What’s Jack up to? Sorry I have been quiet on the Jack front lately but I have been so swamped with the dear twins and college stuff that there has been to time to stay on the mischievous Jack. And believe me he’s taking full advantage of it. Getting into things were he can. Sneaking into bookbags and sneaking snacks. Reaching high countertops and getting what he can there. Even feeling his wild oats and going off the porch and chasing after big dogs who dare come up the street. Yeah, that one just about gave me a heart attack. Big trouble there.  Good thing the dog thought little Jack was a joke. I didn’t and he’s on the leash for good now. So that’s what Jack’s been up to. Never dull.

We have a winner in THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY contest. Thanks to the random number generator it looks like Lisbeth will be sending her book clear across the country to our friend Ina In Alaska! You picked a great day to comment Ina and you get a free book from Lisbeth. Please send me your mailing info and I will be sure the book gets to you. Enjoy!

True Random Number Generator Min:

Best,

Kwana

Thanks so much to all of you that left comments on yesterday’s interview with author Lisbeth Eng. There is still time to comment and win a copy of her book IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY here. Go for it!

So leave it to the PIC to know me and my neurosis so well that she can recommend the perfect book for me that plays right into them.  I’m talking about Carolyn Crane’s MIND GAMES. How Carolyn thought of a hyp0chondriac heroine I will never know, but I likie a lot and can’t wait to sink my teeth into her second book in her super trilogy DOUBLE CROSS. You can check out Carolyn at her super funny blog here. What a talent she is and now I want Mongolian food. Hmm…

So what you reading?

Best,

Kwana

Ok so this is not an interview with an enemy it’s really an interview with a friend, my RWA/NYC chapter mate , Lisbeth Eng whose debut novel:  IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY has just been released from The Wild Rose Press.

Here is a bit of a teaser: Isabella Ricci has pledged her life for the cause – to free Italy from Nazi oppression. Her mission for the Resistance, to seduce a German officer into revealing military secrets, could be deadly. Can she complete her assignment before losing her heart…or her life?

Welcome to ye old blog Lisbeth it’s so good to have you here on just a joyous occasion.

Tell us about your background. Did you know you always wanted to be a writer?

I never really thought I’d be a writer, but even as a small child I fantasized about writing a novel.  And though I majored in English in college, I didn’t picture myself making a living as a fiction writer or even completing a novel.  I was not very career oriented (I just wanted to make it through those four years with good grades and a fun social life) but one of my professors, my mentor, you might call her, told me a major in English is a boon to any career.  Back then, I never thought I’d end up in the finance industry for 27 years, nor that I would complete an entire novel, much less get it published!

Now you write is a time that is not seen too often what drew you to WWII as a setting for romance?

Years ago, when I began In the Arms of the Enemy, I knew that a romance novel (or any novel) needs a strong conflict, and what could be a better source of conflict than war? World War II evokes particularly strong emotions, especially when the German army is involved, and one of my main characters is a German officer.  The heroine, Isabella Ricci, is a freedom fighter and member of the Italian Resistance. Her mission is to seduce a German officer, Captain Günter Schumann, to gain intelligence to fight the Nazis.  A love triangle develops between Isabella, Günter and Massimo Baricelli, Isabella’s Italian boyfriend and her commander in the Resistance.  But I recently realized the most likely reason I chose World War II Italy as the setting for my novel.  I spent the summer between my sophomore and junior years of college in Italy, and our professor regaled us with thrilling tales of the Italian Resistance.  He had lived in Italy during the war and his recollections were quite personal and moving.  I think that planted a seed, which subconsciously grew into a novel twenty years later.

Now for one of my favorite questions… Tell us the story of your “overnight” success. Inquiring minds want to know.

Overnight success?  Hardly!  I started this book nearly nine years ago and my manuscript has endured multiple rewrites, revisions, submissions and rejections along the way.  I also put it aside for a couple of years when I needed time to deal with some major life issues.  Even publication with The Wild Rose Press was not an easy road.  I submitted it to them nearly two years ago and had to revise it twice before they would offer me a contract.  After the contract came two rounds of editing, which lasted over six months.

What’s can we look forward to next from you?

I’ve a few ideas churning in my brain for another historical, though probably not set during World War II.  I do have an idea for a post-WWII romance set in Germany involving an American soldier and a German woman.  But I’m also toying with ideas for romances set during the American Revolution (a British soldier and a female American patriot), pre-Civil War (a northern abolitionist and a southern belle) and a romance between a Catholic man and a Protestant woman set in Ireland during the Anglo-Irish War.  As you can see, conflicts abound.  However, the one that’s been most on my mind of late is set in 18^th century England and (surprisingly) doesn’t involve any wars.  Maybe I need a break from all the fighting!

Thanks so much for being here today Lisbeth. I’m honored to have you here for you debut.

Now for more fun one lucky commenter will win a signed copy of IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY sent from Lisbeth. So comment away or ask a question or Lisbeth and good luck!!! Winner will be announced on Wednesday.

You can visit Lisbeth at her site   http://www.lisbetheng.com/ and pick up IN THE ARMS OF THE ENEMY from The Wild Rose Press here:

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/lisbeth-eng-m-748.html

Best,

Kwana

Today I’m happy to once again have my friend, Marley Gibson here on ye old blog to talk about her newest book in her Ghost Huntress Series: THE COUNSELING

Hi Marley I’m so happy to have you back on the blog to talk about another installment of your popular YA series Ghost Huntress. Tell us about it.

What makes this world so exciting for you?

I love Kendall’s world because I am master of all I survey…bwah ha ha ha!! Seriously…I like creating this setting with her friends, parents, etc., because we all know that how and where we grow up in our formative years really shapes us forever as a person. I wanted Kendall to be surrounded by support and love even though she’s going through a really touch time with her psychic awakening and all it has brought into her life. Besides, growing up int he South, I feel I know how to make a Southern town come alive with its quirky characters, oddities, and traditions

Where do you get your ideas? I know you sometimes go on ghost hunts something I’d never do. I’d be way too scared. I believe there are ghosts among us I just don’t what to have any sit downs if you know what I mean.

I get ideas from a variety of places – 1) mostly my warped imagination that likes to question and “what if” everything around me, 2) my even more warped dreams which are enhanced by the stomach medication I take at night with the side effect “vivid dreams, 3) listening in on other people’s conversations all the time, 4) things that happen to me or friends on ghost hunting adventures. I like to try and work in the realism of actual ghost hunts into the stories and often times, I will put in EVPs or details about things that we encounter at an allegedly haunted location. Come on, Kwana…go ghost hunting with me!

Not me Mar! I’m totally afraid of Ghosts!! So what’s next for you?

Well…GHOST HUNTRESS book 5, THE DISCOVERY comes out in May 2011. This will pick up where THE COUNSELING left off. I’m hoping that my amazing publisher will want more books in the series. In the meantime, I have several projects I’m working on, including the final edits on CHRISTMAS SPIRIT, which is the sequel to my CHRISTMAS MIRACLES that came out last year. CHRISTMAS SPIRIT will be out in October 2011. Other than that, just keeping busy with promotion, blogging, doing conferences and signings and traveling all over the US in my RV.

Thanks so much Marley. It’s always fun to have you here.  See you on the road!

Folks you can find more ghostly fun with Marley by going over to Books, Boys, Buzz and win prizes here all this week – http://yawriters.blogspot.com/and at Marley’s website at http://marleygibson.com/2010/08/28/awesome-giveaway-for-ghost-huntress-the-counseling/ – for contest, giveaway and prize package running through September 15th.

Best,
Kwana

P.S.

Who watched the not so Real Housewives of NJ Reunion show? WOW Whee what a hot mess. Poor Andy. I hope he got a bonus for getting knocked around like that. My mouth was hanging open.

What’s Jack up to? As I write this Jack is tip tapping around. His little nails making lots of noise on the wood floor. Though he just got a spiffy new summer cut I think the nails could use more help. Or maybe I could use more Patience.

 Thanks to random.org the winner of the copy of Wendy Toliver’s Lifted is….

Maria Geraci!! Congratulations Maria. Now for those of you that don’t know Maria let me introduce her. Maria is a talented author herself of 2 novels  Bunco Babes Go Wild and Bunco Babes Tell All. You can visit Maria’s site here to find out more about them and her next book The Boyfriend Club which comes out in December. I can’t wait to read it. Maria, send me an email with your info for your book.

In random music news you may or may not want to hear or care about. I’m all about listening to the new Erykah Badu CD. Today I need a Window Seat. I won’t post the her naked statement on the Dallas Mall video here though I do think I get it.  Maybe? If I do. I like it. I will share this song which I can’t stop singing.

Best

Kwana

So I thought I’d share the reason my back and shoulders are still so sore. Here is my haul away from BEA. Quite a few goodies huh? Some happy reading here.

I kinda wish I could line the bedroom with bookshelves but no way the DH would go for that. I really need a library. Oh well, to dream.

Happy Friday! Tell me what are you currently reading?

Best,

Kwana

What’s Jack up to? Jack, like me, is trying to get over this heat. I mean come on 92 in New York in May. It’s just not cute people. Not cute at all.

Yesterday was such a fun and tiring day. It was BEA Day! That’s Book Expo America at the Javits Center which is way over in the boonies of 11^th avenue of Manhattan where you are essentially captive, have to have overpriced food and drinks, breathe recycled air and walk miles in a big glass cube.

But I was saved for the ride down from Freshchester by the kindness of a friend. Thanks so much Ellen. I’ll travel with you anytime!

Once there I met up with my PIC Megan and I got to meet new friend author Victoria Janssen.

We also hung with the great and all book knowing Stacy.

And there was Chris and her friend Tina from Germany. Why didn’t I get a pic? Very sad. Good to see you Chris!

And then Diana. Hooray! So happy to get Ascendant the much anticipated follow up to Rampant.

I was, as usual, without restraint and have come home with too many books, but lots I’m happy to say are young adult that the Dear Twins can enjoy too. But I also got alot at the fab Harlequin booth from Brenda Jackson and Gwynne Forster and Rochelle Alers. At RWA I got to see Cathy Maxwell again who is just so nice and was wonderful on the romance panel.

No spotting of the Duchess Fergie for me. I think her event was ticketed so I missed that crowd but see from the news it was some event.

I was just about heading out the door vowing, “no more books!” when I saw a huge line and had to ask who it was. Well, my super blog friends it was none other than Teresa from The Real Housewives of New Jersey! And she was signing her book Skinny Italian! You know I wasn’t leaving without that book and meeting the famous table flipping Teresa.

 Let me just say her line was so long but she was gracious and had a smile for each person and signed every book. Then when I went and asked for an additional book for my super fan and knit friend Eileen she was only too happy to give me another one for her. So sweet and the book is beautiful.

Great way to end the day!

Best,

Kwana

Hi Folks. I’m moving slow today when I need to be typing at lightning speed on my edits. Oh well. Blame the lovely lady below. Leanna Renee Heiber. Doesn’t she look fabulous?

She was all done up for her reading last night at Lady Jane’s Salon and celebrating the release of her second book: The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker

It’s the sequel to her first book: The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker

Leanna gets the best titles. These books are just wonderful. Her talent amazes me. Visit Leanna at her site here: http://www.leannareneehieber.com/

Also at the reading was chapter mate Christina Britton Conroy reading from her book One Man’s Music. She was so animated that you felt you were back in the 60s

Also award winning author Jerri Smith-Ready read from her YA Shade. Which is a tale of a girl who can see and talk to ghosts and is suddenly happy for this gift after her boyfriend dies? Cool concept huh?

Please visit the Lady Jane’s Site here. If you are NYC the first Monday of the month it’s not to be missed.

Best,

Kwana

What’s Jack up to? You all know it’s never a dull moment with Jack the terrible terrier. As I type this he’s looking at me with sad puppy dog eyes sitting on his bed on a Jack time out after having gotten into the trash. So you know I’m not thrilled with him after having to clean up a big old mess. Oh well, so starts the week.

 This week and the next I will be in crazy editing mode and hopefully have my nose to the grindstone as I have lots of work to do and not a lot of time to do it. Wish me luck and say a prayer that the family cooperates.

On Saturday I went into the NYC for my RWA chapter’s Spring brunch. This year we had a guest speaker attend which is something we have not done in the past and boy did we get some speaker for out intimate little brunch.  New York Times Bestselling Romantic Suspense Author Suzanne Brockmann. I know right?

Let me tell you we had quite a turn out at this year’s luncheon with Suzanne there. As it happens Suzanne is in New York directing an off Broadway play until May 22^ndcalled Looking for Billy Haines. You can find out info at www.lookingforbillyhaines.com So on top of being bestselling author she can now add director to her resume. Cool huh?

My notes were a little whacky as Suzanne talked while lunch was being served. Literally. She was so sweet. The waiters were coming in with the food trying to figure who had what and she didn’t mind she was like, “Who had the quiche? Salad? Pot Pie?” All with a smile.

 She told us her journey from being a stay at home mother is 1992 and how she started out writing screenplays and moved from there to contemporary romance.

 She also talked about Role Modeling after bestsellers careers during that time and the fact that category romance is a great place to start out for a 1^st time romance author. It’s where she got her start. And guess what? Bantam has reissued all her category romances.

Suzanne also said how in the category years she used to write 6-7 books a year. Yeah, that’s right I said it 6-7 and she set out to make them the best book ever. Keepers that people did not want to give up. There is something to aspire to.

There was also talk about the importance of one on one connections with people when the question of social media came up. And how important is to say thank you when someone reaches out to you to gives feedback on your work. Good or bad. She’s a good egg. 

Then we got into the process question and my mind was blown. Now you Brockmann fans know she writes intricate plots and ongoing series with twists and turns. Well she does big honking 80 page outlines. You should have heard the gasp of air suckage around the room. Me the pantser almost fell off my chair.

But to soften the blow she also believes in the crappy first draft and that big outline is taking into consideration up to 3 books out. Whew.

Also for you writers out there, when she’s in story mode she is writing 7 days a week. No breaks. She said that if she takes a day off it will take her 3 days to get back into the story.  I can so relate to that. No more breaks for me. One day turns to too many and nothing gets done.

There were so nuggets of gold in Suzanne’s talk and Q & A that I can’t get it all in. The last thing I’ll leave you with is she told us to respect yourself as a writer whether you’re published or not. I believe that is true for whatever dream you are pursuing. Respect yourself and believe in yourself.

Thanks so much Suzanne for a wonderful afternoon.

You can visit Suzanne at her site http://www.suzannebrockmann.com

Now back to the grind for me.

Best,

Kwana

Thanks for all the comments yesterday on what good books you all are warming up with. Some really good ones there. Adding to the TBR pile.

Today I wanted to share with you one of most fun book trailers EV-AH by super talented writer, Tessa Dare. Her book Goddess of the Hunt was one of my favorites last year. Now watch and Enjoy.

You can find Tessa over at on her site Tessadare.com here.  Go and tell her what you think and pick up a book.

Now  tell me what do you think of book trailers? This one is fab, yes?

Best,

Kwana