Wedding Woes

With the popularity of wedding shows now, you can hardly turn on the TV without catching a show about one aspect of a wedding or another. There's Four Weddings, Bridezillas, Say Yes to the Dress and Randy to the Rescue just for starters. And I must admit, I really enjoy some of these reality shows.

I think one reason shows dealing with weddings are so popular is because in one way or another, they all tug at our heartstrings when we hit that happy ending.

But not everyone has a happily ever after. A friend's sister was engaged to a seemingly nice guy many years ago. He proposed, they planned their wedding but then something happened. A few days before the wedding she got cold feet and called off the marriage. She said something just hadn't felt right.

Fast forward three years. The jilted groom contacts her and proceeds to spend the next six months trying—and succeeding—to sweep her off her feet. He again proposes and she accepts. They plan the wedding and this time she is sure all is well. The night before the wedding—right after the rehearsal dinner—he tells her he doesn't want to marry her. In fact, he only proposed and took it to that point to get back at her for crushing him three years earlier.

She is, of course, devastated. But two years later she meets the man of her dreams and they live happily ever after. But this story stuck with me for years. I always thought being jilted at or near the altar would be devastating.

So I thought the jilted bride setup would make for a great way to torture a character. Hence, The Very Best Man was conceived. Here's a little about the book, which is releasing today from Ellora's Cave.

Always the bride, never the bridesmaid. After growing up without a father, wannabe bride Wendy Weston will resort to anything to secure a husband, including chasing down the man who dumped her. But in order to find him, she must turn to the guy who makes her knees weak, uber sexy best man, Marco DeLuca.

Marco has always kept his attraction to his cousin’s woman under wraps. When the wedding implodes, he wants to be the one to catch the beautiful bride.

Comment and win a download of The Very Best Man. Read an excerpt HERE

It's a Brave New World for Readers and Writers

I just signed up at Kindlegraph, a brand new site that allows readers to have Kindle ebooks autographed. How is that possible? Technology, of course. Kindlegraph allows authors to send personalized inscriptions and signatures directly to the electronic devices of their fans.

I was amazed that when I signed up yesterday, I already had requests for autographs waiting for me! What a huge ego stroke;-)

Here's a little about the process. I'm amazed at the ingenuity it takes to think up and put such technology into action. All I can say is, it is truly a brave new world.

For readers, will you get your embooks autographed? For writers, have you signed up for Kindlegraph yet? Do you plan to?

Reading Like a Snail

As a writer, few pursuits are more important to my craft than reading. Unfortunately, although I've been a steady reader all my adult life, I am painfully slow at it.

This truth has plagued me in recent years when my Kindle and my book shelves are filled with author friends' books, recommended writing craft books, you name it.

So I decided it was time to be proactive. In two weeks I begin an online speed reading class through a local university. I have high hopes for the six-week course since DH took a similar program when he was in high school and he still reads about twice as fast as I. Sure wish I'd thought of that years ago, like before I started college. But better late than never, right? I'll let you know how it goes.

What about you? Are you a fast or slow reader? Have you ever taken speed reading? If so, did it help?

A New Book...Sort of

The Kindness of Friends

You know how they say what goes around comes around? Doesn't always work, but sometimes it does. I have a friend who needed some serious help a couple weeks ago. Several people told me what a good friend I was to her, but honestly, I didn't even think about not coming to her aid because she was in a very bad way and she's a good person who would have done for me all the things I ended up doing for her.

Now I've always considered myself very fortunate to have a large number of awesome friends. That point was brought home to me recently when a few of my friends each did something really nice for me. I started thinking about kismet and all that. Maybe there is such a thing, maybe not.

First, my wonderful critique partner and friend, Katie Reus walked me through the formatting jungle to self-publish a story (which you can now find on My Books page or here).

Then my friend Randy, who had made me a book trailer for Protective Custody, decided that book trailer wasn't professional looking enough. So he went and bought a new program then made me a page on YouTube and sent me a brand new book trailer!

Lastly, my writing buddy, Jax Cassidy, aka Jaxadora Designs, made me a gorgeous book cover for Game of Smoke and Mirrors. Then she revamped my website and gave it a fresh new look.

Frankly, all the wonderful thinks my friends have done lately outweigh the help I gave my other friend. So now I am a believer. Not only does what goes around come around, but it comes in spades.

Snipet by request

Thanks Maureen for the idea to post excerpts of my books. First on the menu is Tropic of Trouble from Ellora's Cave.

Jail Sergeant Jason Jones is heading to Kelsey's place since he suspects the person who murdered Kelsey's employee at her used bookstore isn't finished yet:

Jason fastened his seat belt in his truck and started the engine. A detour past Kelsey’s place would hardly take any extra time. The peace of mind would help him sleep after he got home.

He turned on to Thirty-Sixth Street and noticed the same dark sedan behind him he’d seen immediately after leaving the jail complex. Blinded by the car’s high-beam headlights, he adjusted his rearview mirror to cut the glare.

Slowing a little, he eased the truck to the right, giving the car a wide berth to pass, but it didn’t. On a hunch, he took a left on to Eighty-Seventh Avenue. The sedan did the same, sticking close to him.

Suddenly the other driver accelerated and bumped his tailgate.

Son of a bitch. That was no accident. He swerved into a parking lot, but the other driver refused to quit. The car pulled alongside him and jerked hard to the left. The truck lurched, but he immediately righted it. He tried to glimpse inside the driver’s window but the tint proved too dark and the sky still too black.

Abruptly as it had started, the game ended and the sedan sped off. He tried to make out the license plate, but couldn’t. He gave chase for several blocks until he caught sight of a woman crossing a street pushing a stroller ahead. Easing on his brakes, he prayed the other car would slow down and avoid hitting the mother and child. The sedan continued on, barely missing them.

The vehicle zoomed away, then veered on to a side street. No way could he catch up now.

Drawing a deep breath, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Any doubt that Margaret’s murder had merely been an unfortunate accident during a random robbery vanished. This had become way too personal.

Want to read another excerpt? Click HERE.

Welcome!

Thanks for coming to check out my brand new blog. I've been blogging for years now on my group blogs, but I've opened this spot just for me and some special guests to hang out. I'd love to hear what sorts of posts you'd find interesting—stuff about the craft of writing, day-to-day ramblings, marketplace news. Also, what DON'T you want to hear about? In the meanwhile, I'll share a little about myself.

I live in sunny central Florida and I write erotic romance and hot romantic suspense. Most of my books as yet have been published by Ellora's Cave, but I also write for Carina Press, Loose id and Red Sage.

Writing is my full time job but I'm also a wife and mother. My two cats are my constant companions. I like to walk with my hubby, to swim (if the water is warm as a bath) and to shop if the deals are red hot! I'm one of those neurotic people who checks email ten times a day so I am never hard to reach. I tend to go on rants about things I feel strongly about. I'm blessed to have not only a wonderful family, but also lots of supportive friends. (Yes, I am a social butterfly).

So now it's your turn. Help me shape my new blog by sharing what you'd like this to be about.