I wanted to share the good news that I received the contract for book 2 in my NovelTea series (NovelTea Next Door) this weekend for the Crimson or Romantic Suspense line at The Wild Rose Press. And a couple days later I already had my cover.
This story is about 4x the length of the original so I was able to delve a little bit more into the characters and develop a real case for them to solve together. It is written in first person just like #1 except this time it comes from the hero’s perspective. Writing as a man for an entire story was a challenge but in the end I was very happy how it turned out. It still has a light fun tone along with the suspense. Here is the blurb for you:
Second in the NovelTea Series:
Government agent Grant Gerard knows he’s cocky. It’s the reason he can do this job day after day. He’s always kept his life simple and uncomplicated…until destiny took a turn when he met bookstore/tea shop owner Juliet Truesdale.
Armed with a new lead pertaining to known criminal spook, Alexis Guthrie, Grant enlists Juliet to aid the investigation which ends up at the door of her neighbor, Adam Trudeau. This investment banker neighbor of hers seems harmless enough despite his annoying interest in Juliet. Will this turn of events only usher in more dangerous or even deadly situations for the duo? Can Grant allow Juliet into his heart and keep her safe from the danger looming in the distance?
I’ll be posting another excerpt soon. Stay Tuned!
Well, I just finished re-reading What a Girl Wants by Kristen Billerbeck in preparation of working on one of my own in this genre. What genre might that be?? Well, Chick-lit of course.
So, before I get into Ms. Billerbeck’s book let’s talk about Chick-lit. What is this odd sounding genre which makes me think of gum (chicklets)?
Chick-lit is primarily about young women in their 20’s or 30’s dealing with life. It contains a light, humorous and most importantly confiding tone—almost always in the first person. The themes focus around love, relationships, friendships, professional dilemmas, and a penchant for fashion—usually facing hilarious and embarrassing situations. But what it all comes down to is the heroine figuring out herself and what she really wants out of life. There is usually some kind of epiphany that blows her mind away and finally she can see clearly about what she really wants—or more importantly—needs.
I really enjoy reading Ms. Billerbeck’s Ashley Stockingdale books. Her heroine has her flaws and is not perfectly beautiful. The true love interest in her life (there are several possibilities) is not the drop dead gorgeous type, but still as Ashley is apt to say…Be Still My Heart! It is a thoroughly engaging read. I love the voice of Ashley and find myself relating to her even though I’ve been married for…far too long. The last three or four chapters are an agony because you want to know how it is all going to work out so you MUST keep reading. A true test of a good book! If you have never read Chick-lit, this is a good place to start. I thoroughly recommend it.
I am so happy and excited and thrilled that I am finally finished writing NovelTea Next Door – the sequel to A Night of NovelTea. I wrote the first one in about 2 weeks and this one took me about 4 months to complete. Oh, but I think it’s good. This one took awhile because first of all it all comes from our hero’s (Grant) perspective. This time Grant and Juliet are working on an operation together investigating Juliet’s neighbor who just might be involved with a dangerous international crime spook – a chameleon. There is a whole lot more character development in this one. You really get to know Grant and Juliet as well through his eyes. It is also about three times as long as the first one. What a relief to be done…well, until the editing begins. But that is another story, so to speak. I’ve put up an excerpt for this story today. Enjoy!
I can hardly believe a New Year is already here; although, we seem to say that every year. And now that it is here it is time to make all those resolutions that we can never keep, right?? Well, I never waste my time with it to be honest, but I am trying to reschedule my life so that things flow a bit smoother between writing and home life. I hope all of you out there had a pleasant holiday season and are looking forward to another splendid year.
I do have a bit of joy to shout out. On December 23rd I found out that my very first novel, The Spirit of Christmas, published last December with By Grace Publishing, was nominated for a CAPA award at the Romance Studio in the Contemporary category. CAPA stands for Cupid and Psyche Awards. Books are nominated by the reviewers themselves as the best in each category that year. Well, I can tell you that I was completely surprised. This was mostly because it was published so long ago and yet someone still remembered it enough at the Romance Studio that it was nominated. Take a look at all the nominees – http://www.theromancestudio.com/capa.php
And have a very Happy New Year!