Q&A with paranormal romance author Catherine Bybee

Thanks for being here today, Catherine. Would you please share a short bio about yourself?

I'm a wife and mother... not always in that order. I've been reading romance since I was an early teen and never, ever plan to stop. I've spent most of my working life as an ER Nurse but have taken a break the past few years.

Q Do you consider yourself a shy and/or introverted person?
A Me, shy? Hell no.


Q  What's the easiest part of this business for you?
A Writing the book is the easy part. Ideas swim in my head until I get them down on paper.

Q Tell me about a time that you had to step outside your comfort zone either in your writing career or in your personal life?
A I think the first time I did a book signing it was a little outside my comfort. Again, I'm not shy, so sitting there talking to people isn't hard. I love that part of the job, but wondering if anyone was going to come up to me and tell me I write crap somehow crept in the back of my mind.


Q What’s one tip you could share with shy and introverted people that’s helped you?
A Life is to short to spend it sheltered. You probably learned the word NO when you were a few months old. You'll hear it again and again in life, but if you don't try, you'll NEVER hear the word yes.


Q Would you please share a short blurb of your book and where my readers can buy it?
A Soul Mate by Catherine Bybee
Available Now
The Wild Rose Press
Blurb: Kari Pearce lives the life of a lone werewolf. No one knows of her affliction, not even her sister. When she hears of a missing child up in the Sequoias, Kari goes on the hunt to find the child and her abductor before tragedy can occur. Saving the child is easy, avoiding the FBI agent associated with the case is not.


Agent Nick Murdock knows he's seen Kari before, but damn if he can remember where. There's one thing he knows for sure. Kari Pearce, with her blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, is hiding something. And Nick is going to find out what.

Download your copy today here.

Q Where can my readers find you on the web?
A http://www.catherinebybee.com/ - I'm on Twitter @catherinebybee and I'm on facebook so look me up. My website has links to all the places I roam on the web.

Q & A with romance author M.S. Spencer

Thanks for being here today, Meredith. Would you please share a short bio about yourself?


Although I’ve lived in Chicago, Boston, New York, France, Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, and England, the last 30 years have been spent mostly in Washington, D.C. as a librarian, Congressional staff assistant, speechwriter, editor, birdwatcher, kayaker, policy wonk, non-profit director and parent. I hold a BA from Vassar College, a Diploma in Arabic Studies from the American University in Cairo, and Masters in Anthropology and in Library Science from the University of Chicago. Once I escaped academia (for which my mother never forgave me) I worked for the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Department of the Interior, in several library systems, both public and academic, and at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Today I divide my time among Virginia, Maine and Florida.

I have two fabulous grown children but only one cat (down from three, plus a dog, a snake and two hamsters). It’s a quiet household now, but since my study window looks on a park and river there is plenty of wildlife to distract me from my writing.

Q Do you consider yourself a shy and/or introverted person?
A Yes, I am shy. Every time I walk into a group I feel little tentacles of fear clutching at me. I can converse happily one on one, but speaking even in a small group fills me with angst. At a large gathering I’ve learned to gravitate toward someone standing by himself and engage him in conversation (once I’ve picked up that glass of wine for fortification & something to hold!). I’m not introverted though—which I think is different from one who enjoys her solitude. I love to be alone—to write or think or walk. But I also like to debate and joke and eat and drink; in short, I like people. Becky, you and your readers probably know more about it: does an introverted person actively dislike people or company?

Q In what ways has being shy or introverted hindered your writing career?
A My fear of public speaking has interfered in more than just my writing career. When I was in graduate school I actually chose courses based on whether or not they required an oral presentation. The shyness extends to attending conferences, which I know can be very useful, but which I find any excuse to avoid. And the thought of doing a reading…well, that’s on a par with having an MRI (see below). So, many of the activities that garner attention for my books I avoid—not a good sales method!

Q In what ways has being shy or introverted helped your writing career?

A I’m not sure introversion is good for a writer under any circumstances. Wouldn’t introversion inhibit a writer from empathizing with others? How can you create believable characters if your only reference point is yourself? On the other hand, while shyness may keep me from connecting with readers in public settings, sometimes it helps me to listen. Rather than be the center of attention and hold the stage, it’s easy for me to sit back and let the other person talk. I can absorb their insights, memories, and tales, and then reconfigure them when I construct my characters and stories.

Q What’s the hardest part of this business for you?
A I imagine most people say promotion, which is certainly hard work, but for me it’s that my books are (so far) ebooks. Potential buyers can’t browse the bookstore shelves and be ensnared by my wonderful covers. Book signings are difficult to do effectively. My friends are almost to a man unable to grasp the concept of an ebook (I have only two with Kindles). And lastly, I don’t have a lovely hardback with my name in gold leaf on the spine to occasionally take off the shelf and dust with contented hands.

Q Tell me about a time that you had to step outside your comfort zone either in your writing career or in your personal life?
A I’ve been sitting here awhile trying to think of a time when I haven’t found a means to escape any uncomfortable situation. Cowardice has served me well most of my life. I pride myself on the odd talent of being able to weasel gracefully out of anything I don’t want to do. Of course, living in a number of different cultures, traveling, and meeting people from virtually all walks of life may have left me more adaptable than some (I can tap a wealth of exotic excuses).


So what is a comfort zone exactly? Is it going into the cave in defiance of my claustrophobia? Or stopping to let a pedestrian cross despite the infuriated tailgater behind me? Or allowing a friend to do an Avon makeover on me? I’m not sure. There are situations where you’re forced to do something you fear—my abortive attempt at an MRI springs to mind—but “stepping outside” implies a voluntary effort. Of course, as a shy person, every time I walk into a crowded room, take a deep breath, and march up to someone and introduce myself, I’ve leapt way outside my comfort zone. So is it a small step? Or a long jump?

Q What’s one tip you could share with shy and introverted people that’s helped you?
A I can only suggest that shy people not follow my example. Don’t—as I did—flee situations that bring the shyness on. At this point in my life I’m sticking with cowardice, but I never should have allowed myself (or been allowed) to get away with avoiding public speaking engagements. It’s said that one gets used to it. If that’s true, get out there—give speeches, go on panel discussions, toast the groom. And when you get to that podium, survey the crowd and imagine the audience is made up of boyfriends you dumped.

Q Would you please share a short blurb of your book and where my readers can buy it?
A My latest release is Losers Keepers from Secret Cravings, a tale of love, lust and treachery set on the island of Chincoteague.


Losers Keepers, by M. S. Spencer
Published July, 2011, by Secret Cravings Publishing
eBook, 72,000 words, ISBN 978-1-936653-95-9
Contemporary romantic suspense, M/F, 3 flames

Dagne Lonegan, aka Dear Philomena, advice dispenser extraordinaire, hoped that spending a year on the Eastern Shore island of Chincoteague to write her novel would clear her sinuses, if not her heart, of any feelings for Jack Andrews, erstwhile lover and long-time jerk. It’s just her luck that her first week on the island she’s in the right place at the right time to be involved with a murder. Only she doesn’t know it. Unfortunately, the murderer doesn’t know she doesn’t know. Strange and dangerous things begin happening to her, interfering with her new romance with Tom Ellis, the handsome manager of the National Wildlife Refuge. Complications ensue when her Jack arrives to take charge of the murder investigation.

Will Dagne stick with the tall, cool glass of a Ranger or fall back into the arms of her first tempestuous passion?
Buy links: Secret Cravings, Amazon, allRomanceEBooks.com, Book Strand.

I have two other romantic suspense novels out from Red Rose Publishing. My first novel, Lost in His Arms, is set in the spinning world of 1991 when countries fell like flies and a CIA fixer had his hands full. My second novel, Lost and Found, finds a desperate wife searching the wilds of Maine and Florida for the husband who disappeared. You can find them at Red Rose Publishing as well as at Amazon, Fictionwise, Book Strand and AllRomanceEBooks.
www.redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=282&products_id=17 and http://redrosepublishing.com/books/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=282&products_id=654


Q Where can my readers find you on the web?
A Website: http://www.meredithellsworth.com/
Blog: http://mssspencertalespinner.blogspot.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/M.S.SpencerAuthor
Twitter: www.twitter.com/mssellsworth

The Best Small Talk Question Ever for Shy, Open-Minded Readers

Please help me welcome romance author Kinley Baker to the blog. Kinley's debut novel, Ruined, just came out with Crescent Moon Press. She's generously offered to give away a copy of her book to a random commenter.

Here's Kinley: In person I’m very shy, and one of the things I struggle with is small talk. I grew up in an isolated environment, so I never had to perfect this skill. From age three to eighteen, I was a competitive figure skater, so all I had to do was talk skating. Well, I could do that in my sleep. No problem.

Then college came, and it still wasn’t that tough to manage small talk. I could usually find something to start a conversation, such as partying or studying. That’s playing it pretty safe at any college. But then I entered the work force, and things changed. Suddenly, people (customers, co-workers, the bosses) wanted to small talk. Whaaat?

But have no fear. Are you a shy person with a fear of small talk? Do you like to read? Are you open-minded to all genres? Yes, this may be a small portion of the population, but I still have a solution. The best question ever!

Q: What are you reading?

This question has worked for me time and again. Whether it’s the woman at my work who loves Amish romance, or the closet romance readers who know I write romance so they whisper what they’re reading, or the guy who reads nonfiction, I can always pass by the dreaded small talk by distracting them into telling me all about what they’re reading. For someone like me, this revelation was critical! So I applied what I learned from my skating days: talk about what you know. Well, I know books. I’ve been through so many book phases I can talk about pretty much any genre. But I also like hearing about the variety of books, which I’m sure is important to the effectiveness of asking the question.

Books saved me from awkward small talk. And usually, talking about books leads to other topics. I’ve created friendships out of listening to someone’s opinion on a book, usually about a novel I haven’t read myself.

My only guideline for asking this question is to make sure you know what the person likes. Talking erotica with a nonfiction reader probably won’t alleviate awkwardness. The open-minded part is important because if you’re not respectful of what everyone likes, you’re just going to create tension, and the point of this is to conquer small talk awkwardness.

Are you wondering what to do if the person doesn’t read? Well, yeah, me too. I’m shy too, after all.

So, since some of you might be a little shy...What are you reading? ;-)

----------------------------------------------------------

BLURB for RUINED


Jessa is one healing away from death. Under the thrall of her gift, the Court's Senior Healer risks giving her life in exchange for her patient's.


Vale is a rebel ruler. When his brother is killed, he's given the throne and the decree from the Court to produce an heir or lose his family's hold on the land--and his deceiving advisors aren't afraid to use murder as a weapon if their directive to stay away from the Senior Healer goes unheeded.


But Vale burns to possess Jessa. The heat between them leaves a wake of smoke, and even the powerful forces above want to bind them in a union that lasts forever. Vale taking another would be a betrayal neither could survive.


Their enemies fear a child born of such a powerful Healer and Warrior, but the true threat lies in the bond forged in shadows and fused in fire.

You can buy Ruined here or here.


About Kinley:
Kinley Baker read her first romance novel at the age of thirteen and immediately fell in love with the hero and the genre. She lives with her husband and her dog, Joker, in the Pacific Northwest. As a firm supporter of all supernatural lifestyles, she writes fantasy romance, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy. You can find Kinley at her website, Twitter, Facebook, her blog, Goodreads, and her Facebook author page

Thanks so much for being here today, Kinley.

Q & A with author Marie Tuhart

Thanks for being here today, Marie. Would you please share a short bio about yourself?

Thanks for having me, Rebecca. I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, where I still live, next year I will be moving to Washington State. I'm published in contemporary erotic romance with The Wild Rose Press, I also write Paranormal erotic romance and series contemporary romance targeted for Harlequin Presents.


Q Do you consider yourself a shy and/or introverted person?
A I'm pretty much an introvert although some people who know me wouldn't agree with me.


Q In what ways has being shy or introverted hindered your writing career?
A I sometimes have a hard time at conferences with networking.

Q In what ways has being shy or introverted helped your writing career?
A It's helped me write characters who are outgoing and will do wild things, things I would never think of doing.

Q  What’s the hardest part of this business for you?
A Promotion, I don't know if what I'm doing is working or not.

Q Tell me about a time that you had to step outside your comfort zone either in your writing career or in your personal life?
A I would have to say at the Emerald City Conference last year, they invited e-book authors to their book signing, I didn't have a book to sign so I was way outside my comfort zone. But the book signing chairs made it painless by having a scavenger hunt that involved only the e-book authors and I was seated next to Shelli Stevens who kept me from running out of the room and made me feel welcome.

Q What’s one tip you could share with shy and introverted people that’s helped you?
A Watch for opportunities to show off your writing and don't stress if you've decided to do a talk or a book signing, or whatever. It isn't easy, but in the long run it's fun.

Q Would you please share a short blurb of your book and where my readers can buy it?
A Quick Silver Ranch: Saddle Up
Angie Davidson finds herself at loose ends after her best friend's wedding and in need of a vacation, so when sexy yet aloof co-owner of the Quick Silver Ranch, Jared Turner, insists she stay to explore their sexual attraction, she agrees. Though she loves being a submissive in the bedroom, Jared's distant air after lovemaking brings back bad memories. Can she show this strong sexy man he has nothing to fear from her, or will he abandon her like everyone else in her life has?

Sexy yet aloof Jared, co-owner of the Quick Silver Ranch is eager to explore Angie's submissive side with two weeks of toys and other naughty play. However, the last time he was this attracted to a woman—mentally and phyiscally—she wasn't able to put up with his Dominant streak. Can Angie see that her vacation with him can be the perfect way of life?
You can buy Quick Silver Ranch at any of your favorite e-tailers (Amazon, B&N, Bookstrand, Fictionwise) Or you can buy directly from The Wild Rose Press http://tinyurl.com/6jcwda5

Q  Where can my readers find you on the web?

A You can find me a number of places:

Website: www.marietuhart.com

Facebook: Marie Tuhart – I'm the only one

Twitter: @marietuhart

Blog: www.escapetoaneroticfantasy.blogspot.com
Group blog: www.wildandwickedcowboys.wordpress.com

Thanks so much for being here today, Marie!

Q & A with author W. Lynn Chantale

Thanks for being here today, Lynn.


Thanks so much for having me here today! Your blog has helped me so much, and I must confess I am a fan.

You're so sweet. I knew I liked you for reasons other than LOVING your cover!!! Would you please share a short bio?

I dread this question because I never know what to say or tell anyone. I enjoy talking about what I do, but not about who I am. So just a few things about me. Last year I became a member of Romance Writers of America as well as my local chapter, and a couple of special interest chapters of RWA. I married my high school sweetheart and we have three children together. One big thing I rarely share is my visual impairment. I’m legally blind and have been since I was 18. Other than that I play bass guitar, or video games on my PS3 when the Muse is fretful. I enjoy knitting and love to bake. Chocolate chip cookies anyone?


Q Do you consider yourself a shy and/or introverted person?
A Yes, I would consider myself a shy person. I’d rather hide behind a computer screen than talk on the phone or meet someone new.


Q In what ways has being shy or introverted hindered your writing career?
A When I actually need to speak with a human being, I will procrastinate until the last possible moment.


Q In what ways has being shy or introverted helped your writing career?
A One of the biggest assets has been the ability to watch people, listen to conversations, and study how they interact with one another. Being able to conduct Internet searches is a pretty good plus, too. :-)


Q What’s the hardest part of this business for you?
A The hardest part of this business for me is meeting people, or even initiating a phone call.


Q Tell me about a time that you had to step outside your comfort zone either in your writing career or in your personal life?
A Any time I have to face the public is stepping outside my comfort zone. Being in large crowds, or dim, dark crowded spaces is a bit daunting.


Q What’s one tip you could share with shy and introverted people that’s helped you?
A Start with hello, and allow the conversation to go from there. At least that’s what my sister tells me. I’ve tried it once or twice and found it really works. :-)


Q Would you please share a short blurb of your book and where my readers can buy it?
A Sure, here it is:

Haunted by nightmares, Sheridan Sinclair just wants to get through one night without reliving the terrible accident that led to her miscarriage. And she longs for the arms of the man who betrayed her. Matthew Sinclair has always loved his wife, but when she refuses to speak to him after her accident, he's left to wonder what went wrong. When a stolen kiss ignites their forgotten passion, he'll use their love as a means to get her home and in his bed again. Will a husband’s plan of seduction be enough to heal a wife’s broken heart?


Seducing His Wife can be found at these online retailers:


Whispers Publishing
Amazon
Mobipocket
All Romance e-books

Q Where can my readers find you on the web?
A Readers can find me at my Blog, on Twitter (@wlynnchantale), on Facebook or via email: wlynnchantale@gmail.com

Thanks so much for coming on today, Lynn. Have I told you how much I LOVE that cover????

Lynn will be giving away a copy of her book to one lucky commenter today.

Q & A with author Rochelle Weber

Thanks for being here today, Rochelle. Would you please share a short bio about yourself?


I’m a Navy veteran with a BA in writing from Columbia College in Chicago. I’ve been a member of Mensa, and I edit the Marketing for Romance Writers Newsletter. I have two daughters and four grandkids, and I live with my eldest in Volo, IL, where three cats and a bunny allow us to care for them.


Q Do you consider yourself a shy and/or introverted person?

A Not at all. I’m about as extroverted as you get. Not only am I not afraid of public speaking, I even sing karaoke sober!


Q What’s the hardest part of this business for you?


A Despite being an extrovert, I still have to say that marketing is the most difficult part of the writing business for me. I may be outgoing, but I’m not great at follow-up. I have ADHD and things fall through the cracks. I’m a day-dreamer! My head is never in the present.

Q Tell me about a time that you had to step outside your comfort zone either in your writing career or in your personal life?


A I haven’t always been an extrovert. Much of my life I’ve been morbidly obese and it took years for me to reach a point where I didn’t care whether people thought I was fat when I got up to speak. I can’t tell you when the shift happened. It just did. Somewhere in the course of twenty-plus years of sharing in Twelve Step programs I felt accepted and then branched out to speaking at science fiction conventions and lost all inhibitions.


Q What’s one tip you could share with shy and introverted people that’s helped you?


A You are a writer—a story teller. You have something to say and people are more interested in hearing what you have to say than judging how you look. Speak up. You are the only one who knows how your characters really sound. You are the only one who can truly bring them to life. I once wrote a script for a program at the VA with witty remarks introducing various acts. The Music Therapist in charge gave it to one of the other singers to read. And that’s what he did—he read it. No inflection, no timing, no heart. When I present my book in public, you’d better believe the audience knows what my characters are thinking and feeling, because I become them and give the audience what was in my head when I was writing the book. Do that and you’ll be fine.




Q Would you please share with our readers a blurb from your most recent book and tell them where they can purchase it?


Katie McGowan is bi-polar, and she’s run the gamut of medications. Everyone is telling her she should go to the Moon and have microchip surgery, but she’s afraid she’ll become an automaton. In a last-ditch, tough love effort to force her to get the chip, her husband, Scott takes her to the Moon and divorces her when she decks him. Then she discovers she’s pregnant. She can’t have the surgery or take her meds until after the baby’s born.


Scott is elated when he hears he’s going to be a father and naturally assumes Katie will take him back. He always intended to take her back as soon she had the surgery. He has no clue how badly he hurt her, how thoroughly he’s broken her trust—or that he may not get her back at all.


Buy Link
http://museituppublishing.com/

Q And finally, please tell our readers where they can find you on the web.

A http://www.rochelleweber.com/
http://rochelleweber.blogspot.com/
http://rochellesreviews.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for being on the blog today, Rochelle!

Q & A with author Lynne Marshall

Thanks so much for coming on today, Lynne. Would you please share a short bio with our readers?


I live quietly with my husband in Southern California, and I’m a rare native of the state. I worked as an RN for thirty years, I’m a dog lover, a cat admirer, a power walker, an avid reader, and fellow traveler on this wild road called life.


I came to fiction writing after my children were nearly grown, but I couldn’t put it off any longer, I had a story that needed to be told. That book is safely tucked away in my closet. Whew! Now I battle my empty nest (daughter in Boston, son in Okinawa) by writing stories which always include a romance, sometimes medicine, a dose of mirth, or both, but always stories straight from my heart.


I am fortunate to be published by Harlequin, and Mills & Boon in category romance (Special Edition) and Medical Romance with twelve books so far. I am also very happy to be one of the Roses for The Wild Rose Press, with my first long contemporary romance in the Last Rose of Summer line.

Q Do you consider yourself a shy and/or introverted person?

A Not only am I shy and introverted, but I’m a late bloomer! The trifecta of antisocial. Sigh.


Q In what ways has being shy or introverted hindered your writing career?

A I believe being shy often stems from feeling unconfident. I never believed in myself or my capabilities. I thought I didn’t have a right to write a book because I wasn’t highly educated, and, let’s face it, I goofed off a lot in English Lit, and only enjoyed about half of the classics I’ve read over the years. This does not bode well for ones aspirations of becoming an author.

Q In what ways has being shy or introverted helped your writing career?

A Being introverted helps my writing because I energize myself. When I’m writing a scene and get in the zone, nothing is more exhilarating. I don’t need other people to inspire or motivate me. What I might have trouble putting into words in a social setting, I can easily tell my computer.


Q What’s the hardest part of this business for you?

A The hardest part of this business is schmoozing with professionals. I am absolutely awful at it. My battle with nerves causes me to come off aloof, and I fear I’ve made people think I’m standoffish. I don’t want to take up their time out of consideration for them, not because I don’t like them or don’t want to talk to them. It gets complicated, doesn’t it?

Q Tell me about a time that you had to step outside your comfort zone either in your writing career or in your personal life?

A I made the mistake of submitting a workshop proposal to the Georgia chapter of RWA. AND THEY ACCEPTED IT! I gave a workshop called Riveting Revisions: the Key to Getting Published at the 2008 Moonlight and Magnolias conference with about seventy-five people in the audience. Somehow I did it, and I got good feedback from several attendees. Way outside my comfort zone. What was I thinking? I’ve done the class four times on-line now, and that is much more to my liking.


Q What’s one tip you could share with shy and introverted people that’s helped you?

A Well, we’re all just folks, and being genuine and kind should come easy to us, but for those times it doesn’t? When nervous, smile! People always respond to a friendly face. (Plus it’s a natural facelift!)

Q Would you please share a short blurb of your book and where my readers can buy it?

A Here’s a blurb for ONE FOR THE ROAD, TWRP July 2011 (Last Rose of Summer line):

D’Anne Palmer leads a life others dream of until she’s widowed and broke. Now she must return to California by hiring out her deluxe RV. One-hit wonder Tyler White hopes his three-week tour will recharge his career. Journeying from Nashville to Las Vegas, can close quarters help a has-been singer and the widow with California style find love?


Check out an excerpt here.

Q Where can my readers find you on the web?

A The book is available at TWRP website and at Amazon.com in e-book and print.

Your readers can find me on the web. I blog each Monday, post news and articles, and run occasional contests. Also, I draw a name for a free book from my backlist each month from those who sign up for my newsletter. Pop in and have a look around! I’m currently offering the epilogue for One for the Road exclusively to my newsletter enrollees.

JANICE SEAGRAVES: Introvert with a Bad Case of Shyness

Hi, my name is Janice Seagraves. I’m a romance writer.


I’m actually more introverted than shy. But unfortunately things do change.


At thirteen I fell in love with books, reading Tolkien and Marguerite Henry, among others. I loved getting lost among the mountain passes along with Bilbo and his friends, or falling in love with the ponies of Chincoteague. In high school, I read the Lord of the Rings and The Tripods novels by John Christopher, after which I progressed to other fantasy and SF books.


Books became my refuge. Books never judge you, or say mean things to you. They are there for you, whenever you want them to be.


I kept my nose firmly and happily buried, for God knows how many hours. But introverted or not, love finally found me. After I graduated from HS, I married my hubby.

When I was twenty, I tried my hand at writing. And found it harder than it looks. I wrote off and on for years as I learned to put my thoughts into words, but sadly never completed that first novel.


Then twelve years ago when my daughter was eight, I decided I would write toward publication. I made it my mission to learn as much as I could about the craft of writing. Hubby was very supportive and bought me a laptop computer. Delighted with the gift, I industriously wore the letters off the keys.


I started out small with short stories. Then I bought the Writer’s Market. Carefully, I studied the publishers and contests listed. I sent off for guidelines so I could send out my shorts, but was unfortunately rejected.


But I kept at it, determined to see something of mine in print.


Eventually, I started writing book length manuscripts. Now I had a much longer word count to work with, so I was able to explore my characters’ personal growth, sexual tension and eventually the moment when my couple falls in love.


Last year, my debut novel was published. My first book is called Windswept Shores; it’s a contemporary erotic romance, published through Pink Petal Books.


I was very excited. But I also had to learn to promote.


The internet is a God send for promotions and reaching out to readers. But when I talk to a stranger in person about my book, I found myself stammering and blushing.


Had I suddenly developed a bad case of shyness?


Oh, God. I have.


Then one day I was at the dentist office, having my teeth cleaned. The hygienist asked what I was doing. I told her I had a book published. As I talked to her, I think I must have been as red as a beet, but I forced myself to continue. She was very excited and wanted to buy my book.


I told myself this is something I must do. I had to get past this shyness problem, so I can talk to people who might be interested in my novel.


It’s hard but I think I’m making progress.


When I see that opening in the conversation, I give myself a mental kick. Do it. Talk about your book. Smile.


“I’m a writer.” My cheeks heat and I know I’m blushing again. But I tell myself to keep going. “I wrote a book about a couple washed up on the same little island in the Bahamas. It’s a romance.” I reach into my purse. “Would you like a magnet? It has my book cover and website address.”


Windswept Shores Blurb:


The sole survivor of a plane crash, Megan is alone on a deserted island in the Bahamas until she finds a nearly-drowned man washed up on shore. Another survivor, this time from a boat wreck. With only meager survival skills between them, will they survive and can they find love?


Janice’s website


Janice’s blog


Windswept Shores buy link


My book trailer