Dani Collins is visiting and talking about Who She Was Before #MFRWAuthor #newspaper writing #romance #small town #billionaires #contemporary #historical

 

Hi! Thanks for hosting me today! I’m so happy to be visiting.

 

 

Day 1

 

1. What were you before you became an author? Did this influence your choices as a writer?

 

I knew in high school that I wanted to write romance for a living so all of my day jobs were purely to make ends meet. They were usually office jobs with some accounting tasks. All were very unglamorous. One was for an HVAC company. Another made stair parts and another made insulation.

 

I wrote for our local paper for about a year, which I enjoyed, but I wanted to write romance so journalism didn’t quite scratch the itch. I was a wife and mom through most of that so that was also a big part of my identity and impacted how much time I was able to devote to writing.

 

 

2. Are you genre specific or general? I don’t mean major genres but subdivisions or romance, mystery or paranormal.

 

I like to say I write anything, so long as it’s romance. That’s usually my rule around reading, too.

 

I prefer to read and write hotter books. I mostly write contemporary, cis-het romance—lots of billionaires and virgins, lots of small town romance. But I’ve also branched into historical and erotic romance with a broad spectrum of diversity. I’m currently working on a romcom and really enjoying it.

 

 

 

3. What is your latest release?

 

On March 5, I released the first in my Raven’s Cove trilogy, called Marrying the Nanny. The initial concept was Three Men and a Baby on an Island.

 

Three half-brothers are forced back to their childhood home at a fly-in fishing resort on the west coast of Canada where they take custody of their infant half-sister. They’re estranged and the resort has fallen into disrepair and they are completely ill-equipped to look after a baby.

 

It’s funny and angsty and sweet and loosely based on a real island where my cousin worked for 20 years. The setting is stark and beautiful and I *love* a tiny town where everyone knows each other’s business.

 

 

4. What are you working on now?

 

My next Harlequin is due at the end of May. It will be my 61^st and so far I know the heroine is a housekeeper, but it’s still January as I write this. I’m sure a suitable hero will show up soon.

 

I’m also working on self-publishing another historical romance, The Saloon Girl’s Only Shot, but I’ve been crunched for time.

 

 

5. Does your reading choices influence your choice of a writing career?

 

I think it’s the other way around. I’m careful what I’m reading, depending what I’m writing. I love Harlequin Presents, but I can’t read it while I write it. I wind up second-guessing myself a lot.

 

When I’m working on a historical, I read a lot of nonfiction for research.

 

I don’t devote nearly as much time to reading as I should. In those busy, pre-published days, if I had time to read it meant I had time to write so I learned to go to my desk instead. Now I’m a bit of a workaholic and mostly read on the elliptical at the gym which is only twice a week.

 

 

6. Where can we find you?

 

At my desk or the gym! Kidding. Please visit my website at: https://danicollins.com

 

Better yet, join my VIP list and you’ll receive a welcome sequence that includes five free samples of my writing, two full-length novels and three short stories. https://danicollins.com/vip/

 

You can also find me on social media, but I try to limit my time there:

 

FB: https://www.facebook.com/DaniCollinsAuthor

IG: http://instagram.com/danicollinsauthor

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@danicollinsauthor

X: https://twitter.com/DaniCollinsBook

 

BIO:

Award-winning and USA Today Bestselling author Dani Collins thrives on giving readers emotional, compelling, heart-soaring romance with laughter and heat thrown in, just like real life. While she is best known for writing contemporary romance for Harlequin Presents and Tule Publishing, she also writes historical and erotic romance. When she’s not writing—just kidding, she’s always writing. Dani lives in Southern BC, Canada with her high school sweetheart husband

Books by Ella Braeme are featured today on Saturday's Blurbs #MFRWAuthor #Romance #small town #Mountain men #reluctant lovers

 Fake Fiancé Santa

Meghan has met more douchebags than the average woman.

That comes with the job as the only woman working at the local hardware store. Her mother pushing men at her to get grandchildren doesn’t help either. So she is only too happy when her best friend Justin proposes a fake engagement to ward off unwanted attention. Pretending to be engaged should be easy, or so they think, but they haven’t considered what their fib might do to promote the aspirations of Meghan's mother. Soon, the entire town is planning a wedding. And Justin seems to encourage them. Now, why would he do that?

Fake Fiancé Santa is a prequel to Ella Braeme’s new series, Elken Grove Mountain Men. It is contained in the Season's Sweethearts anthology. In this limited edition Christmas romance collection, love is in the air, as our couples receive an unexpected gift from Santa – romance!

Embrace the Christmas spirit by delving into these stories where anything can happen with a little Christmas magic.

This holiday anthology includes stories from some of today’s most loved romance authors, including Kathleen Ryder, Diana Dawn, Ella Braeme, Demelza Carlton, Becca Turner, Katherine Moore, Meg Napier, Anita Harlan and Nikki Prince.

https://geni.us/seasonssweethearts

*

Butting Heads with Her Mountain Man

Could this grinch with his dark scowl be the light of my life?

Grace

I need to start afresh in my small hometown. While I am happy to be back in the mountains, the efforts of my hapless family to help me settle in lead to me running zig-zag to avoid further disasters. Being scrutinized by the townsfolk doesn’t help either. Still, I set to work to establish my own accounting business with all the determination that I can muster.

I count myself lucky when I get my first client—only to find out he is as grumpy as they get—and yet, I can't deny the pull I feel towards him.

Lyle

I hate Christmas. And it shows. So I need help keeping my Christmas tree farm afloat. The accountant turns out to be an opinionated lover of all things holiday. Still, I can't help but feel a spark of attraction for her. An attraction that I have no intention of owning up to.

This is a heartwarming, small-town romance novella with a heroine who's determined to make her dreams come true, a grumpy mountain man who’s doing his best to keep her at arm’s length, and a nettlesome audience of townspeople buzzing with Christmas cheer, or in Lyle’s case: Christmas scowling. Light steam, HEA, no cheating, standalone.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CCMWG8TY

*

Someone I Chose

She never wanted an arranged marriage. Now she’s got the husband to prove it.

Marrying a perfect stranger to nix Neha’s parents’ plans to marry her off seemed to be a great idea. It was for show only, after all. That is, it was until Neha’s powerful father threatened to have the marriage annulled so she’d be free for the fiancé he had chosen for her. Neha thought hard and long for a sanctuary, but the only place that came to her mind was her husband’s. And so she was stuck in exactly the scenario she had tried to avoid: make-do with a stranger as a husband.

Someone I Chose takes off where the second book in Ella Braeme’s Married in Windfall series ended. If you like small-town romances about reluctant lovers, you'll love this one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BZ15QD1S

Ella Braeme is visiting and talking about Who She Was Before #MFRWAuthor #Writing #author #contemporary #small town romance

 1. What were you before you became an author? Did this influence your choices as a writer?

I used to be a high school teacher. That job can be tough, and at times I took refuge in reading romances. So in a way I'm just giving now what I used to take. My books are meant to be a breather from everyday life—we all need that every once in a while.

 

2. Are you genre specific or general? I don’t mean major genres but subdivisions or romance, mystery or paranormal.

My books all are contemporary small-town romances, they are all novellas, and there's always a little steam. In my new series, the heroes are mountain men. I suppose that's become a subgenre of itself by now.

 

3. What is your latest release?

My latest book out is Fake Fiancé Santa in the Season's Sweethearts anthology. It's the first time I share a book with other authors, and I am a little excited about it. I hope that doesn't come across as uncool—we all want to be cool, right?—but collaborating instead of doing everything myself is thrilling. I'm happy to be in that collection.

Fake Fiancé Santa is a novella with a Christmas setting. I never had tried that before, as I was worried it might end up being corny. Writing it, I realized that Christmas romance simply is a corny genre and decided to go with it. I'm quite happy with the outcome.

4. What are you working on now?

After writing Fake Fiancé Santa, I've written another book, that will be released December 4th: Butting Heads with Her Mountain Man. So I deserve a vacation right now. My husband and I will huddle in front of the fireplace in a beach cabin. That's going to be awesome. Peaceful. Energizing.

My next book is in early planning stages—I've got stacks of index cards with ideas and sketches lying everywhere. Maybe I will take them all with me to our cabin so that I can organize them into a proper plot. I will start writing right after the vacation.

That new book will be part of another anthology: Mic Drop. It will be released in March.

 

5. Does your reading choices influence your choice of a writing career?

Writing in a genre that I have been reading in for years seems to be a neccessity. I can't write what I don't read. I read other genres too, mostly fantasy or science fiction. Writing romance can be daunting, but it's doable. I know myself—I'd get lost in the world building of fantasy or science fiction and would never get even a single line written. Maybe some other time, but honestly, there is so much within the genre of contemporary romance for me to discover... I don't think I'll ever write anything else.

 

6. Where can we find you?

I hang out on Instagram @ellawritesromance, I've got a website ellabraeme.com, and a newsletter. And of course, an email address, ella@ellabraeme.com. I actually do read my emails and as of now, I still have time to answer.

Barbara White Daille is visiting and Talking about Christmas stories #MFRWAuthor #Christmas #Small town romances #Snowflake Valley

 

Tell me about your Christmas series. Genre?

 

The Snowflake Valley books are sweet romances set in a small tourist town that’s all about Christmas, all year-‘round. Two books in the series have already been published, and I’m currently working on book three. Each story features one of the “bad-luck” Barnett sisters, who all have had terrible luck in relationships. I loved writing these books and hope your readers will check them out!  My publisher is offering the first book in the series for $.99 from November 9 thru November 16.

 

In this story, Snowbound with Mr. Wrong, the hero and heroine first met at a children’s Christmas party in Snowflake Valley while playing Santa and his elf. They began dating but eventually broke up. As the book opens, they’re reunited after they agree to help out again this year—although neither knows the other’s going to be there. Once they discover the deception, they want only to put space between them. Instead, they find themselves snowbound at the mountain lodge with three very upset kids.

 

 

Where did the idea arise?

 

I LOVE the holiday season. The cold and snow, not so much. :) But writing about it is another story. . . or several. The setting of Snowflake Valley came to mind first, but immediately after, the characters popped into my mind. Questions soon followed. What could be worse than having the three eldest sisters in one family hit a run of bad luck in their romantic relationships? Well, how about each sister being reunited with her ex? Or in the case of book two, having the heroine’s out-of-state boss show up at the worst possible time? Those questions kicked off my imagination, and—excuse the pun—things just snowballed from there.

 

 

How much research was involved? Did you stay on point or be distracted by wanting to look at just one more thing?

 

Because of the holiday setting and themes, I didn’t need to do a lot of research. But I did get to celebrate Christmas early! Because I’d started writing the series in the spring, my mind wasn’t quite ready for the holidays. So I decorated my office with some of our Christmas ornaments, played carols while cleaning house (I can’t write to music with lyrics), and even baked Christmas cookies a time or two.

 

Along with the Snowflake Valley series, I have another Christmas book that’s part of my ongoing Hitching Post Hotel series, and I used the same mood-setting enhancements while writing that book. Did I say how much I love the holiday season? :)

 

 

How long did you take to write the books?

 

With the first two Snowflake Valley books, I’d say it took six months or so. I didn’t write them simultaneously but did plot them all before I began writing the first book. This really helped with revising and adding details from book to book.

 

 

Now a bit about you. How long have you been writing?

 

Technically, since the age of five, although my “writing” was more like scribbling. At that point I couldn’t spell very well, and I’m not sure I had a good understanding of the alphabet. In fourth grade I wrote my first official story. Two years later came my first “indie” publication. And in eighth grade I typed my first full-length novel. All were mysteries, and the novel had a romance subplot.

 

 

Do you write in a number of genres or stick to one?

 

In short stories, I’ve been published in mystery and romance. Now I’m concentrating on contemporary romance novels, from sweet to lower-sensuality levels. They’re all focused on family, quirky characters, and small-town values.

 

 

Where on the internet can you be found?

 

Readers can reach me here:

 

Website https://www.barbarawhitedaille.com

Newsletter https://www.barbarawhitedaille.com/newsletter

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/barbarawhitedaille

Twitter https://twitter.com/BarbaraWDaille

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/barbara-white-daille

 

 

 

Saturday's Blurbs featuring mysteries by Judi Phillips #MFRWAuthor #Small town #mysteries #Romance

 

Secrets of the Heart – Heart to Heart Series, Book 1 

A small town filled with Secrets.  What can go wrong for Robyn and Gregg?

 

When, Gregg Hollister, a Department of Marine Resources agent, arrives in Robyn Cushman’s hometown of Tide Rock, Maine, undercover, to investigate a growing problem among the lobstermen, there's bound to be trouble. Especially since Robyn’s brother is Gregg's main suspect, and he thinks small towns are boring backwaters.

 

Secrets abound. Gregg is keeping them from Robyn. Robyn's father tries to keep them from his easily stressed wife. Robyn's sister-in-law is keeping them from her husband. Robyn's partner and best friend has been keeping one for years. And the person guilty of all the incidents, is keeping one from the whole town.

 

Can Robyn survive the test of her family loyalty and learn that all secrets are not bad? Can Gregg risk loving a family member of his main suspect?  Or, will secrets tear Gregg and Robyn apart?

Available from Amazon Kindle and KU:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BPKX1HW

 

NEW RELEASE (even though it's the second book)

Fears of the Heart – Heart to Heart Series, Book 2

Kenzie Rivers is on the run from Vegas. Todd Cushman is running his uncle's restaurant. When trouble arrives in Tide Rock, can Kenzie and Todd overcome their fears of the heart?

 

Kenzie Rivers fled Las Vegas after running afoul of the wrong people. Seeking sanctuary with her Aunt Jane in Tide Rock, Maine, Kenzie finds a job singing with the house band at Jimmy's, the popular local restaurant.  She’s settling in to her new life, but what if trouble has followed her from Vegas?  Will she bring danger to her friends and family?

 

Todd Cushman's uncle has convinced Todd to give up lobsering with his father and become the manager of Jimmy's, his uncle's restaurant after Jimmy's nephew dies in a boating accident.  Although wary from a marriage gone wrong, Todd is intrigued by this exotic arrival in his small town, but workplace romances are never a good idea.

 

Spending time with Todd, Kenzie is more than attracted to him, but she doesn't do long-term relationships.  Spending time with Kenzie, Todd is scared by his growing feelings for her.  He doesn't want to lose the woman he loves again.

 

Can Kenzie and Todd overcome their fears of the heart?

 

Available from Amazon Kindle & KU:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GL2GT4T

Available from Barns & Noble Nook:  https://bit.ly/3ho0Z91

Available from Rakuten Kobo:  https://bit.ly/2FvLfTT

 

 

Whispers in the Heart – Heart to Heart Series, Book 3

Nikki and Tony have history.  Can they heed the whispers in their hearts?

 

Nikki Cushman is the new interim President of a small credit union in Portland, Maine.  She knows there's bound to be trouble when she discovers Tony D'Angelo is assigned to handle the transition audit.  He does not know he is the father of her twelve-year old daughter, Angie, and Nikki wants to keep it that way. 

 

They are forced to work together to investigate isome fraudulent accounts.  When threats are directed at Nikki and Angie, can Tony and Nikki listen to the whispers in their hearts?

 

Available from Amazon Kindle & KU:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GZ4Q40E

 

Friday Judi Phillips is Visiting and talking about Who She Was Before #MFRWAuthor #Mysteries #Small town #New Mexico

 

First of all, thanks, Janet, for inviting me to share on your blog.  I appreciate the opportunity.

 

Before I became an author, when I was a kid, I read Nancy Drew mysteries.  I remember one of the stories involved black widow spiders, and I raced upstairs on my way to bed, terrified they were going to get me.  Now, many years later, I live in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the land of black widow and brown recluse spiders.  However, they are people afraid, and I almost never see them.  When I do, they scurry away to hide.

 

Later, as a teen, my mother introduced me to romance novels and I devoured them.  Around 1987 or 1988, I decided to try my hand at writing and combined my love of mystery and romance and never put my keyboard aside.

 

I write small-town cozy mystery romances.  Not sure that's exactly a genre, but it best describes my stories.

 

My  latest release is Fears of the Heart, released days ago on Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook and Rakuten Kobo. 

Kenzie Rivers is on the run from Vegas. Todd Cushman is running his uncle's restaurant. When trouble arrives in Tide Rock, can Kenzie and Todd overcome their fears of the heart?

 

 

Right now, I'm working on a series of short stories that I want to release in serial format, .  Each chapter is approximately 4 to 5 pages in length and there are 5 chapters in each story.  There are 7 stories in all.  These are 'sweets' and appropriate for 14 year olds to read.

 

You can find me here:  http://judiphillips.com/

on Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/judi.phillips.writes/?hl=en

on Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/judi.phillips.50

posts random blog at:   http://sugarspice-judi.blogspot.com/

or follow her on Twitter:  @judiphil

You can watch trailers for her books at

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTUJo-C1MCZhbjIEsC_8vHg

Drop in anytime.

Thursday's Third Scene from Murder and Poisoned Tea #MFRWauthor #Small town mystery #mint tea

By the end of February, the committee had eliminated all but three of the twelve applicants for the full-time position as music director.  Though many churches are trimming their music programs, St. Stephen’s can afford to expand.  A trust fund insures the presence of a full-time director even if the minister can’t be paid.

                After our schedules for visits had been set, I stopped in the parish office to see Edward.  The secretary, another Mary, showed me in.  Edward jumped to his feet and held a chair for me.  His large book-lined office had a small conversation area near the French doors that overlooked the garden.  Last night’s snow covered the lawn and the flower beds with a blinding blanket of white.

                “You’ve found an organist,”  he said.

                “We’ve selected three candidates and have set our first trip for next Sunday.”

                He rubbed the balding spot on the top of his head.  “Can’t the process be hurried?  I can’t believe we’ll have an Easter season without a...an outstanding organist.  It’s never happened before.”

                “The substitute and I will bumble along.  We won’t have a new organist before fall.”

                “But the Passion Sunday Evensong --”

                “I’ve found an excellent quartet, but I have to let them know this week.”

                His pout reminded me of one from a child who has dropped his candy in the mud. “If you must.  This is such a disaster.”

                “Hardly.”  I rose.  “Should I submit bills for our expenses or will you give us money from petty cash?  We’ll need money for gas and meals.”

                “Submit the bills.  The Vestry prefers that.  This group isn’t as trusting as others in the past have been.”

                I left the office and headed home.  Sunlight glared off the banks of snow lining the walks.  Bits of old ice formed ragged patches on the concrete.

                “Watch your step, Mrs. M.”  Pete Duggan, my neighbor and a local police officer, fell into step beside me.  His down jacket nearly matched his dark red hair.  “Last time you had an accident, you got involved in a murder.”

                “Then I’m glad you’re here.  Once was enough.”

                His hazel eyes twinkled.  “What happened to the knife?”

                “What knife?  I don’t remember.”

                “Right.”  The knife he referred to, the one used to kill my tenant, lay on the bottom of the Hudson River.

                We reached the corner.  “I’m crossing here.  I have to see Beth Logan about church business.”

                “Beth Logan?”

                I laughed.  “Don’t tell me there’s an available woman in town you don’t know.  She’s a widow.  She and her six year old son live in the old Perkin’s house.  Sings in the choir and is a nurse at the hospital.”

                “Haven’t had the honor.”  He grinned.  “Church business -- missing robes -- vanished communion wine?”

                “Nothing criminal.”  I studied him and wondered when he’d settle down. 

                “So what are you up to?”  he asked.

                “Acting as temporary choir director and heading the search committee for a new organist.”

                “Good for you.  Should keep you out of mischief.”

                “I’m crushed.”

                He laughed.  “I don’t believe you.  Let me walk you to her house.  Maybe you’ll introduce me.”

                “Beth is not to be trifled with.”

                His eyebrows lifted.  “You wound me.  When I’m involved with a woman, I’m serious.”

                “For a limited engagement.”

                “Someday I’ll surprise you.”  He held my arm and steered me across the street.

                A child’s laughter rang clear.  “Bigger.  Let’s make it bigger.”

                “Then how will we get the head on the body?”  Beth asked.

                “Maybe I can help,”  Pete said.

                Beth whirled.  Her eyes narrowed.  Then she saw me andher expression relaxed.

                Robby eyed Pete.  The boy’s blond hair stuck out around the edges of his blue knit hat.

                “Beth, this is Pete Duggan, a friend of mine.  He decided to help an old lady across the street and found me instead.  You’re home early.”

                “It’s a comp day.  I have to work this weekend.”

                “Then I’m glad we don’t begin our visits until next week.  Just left Edward.  He wants us to finish the search yesterday.”

                While Beth and I talked, Pete lifted the snowman’s head and placed it on the body.  “Why don’t you wait in the house?”  she asked.  “The snowman is my project.  Your friend seems to have taken over.”

                “He has a habit of doing that.  Let me help, too.”

                When the snowman had button eyes, a radish nose and a bright green scarf instead of Beth’s favorite blue one that her son had tried to liberate, she invited us in for hot chocolate and cookies.  The sight of a box of store-bought cookies made me wince.

                “Pete, here’s my key.  There’s a tin of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies on top of the refrigerator.”

                He caught the key ring.  He looked at Robby.  “Want to come with me?  I think they want time for women talk.”  He winked.

                “Egotist.  It’s church talk.”

                “Can I go, Mommy?”  Robby asked.

                “Let him.  He’ll keep Pete honest.”

                Pete laughed.  “What’s the matter?  Don’t you trust your favorite cop?”

                “Are you really a policeman?”  Robby asked.

                “A policeman?”  Beth echoed.

                “I’m surprised you never met him when you worked in the ER.  I’m sure he’s been there a time or two.  He’s all right.  Used to be my paperboy.”

                Beth tucked a scarf in the neck of Robby’s jacket.  The door closed behind them.  She stood at the door and watched until the pair reached the top of the driveway.  She turned.  Sadness glistened in her eyes and I knew she’d thought about her dead husband.  “Let’s finish before they return.”

                “Do you have the next three weekends after this one off?”  She nodded.  “Good.  There are five of us.  I think we should take two cars.  The first church is a two hour drive and more than a half hour of Judith’s company and I’ll start twitching.  Then there’s Ralph.  I’ve finally contracted intolerance.”

                She laughed.  A mischievous twinkle cleared the last trace of sadness from her eyes.  “I’ve got intolerance, too.  We’ll take my car.  It’s small.”