Thursday, September 26, 2013

Aloha to Shana Galen and TRUE SPIES

True Spies

Shana Galen is a busy writer, delivering two historical series to her faithful fans!  She joins me today for a cozy chat to celebrate the release of TRUE SPIES, Book 2 in her Lord and Lady Spy series ...

Kim:  I am sorry that I could not attend RT in Kansas City this year ... but you did!   What did you learn from your fans?    

Shana:   I missed you, too! I don’t think I saw you at RT or RWA this year. I hope you’re coming to RT in NOLA. I think RT just reminded me that my readers are fabulous. They’re really fun to hang around with and go all fangirl about favorite authors like Julie Garwood just like I do. Readers also told me they can’t wait for TRUE SPIES, so I hope I don’t disappoint.

Shana at RT/2012 in Chicago.

Kim:  I am also sorry that I could not attend RWA in Atlanta ... but you didn't.  What did you learn from your fellow authors?

Shana:  The fun thing about RWA is seeing all my author friends. I had breakfast with the girls from the Jaunty Quills, and we laughed and joked and even dis a little bit of planning for the blog. I also met with some authors to plan a short story anthology we’ll put out in October. It can be fun, after years of working alone, to collaborate with authors you like to read.

Shana volunteered at RWA/12 in LA.

Kim:  You contribute to two blogs - The Sisterhood of the Jaunty Quills and Peanut Butter on the Keyboard. What at the rewards and challenges of being a member of both blogs?

Shana:  Actually, I contribute to three blogs because I’m also a member of the Casablanca Authors blog. The JQs and the PBKMoms are very different blogs. At the PBKMoms, we just blog when we have time, and we blog about stuff that might not be appropriate for a blog like the Jaunty Quills.  Most of our posts have little to do with writing and a lot to do with topics moms and grandmothers and even women in general find relevant. PBKMoms came out of the fact that we were all emailing each other for advice anyway, so why not make the conversation public? We’re excited we have some regular readers. The Jaunty Quills is more a place for readers to come and learn about books, writing, Mia Marlowe’s fabulous travels, Kristan Higgins’s funny stories, and so on. Behind the scenes, the JQs are much more business-oriented in that we want to make sure we have something new for readers every day.


Kim:  I am excited to review TRUE SPIES - tell us about it and what inspired it.

Shana:  TRUE SPIES came about because readers asked for more after LORD AND LADY SPY. That was supposed to be a stand-alone book, but I might have ended in such a way as to encourage readers to want another book. They did, and not only am I releasing TRUE SPIES, but there’s another LORD AND LADY SPY book coming in 2014 (LOVE AND LET SPY). Plus, Blue got a novella, THE SPY WORE BLUE, which went on sale in August.

TRUE SPIES is a nod at the film True Lies with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis. Like in LORD AND LADY SPY, TRUE SPIES is about an estranged married couple. They are trying to save their marriage as well as England and the royal family from a madman and his nefarious plots.

If You Give a Rake a RubyWhen You Give a Duke a Diamond


Kim:  What's next for Shana Galen?

Shana:  The last book in the Jewels of the Ton series will be out in March. It’s Lily’s story and titled SAPPHIRES ARE AN EARL’S BEST FRIEND. Thanks so much for having me back!

TRUE SPIES BY SHANA GALEN- 
IN STORES SEPTEMBER 2014

He's Getting Tired of Deception...
Baron Winslow Keating is honor-bound to finish one last mission as an elite spy for the Barbican group even though he just wants to go home and be with his family. But after years of secrecy and absence, his daughters hardly know him and his wife has given up on him...

She Wants to Try a Little Intrigue...
Lady Elinor has had enough of domestic boredom. She contemplates an affair with a rakish spy, only to discover a world of intrigue and treachery that she never knew existed. Even more shocking, her neglectful husband is suddenly very attentive—quite the jealous type—and apparently there is much more to him than she ever knew...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shana Galen is the author of fast-paced adventurous Regency historicals, including the Lord and Lady Spy Series, the Jewels of the Ton Series, as well as the Sons of the Revolution Trilogy. A former English teacher in Houston’s inner city, Shana now writes full time, and is working on more regency romance novels! She’s happily married to the Ultimate Sportsfan and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making. Shana loves to hear from readers: visit her website at www.shanagalen.com or see what she’s up to daily on Facebook and Twitter.

To Purchase True Spies:
Amazon

True Spies

I posted my five star review of TRUE SPIES on Amazon (link) and Goodreads (link).  Sourcebooks is giving away a print copy of TRUE SPIES to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment - do you have a favorite "spy" movie?  

2.  Sourcebooks' giveaway is open to residents of US and Canada.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, September 28, 10 pm in Baltimore.   I'll post the winner on Sunday, September 29.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Lord and Lady SpyThe Spy Wore Blue





48 comments:

  1. I have been curious about Galen's books for some time. I have heard from various authors about her. But let's see favorite spy movie. The only ones that comes to mind is James Bond. The only ones I've seen is with Pierce Bronsan. Something about him. Rawr.
    I've seen true spies and Mr and Mrs Smith. Wasn't too impressed.

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    1. Raonaid, you will like my next in this series then. It's titled LOVE AND LET SPY.

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  2. can't wait to read this.....
    Favorite spy movie Shining Through Michael Douglas, Melanie Griffith, Liam Neeson.

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    1. Ann, I LOVE that movie. I know it gets panned by critics, but it is also one of my favorites.

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  3. I have to agree with Ann Alba about Shining Through. It is truly a favorite and I can't tell you the number of times I have watched it.

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    1. Karen, I'm so excited! Two of you love that movie. Me, too!!!

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  4. I just got my copy today so don't enter me. I did like Mr. and Mrs. Smith. And of course anything James Bond.

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    1. catslady, I think you'll like the last book in the series, LOVE AND LET SPY. Enjoy the book!

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  5. I like the older James Bond movies with Sean Connery.

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    1. I enjoy those too, Felicia. The last book in the series is LOVE AND LET SPY :-)

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  7. I don't watch many movies to begin with and hardly any spy movies but I did like True Lies. I think it was because it also focused on the couple's relationship.

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    1. Maureen, spy movies aren't my chosen genre, but I did watch quite a few as research for the book. TRUE LIES was one I knew would make a good story for a book.

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  8. I think you'll like my last book in the series, Danielle. It's LOVE AND LET SPY.

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  9. I love James Bond. :)

    I love reading your blog on PBKMoms. :) I can definitely relate!

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    1. May, did you read the PBK Mom blog today? Brought tears to my eyes.

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  10. Hin Shana and Kim,

    There's no need to enter me into the contest, as I already have "True Spies". My favorite "spy movie" is, without a doubt, the Bond movies, with the original and only spy that I loved, Sean Connery.

    I've loved all of your books Shana, and am truly excited that we have another one to look forward to, in "Love and Let Spy".

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    1. Thanks, Diane! Connery is and was the best Bond.

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  11. Hi, Shana and Kim! Shana, I love your books and am looking forward to reading this one.

    My favorite spy movies were the James Bond movies starring Sean Connery. I have them all on DVD.

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    1. Thanks, Cathy! You sound like a true fan of the genre.

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    1. Those are definitely some of the best spy movies, chey.

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    1. Oooh! Good choice, Liz! That's one of my favorites.

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  14. Well, I don't get to see many movies, so I don't really have a spy favorite. This book sounds really good though. Thanks for the chance.

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    1. Martha, you sound like me. I'm usually reading, not watching movies. :-)

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  15. If I ever get to a reader con I am going to track down Shana! And lucky her, she gets to sit behind those beautiful covers. :)
    I love James Bond movies, when they do the marathon in December my husband and I snuggle on the couch and eat popcorn.

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    1. Lexi, I hope you can make it. I love to meet readers--and it makes it more fun than just sitting there. Sounds like a fun and romantic movie marathon.

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  16. Replies
    1. bn100, you must know that's also one of my favorites!

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  17. I'm with bn100, Mr and Mrs Smith. Loved it. I also love Shana Galen and her books. I'm reading Jewels of The Ton.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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    1. Thanks, Carol! There are spies in that series too! :-)

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  18. I like the original Bond movies with Sean Connery. I like the Bourne movies with Matt Damon, but he's really a reformed assassin, so maybe that doesn't count! Mr. and Mrs. Smith and True Spies were both fun movies.

    I'm looking forward to True Spies. Thanks for visiting, Shana.

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    1. I think the Bourne movies count. I saw a couple of them and they seemed like they had spies r undercover agents in them. Thanks for stopping by, LSUReader

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  19. Mr. and Mrs. Smith is fun. And I do like the newer Daniel Craig James Bond movies. I could watch him in anything. :)

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  20. To be honest, I don't really watch spy movies. I have been trying to think of one I like. None come to mind.

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    1. How about The Scarlet Pimpernel? That started my interest.

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  21. My fave "spy" movie is True Lies. I know this book is a "nod" to that movie, but truly I just about died watching that movie! I'm of the era that liked Get Smart so I like a mystery & humor combo. jdh2690@gmail.com

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    1. It's a really funny movie. What's your favorite line? Mine is "But they were all bad."

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  22. besides the more recent 'True Lies' and James Bond 'Casino Royale', I saw an older movie that was great fun with Angela Landbury as Mrs. Polifax. I love the witty repartee along wight suspense and adventure of 'spy' stories.

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  23. I know that you said 'movies' but I adored 'I Spy' the tv show... with Robert Culp and Bill Cosby... and now I look back and see the show as also being ground breaking..

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