Bouce Your Merry Way!
It’s now official, as of yesterday, I am an indie publisher.
Whee! BOUNCE is live and for sale! Talk about a long time coming and what a way to have myself a Very Merry Christmas and welcome in 2014 with a Rousing Cheer.
I can’t express how excited, nervous and all around feeling every emotion a person could possibly feel in the moment. It’s like I’m standing on the edge of the highest cliff imaginable with nothing below me but green, ocean, sky and possibilities and nothing to guide me in my flight but my little hand painted wings that I’ve fashioned out of children’s kite material and some string.
Ok, so maybe I’m being a little dramatic here. I’ve know I’ve got a lot more behind me than I think I do, I just have to convince my gut of it. Right now it’s just a belly full of butterflies and no net to be had. But really I know I’m lucky. I have family and friends, critique partners, beta readers, formatters, loop groups, cheerleaders and boosters all there, puffing up my wings and watching to make sure I don’t spin out of control. Oh the joy! I am one happy woman.
All that said… I hope you’ll give BOUNCE a try. I have a feeling being a hybrid author in 2014 is going to be a wild flight.
Growing up as a young girl, Sabrina Jacobs could only dream her life would be this good. She has a successful career, a famous sexy husband, two children, a house in an affluent Westchester suburb and a shoe collection worthy of a magazine spread. Too bad it’s all a façade.
It has been almost a year since her husband admitted he had an affair with a younger and bouncier coworker. Follow Sabrina as she tries to rein in her out-of-control life by kicking her husband out on his rear, chucking her career and even firing her too-cute-for-the-job nanny. But how will she survive as a stay-at-home mom in the land of designer clothes, designer kids’ parties and designer babies? Hmm… maybe the hunky young French teacher, who has been flirting shamelessly with Sabrina, is just what she needs to take her mind off her problems. Well, not if her husband has something to say about it. Will Sabrina be able to forgive and still be true to herself? … Find out in BOUCE
BOUNCE can be found at Amazon here and at Barnes and Noble here.
Here’s wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Cheers to more Happy Writing in 2014!
All the best,
KMJ
image from here
Bounce with Me!
Excitement, nervousness, cold sweats? Yep I’ve got em’ all! Why you ask? Well because:
1. Christmas is a week away and I have 1/2 a tree up, 1 twin to still pick up from school, no gifts and nary a card sent out. And…
B. I’m preparing for my debut… first ever…. never done by me before… self published novel release due out as an e-book later this year!
Gulp and oh my, but let’s add in there a exuberant hooray! I’m thinking this this will be some thrilling way to end 2013 and start out 2014. Yesterday I had an exclusive cover reveal over at the wonderful Heroes and Heartbreakers blog and now I can share the amazing cover designed by Mae at Cover Fresh Designs I hope you like it.
Ladies and Gents…. BOUNCE…
Growing up as a young girl, Sabrina Jacobs could only dream her life would be this good. She has a successful career, a famous sexy husband, two children, a house in an affluent Westchester suburb and a shoe collection worthy of a magazine spread. Too bad it’s all a façade.
It has been almost a year since her husband admitted he had an affair with a younger and bouncier coworker. Follow Sabrina as she tries to rein in her out-of-control life by kicking her husband out on his rear, chucking her career and even firing her too-cute-for-the-job nanny. But how will she survive as a stay-at-home mom in the land of designer clothes, designer kids’ parties and designer babies? Hmm… maybe the hunky young French teacher, who has been flirting shamelessly with Sabrina, is just what she needs to take her mind off her problems. Well, not if her husband has something to say about it. Will Sabrina be able to forgive and still be true to herself?
All the best,
KMJ
Threads of Desire… Cover Reveal!
Cue the horns and grab your confetti the time is here! It’s the big cover reveal for my final book in my Crimson Romance self proclaimed Creative Hearts series called: THREADS OF DESIRE due out at the end of January 2014.
In this book we meet, Gabby the sexy, sassy and curvy fashion designer who just so happens to be the best friend to Samara my heroine from SEDUCTION’S CANVAS. Being a former fashion designer myself, I can’t wait to bring you into Gabby’s world.
And now a bit about THREADS OF DESIRE:
Sexy, fashionista Gabrielle Russell has been challenging Nick Ross most of his life and now is no exception. A top financial analyst, Nick has been dating his boss’s daughter and he’s on the fast track to turning his five-year marathon into a three-year sprint. But life throws him a curve and when he finds his perfect girlfriend curled up in a very un-zen like position with her yoga instructor. Faced with this awkward downward dog, Nick heads to the only place he can think of—his brother Steve’s place—only to be stuck face to hips, thighs, lips, just about everything with his roommate, Gabby. She’s the habit Nick just can’t shake. The one that got away and she won’t let him forget it.
Gabrielle Russell is frustrated. She’s been banging it out for years as a curvy girl trying to make her creative mark the exclusive world of New York fashion and she’s hit a brick wall both personally and professionally. Now stuck in a dead end job designing jersey pantsuits for wannabe mafia wives while dodging the advances of her boss’s son, she doesn’t know how to get out of the hole she’s dug for herself. At least she has a bit of peace in the small apartment she shares with her childhood friend and roommate, Steve.
Or she did until Nick Ross walked in. Mr. Perfection and her own devastation, the one that broke her heart and almost broke her spirit, and now here he’s back and looking for a place to camp out while he gets his life back on track. Well, she’s got news for him: She’s not the same girl she was all those years ago when just a look would send her heart stuttering. Okay, maybe she is, but now maybe it’s time the tables were turned on the unflappable Nick Ross.
And here it is…..
All the best,
KMJ
Cheers to Romance!
Happy new week! I can’t believe we’re now well into December, it’s feeling like the end of the year wants to go out on a quick flash instead of a slow burn. I wouldn’t mind a bit of a slow down right about now. Just to savor the end a little.
I had a wonderful weekend, heading into the city to meet with my RWA NYC chapter for our annual end of year holiday brunch which, as always was lovely and so much fun to relax with my old and new writerly NYC friends. Well, this year’s brunch will be one that I will always cherish and never forget as I got the shock of all shocks when our wonderful president, Maria Ferrer stood to handle end of year business, announce the new board and then to finally announce the chapter’s member of the year, which I almost fell over when the name was called and it was … ME!
Talk about humbled and grateful. Writing is such a solitary career and for me to have found such a talented and supportive group of like minded friends and fellow colleagues that I can call on makes me feel truly blessed. I will cherish my RWA service pin always. Thank you RWA/NYC with all my heart!
And then to top it all off another fabulous thing happened this weekend when my 2nd book: Seduction’s Canvas was one of 12 Crimson Romance books picked as part of the Amazon Big Deal and are on sale from now until December 22nd for only $.99! Just click to the link on the right for Seduction! Cheers to romance!
All the best,
KMJ
Goody Two Shoes!
Thanks so much to all who entered my Goodreads SEDUCTION’S CANVAS giveaway. I’m excited to say I had 929 entries and Goodreads picked the two winners. One from California and the other from Great Britain. The lovelies Sarah and Sheila.
How cool that Seduction is on the way across the States and across the pond?! Feeling quite good about that. Makes me want to do a little Sunday Goody Two Shoes dance which I would be doing if I didn’t dance so much out with the DH and friends last night. Sidebar: me and a heels just don’t mix. Oh well, I can always chair dance to Adam Ant!
Thanks again to all who entered and I hope you will be seduced by Seduction’s Canvas.
All the best,
KMJ
Friday Hangover and a Winner!
Happy Friday! I hope you all had a good night last night with plenty of treats and no tricks. Things started out slow over by me. I decorated the porch along with Jack who was without a costume this year but still feeling festive and we sat and waited.
And waited some more. But once it got dark and my purple lights came up the kids really started to come out and it was quite a lot of fun answering the door in my Witch’s Hat. It started to drizzle around 8:45 which put an end to the Trick or Treaters wich was fine by me because it was getting on time to settle in for the real Halloween scare with Scandal.
Wow! It was so good. You can check out my recap for the week over at Heroes and Heartbreakers. I’d love to hear your comments.
A big thank you to all who commented on the fab Lise Horton’s WORDS OF LUST interview. I’m so grateful to Lise for being here. Thanks to random number generator I have pulled a name for her book giveaway and the winner is Maria Ferrer! Congrats Maria! Lise will be in touch. And no worries if you didn’t win you can click here to buy your own copy of WORDS OF LUST.
Have a great weekend!
All the best,
KMJ
image from Scandalabc tumblr
Getting Wordy with Words of Lust author Lise Horton + a Giveaway!
It’s a lovely day over here at ye old blog and an exciting one as I’m so pleased and honored to welcome my dear friend and fellow RWA NYC chapter mate, Lise Horton. Lise is here to discuss writing, life in the NYC and her fabulous debut novel out from Carina Press: WORDS OF LUST. Believe me folks this is one you don’t want to miss and a voice you will not forget.
Thanks so much for being here today, Lise. I’m so thrilled to have you over at ye old blog!
Since I am a long time, ardent admirer of KwanaWrites, I am totally tickled to be here!
First off can you tell is a little about WORDS OF LUST?
This novel, my debut, is a contemporary, New York City-set erotic romance in which two very different people are brought together by fate and discover that love – and lust – can overcome all those obstacles: Age differences, IQ, disparate occupations, and even sexual history.
WORDS OF LUST is a pretty saucy (I adore that word) title. What was the inspiration for that? Did you come up with it or was it an editorial collaboration?
The idea for the novel itself was the final line of James Joyce’s Ulysses – the famous line where Molly Bloom climaxes, “. . . I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put my arms around him yes and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes.” I created a woman who hasn’t had the experience of the heroines of the classic erotic fiction she teaches. My original title was Words of Love but it was decided it was not right for an erotic romance. And since lust figures prominently in my story as Nick and Serafina’s relationship blossoms, it seemed quite fitting.
WORDS OF LUST is a bit of an opposite attracts story (as many of the best are) tell us, what made you pair a professor with a construction worker? Sidebar: Don’t we all love a man that’s good with his hands?
I adore opposites attract stories because I love lots of conflict that my hero and heroine have to deal with, and what better than coming from different worlds. It adds another lovely layer of complication and conflict, both internal and external. Nick and Serafina learn to discover that the truth, is hearts don’t recognize class, or wardrobe or bank accounts. And they’re also forced to navigate the sometimes choppy waters of society where loving outside of your group can get sticky. But in the end it allowed me to give my readers that terrific happily ever after and reinforce once again, that love can conquer all.
You are a New Yorker, what does the city mean to you and how does it influence your writing?
I lived the first year of my life on the West Side of Manhattan. As a child and teen I visited often the historical monuments, the theatre and museums here. And I’ve spent my adult life working here at various jobs, and in various neighborhoods throughout the City. I lived here for a decade (6 apartments in 3 years before finding my HEA apartment – pre-war, doorman building in the West 50’s – where I got my inspiration for Serafina Luca’s apartment) before moving back to LI to take care of my Mom. So I’ve experienced this grand and glorious metropolis during all the stages of my life and just can’t get enough of it. I am continually both awed and inspired by the life, the energy, the history and the amazing diversity here, both of experience as well as the citizens themselves. As a writer, I have my entire “world” right at my fingertips. So I am incredibly lucky to be able to use favorite neighborhoods, the habits of city dwellers, and attractions like the High Line, to give atmosphere, character and immediacy to my story. And these are a people I love to portray on the page! Like they say, there’s a million naked stories in this City (OK, so I took a bit of liberty there!)
Now for my favorite question, tell us the story of your “overnight” success.
As a former singer and actress, I’ve always gotten a kick out of that concept. In fact, while I’ve dabbled for quite a while, I didn’t get totally serious until 2008. That was the year I completed my first full-length novel. I started submitting in 2009, and made my very first professional sale in 2011: A short story called Share and Share Alike in the Ravenous Romance anthology, My First Threesome. The big moment came in November 2012, after I survived Hurricane Sandy and ten days in the dark in the aftermath, AND the ice storm that blew in just when the lights when on. (Although I can now brag I’ve cooked pasta on a hibachi and held back the darkness with my trusty book light and lots of great romance novels.) As you can all imagine, I was pretty burnt out about then. Then I received “the call” from Angela James at Carina Press. And it’s been a storm of a much more delightful nature ever since.
Lastly, what can we look for next from you?
I’m very excited to be finishing up book two in the Stellato Siblings series. I’ll be doing some revision and polishing before sending it off to my super editor at Carina Press, Alissa Davis. So I hope everyone crosses their fingers for me that she loves it as much as I do! And in the interim, I will have my short story “My Master’s Mark” included in the upcoming Cleis Press print anthology “Slave Girls”, edited by D. L. King. The story is dark – and it is pure erotica – but incredibly romantic (kinky, but romantic). I’m very proud of it, and thrilled to be in the company of some of the top writers of erotica in fiction today.
Thanks so much for being here today, Lise. What a great treat!
I cannot thank you enough for having me here, Kwana, and for being my friend, and being here to celebrate our mutual publications! Here’s to many, many more great love stories and thundering applause for all the readers who can’t get enough of them.
Lise Horton is a native of NYC and a Long Island suburb. She loves her rescued fur friends, her special needs brother, her mom, and writing books that make readers fall in love – and be just a little afraid. Words of Lust from Carina Press is her debut novel. You can find Lise at her Website: http://bit.ly/1aRWECL and Words of Lust can be found on Amazon: http://amzn.to/19UmTfe and at Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1cZjZqV Happy Reading!
Now for some BONUS fun! Lise will give away a digital copy of Words of Lust to one lucky commenter. So please comment away and be sure to leave your contact info. A winner will be chosen on Friday by 12 noon EST. Thanks Lise 🙂
All the best,
Kwana
Author photo thanks to katana-photography.com
On Stage- Me at Lady Jane’s!
Those who have followed me for a while on ye old blog know what a fan I am of Lady Jane’s Salon, the monthly romance reading series held here in New York and now branched out in satellites all over the US. Well, since its inception Lady Jane’s quickly became my monthly getaway where I got to meet up with friends who were also lovers of the romance genre and hear some of my favorite authors whom I have long admired read from their newest works.
Well last night, and I still can’t get over it, it was my turn. Nervous doesn’t begin to express my feelings as I hit the Lady Jane’s stage since I’d been nervous for weeks and months leading up to the event. But looking out it was a pack house full of so many supportive friends, including my dear DH (we were enjoying our 24th anniversary last night too) and I went for it.
And I survived. I even got a few laughs. My 8 minutes were up before I knew it. I said a few words, read from THROUGH THE LENS and was back by my dear’s side in no time. Finishing my drink. Whew! (here we are below with Ron Hogan who announced our anniversary).
I can’t say thank you enough to all those snubbed their noses at Mother Nature and packed the house out ( and it was packed) and came to see Sara Jane Stone, Leslie Caroll, Jes Young and little old me! Thank you so much and thank you once again to Hope, Ron, Leanna and Maya for all the support and the continuous support of the romance genre.
All the best,
KMJ
It’s a Festivus for The Rest of Us!
I had the best time hanging out in Brooklyn yesterday at the annual Brooklyn Book Festival with some of my RWA/NYC chapter mates. I was honored that during my time slot I got to sign with the super talented Kate McMurray. We had so much fun greeting folks and talking about romance and the romance industry. Honestly, the introvert in me didn’t think I’d enjoy it, but I can now admit with such a lovely day, wonderful friends and company and all the happy smiling faces of the New Yorkers loving reading, I think I may be hooked and can’t wait to go back next year. Thanks so much to RWA/NYC and the fantastic team lead by Jeanine Mc Adam. What a time!
Oh and my fave moment of the day is the little pic of the woman tapping her phone in the bottom right corner. She read my card and decided to buy THROUGH THE LENS right then and there for her subway ride home. What I fun moment and I love my bookish New Yorkers so very much!
All the best,
KMJ
It’s a Festival and there are Books!
Happy Friday! I’m a bit bleary eyed from all the writing this week, but it won’t stop me. I will write on! I’m getting towards the end and it’s starting to feel really good. I hope you have a great weekend planned. This Sunday I will be han…ging out with chaptermates from RWA/NYC at the Brooklyn Book Festival and signing print copies of THROUGH THE LENS. The chapter will be out at booth #78 all day and I’ll be there signing from 2-4, rain or shine. Hope to see you there!
All the best,KMJimage from Tin House
