Friday, May 31, 2013

Spilling the Beans with Lorraine Carey


Welcome, Lorraine! Grab a cappuccino and let’s chat. Unless you have another favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)?

 Earl Grey tea -  iced or hot!



I love my tea too! Fur or feathers, petwise?

Fur - love dogs and obsessed with wolves! Visited many wolf rescue camps and felt so connected to these beautiful creatures.



Very cool. Any pet peeves? One thing that really burns your biscuits? 

Yes, those people in the market with their trollies who stand in the aisles and refuse to move as if they own the store. I’ll do an “Excuse Me” two times, then just move on!



I think I've met a few, lol. What’s your guilty pleasure?

Buying shoes - yes even on this small island I know where to hunt some small shops to find cool stuff!



Favorite quote?

Humankind has not woven the web of life.

We are but one thread within it.

Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.

All things are bound together.

All things connect.

~ Chief Seattle, 1854 ~



That's lovely. If you could have one superpower, what would it be?

To create world peace - for sure!



If you could live out any fantasy, what would you do?

*Okay this vision has been with me as long as I can remember-

I own a villa overlooking The Amalfi Coast in Capri. I am standing  on my  balcony in a long white flowing dress as the wind gently blows a cool breeze. I am just staring out at the amazing golden sunset and watching the boats sail over the turquoise waters.

* I must mention for my 60th birthday my husband surprised me with a trip to Italy. Yes, we are going to Capri!



So exciting! Hope you share pics. :) Beethoven, Beatles, Foo Fighters or Keith Urban (what type(s) of music makes you rock out)?

Enigma, Christian Rock, Enya, Celtic Women

                       

Does music influence your writing? Do you have a music playlist for your book?

Yes, definitely- while I was writing, Jonathan’s Locket I listened to Christian Rock and lots of Enya because it is a very spiritual novel.



Which of your characters would you most/least want to hang out with, and why?

I would definitely want to hang out with Mallock, the ancient turtle as he would tell me the mysteries of the sea.



Love that! While creating your books, what was one of the most surprising things you learned?

To start promoting and making connections at least 6 months prior to the release of your book , as you need to set a presence and start a platform. 



Excellent advice. Where can readers find out more about you?

My website. www.lorrainecarey.com/





Please share a book blurb and/or excerpt.

Eva sat up in the kayak amidst a blackened sea. She wrapped a blanket around her as she shook with chills. She could see a thick grey fog plowing through the wreck site as it seemed to carry the screams along with it, as if all the lost souls who had lost their lives were trapped in the mist. I pray Brandon will survive this night, she thought. How could I have doubted him?

She watched as giant lightning rods struck down to the reef with rage. She knew she was witnessing some paranormal event. As she shined her light over to the reef where she last spotted Jason, she could find no sign of him.




Thanks for spilling the beans today, Lorraine!





Thursday, May 30, 2013

Need a fun getaway?

Ever been to Carnevale in Venice? Come on, I'll take you there: http://coffeetimeromance.com/CoffeeThoughts/cursed-with-cate-masters/

You look like you need a vacation. :) Me too!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Crooning with Old Blue Eyes about the second time around

I'm at the Decadent 1NS blog, waxing nostalgic about second chances: http://decadent1nightstand.blogspot.com/2013/05/is-love-sweeter-second-time-around.html

Do you think it's sweeter the second time around? Come on over and sing along with Frank and me :)

Here, I'll help you warm up.... shoo be doo be doooooo....

Thursday, May 23, 2013

Guest blogging and cover reveal: Irish Kisses by JoAnne Kenrick


After you check out JoAnne's fantastic cover, I'd love for you to join me at Jessica Aspen's blog, where I'm talking about playing with fire. Literally! :)  
And now... ta da! Congrats to JoAnne Kenrick on the upcoming print release of Irish Kisses!
Irish Kisses

Print edition

COMING THIS SUMMER!






The boys from Bell's Irish Pub have been delivering tasty treats to digital readers around the globe, and hitting bestseller lists at Amazon, All Romance, and Bookstrand. And now, they're coming to PRINT!



A collection of five romances set in Bell's Irish Pub, each with its own special tasty treat served by the staff of Bell's. The 1Night Stand dating service shakes and stirs things up for Bell's. When Madame Eve puts two people together for just one night, anything is possible…. Throw in sexy cocktails and to-die-for Irish hotties, and it's a recipe for sweet Irish kisses and perhaps even wedding Bell's.



SWEET IRISH KISS

Can he win her over with his secret weapon, 
a Sweet Irish Kiss, or is Rachel still too scared to love?



SHAMROCKED

Will his Irish charm and toys be enough to hold onto his leading lady, 
or will his heart be Shamrocked into next week?



THREESOME SWEETNESS

Is a dash of Threesome Sweetness the remedy each is looking for, 
or will the date leave a bitter aftertaste each will regret for the rest of their lives?



HOT WINTER KISS

Can she hack it in the real world of romance, 
or are life's complications and treacherous snowstorms best left to the pages of a book?



MARRY ME, I'M IRISH

Does she love him enough to leave the comforts of England? 
And is there something behind his sudden proposal?





Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Sinful Sirens hop winner!


Thanks to everyone who commented for the Sinful Sirens blog hop!

Congrats to winner Kerry Pacious, who has her choice of any of my Decadent Publishing 1Night Stand stories. Happy reading, Kerry!

Want to keep up with more giveaways and goodies? Sign up for my newsletter! Enter your email address into the box at right that says "Keep up with the magic and mayhem" :)

Today I'm also at the Daily Dose of Decadence blog talking about mysterious alpha males with secrets. Come on over to http://decadentpublishing.blogspot.com/2013/05/mysterious-alpha-male-with-secret.htmll - I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Friday, May 17, 2013

Spilling the Beans with Becca Dale


Looking for the Sinful Sirens Blog Hop? Click here.

Hi Becca! So glad to have you at Spilling the Beans, where we can learn a little bit about you, and your book. Grab a cappuccino and let’s chat. Unless you have another favorite drink (alcoholic or otherwise)?

Oh a cinnamon caramel cappuccino would be perfect. Thank you and thanks for having me here today. Love your site.



Why thank you! *curtsies* Fur or feathers, petwise?

Fur – hard to snuggle up with a bird although my husband and I rescued a golden eagle once – that was way cool. Definitely no snuggling involved though no matter how many times my son (then a toddler) would proclaim, “I pet that bird, Mom.



Wow, that would be cool! But I wouldn't want to get bitten by one, lol. Any pet peeves? One thing that really burns your biscuits?

People who don’t say thank you – who just act as if you are there to serve them. I cannot imagine why it is difficult to be polite.



People are too preoccupied for politeness, I agree. What’s your guilty pleasure?

Sleeping late. I grew up on a farm and my mom used to wake us by saying, “Get up. We’re late. It’s a quarter to five.” To this day sleeping in feels decadent.



Lol! I bet! Favorite quote?

There are so many. I guess Henry David Thoreau, “If one advances confidently in the direction of one's dreams, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” I like the idea of going confidently in the direction of dreams to achieve beyond the imagined.



Love that. What’s your ideal day like?

Ideal or Usual? Ideal would be spent on a gorgeous beach preferably Cozumel on somewhere, with nothing to do but laze about with the hubs and eat fabulous fresh seafood. Usual is nothing like that.



Ahhh, sounds good to me! If you could live out any fantasy, what would you do?

Spend a month or two touring every place on my bucket list especially Ireland, Hawaii, and Australia.



Beethoven, Beatles, Foo Fighters or Keith Urban (what type(s) of music makes you rock out)?

80’s Rock, Keith Urban, Kid Rock or any song that tells a story. I am way more about the lyrics than the music itself. I have friends who don’t get that, but it is always about the story for me.



You sound like me. :) Does music influence your writing? Do you have a music playlist for your book?

I don’t listen to music. It is too distracting for me when I write. I usually have the boob tube running for background noise but don’t watch it much. The exception to that was when I wrote “Can’t Stop Me” which was based on a song by the LA band Run Devil Run. I listened to that one over and over and over as I wrote because I wanted to have the feel just right. http://www.decadentpublishing.com/product_info.php?products_id=284&osCsid=gceda806e61h8oo6mbvb5k1q96



Which of your characters would you most/least want to hang out with, and why?

I would hang with any of my heroes – I often prefer the company of men as there is usually less drama – but I’d come back to Luca and Kern from “Can’t Stop Me” if I were to choose a couple because they faced some really tough stuff with laughter and heart; I would want to be that brave. Least, would be Darcy’s mother (stepmother actually) from “Sweet Temptation.” The woman was a bee-ach. http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/wildcatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86&products_id=767



While creating your books, what was one of the most surprising things you learned?

Even with my first book, I was surprised at how little control I have over my characters. They seem to come to life with minds and opinions of their own. I can show them the path time and again, but if they think I am wrong, they will tell me so and go a different direction. I had a heroine once who slept with the hero too soon and couldn’t get past it – she hated him and disliked herself for it so she refused to move on. I had to start over with someone less of a prude. I know that sounds more than a little batty to people who don’t write, but other writers will understand. Right? Is that crickets I hear? Someone please tell me I’m not insane.



Where can readers find out more about you?







Please share a book blurb and/or excerpt.




Blurb:

Terrified of her submissive nature, Kate Hastings refuses to give a man control of her life. Somehow, faking a wild and confident personality scares her less than facing reality—the heated longing for her sexy best friend and her deep-seated need for domination. Trouble is, none of the passive men she's dated do it for her.

Victim to a family curse, Connor Wallace can love only one woman his entire life—Kate. Yet, she insists on keeping him firmly in the friend zone. Determined to prove he’s more than friend material, he sets out to fulfill her greatest fantasies, even if it means tying her up to get her attention.

When passion and protective instincts collide, something has to give, but will the impact lead to broken hearts or sweet satisfaction?



Excerpt:

“Why don’t you ask her to dance instead of standing here gawking at her?”

Connor looked up at his cousin Gavin. “I’m not her type.”

“How do you know?”

The three-year ache returned with vengeance. “She’s told me. Repeatedly.”

“Maybe but Savannah thinks her friend’s in love with you.”

Kate looked up and smiled at him before turning to flirt with a strange guy beside her. What had she said she wanted—tall, outgoing, and sexually adventurous? He read the last as submissive since she didn’t date men she couldn’t manipulate. Still, all characteristics she failed to see in him. Maybe it was time to show her the flaws in her ideal man.

“I’ll talk to you later, Gavin.”

“Where ya going?”

“To fulfill Kate’s fantasies.”



Because I have a new one coming from The Wild Rose Press, I’ll share a bit about it. But sadly no link yet. Here is a link to the two previous ones in the series. Sweet Temptation http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/wildcatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=86&products_id=767 





Thanks for spilling the beans today, Becca!

Thanks for allowing me to spill, Cate! It was fun to be here with you and your readers.