Breezy Days & a Winner!
Happy Friday and Happy 1st full day of Spring!
Well we’ve officially made it through, what to me at least felt like, the longest Winter ever. I can’t wait until the weather finally breaks and I can get out in the garden and do a little bit of planting in my tiny patch of soil out front. I also can’t wait until I can go back to writing on the porch with Jack my feet. But until that time comes I’ll be happy with turning the heat down a bit, opening up a window and catching a light breeze.
Now that said I wanted to also say a huges thanks to all who commented on Sofia Tate’s Breathless post and giveaway. The lucky winner is Priscilla Shay! Congrats Priscilla! Please contact me with your info and Sofia will get in touch with you about your prize.
Have a great weekend everyone!
All the best,
KMJ
Image from We Heart It.
Goodbye and Hello…
Goodbye Winter…
Hello Spring!
It’s been really real but I can’t say we’ll be sorry to see you go.
Take your time coming back.
All the best,
KMJ & the Jackster
P.S. there is still time to enter Sofia Tate’s giveaway from yesterday. A Winner will be drawn tomorrow.
Breathless… Interview with author Sofia Tate plus a Giveaway!
Today on ye old blog I’m super thrilled to have my chaptermate and friend Sofia Tate here to talk about her debut BREATHLESS FOR HIM out July 1 from Forever Yours. Thanks so much for being here on ye old blog today, Sofia. It’s a real treat.
Thank you, Kwana. It’s my pleasure!
First off can you tell us a bit about your current work?
BREATHLESS FOR HIM is a contemporary erotic romance about a billionaire named Davison Berkeley, who comes from a wealthy society family in Manhattan. One night, he retrieves a glove that he lost at a trendy bistro, and the instant he meets the coat check girl, Allegra Orsini, the spark is ignited-he is instantly drawn to her. For Allegra, the feeling is mutual. Allegra is the daughter of a butcher in Little Italy. She is also an aspiring opera singer and a graduate student of voice at a Manhattan conservatory. The lingering trauma of an event that happened to Allegra when she was five years old will affect her relationship with Davison, as will Davison’s ex-girlfriend, Ashton Canterbury.
What inspired you to write this story?
The basis of the story is a short story I wrote when I was studying for my MFA degree in creative writing. One evening in my fiction workshop, my professor gave us a story prompt-two left gloves. We had five minutes to write a story about them. I developed the story and titled it “Hearsay,” a word that plays a prominent role in the opening chapter. Basically, the first chapter of BREATHLESS FOR HIM is that story.
What made you choose this genre to write in?
Years ago, I tried writing a book in the vein of Bridget Jones’ Diary, but my heart just wasn’t in it. Around 2010, I wrote about 100 pages of a paranormal romance. Then I started buying RT Book Reviews every month to learn more about the romance industry. I read a review of SINFUL by Charlotte Featherstone and bought it immediately for my Kindle. After reading it, I knew I finally found my niche in erotic romance, but instead of historical erotic romance, I knew I’d be better at writing contemporary.
Tell us a bit about your writing schedule. Are you a Plotter or a Pantser?
I’m a plotter, but I don’t use a whiteboard or Scrivener. I write in a notebook, always using these red Pilot rolling ball extra fine pens I get at Staples-I guess you could say that’s my superstition. If Pilot ever stopped making them, I’d be devastated. I usually write at night, but I also write during the day when I can.
This is a favorite of mine. Care to share the story of your “overnight” success with my readers?
BREATHLESS FOR HIM had already been rejected by two publishers last year before I got the offer from my editor at Forever Yours. It took exactly a month between submission and the offer, which I think is mind-blowing and I’m still in awe of it all.
Who are some of your favorite writers that have influenced you? (sub-question) What book is currently on your nightstand or e-reader?
Charlotte Featherstone, Eden Bradley, Samantha Young, Raine Miller, Sylvia Day, Logan Belle, and Kate Pearce. I just finished reading Collide and Pulse by Gail McHugh. Gavin Blake-oh my! That man….
What advice would you give aspiring writers?
Hone your craft. Take writing classes. If you’re an aspiring romance writer, read RT Book Reviews. Go to the RT convention. Join RWA and your local RWA chapter. And READ! Read both in the genre you want to write in and outside it.
Right now, I’m working on Book 2 in my Davison & Allegra series, DEVOTED TO HIM, which will be out December 2 from Forever Yours.
Yay! I’m so excited to hear there will be a book 2 on the way! Throws confetti!
Thanks so much for being here today. It’s been a real pleasure. And now for some extra fun, Sofia has agreed to give one lucky commenter a copy of BREATHLESS FOR HIM, so comment away! Winner will be announced on Friday!
Sofia Tate can be found:
And you can pick up your copy of BREATHLESS FOR HIM here:
All the best,
KMJ
Author photo credit: Katana Photography
In Time…
Happy New Week and Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Join me in wishing a Happy Birthday to my dear friend, the super talented artist , Patricia from PVE Design. Happy Birthday Patricia wishing you all the joy in the world!
Today, as with most days, I’m thinking of time and how precious is it. And with Spring just around the corner it’s time for me to use mine wisely and get to making those donuts. Rock with me to this old jam and let’s get to getting together.
Have a good one.All the best,
KMJ
Happy Weekend!
Make it a good one!
Any great plans? I’ll be up and about after I get over this Scandal hangover then it’s back to writing and hopefully watching more snow melt. Fingers crossed for warmer weather.
All the best,
KMJ
image fm Pinterest
A Writing Process Blog Tour
The fabulous and super talented Michelle Monkou tagged me in this writing process blog tour and as I do with all tag type things I froze but then realized we were not playing freeze tag so there you have it. I’m it… So RUN! No don’t run, sit a bit and read on about my process and how this writing thing works for me….Enjoy.
What am I working on?
Right now the world is my oyster since Threads of Desire is now out and Bounce is too (psst the print version is soon to come).
But the thing about the world being your oyster and all means the possibilities are endless and oh boy pretty shiny thing over there. But no, I must focus and work on one project at a time (Well maybe two). This year I’ve got a fun romantic comedy brewing and I’m working on a sequel for BOUNCE so there is all sorts of sexy fun suburbia intrigue coming that way.
How does my work differ from others of its genre? I think the difference in my work, like what others have said before me, is voice. People say all the stories have been told and I don’t know, for the most part that may be true. But I do know the stories have not been told my way. It’s always fun for me to find a new author with an exciting and new voice and I hope that now some folks are getting that feeling in my works too.
Why do I write what I do? I’ve always been a dreamer, making up stories in my head. I’ve also always been a fan of romance and contemporary women’s fiction so writing in this genre was a natural fit.
How does your writing process work?
Can I just say it’s a mystery?
As for work? I don’t know how well it works. I’m always looking for ways to streamline it and write now I’m taking a fantastic Scrivener class given my Gwen Hernandez to help me get my many writing thoughts into a more organized contained place.
I’d like to get to the point that I wake, up sit at the keyboard and the words flow like spring rain and not my usual open laptop, sit and stare. Blink. Go to kitchen come back. Sit, stare some more, reach for the faraway word. Write a sentence. Stare at screen. Walk to kitchen again. Go back to computer. Turn away. Flip TV on then Off. Check emails. Oh wait, Twitter! Look at clock an hour later panic then write a few hundred words. The character’s voices now too loud to be ignored a moment longer so I must write and quiet them down until the next day’s noise.
Yeah I’m thinking this process can be improved on dramatically. There are many stories to write and a smooth process will help it a bunch.
And now with me being it an all I have the fun job of tagging other writers so that they can share their processes with you. So I’m now tagging…Synithia Williams: Synithia Williams has loved romance novels since reading her first one at the age of 13. It wasn’t until 2010 that she began to actively pursue her publishing dreams. Her first novel, You Can’t Plan Love was published in August 2012 by Crimson Romance. When she isn’t writing, this local government gal, works to improve air and water quality, while balancing the needs of her husband and two sons. www.SynithiaWilliams.com
Jeanine McAdam : : Jeanine McAdam is a writer of twenty-five romantic short stories, a few spicy anthologies and three cowboy books. Telling stories about imperfect people finding perfect love is her thing. She’s currently writing about bull riders and the spunky urban women who love them in her Skirts and Spurs Trilogy. www.JeanineMcAdam.com
Falguni Kothari: Born and bred in Mumbai, Falguni Kothari currently lives in New York with her family and an utterly spoiled dog. She’s the author of BOOTIE AND THE BEAST (April 2014 via Harlequin Mills and Boon,) IT’S YOUR MOVE, WORDFREAK! and SCRABBULOUS IMPRESSIONS, a short story. www.FalguniKothari.com
All the best,
KMJ
BOUNCE Whistle Wetter…
Howdy folks! Just popping in from WIP land and saying hi. H! 🙂
Today, well tonight, depending on when you’re reading this I thought I’d put up a little Whistle Wetter just to give you a taste from a scene from BOUNCE my indie contemporary romance which I’m happy to say will soon be available in POD so check back for details on that real soon. Meanwhile here is a scene from BOUNCE…
He reaches for me.
“Hey, I know you’re up. Don’t be mad, okay? I know I should have been home earlier or called,” he says in a sheepish voice.
“I’m not mad. I just would have liked to have had you here tonight.”
“Really?” His question is clear but still he goes on as if I really need him to dig any deeper. Pick at the scab. “Because it seems lately you don’t want me around. So what’s so different about tonight?” He moves back onto his own pillows and I’m suddenly chilled. Can’t tell if it’s his tone or the distance. But I know he’s right. Even when I want him around, I don’t really. I’ve become my own deserted island.
I sit up in the bed and turn to him. “Well, you know I missed most of Zach’s game. It was because I was in with Mr. Dunlap. Today he practically guaranteed that I’d be made partner at this year’s annual meeting. I wanted you here so I could share it with you.”
Sean sits upright in the bed and turns on the light. His smile is genuine and for the first time in a long time there is a softness and an easiness between us that is unplanned and unforced. He reaches out and hugs me and for a second I sink into him. His strength and his warmth – I’ve missed what this feels like. “Babe, that’s great. I know how much you wanted it.”
When I pull back and don’t respond Sean looks at me with questioning eyes. “This is what you wanted, right?”
I’m looking around trying to find something to focus on except Sean’s confusion. The blanket’s tone on tone pattern takes on a new fascination. “Bree?” Sean asks, pulling me back to his question. “This is what you wanted?”
“Yeah, I guess, well, I don’t know,” I mumble, suddenly embarrassed at how weak I sound.
Sean lets out a long breath and sits up straighter. “You don’t know? Bree, I don’t understand you. It seems that nothing is satisfying to you lately. Not even the promotion you said you wanted for so long. The one you worked so hard for.” He rakes his hands through his short tight curls. “I thought things were fine. I thought things were going good again.” His voice grows louder as he goes on and a breathless anxiety comes over me. Threatening my edgy nerves. Hell, I thought I was all right too. At least it’s what I always tell myself. Speaking is half of believing right? But judging by the constant knots in my stomach, things are just not all right.
But everything should be. It all really should be. I’m about to have it all.
I give Sean a weak smile and pull him towards me. I kiss him deeply. And I can feel the immediate surprise course though his body. But the surprise doesn’t stop him and it doesn’t take much to get him going. He instantly falls into action, running his large hands up and down my back. Kissing my neck then trailing his tongue down toward my breasts.
Have you BOUNCED yet?
All the best,
KMJ
Golden Dreams…
The Oscars had its highs last night and then it really had its highs. For me and so many this was the moment.
Lupita wins the night!
“I look down at this golden statue, and may it remind me and every little child that no matter where you’re from,
your dreams are valid.” –Lupita Nyong’o
Happy Monday! What Golden dream are you dreaming today?
All the best
KMJ
image from tumblr and Oscar.go.com & beyond…
Nothing but Blue Skies… Happpy Birthday Nana!
Happy Friday! Do you all have the same Scandal hangover as I do? Whew, I’m about worn out! If you’re a Scandal fan please head on over to Heroes and Heartbreakers to check out my recap and reaction to last night’s show. Just click here and please chime in with your thoughts.
Time for another cold weekend with the forecasters predicting more snow on the way. But I won’t let that bring be down as there is a lot to celebrate this weekend and I’m seeing sunshine and blue skies as I spend the day with one of my very favorite people in all the world. Please join me in wishing a very happy early birthday to my lovely Nana who will be celebrating on Sunday!
Happy Birthday Nana! We love more than words can say!
All the best,
KMJ & the gang!
Thrilling Thursday & a Winner on ye old blog!
So this is the face of a creature that can care less about it the weekend coming.
Honestly, this has pretty much been Jack’s bored expression for the past few icy weeks, give or take a centimeter or two of fur in the eyes. If he could talk I’m sure all he’d say at this point is, “could I please have some warm sun, green grass and a haircut?” As for the days of the week and the rest of it? He cares not at all.
But me, I do, because the fact that it’s Thursday and this particular Thursday means that Scandal is coming back to TV! “Whoo to the OMG Hoo!”
And then as an added bonus I also get the opportunity to pick a winner in Irene Preston’s cool Mardi Gras Mask giveaway and thanks to Random number generator (since I couldn’t get Jack to show any picking enthusiasm) the winner is….
Angela Smith! Congratulations Angela. Please send me an email (just click over at my contact page with your contact info). And thank you so much to all who left a comment!
Enjoy Scandal tonight! I hope you all will be watching 🙂
All the best,
KMJ
