Author Spotlight - Genie Davis & Linda Marr

Today, for the first time in Minxy history, we introduce a novel-writing duo into our spotlight. Welcome to Genie and Linda.

1. Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.

Genie Davis is a multi-published novelist and produced screen and television writer. Recent releases: the mystery thriller Marathon, the romantic suspense of Executive Impulse, The Model Man, and Five O'Clock Shadow, the literary fiction of Dreamtown. Her erotic romance Rodeo Man, written as Nikki Alton won a Romance Writer's of America Passionate Plume award. In film, her work ranges from supernatural thriller to drama, family, teen, and comedy. She’s written on staff for ABC-TV's Port Charles; written, produced, and directed for TLC, Lifetime, PBS, and HGTV, many television commercials, corporate videos, and the independent film, Losing Hope.

Linda Marr is a producer/writer on the news magazine juggernaut America Now. She’s also the co-writer of the comedy point of sale hit Dear Neighbor. She began her career in television journalism in NYC. Since then her many projects have included everything from the NBC situation comedy series The Mommies to HGTV’s House Hunters and Design on a Dime, to a skateboarding special for Nickelodeon and some of the most successful and famously mocked infomercials on the air starring iconic celebrities like Debbie Reynolds, Ricardo Montalban, Jenny Craig and Faye Dunaway.

2. What number book is this? First? 100th? 200th?(Nora only!)
This is the seventh book that Genie has published and the second for Linda. It is however the first book that we wrote together but definitely not the last!

3. What inspired this book?
We originally thought it would be fascinating if there was a romance writer who could make her books come true – literally right off the page. We’d originally thought something magical could be the impetus for this happening, but in the end we decided it would be simple circumstance and a hero who had read her material and was drawn to it.

4. Who or what was the inspiration for your hero?
Nikolaj Coster-Waldau from Game of Thrones and the young Josh Holloway from Lost.

5. What was the most fun part of writing this book?
By all means it was working together! Having worked as film and tv writers as well as writing novels on our own, there was nothing nearly as much fun as being able to have the back and forth experience of sitting next to each other and creating our own world.

6. Which of your characters would you most like to be?
We already are just like Jenna ha ha. Except for the hot private investigator saving either of our lives!

7. How long does it take you to complete a book?
Linda and I work very quickly but because we both write a lot of other things and Linda works as a television producer, too we usually only are lucky enough to write about 8 hours a week. So each book tends to take us about three months –we talk about what we’re working on even when we are not sitting down together, and we do outline.

8. Do you have any tips, tricks or sacrificial rituals you do when you hit a story roadblock?
Whenever we hit a road block, because we’re not writing alone, we can just talk it over, and basically have fun bouncing ideas between us. If all else fails we get a Corona !

9. Where do you write?
When we work together, we usually write at Linda’s house in her den which looks out on her pretty front lawn. Her weiner dog mixes are nearby and there’s usually a plate of delicious vegetarian food on the desk for us to snack on. Right now we are using a lap top on Genie’s dining room table where her cat is relentlessly purring because he loves Linda too.

10. Do you connect with your readers at all, and if so which is your favourite platform for reaching them?
Facebook and Twitter are both great places for us to share things we love our readers to know about. Genie is a big social media fan and finds herself always checking in and finding some cool new link to post. Here’s where you can find us-
Twitter: @geniewrites @lindafromTN
Facebook for Genie and Facebook for Linda
Website: www.geniedavis.com

BLURB:

Erotic romance writer Jenna Brooks lives an ordinary life in a quiet Oregon town, putting her sensual heart into her fiction rather than her everyday life. Deeply involved in her latest story about glamorous lovers on the run, she laughs off a carnival gypsy’s prediction that she’ll find everything she desires “between the sheets”u8212 apparently those her DeskJet is printing. Because suddenly, Jenna finds herself drawn into her own stories, literally. When the seductive, mysterious Riley Stone rescues her from an attempted hit and run, she’s plunged into a reckless, wild relationship unlike anything she’s ever experienced—except on paper.

Meanwhile, Riley is feeling pretty upended himself. A consultant with the FBI, he’s on a mission to derail a drug kingpin whose wealth and extensive real estate is managed by Jenna’s neighbor. He’d planned to ingratiate himself with Jenna just enough to gain access to her neighbor’s apartment so he can keep a close eye on his comings and goings. Instead, he finds himself not only drawn to Jenna, but falling for her, hard. On the heels of this realization comes the discovery that her new neighbor didn’t move in next door by chance: Jenna’s father is the last hold-out against a drug-money fueled billion dollar development scheme, and her neighbor plans to take and hold Jenna hostage until the necessary papers are signed.

As Riley struggles to keep Jenna safe, the romance they’ve woven could force them to pay the ultimate price: admitting they’ve fallen in love—for real.


Between the Sheets is available from Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble and direct from Entangled Publishing.

Happy New Year

I love the days between Christmas and New Year - the whole cooking frenzy and present buying frenzy are behind us, and everyone can settle down with a pile of presents and piles of leftover food and relax. I like to ignore all things work related, and take time to reflect over the year that has gone, and ready myself for diving headlong into another year.

This year I was diverted momentarily from my plan of doing absolutely nothing by the release day yesterday of book number 12: Under the Hood is a flirt from entangled publishing and available everywhere now. The good news is that it is currently on sale too, for 99c.

I hope everyone manages to see or talk to those that they love this New Year's eve, and wish every one of the minxes readers a very, very, happy New Year.

When sexy mechanic Alice Starr mistakenly believes attorney Mark Jameson needs her help, he discovers he likes being rescued for a change. Smitten by her confidence, he hides his expertise so he has an excuse to see her again.
Starting their new all-female garage, Under the Hood, is keeping Alice and her friends busy. She doesn't have time for a man. But with one kiss, she and Mark have advanced into water so deep she's in danger of drowning. So why hasn't he called?
Mark wants to tell Alice the truth so they can pursue a relationship. But he's got even bigger problems at his office when his bitter aunt threatens Alice’s livelihood. He needs a plan, fast, or else Under the Hood and his chances with Alice could both be ruined.

Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk B&N

And everywhere else you buy ebooks.

Author Spotlight - Annie Seaton

We're delighted to have Annie Seaton here today in the author spotlight, and as usual, she's answering our questions. Take it away Annie!

Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
Hi Minxes. Thanks for having me visit! I live with my husband, and ‘Bob’ the dog and two white cats in a house next to the beach on the east coast of Australia. I sit in my writing chair, gaze at the ocean and write stories. Our two children are grown and married and I love spending time gardening, walking on the beach, and spoiling our two grandchildren. I have always been fascinated by all things romantic and have found my niche in life writing romance novels, ranging from contemporary to paranormal with a foray into steampunk! My debut full length novel, Holiday Affair, a contemporary romance set in the South Pacific was released as part of Entangled Publishing’s Indulgence line in March 2012 and has been a best seller on both Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The sequel Italian Affair was released in June 2013, and will be followed shortly after by Outback Affair. I have more books being released in 2013 with Entangled Publishing in the Bliss, Entangled Suspense and Covet imprints. This keeps me very busy and out of the garden and away from the beach!

What number book is this? First? 100th? 200th? (Nora only!)
Hmm. I’ve lost count. It has been a very busy two years...let me see. It is book number six with another three currently in edits with Entangled Publishing, and another two contracted as I type!

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?
As my poor, dear husband will confirm I am totally focused 24/7. He can attest to that fact at this very minute. We are on holidays in the outback, and I am sitting outside our camper trailer on my laptop while he cooks my dinner. You can see where I get my heroes from!

What is your top promo tip for other authors?
Promote every day. Answer every email. Spend time on the evil social networking sites. Get your name known. I was very good at doing that and so many people asked me how I established my brand, I have actually written and self published a ‘how to’ book on promoting yourself and establishing your brand!

How does writing fit into your day? Or does your day fit in around your writing?
My day is all writing. A quick whip around, dishes, bed making and washing at 8 a.m. and then head down till 4 p.m. Then a cup of tea with DH when he comes home from work, then dinner and off I go again until about 10 p.m...or later. Seven days a week until I get a ‘Nora’ back list up! I even do the grocery shopping on line. On a very rare day of self indulgent luxury I meet with some local writers for lunch. (Told you I was focused.) No need for shoe shopping when you write all day. I can walk the beach in bare feet when I need inspiration. Gosh, I sound boring, don’t I? But I love the freedom of being a full time writer after years of career work away from home.

Is there a book you haven't written yet that you're dying to? What genre?
I have a history degree and I adore anything historical! So I am dying to write a true historical. Recently I have linked up with some other authors and we are this close ...holds fingers close together...to hearing about a contract for a proposal we have put forward. All I can say at this stage is that I kick the series off in 1794 with a pirate!

Just for fun: a year from the end of the book, where would your couple go on holiday?
Tom and Brianna actually do go on a real holiday to Australia in the third book in the Affairs series which is Outback Affair and they take with them delightful, curly-headed twins called Allegra and Luca.

Do you write to music, or with the tv on in the background, or do you need complete silence?
I need absolute and complete silence. I am fortunate to be home alone all day and I do so enjoy the peace and quiet! Although I must admit when I was writing my most recent book, Hot Rock, I did listen to lots and lots of Peter Frampton very loud! (This book is a time slip novel set at Glastonbury at a rock festival and will be out next February.)

Writing snacks – what are your favourites?
Coffee, coffee, and coffee.

Do you have any tips, tricks or sacrificial rituals you do when you hit a story roadblock?
I collect my large dog, Bob, who loves long walks and doesn’t get anywhere near enough, and I take him to the beach for a long walk. The sound of the waves breaking on the sand, a fluffy cloud scudding across the sky on a windy day, a spectacular sunrise or sunset has formed the idea for many a scene or setting as well as helping me get past a place I may be stuck!

Thank you again for being our guest on the minxes today, Annie. I'm in awe of your productivity!

Now here's more about Annie's book, Italian Affair.
Free-spirited sex therapist Brianna Ballantine has four days to find a fiancé so she can inherit her birth mother’s Italian villa. Commitment is not on the agenda. Writing her sex therapy book and signing legal papers are. And once all is said and done, she’ll return home to Scotland.
For finance guru Tomas Richards, relationships have been a bad investment—give him stocks and shares any day. When Tomas offers a marriage of convenience to help Brianna secure her inheritance, the sizzle between the sheets promises an affair to remember, despite family complications at every turn.
But Tom must convince Brianna to stay, and make this Italian affair a lifelong commitment.

Annie loves to hear from readers at: annieseaton26@gmail.com
Check out her website and her blog
You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AnnieSeatonAuthor and https://www.facebook.com/annieseaton26
and Twitter

Italian Affair is available at Amazon - .com and .co.uk :
Barnes and Noble:
Kobo:
iTunes:

New Imprints, Submission Calls and News

This is an exciting time to be a writer, and most especially a romance writer. With romances doing so well on all the Best Seller lists, and new imprints opening up, the future has never looked so bright.

So today I thought I'd use my space on the Minxes blog to share the news of a few of these bright new opportunities.

First up, is the announcement of a new digital first imprint from Harper Collins, named Harper Impulse, led by Kimberly Young, former editorial director at Harlequin Mills & Boon and then Mira. Harper Impulse are open to unsolicited submissions, and are eagerly searching for new talent in the Romance and New Adult genres. More information is available on their Facebook page. [And while there, don't forget to vote for your favourite historical hero].

Harlequin are looking for short, sexy reads for their new Cosmo Red Hot Reads line, a tie-in with Cosmopolitan Magazine.

Entangled Publishing have recently put out a submission call for One Night In... They are looking for novellas featuring a one night stand in an exotic locale. Who doesn't love the idea of a holiday romance that ends in a Happy Ever After?

It's old news by now I know, but for those interested in writing New Adult, Carina Press have also put out a submission call for New Adult stories.

Our very own Kat French, more reputable alter ego of the best-selling Kitty French, has her debut novel available for pre-order on Amazon now. I was lucky enough to read this story before it was snapped up by Harper Collins for their Authonomy imprint, and I can guarantee this is a fun, sexy, humorous book that you can't fail to love. More on Undertaking Love here on this blog soon.

Finally, a little personal news from moi. Tomorrow I will be resuming my blog series on Behind the Scenes in the film business. If there's ever anything you wanted to know about how movies are made, what a Grip does, or who the heck a Gaffer is, then ask here. Added bonus: if you follow my blog, you'll be the first to hear my imminent exciting news.

Author Spotlight - Jackie Ashenden

Welcome to Jackie Ashenden today. We're thrilled to help her celebrate her first release (although it is the first of MANY, so prepare yourselves for a treat :-)

Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
Well, I've been writing since I was 12 and my first stories were fantasies based on LOTR. They were not awesome. But I wrote my first romance at 14 and that was. Totally. I was hooked. So for the next 20 years I wrote romances just for myself and a friend. I'd always dreamed of getting published but I thought it would be for writing the Great New Zealand Novel and I worried terribly that I wasn't literary enough. And I wasn't and thank God for that! Because I'm much happier writing hot, tortured guys finding their HEAs with strong, stubborn quirky chicks, than writing dreary literary fiction!

What number book is this? First? 100th? 200th?(Nora only!)
This is my first book. But I've sold six others since then.

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?
Um, well, you're talking to the wrong woman here. I do like shoes but I LOVE writing. Yes, some days are harder than others, but I've never had a problem with forcing my butt in the chair. It's getting out of it that's hard.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?
I seriously believe the best promo you can do is write another book. You can plaster yourself all over the internet but that won't guarantee you sales. The only sure guarantee of sales is by writing and getting more books out there for people to buy. Romance readers are voracious and once they love you, they want to buy EVERYTHING you've written. So sure, do some tweeting and blogging and FBing. But then get back in the chair and get writing.

How does writing fit into your day? Or does your day fit in around your writing?
Definitely I'm a day fits around my writing kind of girl. My kids are at school and this is my day job – which makes me a very lucky girl.

Do you write every day?
Yes. I try to. I do take some days off now and then – especially after finishing something. But if I don't write I go insane and you wouldn't like to see me insane…

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?
Pilates. At the moment I only go once a week but I need to get back into doing it at least twice. It's fabulous for back pain and relaxing your shoulders. And one session of Pilates totally cancels out all chocolate and wine for the whole week. Honest.

Just for fun: a year from the end of the book, where would your couple go on holiday?
They'd totally go snowboarding in Canada. Finn would teach Anna how to board and afterwards there'd be a hot tub….aaaand I'll leave it there. \

At what point in your career did you actually start to feel like you were a writer?
I've always felt like I was a writer. But I only felt it was my job since my first book was accepted – despite spending five years working towards publication full time. I guess you could call that my apprenticeship.

Do you have any tips, tricks or sacrificial rituals you do when you hit a story roadblock?
I walk. Or fold the washing. Or have a shower. Walking and showering in particular are awesome for helping me think my out of a tricky spot. Which would make walking in the rain doubly helpful!


When you’ve been burned, the heat of the moment is the scariest place to be.

Six months after a sexual assault, Anna Jameson has decided enough is enough. She’s sick of being a victim, of letting the experience have power over her. She wants her fear of physical intimacy gone, as in now.

In the quest to reclaim her sexuality, she needs a man. A man she trusts absolutely. A man like her best friend, Finn.

Finn Shaw is all about taking risks. He does it every week on his extreme sports TV show. But there’s one boundary he’s never pushed, and that’s his friendship with Anna. When his hyper-intellectual family kicked him to the curb over his dyslexia, Anna stuck by him.

Her request to become friends with benefits throws him for a loop. He can’t deny her anything, but this is a whole different ball game. Once they’re skin to skin, there will be no hiding the fact that he’s loved her for years.

When their chemistry burns out of control, Finn decides he’s the one who’s had enough. It’s time to break out of the friend box—and show Anna that risking her heart is a risk well worth taking. Even if it costs him her friendship.

Warning: This book contains a strong-willed heroine who knows what she wants, a daredevil hero intent on showing her how much more she could have, sexy love scenes that’ll melt your heart, and a grand gesture you’ll need a tissue for.


Thanks for visiting the Minxes blog Jackie. We wish you every success with this and your other releases :-)

VISIT JACKIE'S BLOG - http://jackieashenden.com 
BUY THE BOOK - click here

Author Spotlight - Jennifer Shirk

From http://relationshipslovelanguage.blogspot.com

The Minxes have two special Valentine's treats for you:

• Our Minxy anthology Blaze is available for free on Amazon from today until 16th February, so if you haven't already, grab your copy today.
• Today's spotlight author is giving away a copy of her latest release to one lucky commenter, so read on and get commenting!

Jennifer Shirk is from New Jersey in the US. She has been published by Samhain Publishing, Amazon's Montlake Romance imprint, and most recently by Entangled Publishing. Way to go, Jennifer!

Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.
I'm a pharmacist, turned stay-at-home mom turned author. I'm married and have one child, four hermit crabs and now one guinea pig.

What number book is this? First? 100th? 200th?(Nora only!)
Maybe someday I'll write as many as Nora. LOL This is only number #5 for me.

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?
Deadlines, plus it really does help your other books if you keep writing new ones. So that keeps me going.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?
Top promo tip? Hmm...honestly, I'm learning the best promo is to write a really good book, otherwise, it doesn't matter how much you tweet or blog, it still won't sell.

How does writing fit into your day? Or does your day fit in around your writing?
I tend to work best in the mornings so that's when I make time to write. Then the afternoons I can do errands or take care of the house.

Do you write every day?
I TRY to write every day. But it doesn't always happen. Lately, I'm on blog tour and all my writing time has been used for interviews and blog posts!

Is there a book you haven't written yet that you're dying to? What genre?
YES. I am dying to write a YA. I will. I even have a premise and partial outline. Someday....

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?
Yes, I run and do spin classes, and right now I'm redoing the P90x workout regime. That's about an hour 6 days a week, but I LOVE it.

What was the most fun part of writing this book?
I had a great time using my humour. I kind of wrote this book with the thinking that this book was for ME and I was just going to have fun with it no matter what happened.

Could you be friends with any of your heroines?
YES! But especially Phoebe in A Little Bit Cupid. She's just so fun--like a Sandra Bullock character.

Writing snacks – what are your favourites?
I try to stay pretty healthy when writing, but I do enjoy a Tootsie Pop or a Blow Pop when I'm writing just for something sweet to suck on. I love a hot cup of tea when I'm writing too now that it's cold out.

Thanks so much for having me!!

A LITTLE BIT CUPID is now available for 99cents at Amazon and B&N!

Finding love should be easy, but wedding photographer Phoebe Ward knows better. When Cupid shows up on a crazy mission to help her —and save the world in the process—Phoebe realizes love might be even more complicated than she thought. Even with Cupid showing her Mr. Right , she can’t stop thinking about his best friend, Mr. Wrong.

Cal Crawford has never had time for love, but now he’s falling for Phoebe. Which means it’s got to be just plain wrong to set her up with his best friend, right? But even though seeing Phoebe with someone else will break his heart, he can’t walk away from her.

Phoebe can’t afford to choose the wrong guy with the fate of the world at stake. But maybe Cupid has it wrong. Maybe she has to rely just a little bit on Cupid, and a whole lot more on her heart.


A Little Bit of Cupid is available on Amazon, Amazon UK and Barnes & Noble.

You can find Jennifer on her website, her blog, on Twitter, on Facebook and on Goodreads.

A Double Minx Entanglement!

We've had a good start to the year this week, with TWO minxes receiving contracts from Entangled!

Me (Sallyminx) and Maya (Mayaminx) are delighted to squee today as we've both signed contracts, and will have Entangled Publishing releases this year....

Mine is a Flirt featuring a female mechanic - And Maya's is a scorching Dead Sexy. More on both in the following weeks as things shake out!

Woo!

In other news - Blaze, the Minxes of Romance's anthology is currently #10 in the Preeditors and Editors Poll of Anthologies published in 2012, and if you've read it and loved it, we'd love your vote! http://www.critters.org/predpoll/antho.shtml

Author Spotlight - Rachel Lyndhurst

This isn't Rachel's first Author Spotlight for the Minxes, but she's answering different questions! We're delighted to have her here today, to tell us all about her latest release for Entangled's Indulgence line (and answer the questions of course!).

Tell our readers a little bit about yourself.

I’ve been a full-time writer since my first book ‘sold’ a couple of years ago, well as full-time as I can be with two school age children! I have a law degree and am a fully qualified accountant. I’ve had day jobs in the space industry, pharmaceuticals, insurance, a supermarket, a bus station, a railway depot, and a lingerie department.
I live with my daughter, son and The Exec in Fareham, Hampshire, on the south coast of England and can sometimes smell the sea from my back garden. Hobbies have sort of gone out of the window right now as I’m so busy, but I do love a solitary visit to a hushed and dusty old antiques shop when I get the chance. Apart from that, wine and expensive lipstick keeps me happy.

What number book is this? First? 100th? 200th?(Nora only!)
The Spanish Billionaire’s Hired Bride is my third published novel.

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?
Sheer terror is about the only thing that will force me to write if I really don’t want to – something like a screaming deadline will do the trick!  Fortunately, not wanting to write doesn’t happen very often and it’s probably a sign that I should have a break anyway. Not having a nine- to- five job gives me flexibility, but it also means I find it very hard to stop. So shoe shopping now and then really is a kind of therapy.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?

It’s hard, but try your best not to do the equivalent of saying ‘buy my book’. Think longer term and interact with as many people as you can in real life and on social networks, and that means anybody because you never know who’ll be interested in you and your book. If people like you, there’s a good chance they’ll consider buying your work. Here’s an exclusive revelation for the Minxes: I once unknowingly sold a book to our local Police chief in the school playground – I had no idea that was his job! He said he enjoyed it …

How does writing fit into your day? Or does your day fit in around your writing?
As I mentioned above, I have school age children, so I have to fit my writing around that routine, but I try to be disciplined as it’s my ‘day job’ now. After the school run, at nine o’clock the laptop goes on, maybe an hour for lunch and jobettes during the day, and then by three o’clock I fetch the children.  So, I have about six hours maximum alone and then throughout the evening I’ll do housework, scribble in notebooks, deal with US emails and maybe get some Facebook or Twitter in. I do wish I had more hours in the day …

Do you write every day?

Pretty much, even if it’s just a scribble on a notepad while I’m tethered to the kitchen sink! I can’t help it …

Is there a book you haven't written yet that you're dying to? What genre?

There is. It’s one third written and breaks a lot of genre rules, which means it will probably never see the light of day, but it feels so right. It’s a romcom, bonkbuster, with dark parochial prejudice and a little mystery thrown in.  Think Bridget Jones, meets A Casual Vacancy, meets Fifty Sheds. So if any adventurous London-based agents are reading …

Any craft books you recommend?
·      Goal Motivation and Conflict: The Building Blocks of Good Fiction by Debra Dixon.
·        Got High Concept: The Key to Dynamic Fiction that Sells! By Lori Wilde.
·        Writer's Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler.
·        On Writing Romance: How to Craft a Novel That Sells by Leigh Michaels.

Which of your characters would you like to be?

I’d quite like to be any of my heroines. Even though they have things tough in the beginning – they go to places I’ve never been, experience the ultimate in luxury and always get their super-hot man in the end. I’d be quite happy to live in their fantasy world – one without two baskets of dirty laundry a day!

Writing snacks – what are your favourites?
Oh dear, it’s not vegetable crudités and hummus that often.  Cough. If it’s bad for you, it’s probably in my top ten. My son keeps making me buy those new Walkers deep ridged potato chips, so it’s not really my fault … But I do like very posh olives!  Is red wine a snack?

And now, here's some info about Rachel's latest release, The Spanish Billionaire's Hired Bride:

He bought her with cold, hard cash, but can she stop him from stealing her heart?Blackmailed to marry against his will, Ricardo Almanza needs a wife before he’s thirty, and time is running out. A notorious playboy, marriage is the last thing he wants, but his stepmother’s sexy, debt-ridden personal assistant is the perfect solution. He makes her a business deal she can’t refuse—one million euros for three months as his wife. He might even enjoy being married to her … if she doesn’t kick the crap out of him again.
Helen Marshall can’t believe she’s considering Almanza’s outrageous proposal, but she must help clear her parents’ debts or they face financial ruin. The small print on the marriage contract changes to read three months as his wife in every way—including in the bedroom. Has she gotten in too deep, or will she need a new contract addendum, extending their marriage forever?

The Spanish Billionaire's Hired Bride is available now from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk and Barnes and Noble.
And you can find out more about Rachel and her books at her blog, facebook, goodreads and she's @RachelLyndhurst on twitter.

Author Spotlight - Jennifer Probst

We're delighted to welcome New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jennifer Probst to the minxes today! Here are her answers to the minx questions...

What is your writing process?

I get lots of coffee, put one child on the bus, drive the other, come home and write. Pick up second child, get him lunch, write. Serve child’s needs for several hours and try to write. Pick up first child from school, serve snacks, write. Get dinner, greet husband, pour wine, write. Homework, baths, cleaning up, watch hubby settle down in front of tv with a relaxed expression, and I write! There is no other process I believe in then something to drink, my Ipod, and something to type on. The rest is all extra!

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 go shoe shopping first, then write! Balance is always my target and my goal. I do my best day to day – some are better than others due to family demands, but I write every day without fail. How? I groan, complain, tell my hubby to kick my butt, sit and stare, change my songs, but at the end of the day, I make sure I know it’s my job to write. That’s the only way I can do this full time.

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

Walk back and forth to the kitchen for more coffee? (Hangs head in shame) Sorry. Umm, to be totally honest, I used to go to the gym three times per week, and then my schedule got nuts and my physical regimen is suffering. Your question has inspired me to go back to the gym. After all, I’m still paying membership fees! I adore doing yoga too and believe it’s wonderful for clearing the mind.

Do you believe in writer's block?

Absolutely. I’ve had it and it sucks. Sucks big time! But I get through it by gritting my teeth and forcing my way through the hard stuff. Eventually I get out of the block and burst out the other end!

Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble?

Yes, I’ve used something that happened and twisted the situation into a fictional story. It did get me in trouble, a tiny bit, when a family member recognized the incident – lol! But it worked out fine in the end and we all laugh about it now!

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?

It’s just as exciting as I always thought, especially when a reader tells me how much he or she enjoyed the book. Having my name in print and finally being able to share my stories with someone other than my desk drawer or close friend is a dream come true. I don’t think I realized the extent of the business part of writing, and how busy your schedule can become. I laugh when people say I work from home so I must have plenty of free time! I think I work harder now writing full time than when I had my day job, but I’m much happier because it’s like having my own business. It’s also quite overwhelming to realize you don’t just write one great book and sit back with a smile. You have to keep writing great books and that can cause a muse to go on strike with fear – lol!

Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers?

Promotion is key in this business besides writing a great book. I do social networking and I did it way before my books were published. I started slow, gained friends, supported people and followed blogs. I was a friend – not a writer yelling “Buy my book!” Who wants that type of friend? When the book released, I had a blog tour set up, some advertising , and sent it to many reviewers.

What is your top promo tip for other authors? 

The most important is to have a platform. You don’t have to be good at everything, but make sure you are either steadily blogging, twittering, using facebook, youtube, pinterest, or a combination. You do need a great website – that’s a basic. And be generous– I am a true believer in karma!

What did you learn while writing this book?

I learned to trust my gut. I knew this was a great story and I never let myself give up. I believed there would be the perfect editor/publisher out there that would believe in this story like I did, and finally it came true!

What was the most fun part of writing this book?

The characters! They took over the book for me, and I couldn’t wait to see what they would say or do next. I laughed out loud when I wrote it and shook my head at their antics, so the book came alive for me. How much fun is that!

And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?

Rome. I think he’d love taking Alexa to Rome to view the architecture and enjoy the scenery. Nick’s not the island type to just sit on the beach and sunbathe – he needs to be doing something engaging. He’d also know Alexa would love the romance of such an ancient city. Of course, when they get back to the hotel, that will be a whole other part of engagement for him – lol!

The Marriage Bargain

A marriage in name only...

To save her family home, impulsive bookstore owner, Alexa Maria McKenzie, casts a love spell. But she never planned on conjuring up her best friend's older brother—the powerful man who once shattered her heart.

Billionaire Nicholas Ryan doesn’t believe in marriage, but in order to inherit his father’s corporation, he needs a wife and needs one fast. When he discovers his sister’s childhood friend is in dire financial straits, he’s offers Alexa a bold proposition.

A marriage in name only with certain rules: Avoid entanglement. Keep things all business. Do not fall in love. The arrangement is only for a year so the rules shouldn’t be that hard to follow, right?

Except fate has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans…

Website and Blog

Goodreads

Facebook

Twitter

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Author Spotlight - Rachel Lyndhurst

The Minxes are delighted to welcome Minx favourite and friend, Rachel Lyndhurst here today under the spotlight to answer the minxy questions. Her book, Kidnapped by the Greek Millionaire was one of the launch titles from the new Indulgence line from Entangled, and is flying off the virtual shelves.
Here goes!

What is your writing process?

I have school age children which means, at best, I have between 09.00 and 14.45 to fully concentrate on writing during term time. If I give myself 45 minutes for essentials like cups of tea, lunch, the loo and the doorbell, that gives me a maximum of five hours writing time as long as I do nothing else.
So it goes like this: 07.00: boot up lappy, reply to urgent overnight emails that I haven’t dealt with by Blackberry the previous evening and check my sales statistics (unnecessary, but I can’t stop myself). By 8.30 I am child free, so I might go mad and have a shower. I begin working at 09.00 to 09.30 (I have long hair, it takes ages to blow dry), often typing up stuff I’ve scribbled in a notebook the night before. I then just try to keep going until 14.45, but social networking and fascia salesmen are evil …
From 15.30 to 20.30 I deal with the housework, children, The Exec if he’s at home and do a bit of Twitter/Facebook on the move if I can. There is always a notebook and pen within reach – I have a new one with each manuscript and there’s usually a glass of wine somewhere in the mix after six in the evening. :0)

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?

Um, I shout at myself sometimes if I really am faffing about, but if I need a break, or shoes, I have them. Writing has taken over my life for the last five years and I know in the back of my mind that it probably isn’t healthy to be so obsessed, but it’s how I function. Even if a day goes by without actually getting some words down, I’m thinking about the current WIP, the next WIP, the WIP after that and I scribble like a lunatic. Always. Even on holiday. So I rarely beat myself up about slacking because I find it hard to switch off.

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

Ah, that … the answer would have to be no, BUT, I have a whole load of excuses. Here we go: an hour in the gym would lose me 20% of my writing day (not including travelling) and I’ve never set foot inside one either – would probably turn into a pillar of salt or something.
During the daily 3.30 to 8.30 domestic shift I literally don’t sit down and must spend at least an hour carrying laundry up and down the stairs. And loo rolls. And school bags …
I do my very best to get out and about with the family at weekends and school holidays- walking is great exercise and it’s not boring if you go somewhere nice (with a camera and notebook of course just in case.)
My G.P. says I’m just as active, if not more so, than someone who sits in an office all day (just before I beg him not to weigh me).
But I should do more. Tell you what, when I get that villa on the Amalfi, I’ll make sure it has an infinity pool and I’ll use it every day. And I’ll get in a young Italian gardener to chase around … Hehe!

Do you believe in writer's block?

No, not as far as I’m concerned. You can get through any problems with your manuscript if you work at it hard enough. Concentrate hard. This might mean ripping it all up and starting again, but no pain no glory, right? If your job and childrens’ next meal depended on writing a report for the CEO of your day job, you’d just get on with it wouldn’t you? Writing is the same. One of the things I shout at myself (see above) is JUST DO IT! Works for me. Shout it really loudly.

Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble?

Not entirely. There have been loads of real life incidents and personalities that have inspired certain things in my books. For example, I got lost, hot and bothered in Lindos village once – it gave me the idea for my heroine’s torturous arrival at Lindos in Kidnapped by the Greek Billionaire – I didn’t want to waste all my bad temper! The most outrageous incidents haven’t made it near an editor’s desk yet, so I’m safe. I’d always be very, very careful though; it’s a small world …

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?

It’s really not that glamorous and you have to work a whole lot harder to earn the same as you would in a ‘normal’ job. Until this year, shelf stacking in Sainsbury’s part time had the edge. Really.
And Beryl in the Post Office is still rude, she’s never heard of Rachel Lyndhurst …

Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers?

The usual stuff, really. I’m published digitally at the moment, so there are no book signing events and this means the Internet is my big friend. I blog, have a Facebook account and Tweet. I think the best thing you can do is to make yourself accessible and interact with people as much as you can. Being nice costs nothing.

Having said that, I’m incredibly fortunate to have a dynamic publisher that invests in and promotes their authors. Entangled pay for advertising, give you a publicist who organises blog tours and interviews and the Entangled ‘family’ are amazing. You can never have too many friends out there; a tribe can do wonders spreading the word about you and your book.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?

See above! From personal experience: interact with as many people as you can, be nice, be humble, stay out of politics and never, ever think you can ignore the US market – you can’t.

What did you learn while writing this book?

The learning came after I wrote Kidnapped by the Greek Billionaire. Personally I don’t think you can overestimate the value of an experienced editor – a good one can turn manuscript straw into gold. Working with someone who really knows what they’re doing has given me knowledge that I didn’t get from any of the craft books I have piled up. I have learned that I still have an awful lot to learn!

What was the most fun part of writing this book?

The most fun part of writing Kidnapped by the Greek Billionaire was getting it published and seeing it sell. Everything up to that point was actually quite painful!

And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?

Andreas is a bit of a globetrotter in his day job actually, so I think he’d like to honeymoon on his private Greek Island. Naturally, if Kizzy objected, he’d take her anywhere she wanted. Or buy it for her. God, I love Billionaires!

The blurb for Kidnapped by the Greek Billionaire:

Kidnapped!

Or that’s what it feels like to Kizzy Dean when a business disagreement with arrogant Greek lawyer Andreas Lazarides leaves her no choice but to accompany him to the Greek Isle of Rhodes. It doesn’t help matters that this sexy brooding stranger, who is unaccustomed to the word No and the very idea of commitment, shows her what it feels like to be truly desired.

Amidst the ancient myths and alleyways, tensions run high as Kizzy feels an immediate attraction for the man she wants to both ravage and strangle.

Accustomed to gold-digging women, Andreas is mesmerized by Kizzy’s feisty nature and Gypsy beauty. Guilt and sorrow have been his only bedfellows since his sister’s death, but Kizzy stirs up a desire he’s unwilling to succumb to . . . until she makes him an offer he simply can’t refuse.

You can pick up Kidnapped by the Greek Billionaire (because picking up a Billionaire has got to be fun!) with the following links:
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble

Connect with Rachel on her blog, Facebook, and on Twitter.

All about Entangled Publishing's new line!

Minx friend - Rachel Lyndhurst is here today to tell us all about Entangled Publishing's new line - Indulgence! Her book is one of the launch titles and just out (more about that below) and she's here to tell us all about it. Congratulations, Rach!!

Thanks for asking me here today, Minxes!

Sally Minx has a sneaky feeling that some of you would like to know a bit more about the sassy, savvy new category length line: Lori Wilde’s Indulgence, so here goes.

Indulgence is a new imprint from Entangled Publishing. It launched on February 14th, 2012. Lori Wilde, NYT and USA Today bestselling author is Editorial Director and former Harlequin editor Alethea Spiridon-Hopson is Managing Editor and Senior Editor. I know, I know! Talk about expertise …
The Indulgence imprint publishes 50,000-60,000 word stories which adhere to the tried and trusted tropes readers expect from category romances such as friends to lovers, marriages of convenience etc. You will find alpha heroes and storylines similar to those in Harlequin’s Desire and Modern/Presents lines.

However Lori Wilde’s Indulgence isn’t just the same old stuff. “These aren’t your mother’s category romances,” says Lori Wilde. “They’re quick paced, exciting contemporary stories, whether funny, sexy, mysterious, edgy, or emotional, that showcase what it’s really like to fall in love in the twenty-first century.” Hallmarks of the line are rapid-fire dialogue, fast moving plot lines, sizzling sex, and realistic characters. Above all, the heartfelt emotions that speak to the way young people live, love, and work will be at the centre of every story. And delicious covers …

Here’s the blurb:
Kidnapped!

 Or that’s what it feels like to Kizzy Dean when a business disagreement with arrogant Greek lawyer Andreas Lazarides leaves her no choice but to accompany him to the Greek Isle of Rhodes. It doesn’t help matters that this sexy brooding stranger, who is unaccustomed to the word No and the very idea of commitment, shows her what it feels like to be truly desired.

Amidst the ancient myths and alleyways, tensions run high as Kizzy feels an immediate attraction for the man she wants to both ravage and strangle.
Accustomed to gold-digging women, Andreas is mesmerized by Kizzy’s feisty nature and Gypsy beauty. Guilt and sorrow have been his only bedfellows since his sister’s

death, but Kizzy stirs up a desire he’s unwilling to succumb to . . . until she makes him an offer he simply can’t refuse.

I’m sure you can imagine how delighted I was to see the cover of my Indulgence release Kidnapped by the Billionaire for the first time and then to discover it would be a launch title. Much happy skipping!  
Here are the purchase links: Amazon.com & Amazon.co.uk

Here’s the full February launch line up: http://www.entangledinromance.com/2012/02/09/get-ready-to-indulge-with-lori-wildes-indulgence/
On a personal note I also want to say how wonderful the ladies at Entangled and Indulgence are to work with. Passionate, polite, professional and one hundred percent human. Complete joy …
So … any questions?
For more information or how to submit: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/submission-information/lori-wildes-indulgence-submissions/
P.S. Keep it to yourself, but Indulgence give you a publicist too! How good can this get?
P.P.S If you’d like to know more about me, I’m being interviewed today over at http://annieseaton.blogspot.com/ . Annie’s book, Tropical Encounter, is scheduled as a March Indulgence title. We’d love you to pop over and say hello!

New Voices and moving forward

First up, congratulations to the 21 finalists in the New Voices contest. How amazing that the editors have given a chance to an extra writer because there were so many they loved?!

Also, I'd like to congratulate every single person who entered. You not only sat down and wrote something, but you were brave enough to submit your work to public view. That deserves applause.

I'd also just like to remind everyone who entered (and who didn't!) that contests are not the be-all and end-all. Not everyone who finals in a contest goes on to publich that manuscript. Not everyone who gets published gets there via a contest. In fact, your odds are probably even better through the slush pile than through a contest, where there can be only one winner.

So keep writing, and keep submitting.

Now if you're not completed contested-out, here's another you might want to look at:

Author Nicola Marsh is running a pitch contest on her blog until Sunday, with critiques from both herself and the senior editor of Entangled Publishing as a prize.

Talking about Entangled, keep an eye on their blog for updated submission calls each month. This month they're looking for contemporary novellas.

And more submission calls ....

Carina Press is looking for winter-themed sci fi novellas, and Avon Romance is looking for soldier homecoming short stories.