Cozy Guest Friday: Jennifer Jakes + Giveaway

Welcome to our last Cozy Guest Friday of the year! Today we’re rolling out the guest carpet for author Jennifer Jakes whose latest romance, Twice in the Lifetime, is now available now for just $0.99…



Be Careful What You Wish For. . .

No-nonsense stuntwoman Isabella Douglas will do anything to stop an unwanted divorce and reclaim the happy life she had, even allow her old friend to concoct a magical spell to turn back time. But when the spell goes awry, Izzy finds herself trapped aboard a 1768 Caribbean pirate ship with a captain who’s a dead ringer for her sexy as sin husband, Ian. Convinced he’s playing a cruel joke, she’s furious – until she realizes he doesn’t know her or believe they’re married.

Captain Ian Douglas does not have time to deal with an insane woman who claims to be his wife; he has to save his kidnapped sister. But as Izzy haunts his dreams and fills him with erotic memories he can’t explain, he’s forced to admit he feels more than lust.

Trapped in a vicious cycle of past mirroring present, Izzy knows they only have days to find Ian’s sister and prevent disaster from striking a second time. If she doesn’t, their marriage will be destroyed again – along with the man she loves.

Stay tuned for a sneak peak from Twice in the Lifetime. Now we go to our Cozy correspondent Tink who is currently aboard the Black Pearl with Captain Jack Sparrow and a few of her other swashbuckling friends somewhere in the Carribean. Take it away, Tink….

*A Chorus of "A Pirate's Life for Me"*

Tink: Hello, Cozies! The people of WannaLuvaPir’ate Beach decided that a hostile takeover was in order so Jack and I are now sailing the high seas. And may I just say that it’s very warm here ;)

The Black Pearl now boasts a wet bar, thanks to some canoodling with the captain from yours truly. You're welcome! Jennifer, if you were a mixed drink what would you be and why?

Jennifer: Oooh, I would  be my new favorite drink, a Pomegranate Margarita. It’s pretty sweet, a little sour, kind of fruity and really yummy. Why? Well, I’m sweet, can be sour, have been known to act fruity and my hubby thinks I’m yummy :)

 

Tink: If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring only one of each of the following…what would they be? Person? Song? Book?

Jennifer: Person: Gotta say Alex O’Loughlin – not only is he gorgeous, but he has a sexy Aussie accent!

Song: I can’t pick one song!!! The reason I can’t is because I listen to so many different types of music – all depending on what I’m in the mood for.

Book: Hmmmm. I’d take One Night With A Prince by Sabrina Jeffries.

Tink: What would be the name of your pet gourd?

Jennifer: Bond. James Bond.

Tink: Now for a bit about your book. If you wrote to music, what would be this book’s theme song?

Jennifer: The song I used when I was writing Twice in a Lifetime was Crazy Girl by The Eli Young Band. If you hear it and have read the book, it’s just the perfect theme.

Tink: What are the first words your hero speaks to your heroine (or vice versa)?

Jennifer: Izzy to Ian: “What in the hell are you doing?”

Tink: Would you define your hero as an alpha or a beta? Why?

Jennifer: Oh, Alpha. I always write Alphas – or as I like to call them, Balphas. Because I love really strong men, but they have to have a soft, snuggly side….even tho’ they hide it most of the time.

Tink: Does your hero prefer to wear boxers, briefs, a kilt? Or commando? ;)

Jennifer: Oooooh. Commando.

Tink: What is your heroine’s idea of the perfect date?

Jennifer:  She and the hero, Ian, snuggled on a chaise lounge on their deck, watching the stars and drinking a glass of wine.

Tink: What is your favorite thing about each character?

Jennifer: Izzy: Her stubbornness.

Ian: His loyalty and the depth of love he has for Izzy.

Tink: More seriously, what was your biggest challenge crafting this story or these characters?

Jennifer: Making the time travel – and reason for the time travel – logical. I’m big on logic.  LOL

Tink: Now for a more in-depth look at the author… I will now ask you a round of nosy and nonsensical questions developed by Bernard Peevo and used by James Lipton on Inside the Actor’s Studio…. Brace yourself… What sound or noise do you love? Hate?

Jennifer: Love a gurgling stream or lapping waves. Hate high pitched noise.

Tink: What’s your favorite curse word?  

Jennifer: Ummm. I’m afraid I drop the F*bomb.

Tink: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

Jennifer: Oh, well, if you’ve read my Bio, I’ve tried several that I wanted to. I have a kind-of career bucket list. But I still want to be a Room Stager (someone who stages houses or rooms before a real estate open house)

Tink: What profession would you not like to participate in?

Jennifer: Roofer or high-rise window cleaner. I’m terrified of heights/ladders.

Tink: Now for a sneak peak from Twice in a Lifetime….

 

Her fingers threaded in his thick hair as she traced his mouth with the tip of her tongue. “Kiss me.” 

He hesitated, then groaned and covered her lips in a breath stealing kiss. Hot, wet, silky. Her nipples hardened, ached for his touch, the tug of his fingers, the pull of his mouth.

“Touch me.” She pressed a kiss to his throat, then licked his collarbone. “I need your hands on me.”

He grunted and slid his hands down her back. Rough palms gripped her cheeks, grinding her against his erection. His gaze burned through her as he moved his thigh between her legs.

“Yes. Please.” She tilted her hips, rubbing, needing release more than air. “Oh, God, yes.” Desire roared through her, the ache building. Building. The orgasm so . . .damned. . .close.

A sharp knock sounded at the door. “Captain? The men are ready to go ashore.”

Ian pulled back and swallowed hard, his expression hungry, his heart thumping against her breast.

“Captain?”

“Yes. Yes, I’ll be right there.” His heavy lidded gaze skimmed her body. Possessive. Aroused. Regretful as he set her aside.

Her mind crawled to process what was happening while her body was doused with disappointment. “You’re still going?”

He raked through his hair, then nodded. “We need provisions before sailing for Jamaica. I’ll only be a few hours.” He stepped to the door, but turned and pinned her with a hard stare. “But when I return . . .”

“Yes?” Her heart thumped in anticipation of some explicit description of what he would do to her. Oh, but his tongue was naughty in all the right ways.

“. . . I expect an explanation.”

Izzy drooped against the door, her thoughts racing even though her legs collapsed. This was going to be the shortest second chance in history.

Tink: And the questions Jack and his merry band of buccaneers have been waiting all day to ask…. If you could choose anyone (real or fictional) to be the captain of your, er, ship…who would it be? 

Jennifer: Capt. Jack Sparrow

Tink: Excellent answer! Which savvy piece of the Caribbean would you most like to take home?   

Jennifer: You know that gorgeous island Capt. Jack is marooned on ….the one with all the rum? I don’t need to take it home, I could just move there. With Jack for company, of course. :)

Tink: Would you rather take your chances with a zombie, a mermaid, or Blackbeard?

Jennifer: Zombie

Tink: And most importantly – Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, or Commodore Norrington?  

Jennifer: Ohhh, Capt. Jack all the way!

Tink: Jennifer, our captain would like me to invite you to share his quarters while you are aboard the Pearl as his guest of honor. He would also like to reserve the right to call you his "love." I'm more than a little jealous :) Now back to you, Cozies. This is Tink and Jack and all the rest in the Caribbean signing off….

After trying several careers—everything from a beautician to a dump truck driver—Jennifer finally returned to her first love, writing. Maybe it was all those Clint Eastwood movies she watched growing up, but in her opinion there is no better read than a steamy western historical.

Married to her very own hero, she lives on fifteen acres along with two beautiful daughters, three spoiled cats, three hyper dogs and one fat rabbit. During the summer she does Civil War re-enacting and has found it a great research tool, not to mention she has continued appreciation for her microwave and hot water heater. Visit Jennifer Jakes at www.jenniferjakes.com....

Cozies, you can purchase Twice in a Lifetime now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and Are….

Jennifer was kind enough to offer a giveaway for today’s guests. By commenting to today’s post and answering the following question before midnight EST tomorrow, you will be entered to win an ebook edition of Twice in a Lifetime:

 

What is your favorite part or line from the Pirates of the Carribean?

I think Jack likes this giveaway already! The winner will be announced here at Cozy on Sunday. Please be sure to check back to see if you have won. (Chances of winning depend on the number of entries; you must be 18 years or older to enter.)

A Holiday to Remember...

I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas! I’m gearing up for the new year…and meanwhile also for tomorrow’s exciting time travel edition of Cozy Guest Friday with author Jennifer Jakes! Be sure to join Tink and Captain Jack aboard the Black Pearl tomorrow here at The Cozy Page….

If you haven’t been keeping up with A Holiday to Remember at The Roses of Prose, chapters can be accessed from my website. Soon the book will be available for download. Until then, visit The Roses of Prose or the BOOKS page of my website to catch up on our holiday romance!

Cozy Guest Friday: Beth Trissel + Giveaway

Welcome to this week's Cozy Guest Friday! Today we welcome romance author Beth Trissel, author of Somewhere the Bells Ring, available now from The Wild Rose Press....

Caught with pot in her dorm room, Bailey Randolph is exiled to a relative’s ancestral home in Virginia to straighten herself out. Banishment to Maple Hill is dismal, until a ghost appears requesting her help. Bailey is frightened but intrigued. Then her girlhood crush, Eric Burke, arrives and suddenly Maple Hill isn’t so bad.

To Eric, wounded in Vietnam, his military career shattered, this homecoming feels no less like exile. But when he finds Bailey at Maple Hill, her fairy-like beauty gives him reason to hope–until she tells him about the ghost haunting the house. Then he wonders if her one experiment with pot has made her crazy.

As Bailey and Eric draw closer, he agrees to help her find a long-forgotten Christmas gift the ghost wants. But will the magic of Christmas be enough to make Eric believe–in Bailey and the ghost–before the Christmas bells ring?

Stay tuned for a sneak peak into Somewhere the Bells Ring! Now we go to our Cozy correspondent, Tink, who's sitting in front of the fire at Maple Hill with Beth and a few ghostly companions. Take it away, Tink....

*Christmas carols*

Tink: Greetings from Virginia! It's snowing outside, but Beth and I have cocoa to keep us warm. Speaking of drinks, Beth, if you were a mixed drink what would you be and why?

Beth: I’d like a hot toddy made with good Scotch whiskey, please, and a cozy seat by a crackling hearth. The hero’s favorite as well.

Tink: This might be wishful thinking *looks out at the snow* but iff you were stranded on a desert island and could bring only one of the following…what would they be? Person? Song? Book?   

Beth: Person.  I’m not a loner.  I’d bring my tribe.

Tink: What would be the name of your pet gourd? 

Beth: Birdie.  You can turn them into nesting sites or feeders.

Tink: Now for a bit about your book. If you wrote to music, what would be this book's theme song?  

Beth: Funny you should ask.  I do write to music and the theme for this story is Christmas Lullaby – by MannheimSteamroller.

Tink: What are the first words your hero speaks to your heroine (or vice versa)?

Beth: The hero appears in the past and the present in this story.  In the past he says: “Did no one ever instruct you to knock before entering a gentleman’s bedchamber?”

In the Present, he says: “Of course. Good to see you again, Bailey.”

Tink: Would you define your hero as an alpha or a beta? Why?

Beth: Alpha, he’s a Marine.  Or was, although once a Marine always a Marine.

Tink: Does your hero prefer to wear boxers, briefs, a kilt? Or commando? ;)

Beth: Boxers in both instances (although men in WW1 wore shorts that buttoned in the front).

Tink: What is your heroine’s idea of the perfect date?

Beth: A lovely candlelight dinner and dancing, but bear in mind that the story opens in 1968 and flashes back to 1918, so not contemporary but vintage American.

Tink: What is your favorite thing about each character?  

Beth: The timeless quality of their love, assuming you mean the H&H.  I also really enjoyed writing the outspoken housekeeper Ella who was very much as my dad described her from his childhood.  Somewhere the Bells Ring is based on the gracious old Virginia home place where my dad was born and raised and I grew up visiting over the holidays. 

Tink: More seriously, what was your biggest challenge crafting this story or these characters?

Beth: Somewhere the Bells Ring was inspired by the poignant dream I had years ago about a young woman, a guest in this old home during the holidays, and the mysterious gentleman she met.  That dream nagged at me every Christmas until I finally wrote their story.  Getting it right was the trick.  I chose to set it in the late 1960’s because I’m nostalgic about that era, but the dream actually took place earlier in the century judging by their costumes.  Thus the flashbacks to 1918 and the end of WW1.  But I pondered for ages which era to wing back to.  Having a Marine Corps Captain grandfather who distinguished himself during the thick of the fighting in France during The Great War and then tragically died when my father was only three definitely influenced this story–dedicated to the grandfather I never knew, but grieved all the same.

Tink: Now for a more in-depth look at the author… I will now ask you a round of nosy and nonsensical questions developed by Bernard Peevo and used by James Lipton on Inside the Actor’s Studio…. Brace yourself J What’s your favorite word?   

Beth: Mystical

Tink: Least favorite?  

Beth: The F word.  Not a fan of putrid either.

Tink: What sound or noise do you love? Hate?

Beth: The trill of the meadow lark in spring time. Hate: Static buzzing

Tink: What’s your favorite curse word?

Beth: A good honest English Damn. (To quote The Scarlet Pimpernel)

Tink: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?

Beth: Script writing and I have.  Even won a few awards but went back to novels.

Tink: What profession would you not like to participate in?

Beth: Dentistry

Tink: Now for a sneak peak from Somewhere the Bells Rings….

“Bailey.” He spoke softly, so as not to startle her.

She turned toward him. In her long, white nightgown, hair tumbled down around her, wearing that lost look, she bore an unnerving resemblance to the mysterious woman in Wilkie Collins’ classic mystery, The Woman in White. Eric fervently hoped the similarity ended there. As he recalled from the novel, that unfortunate lady had been unhinged.

Leaving the door ajar, he stepped inside. “We missed you at breakfast.”

She answered distractedly. “I wasn’t hungry.”

He limped to where she stood, the hitch in his leg a little less pronounced today. Maybe he was getting stronger. “Why are you here, looking for ghosts?”

“Or a door to the past.”

He tried to coax a smile to her trembling lips. “Did you check inside the wardrobe?”

“Eric, I’m being serious.”

“That’s what worries me.” Leaning on his cane with one arm, he closed his other around her shoulders and drew her against him. Such a natural act, and she accepted his embrace without pulling back.

She smelled of flowers from her perfume and wood smoke. “Mercy, child,” he said in his best imitation of Ella, “it’s as cold as a tomb in here.”

“It wasn’t last night.”

Tink: And the final questions our friends back home have been waiting all day to ask…. If you could choose the spirit of anyone (real or fictional) to haunt to walls of your house…who would it be?   

Beth: The ghostly hero of Somewhere the Bells Ring, Edward Burke.  J 

Tink: What’s your favorite ghost story/legend? 

Beth: I like the ones where the ghosts are quite real, like a glimpse back in time, more mysterious than scary and not bad.  The Shenandoah Valley is full of ghost stories.   Virginia in general is.  Volumes have been published.  For example, one interesting account set in the valley involves a young man who arrived at an old plantation home early in the morning to collect a carpet he’d been directed to take back to the store for cleaning.  A woman in period dress opened the door and indicated the room and carpet which he removed.  Later, after he’d gone, he got a phone call telling him to wait and collect the carpet when the staff arrived as the house was locked—seems the resident ghost let him in.

Tink: Why do you think big southern plantations are popular place for ghosts to live both presumably in the real world and in fiction?

Beth: People get attached to these beautiful historic homes and are reluctant to move on.  That, and these houses have seen a lot of wars and other drama over the years.  The woman mentioned in the above story was murdered.  A psychic should tell her its time to move on.

Tink: The Christmas/paranormal theme is unique. What compelled you to combine the two subgenres?

Beth: The dream I referred to that took place at Christmas so I already knew the setting and I soon sensed it was a ghost story.

Thank you Tink for another great interview! And thanks to Beth for answering all of Tink's nosy questions....

Married to her high school sweetheart, Beth lives on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia surrounded by her children, grandbabies, and assorted animals. An avid gardener, her love of herbs and heirloom plants figures into her work. The rich history of Virginia, the Native Americans, and the people who journeyed here from far beyond her borders are at the heart of her inspiration.  In addition to American settings, Beth also writes historical and time travel romances set in the British Isles. You can learn more about her at her website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads!



***GIVEAWAY: Cozies, Beth has generously offered a giveaway for today's Cozy Guest Friday feature! By commenting to today's post before midnight EST tomorrow, you will be entered to win a digital download of Somewhere the Bells Ring in PDF, ePub, or Kindle format. (Chances of winning depend on the number of entries; you must be 18 years or older to enter.) One winner will be chosen randomly and announced Sunday morning so be sure to check back in to see if you have won!

aMUSEments on Tumblr...

Hi Cozies! Tomorrow will mark the last Cozy Guest Friday of the year and Tink is making it count! Tune in this time tomorrow to find out what all she has in store for guest author Beth Trissel...

I just wanted to let everyone know that in addition to The Cozy Page, I'm blogging on Tumblr. My new page, aMUSEments, is a bit of a work in progress but I'm hoping to make it a fun place for readers to go to learn more about what inspires and amuses me in pictures, videos, quotes, and more! Hope to see you there!

Christmas Keepers for the Shelf....

Here’s a confession: I’m a sucker for holiday romance. Though my love affair with the Christmas holidays has somewhat cooled over the last couple of years, I still love little more than curling up by the fire with a blanket, cocoa, and a great holiday story. And like other times of the year when I need a little comfort and stress relief, I turn to what I know. Here’s a list of my favorite Christmas re-reads, starting with – of course – a little Eve and Roarke….

HOLIDAY IN DEATH

No one likes to be alone during the holidays. For New York's most posh dating service, Personally Yours, it is the season to bring lonely hearts together. But Lt. Eve Dallas, on the trail of a ritualistic serial killer, has made a disturbing discovery: all of the victims have been traced to Personally Yours. Eve soon enters an elite world of people searching for their one true love--and one killer searching for his next victim.

I don’t usually wait for the holidays to indulge in some J.D. Robb – but there’s no greater answer to the Christmas rush than a murder mystery and…well, I’ll just say it again: ROARKE!!!

HOMESPUN BRIDE

Montana Territory in 1883 was a dangerous place-especially for a blind woman struggling to make her way through an early winter snowstorm. Undaunted, Noelle Kramer fought to remain independent. But then a runaway horse nearly plunged her into a rushing, ice-choked river, before a stranger's strong, sure hand saved her from certain death. And yet this was no stranger.

Though she could not know it, her rescuer was rancher Thad McKaslin, the man who had once loved her more than life itself. Losing her had shaken all his most deeply held beliefs. Now he wondered if the return of this strong woman was a sign that somehow he could find his way home.

This Jillian Hart novel was a pleasant surprise. It’s my favorite Christmas re-read. Surprising since there isn’t a lot of inspirational romance on my shelf. Though the book is focused more on a wintry setting than Christmas, it’s still a must read for the holidays….

THE GIFT

On a June day, a young woman in a summer dress steps off a Chicago-bound bus into a small midwestern town. She doesn't intend to stay. She is just passing through. Yet her stopping here has a reason and it is part of a story that you will never forget.

The time is the 1950s, when life was simpler, people still believed in dreams, and family was, very nearly, everything. The place is a small midwestern town with a high school and a downtown, a skating pond and a movie house. And on a tree-lined street in the heartland of America, an extraordinary set of events begins to unfold. And gradually what seems serendipitous is tinged with purpose. A happy home is shattered by a child's senseless death. A loving marriage starts to unravel. And a stranger arrives—a young woman who will touch many lives before she moves on. She and a young man will meet and fall in love. Their love, so innocent and full of hope, helps to restore a family's dreams. And all of their lives will be changed forever by the precious gift she leaves them.

I read The Gift when I was fourteen and I loved it so much that it has earned a spot on my keeper shelf. Danielle Steel isn’t one of my favorite authors, but something about this novel touches me deeply. Whenever I need to get in touch with the true meaning of Christmas, I pick this baby up….

The following books aren’t on the shelf yet but I’m hoping to add them very, very soon. Is it obvious I’m feeling the western setting this holiday season? I certainly think so….

A TEXAS CHRISTMAS

In their fifth novella anthology, Thomas, Pace, Broday, and Miranda (Give Me a Texas Ranger) develop a shared setting of Kasota Springs, Tex., in the December 1887 blizzard. Thomas’s thrilling “One Wish” brings together an outcast and a rich girl who were misfits together in grade school. In Pace’s “Naughty or Nice,” a female saloon owner rescues a scientist from the snow and seeks refuge at a Christmas party where many condemn her as a “soiled woman.” Broday’s delightful “The Christmas Bell” sends a rancher into the storm with supplies after he spots a stalled train. Miranda’s “Away in the Manger” strands a gruff blacksmith with a single mom and her twins. Readers will enjoy the recurring cameos from minor characters and themes of Christmastime forgiveness and redemption.

HOLIDAY IN STONE CREEK

A Stone Creek Christmas: Stone Creek veterinarian Olivia O'Ballivan communicates easily with animals, but men are another story. Especially rugged architect-turned-rancher Tanner Quinn. Olivia's uncanny bond with his daughter Sophie's pony has him questioning her sanity, while she wonders if he's not just a drugstore cowboy. Then twelve-year-old Sophie conspires with Olivia to get Tanner into the spirit of Christmas. But will a holiday miracle transform the globe-trotting Tanner into a rancher—and family man—for all seasons?

At Home In Stone Creek: Everyone in Ashley O'Ballivan's life is marrying and starting families—except her. But why bother dating when no one can compare to Jack McCall, the man who left her heartbroken years ago? Now he's back in town —and maybe he isn't who she thinks he is.

Who could resist covers like those, huh? And here’s where I get to plug A Holiday to Remember again…only this time for good reason – today my first segment of the story posts. If you’ve read my western romances, you probably won’t be surprised to discover that I introduce alcohol to the storyline. Whiskey, to be exact. But, hey, with the heroine snowed in with the hero and the temperature dropping by the minute, who can blame them? Tune in to The Roses of Prose today for Chapter Five of AHoliday to Remember…or start from the beginning with Chapter One here….

Web Updates...

The holidays are here! I've written a new note to readers on the HOME page of my website and included information on The Roses of Prose free holiday read, A Holiday to Remember there and on the BOOKS page. Check it out....

Speaking of A Holiday to Remember, the first chapter is available now at The Roses of Prose. Be sure to check back every day of December for further installments....

I'll be at Sweethearts of the West tomorrow discussing more holiday reads. I'm bringing some Bing and roasted chestnuts, too, so don't miss out....

And finally, I've updated both my Facebook and Twitter pages for the holiday season. A shout-out and thank you to all friends and followers!

Cozy Guest Friday: Marguerite Arotin



Welcome to this week’s edition of Cozy Guest Friday! Today I’m pleased to roll out the guest carpet for a very dear friend of mine, author Marguerite Arotin whose newest romance, The Last Sorceress, is available now from Passion in Print….

She played the game never expecting it be real or deadly. But when Janet Lind becomes her sorceress alter-ego can she fight to protect her son and Dazzart the Bold, the sexy ogre who brought her to his world?

Dazzart finds himself drawn to Janet in both human and sorceress form. Yet he knows that nothing come from his attraction to her because of his brutal heart and hideous form. How can a sorceress and an ogre live happily ever after in the shadow of an evil sorceress and her demonic horde when more than passion is on the line?

Stay tuned for a sneak peak into The Last Sorceress! We return now to our Cozy correspondent, Tink, live from the tiki bar on her favorite tropical island of PutSomeRumin’it along with her swashbuckling band of pirates. Take it away, Tink….

*luau music*

Tink: Thank you, Cozies! I would like to point out again that since the local tribe has appointed Captain Jack Sparrow their king, I thereby consider myself to be his queen and consort and should only be addressed as Her Majesty :) 

 

Time for another round of drinks from the tiki bar. Marguerite, if you were a mixed drink what would you be and why? Tink: And now we hula! From PutSomeRumin'it, this is Tink, Jack, and Marguerite signing off....

Marguerite: Probably a Midori Sour because sometimes I’m about 50% sweet and 50% sour ;)



Tink: If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring only one of the following…what would they be? Person? Song? Book?



Marguerite: Person- My husband of course because after being married to him for so long I couldn’t imagine even being stranded without him. Song- Don’t Stop Believing by Journey because it’s my theme song :) Book- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows because I love the way Ms. Rowling ended the series and I could read that book over and over again.



Tink: What would be the name of your pet gourd?



Marguerite: Kermit, in honor of my favorite Muppett :)



Tink: Now for a bit about your book. If you wrote to music, what would be this book’s theme song?



Marguerite: Possession by Sarah McLachlan. Beautiful song and the lyrics perfectly describe what my heroine goes through when she stumbles into an alternate world in the form of a beautiful sorceress.



Tink: What are the first words your hero speaks to your heroine (or vice versa)?



Marguerite: Janet is an Ogre Nation convention/gaming tournament when she first meets Dazzart in his human form as the hunky CEO of Ogre Nation. When she learns that the newest Ogre Nation game release will be called The Last Sorceress, she gets a little nervous. So to the embarrassment of her teenage son she raises her hand and says: “You call this game The Last Sorceress. Does this mean that the players can’t play the sorceress avatar in the new game?” Her question perks my hero’s interest because he’s been coming to our world for years, searching for a woman who could be the sorceress that his mother foretold would bring peace to his world.




Tink: Would you define your hero as an alpha or a beta? Why?



Marguerite: Mostly Alpha but a teensy bit of beta. He’s a battle hungry ogre, a warrior. Always out to fight to protect anything he cares about. But deep down inside of him, there’s that softer beta side. He’s smart and passionate. In the course of the story, Janet manages to bring that sweeter beta side out. I’ve always been a sucker for stories like that so this was fun to write.



Tink: Does your hero prefer to wear boxers, briefs, a kilt? Or commando? ;)



Marguerite: Commando ;). But while he’s on Earth and takes on his human form of Glenn Bowman, he wears boxers because he knows that’s more acceptable to the human norm of things.



Tink: What is your heroine’s idea of the perfect date?



Marguerite: Getting dressed up like a fairy princess and attending a ball or large banquet.



Tink: What is your favorite thing about each character?



Marguerite: The insecurity in Janet. I think every woman wonders if they’re pretty enough or brave enough. I also love how she finds that inner strength to protect anyone she cares about. She has a fierce devotion. With my ogre hero, Dazzart, I love both his warrior side and the softer side that Janet brings out in him. They complement each other nicely because he gives her the courage she needs and she gives him the confidence he needs.



Tink: More seriously, what was your biggest challenge crafting this story or these characters?



Marguerite: Creating the large scale fantasy battles. This was my first foray into the world of fantasy and writing the battle scenes scared me a little. But I watched a lot of The Lord of the Rings movies and that helped me to visualize the battles a lot more.



Tink: Now for a more in-depth look at the author… I will now ask you a round of nosy and nonsensical questions developed by Bernard Peevo and used by James Lipton on Inside the Actor’s Studio…. Brace yourself :)


What’s your favorite word? Least favorite?



Marguerite: Favorite- it’s a word I borrowed from my brother- Fantastical Least Favorite- Cannot because my mom told me long ago there’s no such word as can’t so I try to keep that in mind and always have a “can do” attitude.



Tink: What sound or noise do you love? Hate?



Marguerite: Love- The sound of a babbling brook. Hate- The sound of one of cats hacking up a hairball because it not only sounds painful, I know I’ll have to clean it up eventually.



Tink: What’s your favorite curse word?


Marguerite: Although I only save it for when I’m really angry or passionate ;)- the f-u-bomb ;)



Tink: What profession other than yours would you like to attempt?



Marguerite: Graphic design or web design



Tink: What profession would you not like to participate in?



Marguerite: repetitive factory work



Tink: Now for a sneak peak from your latest release, The Last Sorceress….



She was a failure as a mother and a gamer. Spence hated her now. Nothing she could do, nothing she could say would change that fact. A small voice deep inside whispered, Your son is right.


Maybe she did have a few confidence issues. Any woman who stuck by the guy she loved when he was a geek only to be tossed aside when he got better looking would feel the same. Any woman who was constantly compared to her perfect sister growing up would think she wasn’t worth much. But Janet hated to hear it from the mouth of her only child.


When they headed for the exit, a grayish green hand grabbed her shoulder. She turned and looked into those big, warm eyes and expected to see disappointment. But there wasn’t. Those amber brown eyes glittered with what looked like amusement. He handed her a brown paper package.


“Here, open it when you leave,” Glenn said.


“Um, thanks, I guess. Will you be doing another conference in the Cleveland area anytime soon?”


“We will meet again, very soon. Do not worry, Maurelle.”


He was gone before she could ask why the heck he’d called her Maurelle. Janet did see him hand identical packages to Spencer and Anita. Anita gave her an awkward little smile as Spencer rushed straight for the exit. His face was red and his fists were still clenched. She wanted to say she was sorry for giving up without a fight. Her pride prevented her from speaking to him at all.


Spencer charged through the door and stopped. Janet almost ran into him.


“Spence, what the—” She broke off as she looked over his shoulder.


One white stone room, covered in thick vines, was all that remained of the massive convention hall. She would never know if the vendors or the rest of the convention goers noticed that the entire network room had vanished, but her jaw dropped as she turned. They stood in the middle of a huge forest. There were no forests in Cleveland. The Metroparks ran through the suburbs, but even the Metroparks had roads. Tall, majestic trees surrounded her. Deer ran wild and free. A dragon with thick, blood-colored scales soared above their heads. It’s wild, lion-like call held Janet spellbound. Hold it, a dragon? No, it’s an airplane. It has to be a plane, if it was a dragon that would mean we were all in the...


“M-mom, d-did y-you s-see that t-th-thing?”


“It’s an airplane, sweetheart. That’s all it was. Come on, let’s go find our car.”


“N-no, that was not an a-airplane.”


“Spencer is right,” a small voice whimpered. Anita approached. Her entire body trembled. “It was red. It had scales. I heard it roar.”


This cannot be happening. Carnitha is not real. We’re still in downtown Cleveland. We’re not that far from Burke Lakefront Airport. It was just a special airplane decorated like a dragon. Maybe the air show was in town?


A tree branch snapped behind them. Janet turned to see a very large ogre with golden-brown eyes smiling at them. “Open the packages now. It should explain a lot.”


The paper crinkled in her hand when she slowly ripped through her package. She didn’t know how to react when she found the leather get-up Maurelle wore and a large, golden book. The only thing missing was the staff. But before she could say anything, the handsome man dressed in an ogre costume handed her a golden staff with a large opal stone on top.


He grinned, and Janet shuddered at the sight of his glistening fangs. “It was too large to wrap. Go try it on. I’m eager to see how you look in it.”


“Okay, this isn’t funny, Shrek.”


She winced when Spencer looked to the sky, as if he prayed for a dragon to fly by and carry him off to its lair. Sorry, kiddo. I know that one was pretty bad. Slipped out of her mouth before she could take it back. She sighed when Dazzart laughed. Why is everything I say or do the end of my child’s mortal existence? Then again, she was pretty sure this was the end of their mortal existence.


“Shrek, yes, I saw the movie,” the ogre replied. His raucous laughter filled the forest before he continued, “Real life is far more interesting. I wonder where your movie moguls get their ideas from.”


“Okay, we’ve gotten off track here. We shouldn’t be discussing movie ogres. We should be talking about why you gave us this stuff. Number one, I don’t have the body to wear this sort of thing...”


“Oh, I beg to differ.” He laughed. “Look down.”


Her boobs had ballooned to twice their normal size. Now, she wasn’t about to complain about it but did feel pretty uneasy about the sudden chest growth spurt. It wasn’t just her breasts, though. Her legs were longer. Janet’s jeans looked more like capris. She reached behind her neck, gasping as she realized her plain old short hair was gone. It was longer and felt like it had been braided. She grabbed the braid, tossed it over her shoulder, and saw that it was velvet black.


Janet glanced over at Spence and Anita. They had changed too. Anita was now a pretty little elf with silvery blonde hair and very pointy ears. Spencer was a tall elf with black hair, dark blue eyes, and a frightened look on his face.


“What the hell did you do to us?” she shouted. “Change us back right now.”


“I can’t,” the ogre replied. “You are no longer Janet Lind. Henceforth, you shall be Maurelle Windhaven, your son shall be Nidhogg Windhaven, and Anita, you shall be Gilraen Elenzar.”


“No, no, no! No, this sort of thing doesn’t happen. This is a sick joke. Did my ex put you up to this? Take off that ridiculous costume now and change us back.”


“Why is my human form more appealing to you, my sorceress? I saw the way you looked at me during the conference.”


His voice was still very husky and very sexy. It made her long to see the man beneath that mask again. She reached forward and gave his chin one heck of a yank. Very odd—it didn’t feel like latex.


He grabbed her arm, and she felt a loss of circulation from his strong grip. “I would advise you not to do that again. Put on your uniforms now, please. The others are all waiting at Fort Greenbalm, and I have to return in time to welcome the rest of the gamers to our world.”


She stood there, frozen for a moment, rubbing her pulsating temples. Her heart pounded, and she could barely breathe. Okay, so the guy I thought was my knight in shining armor is really an ogre, I am not Janet anymore. A dragon flew over my head. Holy crap, the growth on the walls of the network room, that’s how the bastard lured us here. It was real. This place is real. I’m really a sorceress. Oh shit, that must mean Adieal really existed. At that point she did what any woman in her position would do. She freaked out.



Tink: And the final questions the pirates have been waiting all day to ask…. If you could choose anyone (real or fictional) to be the captain of your, er, ship…who would it be? :)



Marguerite: A little known pirate by the name of Howell Davis because he relied on his wits and charms more so than brute force. I like a smart captain :D



Tink: Which savvy piece of the Caribbean would you most like to take home – the Black Pearl, the Dead Man’s Chest, or the Fountain of Youth?



Marguerite: Fountain of Youth



Tink: Would you rather take your chances with a zombie, a mermaid, or Blackbeard?



Marguerite: Blackbeard because you could always bribe him with rum and treasure ;)



Tink: And most importantly – Captain Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, or Commordore Norrington?



Marguerite: Captain Jack. Although Will is sweet, I’ve always been a sucker for the bad boy pirate ;)



Marguerite: I’m running a contest through the weekend and all you have to do is e-mail (dana@ozak.net) me with the answer to this question to enter: What is the name of the RPG game in the Last Sorceress? I mention it above and here’s a hint, it has the word ogre in the title. One lucky person will win a flash drive with the e-book version of The Last Sorceress in their choice of format preloaded on it. Included on the flash drive will be a gorgeous desktop wallpaper my super talented cover artist sent to me and select MP 3 files from Midnight Syndicate’s Dungeons and Dragons because everyone should have mood music to listen while reading a fantasy story ;).

 
Thank you, Tink and Jack (of course) for another great interview! A big thank you to Marguerite for answering all of Tink's nosy questions....
 
 
Marguerite Arotin has been writing since the third grade when she wrote her first story for a Halloween class project and loved the praise she got from it. She didn’t pick up her first romance novel; however, until the age of nineteen when she met her husband who showed her that true love does exist.


She lives in Ohio with her hero of a husband, smart son, and two loveable cats. When she's not writing, she can be found on her purple princess dell laptop, procrastinating on Facebook, Wordpress, or Twitter and calling it promotion. Or surfing the net and calling it research.

 

***Cozies, be sure to let Jack know what you would like from the tiki bar and for this week's discussion - pirate or space pirate?