Cover Reveal ~ Race to Kill by Rachel Kall

Happy Monday!

Well, it’s officially autumn and my long summer absence is over. Did you miss me? 🙂 I’ve been busy writing, but today I wanted to take the opportunity to participate in my good friend’s cover reveal!

Rachel Kall is scheduled to release Race to Kill on October 7th. When I first saw the cover, I couldn’t help but think of one of my new favorite television shows, Scandal. From the sound of the blurb, I’m convinced Race to Kill is packed with just as much suspense and a steamy romance.*

Isn’t the cover awesome?

Race to Kill (Book 1 in the Love and Scandal Series)

When fiercely independent Vivian Reese is thrust onto the national stage during a heated presidential campaign, she doesn’t expect to become a media darling. She also doesn’t expect to start to fall for her sexy new bodyguard, Marcus Locke. But when threats start surfacing against the sitting President’s campaign and all evidence points to Vivian, she doesn’t know who to trust.

Delta Force Operator turned FBI agent Marcus Locke is supposed to be investigating campaign finance crimes. He’s not supposed to be checking out the sexy, eloquent campaign spokeswoman Vivian Reese, who’s one of his prime suspects! But when they are caught in the middle of a presidential race that is quickly turning deadly, he is forced to put both his heart and his job in the line of fire.

Tempers flare and passions ignite as the campaign gets dangerous, but when bullets start to fly will either of them survive?

Click to see the TRAILER.

Information about the author:

Rachel Kall writes romantic suspense. She likes writing spicy and suspenseful stories to keep readers guessing. Rachel is a member of Romance Writers of America, Kiss of Death, and Georgia Romance Writers. She loves animals and is active in animal rescue. She enjoys adding loveable pets to her stories. She lives in Georgia with her husband and five furkids—two dogs and three cats. She is represented by Sarah Younger at Nancy Yost Literary Agency.

You can find Rachel on her website and Facebook.

*Rachel’s books have gripping suspense and a steamy romance. The romance element in Race to Kill has a higher heat content than the books I write for Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense.

Congratulations, Rachel. I can’t wait until October!

Cheers,

Alison

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Guest Author: Kristina Knight

Please welcome Kristina Knight to my blog today. She’s going to tell us about her former career as a journalist and her latest release, What a Texas Girl Dreams.

Welcome, Kristina!

Kristina: Hi, Alison! Thank you so much for having me here today!

Alison: Your bio says you live on Lake Erie, yet you wrote a series of books set in Texas. What do you think the allure of the Texas cowboy is?

Kristina: You mean other than the pictures on Pinterest? Those are seriously drool-worthy!! For me, the lure of the cowboy goes way back: I can remember watching old spaghetti westerns with my grandfather (who was a cowboy) as a kid. I loved those guys who stood up for what they believed in, who fought to save the day (or the damsel in distress) and always managed to win against the odds. I love a good underdog story, and a lot of cowboys were underdogs. I think we all like to be able to root for someone, whether in books or movies or TV shows, and someone who is brave, steady and fighting for right is always someone we can root for. And, it can’t be said too much, those pictures on Pinterest don’t hurt, either.

Alison: I suppose I should start following you on Pinterest. 🙂 Now tell me, how has your former career as a journalist helped with your current career as an author?

Kristina: Gosh, in so many ways. As a journalist there is a lot of hurry-up-and-wait. We hurry to a courthouse to get the mobster leaving in handcuffs, but then have to wait while the jury deliberates. Publishing is a lot like that: we write our books, polish them until they shine…and then have to wait weeks or months to hear back from editors or agents. Journalism also ingrained in me a need to beat a deadline. The five o’clock news goes on whether our stories are edited and perfect or not. That 11 o’clock print deadline is hard and fast. And so should our deadlines as writers, whether we are published or still waiting for that call.

Alison: Editors must love that you meet deadlines. When you sit down to write, do you plot your stories or do you just write organically and “see what happens?”

Kristina: My process is so weird. Technically, it’s a little of both. I need to know my characters and at least have an inkling of where the story is going. So, as I’m starting a new project I’ll make an outline of events that I think will happen. But that outline is always blown out of the water by the time the story is finished. Events are moved around, some deleted. My final drafts are always different from those early outlines!

Alison: I can relate to final drafts not resembling outlines. In the end, I’m sure it’s a stronger story, right? Now tell me about your perfect day.

Kristina: Oh, the perfect day. I would wake up totally refreshed, probably around 9 am, somewhere tropical. RadioMan, my own personal hero, would be my cabana boy, and he’d be waving a palm frond to keep me cool. There would be no 7 am pounces from bebe with the screaming-greeting of ‘Gooooooooooood morning!’ I would have plenty of time to get everything done – time to write, time to play, time to cook. Nothing would fall by the wayside.

Alison: Ah, waking up somewhere tropical sounds awesome! Your latest release, What A Texas Girl Dreams , revolves around horses. Your heroine’s horse is injured which leads her to the hero, a veterinarian. Did you have to do a lot of research?

Kristina: I did, and it was so much fun! I blame the journalist in me, but I love doing research. I contacted a horse rehab in Texas to get the lay of the land, talked (a LOT) with our vet and an associate of hers who focuses on large animals. And then I fictionalized all of it and (I hope) still got it all right!

Blurb for What a Texas Girl Dreams:
Monica Witte has life the way she likes it. She comes home to be babied every few months and the rest of the time she has no strings holding her back. But after her horse is injured in a rodeo performance, Monica knows it’s time to come home and face her family – warts and all.

Trickett Samuels works best on his own. The large-animal vet likes his quiet life in the Texas countryside. When Monica Witte blows into town, demanding a quick fix to her horse’s big issues, his life is turned upside down. Trickett doesn’t understand Monica’s need to perform before perfect strangers or why she wants to keep the truth of their relationship from her family. And the more he gets to know her, the more he wonders if he can convince this Texas girl that having roots will only help her soar higher.

Buy Links:
Amazon
B&N
iTunes

Author Bio:

Once upon a time, Kristina Knight spent her days running from car crash to fire to meetings with local police—no, she wasn’t a troublemaker, she was a journalist. When the opportunity to focus a bit of energy on the stories in her head, she jumped at it. And she’s never looked back. Now she writes magazine articles by day and romance novels with spice by night. She lives on Lake Erie with her husband and four-year-old daughter. Happily ever after.

Website: http://www.kristinaknightauthor.com

Thanks for stopping by, Kristina! I’ll have to take a little trip to Texas and check out those cowboys! 🙂

Cheers,

Alison Stone

Guest Author: Angela Breidenbach

Welcome Angela Breidenbach! Thanks for taking time to visit today.

Alison: Reading your bio, I can see you have a very active and busy life. How do you make time to write?

Angie: It’s tough sometimes, but there’s nothing like a deadline. I write best to deadline because of my workaholic nature. That’s like Mara Keegan in my new novel, A Healing Heart. I don’t really watch much TV. I work six days a week and schedule freelance, coaching, etc. on my daily schedule. I also take breaks between books to write articles and pre-load marketing and do interviews for the book or compilation that sold. I think the most important thing for writers is to actually schedule writing into your daily calendar. You don’t get anything done unless you plan to do it. I’m always working on what to cut out of my schedule!

Alison: How would you describe your perfect day?

Angie: The perfect day is never the same 😉 I’m not someone who can do the same thing over and over again. I need a lot of variety to keep from boredom. But my favorite things are spending time with my kids and grand kids, coaching, and speaking. So I think a few hours of each with some great eclectic food tossed in would be a delightful day. Make it sunny, warm, and near a beach and I might think I’m in heaven, lol. (Remember I live in the cold mountains of Montana.)

Alison: I see that you are a CTA Life Coach. In your experience, what is the single most thing that holds people back from living the life of their dreams? (Is it possible to answer this question in a few short paragraphs? :))

Angie: The single thing I see that holds people back from living the life of their dreams is a sense of victimization. Overcoming a victim’s attitude is crucial. It keeps people inside their heads, inside their defined box (usually defined by someone else), and fearful. I love watching someone bloom as they release the victim attitude and embrace the life God planned for them. It’s beautiful and stunning! That’s why I wrote my non-fiction book that gets used at women’s retreats, Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life. It’s my dream to help people let go of that victim’s attitude and leap into their life.

Alison: Favorite vacation spot?

Angie: Beach, beach, beach 😉 Okay, and I have dreams of spending a month each in Scotland, Sweden, and Australia/New Zealand. Then I want to write books set in those places.

Alison: Tell us a little bit about the next writing project you’re working on.

Angie: I am working on a couple of stories. The sequel to A Healing Heart is the story of Cadence Keegan, the graduating teen all grown up. That book is called Climb Every Mountain—Cadence is a fitness coach with a failing gym about to give up on her dream when a mischievous girl nearly burns her gym down. Cadence has to choose fight or flight when Jackson comes to get in shape for his dream to climb mountains.

Lucky’s Draw is an 1864 Montana Territory: Is thirteen a lucky number? A dozen Swedish widows turn to a Black Irish saloon girl for matchmaking after Hidden Draw’s devastating loss of their male population. Who better to choose their husbands than one who really knows male character?

About A Healing Heart:
What would you do if the one man who can help is the one man you can’t trust?
A heart attack has stopped workaholic Mara Keegan in her tracks, leaving her daughter’s unfinished photo memory quilt hanging by a thread. Little does Mara know, this quilt—and the memories it bolsters—are the key to her rehabilitation. But Mara’s heart needs to be healed in more ways than one. And Joel Ryan is fraying her last nerve. With her daughter’s graduation fast approaching, even Mara starts to wonder if she—and her faith—can mend in time. Will Joel’s photo find a place on the quilt… and in Mara’s heart?

Praise for A Healing Heart:
“A Healing Heart weaves tears, cheers, laughter and delightful moments to keep you saying, ‘this is my story, my own healing and my own victory.’”—Janet Perez Eckles, author of #1 best-selling Simply Salsa

“As beautifully woven as a keepsake quilt, A Healing Heart wraps itself around you, offering a cozy, heart-tugging story. This is definitely my kind of tale—one that pulls you in from the first page and keeps your emotions engaged throughout. Highly recommended.”—Janice Thompson, author of Queen of the Waves

Bio:
Angela Breidenbach’s family tradition is giving unique quilts of memorable moments spanning birth to graduation to their graduating seniors. Mrs. Montana International 2009, an inspirational speaker and author, Angela also coaches writers, pageant contestants, and weight loss/fitness in Missoula, MT.
www.AngelaBreidenbach.com
Twitter & Pinterest: @angbreidenbach

 

Thanks for stopping by, Angie.

Cheers,

Alison

Guest Author: DiAnn Mills

Welcome, DiAnn, to my blog. I love your husband’s challenge…looks like it lead to your writing career!

1. Your bio on your website reads, “I had always dreamed of becoming a writer, but I didn’t have the courage to take the first step.” First published in 1998, you now you have over 50 books published. What finally pushed you to take that first step?

My husband challenged me to write a novel. “Stop telling me you’re going to one day write a novel. Do it now. Quit your job, and if you get anything published in the next year, you don’t have to go back to your day job.” 🙂 I never went back to my day job.

2. Why did you decide to write for the inspirational market?

My faith and desire to offer hope to believers and unbelievers in a nonthreatening environment. We all have family, friends, and neighbors who will never step inside a church, attend a church function, or read a Bible. But we can hand those people a novel in which one or more of the characters solve their problems according to a Christian world view, and those people begin to see what following Christ is all about.

3. What is your writing process like?

First is a what-if that includes a character and a plot idea. From there I develop characters, the longest segment of the preparation to write process. I use psychology and counseling books along with personality testing. I spend lots of hours imagining how the characters would react/respond to various situations. Plotting comes next. I keep the word “antagonist” firmly planted in my mind to show the strong probability of the antagonist winning the goal. I plant twists and turns to show the complexity of life. And I do whatever it takes to research a topic appropriately.

4. Describe your perfect day.

Writing all day without emails to answer, laundry, phone calls, errands, and the words running like a waterfall. (I’m a dreamer too.)

5. What’s up next for you?

I’m working on the first book of a new FBI romantic suspense series. Nearly finished with the first draft.

 

DiAnn Mills is an award winning writer who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She currently has more than fifty-five books published.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won placements through the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Carol Awards and Inspirational Reader’s Choice awards. DiAnn won the Christy Award in 2010 and 2011.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also the Craftsman mentor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

Connect with DiAnn:

www.diannmills.com

 www.facebook.com/diannmills

 twitter.com/diannmills

 Thank you for stopping by, DiAnn. I enjoyed your interview.

Readers, check out one of DiAnn Mills’ latest books, The Survivor, out now.

Blurb for The Survivor:

Is it her next bestseller . . . Or her last words? In The Chase, award-winning author DiAnn Mills introduced you to the world of Kariss Walker, the bestselling suspense author with a nose for trouble. In The Survivor, Kariss gets the chance to tell her most powerful story yet. But will it revitalize her writing career? Or bring it to a violent end? Kariss meets Dr. Amy Garrett, who survived a brutal childhood attack in which the assailant was never found. Now Dr. Garrett wants her story written in a novel. Kariss wishes she could seek the advice of Special Agent Tigo Harris, but she broke off the relationship a few months prior and seeing him again would be too painful. She interviews Amy and conducts her own research, stepping unaware into danger. Tigo misses Kariss and wants her back, but he understands why she broke off their relationship. Instead, he concentrates on solving a car bombing and bringing the killer to justice. As Kariss’s new story attracts an onslaught of danger that she never expected, can Tigo save the woman he loves and find out who wants her dead for writing about an unsolved cold case?

 

Cheers,

~Alison

Welcome Guest ~ Merrillee Whren

Welcome Merrillee Whren! I love chatting with fellow authors. Thanks for answering my questions. And be sure to check out Merrillee’s latest release, A Place to Call Home.

1. I love your story of perseverance on your journey to publication. Can you share a little bit about how you kept going in the face of rejection to eventually find publishing success? In the early years, I expected rejection, and I was too ignorant to know that receiving a rejection five months after I submitted was not a sign that the editor had actually read the whole manuscript. Although I had read a couple of books on writing romance and a couple of others on writing novels, I learned so much more after I joined Romance Writers of America and the local chapter, Georgia Romance Writers. Also being part of a critique group helped keep me going. A year after I submitted my third manuscript to a publisher, I got a request for revisions. It took me too long to do the revisions because I had just started a new teaching job. Anyway, nine months later I got the rejection, but it was a very good rejection. Sometimes, when I got overwhelmed with discouragement, I would pull out the rejection letter and read it and remind myself that an editor had said some very good things about my writing. Another thirteen years passed before I made my first sale. During that time, I stayed active with my local RWA group wherever that might have been since I moved numerous times. I entered writing contests for feedback and began to place or final in them. My best win was the RWA Golden Heart that I won in 2003, the year before I made my first sale to Love Inspired. I somehow worked my way through the bad news and rejections and clung to the good news. As I look back over that time, I see that God was leading me to write Christian stories.

 

2. What is your writing process like? I’m mostly an organic writer (seat-of-the-pants). The kernel of an idea—either a character or a setting—comes to mind in a beginning scene. I take it from there. I have a difficult time seeing the whole story, so it is hard to plot things ahead of time, but if I want to sell on proposal, I have to come up with that synopsis. Even after a dozen books, it doesn’t get easier.

3. Describe your perfect day. A perfect writing day would include completing 2500 words. That doesn’t happen very often because I am not a fast writer. Otherwise, a perfect day includes a long walk during which I think about the story I’m writing, a visit with my granddaughters and an evening watching my favorite TV shows with my husband.

4. I love the cover of your new book, A Place to Call Home. Why did you decide to “go indie” when you published it? Thanks, Alison. I love the cover, too. Kim Van Meter did an excellent job helping me capture the concept of the story. I decided to “go indie” with this book because it is the manuscript that won the Inspirational Golden Heart in 2003. It is too long for Love Inspired, since they lowered their word count a number of years ago. I don’t believe I could place it with other publishers because it isn’t a story that would work as a single title. It lacks the subplots necessary for a single title book. Thankfully, authors have choices now that allow stories that fit nowhere else to find a home.

5. What’s coming up next for you? I’m waiting to hear on a proposal that I have with Love Inspired. While I’m waiting, I’m working on a book that looks like it’s also going to be an indie book. It’s what I call my “basketball story.” I think it has some elements that are very relevant to today in college athletics. Again it is a story that is difficult to place, but may find readers in the “indie” market. It is also a story that requires a lot of research.

 

STARTING OVER

After serving six years in prison for the false charge of manslaughter in the death of his wife, Kurt Jansen must overcome a world of bitterness if he wants to start a new life. But his first priority is securing a restoration job to pay a private investigator to find the real killer and a lawyer to get his kids back.

Hiring a convicted wife-killer isn’t what kind-hearted Molly Finnerty bargains for as part of the prison ministry she supports. However, she begins to believe Kurt’s claim of innocence and gradually finds a great deal to like about him—perhaps more to like than she should.

Can they overcome the past and find forgiveness and love?

Buy Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

A Place to Call Home looks wonderful. Congratulations. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

All the best,

Alison 

Guest Author ~ Missy Tippens

I’d like to welcome fellow Love Inspired Author, Missy Tippens to my blog today.

1. Congratulations, I heard your Love Inspired book,  A House Full of Hope, has been named a  Romance Writers of America Rita Finalist. What was it like to hear your book was nominated for RWA’s most prestigious award?

It was an amazing moment, something I had only dreamed of. In fact, it was so unexpected that when I got the call, I had no idea what Cindy Kirk was calling me about. I immediately thought she was calling to possibly invite me to a brainstorming retreat! 🙂

2. When you were writing A House Full of Hope, did you realize this book was special? 

There were a few moments in the book where I cried while writing the scenes. I was also blown away to have my editor accept the manuscript with no revisions–that and the line editor wrote a really sweet note about how much she enjoyed it. I’m thrilled to find it well received by readers as well. I think a theme of forgiveness resonates with a lot of people because it’s something we all deal with at one time or another.

3. Describe your perfect day.

My perfect day would involve sleeping late and then having a relaxing cup of coffee while watching the news. Then a productive writing time where the words pour on the screen effortlessly. Lunch with friends. Time to read a good book, preferably outside in a comfy chair. And later, dinner on the deck with my family followed by snuggling on the couch to watch our favorite shows. I’m not too hard to please. 🙂

4. When you’re not writing, what do you like to do?

I love to read, of course. I also like to shop with my daughter. Talk physics with my son. Go to movies with my husband or friends. Study (and eat out) with the women in my Bible study group. Sing in the church choir. Indulge in Menchie’s frozen yogurt or Starbucks coffee.  And did I mention reading??

5. This might be a loaded question for an author, but what are some of your favorite books and authors? 

This is impossible answer. I’m always finding new authors I love. I belong to a book club with a group of women in my church, and they’ve really expanded my reading choices. I’ve also been reading a lot of young adult novels the last several years and can’t even begin to choose a favorite.

Congratulations again on your RITA final, Missy. I’ll be there to cheer you on in Atlanta! By the way, your perfect day sounds right up my alley.  Readers, be sure to check out Missy’s latest release, Georgia Sweethearts.

Blurb for my newest book, Georgia Sweethearts:

A Pattern for Love…

After inheriting her great-aunt’s failing yarn shop, Lilly Barnes is determined to make it a success. All she wants is stability, something she doesn’t think possible in the small town of Corinthia, Georgia. Then Pastor Daniel Foreman rents space in her store to hold meetings for his growing congregation, and this proves to be her lifeline. At first Lilly wants nothing to do with Daniel’s big dreams, but she soon finds herself starting to share his goals. Yet trouble between her customers and his congregation make them both doubt the path they’re on. That is, until practical Lilly shows him that love is a risk worth taking.

Buy links:

eHarlequin

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Also available in stores and other online retailers

Welcome Guest Author Jane Myers Perrine

I’m so excited to have Jane Myers Perrine on my blog today. She was kind enough to answer a few questions about herself and her new release, The Matchmakers of Butternut Creek. It just came out yesterday so go grab a copy. It has already garnered fantastic reviews. And now, for the interview: 

1. Jane, describe your perfect day. 

 My perfect day is getting up, writing until noon, swimming, then reading the rest of the afternoon.  In the evening, George and I’ll watch a college football or basketball game together.   You’ll note, I do no cooking or cleaning on this perfect day.

 

2. Your new release, The Matchmakers of Butternut Creek, looks like a fun, small town, sweet romance. Can you tell us a little bit about your new release and how you came up with the idea?  

When my husband and I were in ministry, we served churches in both cities and small towns.  However, the churches in small towns were more fun because we knew everyone, the church people cared for each other, and some of them were marvelous characters. George and I’d tell stories about them, embellishing often and laughing, and minister friends chimed in with stories from the churches they served.  From those, I created Butternut Creek and populated it with those wonderful people.  To protect the innocent and myself,  I disguised them.  Although there are people who will say they know the identity of the real Miss Birdie–the woman who runs the church–they don’t.  She’s made up of a woman from Louisville, a couple from Burnet, TX, and a few from elsewhere.

 

However, I’m sure with the second book in the series–The Matchmakers of Butternut Creek–at least two of my friends will believe they are Miss Birdie.

 

3. What does your writing process look like?  

When I was still teaching, I grabbed any moment I had:  Saturdays, vacations.   Now I write a few hours in the mornings, edit some afternoons, and that’s it. I have a desk and bookcase in the guest room where I write and a gorgeous Danish chair with am attached swinging table in the living room where I edit.  

 

4. Can you describe your best author moment thus far?  

I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, a group that nurtures unpublished writers and supports all writers.  Every year RWA sponsors the Golden Heart, a huge and prestigious contest for unpublished writers.  I’d worked hard writing for a few years, accomplishing little to crow about–then I was announced as a finalist in the Golden Heart.   Instant recognition, instant validation.   It showed I was headed in the right direction and built my self-esteem, an important trait for authors because we are always sure we don’t have any talent.  Our lack of self-esteem is the reason readers need to tell us they like our books–please.  

 

5. What other interests do you have outside of writing?   

We are active in our church.  Because the church is located in Austin TX, we have a number of seminary students whom George and I mentor.  We chair a committee that guides these students through to ordination.  We also, as mentioned before, love college athletics.  November and December are my favorite months when college football and college basketball seasons overlap.   I like to spend time with my wonderful, smart, witty, handsome husband and our friends.  We read a lot and pet the cats.  We live a calm but rewarding life.  

 

Oh, and I love to meet new people on Facebook and Twitter.  There are the nicest writers there, like Alison.

Thanks, Jane! And thanks for stopping by my blog. Congratulations on your latest release. I can’t wait to read it.

BIOGRAPHY

Award-winning writer Jane Myers Perrine has worked as a Spanish teacher, minister, cook, rifle instructor, program director in a state hospital, and been an active volunteer but she always wanted to write.   Finally, she found time and has published books with  Avalon Books, Steeple Hill Love Inspired, and FaithWords, a division of Hachette Book Group.  Her short pieces have appeared in the Houston Chronicle and Woman’s World magazine.   

Jane’s Butternut Creek series is about a young minister serving in the beautiful Hill Country of Texas and is filled with affection and humor.  The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek, the first book in the series, was published in April, 2012.  The Matchmakers of Butternut Creek will be available in November 20, 2012.  The third book, The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek will be available in late 2013.

With her minister husband George, Jane lives north of Austin where their lives are controlled by two incredibly spoiled tuxedo cats. 

 

BLURB for The Matchmakers of Butternut Creek

Undaunted,  the Widows of Butternut Creek continue their search to find a bride for Pastor Adam in The Matchmakers of Butternut Creek, the second of the Butternut Creek series.

For once, Adam and the Widows—the elderly ladies who run the church Adam serves–agree on something.  Gussie Milton is the perfect woman for him.  But Gussie is skittish after a traumatic experience in college.  Oh, sure, she’d like a relationship but has trouble trusting and throws herself into caring for her aging parents, running her photography business, and serving the church.   As Adam court Gussie, the Widows push and Gussie shies away.   Can the Widows’ meddling change the couple’s lives forever?  Here’s a hint:  the third book in the series has the title The Wedding Planners of Butternut Creek.

 

 

 

Welcome Author Donna Alward

I am happy to have fellow Samhain and Harlequin author, Donna Alward, on my blog today. Her latest book, In the Line of Duty, was released YESTERDAY! Congrats, Donna. I can’t wait to read it. Okay…here’s the interview:

1. Describe your perfect day.

My perfect day starts at 6:30 a.m. and happens during the school year. I get up, shower, have breakfast, get husband off to work, kids off to school, walk the dog in the sunshine, come home to absolute quiet and work – uninterrupted – until noon. I make myself lunch and then work until 2:30 or 3 – again uninterrupted – and then kids arrive home on the bus. If it’s a perfect day there are no extracurricular activities that require me to be chauffeur. Husband arrives home with a smile, we sit down to dinner together as a family, and kids quietly do homework before bed. Now you know why perfect days are so rare! But they do happen occasionally, and I appreciate them all the more. And I really don’t mind the chauffeur bit for the most part. I love watching them take part in things they enjoy.

2. What’s the hardest part about being an author? The best part?

Juggling. The hardest part of the past year wasn’t the actual writing of all the projects I finished, but the “after” work, like revisions, edits, proofs, art fact sheets, promo – all the little jobs that add up and distract from being able to just sit down and WRITE. The best part is hearing from readers, hands down. When a book hits the shelf, and someone bothers to drop you a personal note about it, it’s a pretty special thing.

3. If you decided not to write anymore, what other career could you see yourself doing?

I used to say Teacher, but after working as a teacher’s aide I would do that instead. Less money, but less having to deal with admin, school boards, parents, and prep work. It’s like being a teacher but with the ability to go home at 4:00 and actually be DONE for the day. I loved being with the kids and in the school atmosphere, and yes…I did take prep work home occasionally.

4. Describe your best “author moment.”

I have to say that as of this moment, getting the call telling me I’d finalled in the RITAs is right up there. It’s one of those things you dream about when you’re still waiting for that first publishing contract, and second only to getting The Call.

5. What do you think readers would be surprised to learn about you?

I can’t make Jello. It NEVER sets right for me, not ever. I cook a lot. I love to bake, and there’s a recipe corner on my website. I can whip up a delicious dinner and a 12 Layer Cake with Chocolate Ganache, and yet…Jello defeats me. I have no idea why.

Jello, huh? That’s funny! Now for some crazy reason, I have a craving for lime Jello. 🙂  Here’s a little bit about Donna’s brand-new release:

IN THE LINE OF DUTY…

When it comes to love, sometimes a girl has to go above and beyond.First Responders, Book 2

Jake Symonds has been a thorn in Constable Kendra Givens’s side since the night they first met, when she’d had to arrest him. In his boxer shorts. The drunken comments he made that night are worsened by the truth she’ll never admit. For a fleeting moment, they’d connected.

Two years later, when she’s called to investigate a break-and-enter at his pub, the last thing she expects is for the now-competent businessman to cook her breakfast. But she’s no fool. The former bad boy still lurks beneath the charm. And his business involves the one thing that she’s hated since it ruined her childhood. Alcohol.

As far as he’s concerned, Jake has changed, but Kendra still has a stick up her butt. Yet he can’t help but like her sass and quick wit. One well-aimed baseball at the carnival dunk tank later and he’s got a date.

Their spark of attraction quickly flares out of control, but their emotional baggage is stacked too high to risk anything deeper—until one tragic night strips the barriers from their deepest fears. And Kendra realizes the greatest danger Jake presents is to her heart.

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Product Warnings

Readers should be aware that any sexy comments made to police officers will be used against them in the hottest way possible.

EXCERPT:

The afternoon was waning when she heard a shout go up from the games area. Curious, she wandered over that way and found a group surrounding the dunking booth. The local school principal came out sopping wet and made room for the next victim. Kendra smiled and clasped her hands behind her back, relaxing and enjoying the sound of laughter. She wondered who they’d put up there next.

She didn’t have to wait long. There was more giggling, and then she saw Jake take a precarious seat in the top of the tank.

Kendra squeezed her fingers together. Did she dare? There was always the chance she’d miss the button and the lever wouldn’t drop.

But there was the chance she would hit it and it was oh-so tempting. For a few minutes she watched some teens line up and take aim. One came close to hitting the edge of the button, but didn’t quite make it. Jake leaned back a little, put his hands behind his head and preened.

His cocky attitude was enough to make up her mind. Casually, she sauntered forward, dug into her pocket for the dollar it cost for three chances and tossed the first ball up and down in her hand. She looked at Jake and grinned.

His smile widened and he spread his elbows wider, as if to say, “Go ahead, lady, take your best shot.”

“Get him, Constable Givens!” A boy of about twelve sent up the first cheer as she weighed the ball in her hand. A crowd was gathering now, and she wiggled her eyebrows at Jake. He didn’t look the least bit worried.

She planted her feet, drew back and let the first ball go.

It just missed the button, hitting the booth a little to the left of the trigger with a hollow metal sound. A chorus of disappointment went through the crowd, but she took her next ball and turned it over in her hands.

Jake sat up, raised his hand and yawned. Then he laughed.

She couldn’t help the smile that touched her lips. Lord, but he was a cheeky one. She’d be the last one laughing. Had to be. There was a certain amount of pride at stake, especially after his harsh dismissal of her earlier.

She pulled her shoulder back, stepped into it and missed again, overcorrecting and hitting slightly right.

“Come on, Givens. Your aim’s a little off,” he called out, and the crowd laughed. “I hope you shoot better than you throw!”

This time she didn’t hesitate or think. She grabbed the third ball, curled her fingertips along the curved stitching and let it rip.

Bull’s-eye.

There was a moment of surprise where his face completely blanked, and then a splash as he hit the water. Kendra couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled up and out of her mouth. The crowd joined in, clapping and cheering as Jake stood up, his face dripping, his T-shirt sopping wet and clinging to his broad shoulders and chest. All in all, he looked pretty damn good when he was wet. And she’d salvaged her pride. A good afternoon’s work, to her mind.

“I’ll get you for that,” he warned loudly, running a hand over his hair before resuming the seat.

“Careful, Jake,” someone called out. “She’ll have you up on uttering threats or something.”

He looked down at her, affecting a scowl, but he couldn’t maintain it. He laughed and then sent her a wink. It should have been silly. Instead it was sexy as hell.

Great excerpt, Donna. I can’t wait to read In the Line of Duty.

Buy links:  Samhain and Amazon.

Donna Alward’s Bio: A busy wife and mother of three (2 daughters and the family dog), Donna Alward believes hers is the best job in the world; a combination of stay-at-home mom and romance novelist.

An avid reader since childhood, Donna always made up her own stories. She completed her Arts Degree in English Literature in 1994, but it wasn’t until 2001 that she penned her first full-length novel, and found herself hooked on writing romance. In 2006 she sold her first manuscript, and is now an award-winning author of more than a dozen romances.

From her home office in Nova Scotia, Canada, Donna loves being back on the East Coast after nearly 12 years in Alberta where her career began.

Donna loves to hear from readers; you can contact her through her website at www.donnaalward.com, on twitter @DonnaAlward, or on Facebook.

Donna was kind enough to announce my big news on her blog on August 1st. Click here if you want to check it out.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today, Donna. Best of luck with your latest release. 🙂

Cheers,
Alison Stone