Spotlight on: Brenda Novak

Excerpt: TRUST ME by Brenda Novak

The muscles between Skye Kellerman’s shoulder blades tensed as she heard the tires of a car in her gravel drive. It was a cold morning in early January, not dark, but a thick blanket of fog made her feel completely isolated. Cut-off from the rest of the world.

Vulnerable...

Hurrying to the antique secretary she’d inherited, along with the house, when her mother passed away a year earlier, she selected her Kel-Tec P3AT semi-automatic handgun over her Sig P232--because it was lighter, thinner and easier to conceal--and carried it with her as she ran to get a T-shirt from her bedroom. She wanted to cover the swath of cleavage and stomach revealed by the jog bra and Lycra shorts she wore while working out.

A car door slammed and footsteps approached the house. Heavy footsteps. The footsteps of a man.

Pulling on a baggy T-shirt that said, “The Last Stand: Where Victims Fight Back,” she went to peek through the wooden shutters of her front windows, then the peephole she’d drilled in the door. But the fog was too thick, the morning shadows too murky to make out more than a large, dark shape coming toward her.

Shit.

The metallic taste of fear rose in her throat, soured her stomach. This was probably just someone who was lost and in need of directions. Sherman Island had only 175 residents and sat in the heart of the Sacramento River Delta. Few outsiders were familiar with the sloughs, natural waterways, drawbridges and levees that made the wetlands so unique. But she would no longer assume that strangers were safe. Not since she’d been startled awake in the middle of the night by a man wearing a hood and wielding a knife.

Burke was now in prison--thank God--but because of The Last Stand, the victim’s charity she’d started with good friends Sheridan Cole and Jasmine Stratford two years ago, she’d made a lot of enemies. This could easily be Tamara Lind’s husband, a wife-beater who blamed Skye for Tamara’s recent desertion. Last week, he’d threatened to bomb The Last Stand. Or it could be Kevin Sheppard. Kevin had appeared at their offices after a flurry of newspaper articles praising TLS for financially backing an investigator who uncovered new evidence on a high-profile murder. Kevin had wanted to help out as a volunteer, but Skye turned him away when a background check revealed accusations of stalking, at which point he’d grown unreasonably angry and stormed out. No one had seen him since.

The doorbell sounded, followed almost immediately by a sharp rap.

She imagined turning off the alarm and opening the door the amount allowed by the chain only to have it kicked wide--and felt her palm begin to sweat on the butt of her gun. Calm down.

She was a damn good aim. But nerves could wreak havoc on the best marksman in the world. So she wouldn’t open the door. She’d pretend to be gone and hope he’d go on his way.

Holding her breath, she pressed her spine more firmly to the wall, wondering what the students from her various shooting classes would think if they could see her now--sweating and shaking over a little fog and an unexpected visitor. Most viewed her as indestructible when she had a gun in her hand. They acted like their own guns made them invincible, too. But they didn’t understand what it was really like in a desperate stand-off, didn’t fully grasp the fact that a woman could own a million firearms and still be vulnerable--unless she was prepared to pull the trigger.

Was she willing to kill Kevin Sheppard? Or Tamara’s estranged husband?

If she had to...

She hadn’t made a move or a sound, but her visitor didn’t seem to be buying that she wasn’t at home. He rang the doorbell again. Knocked. Then his body blocked the window as he tried to see in.

“Skye? Skye, are you in there? It’s me, Detective Willis.”

Slowly exhaling, she consciously released the pressure of her fingers on the gun. David... She wasn’t in mortal danger. But knowing he was standing on her front step certainly didn’t slow her heart rate.

“Your car’s in the drive,” he yelled. “You gonna answer?”

Taking another steadying breath, she flipped the safety on her gun, dropped it into the pocket of her coat, which hung on the hall tree by the door, and dashed a hand across her moist upper lip.

“Skye?” he called again.

“Coming.” After unarming the alarm system, she slid the chain aside, turned the deadbolt, and opened the door.

He was wearing a green shirt and tie and looked good--too good. His tie was a little dressy for his shirt, but his style was as unique as it was appealing. Sort of James Dean “cool” mixed with Johnny Depp “different.” Briefly, she remembered the time, nearly a year ago, that he’d brushed his lips against hers, then kissed her more deeply, pressing her up against the wall in a moment when their volatile attraction overcame reason and good sense.

“Hi.” She smiled, hoping to appear unaffected, but their relationship was too complex to take any encounter in stride. Especially an unexpected encounter. “What brings you out to the delta?”

His manner suggested this wasn’t a social call. She almost wondered if he’d forgotten the night he’d come by to help her move and they’d nearly made love. “I need to talk to you. Can I come in for a minute?”

He was being so formal, so aloof. And he hadn’t called. He’d shown up at her door. What was going on?

Stepping aside, she beckoned him past her, telling herself there was no reason for the knots in her stomach. The worst was behind her. No matter what happened from here she would never have to go through the same hell again. And that was all that mattered. “Can I get you a cup of green tea?”

“Green tea?” he echoed, arching a dark eyebrow.

“Sorry. I don’t have any coffee. I don’t drink it anymore.”

“I’ll pass on the tea. I’m afraid my body wouldn’t know what to do with something that healthy.” His light green eyes seemed to take in every detail of her face and figure, which made her far too aware of him. But he didn’t give away whether or not he liked what he saw. He kept whatever he was thinking locked behind an implacable expression. And a second later, he turned his attention to his surroundings.

For the first time in a long while Skye saw the inside of her house from someone else’s perspective. In the living room, she’d removed her mother’s dated “for company” couch, the walnut veneer side tables, the curio cabinets and vases filled with silk flowers--given them all to Brenna and JoAnna, her two stepsisters, who lived in Los Angeles near their father--and replaced them with free weights, an exercise bike, a treadmill, an aerobics step and a mat for Yoga. Only a slice of kitchen could be seen from their vantage point, but that slice showed the small in-door garden where she grew herbs and wheat grass.

“Wow, I like what you’ve done to the place,” he said.

His sardonic smile let her know he didn’t consider it an improvement. She knew it’d only serve as further proof that her past was taking control of her life, which was something they’d argued about the last time they’d talked.

“Thanks. Seemed a pity to waste so much space.”

“Forever practical.”

She hadn’t been practical at all. Until the early morning hours of July 11^th nearly four years ago, she’d classified breaking a freshly manicured nail as a catastrophe. “Having to stab a rapist can change a person.”

The muscle that twitched in his jaw revealed his displeasure. Evidently, she’d just reminded him of the purpose of his visit--if the scar on her cheek had ever let him forget it in the first place.

“Maybe you should sit down,” he said.

“Why would I need to do that?”

He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable. “I have bad news.”

You and your ex-wife have reconciled for good? She cringed at her thoughts, knowing, if it were true, she should be happy. David’s eight-year-old son deserved the kind of family David was so determined to give him.

“I’m fine where I am.” When she stubbornly lifted her chin, the line of his mouth softened. “What’s the matter?” she asked. “Can’t you find any evidence that it was Burke who killed those other women?”

“No. Not yet.”

The grudging sound of those words told her that failure ate at him. David didn’t like losing. Somehow it had become personal with Burke, more than just a job to David. But she still couldn’t help being disappointed. She’d been praying he’d finally prove Burke every bit as evil as she claimed. She didn’t care what Burke’s lawyers argued at his trial--that it had been his first offense; that he had no history of violence; that his wife, the person who knew him best, swore he’d never even raised his voice to her; that he was a highly-functioning, church-going, productive part of the community. Skye had been there that night. She’d felt his deadly intent.

“Have you changed your mind?” she asked. “Do you think it was someone else?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “No. It’s him. Same pattern of behavior, similar victims. The shoe imprint we found at one of the scenes fits his size feet, which were uncommonly small for a man.”

“That’s not enough?”

“There were no discerning characteristics, other than size, we could point to in order to bring charges.”

“I take it no more bodies have been found.”

“Nothing similar to the other three.”

So why was he here? Worried that Willis’ determination was waning, she grabbed his arm--and felt him tense the moment she touched him. She couldn’t tell if that was because he resented the contact or welcomed it, but she couldn’t lose her only police support. Everyone else on the force resented The Last Stand because of the publicity it brought to unsolved or mishandled cases. “It’s not too late,” she told him. “We’ve got time. We have to figure out a way to keep Burke behind bars.”

Visibly wincing, he pulled away, and that was when the real terror set in. “What?” she said. “He’s not out, right? He’s still in prison. They gave him eight to ten. You said that would most likely mean eight.”

“I’m sorry, Skye,” he muttered between clenched teeth.

She couldn’t catch her breath, couldn’t slow her pulse. “What are you saying?”

“They’re letting him go next week.”

INTERVIEW WITH BRENDA NOVAK

I’m intrigued by what you have done to benefit diabetes research, most importantly the diabetes auction you hold every year since 2005. Can you tell me a little about that?

When my son was diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes six years ago, he was only five years old. I knew enough about diabetes to understand that he would require constant care, but I was shocked and dismayed to learn of the many serious side-effects he'd likely face in his lifetime. It made me want to fight back, but I had five small children at home and back-to-back deadlines. I didn't know where I'd find the time, so I decided there would be a time and a place later in life.

Then I went to a silent auction for his elementary school a couple of years later and while I was talking to one of the committee members who'd gone to so much work to put on the event about the dismal turn-out, I realized there had to be a better way to raise money than to try and get everyone to come to one physical place all at the same time. It hit me that I had already established a great deal of traffic at my web site, traffic I could utilize to make a difference to my son and others like him. From that, the idea of an on-line auction was born. That first year I only raised $35,000, but it was enough to tell me that the idea could work. The next year, we nearly double the original amount; the third year we more than doubled the second year. The growth has been phenomenal--and has me very excited for Year 4.

How did your life change when your son was first diagnosed?

It definitely made me aware of how many people were facing the same challenges we were. Diabetes affects the lives of millions--those who have it, and those who love them and care for them. Yet I believe it's a solvable problem. I want to see a cure in my lifetime so no other has to worry about her son the way I worry about mine.

Diabetes affects every aspect of life, every minute of every day. There's no reprieve. I haven't been able to sleep through the night in the six years my son has had diabetes, and we've had a couple of very close calls.

Have you noticed a difference now in the advancements in healthcare in dealing with diabetes?

Yes, there have been many, and I'm so grateful for this. Every time my son is tempted to complain about having to take yet another shot (or insert his pump), I tell him how thankful I am that he has the needles and insulin to help keep him well.

There are many exciting things on the horizon. One of them is an artificial pancreas that will both monitor blood sugars and adjust automatically. This would be a great blessing. If you think about how many time a healthy pancreas adjusts a body's glucose levels--then compare that to trying to take over manually, as in the case of a diabetic, and you can see why side effects become a problem. There's no way to manually adjust as often as a healthy pancreas would do. This would replace that function with a closer approximation and keep diabetics healthy longer.

Can you tell me a little about some of your auction items this year?

We have some amazing stuff this year. Author Jane Porter has donated a trip to Hawaii, including airfare, accommodations, surf lessons--even spending money. Quilts by Icia has donated three handmade quilts, all of them signed by numerous NYTimes Bestselling authors. Susan Wiggs has donated a weekend stay in her lovely guest house on Bainbridge Island. K.M. Daughters has donated an Amazon Kindle. Carly Phillips has donated an I-Pod Nano with a gift certificate for plenty of downloads. Rogers Jewelry has donated a $1700 diamond bracelet. Margie Lawson has donated an amazing vacation package that includes her husband and their private plane. The list goes on and on. We have over 1100 items, many of which you can't find anywhere else (like a chance to have lunch with Catherine Coulter, Diana Gabaldon, Ripley Pearson, Jayne Ann Krentz, Christine Feehan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, JR Ward, and others). For aspiring writers, we also have evaluations by some of the most powerful agents and editors in publishing.

How can one participate?

One can either donate an item for me to put on the auction block or bid on the items that others have donated, or both. One can also help publicize the auction by telling family and friends and encouraging them to participate.

Tell me a little about your writing career. What got you started in writing? Was it something you’ve always wanted to do?

I'd never aspired to being a novelist. I caught my daycare provider drugging my children with cough syrup to get them to sleep all day while I worked as a loan officer. Once I found the medicine in my baby's bottle and realized what had been going on, my trust was destroyed. I could no longer leave them, but needed to figure out some way to help support the family. I was reading a great book at the time and decided that I'd try my hand at writing. Fortunately, it panned out for me!

Did you choose to write romantic suspense or did it choose you? What made you decide to write in this genre?

I've always been fascinated by deviant behavior and why people act as they do. Romantic suspense is sort of a natural outcropping of that, I suppose. I was writing straight contemporary but found more and more suspense leaking into my stories. So I finally decided to follow my muse.

Do you write in any other genres besides romantic suspense?

Yes, I still write straight contemporary romance for Harlequin's Superromance line--the longest, most mainstream of the series lines.

Do you stick to a writing routine?

For the most part, I do. I have a large family, so I have to be flexible, but I definitely treat it as a job and work the entire time my kids are in school.

Do you believe in writer’s block? If so, how do you tackle it?

I think writer's block stems from letting your internal critic take over. When you're trying to write the "perfect" sentence of a story before a word even hits the page, you lock up. I overcome it by giving myself permission to write something lousy. Then I edit the heck out of it until I feel it's good. :-) Occasionally I'll get stumped in a story and not know where I want it to go. That can stifle the productivity for a while, but it's something that I work out of my continuing to write through it.

What’s the hardest part about writing? The easiest?

The hardest part is the fact that you can never please everyone. The easiest is rolling out of bed and pulling on a pair of sweats for work clothes--and having no commute.

Is there a story that you wrote long ago that is still unpublished?

Yes, I have a completed historical. My first book was a historical, and I planned to follow that up, but then HarperCollins bought Avon and my editor was fired (this is called being orphaned). Avon didn't pick me up, so it was particularly fortunate that I'd already sold a contemporary story to Harlequin. Everything I've written since then has been for the contemporary market.

What were some of the hardest moments you faced as an aspiring writer?

At the same time that I caught my daycare provider drugging my children and felt I could no longer leave them in anyone else's care, my husband's business started to struggle. He had 30 homes in various stages of construction--all pre-sold--but the real estate market in Sacramento fell apart, and all the appraisals started coming in below our cost. We were taking a financial bloodbath, losing our business, our home, everything and yet I was depending on being able to sell a book to save us. Probably not the most practical approach--but it did save my sanity, because I loved doing what I was doing.

How long did it take for you to initially get published? Is it easier now?

It took me about five years to teach myself the craft, do the research for my first novel (which was set in Victorian England) and finish that first manuscript. I sold it a year or so after finishing it.

What's the one book you'd love to write but could never publish?

Hmm...I'm not sure. I have a historical series I'd like to write, and that might be a hard sell, but I think any story is publishable--as long as it's riveting enough.

Are you also a reader? If so, what’s your favorite type of genre to read?

I love straight historical.

What invades on your writing time?

E-mail! LOL

What interests you? What are your hobbies? Collections?

I love to spend time with my husband and kids. I love sports and exercise, traveling, reading, shopping. I collect autographed books because I do signings with so many talented authors, which provides a great opportunity to expand such a collection.

Career wise, what would you be doing if you weren’t writing?

I'm not sure--probably helping my entrepreneur husband run his business.

Do you plot?

Nope, I'm a pantser. If I know what's going to happen next in my book, I'm too bored to write it. LOL

Do you consider yourself an organized person?

Definitely. It's the only way to keep my head above water while writing 3-4 books a year, running my charity auction and caring for my large family.

What’s your favorite color?

Periwinkle

What’s your favorite food?

Thai yellow curry.

Do you have any pet peeves in writing?

Not really.

What advice do you have for aspiring writers? What about published writers?

One word: Believe.

Tip of the Month: Dime Words

Sometimes, you have to rewrite your manuscript when you thought you’d never have to look at it again until an agent or editor got their hands on it and told you what to do. No matter how many rereads you do, sometimes you have to do one more. Sometimes even one more is not enough.

That’s why it’s great to have a critique partner (CP). You may read it so many times, you see nothing anymore. Nothing makes sense, but it all makes sense. Nothing catches your eye. You may try to change things that others have told you to change when they haven’t even seen your manuscript. Look on the internet and find how many authors list frequently used verbs, such as walk, and their replacements.

I received a good piece of advice from my CP. Use dime words, not dollar words.

Sometimes, a word doesn’t feel right, but you go ahead and use it because you’re afraid of using the same word over and over. Go with your intuition. And as Stephen King says, “Any word you have to hunt for in a thesaurus is wrong.”

Remember, though, to use strong verbs and not adverbs. Walked may not always fit. If he walked easily, he may have ambled, strolled, or sauntered, for instance.

In the end, we are all different and we all like different things. I, for instance, like imagery. Not forever and ever, but I do like imagery and a character’s introspection to know what’s going on in their heads. The important thing is to intersperse these with action. Action can also be dialogue (which, if you think about it, is action, because the characters are doing something). Action is what keeps the pages turning, and that is ultimately an author's objective.

Movie Review: Enchanted

Okay, if you haven't seen the movie, you may not want to read the following post about the new movie, Enchanted with Patrick Dempsey, Amy Adams, James Marsden and Susan Sarandon. With that cast of characters, what's not to like? Add a cute little chipmunk that makes you crack up when you least expect it, and you've got what makes Disney movies so fantastic.

At first thought, I was worried about my niece watching it. After all, what if kids grow up to believe in happily-ever-afters because of a silly movie, or book or...??? I never thought that until a friend said that about herself, and now it makes me wonder. The happily-ever-after ended in a way that the princess hadn't originally intended, which was good but which also bothered me because of what my niece would think. Her mother has been divorced and is with another man, and this was in the back of my mind during the movie because I don't like to think that she might think you can just give up on the guy you originally thought you loved because you realized you love someone else now. How do you explain that to a six-year old who is saying "I thought she was with the prince?" It's hard to explain to her that they only knew each other for a day and didn't really love each other. In real life, I think couples give up way too early in life. Instead of trying to make it work, they split up, then they have to try even harder as a single person! It makes no sense! I realize there are reasons, but not all of them make sense if you really think about it. You can fall out of love if you stop trying, if you don't do anything together but bitch and moan, if you don't have a relationship anymore and do fun things you enjoy together and separately. But you can stay in love just as easily (that should be saved for another post, huh?) I'm just saying...sometimes I fear there are those couples who don't even try anymore, and it's sad. Don't get me wrong...I also know there are those relationships (or people) that cannot be saved or aren't worth saving and there are some things in a relationship that should never be tolerated.

Back to the movie...the prince and princess didn't even know each other, so of course they weren't in love and it all turned out great. I liked it enough to buy it (and I only buy movies I'll watch again, but I'm a sucker for romance!)

Top 8 of '08

Before I post my monthly Top 8 of '08, I want to dance at some wonderful news I read today. Sandra Brown is my favorite author. Though I love many many authors, if anyone has ever read my blog they know that Sandra Brown holds a special place in my heart. I love her writing style and her stories! So today when I heard she cut a film deal for THE WITNESS, my heart soared with excitement!

Sandra Brown doesn't usually cut film deals (actually, this is her first that I know of) because, as she said, she has a voice (the voice I love!) that her readers have come to expect and, as we all know, you never know what to expect from a movie. But I'm so excited! I will always be a fan, no matter if the movie turns out bad, but THE WITNESS was one of the first books of her that made me fall in love with her and with romantic suspense.

You can read the news post here.

Now, for the Top 8 of '08, here's a list of my top 8 favorite fruits, herbs and/or veggies to plant (or eat) in the spring. Be sure to share yours, too!
1. Tomatoes
2. Cucumber
3. Peppers
4. Watermelon
5. Squash
6. Corn
7. Cantaloupe
8. Cilantro

Diabetes

I can hardly believe it's already April. I spent the weekend planting my garden, but I still have lots to do outside. With work, writing and life, it's hard to get everything done that you want to do. Are there things you've been putting off because of time constraints? When is it a good time to realize you may never get it done and to stop beating yourself up over it?

I have a lot of fun things planned this month. Okay, one thing actually planned, but I hope to have fun, too. BRENDA NOVAK is going to be spotlighted on my blog this month, so be sure to check back (tentative date is April 17). The exciting thing about Brenda Novak's interview is her work in diabetes. Her son was diagnosed, and she has raised money and awareness through her online diabetes auction every since since 2005. Well known authors, agents, publishers and many others make donations. For writers, you can bid on a 24 hour critique. People have donated gift baskets, vacations, purses, jewelry, once in a lifetime experiences, and many more! Not only are you supporting a good cause and raising money, but you're getting something out of it, too!

On a personal note, I have had Type I Diabetes for 23 years. I've had problems but I am mostly complication free, so it's very possible to stay healthy if you take care of yourself! I also think there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about the disease. I cringe when I heard the media talk about being overweight causing diabetes. Yes, it can, and it's a good reason to take care of yourself, but there are other factors. I hate hearing that eating sugar and drinking beer caused someone to have diabetes. I was a skinny child. Growing up, I was never sick. My one vice was tea with sugar, but I didn't pig out on sugar all the time and I didn't cause my pancreas to work overtime and suddenly fail. (You wouldn't believe some of the comments I've heard). There was no one in my family with diabetes and we'd never suspect I'd end up with it. Unfortunately, I got sick and from there, my whole life changed.

Diabetes affects a lot of people, but it isn't a disease where we should be scorned for having it, and a lot of the negativity I hear in the media makes people hide in shame. Like it's okay to be a child with it, because that means something just didn't work right, but as an adult with diabetes, you must have done something to cause it. THAT IS NOT EXACTLY THE CASE. I was a child once. I was diagnosed as a child and it will never change. Unless there's a cure in my lifetime, it's something I have to think about every time I wake up (is my blood sugar okay?) every time I go to bed (will I have low blood sugar in my sleep?), every time I get in the car (will I make it to my destination without my blood sugar getting low?) Every food choice I make revolves around my diabetes. Actually, my life revolves around it. It has to, if I want to remain complication free.

I don't mean to be snarky, but I've been through so many positive and negative aspects of the disease that I wanted to express them both. I'm almost scared to call it a disease because of some people's opinion that "it isn't a disease and I don't appreciate having that label put on me." (Yep, I've heard that one before, too). Well, guess what? Define disease. Diabetes fits that description. It can be controlled, but not cured.

I want people to realize how much diabetes affects our nation and how, little by little, we can make a difference. When I was first diagnosed, sugar was out of the question. I took four shots a day. Now, I can eat sugar as long as I take the correct dosage of insulin, which is now taken with my insulin pump. I knew a woman who never told anyone she was a diabetic, and she suffered in silence (which isn't always a good idea, when you lose your ability to make judgments and you may have to rely on someone else). She was also bitter about it, claiming she'd never see a cure in her lifetime. Well, there may not be a cure, but there are always new advances and things that make dealing with it easier.

Everyone at my work knows. It's important for them to know, because if I require medical attention or start acting funny at work (which I have!), they need to be aware.

I am proud of what Brenda Novak has done for diabetes. If you haven't heard of this auction, check it out! It's amazing how many people have contributed. Be sure to visit my auction item! A basket full of relaxation...lavender scented soaps, lotions and body washes along with a Spa Comforts herbal hug (I have one of these and it's great, especially f you work at a desk all day).

Spotlight on: JUDITH ROCHELLE

Judith Rochelle is a lovely lady whom I've had the pleasure of meeting at a conference last year. She is one of those genuinely nice authors who cares about people and always makes them feel so special. I am often amazed (and a little envious) at her ability to write and produce good stories so often. And the careers she's had in her life! What a fascinating life she's led! She agreed to answer some of my questions and is my spotlight author of the month. And isn't that cover HOT!?! I love the dark and the blues...

Tell me about yourself.

My husband an I are both retired and live in the Texas Hill Country which we love. He’s a sixth generation Texan. We have a blended family of children and grandchildren, and of all the careers I’ve had, this is the most exciting. Even tops managing rock and roll bands! The entire family is a huge support system for me, and our kids are my best press agents. I feel truly blessed. When I’m not writing I read, read, read. Watch football six months out of the year. And play golf on a semi-regular basis. We also visit wineries and collect Texas wines. With all our kids out on their own, and with their own families, we are busy raising three kittens.

I read on your website that you’ve been writing for two years. You have a lot of novels available now. Were they works you had previously completed?

A lot of them are from ideas I had jotted down over the years, snippets that came to me. Sometimes I have one line stuck in my head and build a story around it. Sometimes I start a story and a series falls out of my head. I write about eight hours a day when I’m working. I still have a lot of partially completed manuscripts that I started and then got distracted. I finish one and pull out another. And then I have a whole list of what you might call “long blurbs” of other ideas for the future.

How long does it take you to complete a novel?

It takes me about four weeks to do the first draft, then another two months to polish it and run it back and forth to my critique partners. But I’m usually working on two or three at a time.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Everyplace. One plot came from a line on an episode of CSI. Another was based on a person I know. I’m an obsessed newspaper clipper-anything that catches my eye I stuff in a folder. I’m working on one that came from a letter to the editor in our local paper! LOL. I love to watch and listen to people and play what if. My head is always busy!

Do you have a writing routine?

Sort of. I spend two hours every morning answering email and doing promotion work. Then I break for breakfast and time with my husband. Then I write until 6:00 or so (but I always break for Jeopardy!) When I have a deadline I write constantly. I’m an obsessed football nut but this fall I sat in front of the television with my laptop every Saturday and Sunday trying to finish three manuscripts. I try not to write at night or on the weekends – that’s special time with my husband.

What are the biggest challenges you face as a writer?

Getting my name out and getting known by readers. The market gets bigger all the time so we’re all fighting for the mass of readers. Also, not getting discouraged when I get a rejection.

What do you enjoy most about writing?

Everything-creating the plot, building my characters, finishing the book. And hearing from my readers.

What do you dislike about writing?

That’s easy---editing! I’d rather swallow tacks!

What do you enjoy in your spare time? Do you have any collections? Hobbies?

I read, read, read. I love books. Also we collect Texas wines and I collect statues of cats. All sizes.

What’s your favorite color?

Blue. It’s everywhere in my life.

If you could drive any vehicle, with money as no object, what would it be?

Easy. A Ferrari Testarossa.

What’s your favorite genre to read?

Romantic suspense. When I first started to write I thought I’d write straight mystery with a little romance. Burt after looking at the same threee chapters for three months I happened to read CRY NO MORE by Linda Howard both my reading and writing habits changed. I was off to the races. Now I read every r/s I can get my hands on.

What’s one piece of advice you’d like to share with other writers?

Don’t ever give up. Success is out there waiting for you. And…find a good critique group.

What is your biggest writing annoyance, i.e. too much noise, not enough light, or can you write just about anywhere?

I can write just about anywhere. I’m used to blocking things out.

Who is your biggest supporter? My husband, hands down. How does he/she support you? He encourages me to write, gives me the freedom to be myself, brags about me to anyone who will listen and gives me advice only when I ask for it.

What’s your favorite food? It’s a tossup between pizza and Chinese.

What's the one book you'd love to write but could never publish?

Oh, wow. The story of my life, I guess!

How do you plan your characters (charts, off the flow, etc.?) How do you organize your books?

Oh, lordy. Disorganization is my middle name. I don’t plan anything. I carry a book around with me and make notes in it all the time, write things down as they come to me. I visualize my characters and make notes on them, usually the hero first. Then I visualize their situation and write a one page synopsis (oh, that dreaded word). But that’s as organized as I get. I am much better at doing my research, though. I spend a lot of time getting information on places and organizations.

Do you have any pet peeves?

You’ll laugh-people who crunch ice!

How about when it comes to novels?

Authors who kill off the hero or heroine. Or splits them up. I think it’s a disservice to the reader.

If you had to pick a vegetable most resembling your personality, what veggie would you pick and why?

Rutabaga. Because it’s just there!

What’s your dream vacation?

A week in Hawaii and a week in Greece with an unlimited budget.

What are you working on now?

The sequel to REDEMPTION, called LAST RIDE ON THE MERRY GO ROUND and the third book in my Phoenix Agency series. And another one that’s coming together slowly.

What are your future plans?

To keep on writing, writing, writing. I love what I’m doing. Creating a story for people to read and enjoy gives me enormous pleasure.

Is there anything else you’d like your readers to know about you?

I love them all. They are the ones I write for.

Would you like to share an excerpt of your work?

Absolutely. Following is the blurb of ONE HOT TEXAS NIGHT, and then an excerpt.

Tate Donovan was sure The Yellow Rose ranch would be his when his father died. After all, he’d grown up there and it was his legacy. But Abby Culhane was King’s stepdaughter for many years and held a place in the old man’s heart right up to the end. When King leaves her one fourth of the ranch and Tate’s grandparents’ home, Tate is shocked. Then he sees the grown-up Abby and can’t decide whether he wants to fight her over the will or take her to bed. The entire town of White Tail, Texas rolls up its sleeves and sits back to watch the fireworks.

HERE'S AN EXCERPT OF ONE HOT TEXAS NIGHT:

“This is crazy. Nuts!”

Tate Donovan was pacing the carpet in Ryan Cutter’s law office, thumbs hooked in the pants pockets of his expensive western-cut suit. His feet in custom-tooled boots wore a path from the large window to the wall and back again. “I can’t believe the old man would do this.”

“He did it,” Ryan assured him in a calm voice. “And it’s all legal. Abby gets one quarter interest in the Yellow Rose and all of Sycamore Grove.”

“That’s my goddamn ranch,” Tate shouted, stopping in front of the attorney’s desk, jaw grim, eyes flashing fire.

“And now I believe also mine.”

Abby Culhane sat in one of the comfortable leather chairs in front of Ryan’s desk, outwardly projecting a picture of serenity in her emerald silk dress, diamond earrings winking in the light slanting in through the windows. But she was far from peaceful. Inwardly seething, she twisted the antique ruby ring on her finger round and round in endless circles.

The day had been very long. She was tired and irritable, and the last place she wanted to be was tiny White Tail, Texas, a place she’d literally run from ten years earlier. Her flight from New York had left early that morning, then there was the three hour drive from San Antonio because she’d missed the last commuter plane to Mesquite, the closest town to White Tail. She was still wondering where in the hell she was going to sleep tonight. As far as she could remember, there was no motel in White Tail.

The ten years she had lived at the great Donovan ranch were one long, unpleasant memory, mostly due to Tate making her life miserable every waking moment. Her only respite had been the four years he’d been away at college. When her mother and Tate’s father divorced, Janet Culhane had dragged Abby off to New York and that had been that.

Now she just wanted to get this done and get out of here. But Tate Donovan got her back up, just like he always had. Like the night of her senior prom, a moment in her life that still made her want to jump under the covers and pull them over her head.

“I think you can consider me a part owner,” she went on. It gave her great pleasure to see how angry he was. Payback, she thought smugly.

“Not for long, sister.” Tate whirled on her, his fists clenched. “That ranch belongs to me—along with Sycamore Grove— and there’s no way I’m letting you get one greedy finger on either of them. Your mother walked out on my father. You don’t deserve one inch of land or one damn penny.”

“Tate, why don’t you sit down for a minute.” She could tell Ryan made his voice as reasonable as he could. “We have a lot of details to iron out here, and maybe we can all come to some kind of understanding.”

Abby recalled that Ryan was only a few years older than Tate, but they obviously had grown to know each other well, since Ryan had become the Donovan attorney.

She looked carefully at Tate. Was he still the arrogant muscle head she’d known ten years ago? His body was still lean but even more muscular, more defined. His black hair still had the same, silky look to it, and thick lashes still framed electric blue eyes. His face had more lines grooved in it, and the dimple in his left cheek was more pronounced. Today his body radiated a fine tension.

What she wasn’t prepared for was his commanding presence that dominated the room, and the waves of sexuality that rolled off him like ocean breakers. Little pinpoints of electricity stabbed at her body, which she squashed with great effort. She was in the middle of a war here. She didn’t need to be entertaining erotic fantasies about the enemy.

I'm back from Florida!

I've been back for several days now, but I've been so tired and busy that I haven't had time to update my blog. (I hope no one has noticed my blog schedule was ignored this month, LOL.)

The wedding was beautiful, truly one of the most memorable I've ever been to (and not because it was my aunt's wedding because honestly I hated that she and my uncle divorced and that she was even remarrying). Her new husband truly loves her, I could tell by the look in his eyes. You should have seen it...it was just amazing the way he looked at her.

Her wedding planner made everything flow smoothly. The catered food was to die for and she had a punch fountain with coffee set up in the corner and an open bar. My grandmother (her mother) turned 80 in December and we celebrated with a party, which she couldn't attend, so during the reception she got her mom to sit in the middle of the dance floor and sang "Wind Beneath My Wings" to her.


She was married to a very long time to my uncle, but some things don't work out as we know. She was married by the justice of the peace the first time, so this was the wedding of her dreams and it was awesome.

As far as my trip...well, that's a story almost worth publishing, but I'm not sure what to call it. How to Survive a Bad Vacation maybe? The plane ride was harrowing, we got lost on the way to my aunt's house once we finally got our rental car, we get to my aunt's house to find out our hotel rooms were given away and they were busily finding us more at the last minute, I lost my blood sugar machine and other medication (which I'm sure someone stole from the beach bathroom) and the IHop next to the hotel we were staying at, which made everything worthwhile, closed down for repairs the 2nd day we were there because they had a kitchen fire.

Whew. But it was fun and I got to see a different part of the world, which is always cool!

Now...can you believe this woman is 80 years old?

I'm planning a wedding!

No, it’s not mine. It’s my characters. I haven’t planned a wedding in fourteen years, and my wedding dress was second-hand. Beautiful but yes, second-hand. I was young and had no money or credit (and neither did my parents.) But wow…planning my character’s wedding had me drooling over wedding dresses and I’m thinking…how about a renewal of vows?

Okay, okay, I guess I should wait a few more years. Maybe. But hey, next year will be our fifteenth anniversary! When is the best time to renew your vows? Twenty years? Twenty five? Never? My husband says we’ve already been married and what’s the point of renewing our vows? He hates a crowd and doesn’t like the attention that a renewal of vows would bring. I do too, really, but our wedding was simple and small, which I’ve always believed is best because why spend a fortune on a wedding. I’d rather spend a fortune on a honeymoon.

But still…the deep part of my girliness craves that awesome wedding with that breathtaking wedding gown with the smell of roses and sunflowers and lilacs and…well, whatever type of flowers we use embracing me. The giddiness of finding the perfect invitations, the luxury of clothing yourself in extravagant lace and taffeta.

And speaking of weddings…my aunt is getting married this weekend! So I’m off to see her wedding in Florida (my first time in Florida) and I’m loaded with my cameras, film and SD cards. After all, pictures for the memories are the most important item to bring, right? What can you not leave home without?

With planning a character’s wedding and the anticipation of my aunt’s, no wonder I’m thinking about it!

“Cause… I said”

I want to welcome my guest blogger and the winner of my contest, Nina Pierce. Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Nina! It's all yours! *hands floor over to Nina*.

What a nice surprise to win one of your contests, Emma. Thanks for the invite, I’d be happy to take over your blog for a couple of days. *elbows way through crowd to front of line* Ah, much better. I’m always happy to talk about myself and my books.

I’m Nina Pierce, new to the publishing world. My debut novel “The Healer’s Garden” (direct link: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/books/thehealersgarden.htm) was a December molten erotic release from Liquid Silver Books. It’s a suspense story that takes place in an alternative future.

A world left after the devastating plague of the twenty-first century nearly wiped out the male population and significantly decreased the female population. A place where woman have evolved and developed the talents of prophesying, telepathy, telekinesis, and the greatest gift of all—healing.

In this female dominated society, continuing the human population is of utmost importance. The virus that decimated humans has also rendered male sperm incapable of surviving artificial insemination and cloning has yet to be perfected. The government has enslaved acceptable males and decreed that woman must mate with them and birth two infants before the age of thirty.

It’s at the government breeding facility known as the Garden of Serenity that gifted healer Jahara Hriznek meets the mating instructor Brenimyn and so begins their tumultuous relationship.

Brenimyn believes the time is now to rise up and restore social equality for all. He is searching for the one woman prophesied to be his mate and partner in the battle against the government and believes Jahara is that woman. But can Brenimyn convince Jahara to trust her heart and follow him? And will that love be enough to unite them in a coup against the government and bring about a new world order?

I love this couple... love that Brenimyn is willing to risk his life to stand up for something he believes in and fight for the woman he loves.

I was born in the 60’s, but I am not a child of the 60’s. That was an era when men and women laid down in front of bulldozers or carried picket signs or stood up against the government on court hall steps. I’ve never stepped up in public and fought for a cause I believed in. I’m opinionated and not too shy to express myself, but have never gone to jail to prove a point. I greatly admire people who have stepped out of their comfort zone and stood up for a cause.

I love to hear stories of people with that much bravery. Have you taken a stand? Or would you like to? Tell me about it. I’ll be here all day!

(website) http://www.ninapierce.com

(blog) http://www.karadunn.com/romanceblog

(The Healer’s Book Trailer on YouTube) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZFsFlfmuc8

Interesting Tidbits

Want to know even more about me? Visit http://mandyroth.com/blog/

Here's some more info about me:

I love coffee. I only drink 2-3 cups a day (except on weekends, where I'll drink much more), but I've been trying to cut back to only weekends for certain reasons. I've been drinking less for the past few months, skipping days, etc, and it has made me realize that my life has gone to H-E-double hockey sticks since I've cut down. Do I feel better? Absolutely not. My attitude isn't the same if I don't have my coffee. It's worse. :) So, I'm drinking it again, just trying to drink less (and no, don't even mention decaffeinated! It doesn't work for me!) It's not like coffee is horrible for us. I've always thought it was good for you even before the "experts" said it was. And why rob ourselves of every enjoyment? I can't eat chocolate everyday (well, I could, but the consequences would be much worse than my coffee), so why rob myself of the one thing I enjoy?

Speaking of enjoying things, I wanted to point you over to The Blonde Duck's Blog today. She blogged about what would happen if she was a dog. It made me smile and realize that we miss out on so many things because we're trying to be mature, responsible adults. I've jumped in mud puddles with my niece, but it's been awhile. It's easy to get "stuck in a rut" and have tunnel vision when you're pursuing a goal. Stop and smell the roses! Take time to enjoy something you normally don't take time for. You might be looked upon as a little strange if you put your nose in a water sprinkler, but do something different! Oh yeah, this is a reminder to myself, too.

Share an interesting fact about you! This month's contest is...just comment something about you and I'll draw a name at the end of the week. Anyone who comments until March 1 will be entered to win. What do you win? Well, since I can't always give something away, this time you will earn a spot from me on my blog for a day. If you're a published author, you can share your excerpt, your book cover, blurb and/or a book trailer (if I can figure out how to post the dang trailers). If you're a reader, you can blog whatever you want for a day on my blog. Yep, nothing fancy by any means, but it's a contest! Can't wait to see what happens!

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Today, I took my six year old niece to the movie theater for the first time. I think she's gone with her school before, but this is the first time she's been with me. (Her mom isn't a big movie theater buff, but me...I love movies!)

She begged me and begged me to go. We were going to take her to a park and roam around, have a picnic. I gave her a choice, and she picked Alvin. I'm glad she did!

We got a box of popcorn and drinks, and when it started she looked at me, smiled, and said "I can't wait!" Then she said, "I love you." This meant a lot to her, and it made me remember my first time at the theater with my dad. It was the same small-town theater that I went to when I was her age! They shut it down for awhile, but then reopened it to play movies (usually older movies, as you can see), and they have live events.

I was so impressed with the movie, even more happy to be sitting beside my niece! They sang the song that I remember as a child. I owned the record when records were the big thing. It made my heart swell.

I haven't seen very good reviews of the film, but I thought it was nice! It's a good kids movie, and it brought back memories of my childhood.

We came home and danced around the house, colored, and ate dinner. Now it's time for a book...

An Interview with Coffee Time Romance!

Tell me a little about yourselves.

Karen: Well I am very out going and love to talk and I have a love for books and respect for authors. I believe family values are very important. What else can I say “I’m a dreamer”.

KarenneLyn: I am one of those people that just goes and goes and goes. The main thing in my life is my family, but I love reading and learning new things as well as meeting new people. I enjoy being able to meet wonderful and creative people when I click on the computer. It is like another world…all at my finger tips!

Tell me more about Coffee Time Romance & More.

Well we started up ‘officially’ in the summer of 2004. Before that, it was just 2 Yahoo groups where we chatted with authors and asked questions and shared book release information. Just a fun thing that grew and evolved. In 2004, we made the plunge and purchased the URL name (www.coffeetimeromance.com) and we were off and running. Then as we learned and learned and learned and learned… mistakes are a great way to learn...snicker… we started doing more. Little by little it turned into what we have today.

Do you consider Coffee Time Romance & More your full time job?

Karen: Full time oh yes . When Coffee Time Romance started I was putting in 18 hours a day. I could not sleep because of new ideas popping in my head. I was very lucky when I meet KarenneLyn. I don’t think she knew what she was getting into. But she said the “magic word” and we became very good friends. I would have to say Coffee Time Romance is our lover.

KarenneLyn: You know, I don’t really consider it a job. I know that sounds silly, but I love working with authors and readers. So to me, this is fun. Yes, it is a business and I do work (hard); but I love what I do so much and the people I get to meet and work with that I do not consider it a job. My kids and family are my full time job. It is a job and so I guess I am lucky enough to love my full time job.

Do you also write? (If so, what genre?)

Karen: Yes I do write when I can sneak in time and the genre is paranormal.

KarenneLyn: I wish…the only thing I write is Thank you notes and eMails!

What’s your favorite genre to read?

Karen: Now this is a hard question for me. I read all genres from romance to crime to how to books.

KarenneLyn: Historical. That is my favorite. I love the balls, dresses, scandals, and mannerisms. I love the different time era where I can escape into a world that changes from page to page and author to author. I like reading about a time when they had cooks, nannies, and women dressed up every day (looks at my jeans and hair..sigh) and went to balls and were asked to dance. Awwww…the good old days. I can literally get swept away in a historical book and emerge from it, look around, and wonder where I am

What’s your dream vacation?

Karen: Well KarenneLyn and I have discussed this and we want to go to Hawaii and sit on the beach with a margarita to drink. We would have straw hats and sunglasses to watch the men run up and down the beach. We would have room service and get body massages. Oh no phones or computers allowed.

KarenneLyn: My dream vacation would be in a hotel with 24 hour room service. Complete control of the remote control, no telephone, and someone to rub my feet on command!

Both very nice sounding vacations! Can I come along? If money was no object, what kind of vehicle would you drive?

Karen: Believe it not a VW doodle-bug with a convertible top. The color would be black. With my dark shades on and hair blowing in the wind.

KarenneLyn: I wouldn’t. I would have someone driving for me (wink)

Who or what inspires you?

Karen: This is an easy question my husband and KarenneLyn. My dad was my best friend who would sit for hours talking with me about authors and Coffee Time Romance.

KarenneLyn: My kids. I watch them look at the world in a way I never thought of. They inspire me to be a better person and to always continue learning and doing things that I think are right. I hope that when I grow up, I want to be just like them.

What’s your favorite color?

Karen: I have four favorite colors blue, green, yellow and black.

KarenneLyn: Purple

Do you usually attend the major writers’ conferences, like RT and RWA National?

Karen: Yes we attend conferences. KarenneLyn and I have both been to RWA and I have gone to RT.

KarenneLyn: Yes, I was lucky enough to attend an RWA in Reno a couple of years ago with our review coordinator, Brenda. I think I was walking around with my eyes bulging and drooling. I got to meet some really wonderful authors and some amazing people.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Karen: Coffee Time Romance better and bigger on the net and our new magazine The Brass Spectacle out everywhere.

KarenneLyn: Older and fatter! LOL

What’s your favorite type of coffee?

Karen: I have two favorite coffees Star Bucks and Folgers. I drink coffee all day. I don’t know where I would be without my coffee.

KarenneLyn: Whatever is hot and in my hand at the time.

What’s your favorite food?

Karen: I’m a food lover but if I need to pick one it would be popcorn.

KarenneLyn: I love to cook and eat. I like to try new recipes and new things that I read about or seen on the Food Network. So my favorite food changes on a weekly basis. If I had to pick one thing I would probably pick barbeque pork ribs. Yum!

Do you have any pet peeves in novels?

Karen: I like a strong male. I cannot stand the weak and whiney males. The female has to be able to stand up to him and not run around crying boo-hoo.

KarenneLyn: I love strong character development. I like to be able to immerse myself in story and learn to love/hate the characters. So if I have a book that starts off building the character and doesn’t do a good job or the character instantly changes and I can’t figure out why…drives me crazy.

What do you enjoy in your free time? Do you have any hobbies? Collections?

Karen: Free time? What is that? I like to read and watch movies. I have a Hamilton plate collection from Disney to Gone with the Wind. I love to walk on the beach, and go to the mountains. I enjoy the serenity of the country and believe that life should not be hurried.

KarenneLyn: I love to garden. My favorite thing to receive is seed catalogs in the mail. I will drop whatever I am doing and start thumbing through it and making notes in the margins and highlighting what I am going to purchase for the next season. I also love to knit, crochet, and sew. You will always see a blanket or sweater started and sitting around my house somewhere. As for collecting things, Nope because then I would have to dust it!

Do you consider yourself an organized person?

Karen: I have my own way of “organized disarray”. KarenneLyn is very organized and helps keep me in line.

KarenneLyn: I am a list maker type of person. I have lists for daily, weekly and monthly and yes..a yearly list. I like things in their place and things done the way they should be…according to me (grin). My life is very organized and always has been. My mother used to tell me that I was the only child she ever knew that had her Barbie dolls and accessories in order and neat. This probably bugged my mom because she was just the opposite. Don’t ask me how that happened! LOL

If you absolutely hated a book and wanted to throw it across the room, yet you also wanted to spare the author’s feelings, what would you do?

Karen: I have never came across a book I have hated. I believe each author has a story to tell. While I’m reading I allow myself to be in the characters place. Not ever book is going to be happy ever after or have characters that tickle our fancy. I’m a firm believer in “to each his own”.

KarenneLyn: Hmmm, you know I don’t know. I have not found one that inspired me to total hate mode. I love authors who are creative with their characters, story line, and imagery. So I can always find something about the book that I like. If I actually did run across one that I really hated….I don’t know what I would do. I would hate to hurt someone’s feelings. Good thing I don’t do any reviewing!

How many other reviewers does Coffee Time Romance have? Do you know them personally or just by online?

Right now we have 35 members on our coffee crew. We have reviewers, editing staff, coordinators, moderators, and interviewers. We are so very lucky. Yes we have met some of our staff at some of the RWA and RT events. We have a wonderful, creative and lively group of talented people who we are able to chat with on a daily basis. We are proud to be associated with this fine group of people.

Your weekly I’m Digging questions seem well thought out. Are you the one who comes up with those? What’s your inspiration?

KarenneLyn: The Weekly I’m Diggin’ (Questions that are not located in our forums) well unfortunately (wink) those come from my sick and twisted little brain. I do have a lot of wonderful people who I get to chat with and email with that give me ideas or suggestions. That is always wonderful (waves to Tara) But mainly those ideas come from my head based on things I see or things I read or hear in chats or events. Sometimes it is based on the books that I have read and things that pop in my mind while I am reading. Then I just ask. I LOVE to see authors and/or readers post their opinions on these questions.

We do have a monthly I’m Diggin (In the Hot Seat) which are interview questions for authors that goes out to people on our mailing list. Those are from Karen.

Are you a creative person (such as music, writing, crafting, cooking, etc.)?

Karen: I help teach children’s choir and I love to write, in the craft part I like to arrange flowers and paint. I like to use the pottery wheel and feel the clay in my hands. Maybe I’m still in childhood with the mud. Cooking is blah---I cannot bake a cake but make a good pecan pie. I like to help my husband with the yard work, for example last year I planted eight black tulips. Nobody told me that the point of the bulb was not the ground breaker! Yes I planted them upside down, I guess the people in China got to see my tulips. I never give up I’ll be out there this spring with my gloves, straw hat and tulip bulbs marked with an arrow.

KarenneLyn: I have played the piano since I was 6 years old. I play in choirs, orchestra, and church. I taught the children’s choir for years..man that was hard work. I had about 70 kids from the ages of 4-12. Whew! Don’t do that anymore! Like I said earlier, I do love to knit, crochet, sew, and cook. Love to try a new recipe at least 2-3 times a month. I also love to find out how to do things. Like working on the internet. I get to play with building web sites, figuring out how to do those neat little things that make a web site stand out. It can be frustrating but infinitely rewarding. I think back to what Coffee Time Romance’s web site looked like in 2004 and look at it today and I still get a strong sense of pride and achievement! I try to learn something new every year. You know how some people make personal resolutions for the year? Well, every year instead of making the resolutions…that I am not going to keep…I assign myself the task of learning something new. One year it was bread making, one year it was crocheting, and one year (more like 2 years) it was knitting, and one year it was learning to build a blog. Then I do research and find the books and utilize my local library and just keep at it all year long until I have it down or at least understandable. Then I find more help on the internet to figure out the rest. Isn’t the internet wonderful!

Can you choose a favorite book of all time, or do you have too many?

Karen: I would have to say A Knight In Shinning Armor by Jude Deveraux will always be in the back of my mind. This author made cry and laugh at the same time. This story had a different twist and caught me by surprise.

KarenneLyn: WOW! There are so many I just can’t even imagine putting them down to one. I am an eclectic reader. I love William Shakespeare and some of the older classics all the way to the new. I do have a shelf of ‘stand by’ books…as I call them. I read these books when I am restless or want a book to read between purchases or releases. So, I am going to tell you what is on this shelf! Devil’s Bride by Stephanie Laurens, Knight of a Trillion Stars by Dara Joy, Zinnia by Jayne Castle, Dark Hunger by Christine Feehan, Too Much Temptation by Lori Foster..and a bunch more (large shelf)

Do you own a lot of books? What does your office look like?

Karen: Yes I do own a lot of books my office is full of them and half of my husband’s barn. My office is a dream. I have a large desk with a computer; fax machine and copier and printer. I have a large calendar and a shelf full of pencils and pens. I have a wireless mouse and keyboard. I have filing cabinets. The color of my office is soft beige I have my college diploma on my wall for business and computers. I have a Coffee cup clock and all types of pictures.

KarenneLyn: My office is neat as a pin. Yes, part of that organized thing. I have all of my notes and future information in a big huge 3 ring binder (drools and pets my binder) I love this thing. Couldn’t function or start my day without my beautiful binder. Do I own a lot of books..hmmm (looks at my husband and hopes he doesn’t see me typing this) oh YEAH! And my library grows all of the time. I love books! I have boxes and boxes filled with books. Of course, they are separated by genre (wink). So I can find them of course (grin) I do change out and box up books and put them in another room so that I can make room for more books. This is how I justify getting more books. Now this is the part my husband hasn’t quite caught onto yet. I look at my shelves and go…hmmm, there is still room so I can get another book. And then I walk away. (evil grin)

LOL, great idea. And you sound so organized! Can you come organize my shelves? How long have you been reading?

Karen: Ohh, you are trying to get my age. Forever and a day.

KarenneLyn: Since right after I could walk. So that would make it ..ummm a couple of years. Yes, that is my story and I’m stickin’ to it.

How do you choose which books to review?

We really have no set way to make a choice between one or the other. We review all books possible within a timely manner. We do look at the preferences of the reviewers and the list of books available the week we are handing the books out for review. Then we match up a book to a reviewer. Our review coordinator, Brenda, works very hard to make sure that we can match up the genre with a reviewer who enjoys that genre. This helps to ensure honest reviews but gives the book a good chance because the reviewer likes the genre.

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer these questions. It was so much fun to learn more about the ladies of Coffee Time!