If you've followed the blog, you know I'm a big fan of Hayley Charlesworth's cartooning, especially her Reid Oliver Cartoon Saga. Well, Hayley agreed to make a book trailer for Take A Chance On Me, and it's FABULOUS. Take a peek:
Thanks, Hayley!
Showing posts with label TACOM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label TACOM. Show all posts
Monday, March 14, 2011
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
First Review! And assorted odds and ends...
I was thrilled to get a link to my first review a few days ago, by Maldivian Book Reviewer. So happy she liked the book!
"All in all a very satisfying read which has definitely made me curious to seek out the books in her back list and give them a go. Recommended for those who love a good contemporary romance featuring a couple you would root for right from the very beginning." 4 out of 5 stars
Also, thanks to everyone who helped Take A Chance On Me hit the bestseller's lists at Samhain. It reached 1st on the Men In Uniform list, 2nd on the Contemporary list, and 3rd on the overall bestseller's list. :)
I've got TWO blog posts up elsewhere today, so I hope you can take a minute to stop by and say hello. On Kinsey Holley's blog, I'm outing myself as a klutz (and discussing how my newest heroine shares that trait), while on Nine Naughty Novelists I'm talking about food. Fun!
Speaking of the NNN, we'll be hanging out in the Samhain Cafe on the 9th, so you can find me there as well.
And since it's Friday, here's a little inspiration for you. Enjoy!
"All in all a very satisfying read which has definitely made me curious to seek out the books in her back list and give them a go. Recommended for those who love a good contemporary romance featuring a couple you would root for right from the very beginning." 4 out of 5 stars
Also, thanks to everyone who helped Take A Chance On Me hit the bestseller's lists at Samhain. It reached 1st on the Men In Uniform list, 2nd on the Contemporary list, and 3rd on the overall bestseller's list. :)
I've got TWO blog posts up elsewhere today, so I hope you can take a minute to stop by and say hello. On Kinsey Holley's blog, I'm outing myself as a klutz (and discussing how my newest heroine shares that trait), while on Nine Naughty Novelists I'm talking about food. Fun!
Speaking of the NNN, we'll be hanging out in the Samhain Cafe on the 9th, so you can find me there as well.
And since it's Friday, here's a little inspiration for you. Enjoy!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Blog-Hopping, and happy news!
I'm over on Delilah Devlin's blog today chatting about Shakespeare, and tomorrow I'll be visiting Desert Island Keepers with a post on office romances. (Or, in the case of Jessica and Tom, school romances.) Stop by and say hey!
Also, Take A Chance On Me hit the Samhain bestseller list today at #10. I'm so thrilled, and thankful to everyone who bought a copy and helped put the book there.
Have a great Wednesday!
Also, Take A Chance On Me hit the Samhain bestseller list today at #10. I'm so thrilled, and thankful to everyone who bought a copy and helped put the book there.
Have a great Wednesday!
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Countdown to TACOM - The Final Excerpt!
Curious to know a little bit more about Tom Cameron, the hero of Take A Chance on Me? For the final excerpt before release day, I thought I'd share a snippet that focuses on him. Enjoy!
*****
The main parking lot was largely empty by the time Tom left his customary post at the entrance to the school. Most students were on their way home or busy in after-school activities. Still, just to be sure, Tom made it a habit to walk the halls of the school every day after school. You never knew what might be going on in the dark recesses of the old building.
He started in the basement, peering around corners and testing doors. Everything was locked up tight as a drum. Evidently, the art teacher had finally taken his advice and started locking her classroom.
He’d collared some not-so-bright students there after school one day, apparently under the impression that the smell of art supplies would mask the odor of their marijuana. They hadn’t counted on the smoke drifting under the closed door and out into the hall.
Everything checked out downstairs, so he headed back up. His pace slowed a bit as he reached the Language Arts wing. She’d probably gone home already. And even if she was still there, he wasn’t about to disturb her again today. No, he’d just check the door and keep walking.
Still, he felt the briefest letdown when he reached her classroom and saw that it was already locked and dark. Against his will, his mind dredged up an image of Jessica from this morning, the professional cut of her dark blue jersey dress doing little to hide her curves.
Even weighed down with paperwork, she had a look that put his libido on simmer.
He shook his head and turned around, heading for the next hallway. She was a fellow staff member, and therefore off-limits. Tom didn’t date co-workers. Not even co-workers as attractive as Jessica Martin.
To be honest, he didn’t date anyone, co-worker or not. Oh, his sister occasionally took her life into her hands and accidentally invited a female to dinner on the same night he came over, but nothing ever came of it. He wouldn’t let it. None of them were worth lowering his guard for.
He hadn’t consciously decided to live a solitary lifestyle, but that’s what had happened. It wasn’t a bad life, he supposed. He had a nice apartment in a quiet part of town. He could eat cold canned spaghetti over the sink and not worry about getting hell for it. He never had to share the remote control. He could sprawl across the bed without someone complaining how he was on her side.
Of course, there was also the silence. The half-empty closets. The embarrassing moments when he turned to comment on an article in the morning paper and no one was there. The times he woke in a cold sweat in the middle of the night and reached blindly across the king-size bed, only to find empty space.
The nightmares were diminishing in number with time, thank God, but not in intensity. He could still smell the sharp tang of gunpowder, feel the sticky warmth of someone else’s spilled blood. Like Lady Macbeth, he sometimes wondered if his hands would ever be clean.
Four years ago, that nightmare had been real. But even then, back when his king-sized bed had held two, there was no one he could have turned to for comfort.
No, the only person he could truly depend on was himself. And sometimes, in the middle of the night, he wasn’t even sure about that.
*****
Just one more day, y'all! :)
The main parking lot was largely empty by the time Tom left his customary post at the entrance to the school. Most students were on their way home or busy in after-school activities. Still, just to be sure, Tom made it a habit to walk the halls of the school every day after school. You never knew what might be going on in the dark recesses of the old building.
He started in the basement, peering around corners and testing doors. Everything was locked up tight as a drum. Evidently, the art teacher had finally taken his advice and started locking her classroom.
He’d collared some not-so-bright students there after school one day, apparently under the impression that the smell of art supplies would mask the odor of their marijuana. They hadn’t counted on the smoke drifting under the closed door and out into the hall.
Everything checked out downstairs, so he headed back up. His pace slowed a bit as he reached the Language Arts wing. She’d probably gone home already. And even if she was still there, he wasn’t about to disturb her again today. No, he’d just check the door and keep walking.
Still, he felt the briefest letdown when he reached her classroom and saw that it was already locked and dark. Against his will, his mind dredged up an image of Jessica from this morning, the professional cut of her dark blue jersey dress doing little to hide her curves.
Even weighed down with paperwork, she had a look that put his libido on simmer.
He shook his head and turned around, heading for the next hallway. She was a fellow staff member, and therefore off-limits. Tom didn’t date co-workers. Not even co-workers as attractive as Jessica Martin.
To be honest, he didn’t date anyone, co-worker or not. Oh, his sister occasionally took her life into her hands and accidentally invited a female to dinner on the same night he came over, but nothing ever came of it. He wouldn’t let it. None of them were worth lowering his guard for.
He hadn’t consciously decided to live a solitary lifestyle, but that’s what had happened. It wasn’t a bad life, he supposed. He had a nice apartment in a quiet part of town. He could eat cold canned spaghetti over the sink and not worry about getting hell for it. He never had to share the remote control. He could sprawl across the bed without someone complaining how he was on her side.
Of course, there was also the silence. The half-empty closets. The embarrassing moments when he turned to comment on an article in the morning paper and no one was there. The times he woke in a cold sweat in the middle of the night and reached blindly across the king-size bed, only to find empty space.
The nightmares were diminishing in number with time, thank God, but not in intensity. He could still smell the sharp tang of gunpowder, feel the sticky warmth of someone else’s spilled blood. Like Lady Macbeth, he sometimes wondered if his hands would ever be clean.
Four years ago, that nightmare had been real. But even then, back when his king-sized bed had held two, there was no one he could have turned to for comfort.
No, the only person he could truly depend on was himself. And sometimes, in the middle of the night, he wasn’t even sure about that.
*****
Just one more day, y'all! :)
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Countdown to TACOM - Excerpt the Second!
Here's another peek at Take A Chance On Me, out Tuesday from Samhain:
*****
“This is totally amazing!”
Tom smiled as he watched Jessica lean against the thick green railing, a chill wind rushing through her tousled red-brown hair. She spread her arms wide, bracing herself against the railing of the small deck overlooking the front of the ferry.
*****
“This is totally amazing!”
Tom smiled as he watched Jessica lean against the thick green railing, a chill wind rushing through her tousled red-brown hair. She spread her arms wide, bracing herself against the railing of the small deck overlooking the front of the ferry.
Below, white-capped waves crashed against the edge of the car deck, leaving puddles on the walkways and riming the safety ropes with salt.
She turned around, laughing with delight. “You were absolutely right. This is exactly what I needed.”
He flashed a cocky smile. “Told you so.”
“I think it’s what we both needed,” she said. “It’s wonderful to set the stress and pressure aside for a few hours.”
“Glad you enjoyed it.” Tom squinted into the distance. “We’re about fifteen minutes from docking.”
Jessica sighed. “Then back to reality. Thanks again, Tom.”
“You still have a couple of minutes. Sure you don’t want to do the whole Titanic thing? I promise I won’t let you fall off the front of the boat.”
Jessica rolled her eyes at him. “I’m feeling better, but I’m not exactly king-of-the-world material. And I don’t think there are any icebergs in Puget Sound.”
Tom nodded. “It’s cold, but it’s not that cold.” He reached out and pulled her coat collar closer together, tucking the fringes of her scarf around her neck to block out the wind.
She stilled, her eyes darkening as she stared at him. Tom’s grip tightened on her coat, his fingers clutching the fabric. Slowly, deliberately, he lowered his head to hers.
Their previous kisses had been spontaneous combustion. This one was a steamy, languid dip in the Olympic Hot Springs. He tasted her lips slowly, placing soft nibbling kisses from corner to corner. Angling his head, he pressed his mouth against hers and swept his tongue across her lower lip.
Her mouth opened on a sigh and he moved forward, noting with pleasure the exact point where the chill of the outdoor air gave way to the heat of Jessica’s mouth. His ears tingled and his cheeks were close to numb from the winter wind howling across the small ferry deck. But inside, he would swear he was running one hell of a fever.
She was close, so close, but with all the layers of clothing between them she might as well have been against the opposite rail. Tom groaned, gripping her lapel as he continued the kiss, his overactive imagination helpfully supplying a reminder of the sweet curves buried under all that winter wool. Thank God he was bundled up just as tightly, or she would be getting a very clear picture of how much he was enjoying this repeat performance.
Suddenly, the ferry gave a pitching roll, shuddering as it lifted above the waves and heaved down again. They stumbled apart, both clinging tightly to the other’s coat and breathing heavily.
Through sheer force of will, Tom unclenched his fingers and released Jessica’s now-wrinkled charcoal gray winter coat. He ran a hand through his wind-tossed hair, sucking in a deep breath. The air was thick with exhaust from the ferry engines, combined with the tang of salt spray and impending rain. And overlaying it all was the crisp citrus scent of Jessica.
She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his chest. He watched as a shuddering sigh traveled the length of her spine. Even through his winter layers he could feel the heat of her breath as it puffed against his solar plexus. A shiver wrapped around his midsection.
She mumbled something into his coat, but the combination of rushing wind and rumbling ferry engines drowned out any chance of hearing it. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, leading her back toward the relative warmth and bright lights of the main cabin.
But before they could go inside, she grabbed the lapel of his coat and dragged him past the doorway into the darkened alcove under the stairs to the upper deck.
“What are you—?” His statement was cut off when she wrapped one hand around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss.
She began talking between kisses, her words almost lost in the feverish embrace. “I. Don’t. Want. To. Stop.”
She turned around, laughing with delight. “You were absolutely right. This is exactly what I needed.”
He flashed a cocky smile. “Told you so.”
“I think it’s what we both needed,” she said. “It’s wonderful to set the stress and pressure aside for a few hours.”
“Glad you enjoyed it.” Tom squinted into the distance. “We’re about fifteen minutes from docking.”
Jessica sighed. “Then back to reality. Thanks again, Tom.”
“You still have a couple of minutes. Sure you don’t want to do the whole Titanic thing? I promise I won’t let you fall off the front of the boat.”
Jessica rolled her eyes at him. “I’m feeling better, but I’m not exactly king-of-the-world material. And I don’t think there are any icebergs in Puget Sound.”
Tom nodded. “It’s cold, but it’s not that cold.” He reached out and pulled her coat collar closer together, tucking the fringes of her scarf around her neck to block out the wind.
She stilled, her eyes darkening as she stared at him. Tom’s grip tightened on her coat, his fingers clutching the fabric. Slowly, deliberately, he lowered his head to hers.
Their previous kisses had been spontaneous combustion. This one was a steamy, languid dip in the Olympic Hot Springs. He tasted her lips slowly, placing soft nibbling kisses from corner to corner. Angling his head, he pressed his mouth against hers and swept his tongue across her lower lip.
Her mouth opened on a sigh and he moved forward, noting with pleasure the exact point where the chill of the outdoor air gave way to the heat of Jessica’s mouth. His ears tingled and his cheeks were close to numb from the winter wind howling across the small ferry deck. But inside, he would swear he was running one hell of a fever.
She was close, so close, but with all the layers of clothing between them she might as well have been against the opposite rail. Tom groaned, gripping her lapel as he continued the kiss, his overactive imagination helpfully supplying a reminder of the sweet curves buried under all that winter wool. Thank God he was bundled up just as tightly, or she would be getting a very clear picture of how much he was enjoying this repeat performance.
Suddenly, the ferry gave a pitching roll, shuddering as it lifted above the waves and heaved down again. They stumbled apart, both clinging tightly to the other’s coat and breathing heavily.
Through sheer force of will, Tom unclenched his fingers and released Jessica’s now-wrinkled charcoal gray winter coat. He ran a hand through his wind-tossed hair, sucking in a deep breath. The air was thick with exhaust from the ferry engines, combined with the tang of salt spray and impending rain. And overlaying it all was the crisp citrus scent of Jessica.
She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his chest. He watched as a shuddering sigh traveled the length of her spine. Even through his winter layers he could feel the heat of her breath as it puffed against his solar plexus. A shiver wrapped around his midsection.
She mumbled something into his coat, but the combination of rushing wind and rumbling ferry engines drowned out any chance of hearing it. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, leading her back toward the relative warmth and bright lights of the main cabin.
But before they could go inside, she grabbed the lapel of his coat and dragged him past the doorway into the darkened alcove under the stairs to the upper deck.
“What are you—?” His statement was cut off when she wrapped one hand around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss.
She began talking between kisses, her words almost lost in the feverish embrace. “I. Don’t. Want. To. Stop.”
Friday, February 18, 2011
Countdown to TACOM - Excerpt the First!
Did you know that Take A Chance On Me comes out in just four days?
I'm a little excited about it.
*bouncebouncebounce*
So this weekend, I'll be posting excerpts and teasers, giving you a little taste of the book before its release date on Tuesday. Here's the first excerpt - enjoy!
*****
Tom picked up the pace as he rounded the corner, anxious to put some space between himself and Jessica’s classroom. Finally safe in his office, he closed the door and dropped into his chair. He held his hand out in front of him, flexing it slowly.
All she’d done was place her hand on his. A brief physical contact. Nothing more.
I'm a little excited about it.
*bouncebouncebounce*
So this weekend, I'll be posting excerpts and teasers, giving you a little taste of the book before its release date on Tuesday. Here's the first excerpt - enjoy!
*****
Tom picked up the pace as he rounded the corner, anxious to put some space between himself and Jessica’s classroom. Finally safe in his office, he closed the door and dropped into his chair. He held his hand out in front of him, flexing it slowly.
All she’d done was place her hand on his. A brief physical contact. Nothing more.
So why was his hand still—tingly, for want of a better word? And he didn’t even want to think about the tingles still echoing in other more personal parts of his body.
He cursed under his breath and crossed his arms. He was sounding like some giddy teenager. And heaven knew his hormones were acting like they were back in high school.
The problem was, the two of them seemed to keep on touching each other—at the pizza place, in the theater, just now in her classroom—and he had this same reaction every single time. There was no reason such casual contacts should have such an effect on him.
And the non-casual contact…
Shit. That kiss yesterday still wouldn’t leave him alone. Just now, in her classroom, it was all he could do not to grab her and try for a repeat.
He brushed a hand through his hair, leaving it rumpled and tangled. Jessica Martin disturbed his orderly life, bumping up against his wall of professionalism and knocking it down bit by bit. Until she’d arrived on the scene he’d had no trouble keeping his distance from co-workers.
Now, without even realizing it, he was searching her out, looking for an excuse to interact with her. If he’d been smart, he would have stuffed the paperwork in her mailbox and avoided this situation today altogether. But no, he had to bring it to her door—and then he ended up encouraging her in this insane plan to direct a Shakespeare play.
The woman was a bit bent. And so was he for letting her get to him like this.
The problem was, the two of them seemed to keep on touching each other—at the pizza place, in the theater, just now in her classroom—and he had this same reaction every single time. There was no reason such casual contacts should have such an effect on him.
And the non-casual contact…
Shit. That kiss yesterday still wouldn’t leave him alone. Just now, in her classroom, it was all he could do not to grab her and try for a repeat.
He brushed a hand through his hair, leaving it rumpled and tangled. Jessica Martin disturbed his orderly life, bumping up against his wall of professionalism and knocking it down bit by bit. Until she’d arrived on the scene he’d had no trouble keeping his distance from co-workers.
Now, without even realizing it, he was searching her out, looking for an excuse to interact with her. If he’d been smart, he would have stuffed the paperwork in her mailbox and avoided this situation today altogether. But no, he had to bring it to her door—and then he ended up encouraging her in this insane plan to direct a Shakespeare play.
The woman was a bit bent. And so was he for letting her get to him like this.
He’d been on his own for years now, and up until a few days ago he hadn’t questioned that status. He’d learned the hard way that the only person he could trust was himself. It was safer to keep people at arm’s length.
Unfortunately, it was getting harder and harder to keep Jessica Martin there.
Unfortunately, it was getting harder and harder to keep Jessica Martin there.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Random Post of Randomness!
* Take A Chance On Me, my upcoming title from Samhain, is now on the Coming Soon pages, and available for preorder! Better yet, it's discounted - so if you buy it now, you'll save some coin, and it'll show up in your account on release day. It's also on the Men In Uniform bestseller list already. Cool, huh?
* Silent House, a horror film from the team that produced Open Water, screened at Sundance over the weekend and just sold to Liddell for $3 million. Congrats to the cast and crew, which includes Eric Sheffer Stevens as the uncle, and the reason I'm even tracking the sales information for this film in the first place. A huge thank you to Parrish Hurley, who verified the sales info for us. You rock, Parrish! (And ABC News, FAIL. Next time, be sure there's a sale before you report it, because we believed you.)
* Loved Hawaii Five-O last night. Glad the ratings were good! Just wish the DVR hadn't cut off midway through. Would have enjoyed watching it again. *stares meaningfully at On Demand*
* That's it for me at the moment. What are you up to?
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