E. Jamie : The Author Interview

Welcome fellow Rebel E. Jamie!

Thanks so much Kate for letting me play in your sandbox today! Let's see, a bit about myself... I live in Toronto Canada and love penning passionate tales that leave the bedroom door wide open! I love writing across all erotic sub genres from contemporary to historicals! In my spare time (HA!) I love to read, explore my city, (total bookstore junkie!) watch TV and dish up some delicious creations. Cooking feeds both the culinary and writing muse so I'm working on a cookbook too!

How long have you been writing?

I'm been writing since I was about 11. Always romance. I don't think I've ever written anything that didn't have romance in it. Even before I should have been, I was writing steamy romance! 

What/ who inspires you?

Oh I can get inspiration from literally anywhere. Just the other day I had a dream about a romance where the hero is an older man who is an ex-priest! Definitely filing that one to work on someday. As for people, writers I look up to and chat with, writers who's books I adore (including but soooo not limited too Paullina Simons and Diana Gabaldon, Eloisa James, Julia Quinn, La Nora...etc etc) If I ever find my motivation lagging, I find reading books about writing also helps get me in the mood to write! 

What do you struggle with as a writer?

Setting. Without fail! I'm very much a dialogue driven writer. I love putting my characters in a room and having them just interact and both verbally...and ...ahem...'physically' I'm very good and adding the drama and creating these incredible intricate plots but I find I always have to go back to set the scenes and flesh things out. I have trouble grounding my characters in places and giving the reader somewhere to picture the characters. They're all pretty much just a bunch of bobbling heads in the first draft!

Do you participate in workshops, writers groups or classes? Why or why not?

I don't really because I find you'll get too many differing opinions on what needs work in your story and then you're go 'round and 'round trying to fix what everyone thinks you should fix. It also takes a pretty heavy level of involvement reciprocating when someone critiques your work, because of course you want to if someone was kind enough to help you. There already isn't enough hours in the day to work on my own book, to look over someone else's and offer advice? That takes a heck of a lot of time. I only do it when I'm not already working on something. Now that I've garnered some success in this business, that doesn't often happen because you always want to be working on something new so your readers will always have something to look forward to!

If you work a day job, how do you balance writing with your day-to-day career?

It's VERY hard. I work a day job that's actually in the evenings so I can get some writing done before work and stay up late doing some more after work, but it never seems to be enough! I can only make really good word counts on my days off. I tell myself not to be too hard on myself though because every word I do get in is one word more than I would have had if I hadn't written. Everyday, I try and get in at least some writing. Someday soon I'll be able to quit the day job and just write full time. That's every writer's dream, I know.  

How do you prepare to write? What do you do to get in the right frame of mind?

Definitely music or the TV has to be on. I need to have some kind of noise in the background.If I'm not in the mood to write I'll visit some writers blogs or forums and that usually gets me pumped up so I can start. Writers's video blogs and podcasts too. I love hearing about other writers processes.

What genre of writing would you love to try?

I'm pretty happy writing erotic romance, but I would love to also write for the Harlequin Presents line. I love their alpha males and exotic locales. Blaze would be awesome, but that's sticking with what I write now. They're pretty erotic. HP is more sensual, not as explicit. If they ever do a mish mash of Presents and Blaze, I'll be in heaven! 

What's your guilty pleasure?

Ketchup chips. I'm not so bad where I'll polish off a full bag as I write but I'm sure I'll get there! They're so good, even though they're bad for you...kind of like a yummy bad boy!

What are you totally obsessed with right now?

Oh gosh, the TV show The Borgias! I adore that show. It's based on the historical family who ruled Rome in the 15th century I believe, and were all kinds of debauched and delicious and evil. Gotta love sexy period dramas!

Thanks again Kate for having me on your blog! I'd love to share an excerpt from my historical erotic romance Resistance Book One-The Arrangement by Rebel Ink Press that your readers can pick up here: All Romance Ebooks

He was overseeing an execution. Three of the prisoners from another block were being hung for trying to smuggle in food from the officer’s kitchen. She jumped as she heard Friedrich bark the order to the other officer to release the trap doors and she closed her eyes when she heard the door drop open and the sound of the rope, pulling on the top beam as the bodies fell. When she opened her eyes again, Friedrich was walking away, his body rigid, his fists tight as his sides.

She wanted to go to him but feared the guards would stop her or somehow make things even worse for Friedrich. She’d never asked him if he’d killed any of the prisoners himself. She was afraid of the answer. Now it had been brought to her with ice cold reality and her first thought was to go to him, to comfort him.

Was she truly a disgrace to her people, the way some of them accused her of being?

He didn’t come get her. She didn’t know if it was because he knew she wanted to spend her last day with Ania, or because the other officers were putting an end to their arrangement, or if it was that he didn’t want to face her after what he'd done.

“Which one is Friedrich?” Ania asked, coming up next to her, making her jump in surprise.

“He’s not out here right…” Elsa stopped as she spotted him leaning against one of the brick walls, staring up at the sky with his eyes closed.

“That him?” Ania asked.

Elsa didn’t answer, held still as she watched him.

“….think he’d get mad?” the little girl asked.

“What?” Elsa asked, trying to focus back on her sister.

“You said he was helping me get away. That’s a nice thing. You think maybe he’s nice and they’re just forcing him to do bad things?”

“I…don’t know.”

What would be the best answer? To be honest and say that yes, she believed he was a good man forced into this horrible situation? Would that put him in even more danger with his fellow officers or superiors? Or lie and say that he was just as evil as the rest of the Nazi’s and hadn’t put Ania’s name on the list out of any honourable motivation.

The little girl was leaving tomorrow. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to tell her.

“Well, that’s what I think. Do you think he would get mad if I said thank you?”

Elsa bit her lip. “I don’t know if that’s such a good idea, Ania.”

The little girl looked sad for a moment but then lifted her chin and squared her thin shoulders and walked towards him before Elsa could stop her.

“Ania!” Elsa hissed but she had no choice except to follow her.

Friedrich looked panicked as Ania walked up to him.

“Elsa said it’s ‘cause of you I’m going to be free tomorrow.”

“You shouldn’t have brought her over to me,” Friedrich cringed, looking desperately at Elsa. His eyes were red.

“It’s okay. I don’t want you to get in more trouble. I don’t think you’re mean like the other ones,” Ania said, looking up at him.

“For God sakes…” Friedrich pleaded.

“I just want to say thank you. That’s all.”

“Fine, now get out of here, dammit!” he hissed, but the words came out choked and Elsa’s heart squeezed in her chest when she saw the tears in his eyes.

“I hope some day you can be free, too,” Ania concluded and turned and walked away from him.

Friedrich’s gaze met Elsa’s and she saw the pain he was in before he turned on his heel and rushed off, leaving her standing there, wanting to take him in her arms and comfort him.

 Your readers can find me on my blog at: http://ejamiesmuse.blogspot.com/ and my website: http://ejamie.net

Thanks so much E. Jamie and best of luck with your new release!

Top Ten Tuesday : The Low Notes Fun Facts

10. There were about 4 different versions of chapter one.

9. The senior concert was originally a 1960s theme and Nina’s song was “All I See Is You” by Dusty Springfield.

8. In the first version of the manuscript Nina’s mother was present.

7. I wrote almost the entire first full draft in a hair salon.

6. When I was in high school I started writing one version where Kevin had a girlfriend in the beginning. He and Nina met at a movie theater.

5. Chapter one originally started from blind date Lynn’s point of view

4. The layout of Wexley Falls High School is nearly identical to my own high school.

3. Another attempt had me writing it as a screenplay! I even story boarded a first scene.

2. Before editing for publication the manuscript had lyrics to seven different songs in it!

1. There might be a sequel in the works with a minor character taking on a lead role...

And those are just the top ten things you didn't know :) Imagine what else I could be hiding! If you haven't purchased your copy of The Low Notes yet you can get it on Amazon, Barnes&Noble.com, Bookstrand, and ARe.

Guest Author : Melissa Keir

Thank you Kate for having me over to visit with you and your followers today.  I’m excited to share about my life and writing with you.

I wear many different hats in my life.  I’m a wife, mother, full time elementary school teacher, editor with Inkspell Publishing, book reviewer with Sizzling Hot Books, and author.  Many people ask me how I find time to fit it all in.  I’m very organized first of all.  I have a schedule that I follow in order to get my work done in a timely manner.  And for me, timely means ahead of time.  In 10 days I have midterm reports going home on my students and I’ve already been working on the reports and have them mostly completed.  Using a calendar to keep track of my schedule, I write down any blog visits, promotions, important upcoming dates and other information.  I also use the mail feature to sort and keep track of my emails regarding important information on my writing.  

Sometimes something does have to give and often my family feels the brunt of the lost time.  I bring my laptop with me everywhere and often am working or checking in on work during the evening hours.  But I wouldn’t have it any other way.  I really enjoy keeping busy and would go crazy without something to do.  My husband likes to remind me that the summers are challenging for me because without the daily classroom activities I tend to go crazy.  It is because of the extra time on my hands that I started reviewing books.  Then writing my own stories followed.  Since my husband works at home, he is able to work during the times that I am also working so we are both working at the same time. Of course since my children are all young adults, they are often off with their jobs, college or dates and aren’t needing as much time as they did when they were younger.  All in all, it works for us.

My family understands and supports my writing.  My father, sisters, aunt, husband, and children have all read my books and enjoyed them.  They are able to make connections to the other people in my life and the things that excite me.  Even some of my students are excited to know that I’m a published author.  They can’t believe that the writing that I am teaching them daily could become a passion when they are older.  One of my former students is even a published children’s author in her own right.  She was very highly received when she came into the classroom to read her story about Dewey and the water cycle.

I’m also able to write in a variety of places from the couch with the fur babies lying next to me, to the kitchen island or the bed.  I love that my computer can go with me to all these places and be available when my muse is hot! Each of the different jobs that I do have pluses and minuses but I love them all and couldn’t imagine my life without them.  Now to just keep all my jobs straight! ;-)

 Now a little about her newest release

Second Time’s the Charm is a tale of a divorcee who doesn’t believe in love anymore.  Her ex-husband hurt her emotionally and made her self-conscious of her sexuality.  But when she meets her best friend’s ex-husband, sparks fly and she must decide if she is willing to take a chance on love again…especially with someone who was once married to her best friend.

Here's an excerpt from the book:

Returning shortly with coffee and candy bars, he shared his feast as we sat lost in our own thoughts. While my guess was his thoughts were of concern over his son, my thoughts were all about the carnal man sitting across from me.

Watching him peel open his candy bar was tantalizing and seeing him bring the chocolate to his full bottom lip in a slow tease made my insides turn to jelly. I wanted to be the one he was feasting on. Then he ran his tongue over the tip of the candy bar. No no no! my mind argued. He's Chloe’s ex-husband. An enemy of my friend is my enemy or something like that. This is wrong. He looked up at that moment and caught me watching him and heat flooded my face as he walked over to the seat next to me.

“Do you want what’s left of my candy bar?” I offered sweetly, holding it out towards his generous lips.

Alex opened his mouth and slowly bit into the chocolate bar. “Thanks. That hits the spot.” He grasped my hand. “But you’ve got melted chocolate right here.” He ran his tongue over my fingertips.

My stomach clenched thinking about his lips on other parts of my body.

“I'm glad you're here. Not that this is the best way to meet or the best time to do this but,” he swallowed hard. “I’ve been bugging Chloe for information on you for the last year, ever since I saw a picture of you at her place. I can’t get you off my mind. I’ve been hoping we'd run into each other or that Chloe would take the hint and just introduce us. Will you go out with me sometime?”

Oh, my gosh. I can’t go out with Chloe’s ex. That would be a disaster waiting to happen. Sure, he's gorgeous and sexy, but what will Chloe say?

“Ummm.” I couldn’t think clearly with his tongue running over my fingers. “Sure. I guess so.” What am I doing? He's gorgeous and I’m just plain old me. He can have any woman in this place and he's asking me out? What mess am I getting myself into?

  

You can purchase Second Time's the Charm from any one of these links:

Bookstrand

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

All Romance

Melissa Keir has always wanted to be an author when she wasn’t hoping for a career as a race car driver. Her love of books was instilled by her mother and grandparents who were avid readers. She’d often sneak books away from them so that she could fantasize about those strong alpha males and plucky heroines. In middle school and high school, Melissa used to write sappy love poems and shared them with her friends and still has those poems today! In college her writing changed to sarcastic musings on life as well as poems with a modern twist on fairy tales and won awards for her writing. You can find many of these musings along with her latest releases on her website and blog.

As a writer, Melissa likes to keep current on topics of interest in the world of writing. She’s a member of the Romance Writers of America and EPIC and other writing organizations.  She is always interested in improving her writing through classes and seminars.

Melissa doesn’t believe in down time. She’s always keeping busy. Melissa is a wife and mother, an elementary school teacher, a book reviewer, an editor for a publishing company as well as an author. Her home blends two families and is a lot like the Brady Bunch, without Alice- a large grocery bill, tons of dirty dishes and a mound of laundry. She loves to write stories that feature happy endings and is often seen plotting her next story.  Melissa loves to hear from readers.

Many thanks to Melissa for stopping by to chat! Be sure to check out her work and find out more about her from any of these links.

www.melissakeir.com

www.facebook.com/AuthorMelissaKeir

twitter: @melissa_keir

Guest Author : Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

To understand why I find the 1940’s and the World War II era so romantic, you’d have to hear a little family story.  It begins sad, as so many stories do.  My grandmother was widowed in 1943 at the age of twenty-eight with four children, two boys, two girls.  Her cousin and some of her friends encouraged her to begin dating within a reasonable time frame.  Since she already wrote to her many cousins serving in the war, one of her friends suggested she write to one more, the friend’s uncle, a man just a few years older than they were.  So my grandmother did and a relationship grew as the letters written on the brittle Air Mail paper of the time flew back and forth between St. Joseph, Missouri and the Philippines. 

 

By the time the war ended, she and her soldier wanted to meet in person but just because the war was over didn’t mean everyone got to come home immediately.  They continued to write and when he was discharged, the man I grew up knowing as Grandpa came back to my hometown of St. Joseph.  He arrived late at night and when he walked to the address where he’d sent all those letters, everyone was in bed.  So he decided to just wait until morning.  Despite the autumn chill in the air, he rolled up in his Army overcoat and slept on the front porch.  When my grandmother came out to get the milk – delivered by the faithful milkman – she discovered the soldier she’d been writing to in person.  They were married a few months later.

Romantic, isn’t it? I always thought so.  Their story isn’t the story told in my new historical romance from Rebel Ink Press, In The Shadow of War, but the love story between Bette Sullivan and Private Ben Levy is just as poignant, as sweet.  

Here’s the details, the blurb and a little taste:

In The Shadow of War

Her great-granddaughter wants to know if Bette remembers World War II for a school project and her questions revive old memories….

Small town school teacher Bette Sullivan's life was interrupted when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor on December 7th 1941 but her world changed forever when she met Private Benny Levy, a soldier from the Flatbush neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York stationed at Camp Crowder, the local Army base.

Their attraction is immediate and mutual but as their relationship grows their love and lives are shadowed by World War II. As the future looms uncertain the couple comes together with almost desperate need and a powerful love they hope can weather anything, including the war.

Here's an excerpt:

                “I missed you, doll,” he said afterward. “God, I missed you.”

                 Warmth blossomed within her chest and she smiled at him. “I missed you too, Benny. Saturday seemed so long and I didn’t know if you could come this morning. I worried you might not make it.”

                “Me, too,” he said. “I almost missed the bus anyhow because the company sergeant griped us out because the barracks weren’t neat enough to suit him.  Yesterday turned out lousy, all day.”

                “Why?” she asked. “What happened?”

                “What didn’t?” he said. “Jeez, they made us go on a long hike through the back country, for hours in the heat.  I picked up every tick and chigger in the world, I think, got mosquito bit, and worn out.  Two of the guys fell out with heat exhaustion and ended up at the post hospital.  My feet and ankles itched me like crazy. Even the darn Army boots didn’t help me from getting eaten by the insects.  I swear the buggers crawled into my boots.”

                “Aw, honey, I’m sorry,” Bette said, using the endearment for the first time. “Do the bites still itch?”

                “Not so bad,” he said. “Back in barracks, some of the guys said to soak my feet in bleach water so we begged some from the laundry.  It helped.  Then after dinner they called me over to the motor pool to fix a jeep and I got to bed late just before final lights out.  I’m beat and that’s a fact.”

                Bette paused and faced him. “Would you rather go rest or something?”

                “Naw, sugar, I’m fine.  I need some Joe and I’m hungry, too.  I just got a couple of hours so let’s go eat and spend a little time together, okay?”

                “It’s fine with me,” she said.

                They ate at a different café and she introduced him to biscuits and gravy, something he vowed he’d never eaten before but said he liked.  Afterward, with time passing too fast, he suggested they walk down to Big Spring Park again but she had another idea.

                “You look so tired,” Bette said.  He did with dark smudges beneath both eyes. “If you want we can go sit in the porch swing at Aunt Virgie’s or in the front room.”

                Benny shook his head. “I’ll catch a nap later this afternoon, if I’m lucky.  I’d like a few more kisses and I doubt your parents would like us spooning out on the porch.”

                “I forgot they’re there,” she replied. “So, okay, let’s go to the park.”

                Another couple beat them to the grotto, so they wandered around the park until they found a vacant bench in the shade.  A few kids played on the teeter-totter and swings, their happy babble setting a bright mood.  Benny put his arm around her and Bette snuggled against him with a contented sigh.  For a few minutes they sat, comfortable with the pose and content with each other.  She’d already come to associate his scent with security and she inhaled it, saving it up for when she’d be alone.  As they rested in easy silence she savored the harmony and as they lingered Bette noticed their breath came in tandem, in and out with the same rhythm as if they were one, not two.

                Just as she opened her mouth to remark on it Benny took her face and turned it toward him.  With slow deliberation he kissed her, unhurried with such sweetness she forgot to breathe for a few seconds.  His lips caressed her mouth with a fine light touch, as soft as hair blown across her face with a gentle breeze.  Such tenderness evoked the same within and yet triggered desire, too.  Benny cherished her mouth with his, his lips sending shivers through her body despite the hot day, little spirals of chill strong enough to make goose pimples erupt on her flesh.

                Bette responded with her mouth, a hankering for something deeper and more intimate rising in her with the force of a rising wind.  She sensed how great it would be to lose her consciousness by drowning in her senses, by molding her body into his.  Bette, virgin as the mother of God, ached now for the pleasures of the flesh.  Every old wives tale ever heard about sex being dirty or painful or nasty evaporated faster than snow in March and for the first time in her life, she decided sex could be wonderful.  

                His kisses stirred Bette’s body even as they induced emotion, too sweet to be sinful.  Her body responded to his mouth the way a good corn crop ripened beneath the sun’s warmth.  As her limbs relaxed she leaned into him, one hand holding tight to his arm so she wouldn’t lose balance to tumble from the park bench onto the grass.  The kiss lasted forever, but not quite long enough when Benny paused so they could both breathe again.

                “Oh,” she said with wonder. “Benny, that’s nice.”

                “Nice, she says,” he responded with mock outrage. “Just nice? I call it splendid, fantastic, superb, supreme…”

Thanks Lee Ann for stopping by! Be sure to get your copy of  In The Shadow of War at any of these places:

Barnes & Noble Nook

Amazon Kindle

Bookstrand

All Romance Ebooks

Top Ten Tuesday : Support An Author

We can't all be Stephenie Meyer or Stephen King right out of the gate. Some of us need help and the most helpful people are readers! Here's a list of easy and (mostly) free things you can do to help your favorite authors.

10. Buy the book

Sounds easy enough but it really does help. Especially on websites like Amazon, the number of purchases pushes a title higher on their list which means it gets seen and recommended to more people who might not have found that book on their own.

9. Ask your local bookstore for the book

Whether it's a mom and pop establishment or the last remaining big chain bookstore, ask them to carry your favorite author's title. Yes, a lot of what determines whether or not a book is carried in a certain store has to do with a publisher. But there's no hurt in showing a bookstore that there is a demand for a title they may not carry.

8. Bump up helpful reviews

Online review sites can help or hurt authors and their book sales. If you see (or write) a glowing review, take a second to click 'yes' to the question 'was this review helpful'. Well written reviews being at the top of the list can attract new readers who are searching for a good book.

7. Follow an author's blog, Facebook, Twitter

We love page views on our blogs and 'likes' and retweets! All of these things make us happy and they have the potential to increase our exposure since your friends and followers can see your activity.

6. Share links on Facebook

So much of today's advertising is done via social networking. When you see a link to an author's blog or their amazon purchase link, you should share it on your own page. It only takes a second.

5. Hashtag your tweets

Any author would love to be trending! #TheLowNotes ? Um, yes please!

4. Pin a book cover from Amazon or Barnes & Noble to Pinterest

Some people are very drawn to cover art. Yes, these people actually judge a book by its cover! If you pin an authors book cover from a purchase link anyone who has a look will be directed to the best place to buy it!

3. Attend signings and Events

Take a nice Saturday or Sunday and go to a book signing. Meet a local or traveling author and show your support. If you know a local author make sure you attend their launch parties and other events. It's a great way to show support and to show the community that artistic events are worthwhile.

2. Review, review, review

Reviews are key. So many online buyers base their choices off of reviews. It only takes a little of your time to sit down and write about how you enjoyed the book. If you didn't enjoy it, you can still review but always keep Thumper in your head. If you can't say something nice...don't say anything at all.

1. Tell your mother, your brother, your sister and your friends!

Word of mouth has been and always will be the best form of advertisement. People trust the ones closest to them and a lot of time they have the same tastes. If you like a book, don't think twice about telling people that they might like it.

The Low Notes : The Soundtrack

Movies get a soundtrack so why shouldn't a book? The funny thing about this soundtrack is that there have been so many versions starting with one in high school. There aren't any songs on this version that came from the original but I had to stay true to my story. These are the songs and artists that played in my head and on my computer while conceptualizing, writing, editing and ultimately submitting.

1. Save Your Love For Me by Jane Monheit
2. Masters in China by Priscilla Ahn
3. I Fall to Pieces by Patsy Cline
4. Dreams by Brandi Carlisle
5. Our Day Will Come by Katherine McPhee (from the TV show SMASH) *
6. Oh Dear by Brandi Carlisle
7. I Want You To Want Me by Letters to Cleo
8. Wicked Game by Gemma Hayes
9. I've Got to See You Again by Norah Jones
10. The Blower's Daughter by Scala and Kolancy Brothers
11. Make You Feel My Love by Adele
12. Feels Like Home by Chantal Kreviazuk
13. Sea of Love by Cat Power
14. Say Goodnight by Beth Neilsen Chapman
15. Wreck of the Day by Anna Nalick
16. Bluebird by Sara Bareilles
17. I Won't Give Up by Jason Mraz

* Originally I preferred the version by Amy Winehouse until I saw the episode where Katherine McPhee sang this song. It's too perfect not to include.

So there you have it. I hope some of you take the time to listen to a few of these songs. A lot of them are fantastic and unexpected covers. It's clear I love music and so do Kevin and Nina. You can purchase The Low Notes here!

The Low Notes by Kate Roth

This is truly a dream come true. I am officially a published author. Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me and supported me along the way. I'm so excited to share this work with the world. You can find e-book copies of The Low Notes at all of the following websites:

Amazon (for Kindle)
Barnes & Noble (for NOOK)
All Romance Ebooks
Bookstrand

Paperbacks will be coming soon to Amazon!

The Low Notes : Excerpt

Tomorrow is the big day!!! Here's a little sneak peek for you. Come back tomorrow for all the links to where you can officially purchase The Low Notes.





“Look, you know what I mean. I can’t take back what I said and I’m not saying I didn’t mean it but... I’m your teacher and what happened shouldn’t have happened,” he said, trying to sound convincing.
Nina scoffed at him. “We both know you’re not just my teacher.”
Kevin ran a hand through his dark hair and sighed again, glancing back at her.
“Okay, maybe I’m not but there are rules,” his voice faded out as Nina stood up and came toward him, her eyes fixed solidly on him. It's now or never, she thought. She’d had a lot of time to think about how she really felt and now was the time to tell him.
“Screw the rules,” Nina said, coming dangerously close to Kevin, her hands almost touching him as he sat paralyzed on his desk.
“Come on,” he whispered a plea.
“I'm serious,” she replied in the same hushed tone.
Kevin drew in a ragged breath as her hands moved forward and slid over his knees slowly. She saw him shift uneasily though he didn't stop her. His eyes flashed to the door. The hallway was empty. The bell had blared a while ago and they were missing the assembly.
“Haven't we been through enough? We've tried fighting it but what's the point? Sometimes rules need to be broken. I think it's time we say screw the rules and do whatever we want,” she said, reaching up to run her fingers through his hair.
Nina was nervous being so forward with him but she’d already decided he was what she wanted, no matter the cost. The only thing she knew might be difficult would be pulling the truth from him as to whether he wanted her, too. The lines in his forehead softened as he
searched her face with his chocolate eyes. She could see him giving in.
He began nodding before he let his hand reach out to cup her cheek, his thumb sweeping over her lips, parting them.
“Whatever we want,” he repeated in a whisper. Her lips curled into a smile under his thumb.

Save Your Love For Me

The following includes lyrics to Save Your Love for Me originally performed by Nancy Wilson

Wish I knew
Why I'm so in love with you
No one else in this world will do
Darling please save your love for me

You could say the first lyric is applicable to my relationship with this song. When I was first writing The Low Notes I knew I needed a song for my heroine Nina to sing so I went in search of a jazzy standard and this was what I found. I fell in love with this song. Every word seemed to be written for me and for Kevin and Nina. Back before I even considered having this novel published, when it was just my baby, I chocked it full of song lyrics including this one. Little did I know the road I would be going down.

Run away
If I were wise I'd run away
But like a fool I stay
And pray you'll save your love for me

I can feel it
Even when you're not here
Can't conceal it
I really love you my dear
And though I know no good
Can come from loving you
I can't do a thing I'm so in love with you

I kept the lyrics in even when I sent it in to my publisher. They told me if we could secure the rights I could keep them in! I was so happy...until I started searching. First the trouble was finding out who actually owned the copyright to the song. It was days of internet searches and sending out inquiry emails. Then I found the source!!

So darling
Help me please
Have mercy on a fool like me
I'm so unwise but still I plead
Darling please save you love for me

I can feel it
Even when you're not here
Can't conceal it
I really love you my dear
And though I know no good
Can come from loving you
I can't do a thing I'm so in love with you

I emailed the company that owns the song and filled out the proper request to use the lyrics in a print/ebook format. I was told to wait fifteen to twenty days for a response and though I checked my email every day like a crazy person, I did get a response in a timely manner. Mind you, all of this was keeping me from having a release date set in stone. We were toying with either a May or June release and because I was waiting on the lyrics I was thinking more like June, maybe even July if need be. 

So darling help me please
Have mercy on a fool like me
I know I'm lost but still I plead
Darling please save your love for me

Ultimately, when I heard from the music company they wanted payment for the rights to the song and the terms just weren't right for me. I thought it over and realized that losing the song didn't take away from my story it simply took away the lyrics. I was sad at first and maybe there will be a time when it makes me sad again or just nostalgic for that first baby draft. Either way anyone who reads the book will know that Nina is singing this song as it is still referenced in title only. So I took this opportunity to share with you the lyrics. Hopefully once you've read the book you'll see why I hold this song in such high regard in terms of my romance.



You can have fun with the crowd
But for crying out loud
Darling please save your love for me

I'm glad the Internet has no rules and that I could share these lyrics with you in some form. In just two days you'll be able to get a copy of The Low Notes! Come back tomorrow for an exclusive excerpt from the book.

The Happiest of Birthdays

I started 25 with the biggest birthday party of my life! My dearest friends and family members all came out dressed to impress for my Prom. We danced the night away and I rang in my 25th birthday with a lot of love around me.

Me and my prom king, Adam

Now it's a year later and I feel that same amount of love as I celebrate not only my birthday this week but also the lifelong dream of becoming a published author. In just three days I'll be getting the greatest birthday present ever, my name on a book for the world to read!

Best. Present. Ever.

This past year took me on so many adventures. I started with a fantastic birthday bash and the fun never stopped. I went to a handful of amazing concerts and even traveled to London! Ending my 25th year just days before the release of my first novel is simply perfect.

Thank you to everyone who made this last year (and all of my 26 years) so wonderful. Here's to one hell of a week and hopefully the most exciting year so far!

Hop To It 2.0

Today I'm with Holley Trent on her blog! She conducted a great interview. I had a lot of fun answering her questions. Check it out!

Holley Trent's Blog

One Week

In seven days I'll officially give myself a new title. Author. My debut novel The Low Notes will be available to the world. Next week is all about the book so be sure to check in starting on Monday with my 26th birthday celebration. It's all happening.

Top Ten Tuesday : Hot For Teacher

As we get closer to the release of The Low Notes it's time we start digging into what it's all about. Having the hots for a teacher isn't a crime, especially if they happen to be fictional! So here is my top ten list of hot fictional teachers from TV and movies.

10. Lisa (Weird Science)

Okay so she's only a substitute gym teacher and I'm not sure she was actually hired by the school but I'm sure no guys out there are that concerned about the details.

9. Mr. Delacorte (Bad Teacher)

It's Justin Timberlake. In my opinion that's enough right there to put him on the list despite the fact that his character in this movie has plenty of goofy and cringe-worthy moments. It's Justin Timberlake.

8. Mr. Schuester (Glee)

He can sing, he can dance, what more could I want? Gotta love the episode where Rachel starts to crush on him after they sing a duet of "Endless Love".

7. Mr. Saltzman (The Vampire Diaries)

He came on the show as the new teacher and ended up being a vampire hunting badass. Nowadays he does less teaching and more fighting but he's still the hottest teacher at Mystic Falls High.

6. Professor Lasky (Saved By The Bell : The College Years)

Yes he is incredibly 90's, I know but I still adore him. The entire reason he was introduced on the show was so he could hook up with Kelly Kaposki and I think we all know how I felt about that.

5. Professor Jones (Indiana Jones)

Chances are if you're taking his class he's going to be absent quite a bit (he's busy stopping Nazis people!). But Professor Jones is hot enough to make you want to write secret love messages to him on your eyelids. That's serious hotness.

4. Ms. Jacobs (Dawson's Creek)

She deflowered Pacey Witter. Their story ended up being pretty sweet. I remember literally gasping when I found out she was returning for an episode in season 2.

3. Mr. Giles (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Technically he's not a teacher, he's the librarian but who cares. He's one of my favorite characters on one of my favorite shows and he just happens to be a foxy member of the Sunnydale High School staff.

2. Mr. Fitz (Pretty Little Liars)

Um, hi. First, look at his face. Next, be aware of the fact that he has a very saucy relationship with his student Aria on the show. Epic kisses and all.

1. Mr. Coulson (Never Been Kissed)

The sexiest of the list! And for the handful of scandals on the list his happens to be the most appropriate and the least illegal. I adore this movie and the way it handles the teacher/student romance.

Note: I think the hottest fictional teacher would have to be Kevin Reed. You can't have a picture of him but you can meet him on May 17th when The Low Notes is released!