Imagining a Hero…
Happy Tuesday! I got the most wonderful tweet from someone who had read an advanced copy of Through the Lens and she was now seeing the super hot, hip shaking William Levy in her mind for my hero Alejandro.
I can’t tell you how happy that made me since, though William wasn’t my original image of Ale, he was one of the many that came to mind when I was imagining the ultra hot photographer. So with a thanks to my lovely tweeter I will leave you today with this. Warning have your fans ready.
And now for more Super for your Tuesday… Through the Lens is now available for Pre-order on the Nook too and you can get it here ! Woo to the Hoo Ya’ll!
T-minus 6 until Through The Lens!
Best,
Kwana
Images and video fm here
Happy Dancing over my happy news!
So I’m doing the Happy Dance today!
Why you ask? Come on just go along with me and ask… thanks. Well… I’m happy to announce that I just signed a new two book contract with Crimson Romance my publisher for Through The Lens (out September 3rd and available for pre-order now).
Yippee and throws confetti! The next two books will be loose follow ups to Through The Lens in what I’m now calling my Creative Hearts series. These will be all connected books that I’m happy to say can also stand alone since they will be the new love stories of characters that have turned up in the previous books. What fun! So something to look forward to (at least I’m hoping).
I’m so happy to announce this to you, all my bloggy friends. I feel like I’m really, finally on the move now and so glad to be on this journey (did I really just use that word from The Bachelor? Yikes.) with Crimson.
You can pre-order Through The Lens here and don’t forget it will be on sale in ebook form everywhere September 3rd. Look for lots of fun in store on ye old blog next week.
Thanks so much!
Best,
KwanaAnd we’re off!
Well, it’s for real now.Through The Lens, my September Crimson release is up for pre-order at Amazon and can I just say… Oh Wow! You can check it out here. Feel free to click away and be one of the first to get it while it’s hot, hot, hot and ‘like’ to tell all your friends that you did. Please don’t be shy.
Once again here is that link.
Now excuse me while I faint. Send someone on around in ten minutes to come and pick me up off the floor. Thanks!
Best,
Kwana
Testing Time! Interview with author Nancy Loyan
So one look at the cover of author Nancy Loyan’s book Lab Test and you can’t help but be pulled in by the puppy dog eyes and then you get a look at the tag line of:
“Can the unconditional love shared by a dog and a master lead to love between a man and a woman?” and you can’t help but go, ok now I really want to know more.
Well, today I have fellow Crimson Romance author, Nancy here to answer the burning questions.
Welcome Nancy!
-Thank you, Kwana. It’s an absolute pleasure being here.
Firstly, please tell us about the cover of Lab Test. Why the sad little dog?
-First of all, I love the cover that the artists at Crimson Romance created for “Lab Test.” It captures the essence of the novel. I see the black Labrador Retriever as not being sad but a bit mystical and introspective with that “all-seeing, all-knowing” eye. That cute little face is hinting at what transpires in the book. Behind that face and those eyes is the heart and soul of the book’s heroine, the integral part of the plot. Well, if the puppy seems sad, she was found by the book’s hero wandering the streets if inner-city Detroit rather forlorn and out of her element.
Ahh now I get it. Poor Samantha. She’s like shape shifting Sam from True Blood but trapped, hence the sad eyes. It makes total sense to me now.
-Not sad but all-knowing.
That is so sweet. Tell me what was your inspiration for this story? Could it be watching True Blood?
-Honestly, I’ve never watched True Blood and rarely watch television. My inspiration came from my previous dog, Ebony. Ebony was a black Lab-Pointer mix found abandoned in the parking lot of a local amusement park. The area, I discovered, was known for being a “dog dump.”
Ebony was my first experience with the hunting dog personality. I had Collies before and they are like the fashion models of the dog world. They are beautiful, high-maintenance, loving but a bit aloof. Labs and Pointers are totally different. Labs are extremely close and personable. They read emotions and moods and act accordingly. Ebony challenged me and, because she was an “Alpha dog” kept me on my toes with her cunning mind. I liked the “give and take.” It was more of a relationship than a master-owner scene. I used to call her my “child in a dog suit.” Labs are also “Saran-wrap” dogs because they are always nearby. Yes, they sleep in the bed, too! They have a way of endearing themselves and it’s no wonder that they have been the AKC’s top dog for well over ten years.
I lost my beloved Ebony at the age of 16 and “Lab Test” is dedicated to her. I currently have a black Lab-Pointer mix, Topaz and her boisterous sister, an English Pointer, Amber. I love dogs!
I can see that and Ebony sounds so special.
Now please tell us what drew you to writing paranormal romance?
-I’ve always liked paranormal romance. When I was a child I was drawn to time travels. I absorbed Jules Verne novels. One of my all-time favorite movies is “Somewhere in Time.” I also loved the television series “Time Tunnel.” I liked “Bewitched.” Of course, I was addicted to “I Dream of Jeannie.”
Somewhere in Time was such a great movie. Can you tell us what’s next for you?
-Next? I’m sure that I will be receiving revision notes from Crimson Romance for my next novel, a contemporary romance, tentatively titled “Hearts of Steel,” that will be out in October. I have two additional novels contracted with Crimson. Yes, one is a time travel. I am also revising some old manuscripts and have begun a new novel that has been in my head for a very long time and is itching to get out.
That’s wonderful. We well stay on the lookout for the nest book. Thanks so much for being here.
Thank you for having me!
Lab Test can be found here:
And Nancy can be reach on her web site here: www.NLSScribe.com
And on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/nancy.l.schuemann
Best,
Kwana
And we’re off…
Let the countdown begin or maybe I shouldn’t do that. No, you know me. I totally am. In Just 1 month from today my debut novel THOUGH THE LENS will be flying through cyber space and launched out into the world on September 3rd available from Crimson Romance! Can I get a Woo Hoo!! And an Oh Yeah!! And a maybe a small yikes for good measure.
Thanks. Happy Friday. Enjoy the weekend.
Best,
Kwana
Image from here
Fine Romance and a winner!
Happy Monday!
I’m hoping you all had a wonderful weekend and got to spend a little time with friends and/or family. Cherishing those you love and letting them know how much you care. Thanks so all of you who commented on the Farrah Rochon giveaway. The winner thank to random number generator is…. 2
Stretch! Stretch, thanks so much for commenting. Please send me an email atL kwanawrites (at) yahoo (dot) com and send me your info to forward to Farrah and she will be sure to get you your book. Congrats.
Get ready for a Fine Romance!
Best,
Kwana
Image from here
This…
And I’m diligently working on making my book boy/man the best he can be. Back to the grind.
Image from here and beyond.
Best,
Kwana
A Date with Destiny… Interview with Elizabeth Meyette
Today I’m proud to have fellow Crimson Romance (I still love saying that) author , Elizabeth Meyette on ye old blog. Elizabeth’s novel Love’s Destiny is a historical romance and part of Crimson’s official June launch. Go Elizabeth!
Before I get into the questions here is a bit about the book:
When Emily Wentworth’s father dies at sea, her father’s friend—and Emily’s appointed guardian—Jonathon Brentwood arrives at her home in London to take her with him to the colonies. Emily, just 17, has decided that she is fully capable of taking care of herself and sets out to prove that to her new guardian.
Emily’s one chance to remain in London is to marry, but when the opportunity arises, she knows she would rather follow Jonathon across an ocean to a land in upheaval than to stay safely in London.
But Jonathon’s involvement in patriot activity against England disturbs—and threatens—Emily, a loyal subject of the king. The colonial rebellion is the backdrop for misunderstanding, fear, mistrust, and danger. Will love’s destiny ensure that Emily and Jonathon stay together, even in the face of death?
Thanks so much for being here Elizabeth. First, can you tell us a bit about yourself? Have you always known you wanted to be a writer?
Hi, Kwana! Thanks for inviting me to your blog. I grew up in upstate New York, and now I live in Michigan with my beloved husband, Rich. We have a lovely family: our daughter Kate and her husband Todd, son Matt and his girlfriend Rachel, and daughter Kristin, her husband Tedd and our grandchildren Tommy and Molly. I know I was always a frustrated writer because when I taught all that wonderful literature to my high school students, I knew that writing books was what I really wanted to be doing. I retired from teaching early to pursue my writing career and I haven’t looked back. I say I “failed” retirement because I work hard every day. But it doesn’t feel like work because I love it so!
What drew you to writing historical romance? I’m a big fan of the genre and can’t wait to give Love’s Destiny a go.
I love learning about other places, and I am fascinated by the past. Imagine what it was like to eke out a living on the frontier or not have all the conveniences we have today. I always wonder what it was like for people back then and think of how strong they must have been. I had recently visited the Jamestown and Williamsburg Virginia area when I started writing Love’s Destiny, and I knew that was the setting I wanted. Plus the romance of the beginning of our nation…I couldn’t resist it! And I’m a sucker for a happy ending. When I finish a novel, I want to feel satisfied, sort of like justice was served, the good guys won, and the lady got her man.
Going from the blurb I can see that your heroine, Emily is young by today’s standards at 17, but I’m thinking appropriate for the time period. What made you choose that age for your heroine?
I did extensive research while I was writing this, and it was typical for young women to marry by age 17, even younger. But it was also common for men to be considerably older as Jonathon is at age 28. Because childbirth was so difficult, and infants often died, women had many pregnancies throughout their adult lives. Starting young was necessary.
If you were not writing what would you be doing?
Well, I would probably still be teaching, but my secret dream was to be a torch singer, dressed in sequins, draped over a baby grand singing in a husky voice in a smoky lounge.
LOL. I love that answer! Now my favorite bit, please tell us the story of your “overnight success”.
I’m so glad you put that in quotation marks to signify satire! My overnight success took 30 years. I wrote Love’s Destiny on a dare when my daughter Kate was an infant. Then it sat in my closet, as many manuscripts do, until I retired. Now I feel like I am giving life to my characters and I am so excited! I’ve been getting positive feedback and reviews from readers, and some good local press. It’s all a dream come true!
Wonderful! What can we expect next from you?
My friends who helped with editing and reviews are clamoring for a sequel, so I am working on Love’s Spirit. I think this might become a trilogy with Love’s Freedom as the third novel. Also, on our recent trip back to New York my d.a.m. inspiration (divine attendant muse) hit me with an idea for a suspense/paranormal set in the Finger Lakes region of NY. I’ve got the first page and some notes written on it and it’s haunting me already!
That sounds fantastic. Thanks so much from being here today and I’m wishing you much success with Loves Destiny!
Thank you, Kwana. And best of luck to you with the release of Through the Lens!
Thanks so much. You can find Elizabeth on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/elizabethfmeyette and her blog http://elizabethmeyette.blogspot.com
And you can get Love’s Destiny over at Crimson Romance here
Best,
Kwana
BEA Afterburn
So as I write this Book Expo BEA12 little mini wrap I’m sitting with a heating pad wrapped around my neck. I tell you nothing can prepare you for a day of walking up and down the length and width of the Javits center with your purse slung across your body and then being offered advanced reading copies of books, glorious, books! For a confirmed bookie like me it’s just too hard to pass them up hence the heating pad today.
Check out my haul!
I also had a couple of celebrity spottings while there for my quickie day. The very first book I got when I hit the floor was arguably (?) the most controversial cookbook ever from Real Housewives of New Jersey’s Teresa Giudice, Fabulicious! Her peeps were handing out her book and she was signing and taking pics as she had with the previous book the year before. The funny thing is I was just on twitter the night before having a RHONJ talk and she came up. So when I got up to her I told her I had been twitter chatting about her and told some people that I thought she was not like you see on TV in person and I found to be warm and lovely. Well, she turns to me (IMO very sincerely) and says, “Really you said that about me and you met me last year? Thank you. Thank you so much for that. “ Then she puts out her hand to shake mine. It was sweet. Now, I know it’s all still a hot mess over in Bravo Jersey but, Tre was once again ok with me. Sidebar: I really need to learn to pose better. Ugh.
My next great sighting was with the fantastic bestselling romance author, Brenda Jackson who was signing at the Harlequin booth. When she asked who should she sign her book to I told her, my mother, since my mother will probably steal it anyway so why should I fight at anymore? She laughed and another woman laughed behind me at my funny story. I then heard this woman say to her, “Can I take a picture with you to put it on my Facebook page?” I sort of knew the voice so turned around. It was Judge Lynn Toler from Divorce Court! I think she was at BEA signing her book on marriage. But how much do I love that she’s a romance fan too? Hmm wonder if she’ll read my book when it comes out in September? Well, me not being shy, asked to get a pic of the two of them and if I could post it here. Aren’t they cute?
All in all I had the best time! I also scored an ARC of 50 Shames of Earl Gray the 50 Shades parody by Fanny Merkin aka Andrew Shaffer. I was so lucky to get this book because Andrew’s line, as in all things 50, was off the chain crazy. Makes me think I’ve got to get on that 60 Shades of Jack calendar as previewed on my Pinterest. LOL.
And I got to hang with Katiebabs and Stacy (Love Love Stacy for being all organized and a pre-plannerly, yay for friends like these). Then made a new bud in, Marnie so score there.
All in all a great day, minus the shoulder pain, of course. Time to get reading.
Best,
Kwana
Book-O-Mat
So I had this dream last night, well quite a few, and I remember bits and pieces of each, which I do often ,but in one that I’ll share with you I was trying to buy my book out of a machine vending machine of all things. You know, like those new machines where you can buy an iPod and the accessories if you have 200 bucks to spend in a machine and a music emergency. But the thing was my book was in an old style beat up machine like you’d see at on the outskirts of a bad Carney show. And the book was in a brown cardboard box with brown tape so I don’t know how I knew it was my book (also it was a secret baby book which I have never written). Besides my book, also in and this machine was various stuffed toys, card and old time candies to complete the rundown look of it all. Now don’t ask me what it all means, I’m not going to analyze (yes I am), though I will consider the push of bringing the Book- O- Mat back.
Best,
Kwana
Image from here
