Mindful Banter

News: A Hauntingly Sexy Meet and Greet & Book Clubs United

September 27, 2013 by ReeseRyan

The final quarter of 2013 is quickly approaching, and for me, it’ll be a busy one.

I’ll be participating in my first two author events. The first is the Book Clubs United for Breast Cancer Fundraiser in Greensboro, North Carolina at the New Orleans Bar & Grill Restaurant on Saturday, October 5th from 1:30 to 5PM. The second is A Hauntingly Sexy Meet and Greet at Doubletree Fayetteville in Fayetteville, NC on October 19th from 7-10PM. It’s a perfect opportunity to get to know favorite authors and to discover new ones. So come out and join us!

In between those two events I’ll be attending a workshop hosted by my local Heart of Carolina RWA Chapter, and led by the brilliant Bob Mayer. So if you’d like to learn more about Outlining, Plot, Conflict, and Writing Scenes: The Events of Your Story or E-Pub, Self-Pub, Marketing & Selling the Book and Future of Publishing for Writers, I invite you to join us on October 12th at the Embassy Suites in Cary, NC from 9AM – 5PM.

The invitations and featured authors for both author events, and the flyer and registration info for the workshop are listed below.

What’s going on in your world?

Book Clubs United for Breast Cancer Fundraiser — Greensboro, NC — October 5th

Please join us as the Sistahs of Urban Literature Book Club, Sistahs of the Red Tent Book Club and the Round Table Readers Literary Book Club host a “Pink Literary Affair” with some extraordinary authors to benefit one of our book club sisters who is currently fighting the breast cancer battle.

Our book club sister has a wonderful loving spirit and a funny personality which brings so much joy to anyone who has conversed with her. Our hope is to raise enough funds to help relieve any financial stress; so she will be able to dedicate her time to healing and spending quality time with her family.

Authors in attendance:

K L Brady
Altonya Washington
Shawn Black
Deborah Mello
Suzetta Perkins
Cassandra Baker-Durham
China Ball
Reese Ryan
Author A. T. Hicks

Books will be available for purchase
*Authors list subject to change

The luncheon will be a book club social in which you will be able to ask the authors any questions, network and fellowship with readers. Our honored book club sister will be at the event. Come by to show her some love.

There are two ways you can participate is this event!
Option 1: Donation of any given amount.
Option 2: Book Clubs for Breast Cancer Entry: $5 donation to attend event with the authors * Please note that you will be responsible for your own meal.
Option 3: Pay at the door option has now been added. $5. * Please note that you will be responsible for your meal.

We will have raffles and door prizes. Spread the word.

Doors open at 1:15pm

Thank you to everyone in advance! Don’t forget to wear your pink.

A Hauntingly Sexy Meet and Greet — Fayetteville, NC — October 19th

It’s fall- leaves are falling, and Halloween is just around the corner. Come on out and enjoy great food, get to know other readers in the area, and meet some of your favorite authors! This event is free, but readers MUST register in advance.

Attending authors are:

Kianna Alexander
RaeLynn Blue
Cheris Hodges
Serenity King
Erosa Knowles
Jayla Leigh
Suzetta Perkins
Di Topaz
Pepper Pace
Reese Ryan

Reserve your space here today!

Bob Mayer Workshop Hosted by Heart of Carolina — Raleigh, NC on October 12th

SERIES: To Be or Not To Be (and when to stop being) — Guest Post by Jade Kerrion

September 23, 2013 by ReeseRyan

If Amazon (the company) were a river and all the books in its vast online repository were drops of water, you wouldn’t be able to skim a pebble across its surface without hitting a book that is a part of a series.

Series are popular–they work in movies, on TV, and in books–and for good reason. No one ever likes saying goodbye to the people they’ve fallen in love with. We like to see our heroes and heroines overcome adversity, and then do it again, and again.

Novel series come in at least three different flavors.

Standalone books within a series with a rotating focus on various protagonists. Each novel within the series focuses on, and resolves, one major storyline, but the protagonist (usually a side character in one of the other novels) will claim the spotlight for one book within the series instead of all of them.

Romance novels tend to lean this way (after all, happily ever after usually happens only once per couple.) Nora Roberts has written many trilogies of families and friends, with each book focusing on a particular person finding his or her happy ending. Sherrilyn Kenyon does this with her (apparently unending) Dark Hunter series as well.

Standalone books within a series focus on one or two key protagonists. Each novel within the series tackles one major problem and resolves the problem by the end of the book.

Many detective and mystery novels adopt this flavor. As a teenager, I enjoyed Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. These days, I read P.L. Blair’s Portals series that features human detective, Kat Morales, and her elven partner, Tevis.

Non-standalone books within a series focus on one or two key protagonists, and story is typically best enjoyed in order from the first novel to the last.

Fantasy and science fiction novels, with their sweeping storylines and their tendency to put entire worlds and civilizations at risk of extinction (hey, high stakes, right?) tend to lean in this direction. Each book should resolve a major crisis, but some threads are clearly left trailing as feeders into the next book. Some of my favorite authors fall into this category, including David Eddings who wrote the Belgariad and Mallorean series, and Neil Gaiman, author of the Sandman.

Just about all of my favorite authors are series writers. In hindsight, it’s no surprise that I would, as an author, lean toward writing a series. My Double Helix series is a series of four novels. When I finished writing the fourth book, I finally tackled the issue I’d been avoiding since November 2010, when I first started writing Double Helix series.

When do you stop?

Sometimes, the answer is easy: when you save the world.

But what if the answer isn’t as obvious? What if the world careens from crisis to crisis (sounds like our world, doesn’t it?) What if the world always needs saving?

I wrote the Double Helix series as a blend between a type 3 series (non-standalone) and a type 2 series (standalone.) The fourth book, Perfection Challenged, was actually the transition book between a non-standalone and standalone series. In theory, I could have gone on forever, coming up with yet another crisis for Danyael Sabre, the alpha empath, to handle. Challenges would always abound in a society transformed by the Genetic Revolution. Danyael would likely encounter most of them, but did he have to be the protagonist?

Let’s segue briefly into another seriesÑJacqueline Carey’s Kushiel’s Legacy series. Occasionally a storyline or plot transcends each book and unifies the series. In Kushiel’s Legacy, it is the rocky path to love and happiness between the heroine, Phedre, and her protector, Joscelin. That storyline is the single thread that runs through the series, and for the series to end, the thread needs to be neatly knotted by the final book.

My readers love Danyael. It was hard to make the decision to move him to the sidelines, yet in practice, I knew that Danyael’s story was done, and for one primary reason. His story had come a full circle. He dealt with different challenges and antagonists over each of the four books, but the storyline that unified the series–his apparently unrequited love for the assassin Zara Itani–reached its conclusion in the fourth book. It was my gift to Danyael, the ending he deserved.

“But,” dismayed readers howl, “you haven’t yet done this, or that, or another. You haven’t finished telling all the stories.”

I’ve moved the spotlight off Danyael, but that ‘ean he won’t appear in a smaller role in another novel. Spin-offs are popular among series writers. Some side characters in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series show up as focal characters in her Dream Hunter series.

And so it will be for my Double Helix series. I’ve already written a young adult spin-off. I have others planned, including a standalone series of romantic thrillers featuring mercenaries from Zara’s agency, a novel about Xin, the Machiavellian clone of Fu Hao, a 1,200 BC general, priestess, and queen (busy woman indeed), and a novel about Galahad, the genetically engineered perfect human being. Inevitably though, those novels and series will someday end.

Quoting one of my favorite characters, Death from Neil Gaiman’s Sandman series: “It always ends. That’s what gives it value.”

“The best of the four books–the perfect ending to an amazing series.”

Perfection Challenged, the thrilling conclusion to the multiple award-winning, bestselling DOUBLE HELIX series, is finally here. Grab your copy today.

If you’ve never picked up the DOUBLE HELIX series, keep reading for a special offer on the six-time award-winning novel, Perfection Unleashed.

PERFECTION CHALLENGED

An alpha empath, Danyael Sabre has survived abominations and super soldiers, terrorists and assassins, but he cannot survive his failing body. He wants only to live out his final days in peace, but life and the woman he loves, the assassin Zara Itani, have other plans for him.

Galahad, the perfect human being created by Pioneer Labs, is branded an international threat, and Danyael is appointed his jury, judge, and executioner. Danyael alone believes that Galahad can be the salvation that the world needs, but is the empath blinded by the fact that Galahad shares his genes, and the hope that there is something of him in Galahad?

In a desperate race against time and his own dying body, Danyael struggles to find fragments of good in the perfect human being, and comes to the wrenching realization that his greatest battle will be a battle for the heart of the man who hates him.

E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple iTunes / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords

Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK

PERFECTION UNLEASHED

“Higher octane than Heroes. More heart than X-Men.”

Recipient of six literary awards, including First place in Science Fiction, Reader Views Literary Awards 2012 and Gold medal winner, Science Fiction, Readers Favorites 2013.

FOR A LIMITED TIME, E-BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR JUST $0.99 (Discounted from $2.99)

E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords

Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

Connect with Jade Kerrion: Website / Facebook / Twitter

It’s Cut the Crap Day — What are You Letting Go Of?

September 12, 2013 by ReeseRyan

I wouldn’t categorize myself as a hoarder. But, I do collect a few things.

$A fraction of my CD collection$ I have a crazy CD collection, including this small sampling on my desk, pictured here. Floetry. Joss Stone. Dru Hill. Kem. Maxwell. Jill Scott. Dixie Chicks Fly–one of my all time favorite albums. Stevie Wonder’s The Original Musicquarium–a classic that is pure magic, and yes, I know all of the words to every song on the album. Bobby Brown’s Don’t Be Cruel. Justin Timberlake’s Justified. Ryuichi Sakamoto’s BTTB. My Asian Lounge CD–love my World music–and more.

What? You don’t listen to CDs anymore? Well, neither do I. Not really. But there is something comforting about knowing I could listen to that Alicia Keys Songs in A Minor CD anytime I darn well please.

Then there is my book collection. My poor bookshelf is busting at the seams, praying for a reprieve, and thankful I finally jumped on the digital book bandwagon about a year ago. Not to mention the books I stash all over the house like a ~~junkie worried someone is going to find her stash~~ squirrel preparing for winter. Of course, I still ~~hoard~~ collect books. They’re just on my Kindle now.

I have an ever-growing collection of journals. Lovely, aren’t they? It’s too bad I rarely ever use them to, you know, journal. Usually they’re either sitting on my shelf–the pages as crisp as the day I bought them–or filled with scribbles, notes, and random ideas. But I keep hoping that next ~~year~~ month will be the time when I finally start journaling and stick with it.

We won’t even talk about the two-sizes-too-small clothes I’ve been holding onto since the turn of the century, hoping to get back into them. (What? Those Cybill Shepherd circa Moonlighting jacket dress combos will make a comeback. Mark my words.)

I’m getting some renovation done at my apartment. This requires that I empty counter tops and cabinets in several rooms. A task I’m not looking forward to, but that now feels like a gift. This is the perfect time to go through everything and purge. So I’m declaring today my personal Cut the Crap Day.

I’m going to take a long, hard look at my collection of crap with the goal of eliminating (tossing, donating, giving away) as much of it as I can possibly bear without tears, buttercream frosting, and copious amounts of adult beverages.

It’s time to let go of things I don’t need. Things that no longer serve my purpose. Most importantly, it’s time to let go of the emotional baggage that is intricately intertwined with clothing, books, and shoes I no longer need.

What’s in your closet, car, or home that you know you don’t need, but can’t bear to let go of? How relieved would you be if you could finally let go of it?

PS: Need some serious help clutter busting? My friend, Deb Smouse, has an awesome clutter busting class via email that will help you do just that.

Cover Reveal: Perfection Challenged by Jade Kerrion

September 2, 2013 by ReeseRyan

Perfection Challenged, the thrilling conclusion to Jade Kerrion’s multiple award-winning, bestselling DOUBLE HELIX series, will be released on September 17th and will be available in paperback and all electronic formats. Beta readers have declared Perfection Challenged “the best of the four books…the perfect ending to an amazing series.”

If you’ve never picked up the DOUBLE HELIX series, keep on reading for a special offer on Perfection Unleashed, the book that launched the DOUBLE HELIX series.

PERFECTION CHALLENGED

PERFECTION UNLEASHED

Recipient of six literary awards, including first place in Science Fiction, Reader Views Literary Awards 2012 and Gold medal winner in Science Fiction, Readers Favorites 2013.

“Higher octane than Heroes. More heart than X-Men.”

Danyael Sabre spent sixteen years clawing out of the ruins of his childhood and finally has everything he wanted—a career, a home, and a trusted friend. To hold on to them, he keeps his head down and plays by the rules. An alpha empath, he is powerful in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution, yet his experience has taught him to avoid attention.

When the perfect human being, Galahad, escapes from Pioneer Laboratories, the illusory peace between humans and their derivatives—the in vitros, clones, and mutants—collapses into social upheaval. The abominations, deformed and distorted mirrors of humanity, created unintentionally in Pioneer Lab’s search for perfection, descend upon Washington D.C. The first era of the Genetic Revolution was peaceful. The second is headed for open war.

Although the genetic future of the human race pivots on Galahad, Danyael does not feel compelled to get involved and risk his cover of anonymity, until he finds out that the perfect human being looks just like him.

FOR A LIMITED TIME, E-BOOKS AVAILABLE FOR JUST $0.99 (Discounted from $2.99)

E-books available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Apple / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords

Paperbacks available at Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Book Depository

To be the first to receive news of Jade Kerrion’s latest book releases, sign up for her New Release Mailing List. If Perfection Challenge makes it to the bookstores before September 17th, you’ll be among the first to know.

Connect with Jade Kerrion: Website / Facebook / Twitter

Blogger Book Fair: Meet Author Kiru Taye

July 25, 2013 by ReeseRyan

Welcome, Kiru! Where are you from originally and where do you call home?

Thank you, Reese. It’s good to be here. I was born and spent most of my childhood in Nigeria. But these days I live in a small town just outside London, United Kingdom with my husband and kids.

We know you love writing. What other hobbies or activities do you enjoy?

I love reading. You only have to check out the number of eBooks on my eReaders (over 1500 at the last count) plus all the paperbacks in shelves and boxes. BTW my husband has banned me from buying any more paperbacks. We are running out of physical storage space. LOL. I also love travelling and visiting friends/family.

What are three things people might be surprised to learn about you?

I’m usually the quiet, sensible one. But when I want something I can be very determined and passionate about making it happen. I am a creature ruled by my senses most of the time. For me, seeing is believing.

What kind of stories do you typically write? Do you write in any other genres?

I write romance stories filled with passion, sensuality and suspense. So far I’ve written historical, contemporary as well as paranormal romances. Most of my stories are set in Africa and/or have African characters.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer and how’d you get started in your writing career?

As a child I used to write stories but I didn’t aspire to be an author until a few years ago. I had realized that there weren’t romance books about Africans like me out there. So I decided to write them.

Setting is a critical component to your stories. Why is it so important to you to tell sensuous, exotic tales that give readers a glimpse into a different, more vibrant Africa than they might expect?

This question made me smile because it’s at the centre of why I write.

I know a lot of contemporary Africans whether living on the continent or abroad who are tired of media Africa (the war-torn, starving, sickly and fraudulent Africa).

I know I shout at the TV screen sometimes when the news comes on and the only thing I see are negative news from Africa.

So I ask, what about the Africa I know? What about the contemporary Africa filled with determined entrepreneurs that are over-achieving despite the challenges? What about the Africa filled with young people who are online changing their futures and governments via social media and mobile phones? What about the Africa rich in culture, heritage and history? What about Africa the birth place of modern man?

That’s the Africa I know and write about.

Give us a brief listing of the books you’ve written.

My current published titles include:

Historical romance

His Treasure (Men of Valor series)
His Strength (Men of Valor series)
His Princess (Men of Valor series)
Her Protector (Men of Valor series)

Contemporary romance

A Valentine Challenge (Challenge series)
An Engagement Challenge (Challenge series)
Island Bound

Paranormal romance

Unbound (The Enforcers – Blood Bar Chronicles Anthology)

Erotic fiction

Scars (Passion Shields series. #1) – coming August 2013
Sex Tape (7 Sinful Secrets Anthology) – coming August 2013

Tell us a little about Island Bound.

Island Bound is a sensual, contemporary romance novella, set in Brass Island, Nigeria. It’s the story of Christy and Joshua who are on the verge of a marriage breakdown and how they get their second chance at a life together. It is published by Decadent Publishing for their new African Romance – Ubuntu line.

What inspired you to write about a married couple experiencing difficulties? What were the challenges of writing about an already married couple?

When we’re young, we assume that once we meet the man/woman of our dreams and get married, we will live happily ever after. Well, that’s what the romance books tell us. The truth is the marriage involves continuous work and commitment to keep it fresh and interesting.

Sometimes the simplest thing like a misunderstanding between a married couple can lead to resentment and breakdown if not dealt with early on.

I wanted to write a story about what happens when a couple take their eyes of the ball and stop working at their relationship consciously.

What can we expect from Kiru Taye in the future?

I recently signed a 3-book deal with Decadent Publishing for a contemporary romance series titled The Essien Trilogy set mainly in Nigeria. If you enjoy category romance, then you’ll love this series. The stories are full of secrets, scandals and of course romance. The first book is out in Spring/Summer 2014.

You can sign up to receive emails via my blog for news on upcoming releases or visit my website.

Book Summary:

When Christy Inemi-Spiff discovers that the man she vowed to love and honor has no such feelings for her, she’s determined to cut her losses and move on with her life. A quick, quiet divorce is all she wishes for Christmas.

However, Joshua has other ideas. He’s not ready to walk away yet, especially when he doesn’t understand why Christy wants out of their marriage. So he demands she agree to spend a quiet Christmas on a remote African Island with him, hoping they can salvage their relationship. If she still wants a divorce after these two weeks, he will let her go. But not before he’s had his fill of her.

But with the sparking tension between them, and the secrets behind the disintegration of their marriage threatening to explode, will either of them get their wish? Or will this season of good will show them what really lies at the bottom of their hearts?

Excerpt:

Read an excerpt here.

Bio:

A lover of books, as a teenager Kiru Taye used to read novels under the blanket during lights-outs in boarding school. These days, with a young family to take care of, she’s still sacrificing sleep for the pleasures of a good book.

During the day though, she transforms her wildly vivid imagination into sensual, atmospheric romance stories with passionate characters.

When she’s not writing or reading, she’d hanging out with family and friends or travelling. Born in Nigeria, she currently lives in the UK with husband and children.

Connect with Kiru Taye online:

Purchase Island Bound:

Blogger Book Fair: Interview with Marisa Cleveland

July 24, 2013 by ReeseRyan

Welcome, Marisa! Where are you from originally and where do you call home?

Hi, Reese! Thanks for having me. 🙂 I was born in South Korea, adopted and raised in New Hampshire, and call home wherever my hubby happens to be. 🙂

We know you love writing. What other hobbies or activities do you enjoy?

I WISH I had time for hobbies. Is Twitter considered a hobby? I love to read.

What kind of stories do you typically write? Do you write in any other genres?

I write contemporary romances where my characters find out they love each other during that moment when they also really need a friend and they realize that person is there for them.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer and how’d you get started in your writing career?

I’ve always loved writing, but I didn’t get started in writing as a career until I met Judi McCoy (*sniffles and smiles*) and she told me about RWA.

Tell us about your path to publication. A year ago you were ready to give up your dream of being a writer. What changed that?

OH! That’s so completely true. I’ve blocked the unpleasant details, but I will say this: I start so many projects until about page 50, and then I lose interest or lose hope or lose confidence. But when my best friend helped me finish a manuscript, I realized I could do this, and I wanted to do this more than anything. I also realized I couldn’t write exclusively. I needed balance in my life. So instead of quitting completely, I found my balance. Once I realized I couldn’t control things out of my control, I became a much happier person.

What advice would you give to other writers who may be discouraged and ready to give up?

Advice is such a funny thing. 🙂 But I will say what someone said to me, though this advice might not be for everyone: “If you really want a career in publishing, then do what needs to be done to make it happen.” I will add this, “within reason,” because we all need balance.

Tell us a little about The Valentine Challenge.

The Valentine Challenge is my first ever published anything! It’s a contemporary romance novella, and because it’s so short, it’s really just about one moment in two people’s lives when they realize they need each other and they are there for each other, and they fall in love because at that moment, instead of giving up or leaving or not caring, they take the time to be with that other person. 🙂

Tell us a little about the characters and what inspired you to write this story.

Stacey and Marsh are so completely loosely based on two of my friends, and one weekend while my husband was in class – he’s working on his Ph.D. – I opened my iPad and instead of playing on Twitter, I wrote a novella. 🙂

Let’s talk about that three-book deal that turned everything around for you. Who is the publisher? What is the overall premise of the stories? When will they be available?

Entangled Publishing – and Liz – took a huge chance on this debut author, and let me add that I have the most amazing agent ever! The books are my South Beach Books, and the novella released last February. The first Entangled Indulgence (category-length) releases this September, and it’s about a Country singer and a cafe owner.

What can we expect from Marisa Cleveland in the future?

Ooooh, that sounds so intriguing! I’d love to know that as well. 🙂 Expect that I’ll still be blogging. It’s so much fun and a great way to find new authors to read, and of course, I’ll still be addicted to Twitter and Facebook, though lately I’ve discovered Pinterest and Tumblr, so… help?!?

The Valentine Challenge Summary:

Stacey Bradford believes in love, but when her hot boss, Marshall Royce, decides to close her best friend’s flower shop – days before Valentine’s Day! – Stacey declares war.

Intrigued by Stacey’s devotion to her friend, the hearts and flowers holiday, and belief in true love, Marsh issues a challenge – prove love exists or deliver the closing documents to her friend herself.

Stacey never could resist a challenge, but when Marsh makes Valentine’s Day the deadline for their deal, Stacey must decide how far she’s willing to go for love.

Show less

Excerpt:

“In your note to me, you said you don’t date your staff.”

He swallowed. “I don’t.”

“This is a date.”

He shook his head. “This is a…”

She wrinkled her nose at him and waited while he paused.

He grinned. “Okay.”

“Okay? That’s your answer?” She stepped into his personal space. “I want you to say it.”

She couldn’t read his expression as he regarded her for a long moment. When his hand wrapped around her upper arm, she let him tug her toward him. His words brushed over her cheek. “Date. This is a date.”

Bio:

Marisa Cleveland loves to laugh, hates to cry, and does both often. As a writer, she writes. Every day. Perhaps because she married her best friend, her adult romance novels focus on playfully naughty relationships developed through friendship and family-oriented values. She loves to connect with other writers and readers.

Connect with Marisa Cleveland online:

Website: http://www.marisacleveland.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/marisacleveland

Facebook: http://facebook.com/marisacleveland00

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6937874.Marisa_Cleveland

Where to buy The Valentine Challenge: A South Beach Novella:

Blogger Book Fair: Interview with Delancey Stewart

July 23, 2013 by ReeseRyan

Welcome, Delancey! Where are you from originally and where do you call home?

Hi Reese! I grew up in Fresno, California. But I married a Marine, so we move a lot! Right now we live in Southern Maryland.

We know you love writing. What other hobbies or activities do you enjoy?

I’ve been a ballet dancer since I was three – though I took about a 20 year break (from about 18 to 38). I’ve found a couple great studios near our home and take a couple classes a week. I also work out a few times a week and run. I’m a huge wine geek, so I make up for any calories burned by drinking wine! I read like a fiend, and also have a bit of a TV habit, though we don’t have cable anymore so I have to hunt down the shows I want to watch online now… I also crochet (while I watch TV!)

What kind of stories do you typically write? Do you write in any other genres?

Right now I’m really enjoying writing romance, specifically for the new adult age group. I’ve also written some literary fiction, historical, and ya paranormal.

When did you know you wanted to be a writer and how’d you get started in your writing career?

I have always been a writer, depending on how you define the term… but from the time I was a tiny kid, I’ve know that I wanted to write books for others to read. I was an English major in college, but I didn’t really focus on writing with publication as a goal until recently. Two years ago I told my husband that I’d always meant to write a book. With my 40th birthday looming, it felt like if I didn’t do it before then, I might never do it. So I began committing time to the effort, taking workshops, attending conferences and learning about the industry. Everything kind of snowballed from there!

Before we discuss your most recent release—A Rare Vintage—tell us what else you’ve written and give us a brief synopsis.

My first published book was called “Through a Dusty Window – New York City Stories 1910-2001” and is a collection of ten short stories all set in one brownstone on NYC’s upper west side. Each story is set in a different decade from 1910 to 2001, and though they are fictional, they focus on the social and cultural changes taking place in the city and the country during the years in which they are set. Events considered within the stories include the Hindenberg, WWII, Lennon’s murder, the Son of Sam killings and the destruction of the World Trade Center.

Redemption Road is the book I’m working on now. It’s another in the Wine Country Romance series, and is a new adult romance set in Oregon’s Willamette Valley. The plot centers on an unlikely partnership between a culinary student and a recently-returned veteran of the Afghanistan conflict, who is struggling with the mental repercussions of his time overseas. This book, like A Rare Vintage, will give readers a deeper understanding of a particular varietal (in this case Pinot Noir), but is basically a love story.

Lastly, I’m working on a series for Swoon Romance called Girlfriends of Gotham. The first book, Men and Martinis, focuses on one of the “girlfriends” – Candace. Candace Kanie wins at every game she plays. From the boardroom to the bar, she’s confident, clever, perhaps just a tad overbearing. It’s not easy for a girl like Candace to admit that love may be the one game she can’t win…at least not until she’s willing to change her strategy. In Men and Martinis, Candace Kanie will learn that sometimes to be at the top of your game, you have to hit rock bottom.

Tell us a little about your background and what inspired you to write A Rare Vintage.

At one point in my life, I sold wine for a French importer, and fell in love with everything about it. I’m a complete wine geek and will happily talk with anyone who will engage me about anything from harvesting to fermenting to bottling – and especially drinking! – wine. It was a natural fit to build a series around that passion. The goal in each book is to tell a great love story, but also to provide a bit of targeted education about a particular varietal that will give the reader a greater appreciation of what’s in those pretty bottles, even if he or she isn’t a wine lover.

Tell us about Isabella DaSilva and Jonathan Sauvage (Love those names!) and what brings them together.

Isabella finishes her graduate program at Cornell to work as an apprentice to a winemaker using old world techniques in California’s central valley. The winemaker, Jonathan, is struggling both professionally and personally. Isabella begins to see that she might have the power to salvage the winery – and possibly Jonathan. But she’s got secrets of her own, too.

Now let’s talk about your new adult series that in the works—Girlfriends of Gotham. Interesting title. What can we expect from the series and how many books will it include?

Girlfriends of Gotham is a series I’m writing for Swoon Romance. The series will contain at least three titles, and potentially more. (Right now we’re contracted for three). Girlfriends of Gotham is a voyeuristic voyage through the lives of a group of twenty-something girls who dance, date, and drink their way through Manhattan during the days of the dot com boom. During an era when the up-and-comers in New York were partying like Studio 54 had never died, this group of friends discovers that the city is theirs for the taking; and they find their often-hilarious way through the forces that work to redefine the way they know themselves and each other.

When will the first book in the series, Men and Martinis be available?

Men and Martinis will publish in November 2013!

What can we expect from Delancey Stewart in the future?

Um… more books? 🙂

Summary:

Isabella DaSilva, a fiery grad student from Cornell’s wine program is eager to leave her past behind her and forge a future in the vineyards of the West as an apprentice at Chateau Sauvage, a winery seeking to produce wine like no other California wineries had so far — Rhone varietals.

She arrives at Chateau Sauvage to find that wine might not be her only interest. The winemaker, Jonathan Sauvage, is tall, dark, and handsome, and clearly in need of help. Together, they work to make a pioneering wine in an effort to keep the struggling winery afloat. Each struggles with their demons — hers in the form of a painful and mysterious past; his created by memories of what once might have been. In the process, they find that the pain of their shattered pasts fit together perfectly, making their union as perfect as the wine it produces.

A Rare Vintage features an intense and commanding hero who isn’t afraid to ask for help, and a woman who knows that while she might technically be the apprentice, she has plenty to teach Jonathan Sauvage.

This book is the first in the Wine Country Romance series. The second book, Redemption Red, will be out at the end of the summer.

Goodreads links:

A Rare Vintage: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17875120-a-rare-vintage

Redemption Red: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18133675-redemption-red

Bio:

Delancey Stewart has lived on both coasts, in big cities and small towns. She’s been a pharmaceutical rep, a personal trainer and a wine seller. Despite lots of other interests, she has always been a writer in some way, shape, or form.

A military spouse and the mother of two small boys, her current job titles include pirate captain, monster hunter, Lego assembler and story reader, as well as tech writer for a defense contractor and freelance editor. She tackles all these efforts at her current home in Southern Maryland.

Delancey Stewart is the author of Through a Dusty Window: New York City Stories 1910-2001 and the Wine Country Romance Series.

She is also working on the Girlfriends of Gotham Series for Swoon Romance. The first book, Men and Martinis, will be released in Fall 2013.

Connect with Delancey Stewart Online:

Website: https://delanceystewart.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/delancey.stewart

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DelanceyStewart

Purchase A Rare Vintage on Amazon:

Release Day Party: Making the First Move by Reese Ryan

July 22, 2013 by ReeseRyan

I can hardly believe it. Release day for Making the First Move is finally here! So a little partying is in order. Since Making the First Move is an e-book, it felt entirely appropriate to have the party online. So thank you for coming, and for helping me celebrate the release of my debut novel.

Party central will be on Facebook. Make yourself some hors d’oeuvres and an adult beverage. Coffee, tea, champagne, a mojito, champipple–whatever you like. We won’t tell, and you don’t have to share. That’s what makes online parties so awesome. 😉 Then feel free to mingle and chat here, on Facebook, and at as many of today’s party events (listed below) as you’d like. Don’t forget to register for the tour grand prize! You’ll find the description below.

Release Day Party Events

All Things Girl — Brief intro & excerpt
Contemporary Romance Café — Brief intro & excerpt
A Thought Grows — Book Highlight
Shaken But Not Stirred — Interview
Rhet Effects –Interview
Like a Bump on a Blog –Book Highlight
Ruth A. Casie Blog — Book Highlight
Writer & Cat — Interview (by Meankitty–an actual cat)
Kate Davies Blog — Book Highlight
Word Wranglers — Guest Post
Christi Barth’s Blog –Book Highlight
Facebook — All day, clothing-optional party 😉

Thank you again for celebrating this very special day with me!

Hugs & Kisses,

Summary

Making the First Move by Reese Ryan — *Making the First Move* is available at these fine booksellers:
Amazon | B & N | B-A-M | iTunes | Amazon United Kingdom | Audible

Melanie Gordon has spent the past five years obsessing over her career to dull the pain of a devastating breakup and the loss of her father. Her effort pays off when she receives the promotion that could be her big break. Only it means returning to her hometown to face her past while leaving behind the man who could be her future.

Selfless (and insanely sexy) philanthropist, Raine Mason, is committed to his cause. But his passion for rescuing high-risk young males from the road to disaster is fueled by his own dark and tragic past.

When Raine is ready to take his casual friendship with Melanie to sizzling new heights, her one-way ticket to Cleveland is already booked. But a steamy night of passion leaves them both wanting more, even if Melanie is afraid to admit it. She reluctantly agrees to a long-distance relationship with no promises and no commitments.

Melanie may finally be ready to give Raine her heart…but then she discovers startling news that causes her to question everything she knows about him. Worse, he’s harboring a dark secret from his past that threatens to shatter any hope of a future for them unless he can convince her that their love is worth the risk.

Excerpt

I rummage in the back of our tiny office refrigerator for the bottle of Perrier I promised Jax. A wicked grin spreads across my face as I imagine how delicious it would feel to smash this bottle upside his smug head. After the contract had been signed, of course.

I hand Jaxson the chilled bottle of lemon Perrier and smooth my skirt before sitting in my high-back leather chair. I’m glad my chair sits several inches higher than his.

“Thank you for considering Jasper & Gravel for your executive search.” I force a smile through clenched teeth. “As you know, I’m a long-time basketball fan. I’m thrilled that the WNBA has decided to bring another team to Cleveland, and about the prospect of working with your organization.”

Jax takes a sip from the bottle. “Basketball fan is an understatement.” He chuckles. “You still got that tattered old Mark Price jersey your dad gave you?”

My spine tightens. I place my feet firmly on the floor. The last thing I need is a stroll down memory lane. The memories are far too painful. For me, at least. I take a long sip of my tea then place my mug on a coaster. “So you were saying you need a new senior vice president of marketing and a vice president of sales and service.” I refer to the notes I scribbled on a napkin.

Jaxson gives me a conciliatory smile. My maneuver isn’t lost on him. “The candidates I hoped to go with were offered more lucrative positions with NBA teams.” He crosses his legs and scoots back in the chair. He looks comfortable, like he’s settling in for the winter. “I realize this may take some time, but it’s more important to me that we get the best possible candidates in these positions.”

“Of course.” I nod. “Our mission is to find candidates who are well-qualified and fit seamlessly into your organization. It appears Brett Hanson runs his organization like a tight-knit family and that he’s determined to make the Monarchs a title-winning franchise as quickly as possible. How would you describe the company culture?”

“I couldn’t have stated it better.” Jaxson steeples his long, slender fingertips. “Speaking of family…how about you? Are you married? Do you have kids?”

My patience is wearing thin just five minutes into our meeting. “Can we stay on topic here? That’s the only way this will work.”

“I’m sorry.” He straightens his purple and green Ermenegildo Zegna necktie. “It’s just that…the homemade coasters…it’s the kind of thing only a parent would bring to the office.”

“They were a gift from my assistant’s seven-year-old daughter.” I take a deep breath and try to pull it together. This is harder than I imagined, and believe me, I imagined it would be pretty damned hard. “Do you have job descriptions and job requirements for each position?”

“They’re back at the office, along with an entire file of information I should have brought for this meeting. Sorry I’m not better prepared. I didn’t expect to run into you today. It was quite a surprise to see you.” He leans forward in his chair again. “I honestly didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

“Neither did I.” There are a few choice statements I refrain from adding. “But here we are. Perhaps we should reschedule for a time when you have all the necessary documents. I can come to your office next week. I’ll have Leslie call you tomorrow with some options.” I rise to my feet and extend my hand to him, signaling the end of our meeting.

Jaxson casually climbs to his feet and takes my hand. He doesn’t shake it. He holds it in his.

My legs are unsteady and my head feels light. How can the simple touch of his hand still take me back to those intimate moments between us, despite everything we’ve been through? I yank my hand away and take a step back. My cheeks burn and my eyes sting with the tears I refuse to let fall.

Jaxson comes around the desk and sits on the edge of it, leaving a safe distance between us. “I’m sorry,” he says, his head down, hands folded between his legs. “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. It’s just…seeing you today brought back a lot of memories. It felt so natural, holding your hand like that. It wasn’t something I intended to do. Muscle memory, I guess.” He runs his hand over his hair.

I want to scream to the top of my lungs and tell him I don’t give a fuck about his unresolved feelings or muscle memory. But I’m a goddamned professional. I know what’s at stake here. I have to make this work.

Bio:

Reese Ryan writes sexy, contemporary fiction filled with colorful characters and sinfully-sweet romance. She secretly enjoys torturing her heroines with family and career drama, reformed bad boys, revealed secrets, and the occasional identity crisis, but always rewards them with a happily ever after.

Born and raised in the Midwest, she now resides in Central North Carolina with her husband and young adult son who tolerate her propensity to sing and dance badly. A self-proclaimed Bohemian Southern Belle, she treads the line carefully between being a Northerner and a damned Yankee–despite her insistence on calling soda pop. Reese gauges her progress by the number of “bless your lil’ hearts” she gets each week. She is currently down to two.

Visit Reese online at ReeseRyan.com. Follow her on Twitter @ReeseRyanWrites. Connect with her on Facebook.

Making the First Move Blog Tour Grand Prize

$25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble Gift Card
Digital copy of Making the First Move by Reese Ryan
Digital copy of The Winning Season by Alison Packard
Digital copy of Knowing the Score by Kat Latham
Digital copy of Personal Assets by Kelsey Browning
Digital copy of Derby Girl by Tamara Morgan

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Release Day Party: Take Me Now by Faith Sullivan

July 16, 2013 by ReeseRyan

Title: Take Me Now (Take Me Now, #1)

Author: Faith Sullivan

Expected release date: July 16, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Group: New Adult

Ebook available at: Kindle | Nook ($2.99)

Book Description:

How do you survive the internship from hell?

Don’t fall in love.

Ivy thought being a reporter-in-training at the Independent Gazette would be her dream summer job. Little did she know, interviewing Eric, a landscaper with a heart of gold, would derail her plans. It turns out Ivy’s boss, Lauren, has been eying his chiseled physique for quite some time.

But at twenty-four, Eric already has a tragic past, one that he is still reeling from. Even though his ordeal turned him into some sort of local celebrity, it’s been a while since he’s shared his bed with anyone. When he comes to Ivy’s rescue out of the blue, it’s not long before the two of them start seeing each other behind Lauren’s back. When they get caught, Ivy’s journey toward a college degree is jeopardized and her relationship with Eric is severely put to the test.

Career versus love? In the end, a shocking turn of events provides Ivy with a revelation she never saw coming.

Excerpt:

If only I were open to the possibility of romance, but I’m not. There’s no way I can be. There are circumstances that can’t be wished away or ignored. My heart’s not ready—not yet. And while this absolutely gorgeous girl has wandered into my life, I’m not going to act on it. It’s too soon.I stride into my shop, gently placing her on the counter. Her feet are bleeding and she looks like she could use a drink of water. She’s covered in dust from the road but she looks adorable sitting there. I don’t know what it’s like to be in a scenario like this with a girl. I’m used to things being straightforward and laid out before me. This looks like something I could get easily lost in if I’m not careful.

We still haven’t said a word to each other, and I hate to break the silence but it can’t be avoided. “Rest here a minute. I’ll be right back.”

Her hand lingers on my upper arm, her thumb massaging by bicep. I exhale heavily, trying desperately to clear my head. Her touch is stirring things inside me I haven’t experienced in quite some time. Emotions I never thought I’d feel again. “Thank you,” she whispers, her eyes never leaving mine.

“No problem,” I try to say as casually as possible. She’s looking at me like I’m her knight in shining armor and I don’t want her to get the wrong idea. I can’t go down that road again. I just can’t. My soul still isn’t fully healed from the last time. I can’t trust myself in these kinds of situations. I need to back away as gracefully as I can.

Other New Adult contemporary romances by Faith Sullivan!

Click covers to purchase.

Author Links: Blog | Amazon | Twitter | Goodreads
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sexism in Romance (or Romance Heroines are Mad as Hell and Not Gonna Take It Anymore)

July 2, 2013 by ReeseRyan

This morning I’m over at the Café discussing a topic that has long bothered me. Sexism in romance.

We normally accuse men of being sexist. Of wielding double standards. Yet in literature–and romance in particular–we are the ones who condemn brash, strong heroines and saddle them with uncomplimentary designations. I’ll admit that I’ve determined a heroine unlikeable and closed the book on her whereas I’ve pushed through to the end of a book even though the hero made me want to strangle him…from the very first chapter.

Why the double standard?

If a character needs to be likeable for me to read the book, shouldn’t that apply to both the hero and the heroine? It’s a question I asked myself while reading Janet Fitch’s literary fiction title, Paint It Black several years ago. To say her main character Josie Tyrell is deeply-flawed is like saying that deep-fried Twinkies aren’t an optimal dining selection. The truth is she’s horrid. Irresponsible. Self-absorbed. Yet the story is quite compelling.

So I ignored everything in me that screamed for me to shut the pages on Ms. Josie Tyrell and move on to a nice, sympathetic heroine. Or a least a flawed, but funny one like Heather Wells from Meg Cabot’s Size 12 is Not Fat. But the story pulled me forward. So I kept reading and was introduced to a woman who was perhaps even more unlikeable…Meredith–the mother of Josie’s dead boyfriend.

I finished the book. And I’m glad that I did. It opened my eyes to the beauty that can be found in tales of broken, seemingly unredeemable female characters. I was drawn to more stories and characters like this–even in romance where we are assured a happy-ending–if only for now. This type of character also made her way into my own writing. At first she was always a secondary character–maybe even the best friend. But Jamie Charles–the best friend character in my upcoming debut novel, Making the First Move, had a lasting impact on me. I wasn’t satisfied to just know that she was a better person now. I wanted to go back and delve into the dirt to find out why she’d changed and witness the process. Jamie gets her own story later this year.

Grab a cup of coffee and join me over at the Contemporary Romance Café to discuss why we hold heroines to a much higher standard than romance heroes and if that trend is changing. Plus meet Jamie in an excerpt of Making the First Move.

See you there!