WOW!!  How time flies.  It has been quite a while since today’s guest was here, back in July of 2010, but am delighted that she is visiting again today.  A very warm welcome back to Ms. Jackie Fullerton!

JACKIE FULLERTON

Jackie Fullerton is a successful businesswoman and attorney who grew up in rural Ohio.

A mother of five, Fullerton returned to college when her last child was in grade school. She graduated summa cum laude from both Franklin University, where she earned her BS degree in business, and Dayton University, where she earned her MBA. Fullerton later attended Capital Law School, where she graduated cum laude. She was admitted to the Ohio Bar in 1993, the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, in 1995, and the Supreme Court of the United States in 1996. Although she is not in active practice, Fullerton volunteers her legal services at a local homeless shelter.

An active member of the Columbus, Ohio, community, Fullerton has served on several boards and commissions, including the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse; Franklin County ADAMH (Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health) Board; Community Shelter Board; Habitat for Humanity Board; and Court Appointed Special Advocates of Franklin County, Ohio (CASA).

Fullerton divides her time between Ohio and Florida, with her husband, Tom, and their dog, Flash.

Connect with Jackie at these sites:

GUEST POST

Creating Anne Marshall

For me, creating my characters is the easiest part, or at least the most fun.  Since I write fiction, I can be as creative and outlandish as I want.  However, my basic characters do tend to come from personal experiences. People I know, either intimately such as friends and family, or casually like the lunatic who works in the pod next to me. I might change the color of hair, or even the sex, but the basic personality is the same.

My protagonist, Anne Marshall, is me—or my alter ego. Alright, Anne is young and I’m in my 60s; Anne is slim and in shape while I am overweight and find exercise hazardous to my health; Anne has dark hair and dark eyes where I am a blond with blue eyes. Other than those minor differences, we are one in the same. We shared the same experiences of balancing work, school and relationships while attending law school at night. We have the same deep friendships with study group members, and the same need to continually fix other people’s problems.  And, most importantly, neither of us has the good sense to avoid danger.

For Anne’s trusty sidekick, it made sense that it should be her father. Their relationship was unique and extraordinary; I just didn’t realize he was dead until I was halfway through the first book, Piercing the Veil. This was one of those 3:00 in the morning realizations I seem to have more often than not. By making Anne’s father a ghost, I was able to give Anne the superhuman qualities an amateur sleuth needs, while exploring the father-daughter relationship in a way I could not if he were alive.  I could also pull on my relationship with my own father. Many of the conversations between Anne and James are ones I know my father and I would have.

During the writing of my second Anne Marshall book, Revenge Served Cold, I realized I had the wrong killer. In fact the real killer had not even been introduced yet. So I had to create a woman from the suspect’s past. A sultry and vengeful woman who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. That was fun. Then I had to create and weave in the back story. Don’t be afraid to go back and rewrite your book, no matter how far you are in the process.

Since Anne Marshall is the same character throughout my books, the most challenging aspect was to continually create Anne. Readers expect to see growth in the characters, otherwise they will become stale. Conflict is a good way to show growth, so I introduced a handsome sexy detective in Ring Around the Rosy to test Anne’s relationship with Jason. That was more fun than it should have been.

Don’t be afraid to characters. You will find if you just jump in, they have a way of developing on their own.

Jackie Fullerton is now retired and living in Florida with her husband, Tom, and dog, Flash. Flash makes his debut in Ring Around the Rosy, the third book in the Anne Marshall mysteries.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Law student and amateur sleuth Anne Marshall and her attorney fiance Jason Perry leave their Midwestern town for a Florida vacation at the home of Jason’s parents. When they land in Florida, they find that Jason’s father has discovered the murdered body of his wife’s best friend, Maude. The only clue left behind is a note pinned to her that is the second verse of the nursery rhyme Ring Around the Rosy.

Unable to pass up the opportunity to investigate a juicy murder, Anne soon discovers that Maude’s brother was killed in a hit-and run accident several months before. The first verse of Ring Around the Rosy was pinned to his chest. Anne thinks the perp is a serial killer who will strike again.

When Maude’s son, Ron, is brutally attacked and left for dead, Anne knows his work is just beginning. Racing against the clock, Anne soon finds herself in a serial killer’s crosshairs while battling an untimely attraction to homicide detective Don Reynolds.

Ring Around the Rosy takes you on an adventure from present to past and back again as Anne and her crime-solving partners shift in to high gear to stop a killer before he strikes again!

BOOK DETAILS:

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: Thomas House Publishing (December 14, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 098438152X
ISBN-13: 978-0984381524

PURCHASE LINKS:

THANKS TO REBECCA AT THE CADENCE GROUP,
I HAVE ONE (1) COPY TO GIVE AWAY.
OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 21st AT 6PM EST

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You may remember today’s guest because her last visit here was this past October.  And she is returning, which means one thing, another book for us to read.  Welcome back Ms. Lori Foster!

LORI FOSTER

Since first publishing in January 1996, Lori Foster has become a Waldenbooks, Borders, USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly and New York Times bestselling author. She also received the Romantic Times “Career Achievement Award” for Series Romantic Fantasy and Contemporary Romance. Lori believes it is important to give back to the community as much as possible, so she routinely arranges events among authors and readers to gather donations for various organizations.

Connect with Lori at these sites:

Q&A with LORI

Where do you do most of your writing?
My office is in the downstairs of our house. It’s like an apartment – 2 bedrooms, bathroom, kitchenette, French doors facing the pond, big screen TV, treadmill… it’s where my 2 youngest boys were before they moved off to college. Since they’re all grown and on their own now, we had custom desk built for the space and while we’re in town, I write there.

We also have a lake house we bought last year, and we’re in the middle of having part of that space remodeled to include a better desk area for me. Before the remodel, I wrote from the patio table in the sun room at the lake house, facing the lake. J

Who is your favorite literary character?
I have several. Hard to pick just one. I guess currently it’d be Nucking Futz Nix from Kresley Cole’s “Immortals After Dark.” If she doesn’t write that book soon, I’m going to insane! LOL. Love all her work.

What is, in your opinion, the key to a great romance novel?
Great romance!!! I don’t care who the characters are, what their backgrounds are, the conflicts – both emotional and external – that they have to deal with. If the romance is there, popping off the page, then I’ll love it. We as readers have to feel it, and we have to believe it.

What is, in your opinion, the key to a great romance in real life?
I’ve only had one real romance – my oh-so-wonderful hubby – so I can only speak from my own experience. He’s my best friend, always there for me, supportive beyond belief, committed to our family, hilariously funny, very, VERY aware of me as his wife. J He constantly gives me compliments I don’t deserve, and I know, without a single shadow of a doubt, that he loves me. No matter what else happens, knowing that makes it okay.

Do you have any tips for readers who are looking to become published authors?
Write what you love. Don’t share you work with anyone until it’s DONE. Don’t give up.

Can you tell us something about yourself that not a lot of your readers know?
Hmmm. I’m artistic. I love to doodle and paint (water colors and acrylics are my faves.) I LOVE being on or near the water, as in a lake, on a boat, tubing or skiing. I write with very loud hard rock music playing. Kid Rock and KORN are faves.

You are constantly writing–do you have any quirks that come out as a result of that?
My mind wanders. You might be talking to me, and I’m off listening to dialogue in my head. It’s sooo rude. I try not to, but… it happens. Movies help. When I’m at the movies I can get engaged in even a mediocre flick, mostly action and horror, but I do see other things.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Starting a book. I love those first few scenes, getting to know the characters. Least favorite part is doing any type of edits. Bleh. I especially detest copy editor remarks. I don’t know why.

Which author inspires you most?
I started writing out of a love of Linda Howard, Catherine Coulter, Johanna Lindsey, Julie Garwood, Jayne Ann Krentz… They all inspire me!

Do you think that romances with dangerous elements are more fun to write?
I love writing romances with kick-ass characters. Whether there is real danger or not, I want to know that a character can handle him/herself. Alpha dudes are my favorites. I sort of like the woman-in-distress, guy to rescue theme. But I also enjoy the broken wing hero (emotionally hurt) who needs a strong woman to break past his barriers. Fun, fun.

All of it is fun! Writing is a blast. It’s almost a crime that I get paid to do something I enjoy so very much. J

· A cop’s craving to know more about the woman next door could prove fatal in the steamy new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster. As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it…until the sexy cop next door comes knocking. Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice’s secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire….

ABOUT THE BOOK

As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it…until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.

Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice’s secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire—and into the line of fire….

WATCH THE TRAILER

BOOK DETAILS:

Mass Market Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Harlequin HQN (April 30, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0373777612
ISBN-13: 978-0373777617

PURCHASE LINKS:

THANKS TO VERONICA AT MEDIA MUSCLE/THE BOOK TRIB,
I HAVE ONE (1) COPY TO GIVE AWAY.
OPEN TO U.S. RESIDENTS

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 20th AT 6PM EST

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May is being hosted by Abi @ 4 the LOVE of BOOKS

Mailbox Monday was created by Marcia of A girl and her books and is now on tour.

According to Marcia, “Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week. Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.

Click on title for synopsis via IndieBound (I am an IndieBound Affiliate)

     

Wednesday:  A Spoonful of Sugar by Brenda Ashford from Doubleday. A win from The Top Shelf

Thursday:  The Look of Love by Bella Andre from Meryl L. Moss Media

Ever since meeting Jodi, from WOW!, I have had the opportunity of hosting  many talented authors.  Today is no exception.  Jodi is stopping by to introduce us to Ms. Jadie Jones.  Welcome ladies!

JADIE JONES

Young-adult author. Equine professional. Southern gal. Especially fond of family, sunlight, and cookie dough.​​

I wrote my first book in seventh grade, filling one hundred and four pages of a black and white Mead notebook. Back then I lived for two things: horses and R.L. Stine books. Fast forward nearly twenty years, and I work with horses as a coach for the Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) and hoard books like most women my age collect shoes. Its amazing how much changes… and how much stays the same.

​The dream of publishing a novel has hitch-hiked with me down every other path I’ve taken (and there have been many.) Waitress, farm manager, road manager, bank teller, speech writer, retail, and more. But that need – the call from within to bring pen to paper – refused to quiet. Finally, in 2009, I sat down, pulled out a brand new notebook, and once again let the pictures in my head become words on paper.

​Then I got married. Moved. Life sped up the way that it does, claiming each day faster than the last. I became a mother, and my manuscript reverted to something I would do one day. Thankfully, babies take naps, and there’s only so much daytime television a person can stomach. And Tanzy, that main character of mine, was shouting at me from my office: “Hellooo? We aren’t done yet, Jadie.” So I pulled her out. I read our story. I tore it to pieces. And then I put it back together again.

​As a child, my grandfather would sit me in his lap and weave tales about the Cherokee nation, and a girl who belonged with horses. His words painted a whole new world, and my mind would take flight. My hope – my dream – is that Tanzy’s journey does the same for you.

​Confession time: Jadie Jones is not my name. It’s a pen name I created to honor two fantastic women who didn’t get the chance to live out their professional dreams. First, my grandmother – a mother of four during post World War II America, who wanted to be a journalist so bad that even now when she talks about it, her blue eyes mist and she lifts her chin in silent speculation. And second, a dear friend’s mother who left this world entirely too soon. To Judy Dawn and Shirley Jones, Jadie Jones is for you.
Connect with Jadie at these sites:

GUEST POST

I recently returned from a weekend event in New York, where I got to spend a lot of time speaking with Moonlit enthusiasts. Seeing someone’s eyes light up when they ask me about my book is one of my favorite things in the world. Several times, I was asked if any of the characters are based off of anyone I know. My answer always comes as a surprise: Tanzy’s horse Moonlit and the relationship they share was inspired by a horse I had in college named Luna.

Tanzy loses Moonlit to her mother’s grief: in a drunken rage, her mother sells Moonlit to a stranger for one dollar (fun fact: the sale of a horse is only official and legal if there is proof that at least $1 changed hands.) I didn’t lose Luna that way, but I did give her up when I really, really didn’t want to. She had a cancer virus that affects horses, and developed a large tumor (about the size of a grapefruit) above her knee. I spent every dime I had on surgeries, chemotherapy, and a treatment called cryonic freezing. But nothing worked. I was out of money and the vet was out of options. He said she had months to live. So I posted an ad online, seeking help. A couple of weeks later, I gave her away to a woman in Florida who promised she’d do everything she could to save her.

She did. An experimental treatment removed the tumor on Luna’s leg, which was the biggest threat because it had started warping the bone underneath, and a horse can’t live on three legs. She will always carry the virus, but many measures are in place to lessen the chance that new tumors will erupt. Since then, she’s given birth to many babies, most of which quickly earned national titles. Luna herself earned the title “Horse of the Year” several times over.

In retrospect, my journey with Luna, losing her, and the wonderful things that happened because of it had a hand in inspiring the plot of Moonlit in two ways. One, the ripple effect of a single action, and how often times our paths are circular. And two, for better and for worse, nothing comes without a cost.

ABOUT THE BOOK

From Amazon:  Eighteen-year-old Tanzy Hightower knows horses, has grown up with them on Wildwood Farm. She also knows not to venture beyond the trees that line the pasture. Things happen out there that can’t be explained. Or undone. Worse, no one but she and the horses can see what lurks in the shadows of the woods.

When a moonlit ride turns into a terrifying chase, Tanzy is left to question everything, from the freak accident that killed her father to the very blood in her veins. Broken and confused, she turns to Lucas, a scarred, beautiful stranger, and to Vanessa, a charming new friend who has everything Tanzy doesn’t.

But why do they seem to know more about her than she knows herself?

BOOK DETAILS:

Paperback: 310 pages
Publisher: WiDo Publishing (April 16, 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1937178331
ISBN-13: 978-1937178338

PURCHASE LINKS:

THANKS TO JODI FROM WOW!,
I HAVE ONE (1) COPY TO GIVE AWAY.
PRINT-OPEN TO U.S. and CANADA RESIDENTS
or EBOOK-OPEN TO ALL

FILL OUT RAFFLECOPTER ENTRY FORM BELOW

GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 18th AT 6PM EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

YOUR JAVA SCRIPT MAY NEED TO BE UPDATED
IF YOU AR EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY
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Hosted by An Island Life

From An Island Life:
In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.
If you’d like to participate, visit An Island Life answer the question and then post your own question on your blog and leave your link below. Don’t forget to visit the other participants! It’s a great way to make new bloggy friends!

This weekend is the Kentucky Derby. So my question is:
Are you planning to watch it?

…of The Spirit Of The Heart by Dr. Ismael Nuño

16 Robert Pyszk Leave a Blog Post Comment

An email has been sent to the winner and he has 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  Thank you to all that entered.

Today is old friends day, which means a new book to put on our TBR list.  TJ was here this past November, which you can see here, and is back to tell us about his newest book.  So without further ado, Mr. TJ Cooke!!!  Welcome back!

TJ COOKE

TJCooke, otherwise known as Tim, was formerly a legal executive and adviser to the BBC’s Eastenders. Since then he has dovetailed his career between advertising copywriting, freelance journalism, screenwriting and novels.

Tim has written numerous television and radio commercials for a variety of well known companies. He has written many hours of broadcast drama, notching up writing credits for some of UK’s most popular series, including London’s Burning, The Bill  and Bad Girls.

His debut novel ‘Kiss and Tell’ is available via Amazon Kindle.  Tim currently lives in Devon.

Connect with TJ at these sites:

Q&A with TJ Cooke

….of If You Stay by Courtney Cole

12 Deana Matera Calvanese Leave a Blog Post Comment

1 Sharon Clark Leave a Blog Post Comment

14 Lynne Torgersen Leave a Blog Post Comment

18 Melissa T. Be a Public Follower of ‘CMASH Loves to Read’

6 Maureen Carol Leave a Blog Post Comment

An email has been sent to the winners and they have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  Thank you to all that entered.