Shine on Through!
Happy Saturday!
Keep on Smiling. You never know who’s clicking.
Best,
Kwana
image fm here by Bert Stern
Coming Through!
Can I get a woo and hoo! Check out my be-u-te-ful cover for my September 3rd contemporary romance Through The Lens out from Crimson Romance. Isn’t it lovely? Gulp. This is feeling very real now.
Here is a little bit about Through the Lens:
Mika Walters is a normal woman working in the not so normal world of New York Fashion. As long time assistant to uber sexy photographer Alejandro Vargas she’s tired of being the girl in the background. Just once she wants Alejandro to look at her with the same smoldering look he gives to his willowy models and now she has her chance.
Stranded.
After a travel mishap where the rest of the crew and the models can’t make the remote location shoot for another three days Mika is taking her moment to catch Alejandro’s eye and put herself in front of Alejandro’s camera and if all goes to plan, his bed… at least until the real world catches up with them.
Alejandro doesn’t know what’s gotten into Mika maybe it’s the sand, maybe it’s the sun, but he doesn’t really care. All he knows is that he’s finally opened his eyes and is seeing her clearly for the first time as the smart, gorgeous and incredibly irresistible woman she is.
But why can’t she realize that what he’s feeling for her is not one of his usual one, well, three night stands. This is real. Real love, real passion. What’s it going to take for him to prove to Mika that she’s the woman he wants? Now and forever.
There you have it. Coming to a reading device near you September 3rd. Download it while it’s hot!
Best,
Kwana
Feeling Guilty?
So thanks to a post over at Dear Author my curiosity was riled up and I couldn’t stop myself from watching the POV documentary: Guilty Pleasures. I have to say though it does have its uplifting moments I think it gives a bleak view of some of the romance readers out there. I did not see any of the vibrant women of the romance world that I know there but still, it’s interesting and worth a watch and available online until Aug 12th. I say check it out and please report back if you do. I myself am not feeling guilty at all.
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
Oh Deer!
So I was washing dishes yesterday and looked up for a moment and check out what I saw out my kitchen window. A little visitor came and apparently she or he wanted to pose for pictures. So photogenic!
Have a Happy Thursday!
Best,
Kwana
Fall In!
Happy Monday! I’m hoping you all had a good weekend. So I woke up yesterday morning and let my family know straight out of the gate that I would be writing all day. All day? Yes, all day.
Giambologna’s “Woman Reclining and Writing”
Well, I guess I was nice and firm in my tone because the DH who was up early anyway got the coffee going and made me a lovely breakfast as I got up, cleaned myself up, and got into my summer writing uniform of old pull on shorts and tee. After eating I fired up the laptop. Around 10:00 I went online to my church’s website to peek in on the service. Nothing like being there in person but I love that we have that watch live capability. After that back to work.
Around lunchtime with a stretch I ventured out of my bedroom and asked my DH would he please make me some lunch. I got a brief surprised look but gave the “I’m in my writing world face” and a bit later had a nice spicy noodle soup and turkey wrap.
It was back to writing after that. Time was ticking the clock was going too fast.
Around 4:30 I noticed no one was moving. The dreaded dinner time. I sighed. Maybe I had pushed it. I knew the DH wanted fish and not his own cook fish mine. So I relented and let him know if he brought it I’d bake it. Easy peasy. I already had 3,800 words. A fantastic day’s total.
After dinner and on a roll I went back in for a few more words before what I’m now calling a comedy hour: True Blood. The day’s total 4,900 words!
So what’s the moral of this rambling story? Let your intentions be known from the get go and don’t waver. The rest will fall in line.
Best,
Kwana
image from here
The Name Game
So my eyes shot open this morning, my heart racing and I was in a bit of a panic when I realized that with this new book I’m working on I inadvertently named a major character the same name as a relative of mine. Gulp. Now that I have remembered the family member there is no why I can go forward writing that sexy smexy scene I had all planned out. It’s done. I’ve gone cold. No way great aunt so and so is going to be thinking I was thinking of her when writing that!
But this is not a simple case of just re-naming the problem is this character is introduced by her nickname in my book coming out in September: THROUGH THE LENS. Yikes what to do? Cut to me firing up the laptop and going to a few Baby Naming sites to search for some names with that root. Luckily I have found one that I like and my heart has returned to its normal state of just semi-manic-panic. Writer problems. They are so on the edge.
Hope your day is less angsty than mine.
Best,
Kwana
P.S. I’m still waiting to hear back from Stretch in the Farah Rachon win. Stretch please email me so that I can have Farrah get back to you or another winner will be chosen in a week. Thanks.
Image fm here
Poof!
How lovely are these blooms given to me by a knitster friend for my birthday? Yep, and they are still alive and thriving (how’s about that?). Nope, I don’t remember their name but I love their vibrant poof of color. Fantastic. That said… Happy Wednesday!
Best,
Kwana
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
