Exciting #TimeTravel With A Connecticut Fashionista In King Arthur's Court #romance #kindle

Today we have a fun time travel! Mari Mancusi's Book Blast tour, spotlighting A Connecticult Fashionista in King Arthur's Court. Mari will award a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly selected winner via Rafflecopter during the tour. Enjoy~

~Mia

~*~

A Connecticut Fashionista in King Arthur’s Court

by Mari Mancusi

BLURB:

"Sparkling debut...a nice twist on the modern girl's search for prince charming." -- Publisher's Weekly

Once upon a time there lived an outspoken fashion editor named Kat, who certainly was not your typical damsel in distress. But when a gypsy curse sent her back in time to the days of King Arthur, she found she'd need every ounce of her 21st century wits (and pop culture references) to navigate the legend. After all, surviving a magical plot, an evil prince, and a case of mistaken identity--all without changing history or scuffing your Manolos--takes some doing!

Luckily, she's got her very own knight in shining armor, Lancelot du Lac, on her side. The honorable-to-a-fault and devastatingly handsome champion insists on helping her out, even though she's not quite sure she wants him to. After all, shouldn't he be off romancing Queen Guenevere or something? Will Kat manage to stay out of trouble long enough to get back to her beloved lattes, cosmopolitans and cashmere? And what will Lancelot's forbidden love mean for the kingdom of Camelot?

~*~

 Excerpt:

I look back at the castle, my breath catching in my throat. Now that we've headed down the hill a bit I can see the building in its entirety. It's huge, seeming to be carved from the very rocky cliff on which it sits. Its whitewashed stone walls rise to what looks to be a hundred feet high. Tall towers pierce the blue sky, their golden spires catching the sun, nearly blinding me with their brilliance.

Where the hell am I?

Fear shoots daggers through my heart, delivering an unpleasant adrenaline rush. Something is very, very wrong. There should not be a magnificent castle like this anywhere in upstate New York. In fact, I doubt anything like this exists anywhere in America. And the screwed-up thing is that it looks completely new. Shining even. Not crumbling ruins like the castles in Europe. Even the ones they keep up for tourists look a bit rundown. But this ... well, I've never seen anything like it.

Where am I?

As we descend a steep, rocky path, the horse taking slow careful steps, I really start to panic. My heart is beating a mile a minute, and I contemplate jumping off the horse and making a run for it. But a run where?

Just wait till we get to the village. I take deep, soothing breaths—the kind they teach you in yoga class—and try to focus. At least in the village I'll be able to get help. Call a cab. Get a ride to the airport if they've taken me far away. Oh, man, why has this happened to me? What if I've been taken to, like, Nepal or some other faraway country? Do I even have enough money on my Visa to book my ticket back? Oh, why did I succumb to that last Macy's one-day sale?

Book is available on Amazon and is part of the Kindle Unlimited program.

~*~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Mari Mancusi is a two-time Emmy award-winning television producer and author of novels for adults and teens. A graduate of Boston University, she now lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and young daughter. When not writing or producing she enjoys traveling, snowboarding, reading fantasy novels, and her favorite guilty pleasure: video games.

Connect with Mari on the web!

website: www.marimancusi.com

Blog: www.marimancusi.blogspot.com

Twitter: @marimancusi

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bloodcovenvampires

Instagram: marimancusi

Book is available on Amazon and is part of the Kindle Unlimited program.

Amazon Link: http://amzn.to/1qUdT16

~*~

 Contest Details!

Mari will award a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly selected winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Saving Grace With Scarlett Jade #ILoveProfessorDrakeStone #NewAdult #contemporary

Today we have Scarlett Jade with her motivation for writing Saving Grace, (Wild Rose series book 1.) Scarlett's latest release is a new adult contemporary and has some great reviews.  Enjoy!

~Mia

~*~

Saving Grace was an idea I got from a dream, about a student falling in love with her professor. The forbidden aspect of falling in love with someone you shouldn’t just caught my attention, and I had to write it.

Grace is my heroine, and she’s naïve, a little awkward and unsure of herself. She’s a lot like I used to be, studious, innocent, and a “good” girl. That was secured for her by her size and geek status in high school… but college is a whole different place, and she realizes that first thing when she meets her roommate, Christina.

Christina is definitely a “bad” girl, and she’s mischievous, sassy, and wise to the world. I think they’re a perfect complement to each other. The preacher’s daughter and the wild child. Christina pushes her out of her shell, and Grace reluctantly flounders out into deeper water.

When they go to a bar, Grace meets a man who she can’t believe seems to be interested in her. One kiss was all it took and she was putty in his hands. What she doesn’t know is the man she’s kissing at the bar is her professor.

The story has some twists and turns along the way, and plenty of people seem to be willing to sabotage a fledgling romance. Grace has to find herself, and that’s the scariest part of all. Life isn’t always what it seems.

Reviewers are saying to buy it first thing in the morning, hang the Do Not Disturb sign, order pizza for dinner, and they’re using the hashtag #ILoveProfessorDrakeStone.

I hope you fall in love with Drake Stone too!

Thanks for having me! xoxo - Scarlett

~*~

 Blurb for Saving Grace

The rule was simple—don't fall in love with a student. Drake had never had that problem—not until he met the buxom brunette in the bar. Grace was one of a kind, virginal but far from chaste. When she wanted him to teach more than history, he was left with a choice that could ruin them both. 

Grace was always the good girl, until she met her wild best friend, Christina, who pushed her out of her shell. She fell head over heels for the sexy, young college professor, but when everything shattered around her, she was left with figuring out who she really was. Her journey led her somewhere she never imagined, but along the way she learned that even the wildest roses have to put down roots in a place they can call home. 

Available at Amazon

More about Scarlett Jade...

Scarlett Jade is just a small town Southern girl who is now a Northern transplant. She was always found from a young age with her brow furrowed, scribbling words on paper. Now that she is grown, life isn't much different, she still scribbles words, but mostly on the computer!

She is married to the man of her dreams, her real life knight in shining armor and Prince Charming. She has one son who is the apple of her eye and she homeschools year round. You can typically find her playing in the dirt with her son or snuggled on the couch with her dog Peanut, reading a good book.

She loves chocolate, thinks coffee should be a religion, and loves to make people laugh with her quirky sense of humor. She is bold, brazen, and even been told she's ballsy, but she doesn't mind, she takes it in stride. She has a huge passion for all things paranormal and has a penchant for spicy love stories that leave you turning the pages and dying to slide between the sheets of her next book!

Connect with Scarlett on the Web!

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1jrtKw6
Twitter: http://bit.ly/TREUp6
Google+: http://bit.ly/1tLUlvp
Blog: http://bit.ly/1jZ8nXo

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1u93xxo


Thanks for stopping by!

Hollywood Rules Reviews Needed! #Mel Curtis #novellas #contemporary #romance

Mel Curtis has updated her Hollywood Rules series covers and is letting us have a peek! This series of spicy hot novellas is a fun, romantic escape. If you love to read (who doesn't!) she's offering a sweepstakes AND a free book! Read on, and enjoy. 

~Mia

The Hollywood Rules Review Sweepstakes by Melinda Curtis

To celebrate the new covers for the fun and hot Hollywood Rules series I'm offering a $50 Amazon Gift Card! From today until December 1st send a link of your fair and honest review on one of the Hollywood Rules books (Amber Rules, Blue Rules, Cora Rules, Gemma Rules, or Breaking the Rules) to:

melcurtisauthor@gmail.com

and you will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Amazon Gift Card! Even if you posted your review in the past just copy the link and send it to me and that will count as an entry. You're able to enter 5 times, once for each title!

The drawing winner will be announced Friday, December 7th.

Haven't started the series? Below there's a link to a free copy of Amber Rules (Hollywood Rules Book 1 ). 

I’ve been writing books in my fun and sexy Hollywood Rules series for a few years now. And guess what? It’s time to rebrand the series, which means…(drumroll) that it’s time to rebrand the series covers.

Which means…(drumroll) a Review Sweepstakes! 

What is a Review Sweepstakes? A chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card. How easy is it to enter? Send me a link to a fair and honest review of one of the 5 main titles in the series. Old reviews, new reviews, all reviews qualify. You’re able to enter up to 5 times, once for each title, between now and December 1st. For readers of this blog, I’ll even give you 2 of the books to review (see below).

In case you haven’t heard of the Hollywood Rules, here’s the series blurb:
Welcome to the Dooley Foundation, a successful celebrity life coaching business founded by Dooley Rule. For the past 40 years, Dooley’s kept the secrets of Hollywood’s celebrities and powerful as he helped them overcome their personal obstacles and achieve their goals. He could have used a bit of his own advice, what with three marriages and three children (at least three he’s publicly acknowledged).

Now that Dooley’s gone on to that life coaching business in the sky, he’s left his children in charge, but he forgot one little piece of information – the secret to his success! With a client list that includes the biggest rule breakers in Hollywood and the NBA, there’s bound to be hot bodies, high fashion, and passionate encounters.

Excerpt from Amber Rules (book 1):

“Where are we going?”

“Someplace more private.” Evan passed the stairs, stopped beneath the landing where it was even darker and studied Amber one more time as if considering his next move carefully.

If he’d nearly pushed her buttons on the dance floor, what would Evan do in a more discreet location? How far would Amber let him go? Her body trembled with anticipation and three years of pent up need as she waited for Evan to decide what to do with her, praying he wouldn’t have second thoughts, determined not to have any herself for at least another five minutes.

Tangling his fingers in Amber’s hair, Evan dragged her to him for a feverish kiss that demanded more than lips became involved. He crushed Amber against his hard, unyielding body, using his long arms and big hands to bind them together as if they were physically joined. It took only moments for it to seem natural for Amber’s pelvis to strain against each thrust of his hips, as if they were naked and he were inside of her. It was decadently thrilling and dangerously hot. It was bittersweet relief when Evan drew back enough to slip a hand inside the bodice of Amber’s dress to cup one lace cocooned breast, to squeeze her nipple until she ached for release.

Amber gasped for breath, burning for a more intimate touch. For sex. Full body pounding, nakedly urgent sex. But not here. Not where they might be discovered. Amber only wanted one more kiss. One more steamy stroke…

Evan’s hand wound its way inside Amber’s panties and then he thrust a finger inside her. She moaned tremulously against his mouth as she peaked, her heat spilling around him. Restless energy made her limbs shake. And then Evan withdrew and Amber would have sunk to the floor if he hadn’t held her close.

This is what depravation did to a woman.

It made her greedy and wanton.

~*~

For more of the Hollywood Rules series visit Mel's website (Meet the Rules section) for descriptions and links! 

Special Offers/Freebies:

Readers of this blog can download a FREE copy of the steamy Amber Rules from Melinda’s web site Nov 4-11, 2014.  Three books are currently out in the series.  

Link: www.MelindaCurtis.net Username: Amber_Rules Password: blogtour2014

Readers of this blog will be sent a FREE fun, new adult novella set within the Hollywood Rules world by signing up for Melinda’s book release email newsletter. 

Link: http://www.melindacurtis.net/join-melinda-s-mailing-list

~*~

About Melinda Curtis...

Melinda Curtis is an award winning, USA Today recommended, Amazon best selling author.  She writes independently published, steamy Hollywood Rules series as Mel Curtis. Jayne Ann Krentz says of Blue Rules: “Sharp, sassy, modern version of a screwball comedy from Hollywood's Golden Age except a lot hotter.”  Melinda also writes the Harmony Valley series of sweet and emotional romances for the Harlequin Heartwarming line. Brenda Novak says: “Season of Change has found a place on my keeper shelf”. 

Website: www.MelindaCurtis.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelindaCurtisAuthor

Twitter: @MelCurtisAuthor

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/melcurtisauthor/

Thanks for stopping by!

Hiding Out With Nicole Andrews Moore #interview #romance

Today we have author Nicole Andrews Moore in the hot seat, talking about the UFO on her desk and her latest release, Hiding Out (The Davenport Agency Book 1). 

Enjoy!

~Mia. 

~*~

Quick round for Nicole Andrews Moore...

Coffee, tea or…what’s your vice? Tea.  I love it.  The more sugar the better.

Favorite Movie: At the risk of sounding cliché…The Notebook

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite book/author: Ever…The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Eupery

How do you feel about bacon? Cannot live without it.  Seriously.  It’s a staple of my diet.   

Tell us a little about yourself. 

The first time I hit publish, it was because my now husband told me he’d break up with me if I didn’t do it.  Sam sure does know how to motivate me.  We embrace life as an adventure, which is great since we’ve had so many.  The biggest was the birth of our daughter, Kenna, sixteen weeks too soon.  She weighed 9.6 ounces, making her the fourth smallest surviving preemie in the world.  Still she’s amazing, my hero, and has taught me how to put life in perspective. 

What’s under your bed?

Nothing.  You should have asked me what’s in my nightstand.  That’s way more interesting.

What comes first, plot or characters?

The plot.  Every time.  And then I try to figure out the characters.

Pantser, plotter, or hybrid? Tell us about your writing process.

I’d say that I have a loose plot when I start writing, then I get stuck and brainstorm any number of times until I finally finish the book. 

Oddest thing on your desk?

A skywriter UFO that my husband just had to have.  He can type a message into it and float it above me while I work.  Yes, it’s like having one more kid.

What’s your most interesting writing quirk?

Hmm.  I brainstorm each book with a different person.  I don’t think I’ve ever used the same person twice.

What’s your favorite thing about the genre you write in?

I love romance.  I love creating those moments, the feelings, and having it touch someone.

What is the hardest thing about being an author?

Building a social media presence.  Part of me just wants to write books and stick them out there.  I like hibernating.  The other part of me adores when readers reach out.  I love interacting and hearing from them.

What’s the easiest thing about being an author?

Seriously, the writing is the easy part.  I really enjoy coming up with book ideas.

What do you wish someone had asked you for an interview question? Here’s your chance to get the soap box out!

Is there a theme, a platform for your writing?  I always like to say I write books about happiness, hope, and love.  So many of these stories are about second chances. 

Tell us about your latest release!

Hiding Out is about a woman who survives a terrible experience and instead of withering up and dying, she manages to pull herself together and build a new life.  In the process, she meets an amazing man who is everything she never knew she always wanted.  With his love and support she is able to move from hiding into the light so she can build a future.

Blurb for Hiding Out...

Samuel Davenport runs his family's New York based advertising agency. His brother, Adam, runs from responsibility and anything remotely boring. And his temp, Haley, runs so she'll never be caught and hurt again. She moved to the city New Year's Day to hide and recover, to build a new life far from her past. In an effort to lie low, Haley never expects to be more than a temp. What begins for Sam as an excuse to get to know her better, ends up being an opportunity for advancement and excitement for Haley. When Sam tries to uncover all of Haley's mysteries, he exposes her hiding place, endangers her life, and threatens to destroy any chance of them ever having a future together.

Amazon Buy Link:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ODALPY8/

~*~

Author Links:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/NicoleAndrewsMoore

Twitter: http://twitter.com/thenicknick

Thanks for stopping by! 

Getting Sinful with Emma Nichols #erotica #interview

Today we have an interview with Emma Nichols, discussing the three books in her Sinful Series. This series has plenty of good reviews on Amazon and has a fun, sexy premise. Check it out!

~Mia

~*~

Quick round for Emma Nichols

Coffee, tea or…what’s your vice?

Hot chocolate.  The more chocolate the better.  Although I never turn down the whipped cream and syrup garnish either.

Favorite Movie:

Now…it’s Gone Girl.  I read the book and thought…damn, I wish I had come up with that.

Favorite Color:

Love rich colors, jewel tones…

Favorite book/author:

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.  Read it.  Right now.  Step away from the laptop, dust off your Kindle and start it.

How do you feel about bacon?

I’d marry it.  My relationship with bacon has lasted far longer than any I’ve ever had with a man.

Tell us a little about yourself. 

I was inspired to write a book about the Sex Bucket list because I had completed 47 of the 50 items.  Is this the kind of thing you meant?  ;)

What’s under your bed?

My toy box…complete with blindfold, lotions, flavored and heated lubes, naughty dice, games, movies, and a copy of the KamaSutra.

What comes first, plot or characters?

I start with a plot…or a hint of a plot.

Pantser, plotter, or hybrid? Tell us about your writing process.

I totally fly by the seat of my pants.  My betas will comment that they can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next, and no one is more surprised than I am.

Oddest thing on your desk?

Remote control.  It’s a sure sign I’m a single woman, otherwise I’d never get to touch it.

What’s your most interesting writing quirk?

I love writing destination books.  My characters always seem to travel and have sex in new and wonderful places because I love researching them and dreaming about it.  So far, I’ve had them on a cruise, in Vegas, and vacationing in Hedonism.

What’s your favorite thing about the genre you write in?

The sex.  I love that I can get naughty and make money doing it.

What is the hardest thing about being an author?

Staying original.  I’m always so afraid I’ll write something inadvertently like someone else.

What’s the easiest thing about being an author?

I love writing.  Working in pajamas and yoga pants.  It’s practically the author dress code.

What makes your books different from others in the genre?  

So often I hear that erotica is just a bunch of loosely held together sex scenes.  I like writing a story, ultimately a love story.  You can still be super naughty in a relationship.  Trust me, I’ve done it.

Tell us about your latest release!

I just finished writing The Sinful Series: Sin at Sea, Vixen in Vegas, and Heaven in Hedonism.  These books feature two best friends, Alysin (Sin) and Jolie, who have spent the past ten years as digital nomads, living all over the globe.  We meet them just as Sin discovers her boyfriend is cheating on her.  Their response is to hop on a cruise ship.  That’s when Sin meets Mr. Bedroom Eyes.  This is supposed to be a week of unbridled passion with no names or contact information exchanged, but feelings get in the way and they agree to meet in Vegas, which is where the second book picks up.  The final installment is Jolie’s story, Heaven in Hedonism.  While I won’t give anything away, know that I believe in happy endings. 

~*~

Blurb for Sin at Sea (Sinful Series, Book 1):

When Alysin surprised her boyfriend at work with dinner, the surprise was on her. Since he was going at it with his secretary on the conference table, she packed a bag and called her BFF. Jolie and Alysin have been traveling the country, working as digital nomads for ten years, ever since graduation. Taking this as a sign it was time for a new move, they decide to take a cruise, regroup, and make a plan. Then she meets Mr. Bedroom Eyes. Following her lead, they pretend to be married so she can rid herself of the guy who started hitting on her before the boat left the dock. Though it’s supposed to be a momentary arrangement, he asks her to take it one step farther. Then another and another. The cruise promises to be memorable in every way that matters. Along the way, Alysin learns she won't have to fake an orgasm if she's with someone who knows what to do, that not all men suck but the best ones suck really well, and that sometimes what starts out as something pretend can fast become something completely real. Will the woman who lives life with no regrets, regret that she made that stupid rule about not exchanging names and contact info?

Buy Link for Sin at Sea:

Amazon

~*~

Blurb for Vixen in Vegas (Sinful Series book 2):

It was supposed to be a week of simply being, of living in the moment and enjoying every minute while it lasted. Of course, that kind of intoxication can have lingering effects.

For Sin, she finds herself wanting to break all the rules, to extend her time with the stranger who stole her heart. Vegas is just the right kind of place to take such a gamble.

Meeting up with BE at the gondolas is a risk. Love goes against everything they'd promised one another. But the best things in life can’t be planned. Soon Alysin will be tested. After guarding her heart for so long, she finally lets a man in and discovers that the worst things in life happen when she least expects them.

When she walks in on BE with another woman and overhears their heated conversation, she suddenly remembers there is a reason she made these rules.

Will broken rules lead to broken hearts?

Or will she realize that though love is a gamble - - she's all in?

Buy Links for Vixen in Vegas:

Amazon

~*~

Blurb for Heaven In Hedonism (Sinful Series book 3)...

For ten years, Sin and Jolie were inseparable. Now with Sin happily married and pregnant with twins, Jolie is feeling lost and restless. She knows something is missing, but the closest she comes up with is a desire for her own baby. Maybe, if she could just get past her issue with men, she could find a proper sperm donor.

For the past ten months, she's been working with Mac. Other than being male, he's younger, her complete opposite, and pretty much wrong in every way. Soon he instructs Jolie to take a vacation, and decides to join her. It's only a week, but by now Jolie should know that someone who seems wrong can be oh so right, and a week can change the course of a life.

To Be Released November, 2014

~*~

Emma's Author Links:

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

~*~

Thanks for stopping by!

A Character Costume Party! The Snarkology Halloween Blog Jump #romance

I've had a friend choose two random comment leavers for my prize of a backlist book. 

The winners are: Joely and Phaedra! 

Congrats! And thank you ALL for participating! 

www.melissasnark.blogspot.com

Welcome to The Snarkology Halloween Blog Hop! 

Almost 60 authors have joined in with Halloween chatter, fun, and many prizes, including a $100 GC to Amazon or B&N. The list to follow is down yonder, or you can click the link above for the master list as well.

Mia Downing's Character Costume Party...

Of all of the holidays, Halloween is probably the most bittersweet for me now that my kids are teens. Long gone are the handmade costumes, the Walmart run the night before because the handmade costume isn't cool enough/broke/isn't ready, and the hiking around the neighborhood in search of candy. The only thing I don't miss is the candy. I know that sounds strange, but my kids are picky and I'd vow every year to only eat what they didn't like. Which is a lot. My new office chair is grateful my butt will not be getting any bigger this Halloween.

I've never written a Halloween story before, but I thought it would be fun to post what my characters from each book might like to go as if I threw them a Halloween party!

Spy Games: Trained for Seduction
Chase: Dom in leather (because he looks hot, and he wouldn't go as anything else)
Kate: His sexy school girl sub, probably the same outfit she wears in Birthday Games, because Chase thinks it's hot!

Spy Games: Lethal Limits
Jake: A sexy Doctor (or a sex Doctor) with dirty things in his medical bag, like lube and condoms.
Tia: A sexy Nurse

Spy Games: Endgame
Charlotte: A movie star
Aaron: A naughty cop with fuzzy handcuffs

Just Ask
Both Ryan and Jordan would show up in obnoxious Hawaiian shirts with straw hats and drinks with umbrellas.

Ripped
Gavin: An Artist with a paint palette, paint brush and a spattered cape sort of covering
Erik: His male model (he'd probably carry a frame to stick his head through, and be in a toga with a leaf headress thing.)

Switching Leads (Campus Cravings)
John would go as a wounded equestrian and Finn would be his horse.

Wow, I wish I could really have this party! I hope you enjoyed.

Contest Details!

In addition to the grand prize option, I'm giving away a backlist ebook to a lucky comment leaver. Tell me what you think about Halloween, leave your email and you're in! If you're afraid to leave an email in comments, send it to me. Mine is listed on the sidebar. For every ten entrants I'll draw another winner!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

To hop along the Snarkology Halloween Blog hop, click the links to visit these other great authors! Each blog gives you another chance to enter for the grand prize.

Savor An Interview with Erin Finnegan and Sotto Voce #romance #contemporary

Today we have a rousing interview with Erin Finnegan, the author of Sotto Voce. This is a book about wine, relationships, and love. Enjoy!

Mia.

Interview Questions:

  

Quick Round:

1.    Coffee, tea, or ... What's your vice?  Red, red wine.

2.    Favorite Movie? Alright, you've just discovered my Achilles' heel—naming my "favorite" anything. Let me narrow it to three of my favorites, movies I will always take time out for. First, a classic, one I can just about say all the lines along with the movie: Casablanca. Romance, romance and romance, set in an exotic and dangerous place with a hero who isn't quite and writing that you can never entirely get out of you head. Play it, Sam.  Next, a comedy that punches all my buttons: Bull Durham. It's smart, sexy and shockingly close to a real depiction of life in A League ball. And yes, I recite The Speech. Finally, because I still cry, every time Tony dies: West Side Story. Is there a better musical? I think not.

3.    Favorite color? On my walls, nutmeg. In my closet, shades of blue. In my glass, a rich, dark crimson.

4.    Favorite book/author? Classics: Jane Austen. Any Jane Austen, really, though I have a huge spot in my heart for Mansfield Park, because for a woman in that era to have published that story, using her real name, was the kind of ballsy most people don't give Austen credit for. Among contemporary authors, a terrible toss-up between Tom Wolfe and Elmore Leonard. From the first time I read Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers in a college journalism class to the umpteenth time I read The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe is the kind of author I can't enough of. And Elmore Leonard, with sparkling wit and crisp dialogue, proved that an author could be equally good in two utterly unrelated genres. And finally, life-long influence: Dr. Seuss, especially Green Eggs and Ham. I know a band that performs it as a rap. And throws Pixie Sticks to the audience. Like I said, life-long influence.

5.    How do you feel about bacon? Contrary to the image of all Southern Californians being kale-loving vegans, I am firmly in the pro-bacon camp.

The real questions...

Tell us about yourself.

Wine isn't just a vice for me. It's a lifestyle. I own a small vineyard where I produce Syrah and Zinfandel. I'm a native Southern California girl who has spent a professional lifetime in journalism and media relations, and a real lifetime playing and loving all kinds of music, devoting myself to the ups and downs of the Los Angeles Dodgers and spending far too much time trying to de-shed two very shaggy sheepdogs.

What's under your bed? Dust bunnies, and occasionally the cat.

What comes first, plot or characters? Give me a moment to waffle, because I think it's really a combination of the two. It's difficult for me to consider even breaking open a composition book (yes, I use those old school comp books to outline ideas) without having some sort of story in mind. But right on the heels of that first plot vehicle, I think it's important to consider the characters driving it.  

Pantser, plotter or hybrid? Tell us about your writing process. I plot, I research, I structure—and then I often throw it all out and fly by the seat of my pants. But even if the outline isn't particularly detailed, I like to know where my story's going before I write it. And not long after I write the first words of a story, I write the very end, so I know exactly where my characters are going. I know people who can't imagine doing this, but for me, it's an absolute necessity.

Oddest thing on your desk? Odd is relative, isn't it? I mean, my office is decorated with dashboard hula dolls and some Dodger bobbleheads, which feels entirely normal to me. I think it's the remnants of old careers that feel odd now: the journalism and public relations awards that still sit on my bookshelf, and the proclamation by the California Legislature on my wall. Of course, that's not my desk, is it? So maybe I should just say my little wind-up robot toy, who helps distract me whenever I get stuck.

What's your most interesting writing quirk?  I'm not sure I really have one, but I suspect it's the old habit I developed as a newspaper reporter of being able to write pretty much anywhere, and using whatever device necessary to take notes. Cocktail napkins are especially handy.

What's your favorite thing about the genre you write in? I love watching the evolution of LGBTQ romantic fiction to something that is not only embraced by readers of all kinds of backgrounds, but also as quality, well-written fiction. I get asked a lot why so many women write and read m/m romance. I think the answer's simple: because love is love, and this is just another take on it.

What's the hardest thing about being an author? I think for a lot of writers, the right answer to this is having to promote a book after you've written it. But for me, it's much more about another old journalism habit—procrastination. I think it comes from the adrenaline rush of deadlines—at least, that's what I've always told my editors. But the fact of the matter is the crunch of work is far more intense with a book than it is with a 1,000-word news story.

What's the easiest thing about being an author? Working in my pajamas, hands-down.

What do you wish someone had asked you for an interview question? Here's your chance to get the soap box!  Surprisingly, no one has asked me about the relative merits of forced malolactic fermentation methodologies versus a dependence on naturally-occurring yeast  strains in the production of Syrah.

Just kidding. I'd actually have loved it it someone had asked about the role of fan fiction in developing an original book, because that's a fascinating and relevant subject in this genre.

Before the prominence of 50 Shades—no matter what your take on the book itself—fan fiction was something that wasn't discussed much, at least openly, in publishing. Now, it's like a new gold rush for some major publishers to find the next EL James. What they're failing to recognize is that there are an enormous number of talented writers developing works of fiction within the fan community. It's a way to get instant feedback on a story concept, development or characterization, and it can be both a wild and supportive community in which to develop your work.

Tell us about your latest release!  Sotto Voce is a story of love and wine, when Tom Baldwin, a critic from a New York-based magazine, is assigned to spend a year in California's wine country, setting up a competition to pit the big name wineries of Napa against small artisan winemakers of Sonoma. In order to succeed, Tom is going to need the help of handsome, enigmatic vintner Greg Kennedy, who has shut himself off from the world at a remote, bucolic winery. Greg may hold the keys to Tom's success, as well as his heart.

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Blurb for Sotto Voce...

 New York-based wine critic Thomas Baldwin can make or break careers with his column for Taste Magazine. But when his publisher orders him to spend a year profiling rising stars of California’s wine country and organizing a competition between the big name wineries of Napa and the smaller artisan wineries of Sonoma, his world gets turned upside-down by an enigmatic young winemaker who puts art before business.

Sotto Voce is the story of love and wine, and how both require patience, passion, an acceptance of change—and an understanding that sometimes, you have to let nature take its course.

Available at Amazon

About the Author...

Erin Finnegan is a former journalist and editor. She was born and raised in Southern California, where she lives with two sheep dogs and grows, ferments and drinks Syrah and Zinfandel in the foothills outside Los Angeles. 

Sotto Voce is her first novel.

Connect with Erin on the Web...

Website: erin-finnegan.com

Facebook: facebook.com/ErinGoFinnegan 

Goodreads: Goodreads.com/ErinFinnegan

Twitter at @eringofinnegan.

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Contest Details

Erin will be awarding a Multi-format Sotto Voce eBook to 10 randomly drawn winners and a Grand Prize of a $25 B&N gift card will be awarded to one randomly drawn winner, all via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway