Writing is my life. Life is my hobby. ~Emma Lai http://www.emmalaiwrites.com

Thursday, December 31, 2009

Congratulations!

Judy, you are the winner of 10 eBooks from a long list of my favorites. Please send me an email at emmalaiwrites@gmail.com.

Lynne Roberts, you are the Grand Prize winner for the His Hope, Her Salvation release party!

- His Ship, Her Fantasy t-shirt, hat and keychain

- Autographed CD of His Ship, Her Fantasy and His Hope, Her Salvation

- Choice of book set

- Bookmarks and 2010 calendar magnet


Book sets

Published by The Wild Rose Press

- Tripping Through Time by Mary Ricksen

- Her Reluctant Rancher by Anne Marie Novark

- The Priceless Gift by Anna Kathryn Lanier

Published by Harlequin

- Last Resort: Marriage by Pamela Stone

- The Personal Touch by Lori Borrill

- Playboy Boss: Pregnancy of Passion by Kate Hardy

- Made You Look by Jamie Sobrato

Jana Richards, you are the second prize winner for the His Hope, Her Salvation release party!
- Autographed CD of His Ship, Her Fantasy and His Hope, Her Salvation

- Remaining book set

- Bookmarks and 2010 calendar magnet


Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Lynne Roberts on First Date and After Hours

Emma: Today, I am featuring an interview with Lynne Roberts, author of After Hours and First Date, available from The Wilder Rose Press.


Blurb for First Date:

When Bret Jacob walks into Jill's real estate office, she attempts to maintain a professional demeanor, but memories of accidental voyeurism in high school, years of what-if's, and Bret's drop-dead sexy grin only serve to ignite her fantasies.


Bret needs a farm for his growing landscape business. When he sees Jill Daniels' picture in a real estate ad, he can't believe his eyes: The shy girl from high school has blossomed into a desirable woman. Ten years ago, she didn't stir his blood and drive away all rational thought; now, he's fighting the urge to take her in his arms long enough to ask her on a first date.


Blurb for After Hours:

Elle Simpson doesn't deny that the new intern is sexy as hell but he's also ten years her junior--and she doesn't date men from the office. Of course, dating isn't what comes to mind when David Nelson enters a room. When Elle's boss assigns her to work an important account, she's thrilled-until David volunteers to help. Working one on one with her desirable new assistant is bound to test the limits of her restraint.



Everything about Elle, from her professional savvy to her hot body, turns David on, but first he has to unravel her mixed signals. After a few late nights alone with Elle in the office, David is at the end of his tether. It was hard enough during the day; keeping his hands off her after hours is proving impossible.



Welcome, Lynne.


Quick questions for you as a reader:

1) Where do you like to settle in for a good read?

In a corner of my couch with my big comfy blanket.


2) What is your favorite genre?
Fantasy with a strong element of romance. LOL. Or romance with a strong element of fantasy. Contemporary romance is a close second.

3) What length do you favor...shorts/novellas/novels?
I like them all. It depends. Sometimes I’m in the mood for something quick. Other times, I like to dig into a book.

4) Whose POV do you prefer...hero/heroine/villain?
All of them are important. It depends on the character and the writer.

5) Do you like first/second/third person?
Third… all the way. If I read first person, I have to really like the character because you get pulled in close.


Emma: What has been your greatest fear you’ve had to overcome as a writer?

Lynne: That’s easy. Failure. I have to overcome the fear of it daily. In this business, mediocre doesn’t cut it.

(Not if you want to be successful!)


Emma: What/who has been your greatest inspiration?

Lynne: So many it’s hard to say and a year ago my answer would be have been different. Now I want to make my children proud of me.

(That's sweet!)


Emma: Speaking of children, what does your family think of you writing erotica?

Lynne: Those that know are supportive but most of them don’t know. I tell my children I write love stories that they aren’t old enough to read yet.


Emma: Is there any topic you find taboo?

Lynne: None that I find taboo but there are plenty of topics I don’t feel comfortable writing. It’s one thing to stretch your comfort zone but if you travel too far outside of it, the writing will suffer.


Emma: What would you tell a reader reluctant to read erotica?

Lynne: Come on, you know you want to. Reading erotica is like eating your vegetables. You should try it at least once before you say you don’t like it.

(Funny!)


Emma: What do you hope to accomplish with your writing? Do you have a goal?

Lynne: Aside from the above. It may sound practical, or practically impossible, but I’d like to make a living from writing.

(Wouldn't we all!)


Emma: What makes your writing unique?

Lynne: I attempt, at least I try, to interject quite a bit of humor in my writing. Even in a short, I strive to make my characters very real.

(I like humor in my stories.)


Emma: What appeals to you about your genre?

Lynne: I love happy ever after. I love to explore the dynamic and subtleties of a relationship and that thrill of ‘he loves me’.


Emma: How do you deal with criticism?

Lynne: Not well. LOL. It depends in which stage. In the earlier stages of a book, I seek it out. By the time the book is released, criticism feels like failure. I read it, attempt to determine if the critic is right, and then hopefully learn from it.


Emma: What do you do when you hit a wall? (Can’t figure out a character’s emotions, where the plot should go next, etc.)

Lynne: I have a series of things I do. Sometimes all it takes is a run on the treadmill with music blasting. Another trick that has worked is to write the character’s biography or diary entry in a stream of consciousness.


Emma: What other works have you published?

Lynne: First Date and After Hours are my first publications.


Emma: What are you working on now?

Lynne: Creative License, the story of Caleb and Lily, and so far, one of my favorites.


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

Lynne: Thank you for having me, Emma.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Another Day of Happy Dance

His Hope, Her Salvation received 4.5 out of 5 stars from Lexile at Night Owl Reviews...

"Lai has a firmer grasp of her world and the characters within it, gives a clearer purpose to the Guardians themselves and a stronger focus on the mate-bond. I look forward to more stories about the Guardians for certain!"

Click here for the full review.


"I hope to see Eallair find his mate in a future story, but I'm unsure what I think of Orla. Her brief appearance in the story acts as a sort of counterbalance to Judith. Orla is beautiful, confident and self-assured of her own worth as a woman while Judith begins as a shy, hesitant girl afraid for her life. But whereas Judith is sympathetic and interesting to watch, Orla rubbed me the wrong way with her clinging and clear lack of dignity."

And for those who are curious, I'm furiously trying to complete Eallair's story for submission next week. Wish me luck! As for Orla, the woman every woman loves to hate, she makes an appearance in Eallair's story and doesn't make herself any more loveable. But, remember, people can redeem themselves!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Shannon Robinson on Lover's Bargain

Emma: Today, I am featuring an interview with Shannon Robinson, author of Lover’s Bargain, available from The Wild Rose Press.


Blurb:

Desperate to be free of her wretched home life, Mattie Evans trusts her dishonest father and embarks on a journey to Texas to live with an aunt she never knew she had. When she discovers she has been sold into a mail-order-bride service, her hope quickly fades.


Rancher Cole Hartley wants no part of long-term commitment. But what's wrong with a little satisfaction in the arms of a beautiful woman? Especially when she needs his help to escape a hopeless situation. Cole proposes a bargain to Mattie. He'll pay her release fee and send her wherever she wants to go the following day. The catch? She spends one night as his wife -- in his bed.


As feelings long buried surface, can Mattie and Cole open their eyes to the promise of happiness a future together can bring?


Welcome, Shannon!


Quick questions for you as a reader:


1) Where do you like to settle in for a good read?
Anywhere that is quiet!
J I do most of my reading at night in bed, after the kids and hubby have gone to sleep but sometimes I do get the occasional chance to read during the day. When that happens, I will sit out on the pool deck or back porch – as long as it’s warm outside. If it’s cold outside, I’ll snuggle onto the couch with a blanket.

2) What is your favorite genre?

Historical, hands down. I love learning about history and indulging in a fantasy about actually living during that time.

(I'm with ya' there!)

3) What length do you favor…shorts/novellas/novels?

All lengths. I will read anything that catches my eye, no matter what size or format it is.


4) Whose POV do you prefer…hero/heroine/villain?

All of them. If you create a book that involves all of the main characters’ POV, then I am your reader. I love a book that involves everyone’s take on the plot.

5)
Do you like first/second/third person?
I prefer third person, but I have enjoyed many books in first. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story in second person before.


Emma: What has been your greatest fear you’ve had to overcome as a writer?

Shannon: Fear of failure – which I can’t say I’ve exactly overcome yet. J But I am getting better at believing in myself as a writer. The fear doesn’t stem from rejections either, which some may attribute to the cause. It stems from inside of me, my inner editor who continues to tell me my writing is terrible, but I believe I’ve finally gotten to the point where her words don’t bother me anymore and don’t stop me from writing. She hasn’t shut up completely, but we’re working on that.


Emma: What/who has been your greatest inspiration?

Shannon: Hmm, that’s a tough one. There’s so many authors out there that I love to read and have been inspirations to me wanting to write my own story. I could also list some people in my life who’ve inspired me to write, like my best friend and fellow author, Holly Greenfield. A mix of many people / things I would say.


Emma: What do you hope to accomplish with your writing? Do you have a goal?

Shannon: My main goal is to see my story in print, with my name on the cover. To dream big, I want to see it on Walmart shelves, at Barnes & Noble, all over! But for now, I would just love to hold a paperback in my hands that is truly mine.


Emma: What appeals to you about your genre?

Shannon: The research and learning about the history of the time period I’ve chosen to write in. I love learning about what life was like “way back then”.


Emma: How do you deal with criticism?

Shannon: I take what is useful and not personal opinion, and fix what is needed. I don’t mind criticism at all because it is a tool to learn from. But you have to know what to take and what not to. Not all criticism is useful.

(That's completely true, Shannon. A writer needs to know what she can use. You don't want to loose your unique style and voice.)


Emma: What do you do when you hit a wall? (Can’t figure out a character’s emotions, where the plot should go next, etc.)

Shannon: I listen to music. I’ll find a song that I feel empathizes the scene I’m working on and try to re-focus myself using the music. If I can’t get out of the block, then I’ll take a couple of days off from writing. Usually when I come back, I’m able to get into the story and bang out some words.


Emma: What other works have you published?

Shannon: I have a novella length erotic comtemporary titled “Fired Or Fired Up” which was published in the Goin’ Down Anthology from Aspen Mountain Press. I also have a sweet medieval historical short length published with Aspen Mountain Press, which is titled “Lady’s Choice”. And for some great news, I recently received an acceptance for my novella length historical western titled “For Love or Justice” from The Wild Rose Press to be included in their Lawmen and Outlaws Anthology in 2010. More info about my stories is located on my website at http://www.shannonrobinson.com


Emma: What are you working on now?

Shannon: Finishing up “For Love or Justice”. I have to have the full ms done by January, so amidst all my fun holiday activities and full-time employment, I am writing like a madwoman! LOL!


After that is done, I am going to work on a sequel to “Lover’s Bargain” involving Cole’s brother, Trent Hartley.


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

Shannon: Thank you for having me, Emma. I really enjoyed doing this interview.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

I'm Doing the Happy Dance

I'm at Paty Jager's blog...http://patyjager.blogspot.com/ celebrating the release of His Hope, Her Salvation along with its first review from Romance Reader at Seriously Reviewed

Mrs. Lai, you truly surprise me! In such a short span you have managed to have me intrigued with your world(s) and with your characters, even the ones that deserved to live humiliation. I honestly say I could put myself in (almost) each character’s position and completely understand the reaction. I applaud you for not having your main characters jump into the sack with each other, and allowing the time to pass.

My only issue with your work here; is to say that it was too short for me! I want more!! ;-)

Brilliant Mrs. Lai!

http://seriouslyreviewed.blogspot.com/2009/12/his-hope-her-salvation-by-emma-lai.html?zx=a888161d7a785b31


Stop by and help me celebrate. One lucky commenter who posts before 10:00 a.m. Christmas Eve will receive a $10 TWRP gift certificate.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Kreativ Blogger Award

Thank you, Cate Masters, for choosing me as a Kreativ Blogger.

According to the rules, I must reveal seven random things about myself, and then bestow the Kreativ Blogger award on seven others.

1) My husband and I love to travel. Can't wait to take Iain on trips!
2) I have two spoiled dogs. A Jack Russell Terrier mix who thinks she owns the world and a Poodle Terrier mix who thinks he owns my lap.
3) I am 1 of 14 kids from my dad an 1 of 6 from my mom.
4) I once drank two bottles of wine by myself, but we were in Austria and when in Rome... (My normal consumption is one glass.)
5) I craved beans of all forms when I was pregnant.
6) My high school ex-boyfriend turned stalker found me after twelve years to tell me he was divorced now. Why would I be interested in that tidbit? Does he not remember the stalking?
7) My ex-husband's dog peed on my head. What do you think she was trying to tell me?

I'm passing the award to...
1) Catherine Bybee...keep those vlogs coming
2) Sarah Simas at The Lovestruck Novice...keep those interviews coming
3) Anna Kathryn Lanier...keep those yummy recipes coming
4) Skhye Moncrief...keep up the rambling
5) Anne Marie Novark...Thanks for keeping me on track with my goals!
6) Lynne Roberts...everyone needs a little naughty
7) Cari Quinn...keep those interviews coming

Monday, December 21, 2009

Kathleen Mix's Favorite Christmas Stories

With the number of shopping days until Christmas counting down fast, my tinsel is in a tizzy. But each December I grab a few minutes for myself, curl up by a fire, and read. I love reading Christmas stories because they’re special in their messages and themes. A few stand out as worthy of re-reading year after year.


My favorite short Christmas story, by far, is The Gift of the Magi by the master of surprise, O. Henry. It’s the story of a cash-strapped couple who sacrifice to buy each other gifts. Although O. Henry wrote it in 1906 and the dialogue now seems stilted, the wonderful message that true love is more valuable than money or any of our treasured possessions comes across as clear as if we were sitting beside the author and he shouted it in our ear.


The story itself sparkles because O. Henry was a true wordsmith. He tells us Della looked at “a grey cat walking a grey fence in a grey backyard”, that her “hair fell about her, rippling and shining like a cascade of brown water” and that ”with a whirl of skirts, she fluttered out the door”. When Jim came home, he stopped “as immovable as a setter at the scent of a quail”.

I won’t give away the ending for anyone who has never read it, but those of you who have read it know the ending is typical O. Henry: an ironic twist.


Another of my all-time favorites is the poem The Night Before Christmas by Clement Moore. When my three sons were young, we read it together every Christmas Eve. It never failed to wrap all of us in the magic of make believe. Even as an adult turning the pages of my dog-eared copy, I hear the jingle of bells, anticipate the prancing and pawing of reindeer hoofs, and smile at the appearance of jolly St. Nick.


As I writer, I love Moore’s imagery. My mind’s eye can see “The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow” and the smoke encircling St. Nick’s head “like a wreath”.

Of course, I read romance. And every December, dozens of new romances with Christmas themes are released. My personal favorite is one written many years ago by the fabulous Deb Dixon. Doc Holiday (Bantam Loveswept No. 723, Dec. 1994) is a love story with a subplot about traditions and the little things that make Christmas special to each of us. And it’s about families, the one we grew up in and the new one we form when we meet that one special man and fall in love.


The heroine, Taylor, has taken care of her father and six brothers since her mother’s death. She’s carried on old Christmas traditions and initiated some of her own. But this year she has a new sister-in-law who has invaded her kitchen bringing new recipes. The heroine struggles to maintain her place as organizer in her family, but despite her efforts, she must accept and adapt to unwelcome change.


The hero, Drew, has recently gained custody of his young son. The boy has been scared by his

parents’ divorce, and Drew wants to establish traditions and make his son’s holiday special. But Drew grew up with plastic Christmas trees and restaurant-cooked turkeys, so he doesn’t know how. Having envied the festive atmosphere created by the heroine for her family in the past, he comes to her door a few days before Christmas pleading for her to help him fix his disastrous holiday.


Doc Holiday is out of print, but if you can find a copy in a second-hand bookstore, grab it. The story and the characters are guaranteed to warm your heart.


Christmas stories are special. They remind us of the true spirit in which we should give gifts. They remind us of the wonder of make-believe that thrives in childhood. They remind us that all the commercial hustle and bustle is superficial and fleeting. They surround us with a world where love and family traditions shine as the most brilliant stars.


These are just a few of my favorite stories, poems, and books. But I’d love to hear about your favorites, too. Please take a minute to leave a comment and share. Maybe I’ll find new favorites on your list.


Oh, and one more thing: my holiday gift to everyone is the short Christmas story I wrote for The Wild Rose Press, A Christmas Gift to Die For. I hope you’ll pop over to www.thewildrosepress.com/kathleen-mix-m-221.html and download a copy free.

To quote a white-bearded, old elf, “Happy Christmas to All, and to All, a Good Night.”

Kathleen Mix writes romantic suspense for The Wild Rose Press. Her next release, a contemporary romance with a Latina heroine, will be released by Samhain Publishing in mid-2010. To find our more about Kathleen or her books, please visit her website at http://www.kathleenmix.com