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Book Blog, Promotion and Publicity

#Thursday Thoughts: A Chat With Vincent

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So this happened yesterday, while I was writing I CHOOSE YOU, the third (and what is supposed to be the FINAL) book in the Perfect Dish series. (Yes, it started out as the Perfect Dish Duo. Now it’s a trilogy. But hold onto your hats. . .)

file4541298808299If you read JUST DESSERTS, you might vaguely remember Vincent, Ava’s brother. He’s not the one who got married in that book; he’s the brother who was single. Since I CHOOSE YOU is written from Ava and Liam’s points of view and is mostly about their wedding, Vincent shows up there, too.

I was just minding my own business. . .writing away, like a good author. . .and in strolled Vincent. Our convo went like this:

Vincent: Yo.

Me: Hey, Vincent. (continues typing)

Vincent: So another book about my sister.

Me (glancing at him distractedly): Yes. This is about Ava and Liam’s wedding.

Vincent: Why do they get another book? I thought the last book was theirs.

Me: Well, it was. But then people wanted to read more about them. . .listen, I don’t have to explain myself to you. I’m busy.

Vincent: But if you’re keeping track, Julia got Jesse. Ava got Liam. Even Giff got Jeff. My brother Carl got Angela. What about me?

Me: Yeah, what about you, Vincent?

Vincent: Why’m I still flying solo?

Me: Because, Vincent, you’re a side character. You’re not the main focus. You’re just there because Ava needed another brother to balance things out.

Vincent: But I don’t want to be left out in the cold.

Me (sighing, rolling my eyes and finally turning from the computer screen): Okay, Vincent. You want me to hook you up in this book? Fine. You can meet a bridesmaid or someone and get together with her. There you go.

Vincent (shaking his head): Nope. I want my own book.

Me (throwing up my hands): Vincent! I have no time for another book in this series. Honestly. Do you know how many series I’m juggling? Ongoing ones? Four. Four! And then there’s the non-series books I committed to write next year. Remember the historical romance set in Gettysburg? Does that ring a bell? And the stand-alone New Adult, and the middle grade book, and the big apocalyptic book that the kids’ve been begging me to finally get around to writing for them. . .oh, and the anthology for the King Series people. They’ve been waiting a long time.

Vincent: You can fit me in. I have faith in you.

Me (grumbling): Sure you do. Come back and talk to me in 2018.

Vincent (crossing his arms over his broad chest): Nope. It’s gotta be sooner.

Me: Even if I could fit you in somewhere, I have no idea who’d you end up with. There aren’t any more unattached females in these books.

Vincent (nodding smugly): Yes, there is.

Me: Oh, yeah? Who?

Vincent (leaning closer): I’ll whisper it in your ear. (proceeds to do just that)

Me: Really? Really? Wow, I never thought. . .but what about. . .hmmmm. Hmmmmm. . .

Vincent: Is that a good hmmmm?

Me (as my head hits the keyboard): It means you’re getting your own book, you big doofus. Now go away and leave me alone so  I can finish your sister’s book, okay?

Vincent: Sure. But what’s the book going to be called?

Me: I have no idea.

Vincent: It should be something cooking-related since I’m a pastry chef. Hot and Sweet? Rolling Boil? Simmer This?

Me: You’re not very good at picking out titles. Just saying.

Vincent: Hey! I got it. Just Roll With It. Get it? Roll with it? Like a rolling pin?

Me: Hmmm. It’s got potential. I’ll think about it. Now please go away and let me finish this book.

Vincent: Okay, I’m going. But I’ll be back.

Me: I’ll just bet you will be.

Book Blog, Promotion and Publicity, Weekly Meme

Wednesday #Meme: What I’m Reading Now

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It’s Wednesday; do you know what you’re reading?

cover225x225This week, I have the pleasure to read a book that’s not available to the rest of you. <Insert nanny nanny boo boo here.> It’s THIS SPELLS TROUBLE by the ever-talented Olivia Hardin. The book will be out next month. . .but I get a sneak peek. It’s good to be me!

If you haven’t read the previous Lynlee books, check them out here. The story begins with Trolling for Trouble and continues with Tangled Up in Trouble.

Want to see what others are reading? Check it out here at Literary Addicts.

Book Blog, Perfect Dish Romances, Promotion and Publicity

Same People, New Story: When Series Expand

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SeriesMeme

 

 

I’m working on a book right now that will be released toward the end of December. It’s not a book I planned to write, but it’s one that begged to be written.

When I wrote BEST SERVED COLD last year, I still labored under the delusion that I was capable of writing one-off books. Ah, silly, silly me. . .no. Before that story was finished, I knew it had another connected to it, and that’s why JUST DESSERTS came out this past summer. These two books were supposed to be a duo. A duo is two. I know that. You know that.

Clearly the characters and some readers did not want to accept that.

Because as soon as Ava and Liam’s story came out, I had messages and emails from readers asking me to please consider giving them more of this couple. I totally understood, because I loved these two crazy kids, too. But how to do this? Hmmm. . .

And then right around the time I was pondering this conundrum, Sarah Bareilles, one of my all-time favorite singers, released a single from her new album, and it was called I Choose You. The words were so perfect for Ava and Liam, and it dawned on me. . .of course. Ava and Liam needed a wedding book.

It’s been fun to play with where these two are two years after the end of their book. They’ve graduated from college, and we see that their relationship has grown stronger and flourished in that time. Since they had such a winding road to each other, it’s been gratifying to see what happened once everything came together for them.

I hope you’ll come along on their journey with me. We’ll be revealing the cover shortly–it’s gorgeous!–and I’ll have pre-order links for you. I can’t wait!

Book Blog, Perfect Dish Romances

#Wednesday Meme: What Am I Reading? What am I Writing?

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“Maybe this is why we read, and why in moments of darkness we return to books: to find words for what we already know.”
Alberto Manguel, A Reading Diary: A Passionate Reader’s Reflections on a Year of Books

 

It’s Wednesday, and that means it’s time to talk about what I’m reading and what I’m writing. Because nothing happens in a vacuum, least of all writing.

What I’m reading now: Blood Magick by Nora Roberts. It’s the third book in her latest trilogy. Once upon a time, Nora released these types of books more often, sometimes within a few months of each other. Her last few, though, have come out over a long stretch of time, and I find that difficult. I read so many books between-times that I have a hard time remembering what happened in the first two.

pjelT0EsThis particular trilogy has been a little more difficult for me, too. I love setting–Ireland–and the premise: three witches, two siblings and one cousin–who come together at the right time to fight against a particularly dark evil that has attacked their family over generations. For me, it’s the characters who are falling just a little flat. Don’t get me wrong: I’m enjoying it, just perhaps not quite as much as I have some of Nora’s other trilogies. Still, reading Nora is always a pleasure, and since she does release less often these days, I’m savoring every word.

I do have to say that I just finished Cora Carmack’s latest release All Broke Down, a Rusk University novel. I’d enjoyed the first one so much that I couldn’t wait for this new book–and I wasn’t disappointed. As a matter of fact, I think I enjoyed this book even more than the first. If you like New Adult romance, you’ll love this one. Especially if you also like football. . .and football players.

What I’m writing now: I’m working on I Choose You, the third book in the Perfect Dish Duo. Yes, I know: a third book in a duo is clearly messed up. But I Choose You is a sort of bonus book: it’s the story of two weddings involving the characters in the first two books, Best Served Cold and Just Desserts. I’m having a blast spending more time with these characters. The book releases December 21st, just in time for Christmas.

See what other people are reading by checking out the links on Literary Addicts here. Happy reading!

 

 

Book Blog, Perfect Dish Romances

#Tuesday Tunes

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MUSIC is your own experience, your own thoughts, your wisdom. If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your

horn. They teach you there’s a boundary line to music. But, man, there’s no boundary line to art.

—Charlie Parker

 

I love the quotation above because it is so true. Music is one of those transcending experiences for me. When I’m sad or mad or frustrated or stuck, music makes the difference. It can change a day, tell me what happens next in a story, or give me hope.

door-ornament-1002563In every book I’ve written, there’s been a playlist that inspires me and/or relates to the characters. The King Series tended toward angsty songs, because let’s face it, teenagers often bathe in angst. The most pivotal song was Come Back Down by Lifehouse, which told me what was going to happen in Restless, which is arguably the most controversial of the four books. (I still get reviews of people yelling at poor Tasmyn.) That song was one hundred percent what Michael was feeling, what he was going through. Finding that song changed how I looked at music with my books.

The Posse had a play list of all ’80’s songs, because those are what Jude listened to. They defined her generation and her character. In Best Served Cold, all the music was revenge-oriented. Just Desserts was 100% Frank Sinatra music, since he was Ava’s favorite artist. And in The One Trilogy, it’s country music, all the way.

What’s exciting about the book I’m writing now–I Choose You–is that it’s all wedding music. All the best marriage-centric tunes! I’m having a blast listening to it while I write.

I’d love to know what wedding/marriage/proposal song is your favorite.