Cowboys & Christmas Blog Tour - Holiday Romances by Shanna Hatfield (Character Interview)

11/11/2014

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Welcome to the

Cowboys & Christmas

Blog Tour!

A kickoff of two new holiday romances by Shanna Hatfield

and a fundraiser for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund

Interview with Two Heroines

Have you ever wondered what women from two different centuries would discuss?

Today, Shanna Hatfield brings together two of her popular characters for an interesting interview. Filly Granger is a wife, mother, and involved community member in The Christmas Bargain, a sweet Victorian romance taking place in 1893. Kenzie Morgan is from the contemporary sweet romance The Christmas Cowboy. She works from home as a direct sales corporate program developer, is a wife and mother.

Welcome to you both. Tell us a little about your home.
Filly: I live in the small but bustling community of Hardman, Oregon in Eastern Oregon. We have several churches, a school, a newspaper office, skating rink and mercantile there. My husband, Luke, and I live in the house where he grew up on the edge of town where we raise cattle and a few horses. He owns and manages the Hardman Bank and is very involved in the community.
Kenzie: Tate, that’s my husband, and I live on the ranch that his grandfather started back in the early 1900s. We’re about thirty miles from Kennewick, Washington. We primarily raise beef cattle, wheat, and hay.
What is your single most favorite modern convenience?
Filly: Indoor plumbing. And my washing machines. I feel quite spoiled to have two but it is such a big help on laundry day.
Kenzie: Since indoor plumbing is something we all take for granted these days, I’d say my cell phone is my favorite convenience. (Smiles and shows Filly her phone, giving her brief demonstration of how it works.)
Filly: (Wide-eyed, holds the phone in her hand) This is the most miraculous invention. I dearly wish I could show Luke. He’d be utterly entranced.
What’s your favorite thing about your home?
Kenzie: (Smiles) Tate and our son, Gideon. They make a place home for me.
Filly: You have a son?
Kenzie: We sure do. He’ll be two soon. (Pulls up a photo of the baby on her phone and hands it to Filly.)
Filly: He’s adorable. His curls put me in mind of our own little Maura. She’s just a few months old. (Filly removes a small photograph from her reticule and gives it to Kenzie.)
Kenzie: What a lovely family. Your husband is very handsome.
Filly: Mr. Morgan appears quite dashing with those dimples and bright blue eyes. Oh, and to answer the question, my favorite thing about home is Luke and Maura. It would just be a house without them there.
Here are three fun questions…
Coffee or tea?
Kenzie: Most of the time coffee, but sometimes I enjoy a good cup of tea. Tate thinks I make special Christmas tea, but I buy it from the store.
Filly: (Grins at Kenzie) I prefer tea as does Luke, although he hates to admit it to anyone. We also have spicy tea we make at Christmas. It’s so fragrant and delicious.
Skirts or pants?
Filly: Women wear pants?
Kenzie: (Opens a site on her phone with women’s fashions) All the time. I’m used to wearing skirts when I’m working so I put one on today. Otherwise, I’d be dressed in jeans and boots.
Filly: Jeans? As in denim trousers?
Kenzie: (Nods and shows Filly a photo) This is me with my horse, Goldie.
Filly: (Studies the photo and grins) Oh, how I wish I could wear jeans to ride. They look much more comfortable than the split skirts I wear. Your boots are wonderful.
Sweet or savory?
Filly and Kenzie: Sweet!
Filly: I enjoy sweets, especially chocolate.
Kenzie: Me, too!
Tell us one thing you admire about your husband.
Kenzie: It’s hard to choose just one. Tate is one of the most optimistic, positive people I’ve ever met. He always looks for the good in situations and in others. I’d say that’s probably what I admire about him most. He’s also loyal, determined, gentle, and kind. And handsome!
Filly: Luke has the biggest heart of anyone I know. He rescued me when I needed it most. He’s definitely my hero, champion, and best friend. I also think he’s quite charming and handsome.

Thank you both for joining us. Any parting words for our readers?
Kenzie: If you enjoy historical fiction, sweet romances, or good westerns, I hope you’ll consider reading our stories in the Hardman Holidays and Rodeo Romance series.
Filly: Be sure to check out The Christmas Calamity, releasing Nov. 13. Luke’s assistant Arlan really gets into the magic of the season with the arrival of a prestidigitator in town.
Kenzie: I’ve never met a prestidigitator, although I’ve been around some great rodeo clowns when Tate rode in the rodeo.
(The two women stand.)
Filly: If you aren’t in a hurry, do you mind if I peruse a few things on that? (Gestures to Kenzie’s cell phone)
Kenzie: (Hands Filly the phone) Go right ahead. By the way, do you think you could share that tea recipe…

Where to Find The Books

Start the Rodeo Romance Series with The Christmas Cowboy.

Travel back to a different time with the historic Hardman Holiday Series,

beginning with The Christmas Bargain.

Kindle | Paperback

Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund®

Now through Dec. 24, Shanna will donate 10 percent of the net proceeds from all book sales to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund.

The JCCF is a non-profit organization that assists rodeo athletes who’ve sustained catastrophic injuries and are unable to work for an extended period.

You’re Invited to PARTY!

You’re invited to join in the online Cowboys & Christmas Facebook Party Thursday, Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (PST). Drop in anytime during those four hours to enter to win great prizes, chat with guest authors, and more! Here’s the link to the party: http://tinyurl.com/cowboychristmasparty The third book in the Hardman Holidays sweet Victorian romance series releases that day! The Christmas Calamity takes readers back to Hardman just in time for the holiday season. Preorders are available now for just $1.99 on Kindle. You can reserve your copy here: http://amzn.com/B00OGOO994 In addition, the first book in the Hardman Holidays series, The Christmas Bargain, will be available free that day, as well!

Enter to Win Prizes!

To enter the drawing for an Amazon gift card, autographed books, chocolates, original western artwork, and more fun goodies, fill out this form. http://tinyurl.com/cowboychristmasprizes

About Shanna Hatfield

A hopeless romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a bestselling author of sweet romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of humor. In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller. Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.” She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America.

Find Shanna’s books at: Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple Shanna loves to hear from readers! Follow her online: ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter

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Featured - Italian Christmas Proposal by Helen Scott Taylor

11/9/2014

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Italian Christmas Proposal

by Helen Scott Taylor

Series: Sweet Italian Christmas, #1

Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance/Holiday Romance

Release Date: September 29, 2014

Travel to Italy this Christmas and fall in love...

First in a Christmas trilogy set in Naples and the Amalfi coast

Desperate to forget her controlling ex fiancé and have a fresh start, Claire goes to Italy to write about how the Italians celebrate Christmas. Leo has his own troubled past to overcome, but when he rescues Claire from the rain and takes her home to meet his daughter, the magical Italian Christmas offers them both a second chance at happiness.

Leo paused and rested a hand on a pockmarked block of stone in the doorway of a building that had once been a family home. "It's frightening to imagine what it must have been like when the volcano erupted."

Claire's gaze rose to the looming presence of the sleeping volcano silhouetted against the blue sky. The Romans who'd lived here must have thought their way of life was permanent, but Vesuvius had swept away everything they knew and destroyed a thriving port city and the surrounding towns in a matter of hours. It was a sobering thought.

Leo squeezed her shoulder and leaned closer. "Don't be sad. It happened a long time ago."

She lifted a hand and touched his fingers. Here, where the echoes of the past whispered around them, reality felt fluid, unfixed. Anything seemed possible. If life could be swept away so easily, she should grab what she wanted while she could. She'd been raised to be ultra cautious and obey the rules. Jonathan had tried to keep her on that track, but so far that had only made her miserable.

She turned in the enclosed space and rested her palms on Leo's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

"Why do you still wear a wedding ring, Leo?"

"It protects me."

He must have women come on to him all the time because of his looks and his money. "I don't expect anything from you." She didn't want him to think she was just interested in what she could get out of him.

She trailed her fingertips along his jaw, the slight roughness sending streaks of sensation up her arm.

His fingers slid into her hair and she turned her face up to him. His breath brushed her lips, then the warm press of his mouth made her eyelids fall as she lost herself in the kiss.

If she could have one wish this Christmas, it would be to swap her troubled life for this enchanted existence with Leo.

Book 1: Italian Christmas Proposal

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon CA ~ Amazon AU

Buy the other books in the Sweet Italian Christmas series!

Book 2: Italian Christmas Baby

Release Date: October 5, 2014

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon CA ~ Amazon AU

Emily has everything ready for the birth of her baby—the only thing left to do is tell the father!

It was love at first sight for Emily when she met gorgeous Italian businessman, Savino Marin. She was sure he felt the same, until he walked away from her without a backward glance. But he left something behind and eight months later Emily decides she must tell him she's pregnant before his baby is born. She prays he'll want to be a father to his child, but she has no intention of renewing their relationship. He broke her heart once and she won't let him close enough to cause her pain again. But Savino knows exactly what he wants, and he's used to getting his own way.

Coming Soon!
Book 3: Italian Christmas Wedding

Release Date: Mid-November

One phone call and the threat that has hung over Gina Marin's head for six years becomes reality. Her mafia ex is out of prison and on the hunt for her. She has to get out of Naples for a few weeks, and gorgeous Seth Trevathan offers her sanctuary at his farm.

Gina entrances Seth. She is beautiful, vivacious and totally not his type. He's a country boy, ex-military, and used to getting his hands dirty. A fashionable, high-maintenance girlfriend is the last thing he wants. But he soon realizes Gina is not who he thought, and he's in danger of losing his heart.

Helen Scott Taylor's first novel, The Magic Knot, won the American Title contest in 2008, was a Golden Heart® finalist, and was chosen as one of Booklist's top ten romances of 2009. Since then, she has published other novels, novellas, and short stories in both the UK and USA. Her published works have been finalists in a number of contests including the Holt Medallion, the Lories, the Prism Contest, the Write Touch Award and the Maggies.

Helen lives in South West England near Plymouth in Devon between the windswept expanse of Dartmoor and the rocky Atlantic coast. As well as her wonderful long-suffering husband, she shares her home with a Westie and an aristocratic chocolate-shaded-silver-burmilla cat who rules the household with a velvet paw. She believes that deep within everyone there's a little magic. www.helenscotttaylor.com

Friend me on Facebook ~ Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ Website

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Sneak Peek Sunday

11/8/2014

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High time to share another Sneak Peek Sunday excerpt from my new release 'Kaleidoscope of Hopes', my 3rd book so far (and probably not the last for this year).

What's in a face?

“Did you say Wright? As in the famous Wrights from White Rose Manor?”
Nadia's heart skipped a beat at his question, and she froze.
Oh no, out of all the people in the room, the one man who knew her family had to single her out for a conversation! There was no way he could be oblivious to what had happened to the rest of her family…and to her. Would her past come crashing back to ruin everything?
It took all her self-control to keep a straight face. Making her tone as cold as possible without sounding hostile, she answered his question with one of her own.
“Why would you think so?”
Something shifty appeared and disappeared in the man’s eyes, like a malicious gleam. It made her palms sweat, and she was sure she’d remember him forever despite his nondescript features.
“You are the spitting image of Stephen Wright, if I may say so.”
This was getting worse by the second. He knew her brother, which could mean only two things: Either he had been in cohorts with him and was himself a bad character, or he was one of the many people who had fallen out with her brother when he had skipped merrily from scandal to scandal or after he had left them without their money due to sudden death. And he was right, of course. If you disregarded that they were of different gender, they had always looked like twins, which had made it all the more difficult for her.
Groping for anything that would keep her afloat in the rough waters, Nadia said, “Ah, you knew my brother.”
The sleazy grin waddled across his face again.
“My dear, I…”
She never got the chance to rebuke him for speaking to her like that. One minute, the man was practically in her face. The next minute, she was standing a few feet away, half shielded behind the tall, fit frame of her boss.
Lucas was giving off waves of the hostility she had struggled not to show. His voice was icy and his pose threatening when he faced Hartington or whatever the man’s name was.
“Sir.” His voice made it sound like an insult rather than the proper way of addressing somebody. “I beg your pardon, but I don’t think this event is meant for making personal acquaintances. In case you are interested in an advertising campaign, I am at your service. If not, I’d like you to excuse us for now, because there is much important networking ahead of us.”
She watched the man’s face change to an ugly shade of crimson at being told off. He muttered something, executed a stiff, awkward sort of half-bow in her direction, and sauntered off, leaving behind a hideous whiff of cologne and a stale taste in her mouth.
Lucas turned around to her, and the dark emotion boiling in his eyes made her recoil instinctively, before his face settled into his normal expression, and the ice thawed.
“Are you all right? You look awfully pale.”
There was concern in his tone. It made her want to crumble, throw herself into his arms and shut the world—especially her past—out. However, she pulled herself together, more grateful for his interruption than words could tell.
“I’m all right, but thanks for coming to my rescue.”
His stared at her longer than she would have liked it, as if he was searching for something specific. Wordlessly, he touched her elbow and guided her to the dining area.

You can find more excerpts here and buy the book here.

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Fire Friday

11/6/2014

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I was too busy with the release of my 3rd book, 'Kaleidoscope of Hopes', to continue with my tradition of FIRE Friday, but today I feel like sharing another excerpt from my paranormal romance novel 'Playing with Fire'. Read at your own risk, you might get burned!

By now, the air was filled with dense, coiling smoke and unrelenting heat melting the wallpaper. The child’s screams had stopped, leaving behind a frightening silence, cloaking the fire’s rage and for the first time making her afraid.
What happened next was a blur, a succession of movement that seemed to involve somebody else and not her.
Shielding the child, a lifeless lump with its weight doubled, she faced the flames. All of a sudden, she knew what to do.
Raising herself to her full height and thinking of her dragon, she stared into the fire and whispered a fierce command.
“Let me through.”
For a moment, there was no reaction, and she bit her lip again, so hard that the salty, metallic taste of blood mingled with the smoke. She squared her shoulders, exerted pressure to radiate her own wild heat, drew a deep breath and shouted, “Let me through!”
The impossible happened.
The flames withdrew on themselves ever so slightly, parting with obvious reluctance to create a small opening in the curtain of fire. Within moments, she had hurled herself through and along the passage, nearly tripping while navigating the half-burned-away staircase. To her right and left, flames touched her arms and legs, but no other wall of fire blocked her way. She shot out of the gaping, fire-filled hole that had once been a solid, locked front door, like a bullet from the mouth of a (more than) smoking gun.
Her legs carried her farther and farther, and then no more.
Everything went blissfully blank.

To read more, check out another Fire Friday post or buy my book here:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LYMQ9NK

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Featured - Temporarily Employed by Vicki Batman (Guest Post & Spotlight)

11/6/2014

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It's time to feature another awesome author friend of mine. Give it up for Vicki Batman with her latest release "Temporarily Employed". She wrote a great guest post for my blog, so read on!

About the Book

Blurb

New Job. New Love. And Murder.
Hattie Cook's dream job is down the toilet and her new SUV violated. Desperate for cash to cover the basic necessities of rent and food, she takes a temporary job at Buy Rite Insurance Company where she uncovers an embezzling scam tied to the death of a former employee--the very one she replaced. The last thing she wants is to clash with By-the-Book Detective Wellborn, no matter how much he makes her heart pound.

Detective Allan Charles Wellborn has secretly adored Hattie all his life. When the police determine there's more to the death of a former Buy Rite employee, he steps in to lead the investigation. Overly dedicated, always perfect, he puts his job first, even if doing so ultimately hurts the one he loves.

Can the killer be found before Hattie's time is up?

Excerpt

“Yuck.”
Pretty much covered the whole freakin’ day.
A blinding red-white, red-white strobe, reflected in my brand new Wrangler’s rearview mirror, seized my attention. The police. I tossed my hands skyward, ready to surrender. I shouldn’t have been too surprised. Like I'd commented this a.m. to my roommate, Jenny, “Today, anything’s possible.”
My Bad Day checklist included:
- Crappy job interview, one which might have provided desperately needed     income.
- Wore gut-busting panty hose on a hot day which had now worked past my     waist     and strangled my diaphragm.
- A barely blowing air conditioner indicated something had malfunctioned in     my new, fun car.
I stole another glance in the mirror, and with great reluctance, flipped the right turn indicator. My vehicle coasted to a stop on the shoulder of Boston Avenue in my hometown of Sommerville, a nice suburb located between two large cities. Four lanes of cars and trucks zipped by as I sat there where every single one of my family, friends, friends’ friends, and their friends—including Rat Fink Suzanne—would see a police vehicle positioned right behind mine. Gleefully, drivers would chant the “Ha-ha, got you, not me” ditty.
How embarrassing.
After killing the engine, I flopped back in the seat. Shooting the morons the finger was an idea. Nah. I'm too exhausted to care.
A litany of: "No, not hiring." "Just filled the position." "You're over qualified." "You're under qualified…" tornadoed through my head. Coupled with the intense job search through various outlets like the internet and completing numerous online employment applications, no wonder my body had been depleted of all life force.
Not even a breeze blew to take the edge off the unbearable summertime heat. Tangled wild trees and dry scrubby bushes banked the roadside. The grass had taken on a scorched look. Rolling down the driver’s window, I surveyed my surroundings. Nothing great. Nothing new.
I stole a glance in the side mirror at the policeman who strode purposefully along the shoulder. The gravel crunched under his boots. He looked huge, probably because his uniform, which appeared to be bulked with a bullet-proof vest, made him resemble a buffed-up superhero in size. Exceedingly intimidating.
Sigh. When things went wrong, they were really wrong.

Buy Links

Amazon ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Temporarily-Employed-Vicki-Batman-ebook/dp/B00N4J5FDQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1410893535&sr=1-1&keywords=temporarily+employed

Amazon paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Temporarily-Employed-Vicki-Batman/dp/1628304979/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1412359358&sr=1-2&keywords=temporarily+employed

The Wild Rose Press ebook: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5829

The Wild Rose Press paperback: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=5896

Guest Post by Vicki Batman

Bad Jobs

I’ve thought about this topic long and hard, especially in the last few years with my kiddoes working as professionals and hearing their employment stories.

Like most writers, everyday life can creep into our work, and mine is no exception. Someone may make an off-handed remark that is perfect. Or will do something and screw their face into an extraordinary look. Or could be the people we work with aren’t perfect.

When I graduated from college, I worked in a department store like my character, Hattie, from Temporarily Employed. The regular retail clerks, managers and supervisors like me were good for the most part. But I had a few upper level management bosses—geez. Like the Personnel Manager who thought I should pick up and move to another state, and when I said I couldn’t afford to, he said, “Your standard of living is too high.” Or when I asked the store manager to move me to another department for the new experience to learn more, he sent me to headquarters for a chat about my “attitude.” I didn’t know I had attitude. I thought I was looking out for me and my career. One night, I was working in the stock room, putting clothing on hangars. An executive found me there and slid his arm right in front of my face in a very suggestive way. Ick. And then I ended up working for the same guy in the buying office. See “writing on the wall.”

When I left my buying job, I was devastated. I loved what I was doing, just not in love with some people I worked with.

Hattie had a similar job. But in her quest for a new one, nothing is going her way. Take a look:

A litany of: "No, not hiring." "Just filled the position." "You're over qualified." "You're under qualified…" tornadoed through my head. Coupled with the intense job search through various outlets like the internet and completing numerous online employment applications, no wonder my body had been depleted of all life force.
Not even a breeze blew to take the edge off the unbearable summertime heat. Tangled wild trees and dry scrubby bushes banked the roadside. The grass had taken on a scorched look. Rolling down the driver’s window, I surveyed my surroundings. Nothing great. Nothing new.
I stole a glance in the side mirror at the policeman who strode purposefully along the shoulder. The gravel crunched under his boots. He looked huge, probably because his uniform, which appeared to be bulked with a bullet-proof vest, made him resemble a buffed-up superhero in size. Exceedingly intimidating.
Sigh. When things went wrong, they were really wrong.

What about you? Have you had a Bad Job?

About the Author

Like some of her characters, award-winning author, Vicki Batman has worked a wide variety of jobs including lifeguard, ride attendant at an amusement park; a hardware store, department store, book store, antique store clerk; administrative assistant in an international real estate firm; and a general “do anything gal” at a financial services firm--the list is endless, giving her plenty of crazy material for her writing.

Writing for several years, she has completed three manuscripts, written essays, and sold many short stories. She is a member of RWA and several writing groups and chapters. In 2004, she joined DARA and has served in many capacities, including 2009 President. DARA awarded her the Robin Teer Memorial Service Award in 2010. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

Links

Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1ipdLkv
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4814608.Vicki_Batman
Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=116288777&trk=hb_tab_pro_top
Google+: bit.ly/1zUggDF
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/vickibatman
Plotting Princesses: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/o1515093723
Email:

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The Fascination of Coauthoring

11/4/2014

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Have you ever read a book written by more than one author? I have – and now I’ve gone a step further and also written a book with another author. Bestselling author Mike Wells offered me this unique chance. He’s the mastermind behind the project that has taught me a million things and is huge fun. Let me shed some light on the fascinating topic of coauthoring and why it can be successful.

What is coauthoring?

Don’t mistake coauthoring for ghostwriting. The former involves two people and their input into a book, the latter means one person does all the work and another person gets credited for it and sells it. Coauthoring can be compared to a multi-author anthology, with the difference that there aren’t many stories contributed to one collection but one story with two contributors. Another term for this is collaborative fiction. This principle is fairly common in non-fiction but still rather rare in fiction. However, co-writing is on the rise.

There are different ways how to handle co-authoring:
-    An author takes another author’s finished (but unpublished) work, edits and remodels it, and publishes it.
-    Both authors brainstorm an idea and plot, and one author writes the first draft. The second author will then edit and rewrite to publish the book.
-    Both authors write simultaneously or in instalments / chapters until they finish, edit and publish the book together.

Mike Wells has tried the first and second method. The first one has resulted in the crime novel “With Mother’s Approval” and is a collaboration with author Robert Rand. The second one involved me – pinch me, I must be dreaming – and will be available as the romantic suspense novel “Forbidden” soon. To quote Mike on both adventures: “This is a new direction I’m trying and so far it’s been working great. The book I collaborated on with Robert Rand is receiving rave reviews, and I expect the same result with Devika’s.”

As for the third method, it works well too. I read “Bought in Blood (Sanguinem Emere, Book 1)” and loved it. Carmen Dominique Taxer wrote it with her partner Richard T. Wheeler (I believe she focused on the vampire scenes and he wrote the scenes from the detective’s POV). There are quite a lot of books coauthored by a husband-and-wife duo or authors who are friends. Sometimes the team publishes under a common pseudonym, as is the case with Grant Naylor, Lewis Padgett and Judith Michael. Other coauthored books display the renowned author’s name prominently and show the coauthor’s name in smaller font. Usually the royalty is split or there are some other (financial) benefits for the co-author.

Here are some other examples of authors who ‘hire’ co-authors (some of them really famous):
-    Lincoln Child & Douglas Preston
-    James Patterson
-    Tom Clancy
-    Wilbur Smith
-    Nicci Gerard & Sean French
-    Janet Evanovich
-    Clive Cussler

Advantages and tips

If you search the internet, you’ll find comments that denounce coauthoring and say it’s a trend doomed to fail. From my point of view though, I can see many reasons for and advantages of collaborative fiction.
-    One of the team might have specific experiences or special knowledge the other author doesn’t have.
-    It’s a great opportunity for those who don’t have enough time, because you’re sharing the workload.
-    You can learn a lot in the process, maybe even rediscover yourself or venture into other genres.
Here’s Mike Wells’ take on why and how authors can benefit from coauthored books. “One of the main reasons I am doing it is to amplify my range and output—the more titles you have out there, the more books you sell and the larger your reader base grows. The risk, of course, is that you produce books of lower quality due to various factors, such as the “too many cooks spoil the broth” problem. However, I think by carefully agreeing up front exactly how the book will go, who will do what, etc., you can avoid this problem and actually have a synergistic result, a book that is better than either author might produce on his/her own for the reasons Devika stated above.”

Of course there are things to be considered. There needs to be a sort of “working plan”, each author needs to know their tasks and responsibilities. The authors have to discuss and agree on copyright, earnings, distribution and marketing. Communication is essential, and you need to work together on more than one level.

P.S.: The coauthored book I was blogging about is now available here!

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Featured Book Blitz - Kiss me Santa by Patrice Wilton

11/4/2014

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Kiss Me Santa

by Patrice Wilton

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Holiday Romance

Release Date: September 18. 2014

Widowed teacher, Cindy Harris, takes her son to meet Santa at the mall, but instead of jolly Saint Nick, they get grumpy Brad Williams. He’d stepped into the red suit to help out his brother, not promise the impossible, like deliver a daddy by Christmas. Brad is the new real estate agent Cindy hired to sell her family home, and sparks fly between them. Will the magic of Christmas open their hearts, and offer the best gift of all: love?

CHAPTER ONE

“Oh, look, Tyler. There’s Santa. See all the kids lined up? Wouldn't you like your picture taken with him?”

Cindy Harris held her five-year-old son’s hand, his chubby little fingers sticky from the candy cane set alongside his hot chocolate a few minutes ago. Tyler’s enjoyment of the sweet peppermint was worth a temporary sugar high, but between that and the chaos of the mall, his mood bordered on testy.

Quaker Bridge Mall was crowded, as expected the first week of December. The beautifully decorated tree--and the winter wonderland that housed Santa and his helpers-- had been up since Thanksgiving, but this was the first time she’d brought Tyler shopping.

“Wow. Is that really Santa?” he asked. “How did he get here? Where are the reindeers? Can I feed them?” He looked up at her, excitement shining in his eyes.

“I think he left the reindeers in the North Pole,” Cindy said, automatically playing along. “They’re resting up for the long journey ahead.”

“But how did he get here?” Tyler questioned. “Can he fly like Superman?” He jumped up and down. “I want a Superman costume so I can fly around all over the place. I could fly up to Heaven and see Daddy.”

Cindy swallowed a lump in her throat. “That’s a real long way to fly, honey. Even Superman would have trouble with that one.”

“What about Santa? I bet he could zoom through the sky and get there in no time.” He yanked at her hand.

She laughed. “Why don’t we get in line and then you can ask him?” Her plan was to get Tyler’s picture with Santa Claus, then grab dinner and finish shopping–home by eight, so they could unwind from a long week.

“Okay.” He ran the extra few steps while she followed more slowly, wondering what this fascination with his daddy was all about. Only three-and-a-half when his father had been killed by a drunk driver fifteen months ago, she’d kept David alive for Tyler through pictures and stories. His grandparents also were happy to answer any questions that Tyler had about the father he’d lost--their much loved son.

Still, it seemed lately that Tyler wouldn't let the subject go.

Although her grief had marginally lessoned, she still clearly remembered trying to make it through the holidays last year without her husband at her side. The pretense had been unbearable. Smiling, pretending everything was all right, when inside she was dying and knew that nothing would ever be the same again.

Cindy put her hand on her son’s shoulder as they stood in line with the other thirty or forty excited children and their parents. She smiled at a few of the mothers and glanced with a touch of envy as fathers played with their kids and lifted them high upon their shoulders so they could see Santa and his little helpers.

Elves happily chatted with the children in line, creating excitement and a make-believe-world.

Cindy lived in a make-believe-world, a daily pretense that everything was fine. That bubble was the only protection she had from the heart-breaking reality that Tyler’s dad, her beloved husband would never see his child grow up, or marry, or become a father himself. Would the pain ever go away completely?

They inched closer to Santa. “So what do you want this year?” she asked her son, knowing that he had every toy a child could imagine, and then some. His grandparents and aunts loved nothing better than buying him stuff. It was as if filling up his bedroom with hundreds of “things” could distract him from the hundreds of nights without his daddy’s hugs and kisses.

“I want uh...uh...a pony. And riding lessons. And boots.”

She’d taken him for some riding lessons this past summer, and though he’d enjoyed it the cost was too prohibitive to do on a regular basis. “We've talked about that, sweetheart. It’s something we can do as a special treat. Like hot chocolate and a candy cane, it’s fine in small doses.” And better suited to her tight budget.

“I want a pony.” He kicked at the ground, scuffing his new sneakers.

“Honey, don’t do that.” She frowned. As a teacher, she expected good behavior, with or without reward, and discipline hadn't been necessary until lately. Tyler’s disposition used to be sweet as they come. “We’ll be seeing Santa in a few minutes. Won’t that be fun?”

“I’m telling him I want a pony for Christmas,” he stated, glancing at her before turning back to Santa. “He’ll get me one. Just wait and see.”

“We don’t have room for a pony. How about a new hockey stick?” Cindy kept her tone light. Even if she wasn't squeezing pennies, a horse--big or little, wouldn't be on her shopping list. They were going to sell their family home. Downsize to a townhouse, not a farmyard.

His jaw set. “I want Daddy to come back. He can be my present.”

Cindy bit her lip and fought back a sting of tears. She knew Tyler was upset because some mean kids had teased him at school. He was angry and frustrated, not understanding why he had to be different. Why had his father been taken away? he’d asked her more than once. She wished she had had answers, instead of only empty words of comfort.

“Tyler, I wish it were that simple.” She hadn't even dated anybody in the year and a half since David passed away. It felt too soon, and she had yet to meet a guy that held a candle to the one she’d lost.

The line grew smaller and they could now see Santa. Cindy thought he was a pathetic looking Santa, to be sure. He was too thin, for one thing. Couldn't he have stuffed himself with a pillow or something? His hat was askew, and his face, even behind the big white beard, looked far too youthful. Guy was probably only in his thirties or so. Although small compared to some, surely this New Jersey mall could afford the picture-perfect Santa for all the youngsters that climbed in his lap each day. This one didn't fit the bill. Not at all.

She pinched her nose, feeling a slight headache coming on. The shopping, the pretense, and the whole holiday spirit was suddenly too hard to handle and Cindy felt as grumpy as Tyler. Hum-bug with the whole holiday thing! If she had her way, Christmas would be cancelled this year and for many more to come.

Carols played merrily throughout the mall, and the window shops were decorated festively. Fake snow was heaped around Santa’s chair, as well as big, pretty presents under the giant tree. Yet, all the Santas and all the glitter in the world couldn't make hers, or her son’s, holiday bright.

“Merry Christmas,” Santa boomed, beckoning Tyler. “Come tell Santa what you want for Christmas.”

Tyler held on to her hand a little tighter. “Do I have to go, Mommy? Do I?”

“Well, we did wait twenty minutes. Just speak to him for a second. I’ll be right beside you.” One good picture for the mantle and they could hit the food court.

“Okay, Mom.” His eyes brightened. “Maybe he can bring me what I want most in the world!”

Sadly, she smiled. “Ask for a toboggan sled. Wouldn't that be a nice thing for the two of us? We have several big hills right behind our place.”

Tyler stepped forward and when he got in front of Santa, he spoke in a quiet, hesitant voice. “I want a new daddy. Can you get me one? Please?”

Santa glanced from her son’s face to Cindy’s, and she felt her cheeks grow warm. He gave a big false laugh, and patted his bony knee. “Come. Sit. Think about a great new toy. I came all the way from the North Pole to give you something special.”

“I don’t want a toy. Just a daddy.” Tyler lifted his eyes and looked at Santa. “He’s in Heaven. Is that near the North Pole?”

Cindy blinked back tears, and put a hand to her mouth. Her poor, poor son. She was tempted to pick Tyler up, and run away from Santa and the crowds. Instead, she stood frozen. Desperate for Santa to say something, and make everything right.

He shifted his weight, and looked from one unhappy face to the other. “It’s a thousand miles away, at least.”

Tyler seemed to consider this. “That’s far, but if you’re really Santa and I’m a good boy, can’t I have anything I want? Anything at all?”

“That’s what I do best. Deliver presents to kids all over the world. Not the bad ones though. Only good children get presents, right? So, what’s it going to be? I bet you have a big list. Trucks, a Wie game, an I-Pad?”

“I want my daddy to leave Heaven and come back home.”

Santa shot Cindy another glance from beneath bushy white eyebrows. “Well, you see, I don’t exactly bring daddies back. That’s out of my jurisdiction. I make toys. That’s my business. So you tell me what kind of toy you want, and I’ll make sure you get it. Deal?”

“No deal.” Tyler’s body stiffened. “I have ‘nuf toys. All I want is a real live pony, or my daddy.”

Cindy stepped in, hoping to avoid a melt-down. “Tyler. What about that sled we talked about?”

“A sled is a great present. Or how about an electric car? Very cool.” Santa shook his head. “No ponies or daddies, I’m afraid.”

Tyler reached out and pulled hard on Santa’s beard. It came off in his hand, surprising Cindy, Santa and Tyler. Her son’s cheeks turned red. “You’re not Santa. You’re a fake. I hate you!”

Santa grabbed his beard and stuck it back on. “And you’re a little ... a little...”

“Boy,” Cindy finished for him. Had he just about cussed at her son? This Santa needed to grow some real whiskers and get some training. Temples pounding, she took Tyler by the arm. “Let’s go, honey.”

Tyler started to sob, liquid drops of sadness running down his flushed cheeks. “I want a daddy. And you won’t give me one,’” he shouted at Santa. “I hate you, I hate you. You’re a big meanie.”

“Listen kid,” Santa said, leaning forward. “You just can’t pull on Santa’s beard and expect presents. Especially ones they can’t deliver. Doesn't happen.”

Tyler’s tears broke Cindy’s heart, and his temper the last of her patience. It was easier to blame Santa than the sugar high, or the cruel fate that had robbed them of their family.

Cindy shot Santa a withering look. “He’s right. You are a big meanie. The boy wants his father, and he should have him.” With that, she grabbed Tyler’s hand and stomped off.

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo

Patrice Wilton knew from the age of twelve that she wanted to write books that would take the reader to faraway places. As a voracious reader, she gobbled up books, and her imagination soared. She was born in Vancouver, Canada, and had a great need to see the world that she had read about.
Patrice became a flight attendant for seventeen years and traveled the world. At the age of forty she sat down to write her first book—in longhand! Her interests include tennis, golf, and writing stories for women of all ages.

She is the proud mother of two, has four lovely grand-daughters, and a wonderful man at her side. They live in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he teaches her golf, and she teaches him patience.

Her best selling books are the Candy Bar series, the Serendipity Falls series, and her returning war hero series. She joined a group of talented, NY Times and USA Today best selling authors and released a ten book box set--TEN BRIDES FOR TEN HEROES, followed by TEN CHRISTMAS BRIDES.

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Sneak Peek Sunday - New Release 'Kaleidoscope of Hopes'

11/2/2014

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October 30th was release day for my third book, the contemporary romance novel 'Kaleidoscope of Hopes'. Let's celebrate with another Sneak Peek Sunday snippet from the book!

“What did I do?” Lucas asked.
“What?” Nadia dared a quick glance at him.
His hands were gripping the steering wheel tighter now. His jaw was set in a stubborn, firm line, and there was a frown between his eyes.
“What did I do to earn such a reaction? We’re out of office, it’s raining cats and dogs, and I’m offering you a lift in my car. All I get is stony silence and waves of hostility radiating off you. I’d have expected at least politeness, if not more.”
His tone was calm and neutral, but his tense body gave him away. So it nettled him to be given the cold shoulder? In all honestly, how big was this man’s ego? She wasn’t sure whether he really had to ask because he was clueless or whether he was playing with her. Careful not to let any emotions shine through or allow her gaze to linger on him, she took a breath and steeled herself for what was to come. Part of her wanted to launch into a tirade of accusations, but she settled for one terse question.
“You don’t remember the kiss?”
“I do.”
Something in his voice gave the incident importance, but she had no idea whether it meant pleasant memories or unpleasant ones. Truth be told, she didn’t know whether her—all too clear—memories were pleasant or unpleasant.

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Book Club Blog Tour - Spotlight on The Ekkos Clan by Sudipto Das

11/1/2014

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The Ekkos Clan

Sudipto Das

The Blurb

"The Ekkos Clan" is the story of Kratu’s search for the killers of his family, his own roots and the mystery behind his grandmother’s stories.

It’s the fascinating account of Kubha and the basketful of folklore she inherited from her ancestors. The eventful lives of Kubha and her family span a hundred years and encompass turbulent phases of Indian history. The family saga unfurls gradually, along with Kubha’s stories, through the three main characters – Kratu Sen, a grad student at Stanford, Kratu’s best friend Tista Dasgupta, and Afsar Fareedi, a linguistic palaeontologist.

Afsar hears about Kubha’s stories from Kratu in a casual conversation, but she figures that these stories are not meant to be mere bed time tales – they contain rich linguistic fossils and layers of histories.

In a bizarre incident Kratu miraculously survives an attempt on his life. His sister and uncle had not been so lucky. Were these murders acts of revenge, or a larger ideological conflict connected to Kubha’s stories which conceal perilous secrets that should be suppressed?

Afsar, Kratu and Tista travel across continents to unravel the mystery of Kubha’s roots and the origin of her stories.

At a different level, the novel subtly delves into the origin of one of the oldest civilizations of the world and the first book written by mankind.

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Meet the Author

Sudipto was born in Calcutta to a family which fled Bangladesh during the partition riots of 1947. He grew up listening horrid stories of the partition, something which he has used extensively in his debut novel The Ekkos Clan. He completed his engineering from IIT Kharagpur in 1996. He lives in Bangalore.

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Media Mentions

"A promising debut in the growing realm of modern Indian fiction" - Jug Suraiya

"An Indian thriller inspired by Dan Brown & Harrison Ford!... fast-paced thriller, replete with murder and miraculous escapes" - Telegraph

"If you are a history buff and a thriller aficionado, then [it] might just be the book for you" - The Hindu

"A tale of the Indian civilization and culture... takes you on a roller coaster ride" - The New Indian Express

"An interesting read for an afternoon... One feisty woman's partition story" - Bangalore Mirror

"Should be read for its sheer aspiration and the intelligent handling of historical material" - The Sunday Guardian

"Is essentially a mystery novel, but is grounded in a substantial base of research and exploration into our past" - newsyaps.com

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Cowboys & Christmas Blog Tour - Holiday Romances by Shanna Hatfield (Character Interview)

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The Fascination of Coauthoring

Featured Book Blitz - Kiss me Santa by Patrice Wilton

Sneak Peek Sunday - New Release 'Kaleidoscope of Hopes'

Book Club Blog Tour - Spotlight on The Ekkos Clan by Sudipto Das

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