REVIEW: Undertow by New York times Bestselling Author, Cherry Adair

Title: UNDERTOW

Series: Book One in the CUTTER CAY series

Author: Cherry Adair

Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Genre: Novel/ Romantic Suspense

Released Date: December 28, 2010

Book Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Book Heat: SCORCHER

Read an Excerpt

ORDER NOW!

Book Description:

Cherry Adair sets a dangerous course into uncharted waters, where the hottest treasures—and steamiest pleasures—lie waiting for any man or woman bold and brave enough to claim them…


She Takes the Plunge: Teal Williams is content with her career as a ship's master mechanic—until Zane Cutter, the “Casanova of the Caribbean,” makes her an offer she can’t refuse: climb on board with him for a real-life treasure hunt. Teal simply has to help him dredge up a shipwrecked vessel containing an abundance of gold, silver and emeralds—and she’ll claim part of the prize.


He’s Blown Off Course: Zane needs a mechanic who can also dive—not a lover—and Teal is perfect for the job. So it suits him just fine that Teal is completely immune to his charms…or so he tells himself. But with a deadly enemy in their midst—an enemy who’s silently edging closer—Zane and Teal sink into treacherous troubled waters. They have no one to turn to but each other as they face down a danger that runs unfathomably deep—and a passion that runs even deeper…

REVIEW:

Sexy treasure hunter, Zane Cutter is one of three brothers who own a salvage company, CUTTER SALVAGE on Cutter Cay, a remote island in the Caribbean. These boys were born and bread on the adventure of finding the ‘big’ catch. This time, it’s the baby brother with the baby blues and killer smile, Zane Cutter aka ‘Casanova of the Caribbean’, out to find his pot of gold. All he needs is an ‘ace’ mechanic for his pride and joy salvage ship, the Decrepit. Upon his dieing friend’s request he hires the estranged daughter, Teal Williams. It’s in her favor that she can work on any engine and seems immune to Zane’s devilish charms. He’s fine with that—or so he thinks—at least she can dive, take of his ships engine and follow orders is all he needs her for. Zane’s only goals are to stay focused, dive the Dutch frigate, Vrijheid which took him four long painstaking years to find and bring back a fortune in gold, silver and emeralds that were just waiting for him a hundred feet under the sea. He couldn’t afford any distraction and by the venomous looks Teal Williams shot his way he knew he wouldn’t have a problem—or would he?

Teal Williams had lived a tough life taking care of a crack addict mother. Her father had been a one night that consisted in Teal’s birth. She grew up with the knowledge that no man wanted her, but they all wanted her to change. A disastrous eighteen month marriage has made this irrevocable shy gil pull into herself. She swore, once she got rid of her dead weight ex-husband that no other man would control her. Teal use to spend two week every summer on the island. There she could forget about her mother’s addiction, worrying if bills were paid and relaxed enough to be a real child. No her estranged father has contacted her asking her to take his place on Zane Cutter’s crew for his expedition. She agrees not understand why she did. It isn’t as if she and her father are close. He never seemed to really want her around when she visited. Confused and guarded she agrees. Promising herself to keep gorgeous flirt, Zane Cutter at arms length and in his place Teal hides in the one place she knows never to see him--he engine room.

Accolade:

UNDERTOW is a high velocity full force-impact adventure. Adair has done it again by creating a charged filled read Adair delivers an action packed adrenaline charge story, with her sexy and witty dialogue and powerful chemistry between the protagonists. I recommend turning your heaters off readers and get set to drool as you read. It will leave readers breathless and ready to be taken by the UNDERTOW.

Givieaway, Interview and Live Chat with Award-Winning and Bestselling Author, Annette Blair

Award-Winning and Bestselling author, Annette Blair is spending the day chatting. She has brought a copy of her latest Berkley release, "NAKED DRAGON", the first book in her A Works Like Magick Novel for giveaway.  To enter leave Annette a comment including your email.  The contest is open to all and will run until January 31, 2010.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: For all you devoted Annette Blair fans, tonight (Thursday) from 7pm-9pm est (American) time Annette will be chatting LIVE.  To enter the live chat all you need to do is click on the CHAT icon above and it will bring you directly there.  Make sure to mark it down on your calender because this is one chat you don't want to miss!**

Title:  NAKED DRAGON: A Works Like Magick Novel Book One
Author: Annette Blair
Publisher: Berkley
Genre:  Paranormal Romantic Comedy
Release: January 2010
Format:  Papeback
Order: Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/ Borders

Reviews and Praises


The Works Like Magick Employment Agency has a reputation for perfectly matching clients with magickal temps. So when McKenna Greylock requests a handyman, the gorgeous Bastian Dragonelli arrives to repair her B&B...and fire up her bedroom.

"Forget the vampires and demons, give me the dragons! Full of suspense, humor, and romance, this novel is sure to please any paranormal or fantasy fan. For anyone who read the author's novel "The Kitchen Witch," you will be treated to a cameo or two by Melody Seabright! ...one more way the author makes her stories special. Annette Blair is one in a billion!" ~Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews

"The first Works Like Magick urban romantic fantasy is a fun lighthearted entertaining tale that is filled with magic mostly because of the hero’s struggles to adapt to modern society. Amusing yet with a serious subplot, as no one escapes the wrath of Killian, fans will enjoy the naked Dragon who learns what a lance truly is and its true purpose from his beloved employer." Harriet Klausner

"Blair's first story in her new Works Like Magick series introduces wonderfully magical dragon men. The adjustments the hero must make to fit into this modern world are delightfully handled, and the main characters' interactions with each other and those around them make for a fun and enjoyable escape from reality. HOT." ~Susan Mobley, RT



"NAKED DRAGON A WORKS LIKE MAGICK NOVEL is a highly entertaining magickal read. Annette Blair once again proves why she’s on my auto buy list. Everything I have ever read by this author has a place on my keeper shelf. I can’t wait to see where Annette Blair takes this series next. I have to admit, I cried at the end. A truly heartfelt sigh worthy ending. I highly recommend this book to all lovers of magick and true love." Chere Gruver, ParaNormalRomance


Book Description:

In Salem, human magick has thinned the veil between the planes to a permeable mist, forming a portal into the city, allowing time travelers and chameleons of the universe to enter there.

Bastian Dragonelli, once a Roman warrior turned dragon, is the first of his legion to be returned to earth, a man. So his brothers can also be saved and sent to earth, Bastian must reclaim the magick of Andra, Goddess of Hope, who sacrificed hers to transform him. He must seek his heart mate and make her quest his own. But the dark, powerful Killian, Sorceress of Chaos, who turned his legion into dragons and skewed his transition back into a man, is hot on his heels.

McKenna Greylock, the last non-magickal descendant of Ciarra, a witch who survived Salem's hanging times, needs a jack-of-all-trades to help turn her dilapidated Victorian into a bed and breakfast so she doesn't lose her home and her family's centuries-old legacy.

Enter McKenna's cousin, Vivica Quinlan, Ciarra's most magickal descendent, owner of the Works Like Magick Employment Agency. Vivica has a gift for matching human employers with magickal employees. Like Ciarra before her, Vivica knows when magickal supernatural ancients are about to arrive. She greets them and acclimates them to life, and to making a living, in Salem.

Besides Killian's threatening presence, Bastian's life is also complicated by McKenna, his guardian dragon, a troublemaking fairy, and a case of culture shock. Bastian also has a problem with his man lance. It won't behave at all the way he remembered it should. Not at all...

Read excerpt.

Learn more about the Author of the Day.

Interview with Bestselling author, Annette Blair

CSM: Please help me welcome Award-Winning and National Bestselling author, Annette Blair to Over the Edge. Annette, my readers and I are so psyched that one of my go-to authors has dropped to spend time with us. Thanks so much!

CSM: Tell us more about yourself.

I was once a stay at home mom, very domestic—so domestic, I made and decorated wedding cakes in my spare time— then I gave up domesticity for a career. I was an administrator at a private New England Prep School for 21 years (while secretly writing sexy romances) until I became a full time writer in 2006.

Besides writing, I adore playing Nana to Kelsey age 4, Travis age 6, and Laura age 2.

I love writing witches. I love writing historicals. I love writing mysteries. I love writing paranormal, like my NAKED DRAGON. I guess I just love writing…

CSM: If you have 2 hours free time tonight, what would you rather do? Why?

So many choices. But I’d like more free time with my husband, at a bookstore, or an antique shop. Just time with him. We’re always so busy, it’s such a treat when we take time for ourselves alone.

CSM: What kind of books do you love to read? Why?

I like books filled with heart, books that give me hope, make me believe in the goodness of mankind, the existence of romance, something with laughing toddlers, lots of mischief, gallantry, and a happily ever after. I still re read all of Mary Balogh’s Regency romances. I love Stephanie Plum. I’ll always love Susan Elizabeth Phillips.

CSM: What type of music do you relax to?

I have eclectic taste in music. I love the classics, I love New Age music, Celtic music, show tunes, easy listening, nothing that’s so chaotic it muffles the stories in my head.

CSM: Besides being a total book junkie I’m also a music junkie. When I’m writing I have a sound track playing either in my mind or in my cd player. What’s your sound track? What type of music is on it?

Instrumentals when I’m writing, New age, Enya, River of Stars, anything by 2002, sound tracks from the Jane Austen movies. The sound track from Robin Hood, Little Women…again soft melodic and in the background so I can hear my characters.

CSM: What is your favorite stress reliever?

A great movie.

CSM: What is your favorite food?

Kentucky Fried Chicken

CSM: Describe yourself in one word?

Tenacious.

CSM: What’s your biggest regret in life?

That my mother didn’t live to see my success with my writing.

CSM: What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

I went to an RT Conference and took my mother with me. (that in itself was adventurous) I rented a car in San Antonio, drove for hours through Texas to Nuevo Laredo Mexico, and just wandered around. Then we ate at a Mexican restaurant and had no idea what we were ordering. My mother never drove on a highway; she was very impressed. Well, actually, she thought I was nuts. Driving a strange car, in a strange state to a strange country…

CSM: How would readers find out more about you?

www.annetteblair.com and I’m on facebook, myspace, and twitter.

CSM: When did you write your first book?

In 1989.

CSM: How long did it take you to write it?

It took about a year.

CSM: Did you encounter any obstacles in writing?

Little problem: I didn’t know how to write, but that didn’t stop me. I finished the first and wrote a second before I found Romance Writers of America.

CSM: What do you think about editing?

I love to edit my books. Getting the book down, first draft is fun, but I’m a happy girl when I can polish, polish, polish.

CSM: Where and when do you write?

I have an office off my bedroom but I also have a netbook so I tend to write wherever I am. I’ve written in the yard, on the deck, in the car, plain, train, boat…

CSM: What is your must-have book for writing?

Complete Writer's Guide to Heroes and Heroines : Sixteen Master Archetypes by Caro Lafever, Sue Viders, Tami D. Cowden

CSM: What is your advice for aspiring writers?

The only guarantee in writing is: If you don’t write and you don’t submit, you will never sell.

CSM: What genre(s) do you write?

I made my first sale in 1998 and started my writing career writing historical romances: Two Amish Historicals, a Victorian Historical, and six Regency Historicals, including The Rogues Club for Kensington.

Then I went to Salem, MA, about 45 minutes from here, and I got the idea for THE KITCHEN WITCH. My bewitching romantic comedies became my first National bestsellers. Now I write for Berkley. Cozy mysteries for Berkley Prime Crime. Paranormal Romantic Comedies for Berkley Sensation. I just signed a contract for my 25th book.

CSM: Among that you’ve written which is your favorite book and why?

My favorite book is always the book I’m writing. This is like asking someone to pick their favorite child. You love every one for their own unique qualities.

CSM: Where do you get your ideas? Do you jot them down in a notebook in case you forget?

I got a mystery idea from a magazine this week. I get them from the news and from listening to people in restaurants. I get ideas everywhere and I jot them down everywhere. Actually, I have notebooks in every nook and cranny of the house and car, in my purse, wherever I go. I’ve dreamed some plots and locations like Paxton Island where the triplet witches took place, and Paxton Castle, every crazy detail. That all came from a dream.

CSM: Which of your books feature your family/friends, etc? What characters are modeled after them? Why?

In my Vintage Magic Mystery series Tunney Lague the meatcutter, who knows everybody’s business, is my dad. He’s been gone for years now but I like ‘working’ with him. Gussie the nasty witch who caused everyone to argue and haunted Paxton castle in SEX AND THE PSYCHIC WITCH was a family member who wasn’t happy unless she could instigate discord. The religious fanatic in NEVER BEEN WITCHED is a woman I knew and yes that was her to a T.

CSM: Which of your heroes/heroines is most similar to you?

Oh, they’re all part of me, I think. No one’s exactly like me. I wish I was Harmony Cartwright or McKenna Greylock, but at least, I get to live their lives and romances.

CSM: Who is your strongest/sexiest/most lovable/hottest hero/heroine? Why?

I think that Storm Cartwright from GONE WITH THE WITCH might be my hottest & sexiest heroine, and Bastian Dragonelli from NAKED DRAGON my sexiest hero. King Paxton was hot. Aiden McCloud was romantic and lovable. Kira Fitzgerald and Jason Goddard from MY FAVORITE WITCH are a hot couple. Let’s ask the readers. LOL.

CSM: Have you ever wanted to write your book in one direction but your characters wanted to go in another direction. What did you do in such a situation?

I can’t say that I’ve ever experienced that struggle. I’m a go with the flow kind of person. I might plan my story but if they want to lead, I let them. I know how to handle the reins.

CSM: Tell us more about your current release Berkley, “Larceny and Lace: A Vintage Magic Mystery”.

Good news about that, LARCENY AND LACE, 2nd in the series, just went back to print. I learned that yesterday.

A VINTAGE MAGIC MYSTERY

Book Two

Maddie Cutler has it all in the bag: fashion, magic--and murder!

If that dress could talk...

With all the stress of opening her new vintage clothing store (in a renovated old morgue) Madeira Cutler feels like a bag of bones--until she discovers the real deal, unearthed by an intruder, in an old body drawer. And the bones are as vintage as Maddie's stock, or so says Maddie's resident ghostly hunk, Dante Underhill.

Could the break-in have something to do with the local playhouse and its curator going down in flames? Somehow Maddie will have to juggle dressing the store, party planning, and crime solving. Add to the brew the local witch's costume ball, being held at her store, and Madeira is wishing she knew how to ride a broom right out of there...

I had fun with this book. Maddie and Eve got into more trouble than usual. Tonight I finished revising DEATH BY DIAMONDS, the 3rd mystery in the series due out in July 2010.

My current release, however, is NAKED DRAGON, my first Works Like Magick Novel, which has been out for two weeks.

NAKED DRAGON

January 2010

“McKenna Greylock,” Bastian said. “I have in my shorts one resourceful, multi-talented, prehensile dragon lance. And, in its own magnificent way, it very nearly does breathe fire.”

A WORKS LIKE MAGICK NOVEL

In Salem, human magick has thinned the veil between the planes to a permeable mist, forming a portal into the city, allowing time travelers and chameleons of the universe to enter there.

Bastian Dragonelli, once a Roman warrior turned dragon, is the first of his legion to be returned to earth, a man. So his brothers can also be saved and sent to earth, Bastian must reclaim the magick of Andra, Goddess of Hope, who sacrificed hers to transform him. He must seek his heart mate and make her quest his own. But the dark, powerful Killian, Sorceress of Chaos, who turned his legion into dragons and skewed his transition back into a man, is hot on his heels.

McKenna Greylock, the last non-magickal descendant of Ciarra, a witch who survived Salem's hanging times, needs a jack-of-all-trades to help turn her dilapidated Victorian into a bed and breakfast so she doesn't lose her home and her family's centuries-old legacy.

Enter McKenna's cousin, Vivica Quinlan, Ciarra's most magickal descendent, owner of the Works Like Magick Employment Agency. Vivica has a gift for matching human employers with magickal employees. Like Ciarra before her, Vivica knows when magickal supernatural ancients are about to arrive. She greets them and acclimates them to life, and to making a living, in Salem.

Besides Killian's threatening presence, Bastian's life is also complicated by McKenna, his guardian dragon, a troublemaking fairy, and a case of culture shock. Bastian also has a problem with his man lance. It won't behave at all the way he remembered it should. Not at all...

CSM: Any new projects, works in progress?

Coming up in 2010:

DEATH BY DIAMONDS, July

BEDEVILED ANGEL, the 2nd Works Like Magick Novel, August

I’m about the start the 4th mystery, then the third Works Like Magick Novel.

CSM: I want to take this time to thank  Annette Blair for stopping by and sharing with my readers and myself a little bit about yourself. This sure has been loads of fun. I hope you enjoyed being here as much as we enjoyed having you.

I loved being here, Christine. Thank you so much. Happy Reading!

Giveaway & Interview with Romance Author, Susanne Saville

Romance author Susanne Saville has dropped by to chat with us today. She has brought along a copy of "The Secret Hunter" to give away. To enter leave a comment for Susan including your email. Giveaway is open to all and runs until January 31, 2010.

Title: The Secret Hunter
Author: Susanne Saville
Publisher:
Genre Historical Romance
--Available Now!
Print Book, E-Book and Audio

When Gwenllian Lloyd literally knocks dashing Daniel Wyckliff off his feet in Bath's Sydney Gardens, she is unaware intrigue looms before her. The year is 1804. England fears invasion from Napoleon's France. Gwenllian has just met the man of her dreams, but is he a man she can trust?

Read excerpt!


WATCH BOOK TRAILER!

Title:Vampire Close
Author: Susanne Saville
Publisher: LULU
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Trade Paperback
Available Now from Amazaon

Fiona MacPhee is a woman with a mission--and a very dark secret. Sidekick to Joan Armstrong, a famous demon hunter, Fiona must scour Edinburgh for the answer to a cryptic prophecy before an ancient evil rends the veil between the worlds at Samhain. She can't afford any distractions.

Especially not from Rory MacLaren.

A handsome, charming rogue, Rory has also been a vampire for 260 years. When Rory catches Fiona in a deserted wynd after midnight, his offer of help could not be better--or more suspiciously--timed.

WATCH BOOK TRAILER!


Learn more about the Author of the Day.

Interview with author Susanne Saville.

CSM: Please help me welcome Romance author, Susanne Saville to Over the Edge. Susanne, my readers and I are so psyched that you have dropped by to spend time with us. Thanks so much!

You’re welcome! Glad to be here.

CSM: Tell us more about yourself. Readers love learning new and interesting things about an author, and this would give you a chance to make them feel close.

New and interesting ... new and interesting ... ummmm ... *deer in headlights expression* ... I knew I should have studied more for this ...

Okay. My secret power is being omniscient when it comes to Useless Information. My brain collects trivia like fabric collects cat hair. Unfortunately I’m too shy to be in a game show. Or a sideshow, for that matter.

What else ... I have two graduate degrees. I used to teach history at Georgia Military College.

I also drink quite a prodigious amount of coffee and am a total fan-girl when it comes to John Barrowman (squeee!).

CSM: Besides being a total book junkie I’m also a music junkie. When I’m writing I have a sound track playing either in my mind or in my cd player. What’s your sound track? What type of music is on it?

Each book has a different sound track and sometimes characters have a particular theme song. I listened to the Buffy musical often while I was writing Vampire Close (no surprise there), as well as the Lord of the Rings soundtrack.

And John Barrowman is always on the soundtrack somewhere, of course.

CSM: How would readers find out more about you?

Facebook. (http://facebook.com/SusanneSaville)

Also:
GoodReads (http://goodreads.com/SusanneSaville)
My website (http://SusanneSaville.com)
My blog (http://SusanneSaville.blogspot.com)
And I ramble on Twitter (http://twitter.com/SusanneSaville)


CSM: When did you write your first book?

I have been writing since forever. Short stories, novellas, fan fiction. First novel-length book would be ... as a senior in high school. Wrote it during study hall. Doctor Who fan fiction.

CSM: Where and when do you write?

In bed, often late into the night. I have a desk, but it’s covered with papers and books. Really need to clean off that puppy.

CSM: What is your must-have book for writing?

Like, how to write? Or reference book?

I have the Oxford English Dictionary on hand at all times. You’d be amazed how words start to look misspelled the more you stare at them.

For how to write, I’d say go to a writers’ conference. Even if you don’t write romance, Romance Writers of America has a great yearly conference that includes all sorts of craft workshops. The craft is the same, no matter what subject you write.

CSM: What is your advice for aspiring writers?

Never forget that you write because you can’t not write.

A writer is something you are rather than something you do. It’s a vocation. The vast majority of writers will never get published, and of those few who do, most will never make enough money to quit their day job. You’re going to face rejection not only before getting published, but also afterwards - not all proposals sell and not all reviews are good. It can be a lonely, frustrating, unenjoyable existence. So make sure you’re entertaining yourself. Otherwise all those hours in front of the computer screen will drive you mad. :)

CSM: What genre(s) do you write?

Well, Vampire Close is contemporary paranormal, Dance Macabre is historical paranormal, and Captain Devlin’s Captive and The Secret Hunter are both straight historical.

Then there’s CatSpotting and PugSpotting which are both non-fiction.

CSM: Among that you’ve written which is your favorite book and why?

That’s tough. Captain Devlin’s Captive was the easiest - once I got going it flew along. But I think The Secret Hunter has a special place in my heart because one of its stars is a pug dog modeled upon my own pug (since deceased).

CSM: Tell us more about your new release by LULU.com “Vampire Close”.

Originally Vampire Close was published by New Concepts Publishing in ebook and paperback. I now have the rights back, so I decided to take it to Lulu to keep it “in print.”

The Secret Hunter was originally published by Wings in ebook and paperback. As I now have the rights back for that one, too, I took it to Lulu as well.

Both were extensively researched and, since most of Vampire Close takes place in contemporary Edinburgh, you’ll probably recognize many of the places if you’ve been there.

CSM: Any new projects, works in progress?

2010 is the ten year anniversary of PugSpotting, so I am (slowly) working on a new edition, to include historically significant pugs discovered since.

CSM: I want to take this time to thank Susanne Saville for stopping by and sharing with my readers and myself a little bit about yourself. This sure has been loads of fun. I hope you enjoyed being here as much as we enjoyed having you.

Definitely! I’m so pleased you asked me over - thanks!

Giveaway & Interview with Romantic Suspense Author, Anne Canandeo

Simon and Schusters Romantic Suspense author, Anne Canadeo has stopped by to chat with us today. She's brought along two (2) copies of "KNIT, PURL, DIE" to giveaway. To enter leave Anne a comment including your email. Giveaway is open to all and runs until January 31, 2010. Good luck to everyone.

Title: Knit, Purl, Die
Author: Anne Canadeo
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Pocket
Genre: Fiction
Release: December 2010
Format: Print
Buy Now

Book Description:

Counting on each other...

Meet the Black Sheep knitters -- five smart, funny
women who love to knit, gossip, and solve crimes.

Gloria Sterling had it all -- money, looks, and a new sexy young husband. So when she's found floating face down in her own swimming pool, shock waves ripple through tiny Plum Harbor. At the Black Sheep Knitting Shop, Maggie Messina and her circle are devastated to lose their dear friend -- a woman as colorful as her fabulous yarn creations.

The police are quick to call it an accident, but sorting out Gloria's final hours leaves too many loose ends to satisfy her friends. The vivacious, fiftysomething cougar had her French manicured tips in more than a few pots, and the threads of some inside deals stashed in her chic knitting tote.

Who was the last person to see Gloria alive on that quiet summer night? Two empty wine glasses suggest she wasn't home alone knitting the entire evening.... The Black Sheep need to know the truth and set out to unravel -- stitch by stitch -- the weighty secrets that pulled poor Gloria under.

Learn more about the Author of the Day.

 Interview with Simon & Schuster author, Anne Canadeo.

CSM: Please help me welcome POCKET author, Anne Canadeo to Over the Edge. Ann, my readers and I are so psyched that have dropped by to spend time with us. Thanks so much!

Thanks for inviting me, Christine. Writing is a lonely business. I love to communicate with readers..

CSM: Tell us more about yourself.

Quite honestly, I spend a lot of my days-- and nights-- in my office, working, where it often seems very little new and interesting ever happens.

When I get out of my self imposed exile, I love to do some physical and

mindless – like some ‘extreme’ gardening, getting dirty from head to toe. Or painting a room (we live in an old house that’s always in need of some repair). Or just running or working out at the gym.

I also do a lot of service work in our community. I volunteer with an organization that houses the homeless in the winter months. I also manage a food outreach that makes and distributes about 300 meals a week, year

round .

Literacy is another issue dear to my heart. For the past few years, I’ve helped organized literacy events and free book fairs for kids in need.

Our group is now branching out, reading aloud and giving out books to children in after school programs and youth centers. As a writer, you can sometime live too much inside your own head and

get too focused on make believe worlds, deadlines, etc. This type of work puts me back in touch with reality. And helps me feel I’ve made a different type of contribution to the world at large, than writing books.

CSM: Besides being a total book junkie I also a music junkie. When I writing I have a sound track playing either in my mind or in my cd player. What your sound track? What type of music is on it?

I love music, but I never have any on when I’m writing. Not even in my mind. That would be too distracting to me. I’m very sensitive to noise and wear ear plugs when I work. It helps me really focus and get to a deep place in my imagination. I’d recommend it..

I will give you some highlights from my Ipod, which I love to play while

driving or at the gym : Diana Krall,. B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Ray Charles,

Thelonius Monk, The Pretenders, The Beatles, Etta James, Louis Armstrong, Sabor Brazil.

CSM: How would readers find out more about you?

I am in the midst of setting up a website, or at least a Face Book page.

Interested readers can find some biographical information at the Simon &

Schuster website and I think there’s also a video interview there.

They can also write me at: acanadeo@aol.com

CSM: When did you write your first book?

I’d always love to write, from when I was very young. I really only wrote poetry though until I was in my twenties. I had a few poems published in literary journals, before turning to prose. When I was thinking of going on to graduate school and needed money, a friend suggested I try to write a Harlequin romance. I had no idea what that was and bought a few at a supermarket. I did eventually submit a partial manscript which was rejected. Several years later, my first job in publishing was for a company that published romantic fiction. I went on to edit in that genre for many years and to write some women’s fiction as well. I also managed to attend graduate school at Columbia University, but my tuition was not financed by my writing. But by my editorial work.

CSM: Where and when do you write?

I write in my home office, a room that is not very large and gets too filled with boxes of books, brimming bookcases and various piles of “urgent” projects. When I’m really pushing to finish a manuscript, the space is chaotic. Like walking directly into a pile of paper with a computer buried somewhere at the center. It’s a great feeling to send a book in and clean it all up. The excercise also clears my head.

There’s also the challenge of manuevering around our two dogs, Abby a brown Lab and Golden Retriever, Lily. They’re my office mates and I couldn’t work without them. Lily is the model for Lucy’s dog, Tink, in the Black Sheep Mysteries. Modeling a character in a book on someone you know and see everyday can be problematic. But Lily has taken it very well and never complained.

CSM: What is your must-have book for writing?

That’s a hard question. There are so many books I turn to for inspiration,

and getting “in pitch.” I keep my very favorite books on a shelf near my desk. Sometimes it helps just to glance over and read the spines. I love the writing of Alice Munro. I also love Anne Tyler’s work. I’m a huge fan of Jane Austen, too. When I was first starting to write full time, I found the book Respect for Acting by Unta Hagen a great guide to creating character. I’m a very character oriented writer so her methodolgy and insights were especially helpfu to me. I’d recommend it, even though it’s not a writing how- to.

CSM: What is your advice for aspiring writers?

Step One: Put one word after another for a considerable period of time.

Step Two: Repeat step one.

I had that written on an index card above my desk for many years when I

was starting out. So I guess it works.

So much of achieving proficiency and success in any field is a matter of putting the time in, of keeping your butt in the chair. There can be a lot of discouragement. Starting out, you need to figure out how to bounce back from rejections and keep going. I would often remind myself of the saying, “The guy who wins the fight is the not the one who never gets knocked down. He just manages to get up one more time than the other guy.”

I would also add that writers groups and classes can be a double edged situation. They can offer support and help you edit and refine your work. But hearing too many opinions, especially when you’re starting out, can be undermining, too.

CSM: What genre(s) do you write?

I have written over thirty books at this point, in many genres, for adults and children – fiction and non fiction. I’ve written middle grade and young adult fiction and nonfiction, romance fiction and a contemporary fiction series for adults. One in particular ( about several families in the same town) has been

progressing for many years – the Cape Light series– which is now up to book

eleven.

I’ve done just about all my writing under pseudonym, except for the nonfiction. The Black Sheep Mysteries are the first adult fiction titles I’ve published under my own name.

CSM: Among that you e written which is your favorite book and why?

The two Black Sheep Mysteries, While My Pretty One Knits and Knit, Purl, Die would have to be my favorite books so far. Mainly because they’re written in my most authentic voice. My “real” voice. Or as close as I’ve gotten to date. I still have the goal of writing a straight novel, something

that is quality fiction and not any particular genre.

Most of the other books I’ve published had to be written within certain limitations. I especially like being able to use my sense of humor and like the combination of humor and mystery.

CSM: Tell us more about your latest release by POCKET, "Knit,Purl, Die".

I think this story is a little darker and unfolds at a faster pace than the first

book, While My Pretty One Knits. But readers seem to like that so far.

I tried to play with the obvious conclusions readers would make, watching a situation where an older, wealthy woman marries a younger man...and is soon found dead in her swimming pool.

Gloria Sterling, the character who is killed off, is a complicated, interesting personality. With a lot going on in their life that even their spouse, or close friends don’t know about. That’s very important in any mystery.

This unfolding information and it’s possibly meaning as parts of the murder puzzle is really crucial to the supense of the story.

Another big aspect of writing mysteries is manipulating the reader, leading them in one direction when they really should be looking at another. I think mystery readers enjoy being fooled and I tried hard to have a few twists at the end, which I hope are hard to guess.

CSM: Any new projects, works in progress?

Yes, always. I’m presently writing book eleven in The Cape Light series.

The characters are getting older, but there are always new stories to tell

about their lives and relationships.

I’m also working on the third book in the Black Sheep Mystery series,

A Stitch Before Dying. The Black Sheep Knitters take a trip together, to a

wellness spa. They’ve barely unpacked their chakras before another guest dies under mysterious circumstance and there’s new mystery to solve.

CSM: I want to take this time to thank Anne Canandeo for stopping by and sharing with my readers and myself a little bit about yourself. This sure has been loads of fun. I hope you enjoyed being here as much as we enjoyed having you.

I’ve enjoyed it very much. Thanks for having me. I hope to visit again soon.

Giveaway & Interview with the Author of "The Succubi Diaries" Series, Jill Myles

Simon and Schuster Paranormal Romance author, Jill Myles has dropped by to talk about her recent "The Succubi Diaries" release. She has thoughtfully brought along two (2) copies of "SUCCUBI LIKE IT HOT" to giveaway. To enter leave Jill a comment including your email. Giveaway is open to all and runs until January 31, 2010. Good luck to everyone!

Title: SUCCUBI LIKE IT HOT
Author: Jill Myles
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Format: Paperback
Release: January 19, 2010
Buy Now!

Nobody said Sucking was easy.

With a flirtatious new figure, her dream job as an archaeologist, and two gorgeous boyfriends to scratch her seductive Itch—an angel and a vampire—Jackie Brighton is totally getting the hang of life as a succubus.

Then her need for sex spirals out of control, and she accidentally knocks the pizza guy unconscious with her touch. Great, she’s cursed. Unfortunately, neither of her jealous lovers is exactly talking to her right now.

So after Jackie strikes a deal with a crafty demon, she and her best friend Remy take a cross-country road trip to deliver a cryptic message to the nation’s oldest succubus (who doesn’t look a day over eighteen.) Their journey gets weirder with every mile—demonic possession, a charming stalker, a deadly hotel room warning—but when they get to New Orleans, Jackie discovers a dangerous catch to her supernatural bargain. Someone wants her dead (again), but has she been sleeping with the enemy?

Or do the forces of evil think they’re some kind of match for a vixen in a miniskirt?

Title: GENTLEMEN PREFER SUCCUBI
Author: Jill Myles
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release: December 29, 2009
Format: Paperback
Buy Now!

Who knew an angel could get a girl in so much devilish trouble?

Jackie Brighton woke up in a dumpster this morning, and her day has only gotten weirder. Her breasts grew overnight, her sex drive is insatiable, and apparently she had her first one-night stand ever . . . with a fallen angel.

Of course, she only remembers gorgeous Noah’s enormous, er, package. And their steamy shower sex. Hmm . . . and the dark stranger whose bite transformed her into an immortal siren with a seductive Itch.

With help from Noah and fellow succubus Remy Summore, Jackie adapts to her new lifestyle—until she accidentally strikes a deal that sends her lover into the deadly clutches of the vampire queen and lands Jackie, Remy, and the queen’s wickedly hot right-hand man into the middle of a fierce battle for an ancient halo.

But how’s a girl supposed to save the world when the enemy’s so hard to resist?

Read the first chapter.


WATCH VIDEO!



Learn more about the Author of the Day.

Interview with Paranormal Romance author, Jill Myles

CSM: Please help me welcome Pocket Books author, Jill Myles to Over the Edge. Jill, my readers and I are so psyched that have dropped by to spend time with us. Thanks so much!

Thank you! I'm so happy to be here.

CSM: Tell us more about yourself.

I'm kind of average, sad to say! I have a day job (which isn't fun), a husband (who is fun) and two cats (who are just weird). I read way too much, make far too many inappropriate jokes, and I promised to give up cussing for New Year's, which makes me want to swear even more.

CSM: Besides being a total book junkie I’m also a music junkie. When I’m writing I have a sound track playing either in my mind or in my cd player. What’s your sound track? What type of music is on it?

Ooh, good question! You know, I think it depends on moods. I might listen to an artist I'm not normally crazy about or is an entirely different genre just because the mood of the album fits my book. I've written to Dixie Chicks, Iron Maiden, movie soundtracks, Enya, you name it. When I'm writing the Succubus Diaries books, I can't really listen to music as I write because it's too distracting, but I listen to CDs to get me in the mood. The first two books were written to Avril Lavigne CDs - kind of fun and bratty and not too serious. I'm in the middle of writing book 3 and it wants to be written to Lady Gaga's The Fame Monster.

CSM: How would readers find out more about you?

Well, you can tweet me or check out my website! Oh, and I have a Goodreads account that I do try to keep active with what I've read recently. I love Goodreads! I have a Facebook account too, but I'm a bad Facebooker. I only remember it when my sister tags me.

CSM: When did you write your first book?

I wrote my first book in 2002 (to the Last of the Mohicans soundtrack!) and it was, in a word, AWFUL. So awful. I put it in the trunk and never looked at it again. Gentlemen Prefer Succubi is actually manuscript #5 for me - I needed a few tries to get it right!

CSM: Where and when do you write?

I'm kind of persnickety in my old age (okay, so I'm not really, but I wanted to use the word 'persnickety') and I like to have my things 'just so' to write. So I can't write at Starbucks or on the fly. I have to be at my writing desk with silence, and preferably a Snuggie.

CSM: What is your must-have book for writing?

I hate most writing books. I'm very much a 'pantser' in that I try not to plan out the story too much in advance -- that ruins the creative spark for me. I hate it when books tell you to do pie charts and 30 pages of bullet-points to tell your story. Yuck - that feels too much like my day job. So, not a big fan of writing books. That being said - Stephen King wrote a brilliant book called ON WRITING and it's about how he works. And he's a pantser too! So I can wholeheartedly recommend that one.

CSM: What is your advice for aspiring writers?

Trust yourself. You get a lot of feedback in this industry, and you don't have to take all of it. I've received - and given - lots of advice that was great advice, but not for me. You have to go with what you feel is right for your book, and write the book that you think it needs to be.

CSM: What genre(s) do you write?

My books are shelved in paranormal romance because they're definitely romance heavy. But I think of them as a bit urban fantasy, too!

CSM: Among that you’ve written which is your favorite book and why?

I only have one on the shelves at the moment (two soon) so I'll say Gentlemen Prefer Succubi. I really enjoyed that one.

CSM: Tell us more about your recent Pocket Book release, “Gentlemen Prefer Succubi”.

Gentlemen Prefer Succubi is the first book of the Succubus Diaries, and revolves around Jackie Brighton. After a bad night, she wakes up in a dumpster and finds out that she's become a succubus. She meets the local immortals and two sexy guys - one very good, and one very... naughty.

CSM: Any new projects, works in progress?

Oh, sure! In late 2011, I'll have a new series starting as well, also through Pocket Books. It's straight up romance, and features a human girl who works at a dating agency that caters exclusively to paranormal clients.

CSM: I want to take this time to thank you Jill Myles for stopping by and sharing with my readers and myself a little bit about yourself. This sure has been loads of fun. I hope you enjoyed being here as much as we enjoyed having you.

Absolutely! Thank you so much for having me!

Giveaway & Interview with Women's Fiction & Romantic Suspense Author, Susan Crandall

Women's fiction and Romantic Suspense author Susan Crandall has stopped by today to talk about her latest Grand Central Publishing release, "Sleep No More" She has brought two copies along to giveaway. To enter leave Susan a comment including your email. Giveaway is open to all and runs until Jan 25, 2010. Remember: No email. No Entry.

Title: Sleep No More
Author: Susan Crandall
Publisher:Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release: January 1, 2010
Format: Print
Buy Now!

"A good cozy mystery wrapped in a solid romance... both an easy and riveting read."
-Romantic Times Book Review

DANGER NEVER RESTS

The night was always Abby Whitman’s enemy. As a young girl she walked in her sleep, and one night, started a fire that scarred her sister for life and left Abby with unbearable guilt, and a loneliness that echoes within her


AND EVIL NEVER CLOSES ITS EYES

Now Abby has begun blacking out again—with apparently fatal results. A car accident has killed the son of a prominent family. Even though the evidence seems to exonerate her, Abby is plagued by doubts—and soon by mysterious threats. A young psychiatrist, Dr. Jason Coble, is intrigued by Abby and offers to help her explore the dark recesses in her mind. Through this terrifying journey, Jason’s interest turns to passion, and he yearns to give her the love she craves. But first, Abby must trust him—and shed light on secrets that will rock this Southern town and reveal a danger that threatens them both.

Read excerpt.

Learn more about the Author of the Day.

Interview with author, Susan Crandall.

CSM: Please help me welcome Women's Fiction and Suspense author, Susan Crandall to Over the Edge. Susan, my readers and I are so psyched that you have dropped by to spend time with us. Thanks so much!

And thank you for inviting me, Christine! It’s so great to be able to share my love of books with other bibliophiles. I’m thrilled to be here.

CSM: Tell us more about yourself.

I live in the same small (now smallish) town in which I was born. Love, love, love it here. I spent enough years living in the Chicago area to really appreciate what small towns have going for them. Which is probably why most of my books take place in fictional small towns.

In my first career, I was a dental hygienist (yeah, yeah, I know, everyone loves us). All of that dislike thickened my skin for when I started writing.

I’m married and have two grown children – one of whom is also a writer. I’m an absolute fool for anything with fur; we’ve had almost every pet imaginable. Right now I’m down to a dog and a gerbil (which I inherited from one of my kids). My husband refuses to let me in the door of the Humane Society for fear of what will come home with me.

CSM: Besides being a total book junkie I’m also a music junkie. When I’m writing I have a sound track playing either in my mind or in my cd player. What’s your sound track? What type of music is on it?

I’m a music junkie also. However, when I’m writing, I must have quiet. I find music while I’m writing to be more of a distraction. I feel it also tends to make my writing more flat – I suppose because the background music is supplying the emotion instead of my words.

And as for my soundtrack, I’m pretty eclectic, just as I am with my reading. I’m a Daughtry fan. I like Mat Kearny (he’s a great lyricist). I’m not huge into country, but there are a few songs and artists that I really enjoy.

CSM: How would readers find out more about you?

Hey, just ask! I always answer my email personally (susan@susancrandall.net ). Also, there is a treasure trove of “Susan” insights on my website ( www.susancrandall.net ). I have three video interviews up now. Each book page has a “deadline snack of the book” listed. There are all kinds of things to supplement what is between the covers of the books themselves.

CSM: When did you write your first book?

I wrote my first novel in 1993, co-authoring with my sister. I wrote my first published novel in 2000-2001. In between I wrote four unpublished novels with my sister. I really learned a lot along the way.

CSM: Where and when do you write?

I have an office all to myself in my house (as I said, I need quiet). But whenever the weather is good, I write outside on my screened porch (we back up to a woods, so the isolation there is good too).

The when is greatly influenced by the looming presence of a deadline. Normally I like to write in the afternoon and evening. I’m not much good in the mornings. The evening writing usually comes on as the deadline gets closer. It takes me about 6-9 months to complete a novel. The first half of that is usually dedicated to the first 6-8 chapters. I’m a slow starter.


CSM: What is your must-have book for writing?

Don’t really have one. Depends on what I need to know for the specific book. I’m a real seat of the pants kind of writer.

CSM: What is your advice for aspiring writers?

Of course, write, write, write. Learn as much as you can about the craft. Trust your writing instincts. And then put on your armor and send your work out there. No one will come knocking on your door for it. Most of all, keep in mind, we’ve all had work rejected in one way or another.

CSM: What genre(s) do you write?

I’ve published in women’s fiction and romantic suspense. I love them both.

CSM: Among that you’ve written which is your favorite book and why?

Oh, now that’s a naughty question. I don’t have one favorite book. There are things about each of them that are especially dear to me for various reasons (much like a person’s children). I love the unusual plot of SLEEP NO MORE. I love SEEING RED, because it was really difficult to pull together and turned out so much better than I’d ever hoped. I love BACK ROADS, because it was my first – and I’m still in love with the hero, Will Scott. I love ON BLUE FALLS POND because of the character Granny Tula, who is an amalgam of a few women in my own family. I could go on, but you’re getting the picture.

CSM: Tell us more about your upcoming January 2010 release by Grand Central, “Sleep No More”.

Sleep No More is a romantic suspense about Abby Whitman, whose sleepwalking as a child resulted in the loss of the family home and the permanent scarring of her younger sister. Abby has structured her life to protect everyone from the danger she poses during sleeping hours. But all of her precautions prove not to be enough when she awakens behind the wheel of her vehicle at the scene of a fatal accident, with no recollection of how she got there. Shortly afterward, the mysterious phone calls and threats begin.

Psychiatrist Dr. Jason Coble is trying to help her resolve the mystery of not only her sleepwalking, but why someone is threatening her … before it’s too late.

CSM: Any new projects, works in progress?

Right now I’m working on two. One is a slow-boil mainstream suspense and the other is a women’s fiction that deals (naturally) with a women in crisis and dealing with a transitional time in her life. I can’t say more about either at this moment.

CSM: I want to take this time to thank Susan for stopping by and sharing with my readers and myself a little bit about yourself. This sure has been loads of fun. I hope you enjoyed being here as much as we enjoyed having you.

Thank you again,Christine. It was my pleasure!

Giveaway & Interview with "Nice Girls Don't " Series , Paranormal Author, Molly Harper

Paranormal Romance author, Molly Harper has dropped by to chat about her undead-librarian Jane Jameson's latest release by Simon and Schuster, "Nice Girls Don't Live Forever." I was lucky enough to get two copies to giveaway. All you need to do is leave a comment including your email so I can contact you. Giveaway is open to all and will run until January 24, 2010. Remember: No email. No Entry. Good Luck!

Title: Nice Girls Don't Live Forever
Author: Molly Harper
Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release: December 2009
Format: Print
Buy Now!

Book Description:

Nothing suck the romance out of a world travel like a boyfriend who may or may not have broken up with you in a hotel room in Brussels. Jane Jameson's sexy sire Gabriel has always been unpredictable, but the seductive, anonymous notes that await him at each stop of their international vacation, coupled with his evasive behavior over the past few months, finally push Jane onto the next flight home to Half moon Hollow--alone, upset and unsure whether Gabriel just ended their relationship without actually telling her.

Now the children's-librarian-turned-vampire is reviving with plenty of Faux Type O, some TLC from her colorful friends and family, and her plans for a Brave New Jane Step One: Get her newly renovated occult bookstore off the ground and. Step Two: Support her best friend, Zeb, and his werewolf bride as they prepare for the impending birth of their baby...or litter. Step Three: Figure out who's been sending her threatening letters, and how her hostile pen pal is tied to Gabriel. Because for this nice girl, surviving a broken heart is suddenly becoming a matter of Life and undeath....

Read an excerpt.

Learn more about the Author of the Day.

Interview with author Molly Harper.

CSM: Please help me welcome POCKET BOOKS author, Molly Harper to Over the Edge. Molly, my readers and I are so psyched that have dropped by to spend time with us. Thanks so much!

Thanks for having me!

CSM: Tell us more about yourself.

I’ve always been a storyteller, even when there was no one listening. My mom remembers walking down the hall near my bedroom and hearing me keep a constant narrative stream going as I played. And I was never content to let my Barbies go to a dance or a wedding. They were attacked by pirates or aliens or ghosts. I always had an eye and ear for the things slightly left of normal, and found humor in things most kids probably shouldn’t find funny.

In high school, when other girls were writing poems about dying unicorns and bleeding roses, I was writing essays about having political arguments with my dad at the dinner table. (Whoever made the other person laugh at their own political party won the argument.) Still, I never considered a career as a writer until my freshman English teacher compared my voice to a young Erma Bombeck. After I looked it up and realized that was a good thing, I developed an interest in journalism, particularly humor columns.

I majored in print journalism at Western Kentucky University and used my shiny new degree to get a job at my hometown newspaper. I married my high school sweetheart, David, a police officer. And for six years, I wrote about school board meetings, quilt shows, and a guy who faked his death by shark attack in Florida and ended up tossing pies at a local pizzeria. There was also incident involving potentially explosive feminine products, but I’m not sure if I’m legally allowed to repeat it.

I loved my job at the paper. I loved meeting new people every day and never knowing where I would end up. But somehow, the ever-shifting schedules of a police officer and a reporter did not equal "family friendly." One of us needed to take a normal job for the sake of our daughter. I took a secretarial position at a local church, which left me with dependably free evenings for the first time in my adult life. We were living in "The Apartment of Lost Souls" while building our new home. This was the place where appliances and small electronics went to die. Every night, after my husband went to work, I would tuck our snoozing child into bed and wait for the washing machine to start smoking or the computer to suddenly flash the "blue screen of death." Then there was the plague of frogs in the toilet that put Darcy off potty-training for about six months.

It was either write a book or go nuts. So I just sat down and started writing something I would want to read. I wondered, what would be the most humiliating way possible to be turned into a vampire- a story that a vampire would be embarrassed to share with their vampire buddies over a nice glass of Type O. Well, first, she’d have to be having the worst day ever- she just got canned so her boss could replace her with someone who occasionally starts workplace fires. She drowns her sorrows at the local faux nostalgia-themed sports bar and during the commute home, she's mistaken for a deer and then shot by a drunk hunter. And then she wakes up as a vampire.

And thus, Jane Jameson and the wacky denizens of Half-Moon Hollow were born.

It took me almost a year to complete an acceptable draft of the book. I spent three months using agentquery.com to ruthlessly stalk potential literary agents. (There were a lot of lists involved, I don't want to re-live it.) I was gently rejected by at least half of them. I corresponded with some very nice, very patient people, but ultimately signed with the fabulous Stephany Evans of Fine Print Literary Management. Stephany was willing to take to the time to give me advice on how to improve my book before she even signed me. That meant a lot. And when she sold the book at auction about a month later, it was obvious I'd made the right choice.

Interesting and weird facts about me-

-I learned to drive in an Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan, with a front end/dashboard big enough to seat a family of ten. To this day, I leave an extra three feet of space in front of me whenever I park.

-I love books. My husband, David, loves music. So our daughter is named after a Jane Austen character, and our son is named after June Carter and Johnny Cash.

-I have a little scar in my left eyebrow from a childhood acorn fight. My opponent switched to rocks and didn’t have the decency to tell me. Very poor form.

-I’m a coulrophobic. I have a well-documented hatred/terror of clowns. I’m also terrified of sharks, but decided that of the two phobias, I’d rather face down my fear of sharks. So my husband, my sister and I took a snorkeling tour through a nurse shark habitat in the Dominican Republic a few years ago. Nurse sharks are basically the weenies of the deep. They just lay around on the ocean floor doing nothing. So I’m snorkeling around, watching these sharks from a few feet away, thinking, this isn’t so bad. I’m not scared. I’m a BADASS. And then my sister, Manda, tapped me and pointed out the nurse shark swimming right past us at eye level. David heard me scream through my snorkel from ten feet away. But I finished the tour and have felt a little more friendly towards sea life in general, ever since.

CSM: Besides being a total book junkie I’m also a music junkie. When I’m writing I have a sound track playing either in my mind or in my cd player. What’s your sound track? What type of music is on it?

My iTunes account makes me look like someone with serious multiple personality disorder. Classical, some dance-friendly hip-hop, rock, pop, even a light smattering of show tunes. (I am so in love with Glee, right now. I’m such a Gleek.)

I also listen to music as I write. It helps me set the mood. With Jane, I listened to a lot of Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Black Crowes. Jane’s occasionally introspective and grumpy, but mostly, she has a profound sense of fun and would want to listen to something snappy.

When I recently switched to writing about werewolves, I listened to Muse, Three Days Grace, Beth Hart, Aqualung and E.S. Posthumus.

Like I said, Multiple Musical Personalities.

CSM: How would readers find out more about you?

You can go to my web site, mollyharper.com or follow my blog, singleundeadfemale.blogspot.com. Or feel free to friend me on Facebook. I make a lot of announcements about contests, blog events, signings, etc. And the overall snark factor is pretty high.

CSM: Where and when do you write?

I don’t have an office… or a desk, really. So I either write from my bed or my couch. I write every single day. Weekends, worknights, holidays, vacations. I'm not going to lie. Between working full-time as an editorial assistant at a medical society, wrangling two children under six and trying to make sure my husband doesn't feel totally abandoned to my wild ambition, it's tough.

I write at least 1,000 words a day, no matter what. Even when I'm sick, tired, stressed, I get those 1,000 words in. They don't even have to be brilliant words, I can go back and fix them. Just the discipline of making time and building your story, that's what matters. I have to admit that it helps that I have a newspaper background. When I was reporting, I couldn't exactly wait around for the muse to strike when I had an angry editor standing over me, demanding to know when I was turning in my story. You learn to get beyond the need to get "inspired" and just write.

I generally work from about 8:30 to 11 or 12, depending on how well things are going. If it's really flowing, I'll stay up until 2 or 3. But I try not to do that too often, because I'm not all that sharp at work the next day.

CSM: What is your must-have book for writing?

I’ll be honest, I try not to read too many books about writing. It tends to make me overthink. But I do love reference books, like Physicians Desk Reference or the DSM-IV, history texts, or field guides on flora and fauna, to help me with little plotting issues. Once, I was looking for a fast-acting toxin that could be absorbed through the skin. I needed to poison a character, but still leave her healthy enough to speak. David found me looking through a reference guide on poisons at the bookstore. He got this nervous look on his face and said, “Is this about me forgetting to take out the trash yesterday?”

CSM: What is your advice for aspiring writers?

I know this sounds obvious, but my advice is: Writers write. Reading books on writing, taking classes and workshops, joining writers groups, those are all valid uses of your time. But the act of putting words to paper is what builds your craft.

Also, when you’re writing query letters to agents, be nice to them. Agents get dozens of query letters every day. Some people respond to their professional courtesy with rudeness and hostility. I heard about a guy who repeatedly queried the same book to several reps at an agency using different e-mail addresses and personas. When he was politely reminded that the agency had already rejected this project, he responded that he was just going to keep sending it until one of their agents relented and took him on as a client. Agents are looking for fresh talent, not a hostage situation. I realize that having a book published is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, but publishing is also a business. Query letters must be treated as business correspondence. Be prepared. Be polite. Be professional. You’ll be amazed how far this can get you.

CSM: What genre(s) do you write?

I love the paranormal romance genre and I think I’m going to keep coming back to it. But I am expanding into the non-paranormal romance arena with my next book, AND ONE LAST THING, being released by Pocket Books in August 2010. It’s the story of Lacey, who responds to her husband’s office philandering with some bonus material to his company newsletter: stunning Technicolor descriptions of the special brand of “administrative support” his receptionist gives him. Lacey’s detailed e-mail to Mike’s family, friends and clients blows up in her face, and before you can say “instant urban legend,” Lacey has become the pariah of her small Kentucky town, a media punchline, and the defendant in Mike’s defamation lawsuit.

Her seemingly perfect life up in flames, Lacey retreats to her family’s lakeside cabin, only to encounter an aggravating neighbor named Monroe. A hunky crime novelist with a low tolerance for drama, Monroe is not thrilled with a newly-divorced woman moving in next door. But time, beer, and a screen door to the nose develop a cautious friendship into something infinitely more satisfying. Random nudity and romantic hijinks ensue.

I wrote Lacey’s story while I was home on maternity leave with my son. I wanted to write about people who could go out in the daylight and eat solid food. But then I turned around and started on a werewolf series set in Alaska. The first two books were just picked up by Pocket. The titles and release dates haven’t been determined.

CSM: Among that you’ve written which is your favorite book and why?

I think my first book, NICE GIRLS DON'T HAVE FANGS, will always be my favorite. It’s like looking through an old high school yearbook. I remember where I was when I wrote certain scenes or my expectations (some of which were sort of laughable) when I wrote the last word. Your first book is sort of like your first love. You always remember it fondly.

CSM: Tell us more about your December 2009 POCKET BOOKS release “Nice Girls Don’t Live Forever”.

The third book in the series forces Jane to confront some long-simmering issues with her sire/boyfriend, Gabriel. The seductive, anonymous notes that await him at each stop of their vacation, coupled with his evasive behavior over the past few months, finally push Jane onto the next flight home to Half Moon Hollow — alone, upset, and unsure whether Gabriel just ended their relationship without actually telling her.

Now the children’s-librarian-turned-vampire is reviving with plenty of Faux Type O, some TLC from her colorful friends and family, and her plans for a Brave New Jane. Step One: Get her newly-renovated occult bookstore off the ground. Step Two: Support her best friend, Zeb, and his werewolf bride as they prepare for the impending birth of their baby . . . or litter. Step Three: Figure out who’s been sending her threatening letters, and how her hostile pen pal is tied to Gabriel. Because for this nice girl, surviving a broken heart is becoming a matter of life and undeath...

Also, just to put your minds at rest, the title doesn't mean I'm killing Jane off. She'll be just as undead at the end of the third book as she is now... Think on that for a minute.

CSM: I want to take this time to thank Molly Harper for stopping by and sharing with my readers and myself a little bit about yourself. This sure has been loads of fun. I hope you enjoyed being here as much as we enjoyed having you.

Thank you!