Latest News

As many of you probably already know, my happy little family is now expanded by 1. Baby Iain was born on Thursday, September 17th at 10:00 a.m. We are doing well and are trying to get into a rhythm. I would like to thank everyone who has sent their congrats and best wishes. I hope to get back into the swing of things shortly.

Joyce Moore on Jeanne of Clairmonde

Emma: Today, I am featuring an interview with author Joyce Moore on her book Jeanne of Clairmonde currently available through The Wild Rose Press.

Blurb:

As France prepares for the Hundred Years War, the king sends Squire Nicholas to relocate the occupants of Clairmonde. The estate is in a strategic location and will house troops for the duration of the war.

This is not the first time that Jeanne, heiress of Clairmonde, has been uprooted. She vows to petition the king for exemption, but to reach Paris, she must join forces with her evictor.

Undeterred by Squire Nicholas' wrath and warnings, she joins his troops as they make their way to Paris.

A growing attraction develops between Jeanne and her squire, but each of them is burdened by a past that keeps them apart.

As they travel snow-covered roads to the capital city, they are stalked by the enemy and the Black Prince himself. Can their love endure imprisonment, ambush, and hardships? And will false accusations at the French court ruin Jeanne's dream of regaining her land?

Welcome, Joyce!

Joyce: Thanks Emma. I’m thrilled to be here! And I’m looking forward to sending a PDF of my historical romance, Jeanne of Clairmonde, to one of your readers who comment on today’s blog. I’ll select the winner Sept. 8 and will post their name on my website, www.joycemoorebooks.com in the Journal section.

Emma: Oh, a free book! What fun!

What an interesting time period to write about. You also have another French medieval story, The Tapestry Shop, written. Is French Medieval history a passion of yours? Are there any publication plans for this one?

Joyce: Yes. The Tapestry Shop will be a 2010 release from Five Star. I love the Middle Ages, and I traveled to France to do research. The medieval ruins and France’s history would make any author’s heart beat faster. There are stories begging to be written.

Emma: I'm so envious. I need a trip to France.

You also have Haunt Hunter’s Guide to Florida available through Pineapple Press. What inspired you to compile the guide?

Joyce: I’m a Florida native. I grew up on the Gulf coast, near where foreign conquerors raised their flags and built forts. Sites that are said to be haunted caught my interest, and I found there were no books about haunted Florida. There are now, but mine was the first. The state’s history, under so many different flags, holds a gold mine of stories.

Emma: I bet it was exciting...to be the first to write such an interesting book. I'm a huge fan of hauntings. Are there any works in progress you want to discuss?

Joyce: After writing Jeanne, I started another historical, this time set in 16^th c. Venice, and the first draft is almost finished. My agent is shopping one of my historicals, which has finaled in theRoyal Palm Literary Awards, as has Jeanne of Clairmonde, by the way.

Emma: Good luck! I wouldn't be surprised if someone didn't ask you how you landed your agent.

Thank you for your time, Joyce, and good luck on your future books!

Joyce: It was a pleasure being here Emma.

And the Winner is...

Congratulations Carol L. You've won a *.pdf of Catherine's Kilt Worthy and my His Ship, Her Fantasy!

Catherine Bybee on Kilt Worthy

Emma: In honor of Hump Day, I am featuring an interview with Catherine Bybee author of the short story Kilt Worthy, an erotic bestseller at The Wilder Rose Press (18 and older only).

Blurb:

Peering at the world from behind her camera lens, "Plain Jane" Parker is stunned to see a handsome hunk wearing a kilt as he confidently strolls down a busy Seattle street. Her dormant libido roars to life even before their eyes meet. Aroused and intrigued, she tosses aside her usual caution and follows when Logan MacLaren beckons for a delightfully sinful one-night stand.

Logan is an exceptionally talented lover, wielding the abundant sword he sports beneath his plaid to deliver unparalleled pleasures. He reminds her to trust her instincts after reality proves they're a more perfect fit than either imagined.

Then Logan drops his bombshell: He's traveled through time to find her and wants her to stay with him forever...in medieval Scotland. Did Jane just have the most erotic sex of her life with a delusional crazy man, or is it truly possible for her one-night stand to last forever?

This is the review I wrote for the story…

Oh, my! This short is packed with all the things I love…a talented use of first person, lots of sexual tension, great descriptions, and a hero who makes you weak with desire…and that’s all in the first three pages!

Ms. Bybee does an amazing job of showing the emotional turmoil of Jane and Logan’s search for happiness through time. Please tell me Chase gets his own story! Can’t wait for the next one!

Welcome, Catherine! Congratulations on the release and making the bestseller list!

Catherine: Thanks for having me, Emma. I’m beyond jazzed about the bestseller list. Kilt Worthy is holding at #2… I hit #1 for a short amount of time but I’m quite happy with my debut’s ability to make and keep the top slots.

Emma: I saw a teaser for Chase’s story on your blog. Man, oh man! Can’t wait to read the whole thing!

Catherine: LOL… can you say ménage? Double rose? Chase is very naughty! I love him!

In addition to hot little excerpts, you also post video blogs on various writing topics. Where do you find your inspiration for the video blogs?

Catherine: Do ya want to know a secret? I’m a horrid speller! I mean it. If it wasn’t for spell check I’d be lost. When I video blog I don’t have to worry about spelling or sucky grammar or anything like that. LOL No, really, I’m just a ham. I enjoy yakking and it was natural for me to put video blogs in my line up. I write all day and read for that matter so watching a blog was a nice break. So far those who have seen them send me their thumbs up so I’ll keep doing them.

Emma: I know Kilt Worthy was inspired by a photo. Where do you get inspiration for the rest of your stories?

Catherine: Well, Soul Mate was inspired by a night in a campground in Sequoia last summer. I noticed the full moon glowing from behind a mountain and I thought it would be a great setting for a story. Most of the time my stories are inspired by a scene that simply plays in my head. Once that scene is on paper the rest of the story and characters simply start to flow.

Emma: You also have another best seller, Soul Mate, available from Red Rose Publishing and three stories, Binding Vows, Before the Moon Rises, and Only for You coming soon. Wow, what a productive year for you! Do all the stories revolve around the themes of werewolves or time travel?

Catherine: Hmmm. Not all of them. But I love the world of paranormal. You’ll see when Binding Vows comes out that time travel isn’t the only element of paranormal flowing within those pages. By the time the ‘Vows’ trilogy is finished, I’ll have played with almost ever supernatural possibility out there. I have a couple of straight contemporary stories in my hard drive and even one very spicy historical… But these aren’t ready for the world to see. Lol

Emma: I’m curious about what you are working on now? Do you have one work in progress you consider as your special project?

Catherine: Like I mentioned above, Binding Vows is the first in a trilogy. Silent Vows is with my editor right now and Redeeming Vows is 1/3 of the way written. I’m also working on a series of dark paranormals revolving around demons, ghosts, witches and shifters… and anything else I can think of. For fun and fantasy, I crank out short erotic stories that tickle that part of me that I can’t stay away from. I have a book for whatever mood I’m in going at just about any time.

Emma: Thank you for your time, Catherine, and good luck with your future books!

Catherine: Thanks, Emma! I did send in Chase’s story – Kilt-a-licious – for Lori, my editor, to consider. So with any luck I’ll be announcing a contract on that one soon. Thanks again for the awesome review and the opportunity for me to yak about my latest releases.

Virtual Baby Shower

My fellow Roses of Houston are hosting a virtual baby shower to celebrate the upcoming arrival of Baby Iain! Stop by and comment each day for chances to win different prizes!