Author Spotlight - Katherine Garbera

We are delighted to welcome Desire author Katherine Garbera into the Minxy Spotlight today to talk about her new release, Calling all the Shots.

1. Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
The USA Today best-selling author of more than 59 books (including 9 for Kensington Brava) Katherine Garbera is a two-time Maggie Winner. Her ripped-from-the-headlines July 2010 release The Pirate was picked by Cosmo as its Red Hot Read. Katherine’s latest release CALLING ALL THE SHOTS is the third book in her acclaimed Matchmakers, Inc. series. She is a Florida native who grew up to travel the globe. Katherine makes her home in the Midlands of the UK with her husband, two children and a very spoiled miniature Dachshund.

2. What number book is this? First? 100th? 200th?(Nora only!)
59TH!

3. Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?
I use a timer and reward system. So I put my timer on for 10 minutes and write as many words as I can and then I set it for another 10 minutes and I can do something fun like FB or a game.

4. What is your top promo tip for other authors?
Write the best book you can. All the promo in the world won't help if readers don't like your book.

5. How does writing fit into your day? Or does your day fit in around your writing?
I write from 9-3 Monday through Friday. It's my routine and I like the structure.

6. Do you write every day?
Sort of. I write Monday-Friday and on the weekends I might take time to write a five page scene but usually I take Saturday and Sunday off.

7. Is there a book you haven't written yet that you're dying to? What genre?
I'm aching to write a gothic romance with a big scary house. 

8. Any craft books you recommend?
Dwight Swain's Techniques of the Selling Writer is still my favorite.

9. What was the most fun part of writing this book?
The most fun in writing this book was the chance to visit with the characters from the first two Matchmakers, Inc. books. It is always so fun to go back into a story world that I've already created.

10. Just for fun: a year from the end of the book, where would your couple go on holiday?
Jack and Willow would go to Venice. I just visited there this summer and I think it would be perfect for them. Europeans are different about celebrities so I think Jack would blend into the crowds and I know he'd love the chance to spoil Willow by arranging a private tour of the different art collections in the city.

11. Have you ever written a hero you'd be happy to run off with?I've never written one that I wouldn't run off with. A long time ago I heard an author (I think it was Linda Howard) say that if you can't fall in love with your hero no one else will either. And I've taken that to heart and always tried to imbue my heroes with qualities that I find attractive--intelligence, humor and the ability to make his woman feel like she's the only one in the world.

12. At what point in your career did you actually start to feel like you were a writer?
When my first book hit the shelves. It was something to go into the bookstore and see my name on the book cover. I took my mom with me and we took a bunch of pictures. 

Candid Camera

The irony of working on a matchmaking reality TV show hosted by the guy who broke her heart in high school has producer Willow Stead tied in knots. Not only that, but Jack Crown even has the nerve to ask her out. Should she risk taking him up on his offer?

The girl can’t help it!
Jack sees Willow Stead all grown up and has to have her. Soon, passions erupt that rival the drama on the show. But does Willow have a trick up her sleeve that will throw the celebrity pitchman a major curveball?

Calling all the Shots is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

You can find out more about Katherine on her website or follow her on Twitter.

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Katherine is giving away a $10 gift card for Amazon.com. All you need to do to stand a chance to win is tell us what your favorite holiday thing is: the food, the pressies, seeing family - or maybe being thankful they only see them once a year?

Top Ten Writing Snacks

One of the questions in my Minxy interview was to do with writing snacks. I named a few, but really, I have many, many favourites...

Here are my current top ten:

1. Violet Creams
2. Thornton's Fruit Creams
3. Orange Matchmakers
4. Chocolate Raisins (these are great - eat enough and they can count towards your five-a-day)
5. Milky Bar White Chocolate Buttons
6. Cadbury's Chocolate Buttons
7. Thornton's Vanilla Truffles
8. M&S Ginger Chocolate Biscuits
9. Fry's Chocolate Cream
10.Sour Cream and Chive Pringles

Fry's Chocolate Cream would have been at the top, but you need two hands to handle the wrapper and break bits off - one-handed snacks are much more conducive to fast typing.

Do you agree with my choices? What's your own favourite keyboard snack?

Author Spotlight - Suzanna Ross

More Minx success? Hey, why not? I'm delighted to welcome another minx to the author spotlight spot today, yes, it's lovely Suz, also known as Suzanne Jones/Suzanna Ross Jones! Suz's new release, Trust in Me, has had a paper release as a My Weekly pocket novel in the summer, and is now available on Amazon as an ebook!

Now, straight on to the questions:
Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
I’ve written for as long as I can remember, but only started to be published regularly a few years ago. Funnily enough, around the time I met the Minxes. I wonder if there’s a connection.
I write short stories, articles...anything, really, but my first love is romance.
I live in Scotland, not far from Edinburgh. With dramatic hills, mysterious lochs and romantic castles on my doorstep, I can’t help but be inspired.

What number book is this? First? 100th? 200th?(Nora only!)
First book published. Nth written. I honestly can’t remember how many manuscripts I’ve finished – I have a submissions book that goes back a number of years, but I know there were at least a couple before I started keeping records.

Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?
I’m never tempted to buy shoes – I have horrible feet. Honestly. I was so disappointed not to get a part in the new Hobbit film because they wouldn’t have needed make-up (although, thankfully, they’re not hairy). You’re right, though, it is very difficult to write some days and I find ideas need to stew: I can’t force a story and I have to let it form in its own time

What is your top promo tip for other authors?
I’m afraid I don’t have any tips for promo – I’m still trying to find my own way. If anyone has any advice for me I’d be very grateful.

How does writing fit into your day? Or does your day fit in around your writing?
Between a two-hour-a-day school run and the day job, writing has to fit in around me at the moment. I dream of a time I can sit at home in lounging pyjamas and please myself – which would mean I’d write – but I suspect that’s a long way off.

Do you write every day?I think about my wip every day. And that’s sort of writing, isn’t it? I did start a spreadsheet at the beginning of the year, to keep a note of my daily totals. There are gaps for days where I haven’t actually increased my word count, but I’ve managed just over 140,000 words since 1st January. And they’re mostly redrafted, ready to go/sold words, so I’m happy with that.

What was the most fun part of writing this book? 
Finishing it. I don’t know who said ‘I don’t like writing, but I like having written,’ but that’s much how I feel at times. Actually, forget that, the fun moments have to be when I got the covers. And I’m very lucky that this particular book will have three covers in total: The My Weekly Pocket Novel cover, the E-scape e-version cover – and, sometime next year, the large print cover. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of the thrill of seeing a cover with my name on it for the first time. Is that sad?

Have you ever written a hero you'd be happy to run off with?
Yes, my Biker Boy, Nick Rudd. Even though he’s way too young and he’s spoken for. Well, actually, I wouldn’t do that to his lovely heroine, Emma. But, if he was free, I’d run off with him in a heartbeat. He’ll be hitting the shelves in the pages of a My Weekly/Bridges&Knight Caress novel in January. And I hope to have him online at some point after that. Although I’m a little worried people won’t love him as much as I do.

Writing snacks – what are your favourites?
Today, my writing snack of choice is a big bag of Starburst. Normally it would be something chocolate. And, if anyone’s offering, I’m in the mood to accept a box of violet creams. (And then I wonder why I’m fat.)

Do you have any tips, tricks or sacrificial rituals you do when you hit a story roadblock?
If I’m really stuck, I’ll put the story to one side and work on something else. Short stories, normally. The subconscious is generally wonderful and I find that if I don’t fret about the problem, the answer will arrive as if by magic.

Thank you so much for having me here today. It’s odd being on this side of things, but it’s been fun, too.
You can find out more:
On my own blog: here 

When faced with the prospect of being thrown out her home by a handsome stranger, Rosie Farnham's solution is to refuse to budge. Never mind that multi-millionaire Theo has every right to demand vacant possession - or that he's as gorgeous as sin - she will not leave her home just because he's brandishing ownership papers.

As Rosie refused to move out of the Manor, Theo decides he'll move in. This is no great hardship - even though she's prickly as a hedgehog, there's something about Rosie he finds intriguing.

Can the undeniable attraction between them bring their lives into a new stage?

Trust In Me is available from: Amazon.co.uk , Amazon.com

An Innocent Abroad - A Minxy Release & Giveaway

We're thrilled to announce a new Minx release!

An Innocent Abroad is the latest release by our very own, very talented Minx, Rae Summers (aka Romy Sommer), and we know you're going to love it as much as we do! With every copy you get a super sexy Italian hero.

Blurb
An Innocent Abroad is a coming of age story set on the Amalfi coast of Italy in the early 1920s.

Fresh from finishing school, Isobel Harrington is sent to spend the summer in Italy with cousins in order to catch the eye of the eligible Hon. Christopher Barrett. But rather than Christopher, it is enigmatic Italian Stefano who awakens Isobel's sensuality, and who introduces her to the daring new idea that anything is possible, if only you want it enough.

An Innocent Abroad is the third novella by Rae Summers (aka Romy Minx) set in the 1920s.

Buy Links
Available from The Wild Rose Press, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks, Amazon and Amazon UK.

If you'd like to join in the Minxy celebration and be in the running to win a copy of An Innocent Abroad all you need to do is leave a comment below and share something about your own first love. The best story wins a copy of Romy's latest release and there are bonus points for anyone who's first love was either a dashing Italian or occurred during a vacation in Italy.

Congratulations, Romy!

Author Spotlight - Gwen Kirkwood

Today we welcome UK author and RNA member Gwen Kirkwood into the Minxy Spotlight.

Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
I have always loved reading and with a vivid imagination writing seemed a natural progression, although I did not write for publication until my children were at secondary school in the 1980’s. I entered a competition in Woman’s Weekly. I didn’t win but I received welcome encouragement from their fiction editor. My books all have a Scottish farming background because I have been connected with farming all my life. I had a six year gap from writing when my husband died suddenly. I am supposedly retired now that my son runs the farm and my daughter runs her own farm ice cream parlour. You can read more details on my website at www.gwenkirkwood.co.uk

What number book is this? First? 100th? 200th? (Nora only!)
My twenty second novel will be published in May 2013.

Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?
I try to stop writing at a point when it will be easier to carry on the story. Sometimes this may be only a few words jotted down to jog my memory and keep the thread going for the next chapter or passage. If this does not work or if I have had a break for a few days I go back and read the last couple of chapters or so and then I am usually eager to keep on writing.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?
I am not good at marketing or promoting my own books. I am trying to accept invitations to other blogs, like this today. I keep appointments to talk to groups, even though they may not have much interest in writing. Usually some of them are keen readers. I have had a website for some time and more recently a blog of my own. I have also formatted ten of my early books and uploaded them to Amazon and Smashwords but I should try harder with promotion.

How does writing fit into your day? Or does your day fit in around your writing?
When I first began writing family and farm life was hectic and had to come first so writing was fitted in when I could snatch time and peace. That did not stop my brain working on the plot or characters though. When ironing, or other tasks I dislike, my mind created the bad characters and I always had a notebook and pencil handy. Often passages would come to me when I lay in bed ready to sleep. These days I am supposed to be retired and I have more time but not as much energy as I would like so I write in the mornings, and perhaps read through or add extras in the late afternoon.

Do you write every day?
I try to write a little everyday even if it is only a couple of paragraphs, or even a sentence, but there is usually at least one day in the week when life intervenes. I would not want it to be any other way because we all need friends and family and other interests or both life and writing could become dull.

Is there a book you haven't written yet that you're dying to? What genre?
I would quite like to write a book for children 6 to 9 year olds. I did try once before I began writing for adults. It had animals which talked and at the time Walker Books considered that old fashioned. As with everything fashions change. Consider all the popular talking animal programs on television now.

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?
I don’t have a fitness programme but I am careful not to sit too long at a stretch as I have two chipped vertebrae and once suffered badly from RSI. I moved my office upstairs so I have to run up and down. I enjoy gardening and that helps keep me fit in summer (see my blog www.gwenkirkwood.blogspot.com)

I used to walk a lot and ought to do more. On the principle that every little helps I park the car in one place and walk to all the shops, rather than moving it from one end of town to the other (ours is a small town!). My grandchildren live near and also keep me active.

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?
It has taken me a long time to feel that I am a writer and I really believed that all I had to do was let my imagination run riot and write. In reality there are so many restrictions or demands. Some publishers will only take certain genres, or they may have set lengths, or other demands and deadlines. Most writers need an agent but that means less direct communication with the publisher. I do understand that publishing is a commercial business and I believe it is more difficult than it used to be, but it is also worse from a writer’s point of view when there are fewer publishers. On the other hand times are changing yet again with digital books and self- publishing. Whatever route we take we are expected to market our products. I had not bargained for that when I began writing and it is the aspect I dislike most.

Could you be friends with any of your heroines?
Yes, at least I should hope so since I created them. One of my favourites is Sarah in the Fairlyden series. We see her through all the stages of life from a child in book1 to a grandparent in book 4. Although she is not the main heroine in all of them we see her as a young woman falling in love in book 2, and later dealing with the frustrations of an absent, unsettled husband and the temptations which follow. She is kind and wise, but with human frailties and she has great strength of character.

Another Home - Another Love

Rosemary Palmer-Farr loves farming and animals and has spent much of her childhood at Bengairney Farm with her dearest friends, the Carafords. Now, as a young woman, she wants to prove herself a good business woman by running the gardens of her father's dwindling estate. Her mother, Catherine, is not impressed and wants her to make a good marriage. She looks down on the Carafords because they are only tenant farmers.

When childhood friendship deepens into love Catherine takes action and extracts a promise from Sam Caraford, calculated to keep them apart, even if it costs their happiness. She throws Rosemary into the company of eligible young gentlemen but Rosemary despises their attitudes and yearns for Sam's love.

Another Home-Another Love by Gwen Kirkwood is published in hard back by Robert Hale Ltd (ISBN 978-0-7090-9630-6). It is available from Amazon, libraries and local book shops price £19.99. It will be available as an E-reader by the end of November 2012