And the winners are...

 The Wilder Roses Valentine's Month Blog Tour is over. And the winner of our Week 4 post is none other than Rebecca Booth. She won a $15 and $20 TWRP gift card, And our grand prize winner is:
Maria Yerton, who won a $15 and $25 TWRP gift card and a Bath and Body Works gift set.

Congratulations to all our winners on the tour and thanks so much to everyone who stopped by to visit and/or left a comment. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Developing Unique Characters

Welcome to the fourth and final week of The Wilder Roses' Valentine's Month Blog Tour!
Rules and blogs to visit for your chance to win either the $40 weekly prize or the $50 grand prize are
listed at the end of the blog. So, read on and comment on as many blogs along the tour as possible!

Today, my blog tour guest is TWRP author Jennifer Jakes.

After trying several careers—everything from a beautician to a dump truck driver—Jennifer finally returned to her first love, writing. Maybe it was all those Clint Eastwood movies she watched growing up, but in her opinion, there is no better read than a steamy western historical.

Married to her very own hero, she lives on fifteen acres along with two beautiful daughters, two elderly horses, two spoiled cats and two hyper dogs.

During the summer she does Civil War re-enacting and has found it a great research tool, not to mention she has continued appreciation for her microwave and hot water heater.

And what's Jennifer's take on developing unique characters? I'll let her tell you.

Jennifer- Things I Don’t Believe In:
Leprechauns. Nope.

Easter Bunny. Sorry.
Tooth Fairy. Uh-uh.

Unique Characters. Not gonna happen.

What?! You’re thinking I’ve been in the liquor cabinet again, huh? You’re headed into town to buy tar and feathers? LOL

Wait. Wait. Hear me out. While I don’t believe there are any unique characters left to create, I do believe as authors, we can pick from the 8 main archetypes and create unique situations. There are several books written that break down common archetypes, but my favorite--and the one I’ve found most helpful--is THE COMPLETE WRITER’S GUIDE TO HEROES AND HEROINES by Tami D. Cowden, Caro LaFever and Sue Viders. This book not only breaks down each archetype but gives examples of what would happen if Hero type A meets Heroine type B – but it does this with each of the 8 Hero and 8 Heroine types. It also gives examples using movies and TV, then lists occupations certain archetypes might hold. ( I highly recommend this book as a research tool. Plus it’s just really interesting!)

So have I piqued your interest in exploring archetypes?

Jennifer Jakes' latest release, Rafe's Redemption recently got a 5 heart review from Sizzling Hot  Reviews http://www.sizzlinghotbooks.net/

Blrub:

He rode into town to buy supplies, not a woman.

For hunted recluse Rafe McBride, the raven-haired beauty on the auction block is exactly what he doesn't need. A dependent woman will be another clue his vengeful stepbrother can use to find and kill him. But Rafe's conscience won't let him leave another innocent's virginity to the riff-raff bidding. He buys her, promising to return her to St. Louis untouched. He only prays the impending blizzard holds off before her sultry beauty breaks his willpower.

She wanted freedom, not a lover.

Whisked to the auction block by her devious, gambling cousin, and then sold into the arms of a gorgeous stranger, outspoken artist Maggie Monroe isn't about to go meekly. Especially when the rugged mountain man looks like sin and danger rolled into one. But a blizzard and temptation thrust them together, and Maggie yearns to explore her smoldering passion for Rafe.

But when the snow clears, will the danger and secrets that surround Rafe and Maggie tear them apart?

Excerpt:
****
Maggie wanted freedom, not a lover…
 
Oh, Lord. He was going to kiss her. She shouldn’t want this. She was confused enough.
Respectable women didn’t kiss men they barely knew, certainly not men who made them have wild,exotic dreams.

It was crazy. He was making her want crazy things. Making her not give a damn about her reputation
or her virginity. Or her long-awaited freedom. All she could think about was that dream, and the way
his sinful mouth had felt. The table was only a step away, and honey was just as sweet as peach juice…

She swallowed hard and looked up into his hooded eyes.

“Maggie,” he groaned. “Don’t be scared. I’d never hurt you.”

Her mouth parted to object, but firm lips covered hers, hungry, demanding. She gasped, shocked at his hunger, but even more at the illicit response coursing through her. An aching heat unfurled low in her stomach, pulsed between her legs. Oh, yes. It started just like in the dream.

He deepened the kiss, coaxed her lips with his warm tongue. Long, languid strokes teased the inside of her mouth, encouraging, tempting before he pulled back to nibble the corners of her lips.

Oh, God. Is this what all kisses felt like? Hot, lethargic? Melting her like molasses over warm bread?
“Kiss me, Maggie,” he breathed.

You can find Jennifer at: http://www.jenniferjakes.com/
http://www.authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @erotichistory
and Facebook: Jennifer Jakes

Rafe's Redemption can be pre-ordered at http://thewildrosepress.com/wilderroses/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=180&products_id=810

Blog Tour participants and blog links-
The final week of the month-long blog tour. Commenters this week are up for a weekly prize worth $40 and/or a Grand Prize worth over $50! Topic this week - Developing Unique Characters.
Meet author AJ Nuest at http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/
Meet author Lynne Roberts at http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/
Meet paranormal romance author Maeve Greyson at http://www.ajbooks.blogspot.com/
Meet author Amy Corwin at http://lynneroberts.blogspot.com/
Meet contemporary and paranormal romance author Jill James at http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com/
Meet romantic suspense author Kat Duncan at http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/
Meet contemporary YA an adult romance author Linda Kage at http://www.jilljameswrites.com/
Meet paranormal, and historical romance author Caroline Clemmons at http://www.blogger.com/goog_675512504
Meet historical and paranormal romance writer Lilly Gayle at http://lindakage.blogspot.com/
Meet Amie Louellen, author of fun and whimsical contemporary romance at http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/

Week 3 Winner

And the prize for week 3 of the Valentine's Month blog tour goes to Ann Corey.
Ann wone $30 in gift cards from The Wild Rose Press.

Thanks to everyone who's comment on the blogs thus far. And remember, you still have one more chance to win a $40 gift card and/or the grand prize drawing worth over $50!

So stay tuned this Wednesday as we round out the tour and talk about developing unique characters.

Februrary Book Signing

Had a great time today at Northgate Books for our February book signing. I signed copies of Out of the Darkness.  Other HCRW authors signing today were:

Multi talented, multi-published, Amy Corwin- signed: Vampire Protector, The Necklace, Bricklayer's Helper, and I Bid One American.


Laura Browning- signed copies of her TWRP romance, The Silkie's Call.

Katharine Ashe- Booklist's "New Stars of Historical Fiction" signed her Avon release, Swept Away by a Kiss.

Heather McCollum signed her TWRP releases PROPHECY - Book One of THE DRAGONFLY CHRONICLES and MAGICK - Book Two of THE DRAGONFLY CHRONICLE

Beth Williams writing as Emma Lang, signed Restless Heart and Wuthering Heights: The Wild and Wanton edition writing as Annabella Bloom.

Carol A. Strickland signed her historical romance, Burgundy and Lies and her sci-fi fantasy romance, Touch of Danger.

And Marcia Colette signed copies of her werewolf romance, Stripped.

Had a great time and Victor- Northgate Books' assitant manager, took excellent care of us.

Thanks Victor! And thanks to everyone who came out today to support us.

Shout out to Becky Booth. Thanks!

THE SPIDER INSIDE HER - Belfire Press - Oct 2011

STRIPPED - available from Samhain

www.marciacolette.com

Book Signing.

I'll be joinging several other HCRW authors tomorrow for a book signing at Northgate Books at Northgate Mall in Durham, NC. If you live in the area, stop by and say hello!

Meeting THE One

 Welcome to week three of the Valentine Month Blog Tour.

Today's topic is: Meeting Your Significant Other. The prize is $30 in gift certificates and a chance to win the grand prize worth $50.

To enter, simply visit the blogs on the tour and leave a comment.

Today's blog interary:

Meet author Amy Corwin at http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/
Meet contemporary and paranormal romance author Jill James at http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/
Meet romantic suspense author Kat Duncan at http://www.ajbooks.blogspot.com/
Meet contemporary YA an adult romance author Linda Kage at http://lynneroberts.blogspot.com/
Meet paranormal, and historical romance author Caroline Clemmons at http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/
Meet historical and paranormal romance writer Lilly Gayle at http://www.jilljameswrites.com/
Meet Amie Louellen, author of fun and whimsical contemporary romance at http://www.katduncan.net/writeabout
Meet erotic western historical author Jennifer Jakes at http://lindakage.blogspot.com/
Meet author AJ Nuest at http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/

And I have author Lynne Roberts with me here today. So, Lynne, how did you meet your guy?

Soccer.
Yup, that’s where it started. My youngest daughter wanted to play soccer, so I signed her up through the school, bought the uniform and took her to the first practice. The coach was this nice looking, soft spoken man who seemed good with the kids. 

As the weeks went by, I grew to really admire the coach. Not only was he one of those people who love kids, they love him. I found myself going to soccer practice early. I told myself just to take advantage of the quiet…. But you know the coach also came a little early.

Sometimes we didn’t talk much. He set up cones or played with my daughter until the other kids arrived, but I always felt more relaxed around him. I started looking forward to seeing him because of the peace that came with it.

Then one day, as I was walking past the parking lot on the way home, he turned on his car and classical music filled the air. I whipped my head around and stared at him as though really seeing him for the first time. I thought that there was a man I really could have fallen for.

I was not looking for a relationship. I’d decided a year prior that I was quite happy with my kids and my characters.

So eventually I admitted I had a crush. I figured it was a harmless crush because he couldn’t possibly be interested in me. I was pretty sure he was younger by at least 5 years.
 Then we ended up at a birthday party together. You know when you write or read about chemistry… when two people feel like there is a magnet drawing them together…? Yeah that. Big time. Proof positive any place can be romantic, even Chuck E Cheese.
 So, to make a long story short and not bore you. There came a reason, a soccer related reason of course, why he should call. Okay, yes, it was an excuse. We started talking on the phone daily and that magnet thing only intensified. Guess what? He’d had a crush on me the entire season, but figured I was out of his league…LOL Honestly, I don’t even have a league.

Then he asked if I’d maybe want to get coffee with him (I’ve since learned, he doesn’t drink coffee, but y’all know I do… and so does he.)
 This is the part where I say yes, right? Nope.
 I decided to be honest. I explained to him the reasons I don’t date. I have five kids who are my life. We agreed we couldn’t approach this casually, like adults without children, because our children had been hurt by past relationships that didn’t work. Butterflies, chemistry and a genuine admiration wouldn’t be enough if we weren’t compatible. Hence: The not date.
 You know all the ugly things about yourself that your partner doesn’t find out until at least the 6th date…6 months… maybe 6 years in? Yup, we sat down on a park bench and laid them all out on the table. That’s the night I really met him. You know what? I think that’s the night I fell in love with him too. *sigh* and still going strong.

Lynne Roberts writes romance and erotic romance. Her latest release, Creative License, is available from Samhain Publishing at: http://goo.gl/EJrTz
Blurb for Creative License

Loose ends have a way of tripping you up…


Years ago, a law school graduation weekend in Vegas had been part of Lily MacPherson’s plan. Waking up next to a naked Adonis with a ring on her finger was not. After a quick annulment, she relegated Caleb Anderson to her late-night fantasies—and very short list of mistakes—until his voice on the other end of the phone asks a favor that could shake the foundations of her neat and tidy future.

Caleb is still haunted by Lily’s horrified expression that morning in Vegas. At least it had made it easy to set her free…except they aren’t. The papers were never filed. And when the nosy patroness who could launch his painting career insists on meeting his “wife”, does he confess, or call Lily? He calls Lily.

When she steps off the plane, Caleb’s determination to play tour guide disappears in the San Francisco fog. Lily thought she could keep up the pretense for one weekend, cut the last tie to her past, and move on. But their chemistry still pops and sizzles, finally exploding into passion at Caleb’s studio.

It’s everything they remember…but so is the yawning chasm of differences that, in the end, could once again drive them apart.
________________________________________

Product Warnings:
Contains balmy ocean breezes, coffee as seduction, the creative use of melted chocolate, and naughty shower lovin’ that gives new meanings to the term "shower head."
________________________________________


Except:

The computer screen blurred. Lily blinked to refocus her tired eyes on the deposition and sighed in relief when the phone rang. She loved her job, loved working for a law firm, but staring at a computer screen for hours took its toll.

Blowing a strand of dark hair out of her eyes, she reached over a stack of law books. “McPherson.” Lily glanced at the clock as her stomach rumbled. She’d worked through lunch again. Damn.

The other end of the line was silent for so long, she thought the caller had changed his or her mind. “Hello?”

“Yes, hi.”

The rich, masculine voice sent chills down her spine and knotted her stomach. Eyes closed, she gripped the phone so hard it hurt. Even after all these years, she knew that voice. “Caleb?”

A low, sexy chuckle rumbled through the line. “You remember me.”

Oh shit, why was he calling her now? Memories of the most erotic night of her life flashed through her mind. Lily opened her eyes, reminding herself the most embarrassing morning of her life had followed. “How did you get this number? Never mind.”

Despite the deep breath, the receiver trembled in her hand. “Can I do something for you?”

An intake of breath and then a pause. “We have a slight problem.”

Lily’s stomach churned acid. None of their problems had been small, not for the twelve hours and twenty-two minutes they’d been married. “Yes?”

Caleb cleared his throat. “It seems the annulment didn’t go through.”

“Oh, shit.” I’m in a bad movie. This has got to be a joke. She leaned against the back of her chair. “What do you mean it didn’t go through?”

“We’re still married, sweetie. The annulment was never processed.”

________________________________________


Lynne Roberts is a romance and erotic romance writer. She wrote her first story out of frustration at the age of 11 because Gone with the Wind just couldn’t end with Rhett and Scarlett not together.


She’s a hopeless romantic and a sucker for a happily ever after.

She’s been writing professionally since 2005 and, after reading some very talented authors, attempted her first erotic romance in 2009.

A hopeless coffee-addict, when she’s not writing, editing or on Twitter—which isn’t often—you can find her in the garden, reading or with her five children. Sometimes all of the above.

Lynne currently lives in sunny California. You can learn more about her on her website and blog. She’d love to hear from you.

http://lynneroberts.net/

http://lynneroberts.blogspot.com/

Happy Valentine's Day

Today is Valentine's Day. A day for showing those we love how much we care. My husband got his gift on Saturday night. Since his birthday was yesterday, the 13th, my youngest daughter and I celebrated with him on Saturday night. We gave him his gifts--birthday and Valentine's Day--and then went to Maggiano's for supper. Since my oldest daughter lives in Germany with her husband, an air traffic controller stationed at Grafenwoehr, it was just the three of us. But we had a lovely time and a fabulous meal.

The winner of week two's prize of  $25 in gift certificates is Sherry Cahill. Sherry's name, along with other blog posters, will be entered into the drawing for the grand prize--$50 in gift certificates and a surprise gift.

And this Wednesday, on week three of The Valentine's Month Blog Tour, I'm going to be on Jill James' blog telling readers how I met my Johnny. And author Lynne Roberts will be visiting here. So stay tuned for a day filled with romantic stories as the Month-long blog tour continues with the new topic: Meeting Your Significant Other.

Come meet some fantastic Wild Rose Press authors and leave a comment for a chance to win this week's prizes worth $30 or be entered into the Grand Prize drawing worth over $50!

Meet author Amy Corwin at http://amielouellen.wordpress.com//Meet contemporary and paranormal romance author Jill James at http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com//Meet romantic suspense author Kat Duncan at http://www.ajbooks.blogspot.com/
Meet contemporary YA an adult romance author Linda Kage at http://lynneroberts.blogspot.com//
Meet paranormal, and historical romance author Caroline Clemmons at http://www.blogger.com/goog_1137538561
Meet historical and paranormal romance writer Lilly Gayle at http://www.jilljameswrites.com/
Meet Amie Louellen, author of fun and whimsical contemporary romance at http://www.katduncan.net/writeabout
Meet erotic western historical author Jennifer Jakes at http://lindakage.blogspot.com//
Meet author AJ Nuest at http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/
Meet author Lynne Roberts at http://www.lillygayleromance.blogspot.com/

Before signing out for the day, I'd like to share one of the sexiest songs ever sung. Enjoy!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYSsR3C1cm0&feature=player_embedded#at=81

What Inspires Creative Ideas

Welcome to week two of the Valentine's Month Blog tour. Visit as many of the eleven blogs as you can, leave a comment, and you're automatically entered in a chance to win weekly prizes and a grand prize worth over $50.

Blog participants are:
Linda Kage- http://lindakage.blogspot.com/, Amie Louellen- http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/,Caroline Clemmons- http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/, Jennifer Jakes- http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/AJ Nuest- http://www.ajbooks.blogspot.com/, Lynne Roberts- http://lynneroberts.blogspot.com/, Maeve Greyson-http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com/ ,Amy Corwin- http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/, Jill James- http://www.jilljameswrites.com/, Kat Duncan- http://www.katduncan.net/writeabout

Today, my guest is Amy Corwin, rose expert, critique partner extraordinaire, and award winning author of Regency romance, paranormal romance, and cozy mysteries.
So, Amy where do you get those intriquing ideas for your novels?
 
It’s so hard to figure out where a creative idea comes from. Most of the time, I have no idea “what made me think of that?” However, I would have no creative ideas at all if not for the creativity of others. Books, movies, magazines, and even paintings have inspired me. Even my gardening. In fact, that’s probably the best illustration of how the seed for a novel can come from an unlikely but still creative source.

Several years ago, after sweating and swearing over Hybrid Tea roses, I decided there had to be some roses that weren’t so fussy and that even I could grow. I wanted to get away from all the sprays, too, as I was afraid of what they were doing to the animals, insects, and birds thriving in my garden. So I started researching and found classes of roses that not only didn’t need spraying, but often resented the use of chemicals: Old Garden Roses.

The history of roses and rose hybridization absolutely fascinated me, particularly since I was able to find some of the varieties folks grew in the past, like Shakespeare’s Musk Rose (a specimen of which I’m now growing in my garden to disguise my somewhat inelegant chicken coop behind the house). That research revealed the unexpected information that even in the height of the Napoleonic wars, Josephine got permission to transport roses and invite English nurserymen to France to help her build the rose garden at Malmaison. Then I read the tidbit that they had terrible trouble with thieves coming at night to dig up the roses and sell them.

This led directly to my first historical novel, “Smuggled Rose”, where Margaret smuggles roses from France for her own garden in England. After all, if thieves were stealing the bushes from Malmaison, they had to be selling them somewhere, right? It seemed inevitable that a few would wind up back in England. In “The Necklace”, Oriana grows roses when she’s not trying to keep tabs on her adventurous uncle and his dangerous-appearing friends, and in a novel I’m working on right now, “The Deadliest Rose”, a murderer uses sprays of roses to indicate who his next victim will be.

In “The Bricklayer’s Helper” the heroine, Sam, doesn’t grow roses, but she sure becomes familiar with their uses when her aunt insists on turning Sam into a true lady. For centuries, roses were indispensible in the preparation of both cosmetics, food and even medicine, and Sam uses rose water to clean and soften her skin as many Regency ladies did.

So this one hobby turned into a near-obsession that resulted in at least four novels. And who knows, it may eventually lead to a few more!

Blurb and Excerpt for The Bricklayer’s Helper


What would you do if you were a young girl, orphaned during the early years of the 19th century?
 When Sarah finds herself orphaned after a suspicious fire burns down her home with her family trapped inside, all she remembers is the warning to “run and hide,” and hide she does. She cuts her hair and dons the garb of a young boy, hoping to survive on her own. In this disguise, she’s obtains a job as a bricklayer’s helper and remains safe for thirteen years.

Unfortunately, in London, a man recognizes her and arranges a meeting, only to be murdered before they can speak. Desperate that she may be vulnerable, Sarah hires an inquiry agent from the Second Sons Inquiry Agency.

However, the inquiry agent, William Trenchard, is far too attractive for Sarah’s peace of mind. In her experience, handsome men can rarely do more than fumble their way beneath a lady’s skirt, but she fears he may be her last chance.
 Unfortunately, her decision may prove to be dangerous to both their hearts…if not downright fatal.
Buy Link: : http://www.thewildrosepress.com/the-bricklayers-helper-p-4156.html


Trailer for The Bricklayer’s Helper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owJnpB6J2BA

Excerpt:
In this scene, Sarah has pushed William a little too far and she’s about to get everything she deserves…and then some.

“Get back into bed, or I’ll put you there.”

Her eyes turned silver as she studied him, her head cocked to one side. “If you think you can, I recommend you try.”

"I don’t foresee any difficulties,” he said, striding toward her. After all the stabbing and head-bashing, he thought she’d have enough sense to stay abed.

Obviously, he was wrong.

He deliberately came to a stop mere inches from her, hoping to discomfort her at least half as much as she had discomforted him since their first meeting.

She stared at him, her chin thrust out at a mutinous angle. Although she blinked a few times, she didn’t back away.

He glowered.

Her eyes blinked more rapidly.

So he did the only thing he could think of that would put the fear of God into her soul.

He leaned nearer and kissed her.
—

Thank you for having me here, Lilly. I certainly appreciate it!

Amy Corwin

Amy also has an awesome paranormal romance that's now available from TWRP

Vampire Protector
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/vampire-protector-p-4309.html

A frightened woman must unlock her memories if she's to survive the deadly company of her Vampire Protector…

An anonymous note forces Gwen on a mission to discover an ancient family secret that may be hidden in her long abandoned childhood home. When she asks her attractive neighbor, John, to accompany her, she’s not expecting much, except possibly help if she falls through any rotten floors.
Unfortunately, that's just her first mistake.
John is a vampire, and her house is not exactly empty. Secrets—and the dead—won’t always stay buried, and John’s extraordinary strength and determination may be all that can withstand what awaits them in the shadows...

Trailer for Vampire Protector: http://www.youtube.com/user/AmyCorwin#p/a/u/1/dQeKIFCVg3c

Amy Corwin is a charter member of the Romance Writers of America and has been writing for the last ten years and managing a career as an enterprise systems administrator in the computer industry. She writes Regencies/historicals, mysteries, and contemporary paranormals. To be truthful, most of her books include a bit of murder and mayhem since she discovered that killing off at least one character is a highly effective way to make the remaining ones toe the plot line.


Amy’s books include the Regency, SMUGGLED ROSE; three Regency romantic mysteries, I BID ONE AMERICAN, THE BRICKLAYER’S HELPER, and THE NECKLACE, and her first paranormal, VAMPIRE PROTECTOR.


Website: http://www.amycorwin.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/amycorwin
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmyCorwinAuthor
Blog: http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/Bio

Week One Winner

Week One of the Valentine's Month Blog Tour has been chosen from a list of commentors on each of the 11 blogs. Marci, a commentor on one of the other blogs won a $15 gift certificate to TWRP and a $5 gift certificate to Samhain Publishing. Clancy's name was drawn from my list of commentors and although she didn't win the prize for Week One, her name is going into the "hat" for a chance to win our $50 grand prize.

There's a one in forty chance of winning the grand prize so the more blogs you visit and the more comments you post, the greater your chances of winning.

So, once again, here are the blog addresses for next Wednesday's blog posts when our topic will be: What Inspires Creative Ideas:
Blog participants are:

Linda Kage- http://lindakage.blogspot.com/, Amie Louellen- http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/,Caroline Clemmons- http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/, Jennifer Jakes- http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/AJ Nuest- http://www.ajbooks.blogspot.com/ , Lynne Roberts- http://lynneroberts.blogspot.com/, Maeve Greyson-http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com/ ,Amy Corwin- http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/, Jill James- http://www.jilljameswrites.com/, Kat Duncan- http://www.katduncan.net/writeabout

The Significance of First Lines

Welcome to week one of the Wild Roses Valentine's Month Blog Tour! Commentors on all eleven Wild Roses Blogs are automatically entered to win one of four weekly prizes and a grand prize worth $50. So stay tuned all month, visit as many blogs as possible and leave a comment for your chance to win!

Blog participants are:
Linda Kage- http://lindakage.blogspot.com/, Amie Louellen- http://amielouellen.wordpress.com/ ,Caroline Clemmons- http://carolineclemmons.blogspot.com/, Jennifer Jakes- http://authorjenniferjakes.blogspot.com/AJ Nuest- http://www.ajbooks.blogspot.com/ , Lynne Roberts- http://lynneroberts.blogspot.com/, Maeve Greyson-http://maevegreyson.blogspot.com/ ,Amy Corwin- http://amycorwin.blogspot.com/, Jill James- http://www.jilljameswrites.com/, Kat Duncan- http://www.katduncan.net/writeabout

My guest today, who'll be talking about the significance of first lines, is Kat Duncan.

As a young child, Kat once tried to confess the telling of her stories to her parish priest because she thought they fit the definition the nuns gave for 'telling a lie'. The wise priest asked her if her stories were told to hurt other people. "Oh, no!" she replied, "I only tell them to make people happy." The priest asked her if she had any other sins to confess and when she didn?t, he advised her to continue telling her stories and then he assigned her a few prayers to say for those who could not hear them. Kat has been telling her 'lies' ever since and writing stories to entertain and enlighten. After a successful career as a software engineer, Kat decided she needed something different to do. She's now a tutor of adolescents with special needs. With one teenager in high school (home school) and another in college, every moment of her meager spare time is spent creating romances.

So, Kat, tell us what you think about the Significance of First Lines~


You want to be seduced when you read a book. You want to be drawn in, to forget your troubles and just enjoy yourself. That's why first lines in a book should be like pickup lines. They could be the kind you might expect to hear in a bar, "Hi gorgeous, can I buy you a drink?" or in a nightclub, "Hey, I'm Joe, wanna dance with me sexy lady?" These kinds of first lines are a sexy come-on. They promise an enjoyable, sensual experience. How's this for a first line:


"Strip off his shirt," she said.

That's the first line of the book I'm working on now, Ransom's Captive. It's an historical romance and I wanted the first line to be a bit scandalous-sounding. The next few paragraphs show why the man's shirt has to be stripped off.

First lines could also be the kind you might hear from the cell phone salesman at the mall "We've got a 1-day special on iPhones." These can feel a bit off-putting, making you feel as if you have to pay attention to something you don't want to miss out on. The first line of my romantic suspense, Fifty-eight Faces, is:

"We're gonna win this one, Caroline."

Win? What are they gonna win? I have to find out. Within a few paragraphs it's clear they need to win a big court case over the Blue Diamond or they'll have to close their financially-challenged children's hospital.

Still other first lines are the kind you might hear walking around a huge warehouse store "Were you able to find everything you're looking for?" The solicitation lets you know you are in good hands, or maybe it irritates the heck out of you because you don't like to be interrupted while you shop. The first line of Six Days to Midnight, another romantic suspense I wrote, goes:

"With an explosion of dirt and hooves, Mirza whipped her mount toward the starting line."

The words are harsh and the character, Mirza, sounds merciless. She hurts my feelings just whipping her horse. She doesn't even think of it as a horse. To her it's just a "mount". An evil woman. I don't like her already.

And then there are the kinds of first lines that are sort of slow-witted. The kind you don't always understand right away, but yet can't stop listening to. The kind you might hear sitting next to an old man at a bus stop. "You know, back when the bus stop was on Main Street, folks used to wait inside the newspaper office. Good stories weren't so hard to find back then." You scratch your head and read on, hoping everything will become clear if you keep reading. Another of my historicals, Without a Lord, starts like this:

"It isn't possible to capture a faerie."

Huh? If it's not possible, then why are we talking about it? In the short conversation that follows, we learn that dozens of knights, desperate to end a local war, insist that they've seen a faerie.

Depending on what kind of mood you're in, you may be turned off by the first line or you may be interested in hearing more. Personally, I'd rather have a reader put my book down if they're turned off. I'd rather they read it when they're in a mood to enjoy it. The first lines of a book set the mood and tone and should be an honest indication of what is to come. If I keep reading it's because I've been seduced by the first line.

So, which first line of mine would seduce you?

Kat Duncan's most recent release, Fifty-eight Faces is part of the Jewel of the Night series. You can purchase this book at: http://thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=137&products_id=4366

Blurb:


Chief of surgery at a small children's hospital, Caroline's last hope to save it from financial ruin evaporates when she loses the Blue Diamond case to greedy Evan Quinn. When Evan buys the hospital property for high profit condo conversion, Caroline's hatred shifts into full red-alert.

But Evan is not her real enemy. Rolf, the hospital's chief administrator, has had his eye on the blue diamond since he learned of it from his Nazi grandfather. To be the 58th face to possess the Blue Diamond, one for each of its facets, grants the owner unlimited power. Rolf plans to kill the current owners and use the diamond to build his Neo-Nazi regime. Can Caroline give up her hatred and Evan his greed before Rolf kills them both?

 
Excerpt from Fifty-eight Faces:

"If I wasn’t sworn as a doctor, I’d pull this trigger.”


A flash lit the darkness. An ear-shattering echo reverberated in the concrete vault. Evan staggered. Caroline dropped the gun, and its over-sensitized trigger fired again. It spun like a top on the concrete. She rushed forward.

“Evan. Evan. Are you hurt? Where? I didn’t pull the trigger. It just went off in my hand.” She grabbed his shoulders, bracing him, scanning him for a wound.

He steadied himself and pushed her aside. “You missed.” He stared at the gun lying on the floor. He picked it up and hefted it, his brows pinched in thought. Pointing it away from her, he firmly grasped the weapon and gently tapped its side. It fired.

He turned on her, his mouth thinned into a grimace, his eyes squinting.

She put up her hands. “Evan, don’t…”

He tipped the gun toward the ceiling and, with a snap, removed the clip. He tossed the pieces in opposite directions. They spun and clattered on the concrete floor. In a few quick steps, he closed the distance between them. His broad hands engulfed her shoulders, infusing her shivering body with a surge of solid warmth.

“That gun was rigged by an expert. An expert who arranged for us to meet here. Then disappeared.”


Kat Duncan writes romantic suspense. Visit her at http://www.katduncan.net/ or http://www.katduncan.net/writeabout and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/WriteAbout/150069588366130
She's also on Twitter: Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/write_about