Final Winner Announcements

Thank you so much to everyone who supported our May Minxy Birthday Bash. It was so much fun, and my only wish is that we could have given everyone prizes!

The winners of last week's contests are: Joanne R, who has won the Riva bag from Lorraine Minx, and April Vine, who has won a copy of Catch Me A Catch from Sally Minx.

And now for the big one that everyone's been waiting for ... ta da ...
The Grand Prix winner is Teresa Ashby, with Nas Dean as runner-up. You can email your contact details / addresses to minxesofromance@yahoo.co.uk

Congratulations to all of you!

Apologies to all of who who struggled to login or comment with Blogger this month (as I did!). If you're still struggling, there's some helpful advice on how to fix the problem here: http://blogging.nitecruzr.net/

Author Spotlight - Ali McNamara

Today we have British author Ali McNamara in our spotlight. We're talking about Ali's debut novel, From Notting Hill with Love... Actually, and we're also giving you a sneak peak at her next book, Breakfast at Darcy's, which is coming out in November.

Ali also has a really fascinating story about how she became a writer - you can read it here.

1. Where were you in your writing career 5 years ago?

I was just coming up with the idea for From Notting Hill with Love… Actually

2. Where did you get the idea from for this particular book?

From Notting Hill with Love...Actually came to me when I was watching one of those countdowns on the music channels – ‘100 greatest Movie theme tunes.’
As each of the songs came on to the screen I realised the movies were so well known I knew exactly what was going on in each plot even without dialogue, and I thought it would be wonderful if I could get all those great movies into one story, and that’s how the idea began to take shape.

3. Where do you hope to be in 5 years time?

I’d like to still be writing books that people enjoy reading, and would love for a few of those books to have been adapted into movies…

4. Which was the last book you read that you wish you'd written?

That’s never happened to me. I think each author has their own voice and no-one can ever tell a story quite the same as the person who’s inventing it in the first place.

5. Was there any particular author or book that made you want to be a writer?

I loved Enid Blyton as child, and devoured everything she wrote.

6. Do you find writing love scenes giggle-worthy or cringe-worthy – or neither?
Much easier to do for real than to write down on a page!

7. What's the most romantic moment of your life so far?

I hope I haven’t had it yet…

8. What do you wish you'd known about being an author before you were pubbed?

How much fun it would be getting feedback from readers who have enjoyed your books!

9.What's the best writing advice you've ever been given?

Published authors are the ones that don’t give up.

10. Tell us about your latest release.

Breakfast at Darcy’s
When Darcy McCall loses her beloved Aunt Molly, she doesn't expect any sort of inheritance - let alone a small island. Located off the west coast of Ireland, Tara hasn't been lived on for years, but according to Molly's will Darcy must stay there for twelve months in order to fully inherit, and she needs to persuade a village full of people to settle there, too. Darcy has to leave behind her independent city life and swap stylish heels for muddy wellies. Between sorting everything from the plumbing to the pub, Darcy meets confident Conor and ever-grumpy Dermot - but who will make her feel really at home?

Breakfast at Darcy’s was inspired after a visit to a real island - Great Blasket, off the west coast of Ireland. It’s published in November 2011

11. What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on a sequel to From Notting Hill with Love… Actually and I’m very excited to be jetting off to New York next week on a research trip!

From Notting Hill, With Love ... Actually is available from Amazon and Amazon UK.

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The last give-away in our Minxy Birthday Bash is a copy of our very own Sally Minx's Catch Me a Catch. This novel, set in Ireland, and published by The Wild Rose Press, was a contender for the RNA's Joan Hessayon Award. To enter, just leave a comment below. The winner will be announced on the weekend.

What’s the word? Win the bag that won Mills & Boon’s comp

The first prize this week is an exclusive giveaway: the wonderful Riva bag made by Lorraine Minx, which won the M&B bag contest recently!

Here’s a picture:

This week’s competition question is:

How many minxes are there in the Minxes of Romance?

Leave your answer in the comments box, and we’ll pick a winner on Friday!

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In this post, I’d like to share one of my ‘secret weapons’ called Visual Thesaurus. I’m a very visual person, I like to mindmap stories, and find straightforward thesauruses sort of dull, so when I discovered this one, I was in heaven!

You type in the word you overuse and want an alternative of, and this is what you get…

A box comes up over all the dots and words when you hover over them, and you can click on another word and it will create a lovely expanded word map to see even more alternatives.

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Check in on Wednesday to see our second weekly prize!

Winners and the Grand Prize Contest

The winners of last week's prizes are:

• Winner of the scarf from The RainForest Site is Scarlet Wilson.
• Winner of an ebook from Maya Minx is Karen.

Ladies, please email us on minxesofromance@yahoo.co.uk to claim your prizes.

Grand Prix Contest

As part of our First Birthday Bash, we are running an amazing Grand Prix contest. In order to enter, you'll need to be a follower of this Blog, and the question you need to answer is simple: How old is Minxes of Romance?

The first prize includes:

• A signed copy of Sally Clements' Bound to Love
• A "Careful or you'll end up in my novel" t-shirt
• A personalised Minxy notebook courtesy of Minx Jo P
• An Amazon gift voucher valued at $10 courtesy of Minx Sri

One runner-up will also win the following:

• Claire Robyns' historical novel Betrayed
• An Amazon gift voucher valued at $10 courtesy of Minx Maya

This contest closes on Sunday 29th May, and the winners will be announced on Monday 30th May.

Author Spotlight - Jan Jones

Jan is a leading light in the RNA (Romantic Novelists Association) and we are honoured to have her here with us today.

1. Where were you in your writing career 5 years ago?

I was already a published writer of short stories and my debut romantic comedy novel Stage by Stage had been published the year before and had won the RNA Joan Hessayon Award. Since then, the publisher has discontinued the imprint, so I’ve moved into Regency territory. I have continued to write short stories for women’s magazines.

2. Where did you get the idea from for this particular book?

Fortunate Wager came from the character of my nearest town, Newmarket, in Regency times, and from Caroline, who was a secondary character in Fair Deception but who wanted a book of her own! She is the daughter of a gentleman trainer, who would like to train racehorses herself. Unfortunately, this is not allowed in 1817 Newmarket.

3. Where do you hope to be in 5 years time?

Still writing. Still being published. I’d like to move into contemporary-with-laughs territory

4. Which was the last book you read that you wish you'd written?

I recently re-read Fire and Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones. I wish I’d written most of her books, but this one most of all as it is my favourite

5. Was there any particular author or book that made you want to be a writer?

I don’t think so. I always knew I was a storyteller.

6. Do you find writing love scenes giggle-worthy or cringe-worthy – or neither?

Neither. I love them. When they are right for the moment in the story, I find the right words.

7. What's the most romantic moment of your life so far?

That first kiss. That’s always the most romantic moment.

8. What do you wish you'd known about being an author before you were pubbed?

Nothing, really. I went into it without preconceptions.

9. What's the best writing advice you've ever been given?

To go with my own voice. My own advice would be to never give up.

10. Tell us about your latest release.

The Kydd Inheritance is the prequel to my Newmarket Regencies. It stars Nell Kydd, desperate to hold together the family estate in the light of her brother’s disappearance and her evil uncle’s machinations. When Hugo Derringer shows up, she would like him to be friend rather than foe, but she is unsure what his motivation is for helping her.

11. What’s next for you?

I’m currently writing the third of my Penny Plain gentle mystery serials for People’s Friend, I’m also writing an atmospheric serial for Woman’s Weekly and the 4th Regency. Also polishing up a contemporary. And I have a sheaf of short stories waiting for a moment to write them. I’m sure there used to be more hours in the day…

The Fortunate Wager and The Kydd Inheritance are both published by Robert Hale. You can find Jan at her website and on her blog, where there are links to all her books, and you can follow her on Twitter.

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Today's Minxy book give-away comes courtesy of Minx Maya. To stand a chance to win, just leave a comment on this blog post. The winner will be announced at the end of the week.

Author Spotlight - Maureen Child

Today the Minxes are excited to welcome USA TODAY bestselling author and 2011 RITA award finalist Maureen Child!

1. Where were you in your writing career 5 years ago? 
I was writing funny paranormals at NAL and Nocturnes and Desires for Silhouette. Hah! Now I’m writing dark paranormals for NAL and Desires for Harlequin!

2. Where did you get the idea from for this particular book? 
My mind’s always wandering…sometimes into very interesting places! This time, I had just read something about the Salem Witch Trials and started wondering what it would be like if the same thing were happening now. You know, times change, technology changes, but people pretty much remain the same. So I knew there would be fear, panic, maybe some riots—and of course plenty of bad guys. The fun part was coming up with the heroes!

3. Where do you hope to be in 5 years time? 
I’ll still be writing Harlequin Desires—I’ve already told them I’ll never leave. Unless they chase me away with a stick! And I’d like to be writing mainstream contemporaries again as well as expanding this dark paranormal world. I like being busy!

4. Which was the last book you read that you wish you'd written? 
Shadow Fever by Karen Marie Moning….OMG…….amazing book. Well worth waiting for. And now, I’m eager for another one! I hope Karen’s listening…

5. Was there any particular author or book that made you want to be a writer? 
No one writer in particular, really. It was more cumulative, you know? I read EVERYTHING. There are so many books in my house my husband swears when the big earthquake comes, they’ll find my body buried under all of them. Not a bad way to go. Anyway… I had a lot of favorites and I simply loved the idea of being able to tell stories from home—and actually get paid for it!

6. Do you find writing love scenes giggle-worthy or cringe-worthy? 
Neither. I really enjoy writing the love scenes. Once you’ve spent a few chapters with your characters, you know them really well. What they need, what they want, what they crave. Fulfilling some of those wants while withholding others is one of the best parts of telling the story. A sex scene can push the characters’ arcs really far along or bring them to a staggering halt. And it all depends on you, the writer. I want my readers to be so engrossed in the love scenes that they feel every sigh and believe every promise. I hope I manage that at least most of the time.

7. What's the most romantic moment of your life so far? 
On a trip to Europe, my husband and I drove from Sussex, England to Edinburgh, Scotland. It was cold and windy and the skies were gray and churning. At the border between those two countries, there’s a giant stone. On one side of the stone a sign reads England. On the other, Scotland. We got out of the car, bent into the wind, and laughing like loons, danced on the border. It was great.

8. What do you wish you'd known about being an author before you were pubbed? 
To be more ORGANIZED……..Jeez. That’s still the biggest problem I face every day. A little organization will really come in handy.

9. What's the best writing advice you've ever been given? 
It was actually one line in a workshop I went to twenty years ago. I don’t remember what the workshop was about. Don’t even remember the whole quote. But what stayed with me was "There is no substitute for persistence". If you never give up, if you refuse to surrender, if you keep telling your stories and working to make them better, eventually, you will succeed.

10. Tell us about your latest release. 
Ah, the latest is KING’S MILLION DOLLAR SECRET, from Harlequin Desire. It's set around a kitchen remodel, LOL…which is appropriate, since I was writing it while my kitchen was being torn down and rebuilt from the ground up! Nightmare, but oh so worth it. Most of the problems my heroine Katie has during the remodel are the things that happened to me!

11. What’s next for you? 
Oh, so many fun things….in June, I’m in a paranormal anthology with Maggie Shayne called VACATION WITH A VAMPIRE…AND OTHER IMMORTALS. (My story is about an immortal Highlander). 
In July I’ve got ONE NIGHT, TWO HEIRS out from Harlequin Desire—it’s the launch book to a Texas Cattleman’s continuity. 
And then in October, just in time for Halloween, here comes VISIONS OF SKYFIRE, the second in the Awakening series from NAL.

Thanks so much for having me here today!

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KING’S MILLION DOLLAR SECRET is now available at Amazon.  You can find Maureen at her website and blog, and follow her on Twitter.

Thanks so much for blogging with us today, Maureen! 

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As part of our May Birthday Bash, we're giving away a Minxy ebook this week, Rae Summers' Let's Misbehave. To enter, leave a comment below. The winner will be announced at the end of the week.

Don't forget to enter our other contests. You can find out more about them here.

More chances to win (and Release Valves)

Writing just for fun

During the April Challenge, when I was supposed to be re-writing Innocent Abroad, I found myself starting a new story which is now at nearly 6,000 words. This new story started out as nothing more than a bit of self-indulgent fun. It doesn't fit into any of my current plans, and I have absolutely no idea where the story is headed, but it's turned out to be a great release valve.

Whenever I'm feeling stuck or stressed about the WIP, I switch over to this new story and write a scene. Because it has no plot and no direction, I can write anything I want. So far I have a jumble of scenes which bear absolutely no relation to each other. But they make me feel like I'm achieving something, get the creative juices flowing, and I'm able to go back to the WIP in a much happier frame of mine.

Do any of you have writing 'release valves'? Pleased share with us how you get over feeling stuck by a story.

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Minxy Birthday Contests

Congratulations to last week's winners, Rachael Johns and Gaelikaa. This week we have another two contests, and we're announcing our Grand Prix contest.

First up this week is a chance to win this stunning necklace, courtesy of Minx Suzanne in Scotland.

Since yesterday was Mother's Day in most of the world (apart from the UK who celebrated the event before Easter already!), all you need to do to enter is leave a comment below telling us why Mothers are special people.

On Wednesday, you'll have a chance to win a Minxy ebook, and at the end of the week we'll announce both winners.

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The Grand Prix

For the rest of the month of May we'll be running a Grand Prix contest. In order to enter, you'll need to be a follower of this blog, either here on the blog itself or on Facebook's Networked Blogs. And the question you need to answer is simple: How old is Minxes of Romance?

The first prize will include:

• A signed copy of Sally Clements' Bound to Love
• A "Careful or you'll end up in my novel" t-shirt
• A personalised Minxy notebook courtesy of Minx Jo P
• An Amazon gift voucher valued at $10 courtesy of Minx Sri

One runner-up will also win the following:

• Claire Robyns' historical novel Betrayed
• An Amazon gift voucher valued at $10 courtesy of Minx Maya

This contest will close on Sunday 29th May, and the winners will be announced on Monday 30th May.
Good luck!

April Challenge and May Celebration

Congratulations to everyone who took up our April Challenge. I hope you did way better than I did! Sadly not many of us Minxes achieved our stated goals, but at least we all got writing again, and have more words than we started the month with.

A loud cheer goes to Lacey Minx and Gaelikaa who both did a terrific job in April.

On 10th May this blog celebrates its first birthday. In order to celebrate this grand occasion, the whole month of May will be one big party on the blog.

Each Monday in May we’ll pose a question. Leave the answer in the comments section and we’ll choose one correct answer to win a prize. Each Wednesday we’ll also be giving away a book to one lucky commenter.

Finally, we’ll be giving away a Grand Prize at the end of the month. Details of the Big Birthday Contest will be posted on Monday 9th May.

To start the ball rolling, here is the first week’s question: Whose marriage did the UK (and most of the western world) celebrate last week?
A - The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall
B - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
C - The Duke and Duchess of Kent

The prize is one of these cute Minxy Meerkats, courtesy of Minx Jo C. (Personally I just adore the Star Trek ones!). Jo will announce the winner on Friday, when she posts the new Hottie poll contenders for May.

The April poll (English Hotties) was a clear victory for Daniel Craig from start to finish, though I was interested to see that Colin Firth rallied towards the end.

And on this happy note I will leave you with these completely gratuitous images of our winner.