Congratulations on Your Three Upcoming Releases Beth!

Emma: I’m helping fellow Wild Rose Press author Beth Trissel celebrate her three May releases!

DAUGHTER OF THE WIND - Release Date: 5-1-2009

Autumn, 1784: A tragic secret from Karin McNeal's past haunts the young Scots-Irish woman who longs to know more of her mother’s death and the mysterious father no one will name. The elusive voices she hears in the wind hint at the dramatic changes soon to unfold in her life among the Scot’s settled in the mist-shrouded Alleghenies. Jack McCray, a wounded stranger who staggers through the door on the eve of her twentieth birthday and anniversary of her mother’s death, holds the key to unlocking the past. Will she let this handsome frontiersman lead her to the truth and into his arms, or seek the shelter of her fiercely possessive grandfather? Is it only her imagination or does something, or someone, wait beyond the brooding ridges—for her?

ENEMY OF THE KING - Release Date: 5-8-2009

1780, South Carolina: While Loyalist Meriwether Steele recovers from illness in the stately home of her beloved guardian, Jeremiah Jordan, she senses the haunting presence of his late wife. When she learns that Jeremiah is a Patriot spy and shoots Captain Vaughan, the British officer sent to arrest him, she is caught up on a wild ride into Carolina back country, pursued both by the impassioned captain and the vindictive ghost. Will she remain loyal to her king and Tory twin brother or risk a traitor’s death fighting for Jeremiah? If Captain Vaughan snatches her away, he won’t give her a choice.

THROUGH THE FIRE - Release Date: 5-22-2009

At the height of the French and Indian War, a young English widow ventures into the colonial frontier in search of a fresh start. She never expects to find it in the arms of the half-Shawnee, half-French warrior who makes her his prisoner in the raging battle to possess a continent––or to be aided by a mysterious white wolf and a holy man. Will love inflame these two natural born enemies in fiery destruction?

Congratulations, Beth!

Beth: Thanks so much Emma.

Emma: In one of your other interviews, you say your writing must haves include Earl Grey tea and the right music. I have to ask what music inspires you most? Can you sum up a book with a song or an album? (Personally, I have about 25 dance songs that help my fingers move fastest across the keyboard.)

Beth: I love music and often choose soundtracks from historical films and also favor Celtic music with a sound that transports me. I can best sum up my colonial frontier novel, Through the Fire, with the soundtrack from The Last of the Mohicans. Enemy of the King would be the theme song from The Patriot. And Daughter of the Wind suits the mystical flavor of Loreena McKennitt.

Emma: You also have a free read, Nighthawk, and a paranormal, Somewhere My Love, available with The Wild Rose Press. Do you have any other works available that I missed?

Beth: That’s it until these three new releases.

Emma: Are there any ongoing projects you want to discuss?

Beth: I’m working on the next story in my ‘Somewhere’ series and the sequel to Through the Fire. Actually, it’s part of a trilogy.

Emma: Thank you for your time, Beth, and good luck on your future books!

Beth: Much appreciated.

And the Winners Are...

Courtesy of Kerri Nelson's sweet little girl, we have winners for last weeks author interviews with Mary Ricksen and Kerri Nelson!

Congratulations to...

Ashley Ludwig - winner of $5 TWRP gift certificate
Julie Robinson - winner of a lovely heart shaped magnet clip
Sarah Simas - winner of sensuous body butter

Please email me at emmalaiwrites@yahoo.com!

Kerri Nelson on Miss Taken

Emma: Today, I am featuring an interview with Kerri Nelson, author of the romantic suspense Miss Taken currently available from Whispers Publishing.

Blurb:

Tabitha Stuart is a work-a-holic who may live in the city that never sleeps but manages to spend her Friday nights behind the desk at the accounting firm of Donaldson & Franks. On a snowy February night, she reminisces over her recent New Year’s resolutions. She’s worked hard to make partner in her firm, but now she’s resolved to make her personal life more exciting. She wants to be more like her jet setter, risk taking sister.

As Tabby heads home for the night, she is abducted from her office’s parking garage and held captive by a sexy stranger in an Atlantic City Casino penthouse. Her captor’s boss demands that she return the half million dollars that she stole from him. As her life spirals out of control, she must discover why she was taken and how she has ended up in a world that is not her own.

She must solve the mystery, save her own life, and resist the sexual temptations she feels for her mysterious captor. To survive this adventure, she can’t afford to make mistakes.

Welcome, Kerri! First let me say, congratulations on your first release!

Kerri: Thank you so much, Emma. I’m thrilled for this opportunity to chat about my writing, books, and other projects!

Emma: Your bio mentions your education and career in the legal field. What exactly is your experience? Did you happen to work for the FBI?

Kerri: It is so funny that you mention a career with the FBI. Interestingly, it was always a dream of mine and one of the reasons that I pursued my degree in Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement. During college, I did apply for a position with the Bureau and was selected for the interview process. As fate would have it, I ended up moving to Japan for a couple of years and missed out on that job opportunity. Of course, as they say, everything happens for a reason!

Emma: Ooh! I definitely would have chosen Japan over the FBI.

I thought I read somewhere that the idea for Miss Taken came to you while in the shower. Please share!

Kerri: LOL, Emma! Yes, I’ve often said that my muse is a wicked woman indeed. It seems that she only visits me with story ideas while in the shower or bath tub. Perhaps it is only because those are the only moments during the day when I’m alone with my thoughts, but I like to think of her as being a trouble making muse.

Emma: It seems to be a good sort of trouble she’s causing though!

Your book trailer did an excellent job of capturing the feeling of the story. Did you enjoy making it?

Kerri: Thanks for asking about my book trailer. I made it before my book came out as a part of a marketing class that I was taking. I enjoyed the project so much that I’ve taken up a little side business of creating trailers for some author friends of mine. I’ve completed around 10 or so trailers for other authors now. I absolutely love the design and production process. It is very fulfilling to see a story come to life on screen.

Actually, I’m giving away a custom book trailer right now as a prize in one of the three huge prize packs in my current website contest. Authors should be sure to check that out if you’re interested in winning a trailer design for your book. Also, in May, I’ll be giving away a custom made trailer for the Brenda Novak Auction for Juvenile Diabetes Research in honor of my daughter who was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes at the age of 2.

Emma: What an awesome prize, but I’m sorry, to hear about your daughter. However, knowing the awesome mother you are, I’m sure she’s well taken care of!

I’m curious about what you are working on now. I’ve seen on your blog allusions to two works in progress. Care to share?

Kerri: Oh, sure. I have so many book ideas fighting each other for time and space in my brain that it is difficult to concentrate on the current work in progress sometimes. I’m just now completing my second paranormal book that is a romantic comedy featuring a mother who just so happens to be a retired witch.

Speaking of paranormal projects, I’ll share a little news with you…I just got word that my first paranormal book which features a sexy shapeshifter entitled “Soul Searcher” will be released in September from Whispers Publishing! Woot!

Other than that, I’m venturing into my very first historical romance book that is set partly in Regency era England. It is a time travel book so it is not entirely historical but I’m having a blast doing the research for this book. More details to come on that project soon!

Emma: Congrats on the upcoming release! It sounds like you’re interests are just as varied as mine. Thank you for your time, Kerri, and good luck with your future books!

Kerri: Thank you so much Emma…best of luck to you as well. I know that great things are in store for you both personally and professionally, my friend.

I’d like to close by taking this opportunity to remind everyone about my current ongoing contest that is HUGE! There is still time to enter for a chance to win 1 of 3 amazing Red Carpet Prize Packs. Their total value is over $400 and includes such items as a diamond necklace, an MP4 player and more! Check out the Contest page on my website for details on how to enter at www.kerrinelson.com and be sure to watch my blog for more contests!

Mary Ricksen on Tripping Through Time

Emma: Spring is in the air and we're celebrating with a contest, A Tisket, A Tasket, Put Romance In Your Basket! In honor of the contest, I'm featuring author Mary Ricksen on her novel Tripping Through Time a January 2009 bestseller with the The Wild Rose Press.

Blurb:

In the waters of Lake Champlain there is magic, and a Celtic Ring with a mystic spell proves that love is truly timeless.

For years Keealyn McCalley has been under her father's commanding thumb. After a young child dies in her arms, Keealyn leaves nursing school despite his disapproval. She ends up staying at a camp on Lake Champlain, in Vermont.

Depressed and overwhelmed she takes her first drink and before she knows it she is stoned. Hungover and not thinking clearly she jumps into the lake. Her misguided act leads her to find an ancient Celtic ring with a spell on it. Putting it on sends her back to the year 1869. Found on the shore by Ryan Wolf, she is immediately attracted to his misty green eyes, hard body, and compassionate nature.

She must learn to trust him not to abuse her, save her heart, and teach her the powerful healing power of unconditional love.

Welcome, Mary! First, let me say that the scenery in your story took on a life of its own. I could see everything so clearly. I could definitely tell Lake Champlain holds a very special place in your heart!

Mary: It really does. If you have ever been there you know what I mean. I grew up spending every summer there. The place is just beautiful. The mountains in the distance, the crystal waters, the drop line fishing, I love it all. Every time I get off a plane, when I have the rare chance to visit, it brings tears to my eyes. I feel like I am coming home.

Emma: I try not to give too much away, but I have to say I found the contrast between Keealyn’s father and Ryan as a father heart-wrenching. You did an excellent job of showing how people can be cruel with just words and how people can be kind without any words.

I’d like to say that I hope you didn’t have to draw on personal experience for the cruelty, but I don’t know many people that have gone through life without being banged up a little. But, let’s dwell on the happy parts. What’s the happiest memory you have?

Mary: Thank you Emma, that was a really kind thing to say. Hmmm, the happiest memory I have is horseback riding. The power beneath me, the beautiful animal, the wind in my face, the thrill of it all, I felt free like I never did at home. Yes I drew on experience, it gave me insight into how just important words are. So here I am!

Emma: I came across an inspiring message you wrote for the October 2008 Florida Romance Writers Words of Paradise newsletter. It exemplifies just how sweet and caring a person you are and has such a great message that I wanted to share part of it, if you don’t mind, of course.

... You who sits at home and writes your heart out are stars! Not like movie stars, better, because your work will go on and on, long after you are gone. You are touching history. Someday someone will be in a second hand book store, (sorry no money there either), and they will buy your book. They will read it and wonder what you were like, how you felt, how hard it was and they will know you were here. It’s a legacy.

I know the money is important, but this goes beyond money into something very special. You have accomplished something wonderful, you are storytellers, and storytellers have always amazed us. Not to mention how reading your books is an escape, and a learning experience, (the research pays off). Lastly, you give peace, a place where new worlds evolve, and a chance to forget ones problems, if only for awhile. And when someone asks what you do, you can raise your head and say, “I...am a writer....” How great is that?

How do you feel now that you can say, “I…am a writer…”?

Mary: It’s the best thing that has ever happened in my life! For me, the main reason I decided to try to publish a book was to prove my worth to myself. Unfortunately, we never had children. It’s the one thing I wanted more than anything else in the world. So, I needed to leave a piece of myself behind. I wanted someone, someday, to pick up my book and know I had been here. I also needed to feel a sense of accomplishment and to do something I could be proud of myself for doing.

I am a writer!! Not everyone can say that, can they?

Emma: Indeed, they cannot, and you can definitely be proud of your work!

Now for the painful part of being a writer…rejections and bad reviews. As a writer, I use rejections to help improve my work, and I hope that if I ever receive a bad review, I would use it in the same way. Of course, this is after I get over the initial punched in the gut feeling. How do you deal with these situations?

Mary: So far, I have only had two reviews. The problem with my book is that the blurb originally sent out to the reviewers was the wrong one. I had to do last minute changes to my book because some of what I originally wrote about somehow violated the submission standards. When the reviewers got the book and read it, they found it not to match the title or the blurb and in some way felt I was being deceitful to get people to read my book. Even though they all were sent the correct blurb, they were turned off. I think the reviewers don’t want to touch it. I have heard the comment, “This wasn’t what I expected,” so many times I couldn’t believe it. It is a sweet romance, but there are elements that made it better that I had to change. The story is the same, but I never tried to trick people. My first reviewer trashed me and for this very reason. It also wasn’t a type of book she liked. I was real hurt at first, but the support and comments of other writers, like you, helped me to get over it.

Emma: Well, I loved it. What a sweet, heartwarming story!

Back to happier subjects…How is the sequel to Tripping Through Time, Burning Into Time, coming along? Any tantalizing bits you want to share?

Mary: Well this one is a bit different. It is a second in a stand alone series. My heroine’s sister is sent back in time to her sister. The tragic way she gets there is hard for her to handle. Yup, she is burned into time. But a good man helps her and she finds the strength to go on despite her terrible problems. Don’t you just love a good man?

Emma: I do indeed. Can't wait for the sequel!

I won’t keep you much longer, but are there any ongoing projects you want to discuss?

Mary: I am not one of those prolific writers who can put the books out one after the other. It’s maybe that I write emotionally and it takes deep digging to bring it all out for me.

Emma: Thank you for your time, Mary, and good luck on your future books!

Mary: Emma, thank you for the kind comments about my book. One thing that I have really missed is getting feedback. And good feedback just makes my day. It makes it all worth it! Thanks for interviewing me and I wish you the best of luck with your own writing, and the upcoming thrill in your life. Meeting people like you has given me so much happiness. I didn’t realize that there were so many fantastic people out there. And writing and publishing my book has given me back so much more then I ever dreamed.

Yippee!!!

Emma: Mary, you are so sweet! To the readers, don't forget to leave a comment. One lucky person will get a $5 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press. To the Grand Prize winner of the contest, I'll be giving a $10 gift certificate to The Wild Rose Press.

Don't forget to visit Sheri Lewis Wohl tomorrow at her blog http://sherilewiswohl.wordpress.com!

A TISKET, A TASKET, PUT ROMANCE IN YOUR BASKET

Spring is in the air! Bees are buzzing. Children anxiously await the big morning where they can graze on candy all day. What about mom? We've got a treat for you! Come join a group of romance authors in celebration of spring. Enter to win a prize a day as well as enter to win the grand prize. All you need do is begin at Silver James' blog on April 1st at http://www.silverjames.com/. Silver will host the day's contest and provide the link to the next day's location. Don't forget to enter to win the grand prize! Here's the dirt...

A TISKET, A TASKET, PUT ROMANCE IN YOUR BASKET Grand Prize:
To enter to win prizes from the authors donating treasures to the grand prize (see each day's post for what an author is donating to the grand prize), find the four Easter eggs in the A TISKET, A TASKET, PUT ROMANCE IN YOUR BASKET blog event.


You will be searching for this egg. (No, this isn't one of them!) Just visit all of the authors' websites, locate the 4 eggs, make a list of their locations by pasting the urls to the website pages in an e-mail, then send the entry to happyendings2007@aol.com by midnight CST on May 1st, 2009. The winner will be randomly drawn and announced May 2nd at http://blog.skhyemoncrief.com. Tip #1, subscribe to http://blog.skhyemoncrief.com to learn if you're the winner! And don't worry. If you start in on the blog event late, just head back to Silver James' blog on April 1st at http://www.silverjames.com/ to begin your website search for the Easter eggs. Don't miss the fun! See you next to the burgundy tulips.