpoint when exactly this work is going to come to an end.  I want to shake my fist and yell "I'M ON TO YOU!!" but they probably wont' acknowledge that I've said anything.

And then tape me into my office again and turn up the radio.   I just want to be done!!!  When is it going to be done???  Why did I let my husband convince me that wavy ceilings were a bad thing???

No, seriously, they clean up after themselves and my writing time has not been hindered at all.  I have gotten a LOT of work done.  I've made great progress on the second Shaughnessy book and got done with all of the first-read edits on Zach Montgomery's book.

Yeah me!

I guess my main issue is that I don't like to sit still.  I write every day.  I just get up and move around the house in between creative moments.  Now that I'm limited to this 4x4 bit of space, I have a lot of time to just...sit.  I'll admit it's starting to mess with me.  So what do I do with all that time?  Glad you asked.  Here are the top five useless things I've done in the last week:

1. Tried to learn all the words to Maroon 5's "Payphone".
I'm getting pretty good with it and even came up with some dance moves you can do whether you are standing OR sitting.  I know, I know...you're jealous.  Not only do I have the time to do this nonsense, but I had the time to choose a song that is not even current!  That's right, with the eight jillion songs that Maroon 5 currently has, I had to find an old one.  THAT, my friends, take real talent, skill and yes, a lot of time to figure out which song would be the easiest to learn.

2.  I read.  And no, not just my own stuff that I'm writing, but I actually picked up my Kindle and
downloaded a NEW book and read it.  And you know what else?  It wasn't even the typical contemporary romance that I usually gravitate toward.  It was a young adult/new adult novel and I LOVED it!  Not that I'm switching over.  It was just a great book that had gotten some buzz and I wanted to check it out.  "The Deal" by Elle Kennedy.  Check it out.

Then go back to reading my books. 

3.  I discovered a new word game.  Actually, a friend of mine told me about it and now I am seriously addicted and I can play it on my Kindle.  Hi-words.  It's addictive.  Seriously addictive.  You have categories and ten levels in each category and it's like a word search - the words are forward, backwards and vertical.  Sounds easy right?  Wrong.  I consider myself to be really good at word games - I rock at Scrabble, I love word searches and crossword puzzles and go crazy for Bananagrams.  But this game?  It makes me feel like a complete idiot.  So I'm determined to prove it wrong. 

No matter how many times it tells me that I'm wrong and don't know how to spell. 

4.  I'm unsubscribing from all of the things that I don't remember subscribing to.  This is actually a very good thing.  Not useless...just monotonous.  Oh. My. God.  Today alone I unsubscribed to fifteen different sites.  Most of which I had never subscribed to.  Some of them wouldn't let me unsubscribe because they said I wasn't a subscriber!  How is that even possible??  And the problem?  Because I'm forced to sit here in front of the computer day in and day out until the construction work is done?  I'll probably subscribe to even more sites!  Seriously, somebody stop me! 

5.  Sat here and seriously contemplated the importance of getting back on my Weight Watchers plan.  I did really great with it right up until I left for Myrtle Beach and then?  Well, let's just say there was a lot of food eaten and pretty sure that NONE of it was on the Weight Watchers plan.  And if it was, I pretty much blew my points for the day at one meal.  How is that possible?  Chocolate cake in bed.  There.  I've said it.  So now it's like I'll be starting over and that just makes me sad.  And it means I have to pack a cooler at seven in the morning with all healthy, low-point value foods and keep it in my office since my kitchen is covered in plastic.

Or I can eat some of the Hershey kisses in the candy bowl on my desk.

Decisions...decisions. 

No, no, no.  It's time.  I need to do it.  Spring is here, summer will be here before I know it and really, it's time.  No more excuses.  Maybe I should lock myself up in my room with the treadmill. 

Bwa-ha-hahahahaha...I know.  I almost couldn't even type that with a straight face!  There's also a TV, my Kindle, a fan and a laptop up in my room.  That treadmill wouldn't stand a chance no matter how long I was taped in there!

 Yeah, I do.

I'm Coming Back...Honestly

I know, I know, I know...I disappeared again.

With good reason. 

Number one:  Construction in my house.  They are having to re-do all of the ceilings in my home.  We knew this day would come - had actually argued with the builder before we closed on the house a year ago, but they wouldn't budge.  Luckily, the new supervisor who came to do our one-year walk-through noticed how wavy and unfinished they all were and said that he'd get it taken care of for us. 

That was all fine and well and my hubby was thrilled but the truth is, it's a big job.  A big messy job.  There are easily four contractors in my house from eight in the morning until about five in the afternoon and it's loud and dusty and so not what I like!!  I miss my peace and quiet.  I miss having the place to myself.  I miss having a door on my office!!

The other day, I got taped and plastic-walled into a room.  I felt like those people who get stranded on broken down cruise ships.  I was ready to ask someone to airlift me some food - and a potty! 

TMI.  Sorry. 

Number two:  I was away in Myrtle Beach for Authors in the City.  Great event.  Lots of fun.  Super cool fans.  But it was four days away and one day of packing and prepping and one day to recover.  I'm finally getting back into the swing of things.  Kind of.  Sort of.  There's still stuff everywhere. 

Number three:  The writing cave.  I am more than halfway done with the next book in the Shaughnessy series that will debut in August 2015.  I can't say any more than that but I think you're really going to love it!!

So all that being said, I'm back.  Again.  I swear.  Have you gotten your copy of "Return to You" yet?  Or have you started the series all the way back at the beginning with the "Wait for Me/Trust in Me" duo???  You should totally be doing that! 

A Heart Full of Thanks...

So I'm sitting here teetering between hyperventilating and crying like a baby.

Either way, it's not pretty.

I self-published my first novel back in 2011.  Jordan's Return.  I received sixteen rejections from agents and publishers on this story but I was bound and determined to see it in print.  I had no idea how to format a book for print or for e-publishing but I researched and had the help of some amazing people - some of whom I have never met face to face!  It is because of them that I was able to sit at my desk and hit that "publish" button.

When I did it, I thought that I was so brave and was so excited at all the possibilities.  But never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be where I am right now - getting ready to get in my car to see a novel of mine out in the world.  On bookstore shelves.  The excitement that I feel right now is almost overwhelming.

Wonderfully so.

I walked a different path than a lot of indie authors and I kind of accidentally found my way.  I know a lot of great authors who study charts and sales patterns, figured out all kinds of algorithms while doing tons of blog tours and that was completely overwhelming to me.  I really just wanted to write stories that readers would enjoy and maybe I would have gone further if I had paid more attention to the algorithms, but I have been blessed with some amazing fans who responded to my stories and helped spread the word about them.  If I could, I would seriously hug each and every one of you - and send you some swag!

I had no idea when I wrote the first Montgomery book that fans were going to fall so hard for this family.  And to be honest with you, neither did I.  I mean, I love all my heroes but the Montgomery men?  They just make me sigh.  Do I have a favorite?  It's kind of a tie right now between Lucas and Mac (books one and three) but the trio that you're about to be introduced to?  They're giving them a serious run for their money!

As today starts an entirely new journey as an author for me, I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you.  For the love.  The support.  The reviews.  But the greatest thing that I want to say thank you for?  Is the friendships I have made.  So many of you take the time to message me and I answer each and every one of those messages myself.  I love hearing your stories, your thoughts and what you hope to read about in the future.

I hope that you love "Return to You" as much as I do and I look forward to meeting so many of you at upcoming events and online and wherever else it is that we can.  You've all made this dream possible and there aren't enough words or thank you's to possibly convey what that means.

While I Was Gone...

Yes, yes, I know.  I've been MIA for a few weeks.  I apologize.  I wish I could say that it was for something super cool like a vacation or because I had won the lottery but alas, no such luck.  I had to have some minor out-patient surgery and while I was recovering, North Carolina seemed to go crazy with ice and snow.  Seriously, I've lived here for 20 years and never saw so much winter weather happen so close together.

The good news is that the snow is just about gone - YIPPEE!! - and I am feeling better.  It's like a win/win right now.  All is right with the world and everything is returning to normal.  Insert the hallelujah chorus here.

That's not to say that I wasn't productive.  Sort of.  Yes, yes, I did spend a little too much time sprawled out on the couch watching HGTV and playing computer solitaire but I've also been hard at work on the next book while preparing for the release of my very first Sourcebooks Casablanca title, "Return to You".  Which comes out tomorrow.  Did I mention that?

So I promise to get back to work here on the blog and back to my regularly scheduled writing schedule. 

After tomorrow.

Tomorrow if you are in the RTP area of North Carolina, chances are you are going to be seeing me in various Barnes and Noble locations, screaming like a woo-girl and taking selfies with the books on the shelves and probably enjoying some Starbucks hot chocolate while doing it!  If you're out shopping and see "Return to You", please snap a picture and post it on my Facebook fan club page!

Also, don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter and get exclusive sneak peaks at upcoming books and giveaways!  Subscribe here!

And...I'm back! 

Teaser Alert!! "Home Bound" Edition #2

Revisiting an old friend...

As an avid reader, I cannot even pick my all-time favorite book.  There have been so many that have touched me and made me laugh or cry that there is no way to narrow it down to just one being "the best".  Characters leap off the page and become real - their stories unfold all around me that it sometimes feels like I'm actually part of it!  Imagine how much more intense it becomes when I'm the writer of the story!

So now that I am with Sourcebooks, I have a bunch of new books to write and new characters to meet and get acquainted yet.  But...the really cool part is that we are going to be re-editing and re-releasing all of my back titles as well.  It's a daunting task but what I'm finding is that I am getting a chance to revisit some of the fun characters I created.

Trust me, it's fun.

This week I've been working on "The Christmas Cottage" and "Ever After".  It's only been a little over two years since I released them and yet I had forgotten so much about them!  I got caught up in the fairytale and myth of couples finding love if they spend the night in the sweet little cottage.  I laughed with my heroes and heroines and fell in love all over again.

Do you like to re-read some of your favorite books?  How often do you do it?  There are times where I'll still have hundreds (yes, hundreds) of titles on my Kindle that I haven't read but I'll go back to one that I have and read it again!  I want that feeling...the way that the story made me feel just one more time.  It's comfortable.  There are no surprises.  No chance of being let down.  You know how it's going to end but you still want to go back and visit.

Have you gone back and re-read any Samantha Chase books?  Any of them make you want to go back and visit?

Teaser Alert! "Home Bound" Edition

Cover Reveal!!

I'm sad to see this series coming to an end but here it is, the cover of our final book in the Protectors series - "Home Bound".

Here's a little blurb: 

The story of my life isn't pretty. I come from the wrong side of the tracks. I've been a criminal. I've been homeless. I almost killed my father, and I might be responsible for the death of my best friend.

I should not be wanting her.

Her life story is the stuff of dreams. She's America's sweetheart - beautiful, talented, and famous - and she doesn't want anything to do with me. I'll protect her from a stalker since it’s my job, but that's all I'm allowed. No touching, no lusting, no falling in love. I'm all wrong for her, and she's completely off-limits.

But I've never been good about following the rules.

Hopefully we'll have a pre-order link up and ready by the end of next week!  

It's all about the love...

So...it's February.  Valentine's Day.  You know...the love holiday.

I've been happily married for 25 years.  Love, love, LOVE my husband.  Do we celebrate Valentine's Day? 

No.

I don't know why.  No wait...I'm lying.  I DO know why.  Because my husband declared many, many years ago that it was a pointless holiday considering that he loves me every day and doesn't need a day to remind him to love me.

Awwww...

Um...no.  I saw that explanation as a way of him getting out of putting in an effort on Valentine's Day.  He denies it but I still have my suspicions.  Normally I try and throw in a little effort on the actual day - a nice candlelight dinner with special foods.  Even if the kids are home.  We've had some great surf and turf during those meals.  I've even bought myself flowers - and then used them for props for our candlelight dinner. 

I guess I kind of agree with him.  We love each other 365 days a year.  I won't go so far as to say that EVERY day is Valentine's Day.  Because that would make me a big, fat liar.  We may love each other every day, but believe me when I say that there are plenty of days where we just don't like each other very much.  We yell, we scream, we say stupid stuff.  But at the end of the day, we get over it, kiss each other goodnight and say "I love you". 

I write romances.  I write stories about people meeting and falling in love.  Their relationships aren't perfect - as a matter of fact, that's one of the things that I enjoy writing about.  The complicated side of being in love.  The days where things just don't go well.  That's reality.  But in the end, everyone gets their happily ever after.

And isn't that why most people read romances?  They want to read about the happily ever after!  Or I always thought so.  I got a review once where someone actually complained about my books always having a happy ending.  That one threw me for a loop.  I wasn't sure what else this reader was expecting - it's a romance, people fell in love, and they normally live happily ever after.  I know there are authors out there that don't follow that formula, but I do.  It's what I like to read so it's what I like to write.

And I'm fortunate enough that it's what I get to live. 

Happy sigh.

So what's your take on Valentine's Day?  Love it?  Hate it?  Wish there was a little less pressure and commercialism associated with it?

What's your story?

My Playlist

I'm a complete dork.

I won't even try to deny it.  It's there for all the world to see.  One son reacts with eye rolls and indifference while the other will flat out call me a loser.  Why?  My choice of music.

I'm an 80's girl.  And we all know that 80's music is still big and all that but that doesn't mean that it was all good.  I have satellite radio and there is an 80's station and yes, I listen to it.  The other day my 15 year old and I were in the car and a Def Leppard song came on that I had never heard before.  I was like..."WHAT???"  He started to laugh at me.  You know, the usual response.  So when I tried to explain about why I was so perplexed, he stopped me.  Then he turned to me and said, "You know, you have a LOT of stories about the songs that we listen to."

Really?  I hadn't noticed.

And yes.  That was sarcasm.

I can't help it.  I love music.  I love to have music playing around me.  I sing really badly in car - and really loud too.  I would definitely say that my life has a soundtrack but the music would be all over the place.  Even though my first love is music of the 80's, I still have a rather eclectic playlist on my iPod.

Like what, you ask?  (Insert smile here)

Taylor Swift.  Only her new stuff.  I can't help it.  It's catchy and I can't stop singing it.  To my sons:  Haters gonna hate...

Sad songs.  Oh.  My.  God.  I do enjoy a good sad song.  You know the kind - songs of lost love, breakups and fear of dying alone.  It doesn't matter who's singing it or why...I just want to hear it.  All of Chicago's songs in the 80's?  Sad.  Power ballads by metal bands?  Sad.  Even when they are kind of lovesong-ish?  They're still sad!!  But what makes it worse is that singing a sad song, kind of makes me happy.  And sometimes it's really good inspiration for a new book.  Everybody sing!

70's music.  No, not the cool stuff.  I'm talking really random, one-hit wonders type of stuff.  "It Never Rains in California", "Beach Baby" - I list the title because no one knows who sang these songs.  Then I round that decade off with some Bay City Rollers, Abba and random disco.

The Osmonds.  Don't judge.  If you're a woman in your 40's, you probably had a Donny Osmond crush or know the words to "Puppy Love" or "One Bad Apple."  Don't lie.  I watched the Donny and Marie Show, I had the dolls and when my older son got his braces off, I referred to his smile as being like Donny's.  I also have a greatest hits CD as part of my playlist - for nostalgia. 

The Jackson Five.  How can you NOT smile when J5 is singing???  There have been times - and I completely own this - that I will "dance" (and I use that term loosely) while I'm driving and "I want you back" comes on. Give me some bell bottoms and a fringed vest and I could have totally been a backup dancer here.

Donna Summer.  Enough said.

If they had big hair and had a song in the 80's, they're on my iPod. 

I can go from banging my head, to shaking it off, to crying my eyes out, to being a dancing queen.  Bottom line?  Music makes me happy.

What's on your playlist??