The Cozy Page

5 Stars for BLACKEST HEART!

2012-01-24T01:00:00.000-06:00

Fellow romance author and Roses of Prose blogette, Vonnie Davis, has given BlackestHeart 5 Stars on Amazon....

I love stories that showcase the power of loveand the hope of a happier life as a couple than either had being single…. Ms.Williams weaves an engaging tale of two complex characters. The passion simmersand, at times, is hotter than a firecracker. Many supporting characters add tothe story, but do not intrude--okay, so the older brother was a pain. I cheeredwhen Stella popped him a shot, but then I'm a sucker for a strong heroine. I'malso a sucker for a cowboy with a swagger and a hat hiding part of his face.What a visual Williams describes for us. I can't wait to read more by thistalented author.

Read thefull review on Amazon. And a huge thankyou to Vonnie for the wonderful review!

Readers, Blackest Heart is nowavailable for Kindle readers for $1.50 along with its sequels, BluestHeart ($2.25) and Bet it on my Heart ($2.50). Find the entire western romance trilogy here on Amazon. Audiobook readers can also purchase Blackest Heart in audio now on Amazonhere for just $2.95. There’s notelling how long these prices are going to last so don’t miss out!

Remembering Etta James...

2012-01-23T21:20:00.000-06:00

Saturday the world lost a legendary singer, Etta James. Hermusic has touched my life in many ways. The hub and I danced our first dance toone of her songs at our wedding. I just wanted to take a moment to pay tributeto her here at Cozy with my favorite Etta James song, "Sunday Kind of Love"….

Winner of Vanessa Kelly's Giveaway....

2012-01-22T00:24:00.000-06:00

It’s time to announce the winner of Vanessa Kelly’s CozyGuest Friday giveaway! First of all, I would like to thank Vanessa forvolunteering as well as to everyone who participated in this weekend’s event!The winner chosen by the True Random Number Generator at Random.org is…

Commenter #2 – Johanna J

Congratulations, Johanna! You have won either an ebook orprint copy of Vanessa’s latest historical romance, My Favorite Countess. Toreceive your prize, please send a confirmation email to amber@amberleighwilliams.com.

Cozies, tune in next week for another Cozy Guest Friday….

Cozy Guest Friday: Vanessa Kelly + Giveaway

2012-01-20T01:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to this week’sCozy Guest Friday with historical romance author Vanessa Kelly! Vanessa’slatest release, My Favorite Countess, is available now from Kensington Books….

Spirited, stubborn, and entirely irresistible…

She is difficult, demanding, and at times, quite fierce. And Dr.John Blackmore can’t take his eyes off her. The Countess of Randolph isthe most striking woman he has ever seen…and the most infuriating patient hehas ever tended.

Mired in responsibility, Bathsheba doesn’t have time to convalesce inthe country. She should be in London, hunting for a wealthy new lover topay off her late husband’s vast debts, not dallying with a devastatinglyhandsome doctor.

But it is only a matter of time until the good doctor and the obstinatecountess will have to contend with the sparks that fly between them. Oncetheir bodies surrender, their hearts may follow…

Stay tuned for a sneak peek into MyFavorite Countess! We go now to the Caribbean where our Cozy correspondent,Tink, is with Vanessa onboard the Black Pearl. Take it away, Tink….

*sailorssinging “A Pirate’s Life for Me”*

Tink: If you were a mixed drink whatwould you be and why?

Vanessa: Oh, God. I’m the worst person to answer this questionsince I don’t do mixed drinks. In myfamily, it was always wine or scotch. Infact, my dad used to refer to mixed drinks as “garbage drinks”! But I did go through a phase in college whenI was quite fond of a good tequila sunrise, so I think I would have to go withthat. There’s something very exoticabout it and, man, does it pack a punch!

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

Vanessa: The person would be my husband,the song would be Some People Fall, Some People Fly by Matraca Berg, and thebook would be Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase.

Tink: What would be the name of your petgourd?

Vanessa: Excaliber, and I haveabsolutely no idea why that should be so.

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

Vanessa: Darling Pretty, by MarkKnopfler

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

Vanessa: “Lady Randolph, it is a greatpleasure to finally meet you. I haveseen you at routs and concerts in London, of course, but have never had thehonor of an introduction.” My heroine,being a bit of a live wire, fires back by telling him that if it was such apleasure he should have made a better effort to meet her before this!

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

Vanessa: He’s a mix. Although John Blackmore is a big, strong, andconfident man who has no trouble taking control of a situation, he’s also aphysician. He’s a supremely kind andself-sacrificing man who will do anything to protect those in his charge. He’s my perfect hero!

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

Vanessa: Being a physician, John wouldwear boxers – practical and healthier for his man parts!

Tink: *grin* What is your heroine’s ideaof the perfect date?

Vanessa: It would depend on whether thedate fell before or after her reformation as a bad girl. Before, it would involve an expensivetrinket. After, it would involve a quietevening with her husband or perhaps a picnic with him on a beautiful summer’sday in the country. If the latter,Bathsheba would be sure to include a blanket, so she and her husband could takea little “nap” in a secluded glade in the forest!

Tink: What is your favorite thing abouteach character?

Vanessa: Bathsheba is so sharp andfunny, and she’s very aware of her own faults. I like that she doesn’t sugarcoat life. In John’s case, it’s his enormous capacity for compassion andforgiveness. His big heart eventuallyallows Bathsheba to forgive herself for the mistakes she’s made in the past.

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

Vanessa: My heroine, Bathsheba, isactually the villainess of my second book, SexAnd The Single Earl. She did somevery nasty things in that book, and I had to come up with rock-solidmotivations as to why she could act so badly and yet still deserveredemption. I enjoyed writing her verymuch, but it was sometimes a challenge. Bad boys are frequently reformed in books. Bad girls, less often.

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

Vanessa: Honestly, I don’t think I couldpick just one that I love. There are somany words that are simply glorious. IfI had to pick a word I hate, I think I would go with “pus.”

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

Vanessa: I love the sound of the windrustling through the leaves of trees. Hate the sound of a TV turned up too loud.

Tink: What’s your favorite curse word?

Vanessa: Given your ratings restriction,I can’t tell you!

Tink: What profession other than yourswould you like to attempt?

Vanessa: I’d like to be an arthistorian.

Tink: What profession would you not liketo participate in?

Vanessa: A mortician.

Tink: Now for a sneak peak from My Favorite Countess….

Bathsheba swallowed an unladylike snort. Obviously the good doctor knew exactly how tobehave in polite company, and wrap said company—especially the femalevariety—around his little finger. Shesuspected that ten thousand apologies on her part wouldn’t make a whit ofdifference to Lady Dellworthy, or any other woman in the room, for thatmatter. But they all appeared to havequickly forgiven him, since they were now hanging on his every word withbreathless anticipation.

She took a gulp of tea and burned her tongue. Cursing silently, she banged her cup andsaucer onto the tea table, attracting both Blackmore’s and Lady Dellworthy’sattention.

“Is everything well, Lady Randolph?” the doctorenquired in a mild voice.

“Yes, thank you. Please continue with your conversation.”

Her hostess began to flutter nervously. Again. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll just go see if Lord Randolph wants anotherpiece of plum cake.” As Lady Dellworthyscuttled away, Blackmore switched his unnerving quicksilver gaze back toBathsheba.

“Lord Randolph says you rarely visit Ripon, preferringto live in the city. Why is that?” heasked.

Blast the man. Why wouldn’t he leave her alone?

“I should think the answer is obvious,” she replied ina nasty voice. “Because I hate thecountry.” Perhaps if she were rude, hewould go away.

No such luck. Instead, he began to query her about friends, seeking to discover ifthey had any mutual acquaintances. Hesettled into his chair, long limbs relaxed, his manner casual, but she wasn’tfooled. She saw the sharp gleam in hiseyes and the hungry way he studied her mouth. Perspiration dampened the inside of her thighs and the back of herknees, and she had to call on all her discipline not to squirm in her seat.

After several minutes of conversation—stilted on herpart, completely at ease on his—Bathsheba saw Miss Elliott make her determinedway toward them. No doubt she thought tosave the doctor from her infamous coils. Unfortunate the pursed-lip spinster didn’t realize she was the one whoneeded rescuing.

Miss Elliott planted herself in Lady Dellworthy’svacant chair, looking down her thin noise at them from her self-righteousheights. “Sir, Dr. Littleton tells methat you originally hail from the country. The Lake District, I believe?”

“That is true, Miss Elliott. I was born and raised in a village nearKeswick.”

She bestowed a beneficent smile upon him while doing afine job of ignoring Bathsheba. “Solovely, the Lake District. You must missit. And you must be glad to escape thegrime and heat of London in the summer to enjoy the quiet beauties of Ripon andthe glories of the surrounding dales.”

Perhaps her headache was to blame, but Bathsheba couldno longer tolerate more social inanities—or being treated like a pariah. “Good God, Miss Elliott. What are you talking about? The only thing worse than Yorkshire in thesummer is Yorkshire in the winter. Noperson of intellect would want to spend any amount of time here. It’s the most boring place on earth.”

Too late, she remembered the spinster considered herselfa person of intellect. She sighed,inwardly correcting herself. The onlything more boring than Yorkshire in the summer was a bluestocking in a fit ofpique.

Miss Elliott’s firm mouth thinned into an outragedline. If the woman had a pistol, therewas little doubt she would aim the damn thing at Bathsheba’s head and pull thetrigger.

At least that would get rid of this headache.

She choked back a laugh as the spinster excusedherself and stalked across the room to join Matthew.

“Why do you do that?” Blackmore asked, lookingirritated.

“I don’t know,” she mumbled, suddenly tired offighting. “Perhaps it’s myheadache. I believe someone is firingcannons inside my skull.”

He reached out a big hand and took her wrist in alight but firm grasp. She tried to jerkit away.

“What are you doing?” she spluttered.

“Feeling your pulse. Sit still,” he ordered.

She tugged, but his grip was unbreakable. Hard, warm fingers on the fragile skin of herwrist sent a shuddering wave of excitement through her veins all the way to herheart.

“Tumultuous,” he pronounced. “I’ll send over a powder tonight and stop byCompton Manor tomorrow.”

“Don’t bother,” she said, finally able to snatch herhand back. Clearly, he had let her doso. “I’m returning to London tomorrow. I’ll be fine once I’m away from the quietbeauties of Ripon,” she finished sarcastically.

He regarded her with a cool arrogance. “I wouldn’t advise that, Lady Randolph. You need rest, not travel.”

“Thank you for your advice, Doctor. Shall I pay you now, or will you send me abill for your services?”

As he studied her, the flinty look in his eyesgradually softened. “It’s obvioussomething troubles you, my lady. Tell mewhat it is. Perhaps I can help.”

She gasped, and he unleashed an engaging grin. Her heart fluttered madly in her chest.

“Doctors are all professional busybodies, LadyRandolph. We’re trained to notice smallthings—signs of trouble. Your nails, forinstance. You bite them, don’t you?”

Her throat closed around the pain that lodgedthere. She couldn’t move or speak. But she must. She must get away. Blackmore wasthe most dangerous man she had ever met.

He gazed down into her face, waiting confidently forher to break. She dredged up every ounceof willpower, calling on years of discipline, hard-fought and won in the faceof her husband’s tormenting ways.

Forcing herself to rise gracefully from her chair, shesignaled with a nod to Matthew that she wished to go home. She turned and glanced down at thedoctor. He looked anything but pleased.

“You flatter yourself, Doctor,” she said coldly. “I have no troubles. And if I did, you would be the last man onearth I would go to for help.”

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

Vanessa: Captain Blood, aka ErrolFlynn.

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

Vanessa: The Black Pearl, absolutely.

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

Vanessa: Blackbeard. Easier to kill.

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

Vanessa: Is this even a fairquestion?! Captain Jack, of course!

Tink: Thank you, Vanessa! You have beena lovely interviewee! And Jack tells me that you are invited to stay aboard theBlack Pearl whenever she is in port…in his quarters, of course J

Vanessa Kelly writes Regency-sethistorical romances for Kensington Publishing. Her books have finaled in several contests, including the RomConReaders’ Crown and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and she recently won aMaggie Award for the Best Historical Romance of 2010. Booklist, the prestigious review journal ofthe American Library Association, named her one of the “new stars of historicalromance.” When not penning Regencies,she slips into a phone booth and changes into her writing alter-ego. In that guise, Vanessa writes sexycontemporary romance and romantic suspense books with her husband under the penname of VK Sykes. Vist her on her blog, Facebook, and Twitter!

Vanessa has kindly offered a giveawayfor today’s Cozy Guest Friday. By commenting to today’s post between now andmidnight EST tomorrow, you will be entered to win My Favorite Countess in either digital or print (no internationalrestrictions)! The winner will be chosen by the True Random Generator atRandom.org and announced Sunday morning so be sure to check back to see if youhave won. Good luck! (Chances of winning depend on the number of entries; youmust be 18 years or older to enter.)

Chatting with Anna Kathryn: Part II...

2012-01-18T16:07:00.001-06:00

Today I’m sharing the recipe for the hub’s specialty in thekitchen at Anna Kathryn Lanier’s blog! Come on over and learn how you can makethe yummy, western-themed “Jake’s Fried Rice” at Chatting with Anna Kathryn….

Check back in Friday for this weeks’ Cozy Guest Friday withhistorical author and friend Vanessa Kelly, Cozy correspondent Tink, CaptainJack, and the usual band of miscreants!

Congratulations & Valentine's Announcement....

2012-01-17T01:00:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to The Wild Rose Press who for the fourth year in a row has been voted Best Publisher by Preditors & Editors! I’m proud to have five titles published under TWRP’s romantic suspense (Crimson Rose) and western romance (Yellow Rose) imprints. Here’s to another great year!

February 14 marks my favorite day of the year. Valentine’sDay is only a month away so I’d like to take this time to announce this year’s event,14 Days of Romance! From February 1to February 14, The Cozy Pagewill be host to guest authors of every sub-genre of romance. Each of our guestswill feature their favorite romance novel (or novels) as well as give a glimpseinto their latest release. Because of this, Cozy Guest Friday will continuethrough the end of January then resume on February 17.

If you are an author who would like more information about 14 Days of Romance, message me at amber@amberleighwilliams.com. Spots are filling up quickly! Readers, be sure to bookmark The Cozy Page for February so you can be part of this year’s Valentine’s Day celebration!

Chatting with Anna Kathryn: Part I....

2012-01-16T14:21:00.001-06:00

My first guest post with author Anna Kathryn Lanier isavailable today! Learn more about rogue secondary characters and how I’ve dealtwith them (or, perhaps, not dealtwith them so well) in the past at Chatting with Anna Kathryn….

Wednesday I’ll also be chatting with Anna Kathryn about thehub’s specialty in the kitchen so be sure to check back in at A.K.L.’s bloglater this week….

Inspiration in Time-Lapse Videos....

2012-01-16T01:00:00.000-06:00

Recently, Yahoo ran this story about a photographer who traveledthe world and captured the places he visited in 6,237 photographs. Returninghome, he compiled them into one time-lapse video so others could experience histrip around the world in less than five minutes. The video is so inspiring, Ihad to share. Enjoy!

And just because I'm a space nut, here's another time-lapse video from NASA's ISS with some amazing views from space. I thought the images were incredible....

Winner of Jennifer Ann Coffeen's Giveaway....

2012-01-15T01:00:00.000-06:00

It’s time to announce the winner of last week’s Cozy GuestFriday with Jennifer Ann Coffeen. First of all, thank you to everyone whoparticipated and a special shout-out to Jennifer for taking a cruise on theBlack Pearl with Tink and Captain Jack! Now the winner chosen by the True Random Number Generator atRandom.org to receive a copy of Jennifer’s novella, Lover’s Gamble, is….

Commenter #4 – StephB

Congratulations, Steph! Please send a confirmation email to amber@amberleighwilliams.com toreceive your prize. Cozies, be sure to tune in this Friday for another specialedition of Cozy Guest Friday….

Cozy Guest Friday: Jennifer Ann Coffeen + Giveaway

2012-01-13T01:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome tothis week’s edition of Cozy Guest Friday! Today we’re rolling out the guestcarpet for author Jennifer Ann Coffeen, author of Priceless Deception, now availablefrom The Wild Rose Press….

"The FrenchBlue diamond must be destroyed.”

Haunted bythe words of her dying father, Lady Madeline Sinclair arrives for the LondonSeason with more than parties and the latest fashion on her mind. She has sworna vow, and the beautifully headstrong and fearless Madeline will allow nothingto distract her…until she meets the infamous Lord Colin, Duke of Douglas, a manknown for his scandalous past engagement. With a dark grin and stormy eyes, he threatensto make her forget her duty, along with her manners.

Boundtogether by the mysterious diamond, Madeline and Colin soon succumb to thepassion raging between them, even as the diamond eludes their grasp. But thetrue threat lies in the hands of an enemy whose dangerous obsession with thepast has the power to destroy them both.

Stay tuned for a sneak peek into Priceless Deception! Now we go to Tink,who is having a drink onboard the Black Pearl with Captain Jack and his merrycrew of swashbuckling pirates somewhere in the Caribbean. Take it away, Tink….

*sailors singing "Jolly Sailor Bold"*

Tink: Welcome to the Black Pearl,Jennifer! Thanks to yours truly, Jack and the boys have installed a wet barhere on the Pearl. If you were a mixed drink what wouldyou be and why? We’ll have Gibbs bring us a round….

Jennifer: I would like to say I wouldbe Champagne combined with an old fashioned beverage. Like Champagne andPomegranate juice, a Pomosa? The truth is I would probably be a giant steinfull of mead.

Tink: Jack says there’s nothing wrongwith that. If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring only one ofeach of the following…what would they be? Person?Song?Book?

Jennifer: Person! I’m the kind ofperson who needs to talk a lot. I fear if I was by myself I would end up havingconversations with coconuts.

Tink: What would be the name of yourpet gourd?

Jennifer: That’s a tough one, if Ihad two pet gourds I would name them Moulder and Scully or Darcy and Elizabeth.One pet gourd? Probably Sir Gourdington.

Tink: Now for a few questions aboutyour book. What are the first words your hero speaks to your heroine (or viceversa)?

Jennifer: “Let go of me!” Though LadyMadeline only has herself to blame for the manhandling. She did break into hishouse after all!

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

Jennifer: Hmmm.. I can’t say hedidn’t occasionally go commando though most of the time Regency gentlemen wore“drawers” under their breeches, kind of like a thin pair of shorts with tiestrings and flaps. Perhaps these were the first boxers?

Tink: What is your favorite thingabout each character?

Jennifer: I love Madeline’s courageand quick mind. She had a mission to accomplish and will do whatever it takesincluding sneaking around with a priceless diamond in her reticule. I enjoyColin the most when he’s struggling to do what’s right. He has many things onhis plate, a scandal, a jealous ex fiancée, and Madeline’s refusal to ever tellhim the truth.

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

Jennifer: I spent a lot of time onthe structure of this story. Since it was my first novel I was starting fromscratch and learning as I went along. At least ten drafts have been thrown away!

Jennifer: Lately my favorite word is“Lud!” An exclamation they often used in Regency times. I’m trying to find away to fit it into my own conversations. I don’t think I have a least favoriteword! They are all useful in some way.

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

Jennifer: I love the sound of water.Lakes, oceans, even the bathtub is soothing to me. I really hate the sound of atelevision being on too loud.

Tink: What’s your favorite curseword?

Jennifer: Truthfully? Goddamn it tohell. (It’s not a nice one.)

Tink: Yes, Jack likes you very much. Whatprofession other than yours would you like to attempt?

Jennifer: A stage actress.

Tink: What profession would you notlike to participate in?

Jennifer: Anything in an office.

Tink: Now for a sneak peak from Priceless Deception….

"I promisenot to hit you again,” she replied, forcing a light tone. “If you promise notto throw me to the ground and—”

“And?” Oneeyebrow shot up.

“Provoke me.”

He laughedthen, a full, rich sound that seemed to drop the tension from his face. He wasmore recognizable now, and Madeline felt her shoulders relax.

“I am sorry,”she added. “My behavior that day was unforgivable. I do hope we can start overas friends, Lord Douglas.”

She held outher hand, the small warning bell in her head quickly silenced.

“It would bemy pleasure.” He took the offered fingers, bending slightly to press themagainst his lips. Not a trace of impropriety, but a sigh caught in her throatall the same, and she held it there, no longer breathing.

In the backof her mind she knew this was not a good idea. She knew perfectly well sheshould invent some excuse, run straight back into the ballroom and discuss LadyFarris’s flowers. She didn’t move.

“And since weare already intimately acquainted, I must insist you call me Colin.”

“Colin,” shesaid, finally exhaling so the name rushed out in a breathless tone. She wildlysearched her mind for something else to say but never managed a word.

Colin pulledher to him, the kiss as much a surprise as her own response to it.

Madeline’sbody instantly betrayed her, melting against the strong arms that held heruntil she had lost all sense of her earlier outrage. The world fell away,leaving nothing but Colin’s searing lips blistering her own—and the faint smellof lilacs.

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

Jennifer: Hmmm… these days? DanielCraig.

Tink: Lovely choice! Which savvypiece of the Caribbean would you most like to take home – the Black Pearl, theDead Man’s Chest, or the Fountain of Youth?

Jennifer: I admit it, probably theFountain of Youth.

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

Jennifer: Zombie! I have lots ofexperience, my husband and I met while acting in a Zombie play.

Tink: Thank you for answering all ournonsensical questions, Jennifer! Readers, scroll down to see how to win a bookfrom Jennifer’s backlist. This is Tink and Jack signing off….

Jennifer Ann Coffeen is a publishedauthor currently living in Chicago. Her novel Priceless Deception and novella Lover'sGamble are both available now from The Wild Rose Press. Her work has beenfeatured regularly at the kates, a group of women solo performers who performthe last Saturday of every month at the Book Cellar in Lincoln Square. Jenniferis currently working on a novella series detailing the intersecting stories ofthree couples at London’s Twelfth Night ball. Visit her on Facebook!

Cozies, Jennifer has kindly offer togive away today. Comment to the end of this post by midnight EST tomorrow andyou will be entered to win a copy of her novella, Lover’s Gamble. The winner will be chosen by the True Random NumberGenerator at Random.org and announced here on the blog Sunday so be sure tocheck back to see if you have won. (Chances of winning depend on the number ofentries; you must be 18 years or older to enter.) Good luck!

Blog Hoppin' & Good Eatin'...

2012-01-12T20:39:00.000-06:00

Next week Ihave the pleasure of being a guest of fellow western romance author AnnaKathryn Lanier on her blog, Chatting with Anna Kathryn – not just once, buttwice!

StartingMonday, I’ll be blogging about rogue secondary characters! On Wednesdays, it’sthe custom of Anna Kathryn and her guests to swap recipes. I’ll be sharing oneof my all-time favorites.

Be sure tostop by Chatting with Anna Kathryn on Monday and Tuesday for all thefestivities.

And staytuned tomorrow for Tink’s next Cozy Guest Friday interview with author JenniferAnn Coffeen….

Liz Flaherty Giveaway Winner!

2012-01-09T11:41:00.003-06:00

It’s time toannounce the winner of Liz Flaherty’s Cozy Guest Friday book giveaway. Thank youto everyone who participated in Liz’s Cozy Guest Friday! The winner chosen bythe True Random Number Generator at Random.org for a free book from Liz’sbacklist and a jar candle is…

Commenter #7 - Julie

Congrats,Julie! Send a confirmation email with your scent of choice to amber@amberleighwilliams.com to receiveyour book and candle! Tune in next Friday, Cozies, for more fun with Tink andCaptain Jack!

Cozy Guest Friday: Liz Flaherty + Giveaway

2012-01-06T01:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome, Cozies, to our first CozyGuest Friday of the year! I’m pleased to welcome author Liz Flaherty, whoselatest novel, One More Summer, willbe released this month from Carina Press….

Grace has taken care of her widowedfather her entire adult life and the ornery old goat has finally died. She hasno job, no skills and very little money, and has heard her father's predictionthat no decent man would ever want her so often she accepts it as fact.

But she does have a big old house on Lawyers Row in Peacock, Tennessee. Sheopens a rooming house and quickly gathers a motley crew of tenants - Promise,Grace's best friend since kindergarten, who's fighting cancer; Maxie, an agingsoap opera actress who hasn't lost her flair for the dramatic; Jonah, a sweetgullible old man with a crush on Maxie.

And Dillon, Grace's brother's best friend, who stood her up on the night of hersenior prom and has regretted it ever since. Dillon rents Grace's guest housefor the summer and hopes to make up for lost time and past hurts - but first,he'll have to convince Grace that she's worth loving...

Stay tuned for a sneak peak from OneMore Summer! For now, we go now to our Cozy correspondent, Tink, who is stillsharing Captain Jack’s quarters on the Black Pearl somewhere in the Carribbean....Take it away, Tink….

*a chorus of “Yo Ho Ho,and a Bottle of Rum”*

Tink: Arrr, maties, and hello from the BermudaTriangle! As you can see by the patch, I have been officially inducted intoCaptain Jack’s crew. They call me Red-Handed Tink, aka Mrs. Jack Sparrow :)

Liz, it’s good to have you aboard! We’llput one of the hands to work on getting us a round of drinks. If you were amixed drink what would you be and why?

Liz: I would be a strawberry frozenmargarita. Because (1), I’ve gotten girly in my dotage, (2) I’m as sweet as Ican be J and (3) I can kick ass if theoccasion calls for it.

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

Liz: Person would have to be myhusband. We’ve been together for two thirds of my life and I don’t want to goto any islands without him, no matter how crazy we might drive each other. Thesong would have to be “It Is Well With My Soul” because even if I were notreligious, the lyrics would offer comfort and quiet if I needed it. Book. Is afully-loaded Kindle cheating? If it is, I’ll go for Kathleen Gilles Seidel’s Till the Stars Fall simply because it isthat good and I’m due to read it again.

Tink: What would be the name of yourpet gourd?

Liz: Felix. Because he looks like aFelix to me.

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

Liz: I have never, ever thought aboutthis. “Amazing Grace” was the first thing that came to mind simply because theheroine is Grace and I think she’s amazing, but that’s just too…easy, andneither the book nor Grace fit. Wait, I know! There’s a song on an old favoriteexercise video called, “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” There are hugemountains of pain in the book—how Grace and Dillon cross those mountains is thestory.

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

Liz: Grace says, “Dillon, you’re late.” His to herwere, “The cats wanted in.”

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

Liz: If I had to pigeonhole him, Iguess I’d say beta with closet alpha tendencies. He’d never start a fight andwould try to talk himself out of one, but he’d still be the last guy standing.And he’d still be talking.

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

Liz: Briefs. White ones.

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

Liz: One where she doesn’t have todress up or wear makeup. She’d a whole lot rather just stay home and eat pizza.

Tink: What is your favorite thingabout each character?

Liz: Grace is the best friends anyonecould have. Friendship is the one relationship that—I think anyway—is asimportant when you’re 80 as it was when you were eight, and Grace is good atit.

Dillon is a good friend, too, and he’sfunny, and he’s a loving man who doesn’t pretend not to be.

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

Liz: I have a tendency, not just inthis book but in all the ones I’ve written, to make everyone sound too muchalike. Since I can see and hear the differences, I expect readers (and editors)to be able to as well. It’s always a challenge to me to not just tell abouttheir differences but show them, too.

What’s your favorite word? Leastfavorite?

Liz: My favorite word is joy. Myleast favorite, and I do apologize for this, is the f-bomb. When I was a kidand even thinking it would bring on the threat of soap in my mouth, it was goodto have a word that was reserved for the truly awful—we no longer have one;it’s just become an annoying part of conversation. It doesn’t offend me; I justdon’t like it.

Tink: What sound or noise do youlove? Hate?

Liz: I love the sound of kids’laughter—or nearly anyone else’s, for that matter. I can’t stand mindlesswhistling, though I can’t explain why.

Tink: What’s your favorite curseword?

Liz: Son of a bitch.

Tink: What profession other thanyours would you like to attempt?

Liz: A travel writer.

Tink: What profession would you notlike to participate in?

Liz: Politics.

Tink: Now for a sneak peak from One More Summer….

"This issupposed to be a prom.” Dillon pushed aside his dessert plate. He gesturedtoward the backyard. “The dance floor waits.”

Grace got to her feet.“Remember how fragile these glass slippers are.”

He nudged one of her bare feetwith the toe of his sandal. “Damn near invisible too. Isn’t technologysomething?”

Dillon and Steven had placedcitronella torches in the yard, and the scent of the oil blended with that ofthe flowers. The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody” filled the air andDillon put his arms around Grace’s waist. Gently, not pulling her close. Sherested her hands lightly on his shoulders, suddenly shy. Other than aerobicsclasses in the church basement that Promise had dragged her to, she hadn’tdanced since high school.

As they moved across the lawn,however, his arms tightened and her hands crept up around his neck, the leftone with its glaring white bandage held palm out. His muscled legs movedagainst hers, but the motions they made were liquid, graceful, and she wishedwhimsically for a waltz and a flowing dress.

The song changed, and he sangclose to her ear. The grass dance floor was cool and damp beneath her feet, thestar-filled sky a splendid ceiling, the flickering torches the most romantic oflights, the subtle scent of roses a seductive aroma. Almost against her will,Grace’s eyes drifted closed as his lips lowered to hers. The ambiance was loston Grace as Dillon’s kiss took over her senses. All she felt were his handssplayed on her back, his body flush with hers. All she smelled was the pleasantmingling of charcoal smoke and Irish Spring soap that lingered on his shirt andhis skin. She tasted only his mouth, flavored with wine and coffee, and shecouldn’t get enough of it.

After the third kiss, when herinsides were a roiling mass of sensation and emotion, she murmured, “GeezyPete.”

He said, “You got that right,”and stroked a hand up her back. “What’s this? You didn’t wear a bra to theprom?”

She brought her injured handinto his line of vision and waggled it. “I couldn’t fasten it.”

His hand came around betweenthem to cup one small, denim-covered breast. “What a shame.” He found hernipple and worked the bead of its tip between his fingers.

A low moan slipped uncaughtfrom her throat. Clutching her composure like a lifeline before itdisintegrated completely, she said, “The music’s stopped.”

“Do you really think so?” hewhispered, and teased her lips with the tip of his tongue until they opened.

They had danced their way towhere they stood among the trees. When she opened her eyes again, she caughtsight of a torch to their left, anchored into the ground beside the single stepthat led inside the gazebo.

The gazebo.

“Nodecent man in his right mind’s going to want you, girl.”

“No, Papa,” she whispered,caught in the horror, and moved restively in Dillon’s embrace.

“Gracie?” His voice was soft,gentling.

“I need to go in.” The wordssounded much more urgent than the situation demanded, but she couldn’t unsaythem.

“Okay.” He answeredimmediately, and turned her toward the house, but didn’t release her. “I’lltake you back.”

Steven and Promise weren’t onthe back porch. The candles had been snuffed, but the dishes remained on thetable. “Leave them,” Dillon said, leading her firmly past the mess and into thehouse. “Steven and I will take care of it. You go on up.”

She nodded and moved toward thestairs, but turned when she stood on the second one. “Dillon?”

“Yeah?” He smiled at her, theexpression not erasing the frown of concern between his eyes.

“Thank you. The ‘prom’ waswonderful.” Without waiting for a reply, she ran the rest of the way up thestairs.

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

Liz: Oliver Platt. Because, likeFelix the Gourd, I like how he looks.

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

Liz: The Black Pearl…and I’ll haveOliver, too.

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

Liz: LOL. My imagination isn’t goodenough to get around this, so I’ll go with Blackbeard. Oliver will help me…

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

Liz: Captain Jack. Takes noimagination at all to answer that one!

Tink: It seems I have competition. :)Thank you for answering the crew’s nosy questions. From the Black Pearl, thisis Tink and Captain Jack signing off….

Life is new and wonderful for writerLiz Flaherty these days. She retired from the post office in 2011, promptlygained 15 pounds—she swears it was overnight—and promised her grandchildren,The Magnificent Seven, that she would make each of them a bed-size quilt. Shealso planned to write all day, every day. Whatwas she thinking?

She’s learned to write when she feelslike it, sew when she feels like it, and maybe even to eat a little less. She’sgone back to school, where, yes, she is far and away the oldest kid in class.She’s learned to share the house and sometimes even the kitchen with Duane, herhusband of, oh, lots of years. And she’s having a Very, Very Good Time. Herfifth book—she’s not really an overnight success; she just never gives up—is One More Summer a brand new release byCarina Press. She is thrilled to the point everyone she knows rolls their eyes assoon as she opens her mouth.

Visit Liz at her website and The WordWranglers where she hangs out with some of her best writer friends!

Cozies, you can find One More Summer this month at CarinaPress as well as Barnes & Noble and Amazon!

Liz has generously offered a giveawayfor today’s Cozy Guest Friday. By commenting to today’s post and answering thefollowing questions before midnight EST tomorrow, you will be entered to win a jarcandle along with a book from her backlist:

What is your favorite scent and why? (If chosen as thewinner, Liz will send your scent of choice!)

The winner will be chosen by the TrueRandom Number Generator at Random.org and announced here at The Cozy Page onSunday so please check back to see if you have won. (Chances of winning dependon the number of entries; you must be 18 years or older to enter.)

Blogging & A Free Download...

2012-01-04T01:00:00.000-06:00

This month I’m happy to report that I’ll be getting back tomy regularly scheduled blog program – first up, today I’m up for my monthlyblogging date with the Sweethearts ofthe West….

On Friday in addition to our first Cozy Guest Friday of theyear with guest Liz Flaherty, I’ll be blogging at The Roses of Prose about how to better achieve organization in bothour business and private lives in the new year….

I’d like to take this time to point out that A Holiday to Remember is now availableas an ebook for free download from TheRoses of Prose. Don’t wait – get your copy of our holiday romance today here or on the BOOKS page of my website!

2012 Horoscope...

2012-01-02T01:00:00.000-06:00

It’s that time of year again – for resolutionsand astrology! Here’s the 2012 overview for the Taurus, accordingto Yahoo Shine….

"Withlucky Jupiter continuing to bless your stars, you can definitely expect to havethe Midas touch in 2012, Taurus. Take advantage of your cosmic carte blancheduring the first half of the year and get yourself firmly on the map. The firstsix months of the year are part of an ongoing personal renovation projectbefore generous Jupiter leaves your stars. Not that you'll be losing much oncethe planet of fortune and fame moves into your neighboring sign and starts tobless your money sector. On the contrary - as soon as Jupiter moves into Geminiin June, your luck continues to build while grounding you in positive energy.The second half of the year will bring you great financial prosperity andopportunities to expand your talents.

"Youcertainly won't starve for love, lust and creativity in 2012. Mars, the planetof action, will heat up your romance sector for the first half of the year. Thefirst four months of 2012 could bring the return of old flames. Use Mars'sfirst quarter retrograde phase to wrap up old creative and romantic business.Having both Mars and Jupiter working hard on your behalf for the first sixmonths of the year is a glorious predicament, indeed. Between mid-May and lateJune, your ruling planet, Venus, will turn retrograde, so mark that period onyour calendar as a reminder to slow down, reflect and re-evaluate yourrelationship priorities. In fact, this would be an ideal time to take a hiatusfrom responsibilities in favor of completely relaxing and immersing yourself inbeauty.

"Moneyand finance take center stage for most of the year as you experience severalgains and losses. The key to your sanity will be to ride the wave ofunpredictability and, in the end, trust that you'll still come out ahead. Payspecial attention to your finances around the major eclipse points in May, Juneand December. Watch for new money-making opportunities around your birthday.It's just in time, because you may very well need to pad your piggy bank forsome unexpected expenditures in June and July."

Andthe Chinese horoscope for you Tigers out there….

"Whoa,there. Don't push yourself too hard. Sure, you're eager to get going on thoseNew Year's resolutions. However, a perfectionist attitude will only set you upfor failure. Start the New Year with an attitude of gratitude instead of focusingon what's bad in your life."

To find your 2012 horoscope overview, visitYahoo Shine….

Winner of Jennifer Jakes' Giveaway!

2012-01-01T12:15:00.000-06:00

It’s time to announce the winner ofJennifer Jakes’ book giveaway from last week’s Cozy Guest Friday. First of all,a huge thank you to everyone who participated. We had a great turn-up anddiscussion!

Friday’s giveaway was for an ebookedition of Jennifer’s Twice in a Lifetime.The winner, chosen by the True Random Number Generator at Random.org is….

Commenter #5– Allison Merritt

Congratulations, Allison! To receiveyour prize, send a confirmation email to amber@amberleighwilliams.com. AndCozies, be sure to check back in this Friday for 2012’s first Cozy Guest Fridaywith author Liz Flaherty, our Cozy correspondent Tink, and Captain Jack, ofcourse!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Cozy Guest Friday: Jennifer Jakes + Giveaway

2011-12-30T01:00:00.000-06:00

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

Be Careful What You Wish For. . .

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

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

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

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

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

Tink: Hello, Cozies! The people ofWannaLuvaPir’ate Beach decided that a hostile takeover was in order so Jack andI 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 youwere a mixed drink what would you be and why?

Jennifer: Oooh, I would be my new favorite drink, a PomegranateMargarita. 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 hubbythinks I’m yummy :)

Tink: If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring onlyone 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 sexyAussie accent!

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

Book:Hmmmm. I’d take One Night With A Princeby 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’stheme song?

Jennifer:The song I used when I was writing Twicein a Lifetime was Crazy Girl by The Eli Young Band. If you hear it and haveread 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. BecauseI 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 chaiselounge 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 thesecharacters?

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

Tink:Now for a more in-depth look at the author… I will now ask you a round of nosyand nonsensical questions developed by Bernard Peevo and used by James Liptonon Inside the Actor’s Studio…. Braceyourself… 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 akind-of career bucket list. But I still want to be a Room Stager (someone whostages 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 aLifetime….

Herfingers threaded in his thick hair as she traced his mouth with the tip of hertongue. “Kiss me.”

Hehesitated, 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.

“Touchme.” She pressed a kiss to his throat, then licked his collarbone. “I need yourhands on me.”

Hegrunted 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 histhigh 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.

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

Ianpulled back and swallowed hard, his expression hungry, his heart thumpingagainst 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.

Hermind crawled to process what was happening while her body was doused withdisappointment. “You’re still going?”

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

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

“.. . I expect an explanation.”

Izzydrooped 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 allday to ask…. If you could choose anyone (real or fictional) to be the captainof your, er, ship…who would it be?

Jennifer:Capt. Jack Sparrow

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

Jennifer:You know that gorgeous island Capt. Jack is marooned on ….the one with all therum? I don’t need to take it home, I could just move there. With Jack forcompany, 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 CommodoreNorrington?

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 thePearl 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 theCaribbean signing off….

Aftertrying several careers—everything from a beautician to a dump truckdriver—Jennifer finally returned to her first love, writing. Maybe it was allthose Clint Eastwood movies she watched growing up, but in her opinion there isno better read than a steamy western historical.

Marriedto her very own hero, she lives on fifteen acres along with two beautifuldaughters, three spoiled cats, three hyper dogs and one fat rabbit. During thesummer 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 waterheater. Visit Jennifer Jakes at www.jenniferjakes.com....

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

Jenniferwas kind enough to offer a giveaway for today’s guests. By commenting to today’spost and answering the following question before midnight EST tomorrow, youwill be entered to win an ebook edition of Twicein a Lifetime:

Whatis your favorite part or line from the Pirates of the Carribean?

Ithink 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. (Chancesof winning depend on the number of entries; you must be 18 years or older toenter.)

A Holiday to Remember...

2011-12-29T18:31:00.001-06:00

I hope everyone had a lovelyChristmas! I’m gearing up for the new year…and meanwhile also for tomorrow’sexciting time travel edition of Cozy Guest Friday with author Jennifer Jakes! Besure to join Tink and Captain Jack aboard the Black Pearl tomorrow here at TheCozy Page….

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

Cozy Guest Friday: Beth Trissel + Giveaway

2011-12-16T01:00:00.000-06:00

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 isexiled 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 careershattered, this homecoming feels no less like exile. But when he finds Baileyat Maple Hill, her fairy-like beauty gives him reason to hope–until she tellshim about the ghost haunting the house. Then he wonders if her one experimentwith pot has made her crazy.

As Bailey and Eric draw closer, he agrees to help herfind a long-forgotten Christmas gift the ghost wants. But will the magic ofChristmas be enough to make Eric believe–in Bailey and the ghost–before theChristmas 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 bya 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 thefollowing…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 nestingsites 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 tomusic 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 everinstruct you to knock before entering a gentleman’s bedchamber?”

Inthe 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, althoughonce 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 thefront).

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 opensin 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 outspokenhousekeeper Ella who was very much as my dad described her from hischildhood. Somewhere the Bells Ring is based on the gracious old Virginia homeplace where my dad was born and raised and I grew up visiting over theholidays.

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

Beth:Somewhere the BellsRing was inspired by the poignant dream Ihad 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 theirstory. Getting it right was the trick. I chose to set it in the late 1960’s becauseI’m nostalgic about that era, but the dream actually took place earlier in thecentury judging by their costumes. Thusthe flashbacks to 1918 and the end of WW1. But I pondered for ages which era to wing back to. Having a Marine CorpsCaptain grandfather who distinguished himself during the thick of the fightingin France during The Great War and then tragically died when myfather was only three definitely influenced this story–dedicated to thegrandfather 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 nosyand nonsensical questions developed by Bernard Peevo and used by James Liptonon Inside the Actor’s Studio…. Braceyourself 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 TheScarlet Pimpernel)

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

Beth:Script writing and I have. Even won afew 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 unnervingresemblance to the mysterious woman in Wilkie Collins’ classic mystery, The Woman in White. Eric fervently hoped the similarity ended there. Ashe recalled from the novel, that unfortunate lady had been unhinged.

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

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

He limped to where she stood, the hitch in his leg alittle 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. “Didyou check inside the wardrobe?”

“Eric, I’m being serious.”

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

She smelled of flowers from her perfume and woodsmoke. “Mercy, child,” he said in his best imitation of Ella, “it’s as cold asa 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 youcould choose the spirit of anyone (real or fictional) to haunt to walls of yourhouse…who would it be?

Beth:The ghostly hero of Somewhere the BellsRing, 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 inthe valley involves a young man who arrived at an old plantation home early inthe morning to collect a carpet he’d been directed to take back to the storefor cleaning. A woman in period dressopened the door and indicated the room and carpet which he removed. Later, after he’d gone, he got a phone call tellinghim to wait and collect the carpet when the staff arrived as the house was locked—seemsthe resident ghost let him in.

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

Beth:People get attached to these beautiful historic homes and are reluctant to moveon. That, and these houses have seen alot 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 moveon.

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

Beth:The dream I referred to that took place at Christmas so I already knew thesetting 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....

Marriedto her high school sweetheart, Beth lives on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley ofVirginia surrounded by her children, grandbabies, and assorted animals. An avid gardener, her love of herbs andheirloom plants figures into her work. The rich history of Virginia, the NativeAmericans, and the people who journeyed here from far beyond her borders are atthe heart of her inspiration. In additionto American settings, Beth also writes historical and time travel romances set inthe 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...

2011-12-14T23:05:00.000-06:00

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....

2011-12-05T22:40:00.001-06:00

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

HOLIDAYIN DEATH

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

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

HOMESPUNBRIDE

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

Thoughshe could not know it, her rescuer was rancher Thad McKaslin, the man who hadonce loved her more than life itself. Losing her had shaken all his most deeplyheld beliefs. Now he wondered if the return of this strong woman was a signthat somehow he could find his way home.

ThisJillian 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. Thoughthe book is focused more on a wintry setting than Christmas, it’s still a mustread for the holidays….

THEGIFT

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

Thetime is the 1950s, when life was simpler, people still believed in dreams, andfamily was, very nearly, everything. The place is a small midwestern town witha high school and a downtown, a skating pond and a movie house. And on atree-lined street in the heartland of America, an extraordinary set of eventsbegins to unfold. And gradually what seems serendipitous is tinged withpurpose. A happy home is shattered by a child's senseless death. A lovingmarriage starts to unravel. And a stranger arrives—a young woman who will touchmany 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 leavesthem.

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

The followingbooks aren’t on the shelf yet but I’m hoping to add them very, very soon. Is itobvious I’m feeling the western setting this holiday season? I certainly thinkso….

ATEXAS CHRISTMAS

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

HOLIDAY IN STONECREEK

A Stone Creek Christmas: StoneCreek veterinarian Olivia O'Ballivan communicates easily with animals, but menare another story. Especially rugged architect-turned-rancher Tanner Quinn.Olivia's uncanny bond with his daughter Sophie's pony has him questioning hersanity, while she wonders ifhe's not just a drugstore cowboy. Then twelve-year-old Sophie conspires withOlivia to get Tanner into the spirit of Christmas. But will a holiday miracletransform the globe-trotting Tanner into a rancher—and family man—for allseasons?

At Home In Stone Creek: Everyone in AshleyO'Ballivan's life is marrying and starting families—except her. But why botherdating when no one can compare to Jack McCall, the man who left her heartbrokenyears 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 AHoliday to Remember again…only this time for good reason – today my firstsegment of the story posts. If you’ve read my western romances, you probablywon’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 andthe 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...

2011-12-03T01:00:00.000-06:00

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

2011-12-02T01:00:00.000-06:00

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?

Coming Soon: A HOLIDAY TO REMEMBER

2011-11-30T13:32:00.001-06:00

I'm thrilled to announce that starting tomorrow at The Roses of Prose the holiday romance, A Holiday to Remember, that I have contributed to along with all my other fellow Roses will begin to post. Here's a sneak peek....

Candy Wright didn’t become ahigh-powered Manhattanbusiness executive by letting men walk all over her. She watched her motherwork herself to death to give her daughter a better life and is determined tomake her proud. If that means not risking her heart, not letting any man gettoo close, then so be it.

Mitch Johnson lives a simple lifein rural Georgia.Holding his secrets close. Hiding from the life he left behind. The last thinghe wants—or needs—is a woman to remind him of his past.

When the two are thrown together ina freak snowstorm, sparks fly. Mitch is everything she’s worked to escape.Candy is a reminder of his painful past. But the attraction between them won’tbe denied. Will love thaw their frozen hearts, or will secrets tear them apart?One thing is certain; it will be a holiday to remember…

Tune in tomorrow to The Roses of Prose for A Holiday to Remember....

Winner of Doris Lemcke's Giveaway...

2011-11-21T06:22:00.001-06:00

It's time to announce the winner of Doris Lemcke's Cozy Guest Friday book giveaway! The winner of their choice of a paperback or ebook edition of western romance novel Passion's Spirit is....

Commenter #2 - marybelle

Congrats, marybelle! Please send a confirmation email to amber@amberleighwilliams.com to claim your prize! Thank you to everyone who participated in Doris's Cozy Guest Friday celebration with Tink and her merry band of cowboys. Stay tuned for next week's Cozy Guest Friday....

Cozy Guest Friday: Doris Lemcke + Giveaway

2011-11-18T01:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to this week’s edition ofCozy Guest Friday! Today’s victim…*ahem* special guest is Doris Lemcke, authorof Passion’s Spirit available nowfrom The Wild Rose Press….

Untamed Hearts, Worlds Apart – SantaFe, New Mexico 1892

Raised by Santa Fe missionaries,half-Apache orphan Elena Santiago has vowed to avenge her white, guardians’murders the Apache way. But first, she must masquerade as a white woman todeliver a dangerous message across the country into the land of her enemies.And after one look at the untamed spirit behind Sean O’Grady’s smoky grey eyes,she realizes that her heart’s response to his body, more like and Apachewarrior than a soft, white “gentleman,” is far more dangerous than the warningshe carries.”

Sean O’Grady has always dreamed of exploringthe Wild West, but at 25 years old, he’s put aside those dreams to wed hisneighbor and run their two Georgia plantations. When Elena arrives looking andspeaking more like a Spanish lady than an Indian mission girl, he wonders ifshe's really who she says she is. Is she a virgin or a vixen? The questiontaunts him as he struggles with feelings he’s never felt before. Feelings thatcould get them both killed.

Stay tuned for a sneak peek into Passion’s Spirit! We go now to our Cozycorrespondent Tink, live from her favorite desert oasis along with a few of herfamiliar cowpoke friends. Take it away, Tink…

*banjo music*

Tink: Hello, Cozies! It’s a hot dayhere at the WanaLuvaCowb’oy Oasis. The water may not be aplenty, but the boys haveset up a temporary wet bar. Doris, if you were a mixed drink what would you beand why?

Doris: Maybe it’s my love of theSouthwest, but I’d definitely be a margarita—on the rocks, no salt. No foam, no fruit, no paper umbrella; refreshing,with a bite that makes you want more. What more could an author want to be?

Tink: We’ll have Keefe, Casey, and Judd bringus a round of those. *rings bell* Right away, lovelies! Now, Doris, if you werestranded in the desert and could bring only one of the following…whatwould they be? Person? Song? Book?

Doris: It’s got to be a person. And without a doubt it would be myhusband. After four decades together,we’ve seen poverty and plenty, sickness and health, success and failure, alongwith numerous changes in latitude and attitude. A desert would be a piece of cake.

A song? Can I have two? I’mtold I have NO musical taste, but I’m a word person. I look for lyrics thatspeak to me. And one that speaks to meof love, survival, and hope is The Rose, by Bette Midler. And since I’d be stranded on the desert, I think“The Impossible Dream” would keep me going.

A book? “How to survive being stranded in the desert”would certainly be helpful. But sinceI’m hooked on history, mystery, and romance, and I love stories about the sinsof the fathers (and mothers) haunting future generations, it would be “Roses”by Leila Meachum. By the way, the rose theme is purelycoincidental.

Tink: What would be the name of yourtrusty steed?

Doris: My mind instantly went back toone of the first real books I ever read, Black Beauty. So no matter whatcolor my trusty steed is, I’d choose Beauty—or Fury, from an old TV show. But Fury sounds angry, so I’ll stick with byfirst choice. Beauty it is.

Tink: Let’s talk a bit more aboutyour book. If you wrote to music, what would be this book’s theme song?

Doris: As I said, NO sense of rhythm. But my story has such a strong NativeAmerican influence, and my heroine was raised by Christian missionaries. So if I did know anything about music, I’d trydrums, pipes, and a haunting Apache melody to accompany my favorite spiritual,“Amazing Grace”.

Tink: Excellent answer! What are thefirst words your hero speaks to your heroine (or vice versa)?

Doris: “E. Santiago? Are you E.Santiago from Santa Fe? We were expecting a man. An Indian actually,” Seanadded, wiping a dirty hand on soiled trousers before holding it out to her.
“You are almost right, Senor O’Grady,” sheanswered the challenge in his stormy gray gaze. “I am Elena Santiago, and I aman Indian. Apache, actually.”

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

Doris: Sean is an alpha hero: strong,tough, stubborn, and torn between his duty to run the family plantation and hisdream of exploring the Wild West. He’sstruggling to turn his bad-boy reputation around when Elena (the kind of woman he’salways dreamed of), shows up right after he promises to marry someone else. As much as he wants to, there’s too much atstake to trust her—or himself, until both their lives depend on it. Hehides his feelings of being an outsider even with his own family, behind acocky smile and false bravado, but his actions speak louder than the threelittle words he can’t say when he puts his life on the line for Elena.

Tink: Does your hero prefer to wearboxers, briefs, a kilt? Or does he go commando like our Keefe here? ;)

Doris: Since nineteenth centuryunderwear offered more freedom—for men, Sean would lean toward boxers.

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

Doris: At this time, avenging themissionaries’ deaths is the only thing on her mind. As a half-Apache orphan raised bymissionaries, courtship isn’t something she expects—or is even familiar with. Unfortunately at this time in our history, withher mixed blood, her options are limited and she can only “hope to be treatedkindly”.

Tink: What is your favorite thingabout each character?

Doris: Sean’s brashness andconfidence that he can handle anything, including a deadly, crooked politicianwith a network of assassins out for his and Elena’s blood; and how he refinesthose traits to become a REAL man that a strong woman would want to hold on to.

Elena’s loyalty, courage, and herability to “walk in both worlds” while holding true to her own purpose—even ifit means losing her only love.

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

Doris: The time to put it down onpaper. I started this book a long timeago, then life intervened. Family,education, and career all stepped in front of the dream of telling thisstory. But as characters have a way ofdoing, they wouldn’t go away, so last year I ignored the “Western historicalsare dead” advice, polished it up and beat the odds for publication. The research in creating this book was a pleasureand the characters, after being in my head for so long, were so real that theytruly did nearly write the book themselves.

Tink: Now for a more in-depth look atthe author… *puts on her smart glasses* I will now ask you a round of nosy andnonsensical questions developed by Bernard Peevo and used by James Lipton on Inside the Actor’s Studio…. Braceyourself J What’s your favorite word? Least favorite?

Doris: Favorite word: Hmmm. “I can”. I know its two words,but if you say them really fast they can sound like one. Ican, Ican, Ican. Without realizing it, I’ve spent most of mylife living and learning by those words. From running a business and going out of business, to gaining a formaleducation and building a career later in life, and now to writing books, “Ican” has worked for me.

Least Favorite: This time I’ll go with one word. “Can’t”. Certainly there are things we are all unable to do for a variety ofreasons, but I see “can’t” as a synonym for “won’t”. To me, it represents giving up. It’s a term of helplessness, and whenever Ihear it or have to admit it, it makes me sad.

Tink: What sound or noise do youlove? Hate?

Doris: I love sitting in a shelteredspot and listening to the wind in the trees. I’m from cloudy Michigan and it used to be maples, oaks, and pines. Now I’m transplanted to sunny SouthwestFlorida and my lanai is a perfect place to relieve the day’s stress to thesound of warm Gulf breezes rustling the palm leaves.

Hate? Sirens. Besides their shrill,painful, dissonance, sirens mean danger and tragedy. While the sound of a siren means rescue tosomeone in need, whenever I hear one, I think of the suffering that summonedthem.

Tink: What’s your favorite curse word?

Doris: I’m never proud of using cursewords, but I have to admit I do. Thereare two that slip out frequently when something goes wrong or I’mfrustrated—“Oh, sh..., and Da... it.” When I’m particularly flummoxed, it’s “What the H…” or in extreme cases,“What the F…” It’s a limited vocabularyfor a writer, but I don’t care to expand on it.

Tink: What profession other thanyours would you like to attempt?

Doris: My day job is in HumanResources, which suits my people-pleasing nature and my constant need tocommunicate. The only profession otherthan writing books that I dream of attempting is to teach, as a college instructor,consultant, or speaker, and help others follow their dreams.

Tink: What profession would you notlike to participate in?

Doris: There are several, but thefirst one that came to my mind is that I would never want to be anattorney. Attorneys are constantlyinvolved in conflict: contests, judging, winning and losing. I’m a Cancer, the crab. I approach things from the side, look at allthe angles of a situation and will do almost anything to avoid conflict (exceptwhat I can invent and control it in my stories. That kind of conflict I love). Althoughthe legal profession provides great story ideas, applying the complexities ofthe black-and-white world of the law to shades-of-gray, real-life human drama ona daily basis would make my head explode.

Tink: There, that wasn’t so bad, wasit? Now, just in time for the hoedown, let’s share a sneak peak from Passion’s Spirit with the Cozies back home….

When Sean pulled away, Elena lookedinto his eyes wondering, is this what love feels like, or is it only lust? Shedecided that nothing as beautiful as the moment they’d just shared could beevil. But it could never be love, either. She had felt his passion pressagainst her and ached for him to fill her. Now she was grateful that he hadn’t.They were from different worlds that still warred against with each other. Hecould never survive in her world and she refused to live in his.

As if he read her thoughts, he leanedinto her, whispering so close to her ear that it could have been a kiss,"Why can’t you be Mary Louise? And I the Apache brave who will eventuallyclaim you?” Then he turned to stare at the stream that patiently followed thecourse nature had carved out for it.

The question echoed in Elena's mind.For a moment, his heart had beat to the rhythm of hers. The curves of her bodyhad melted into the angles of his as they breathed the same breath and tastedeach other’s souls. For a moment, they had truly been one body and one soul.

Now separated, the chilly breeze thatstirred the pine needles at their feet told her that when she was with him,even angry, she was whole. And though he changed his moods faster than themountain gods and was promised to marry a weak and silly white woman, part ofher would always belong to this loco Gringo.

She also turned her gaze toward theriver. "We can only be who we are.”

Tink: And the final questions Keefe and theother cowboys have been waiting all day to ask…. If you could choose anyone(real or fictional) in the world to rescue you from a deadly outlaw’s grasp…whowould it be? J

Doris: Besides Rhett Butler, Little Joe Cartwrightfrom Bonanza. His cocky stance, crooked smile and dark eyesfilled my dreams as a young girl. He wasthe bad boy of the family, the passionate one, the one with the sense of humorand adventure. He’s the one I wouldtrust to rescue me from any danger—and take me back to that fabulous ranch tolive happily ever after.

Tink: Which is your favorite type ofwestern hero – cowboy, gunslinger, Indian warrior, or lawman?

Doris: Lawman, especially a lawmanwith a past. There’s nothing morehero-like than a man with a shameful past devoting himself to upholding thelaw, and his inner conflict in having to draw on the skills learned in thatpast to do it.

Tink: Favorite western villain of alltime?

Doris: It’s always the grasping,greedy mayor or judge who’s trying to run the honest rancher sitting on a goldmine, or newspaper woman with the guts to print the truth, out of town. Politicians make great villains (there’s onein my book). The thirst for power, land,or money at the expense of good, hard working people always makes me root forthe underdog.

Tink: And most importantly…JohnWayne, Jimmy Stewart, Gene Autry, or Gary Cooper?

Doris: Jimmy Stewart. He’s my favoritereluctant hero. Without the bluster ofJohn Wayne, the voice of Gene Autry, or the intensity of Gary Cooper, Jimmy wasalways underestimated by the bad guys and that gave him his edge. I like that.

Tink: *grins* Yes, there aremany fans of Mr. Stewart ‘round these here parts J Well, you’ve answered all myquestions, Doris! Now for a round of square-dancin’! This is Tink and thecowpokes signing off from WanaLuvaCowb’oy Oasis!

Thank you to Tink for another great interview! A shout-out to some of my favorite cowboys - Judd and the Ridge brothers - for making a cameo this week! Doris, thank you for answering all of Tink's nosy questions.... And I'm with you and Tink - it's Jimmy for me, too!

Doris Lemcke is aMichigan native who first fell inlove with historical fiction in the fourth grade (Black Beauty and The Silver Chalice). Then Gone withthe Wind cinched it. She was hooked. Passion'sSpirit and the upcoming Passion’s Secret,as parts of the Passion's Legacy series, waitedthrough years and careers (from corporate accounting, to ruralstore owner, real estate and moving services sales, to Human Resourcesexecutive) to come true. Her daughter Mary is aprofessor at the University of New Hampshire, and Doris and her husband, John,recently relocated to Southwest Florida, where he is “retired” and takes careof EVERYTHING while she holds down the day job and writes. And she wouldn’t be having such a great timeon this blog if not for the Southwest Florida Romance Writers’ very true advice that Western Historicals are alive and well at The WildRose Press. Find out more about Doris and her booksat her website!

***Cozies, for this week's discussion - name your all-time favorite cowboy, whether from real life, the big screen or the page! I'm biased so I'll definitely go with Judd Black from Blackest Heart!!!

****GIVEAWAY DETAILS: Doris is kind enough to offer a prize for one lucky commenter: Passion's Spirit in either ebook or paperback (winner's choice)! To enter, simply comment to this post today or tomorrow by midnight EST. The winner will be announced Sunday morning here at The Cozy Page so be sure to check back to see if you have won. Good luck!
(You must be 18 years or older to enter; chances of winning depend on the number of entries.)

December News....

2011-11-17T23:53:00.001-06:00

I have some exciting news for December involving my association with the group blog The Roses of Prose. During December we will begin posting a progessive story entitled A Holiday to Remember! The story begins on December 1st and will continue on until New Years Eve. This is my first experience with progressive stories and I can't begin to express what a fun new creative process it was! I'm thrilled I got to work more closely with my favorite Roses....

A Holiday to Remember is a holiday romance and I'll be posting the cover and blurb here at Cozy within the next week. (My two story segments will post on my regular group blogging dates - the 6th and 19th of December.) I'm looking forward to sharing more details as well as the story itself! Stay tuned....

Oh, and be sure to catch me at The Roses of Prose on Saturday for my November post!

Winner of Rachel Brimble's Giveaway...

2011-11-13T09:28:00.001-06:00

Thank you to everyone who participated in yesterday's Cozy Guest Friday discussion - and thank you to Rachel Brimble who was a great interviewee for Tink!

The winner of yesterday's Cozy Guest Friday giveaway for a download of choice of Rachel's backlist is....

Commenter #2 - Nancy Jardine

Congrats, Nancy! Please send a confirmation email to amber@amberleighwilliams.com along with the name of the title from Rachel's backlist you would like to read most.

Check back in next week, Cozies, for another exciting episode of Cozy Guest Friday with Tink and Co.!

Cozy Guest Friday: Rachel Brimble + Giveaway

2011-11-11T01:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to this week’s edition ofCozy Guest Friday! Today’s victim…*ahem* special guest is Rachel Brimble,author of Paying the Piper, availablenow from Lyrical Press...

Nightclub manager Grace Butler is ona mission to buy the pub where her mother's ashes are scattered but the ownerwants to sell to anyone but her. And that owner happens to be her father...whohas a secret she will do anything to discover.

Social worker and all around good guyJimmy Betts needs funds to buy a house for three special kids before their carehome closes. Time is running out and he's desperate for cash. He agrees to to aone-time 'job' for bad-man Karl Butler. But in a sudden turn of events, Jimmyfinds himself employed by Karl's beautiful, funny and incredibly sexy daughter,Grace.

Their lives couldn't be moredifferent, yet one thread binds them: they're both trying to escape the bondsof their fathers. Maybe the only way they'll be free is by being together,instead of alone.

Stay tuned for a sneak peek into Paying the Piper! We go now again to our Cozycorrespondent Tink, live from a lounge chair on her favorite tropical island of PutSomeRumin’italong with a few of her swashbuckling friends. Take it away, Tink…

*luau music*

Tink: Hello, Cozies! I’d like to takethis time to point out that the island natives have appointed me their queen soI should herein be addressed as “Her Majesty.” J

It’s a sunny day here on WanaLuvaPir’ateBeach. Jack believes that since I have named him my official consort he shouldno longer have to man the tiki bar....

Tink: Ah, no matter! Rachel, if you were a cocktail, whatwould you be and why?

Rachel: Rum and diet coke – Rumbecause I’d love to live somewhere hot and sultry with white sands and blue seaand diet coke because I’m a traditional kind of girl too. Does that make anysense at all, lol?!

Tink: Of course it makes sense – and mostappropriate considering PutSomeRumin’it meets all your qualifications! Now for a game ofDesert Island. Ready? If you were stuck on a desert island and could bring onlyone of the following…what would they be? Person? Song? Book?

Rachel: Person – This feels so unfairbecause I’ve got two kids who I’d love there too BUT for the sake of romance, Iwill say my husband. He’s still my best friend after 19 years together and knowhe’d always make me laugh.

Song – “She” by Elvis Costello (myfavorite song EVER!)

Book – Because I’d want a hefty tomethat I could read again and again, I’ll say GoneWith The Wind. I have made a ceremony of reading the book every 10 yearssince my 15^th birthday. So far I have read it three times – the nextdue date is 2019!

Tink: Excellent choice! Rhett Butlerwas my second choice for official consort…but alas, Jackie charmed the title out of me. Now for a bitabout your book. What are the first words your hero speaks to your heroine (orvice versa)?

Rachel: “What are you--” (my heroine)

“Doingrummaging around in your rubbish?” (my hero)

From PayingThe Piper

Tink: Intriguing! Would you defineyour hero as an alpha or a beta? Why?

Rachel: Jimmy is most definitely beta– I can’t even write alpha heroes, I’m afraid. As I don’t find alpha men thatattractive in the real world, I find them incredibly hard to write in theimaginary one. I love a hero who is the whole physical package on the outsidebut softer in the center. That’s makes a real man to me rather than a guy goingaround shouting the odds!

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

Rachel: Boxers.

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

Rachel: Naked in bed with Jimmy –door shut, wine opened, old movie on the TV and her father and the businessfar, far away.

Tink: I could relateto Grace. What is your favorite thing about each character?

Rachel: Grace (my heroine) – hertenacity and her undying loyalty to her mother. I admire her in ways I neverknew I would when I was creating her. She has a tough job but is able to lookafter her loved ones at the same time.

Jimmy (my hero) – his pride. Ratherthan being a sin in Jimmy, it’s his essence. He takes pride in his work, hiskids (he’s a social worker in charge of several homeless children) and hisdecisions. He bows down to no one and I really like that in a man. He gets whathe wants through hard work and consideration. Yes, I am in love with him… J

Rachel: Possibility - Favorite

Prejudice - Least

Tink: What sound or noise do youlove? Hate?

Rachel: Noise I love – my kidsbelly-laughing

NoiseI hate – my kids fighting!

Tink: What’s your favorite curse word?

Rachel: I honestly don’t curse a lot(I leave that for hubby!) – “Crap” is usually enough for me to vent myfrustration, lol!

Tink: We have that in common, Rachel…thoughJack mostly keeps his cursing to bugger. What profession other than yourswould you like to attempt?

Rachel: Editing – I quite fancy the ideaof getting to read all those stories first and helping writers craft it into abigger and better story. That must be such a fantastic motivation for gettingup every day J

Tink: There, that wasn’t so bad, wasit? Now, just in time for our weekly luau, let’s share a sneak peak from Paying the Piper with the Cozies backhome….

She sat bolt upright. “Where are yougoing?”

“To the soup kitchen. Four of my kidshave been helping out down there today, so if you don’t need me ‘til seven--”

“Can I come?”

“What?”

“What?” Gerald echoed.

Jimmy stared at her. Was she serious?But knew he wouldn’t refuse her when her eyes were wide with that damn innocentdoe-eyed look again and her cheeks flushed pink. He swallowed, clenched hishands into fists inside his pockets.

“You want to come to the soup kitchen?”he asked, hoping against hope he’d gotten the wrong end of the proverbialstick.

She winked, and it had as much thesame effect as if she’d wrapped her hand around his penis. “Why not?”

He opened his mouth. Shut it. Openedit, took a breath, but still nothing came out. Her smile widened. “Cat got yourtongue, Jimmy Boy?”

Just a few short days ago at hermother’s pub, he’d wanted to ravish her, possess her, let her know what she didto him. And now the same desire coursed through his veins again. She neverstopped surprising him and it just added more fuel to the already burning fire.

“And why would you want to do that?”he asked.

“Beats going into the club early,”she said, brushing past him.

She wandered across the room. Herslender body sashaying around the furniture and then her piece de resistancewas to snake all five feet nine inches of it across the oblong dining table tograb her bag--the sight of her perfect ass and even better legs sent Jimmy’s sensesskyrocketing. His nostrils flared. Grace by name, Grace by nature. She wasbeautiful, sexy, funny, and he didn’t doubt for one minute she knew exactlywhat the sight of her did to him.

She turned around and hitched the bagonto her shoulder. “My life is sad. I’ve got nothing else planned for theafternoon. Come on, Jimmy, help me show my father I have a life away from him.Even if it is a complete lie, for now.”

He threw his hands in the air.“Fine.”

Tink: And the final questions Jackhas been waiting all day to ask…. If you could choose anyone in the world to bethe captain of your…er…ship…who would it be? J

Rachel: My husband – without soundingcorny, he is the best man in the world. Seriously.

Tink: I sense a theme here with romance writers and their husbands ;) Which savvy piece of theCaribbean would you most like to take home – the Black Pearl, the Dead Man’sChest, or the Fountain of Youth?

Rachel: Is this a good place to admitI’ve never watched any of the movies only trailers? Shall I tip-toe out of herenow…

Tink: Not at all! I’m glad I could introduceyou. *lowers voice* Though we won’t tell Jack. J Would you rather take your chances with a zombie, a mermaid, or Blackbeard?

Rachel: A mermaid – has to be betterodds of survival, doesn’t it? Yes? No?

Tink: Mermaids can be avoided if, asGeorgie pointed out last week, one stays out of the water – so very wise choiceon your part.

And most importantly…Captain JackSparrow, Will Turner or Commodore Norrginton? ;)

Rachel: In any other role it would bemy boy Johnny but as Sparrow, not so much. I’ll take Will, thank you very much J

Tink: Ah, Will – Amber will bepleased he made a cameo on WannaLuvaPir'ate this week….

Tink: And now we hula! From PutSomeRumin’it…thisis Tink, Rachel, and Jack signing off….

Thankyou to Tink (and Jack, of course) for another great interview. And to Rachel for answering Tink's nonsensical questions. She does love nosing around. And so glad I’ve found another lady who would choose Will Turner over JackSparrow…though I will admit it can be a difficult decision at times....

Rachel lives with herhusband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. She started writing short stories about eightyears ago but once her children were at school, she embarked on her first novel.It was published in 2007. Since then, she’s had several books published withThe Wild Rose Press, Eternal Press and Lyrical Press. She recently acquired a US agent with hersecond Victorian historical. A member of the Romantic Novelists Association andRomance Writers of America, Rachel hopes to have a further two novels, onecontemporary and one Victorian published in 2012. When she isn’t writing,you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful Englishcountryside with her family. Her dreamplace to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England. And in theevening? Well, a well-deserved glass of wine is never, ever refused… Find outmore about Rachel at her website, blog, Twitter, and Facebook!

***Cozies, for this week's discussion - do you prefer your heroes alphas or betas?

****GIVEAWAY: For one lucky commentertoday Rachel is generously offering a free download of the winner’s choice fromher backlist, including her most recent release, Paying the Piper! Enter before midnight EST tomorrow evening for achance to win and be sure to check back in Sunday morning to see if you havewon….

(Must be 18 years or older to enter;chances of winning depend on the number of entries.)

NaNo Day 9

2011-11-09T01:00:00.000-06:00

I'm definitely entenched in Week 2 doldrums. This week I've been more into musical inspiration than imagery....

During our new Cozy Guest Fridays, Tink has a tendency to ask authors what kind of music they write to. What songs put you in a creative mood, Cozies?