Giveaway & Interview with 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

Pub. Date: December 28, 2010

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Format: Mass-market & eBook

Pages: 337

Book Rating:☆☆☆☆☆

Book Heat: SCORCHER

Read an Excerpt

Read OTE Review

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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…

Author of the Day.

Over the Edge Book Reviews

Questions with

New York Times

&

USA Today’s

Bestselling

Author

Cherry Adair

1. What is the best part of being a writer? What is the worst?

Best- The people I create can't tell me "No!" lol I love writing the second (3rd, 4th, 5th lol) draft.  For me, writing the first draft is like building a house half a brick at a time with one arm tied behind my back and a blindfold on! Slow and painful. Unfortunately at this stage of the process I have the attention span of a water newt, and can’t seem to sit still for more than 15 agonizing minutes at a time. But once the walls are up, I’m filled with gusto, and then I’m obsessive about getting all the finish work done. (once a decorator, always a decorator.:)

I love the process of polishing and rewriting. I love the minutia of the last tweak, that last spit polish before sending it off to my editor. I even love revisions from my editor, because that gives me yet another shot at making the book shine.

Worst- That first draft. Erk! Not my fav. And having to be disciplined. It's hard on an Aries to plant her behind in that chair. I love to have written, but sometimes the process of sitting down to write is painful.

2. Why do you write?

I can't. . .not. :) If I didn't get it all down on paper the voices in my head would mean I was crazy instead of creative.

3. Name one eye-opening thing you learned from your book research.

Snakes have two penises. (peni?) Not something that comes up in the normal course of conversation that often.

4. Do you have a favorite motto?

Two. I love Mark Twain's: My books are like water; those of the great geniuses are wine. (Fortunately) everybody drinks water. And Gary Player's -The harder you work, the luckier you get.

5. Do you have a favorite fictional hero? Favorite fictional heroine?

I'm pretty fickle. Whichever character I'm wring at the time is always my favorite. I must admit though that I do have a soft spot for Marc Savin (The Mercenary) because he was my first hero. We always remember our first. :) But currently I'm mad about Zane Cutter in UNDERTOW. He was so much fun to write because he's sexy, charismatic, gregarious and an extrovert, and unapologetically flirtatious. As for a heroine, I adored Teal Williams. She was such a great foil for Zane, I've never written a heroine who is shy before. It was fascinating to get into her skin and see how she ticked.

What is one of your favorite book covers, your own or someone else’s?

I love the cover of UNDERTOW - Him- the watery colors- him- the shiny band with the title-him-the crashing waves- oh, yes, him.:)

What would readers be surprised to learn about you?

I'm pretty much an open book, so probably not much. I used to be an Interior Designer, I'm originally from Cape Town, South Africa. I love to read, enjoy playing in my garden (preferable after someone else has done the sweaty work J) and can't not write every day. Spare time? What spare time?!

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever learned by Googling your name?

I'm a stripper. A fruit. A rude connotation A blossom.  And a bomb. lol

If you could go backward or forward in time which would you chose? Why?

Back, because I'd know what was coming next.

Cherry, please tell us about your latest St. Martin’s Paperbacks release, “UNDERTOW”.

UNDERTOW is the first of the CUTTER CAY series. Of course I'm already thinking of book 4, 5…. The (ridiculously wealthy- because why not??) Cutter brothers are treasure hunters and live on Cutter Cay, their own private island in the Caribbean. They each have their own unique dive boat, and they search the world's oceans for a likely wreck to salvage. Logan, Nick and Zane are very close, and they have a friendly rivalry to see who retrieves the most valuable treasure every year. It's not about the money, it's all about winning for the Cutter brothers.

Teal William's, my heroine in UNDERTOW, is a fascinating character, and someone I've never written before. I absolutely love her, and hope readers will, too. She's a mass of insecurities and bristly bad attitude. Zane is outgoing and gregarious. Teal is his exact opposite. Zane wants to party, and Teal just wants to be left the hell alone. This couple was SO much fun to write.

Which do you find is most important to you as a writer, voice or story? Why?

Hmm. Both. But if I had to chose one - voice. Even if a story is well written, if the voice is dull and draggy, the book will be a snooze.

 Cherry, please tell us where we can find you out in cyber world. For desperate readers like me, we just have to know…;)  I have lots of fun with readers on my Facebook page, http://tiny.cc/l1iva, and Twitter pages http://twitter.com/CherryAdair, and I love hearing from readers through my web site http://www.cherryadair.com/ (where you can see pictures of ALL my heroes, read excerpts from my books, and find my complete booklist.)

 I know this is a difficult question with there being so many amazing authors out there to choose from but who are some of the GOT-TO-HAVE authors in your TBR pile?

I used to read a book a day. Now I'm lucky if I have time to finish a book in a month! That's the downside of doing what I do. I love being an author, but it's left me no time to enjoy one of my greatest pleasures. Some of my fav authors in no particular order - Ann Stuart, Maggie Osborne, Linda Howard. . .and dozens of others.:)

What’s next in the works for you? When can readers expect to see it out on shelves in their local bookstores?

I have a different series starting in May with HUSH, and right now I'm writing Nick Cutter's RIPTIDE which will be in stores this September.

Cherry, thank you so much for spending time with Over the Edge readers and myself; it’s been a blast chatting getting to know more about you and your work. :)

Thanks so much for inviting me. This was fun. J I love to chat to readers anywhere I can find them, so if you're feeling chatty e mail me, or come and find me on FB and Twitter. And if you'd like an UNDERTOW bookmark, please send an SASE to Cherry's Bookmarks, P. O. Box 8591, Covington, Wa 98042

Smooches

Cherry

**Giveaway**

To celebrate the December 2010 St. Martin's Paperbacks release of "UNDERTOW",by New York Times bestselling author, Cherry Adair with Over the Edge Reviews will be giving one lucky reader a copy of the first book in Ms. Adair's Cutter Cay series, "UNDERTOW".  To enter here are a few simple rules.

* +2 Leave a comment including email for Cherry Adair.

*+10 Read review and leave a comment about  UNDERTOW

 * +2 Spread the Word! ( this means go out into cyber world and post it on any network sites that your are a member of, or on your blog or website.+2 Then come back and leave a link so I can verify the post.)

* +5 Follow me on Twitter.

* +5 Add me as friend on Facebook.

*+5 Connect with OTE at NING.

* Become a follower of Over the Edge! (+3 Already a follower--You ROCK! +2 Become a follower.)

The giveaway is open to ALL readers and will be running until January 30, 2011. I'll be picking and contacting the winners directly on January 31, 2011. Please make sure to include your email with your comment. Happy Reading!

Giveaway & Interview with TRUE COLORS Author, Joyce Lamb

Title: TRUE COLORS

Series: True series

Author: Joyce Lamb

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Berkley Sensation

Released Date: January 2011

Read an Excerpt

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Alex Trudeau has everything she ever wanted. She takes pictures for the local paper, she’s rescued a family of mutts, and hot police detective John Logan has finally asked her out. But then a near-death experience unearths an intense psychic ability she never knew she had…

John Logan moved to Lake Avalon, Florida, to escape a lifetime of hardship. When his darkest secret comes to town with revenge in mind, Logan lands the woman of his dreams in a serial killer’s crosshairs…

With their lives on the line and Alex’s hallucinatory flashes dragging her deeper into the twisted mind of a maniac, Logan and Alex face the ultimate test. The tension is electric, but to survive they’ll have to look more than skin-deep—they just might not like everything they find…

Author of the Day

Over the Edge Reviews

Questions with

Berkley Sensation

Romantic Suspense

Author

Joyce Lamb

1. What is the best part of being a writer? What is the worst?

The absolute best part of being a writer is opening my e-mail and finding a message from a reader who took the time to go to my Web site and click on “contact me” to tell me what they thought of my book. I LOVE those messages. Sure, they can be ego-boosters, but they also mean the world to me. I mean, someone took time out of their day to drop me a note. I love that. The worst part … there is no worst part. I mean, yeah, I don’t get to spend as much time with my friends and family as I’d like to, but other than that, I love every bit of it. Even being stuck on a plot point is fun to me. It’s something to figure out, something to puzzle over and something to get advice on from my writer friends – and it has nothing to do with any icky stuff that’s going on in the world or any other problems you might have. It’s pure escapism.

2. Why do you write?

I’ve always said that writing is therapy for me. Apparently, I need a lot of therapy, because I’m compelled to write as much and as often as I can. It’s also a way to control my world, especially at times like these, when so many people are struggling to keep it together. I have the advantage of escaping into a world that I control, though it does depend on how just-go-with-it my characters are being at the time.

3. Name one eye-opening thing you learned from your book research.

I learned that there are tons of “flavors” of psychic abilities. When I started the True trilogy, I knew the heroine in TRUE VISION was empathic. I kinda thought I knew what that meant, but when I started researching it, I discovered there are all these variations – post-cognitive retrotransgression something or other, prescience … I can’t even remember most of them. It really floored me. I ended up creating a hybrid psychic ability that was amped up and could really freak out my characters. It was a lot of fun. For me, anyway. Not for them.

4. Do you have a favorite motto?

My dad always said: “Don’t lose your sense of humor.” Sometimes, you have to laugh or cry, and I much prefer laughing.

5. Do you have a favorite fictional hero?

John Crichton from the sci-fi show Farscape. Not only did he look awesome in leather pants, but he had a great sense of humor and when the going got tough, he learned fast how to roll with it and save the day, often while wise-cracking the whole time. He was also the perfect foil for his disciplined, emotionless soldier heroine, Aeryn. He was the emotional one, while she was the I-don’t-have-time-for-emotion one. I loved the flipped roles. Favorite fictional heroine? Laura Shane in Dean Koontz’s novel Lightning. I read that book when I was fairly young, and I remember being so touched and inspired by this woman who bounced back no matter what happened to her. Plus, I loved the whole “destiny struggles to reassert itself” theme. Her destiny was horrible over and over again as destiny kept trying to reassert itself, but instead of giving up, she kept going and kept persevering. Her strength – and her absolute devotion to her son -- just spoke to me.

6. Which fictional character would you hang out with?

Richard Castle from the TV show Castle. We’d have a lot to talk about, both being writers and all. And, plus, well, Nathan Fillion is soooooo hot. I love how Castle thinks, too – just like a writer. My head goes all kinds of weird places all the time, often at inappropriate times, and I love that his does, too. And did I mention how hot Nathan Fillion is?

7. What is one of your favorite book covers, your own or someone else’s?

My favorite book cover of all time is the cover on TRUE COLORS. When I saw that the first time, my heart literally skipped a beat. It’s so striking and beautiful – and I’m incredibly lucky that it’s on MY book. I’ve loved all my Berkley covers. Their art department is awesome.

8. What would readers be surprised to learn about you?

When I was younger, I got caught skinny dipping with a, ahem, male friend in his grandparents’ swimming pool. The lights were all off, and his grandma walked out of the house and said, “Why’s it so dark out here?” and flipped on the lights. Doh!! I can feel my face getting red every time I think about that, and it’s been YEARS.

9. What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever learned by Googling your name?

One, that there are tons of Joyce Lambs out there. I kinda thought my name was a little bit unique, but noooo. And, two, I’m a pastor’s wife somewhere. Well, Joyce Lamb is. Not me. Can you imagine? I’m thinking the hot sex in my books would be a deal-killer if I were married to a pastor.

10. If you could go backward or forward in time which would you chose? Why?

I would go backward, so I could fix some of the things I’ve done wrong. I know life is a learning process, and your mistakes help make you who you are, but I really hate knowing I’ve hurt people. I don’t imagine anyone can get through life without causing some hurt feelings, but having the opportunity to set some things right would be really nice.

11. Joyce, please tell us about your latest romantic suspense release “TRUE COLORS” released this month, January 2011 by Berkley Sensation.

TRUE COLORS is the second in my True trilogy (also known as my Truelogy), following TRUE VISION. TRUE COLORS is the story of Alex Trudeau, who picked up an intense, but sometimes awesome, psychic ability when she was shot after being mistaken for her sister in TRUE VISION. If Alex touches someone, her psychic ability sends her careening into a traumatic event from that person's past, where she feels and sees everything the person felt and saw at the time of the event as if it actually happened to her. Not fun. Her ability has a major impact on her budding relationship with police detective John Logan. See, Logan is haunted by a tragedy from his past, and that tragedy is related to a serial killer who wants revenge. Unfortunately, said serial killer focuses on Alex as a way to make Logan pay, and when the killer kidnaps her, her psychic ability shows her the things in his past that made him a madman. So not only are Logan and Alex racing against time to stop a killer, but they're also faced with the challenge of preserving Alex's sanity. Luckily, there's some sizzling romance along the way.

12. Which do you find is most important to you as a writer, voice or story? Why?

That changes during my writing process. At first, I’m most focused on the story – working out the plot kinks, making sure it’s all logical, ensuring the characters are acting and reacting in realistic ways. Once I have all that figured out, I switch my focus to voice – finessing inner dialogues so the characters sound like themselves, making sure they all sound different from each other and punching up the narrative so, hopefully, nothing drags.

13. Joyce, please tell us where we can find you out in cyber world. For desperate readers like me, we just have to know..:)

You can find me at JoyceWrites.com, joycelamb.blogspot.com, and facebook.com/joycelamb. And I always respond to desperate readers like you. :)

14. I know this is a difficult question with there being so many amazing authors out there to choose from but who are some of the GOT-TO-HAVE authors in your TBR pile?

You’re right, that’s a tough one, but here goes: Linda Howard, Christy Reece, Kate Brady, Diane Amos, Patricia Briggs, Suzanne Collins, Susan Vaughan, Lina Gardiner, Lisa Scottoline, Kylie Brant, Cindy Gerard, Dean Koontz, Karen Marie Moning, Julie James, Eileen Rendahl … I could go on for days, and I know I’ve left someone out whose name will pop into my head just as I’m drifting off to sleep. I love to read!

15. What’s next in the works for you? When can readers expect to see it out on shelves in their local bookstores?

Next up is TRUE SHOT (formerly known as True Calling). It’s the third in the True trilogy and features the mysterious Trudeau sister, Sam, who’s been alluded to in the first two Trues but hasn’t made an appearance yet. She’s a psychic spy in a secret government agency. I’m really looking forward to people reading that one. It’s a lot of fun, if I do say so myself. It will be out in December this year.

Joyce, it has been a pleasure getting to know more about you and your work. Thank you for stopping by and chatting with me and my OTE readers. It has been a blast! :)

Thank YOU, Christine, for taking the time to talk with me – and for asking such fantastic questions. I hope to see you online!
Joyce

**Giveaway**

To celebrate the January 2011 Berkley Sensation release "TRUE COLORS" by romantic suspense author, Joyce Lamb, Over the Edge Reviews is giving one lucky reader a copy of the first two books in Ms. Lamb's TRUE trilogy, "TRUE VISION & TRUE COLORS".  To enter here are a few simple rules.

* +2 Leave a comment including email.

* +2 Spread the Word! ( this means go out into cyber world and post it on any network sites that your are a member of, or on your blog or website.+2 Then come back and leave a link so I can verify the post.)

* +5 Follow me on Twitter.

* +5 Add me as friend on Facebook.

*+5 Connect with OTE at NING.

* Become a follower of Over the Edge! (+3 Already a follower--You ROCK! +2 Become a follower.)

The giveaway is open to ALL readers and will be running until January 23rd, 2011. I'll be picking and contacting the winners directly on January 24th, 2011. Please make sure to include your email with your comment. Happy Reading!

Stephanie Rowe Wants to Know: What's the Riskiest Thing You've Done for Love?

Stephanie Rowe is celebrating the release of the first book in her Soulfire series, with the Kiss at Your Own Risk Contest. Together, with The Knight Agency and Sourcebooks Casablanca, Stephanie is asking you what the riskiest thing you’ve ever done for love is… The grand prize is a $100 Amazon gift certificate! There are four ways to enter. More info below and Good Luck!


HOW TO PLAY:


Share the riskiest thing you've done for love (or what someone has risked for you) via Twitter or Facebook status updates, commenting on The Knight Agency's official KISS AT YOUR OWN RISK Contest blog post, or emailing Contests@KnightAgency.net with your entry.


The contest period begins on Monday, January 17th at 12:01am Eastern Standard Time and ends on Thursday, January 20th at 1pm Eastern Standard Time. The winners will be randomly drawn and announced at Stephanie Rowe's author chat on Thursday, January 20th @ 9pm ET in The Knight Agency chat room.


PRIZES!


· Grand Prize Winner: $100 Gift Card to Amazon.com


· 6 Runners-Up will receive a copy of Kiss at Your Own Risk


Be sure to check out the Sourcebook website for full contest rules and how to submit multiple entries (including how to TRIPLE your contest entries :).

KISS AT YOUR OWN RISK BY STEPHANIE ROWE – IN STORES JANUARY 2011

He needed a killer woman…

Blaine Underhill is one lucky man after having recently escaped a century and a half of imprisonment at the hands of an evil witch. Now he’s determined to save his still-enslaved friend, but in order to do so, he’ll need the help of one of the world’s most lethal women.

She was drop dead gorgeous, literally…

Trinity Harpswell is sick and tired of being a Black Widow. Having managed to go three years without accidentally killing anyone she loves, she’s one short week away from freeing herself from this killer curse forever.

When Blaine tracks her down and convinces her to help him, little does Trinity know that the next seven days are going to be murder!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Four-time RITA Award nominee and Golden Heart Award winner Stephanie Rowe is a nationally bestselling author, and has more than twenty-five contracted titles with major publishers such as HarperCollins, Dorchester and Harlequin. Stephanie has charmed reviewers with her unique blend of humor and otherworldly magic. She lives outside Boston, MA, where she is working on the next two books in the Soulfire Series: Touch if You Dare (July 2011) and Hold Me If You Can (September 2011). For more information, please visit http://www.stephanierowe.com/.

Giveaway & Interview with "SCARED TO DEATH" Author, Wendy Corsi Staub

Title: Scared to Death

Author: Wendy Corsi Staub

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Avon Books

Released Date: December 28, 2010

Format: Mass-market Paperback

Order Now!

A Mother’s Worst Fear…

Elsa Cavalon—petrified that the nightmare from fifteen years earlier is beginning all over again…

Marin Quinn—hiding with her daughters in their concrete fortress…her storybook marriage over…

Perfect strangers whose once-perfect lives were cruelly shattered, they’re bound by a long lost child , a fragile strand of newfound maternal hope—and mutual loneliness. Yet Elsa and Marin are never truly alone. Someone is always nearby, watching them and their children. Someone driven by vengeance and the simple poetry of nursery rhymes…Someone who must satisfy dark need with innocent blood. And now time is running out for two mothers stalked by a cunning mastermind who wants to leave them…

SCARED TO DEATH

Author of the Day

Over the Edge Reviews

Questions with

Thrillers & Mystery

Author

Wendy Corsi Staub

What is the best part of being a writer? What is the worst?

Writers hate clichés, but I can’t avoid this one: I love everything about being a writer. I don’t think you’ll meet many established authors who wouldn’t concur.


What’s not to love about making a living at something creative, indulging my passion for books (reading and writing them) all day, every day; having realized my childhood dream (decided to become an author when I was only 9 years old); working at home so that I can be a hands-on mom; being my own boss; travelling all over the world for promotion and research (I’m a travel fanatic, in the midst of an ongoing 50-state book tour); meeting my loyal readers, many of whom have become friends over the years; showing my children by daily example that working hard means reaching goals—even goals people might tell you are impossible!


The worst part—the only part I don’t like, really--is that I’m running a business here. It’s not fun for me to keep all those painstaking records, to handle all the details that go with marketing and promotion; or hire/fire people who work for me. Luckily, my husband left his full-time advertising career to manage the business end of mine, so he has taken most of those things off my plate. We make a great team. Even our sons pitch in from time to time, so it’s really a family business!

Why do you write?

It’s my obsession, my compulsion, my passion, and, of course, my livelihood!

Name one eye-opening thing you learned from your book research.

The problem with book research is that every time I delve in, I learn at least one eye-opening fact that leads to another, and another, and the next thing I know, I’ve killed an entire morning of writing time by googling myself from one fascinating site to the next. Of course, that’s how ideas are born, and I’m full of ideas. But in order to be productive, it’s sometimes necessary to jump in and force yourself to jump right back out when it comes to research.

Do you have a favorite motto?

Yup. It’s this: “I’d rather die regretting the things I have done than the things I have not.” The quote was attributed to Lucille Ball, who grew up not far from my hometown and was a friend of my uncle’s. That pretty much sums up the way I live my life. I’m an energetic, Type A person who is constantly busy—mostly by choice--and doesn’t want to miss a thing. I’ve learned the hard way, through some tragic losses, that life is too short to waste time sitting around or hedging.

Do you have a favorite fictional hero? Favorite fictional heroine?

I guess I’m an old-fashioned girl; my favorite heroines are from childhood classics set in the nineteenth century: Laura Ingalls Wilder of the Little House series and Jo March of Little Women. While the books were fiction, the heroines were real people inspired by the authors themselves, who wrote about their childhoods and literary ambitions. I related to and was inspired by the characters and the authors behind them, and wanted to grow up to become just like them.

Which fictional character would you hang out with?

Laura or Jo, of course!

What is one of your favorite book covers, your own or someone else’s?

I really love the cover for my current book, SCARED TO DEATH. The rich, deep blues were a welcome change from the black/gray/red color schemes on the covers of many of my most recent novels in both adult and YA fiction.

What would readers be surprised to learn about you?

That in real life, I absolutely hate attention and being in the spotlight. I’m fine on paper, but I cringe whenever I have to do signings, television appearances, panel events, and give speeches—to the point where I often break out in hives and have to cover them with high collars and long sleeves. I’m typically able to mask my discomfort pretty well because I’ve grown accustomed to publicity as a constant and necessary part of my job at this level in my career, but I’m much more comfortable without eyes or mikes on me.

What’s the strangest thing you’ve ever learned by Googling your name?

That there are strangers out there who really love my books and talk about me as if they know me personally. Once in awhile it’s a little unsettling…but gratifying, too!

If you could go backward or forward in time which would you chose? Why?

Back, without a doubt. I had a happy, functional childhood and I’ve since lost many people who were dear to me, including my mom. What I wouldn’t give to have one more day with them…

14. Wendy, please tell us about your latest release by Avon in December 2011 release, “SCARED TO DEATH”.

The second title in a trilogy that was launched in March with the New York Times Bestseller LIVE TO TELL (Avon, March 2010), SCARED TO DEATH (Avon, January 2011) is a taut domestic suspense story focused on two mothers who thought their dark past was behind them.


Elsa Cavalon’s adopted son was abducted many years ago. She struggled for a long time, but has finally begun to move on with the adoption of another child, Renny. One night, Renny wakes up, screaming that a “monster” was standing over her bed, and to Elsa’s sheer horror the previously locked window is wide open, the screen is broken, and strange footprints have appeared…


As the wife of a politician, Marin Quinn had it all: wealth, power, and a picture-perfect family. When scandal breaks and she finds out her husband is not the man she thought he was, Marin goes into hiding with her two daughters. Marin just wants to keep her damaged family safe from harm, but little does she know that although isolated, they are not alone…


The final chapter ends with one of my trademark shocking twists, which opens the door to the final book in the trilogy, HELL TO PAY (Avon, November 2011). SCARED TO DEATH has earned some of the best reviews of my career, including this from BOOKREPORTER: Staub can wring more terror out of a walk down the hallway of a New York townhouse than many writers can conjure out of an entire city. She is also a master of the “for want of a nail, the kingdom was lost” school of plotting. In the world of SCARED TO DEATH, the failure to charge a cell phone or inventory a child’s toy bag can be an event that leads to a frantic and deadly turn of events. Staub did this to wonderful effect in LIVE TO TELL with a stuffed animal, and takes this plot device to even greater heights here. She uses these tools to create a series of plot twists that the reader never sees coming, leading to a frightening conclusion that is stunning in its presentation and brilliant in its execution.


Which do you find is most important to you as a writer, voice or story? Why?

Voice, absolutely. If you asked 100 authors to tell the same story, you would get 100 different versions. There are only so many basic plots in the literary world, but everyone’s voice is unique.

Wendy, please tell us where we can find you out in cyber world. For desperate readers like me, we just have to know…:)

Oh, I’m all over the internet. I have two websites: one at http://www.wendycorsistaub.com/, which is informative, and another at http://www.wendycorsistaubcommunity.com/, which is interactive—a dedicated social networking community where I blog, post pictures, videos, etc.--readers can become members to share their own lives and to become a part of mine. I also have a very active facebook page, so I encourage readers to Friend me at www.facebook.com/wendycorsistaub!

I know this is a difficult question with there being so many amazing authors out there to choose from but who are some of the GOT-TO-HAVE authors in your TBR pile?

I love Harlan Coben’s thrillers, and I just discovered a new suspense author, Katia Lief, whose thriller YOU ARE NEXT is in my carry-on bag (I’m typing these answers on a plane in the midst of a book tour). I’m a big fan of suspense novels (surprise, surprise) but I never allow myself to read the genre I’m writing while I’m writing a book because I need to fully inhabit my own fictional world, without allowing bits and pieces of someone else’s to seep in. So that means I mostly read nonfiction these days—biography, travel, and history are my favorites.

What’s next in the works for you? When can readers expect to see it out on shelves in their local bookstores?

As I mentioned above, the sequel to SCARED TO DEATH completes the trilogy—it’s called HELL TO PAY and it goes on sale in late October. I just finished writing the first book in a brand new suspense trilogy. NIGHTCRAWLER will be out early in 2012, closely followed by SLEEPWALKER and SHADOWKILLER.

It has been a blast getting to know more about you and your books,Wendy. Thank you for spending time with my readers and myself. :)

Thank you so much for the fun questions and the great opportunity! I’ll look forward to seeing you on the web!

**Giveaway**
To celebrate the December 28, 2010 Avon Books release "SCARED TO DEATH" by author Wendy Corsi Staub, Over the Edge Reviews is giving one lucky reader a copy.  To enter here are a few simple rules.

* +2 Leave a comment including email.

* +2 Spread the Word! ( this means go out into cyber world and post it on any network sites that your are a member of, or on your blog or website.+2 Then come back and leave a link so I can verify the post.)

* +5 Follow me on Twitter.

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The giveaway is open to ALL readers and will be running until January 16th, 2011. I'll be picking and contacting the winners directly on January 17th, 2011. Please make sure to include your email with your comment. Happy Reading!

HAPPY NEW YEAR: January Giveaway with New York Times Bestselling Author Christine Feehan

~RUTHLESS GAME~

A woman on the run, with more to live for than she imagined, collides with a danger more lethal than she feared in the all-new Ghostwalker scorcher by #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan…

Ghostwalker Kane Cannon is pure male—animalistic, sexual, protective, instinctive—and his past missions have prepared him for anything. But his newest assignment, to rescue hostages in Mexico , plunges him into a hot zone he never anticipated: the hiding place of Rose Patterson—fugitive, ex-lover, a fellow Ghostwalker pregnant with his child.

Rose is in flight from the insidious experiments that still live in her dreams, and from the madman who’d do anything to take her child. Of all the Ghostwalkers enlisted to hunt her down, Kane is the only one she can trust. But as their passion reignites, the stakes are raised. Because Kane is now a wanted man as well. And together they’re about to face the most desperate challenge of all: staying together and staying alive.

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Release Date: Dec. 28, 2010
Number of Pages: 416 pages
Publisher: Jove
Language: English
ISBN: 0515149217
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~STREET GAME~

In a series that “keeps you rockin’ from the get go,”* #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan goes beyond the boundaries of paranormal romance as two lovers take to the streets to play the most dangerous game of all.

For Mack McKinley and his team of GhostWalker killing machines, urban warfare is an art. But despite a hard-won knowledge of the San Francisco streets, Mack knows from experience that too many things can still go wrong. Danger was just another part of the game—and now he’s come face-to-face with a woman who can play just as tough.

She’s Jaimie, a woman with a sapphire stare so potent it can destroy a man. Years ago she and Mack had a history—volatile, erotic, and electric. Then she vanished. Now she’s walked back into Mack’s life, as a spy with more secrets than are good for her. Against all odds, she’s hooking up with Mack one more time to take on an enemy that could destroy them both, or bring them back together in one hot, no-holds-barred adrenaline rush.

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Release Date: December 29, 2009
Number of Pages: 464 pages
Publisher: Jove
Language: English
ISBN: 0515147605
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~MURDER GAME~

Return to the world of the GhostWalkers with “the queen of paranormal romance” (USA Today) as she raises the stakes in the ultimate game of love and death…

Games should be fun, but for two expert teams across the country, they’re murder – because the winning team is the one that gets the most kills. The participants in this violent challenge rumored to be GhostWalkers. And Kadan Montague isn’t happy about it.

Kadan is a GhostWalker and he’s determined to clear the GhostWalker name of the rumors. To do it, he’s going to need the help of psychic Tansy Meadows. But as soon as he sees her, he knows his mission will be more complicated than he imagined – and the “murder game” may not be at all what it seems.

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Release Date: December 30, 2008
Number of Pages: 416 pages
Publisher: Jove
Language: English
ISBN: 0515145807
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~AUTHOR NOTES~

Murder Game was a wonderful book to write.  My hero continually surprised me.  He was a very strong character and never let me get off track when I was writing his story.  The moment I tried to lead him in a direction, he refused to go.  I should have known, he took so long to speak to me.  My heroine is a strong woman who needed to be very understanding with her man.  I think she was really born for him.  I loved both of them so much and I know this will remain one of my all time favorites.

***

This month I am celebrating the undisputed mistress of paranormal romance New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan. I've have been a huge fan from the moment I read DARK PRINCE. I have been hooked ever since. But there is another reason that Christine Feehan has a special place in my heart.

Around eleven or twelve years ago when I was dabbing my toe into the writing pool I sent Ms. Feehan an email.
I was floored that she wrote me back. What really touched me, was the fact that she was so kind and encouraging to a wanna-be writer even when she didn't have to be. For that very reason Christine Feehan's  RUTHLESS GAME, STREET GAME and MURDER GAME are up for grabs this month.

All you need to do is click on CONTEST/GIVEAWAY or on FROSTY the SNOW MAN and follow my few simple rules.  Happy Reading!