Aloha to J.J. Montgomery and GUN FOR HIRE - Romantic Suspense on Maui!

I am excited to host J.J. Montgomery today with her debut novel, GUN FOR HIRE, set in my beloved Hawaii:

The job should have been easy—patrol a swank beach that serves as a backyard for Maui’s rich, kick out the riffraff, and get a tan in the process. But rent-a-cop Samantha Winters didn’t anticipate a deliciously grumpy cop, Sergeant Grady Roark, who comes down to the beach to bust her chops and instead leaves her breathless…and wondering why the one man who could help her seems determined to thwart her at every turn.

Grady is keeping secrets from Sam that have him walking the line between attraction and duty. But when Sam becomes the target of a shadowy organization, Grady will have to choose between the law and the temptation of a woman who has him breaking every rule he’s ever known.

The job should have been easy, but when the bullets start flying, Sam learns nothing is as easy as it seems when you’re a Gun for Hire.

Amazon | The Wild Rose Press 

I invited J.J. for a cozy chat ... from her bio (link),

I now live in Bogota, Colombia with Romeo, Little Man, Princess Pretty and a rescue mutt better known by her informal name, No-No-Bad-Dog.

So how do you keep a full time job, mother two children and a dog, move to a new country every couple of years and publish a novel? I’m hoping to figure it out! Check out the blog for updates on whether or not I’m still sane, or you can reach me on Twitter, Facebook, or my favorite, Instagram.

Kim:  Bogota - what is your favorite sight, sound, and smell?

J. J.: Oh, I love Bogota so much. It’s going to be hard to narrow it down! Sight: Parque El Virrey on a sunny Sunday when there are just hundreds of people, dogs, and children wandering around enjoying life. It is so vibrant and truly, what they say about Colombia is true – Colombianos are the most beautiful people on earth, inside and out.

Sound: The sound of Bogota during Semana Santa – when everyone leaves town! It’s a really congested city, and then all the sudden there is this magical week where it’s just so peaceful. Still the same gorgeous place but with half the decibels.

Smell: Carimañolas frying. They’re these stuffed fritter things they make on the coast from a yucca dough. Yucca is a root vegetable and it turns into this lighter-than-clouds dough – it’s like eating a meat filled donut. I cannot express to you how delicious these things are.

Kim:  Frequent moves - what do you collect from each country where you live or visit?

J.J.: My husband and I wanted to collect paintings from every place we went, but that hobby got real expensive real fast. It resulted in one spectacular painting from Italy that convinced us we’d need much better paying jobs if we were going to keep that up! I’ve scaled back and now earrings are my thing. My favorites are this dangly green pair I got from Puebla, Mexico. And I recently had the joy of buying my daughter her first big girl earrings from the gold souk in Dubai. That place was incredible!

Kim: Maui - what inspired you to set GUN FOR FIRE on the Valley Isle? 

J.J.: I grew up in Oregon and Maui is a direct flight from my home town. My family used to go there for vacation. My best memories of my young life and my family happened on Maui. I got engaged to my husband on a cliff overlooking Honolua Bay. My son’s first swim in the ocean happened on Kamaole I beach. I would say that choosing Maui as the setting for my book really came from a place of love and respect for that gorgeous island.

Mahalo, J.J. for sharing GUN FOR HIRE with us!  J.J. is hosting a giveaway at this link:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

and offers an excerpt below.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

“The sunlight was intense after a half hour in that gloomy space, but I squinted hard and kept moving toward a narrow set of steps down to the parking lot. Grady walked a few paces behind me, and if he heard the crinkle of paper as I moved, he elected not to say anything. 

Grady hit the remote to his truck and grabbed for the passenger side door, his hand light on my elbow as he helped me up. Paper crackled as my butt hit the seat and Grady’s eyes narrowed. Without a word, he slammed my door and went around to the driver’s side, climbing up into the cab and stabbing the keys into the ignition.

“So, I—” I hesitated as I shifted in my seat and my movement was accompanied by the distinct sound of cardboard bending.

“No,” Grady muttered, and clicked on the radio. “No talking.”

“But—”

“Shh.” Grady put a finger to his lips, his eyes still on the road. “Any minute you’re going to tell me about the felony crime you just committed. And then I’m going to have to deal with the fact that I was an accessory to a felony crime."

“Umm, yeah.” I reached around to the back of my pants and eased the file folder up from my waistband, working it out slowly so as to not lose anything as Grady headed up the hillside toward his house. As I brought it around to look at it, the red block letters damning me to years of incarceration should I get caught, a muscle ticked in Grady’s jaw.

“You stole classified documents.” He shook his head from side to side.

I looked up at Grady and then down at the mangled file with the red Top Secret heading. I took a corner of the front sheet and ripped across the width of the page, separating the words “Top Secret” from the rest of the paper.

“They’re declassified now.” I crumpled up the classification and shoved it in my pocket.

Grady sighed.

I shrugged and opened the file.” 

Aloha to Candis Terry and A BETTER MAN (Sunshine Creek Vineyard) - Author Interview

My fellow Avon Addict, Lisa, interviewed Candis Terry to celebrate the release of A BETTER MAN, Book One in the Sunshine Creek Vineyard Series ...

Lisa:  Firstly, congrats on the release of your ninth full length novel and first in the brand new Sunshine Creek Vineyard series, A BETTER MAN. Even through you are a total veteran now at this whole "New Book" thing, do you still get the same excited, nervous, mixed emotion with each release?

Candis: Thank you so much! I’m really excited about the new series. The Kincade brothers are super delicious, and this time around I got to include a little mystery.

Honestly, I don’t see myself as a veteran. I’m still learning so much about writing a better book. So for me, each book really feels like the first. I usually get a hard copy a couple of weeks before the release date and the minute I hold it in my hands I feel like I’m getting ready to go to prom. Seriously. All those happy tickles going on inside my heart are like the popping of the cork on a champagne bottle. With a new series I always get very nervous because I really hope my readers will enjoy the new characters as much as the last.

Lisa: How do you feel your writing had grown from SECOND CHANCE AT THE SUGAR SHACK, your debut release with Avon, to now with A BETTER MAN? What is the one thing you have learned that stands out for you looking back?

Candis: I’m reaching outside of boxes I didn’t even know I had! I think the one thing I’ve learned (with the help of my amazing editor, Amanda Bergeron) is to really dig deep into the characters and their situations. More than just a fun story (which I hope they are), I want the reader to get the emotional pull so that they feel like they’re right there in the pages with the hero and heroine. When I receive a note or letter from a reader saying my stories made them laugh and cry, I can’t even describe the absolute satisfaction I feel. Because that’s my ultimate goal–making the reader happy.

Lisa: What are two of the biggest hurdles you have had to jump in order to make your writing career a success?

Candis: Oh my gosh, there have been so many. Balancing a day job, my family, and my writing. Battling self-doubt (probably the biggest one). Finding a new flavor of frozen pizza my family hasn’t suffered through yet. J

Lisa: Do you as an author feel like you have accomplished the goals you set for yourself? Is there anything that stands out for 2016 that is an "I WANT" in terms of goals?

Candis: In the beginning, my only goal was to write a book good enough that a publisher would want to buy. It took me twenty-two years to make that a reality, so anything beyond that was frosting on the cake. I never dreamed I would be the first of anything. But I was the first for the Avon Impulse line and the first to be moved to mass market. I never imagined that my books would be best sellers. Inside this crazy mind of mine, I’m still the chick who plugged away on manuscript after manuscript for years without any success.

I’m not the kind of person who ever asks for much for myself, so an “I want” in terms of goals is difficult. Of course I’d love to be a NYT bestselling author, and I’d love to win a RITA. But truthfully, I really just want to write really good, heartwarming stories for my readers. Without them I’d just be writing for myself, and my characters would be very sad and probably bored as heck with me.

Lisa: For anyone who doesn't know, you didn't become a traditionally published writer until your daughter was a grown adult. Do you have any advice for aspiring authors who think it's too late for them to begin a writing career?

Candis: Yeah, it took me twenty-two long, tough years. I was just too darned stubborn to give up. I came close a couple of times, but as my husband always said, it’s my passion, so why would I quit. My favorite quote is from the movie Galaxy Quest. “Never give up. Never surrender.” If writing is your passion, stick with it. If publication is your goal, there are a dozen ways to make that happen these days. There are pros and cons to writing when you’re older, just as there are pros and cons to writing when you’re younger. There is never one perfect time and one perfect career. I’m a believer that life is what you make it. If being an author is your passion and your dream, make it happen and enjoy whatever opportunities come your way. I’m now heading into my sixth decade of life. Do I wish I could have become a published author sooner? Not really. I think it happened when it was supposed to. And I’m enjoying it every bit of the way.

Lisa: You have had a host of different careers in your life as you mention in your website bio, "From working in a Hollywood recording studio to a graphic designer in marketing; from schmoozing with the likes of Charleton Heston and Motley Crüe". Do you ever use your "past life" as a muse for a story line, a character or a setting?

Candis: I use a lot from my personal life in stories, but it never has anything to do with meeting celebrities (although that was always fun). It does, however, have everything to do with personalities, and lives, and the stories they tell. The characters and settings I write about are a lot more grounded than some of those who live behind a mansion’s security gates. But I could tell you stories about those days. Oh yes I could. ;)

Lisa: One of my many problems when it comes to your romances is that you have too many amazing heroes to choose from, and I can never decide who is my favorite. Some have been my "first", some have stolen my heart, some have made me swoon, and some have made me laugh out loud. Do you have a favorite hero among the bunch? The one who gave you the hardest time, the one who made you cry, the one who you let lead the way?

Candis: Ah, come on! That’s like asking who is your favorite child. But since you asked . . . yes, I do have my favorites. For different reasons. I always compare my heroes with a bag of M&Ms. Each one has a different substance (because, you know, there are regular, crispy, and peanut butter M&Ms now) and each has a different color to his personality. I’d like to note that not a single one of them has ever let me lead the way. I write alpha males. They don’t like to be led by anything or anyone. Specifically, the hero who gave me the hardest time would be (hands down) Jackson Wilder from Sweetest Mistake. I love him, but we argued the entire time I wrote his book. He was hot-headed and passionate about everything and I could barely keep him reined in. The one who made me cry? Well, there are three. Matt Ryan from Second Chance at the Sugar Shack broke my heart so hard I had to stop writing until I could get my stuff together. Reno Wilder from Anything But Sweet because he was such an amazing guy who’d had such a tough life. And Jake Wilder from Truly Sweet. Jake was a hero from head to toe who was so afraid to live life that he made my heart pound through his entire book. The sexiest? Jesse Wilder from Something Sweeter. Jesse. Yeah. Whew!

Lisa: Where do you see your career headed in the next few years? (aside from hitting USA Today and NYT's wink wink).

Candis: I really have no idea where it’s headed. With the generosity of my readers I hope I’ll still be writing books. I have so many ideas in my head there’s no way I could ever write them all. But I’m going to give it a damn good try.

Lisa: What do you hope that readers take away from your romances? Who are the kind of readers that you think your books will appeal to?

Candis: I’d love for my books appeal to everyone. Realistically, if a reader likes blood and gore they’re not going to like my stories. If a reader is looking for a story that is fast-paced, fun, emotional, and heartwarming, then I think we’ll get along just fine. Oh, and if they like pets, because the little furry guys in my stories bring a whole lot to the page. I hope my readers take away a great amount of satisfaction and that my little tales of love hit them in just the right place in their hearts.

Lisa: And lastly...I know that you are a HUGE romance reader as well as author...I need your Top Five Romances of All Time.

Candis: Good grief! Only five? Have you ever seen my paperback keeper shelf or the library on my Kindle? It’s insane. Okay, okay, I’ll try to narrow it down.

1. Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I have two copies of this book because the first one got so dog-eared from me re-reading it so often. Three words. Bobby Tom Denton. Sigh.

2. Whitney My Love by Judith McNaught. Such a wonderful read. My heart pitter-patters just thinking about it.

3. Truly Madly Yours by Rachel Gibson. Another book I have two copies of. Nick’s love for Delaney is just so tortuously sweet and wonderful I will never get enough.

4. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Hey, I’m a Scot, so sue me if I’m crazy over Jamie Frazier and his kilt.

5. Son of the Morning by Linda Howard. Just a breathtaking story with amazing characters. And okay, yeah, another Scot. Can’t help myself.

This has been so much fun! Thank you so much!

In Candis Terry’s first novel from in her Sunshine Creek Vineyard series, the handsome Kincade brothers convene to rescue their legacy-but the last thing they expect to find is love….

Sooner or later…

Hockey star Jordan Kincade wasted no time ditching Sunshine Creek for the NHL, but his sports career has overshadowed everything else-a truth Jordan confronts when his parents’ deaths bring him home. Now his little sister Nicki is flunking out of school, and only one teacher can help Jordan save her-the shy but incredibly sexy Lucy Diamond, the same girl whose heart he broke years ago. But he’s determined not to make the same mistake twice. If only Lucy would give him the time of day.

Love has a way of catching up with you.

Lucy has no intention of drowning in Jordan’s deep blue gaze again, even if he seems to have turned over a new leaf. Still, his devotion to his sister is impossible to ignore. As they team up to salvage Nicki’s future, Lucy soon discovers that Jordan’s sweet caresses and lingering kisses might just be everything she needs.

Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

Wine tun at Heidelberg castle
Public Domain (link)

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash, including Candis Terry books, to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1. Leave a comment about vineyards - have you visited any? I visited several vineyards along the Rhine River when I lived in Germany.

2. Comments are open through Saturday, April 16, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3. I'll post the winner on Sunday, April 17.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Heidelberg Castle

Public Domain (link)

Aloha to Rachel Goodman and FROM SCRATCH

We recently moved from a rented townhouse to our own single family house with a great big stove!  But I'm that great of a cook.   Enter Rachel Goodman and her debut novel, FROM SCRATCH.  I invited Rachel for a cozy chat.  From her bio,

This is me: Mojito lover. Cheese enthusiast. Wanderluster. Book junkie. Romance writer. Engineered.

I am a Colorado native displaced in Texas and an engineer and university professor.

When I’m not creating optimization models or traveling the world, eating my way through city after city, I am usually tucked in the corner of a coffee shop, dreaming up stories and typing away on the computer.

I live in suburbia Dallas with my husband and two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels named Oliver and Rigby and collect Hard Rock Cafe shot glasses from each city I visit.

Kim:  Dallas! What is your favorite sight, sound, and smell of the Big D?

Rachel:  Love this question! My favorite place is White Rock Lake—Dallas's version of Central Park with cool little niches to explore. It's one of the best spots to experience wildlife and natural areas in an urban setting. It has a sort of woodsy-sweet scent that no one can really explain, and at all times of day you can find people gathering, picnicking, flying kites, jogging, cycling, kayaking, sailing. It's the perfect mirror to the city's soul.

Kim:  Eating you way through city after city ... you are my kind of gal! Can you share a funny story about exotic food?

Rachel:  My husband and I are avid travelers and choose to discover the heart and culture of a place through cuisine. We're very adventurous and will try anything once. Except fresh tuna eyeballs. That is something I have no desire to ever try again. The texture, the taste, the fact that an EYEBALL is staring at you, judging you, as you put it into your mouth—no thank you!

Funny enough, this story happened in my very own hometown. My husband and I live near a bustling Asian community in Dallas. One night we went to a local, authentic Japanese restaurant and the owner insisted we try the "house delicacy"—which, as it turned out, ended up being tuna eyeballs lightly sautéed in sesame oil, ginger, and soy sauce. But of course we didn’t know that when we agreed. The dish arrived, and at first I thought it was some weird-looking mushrooms in a kind of sauce. It was only after I put the eyeball in my mouth and forced myself to chew without gagging did the owner tell us what we were eating. I proceeded to promptly race to the bathroom and eject the contents of my stomach. At east my husband fared much better than I did and ate the dish so as not to appear completely disrespectful.

Kim:  I want to know what is your favorite cheese? Mine is Edam from the Netherlands.

Rachel:  Mimolette from Lille, France, which funny enough, was inspired by Dutch Edam. It's a hardy cheese that resembles a cratered cantaloupe, with a hard, craggy rind from the cheese mites intentionally introduced to add flavor and a bright orange center that is buttery, nutty, and rich. SO DELICIOUS. 

Kim:  Hard Rock Café shot glasses - we've collected the Hurricane Glasses (and then pilsner glasses) from our world wide travels with the military. My favorite is Cairo. How about yours?

Rachel:  Mine has to be London. It was the first shot glass I ever collected, even though I wasn't legally allowed to drink—I was fifteen and traveling abroad for the first time. That was the trip that sparked my wanderlust, so it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Kim:  Who or what helped you along the path to publishing?

Rachel:  My husband (cliché, I know). He's helped me keep my head above water and taken on so many responsibilities so I could pursue this dream. My close-knit group of critique partners and friends. They provided me with invaluable advice, honest feedback, and fostered the idea that I could create a book-shape thing. And my agent, Melissa Jeglinski, who has been such a cheerleader and advocate for me. She believed that my light contemporary romance could find a place in the market and she worked tirelessly to make that happen.

Kim:  Tell us about the FROM SCRATCH - what inspired it?

Rachel:  I’m heavily influenced by food (if that wasn't already obvious), so indulging in a meal that can simultaneously take me on an adventure and remind me of where I've been is always a fun treat for me. I also adore homecomings with a sprinkle of crazy relatives thrown in and second-chance-at-love storylines, so I wanted to write a book that incorporated all those things. Plus, it meant I got to partake in dessert every night as “research.”

I also wanted to explore the idea of a couple who got to experience that rush of first love as young teenagers—when everything is new and exciting and perfect. And then, as life is prone to do, the couple grew apart as they grew older. I wanted to explore the idea that sometimes a couple has to take separate, and sometimes painful, journeys to ultimately figure out what they want from life. But this time around, as wiser, more mature versions of themselves, they’re hoping for a different outcome. 

Kim:  What's next for Rachel Goodman?

Rachel:  SOUR GRAPES (sequel to FROM SCRATCH), releasing May 23, 2016 from Simon & Schuster/Pocket imprint, is about one of the characters in FROM SCRATCH who travels to rural wine country in Texas to fight for her own happily ever after.

I'm also currently drafting the first book in a new series that will, of course, have foodie elements in it.

Mahalo, Rachel, for sharing FROM SCRATCH with us!  Learn more about Rachel from her social media:

rachelgoodmanbooks.com

twitter.com/mojitomaven
facebook.com/rachelgoodmanauthor 

Amazon: link
Barnes & Noble: link
iBooks: link

Google Play: link
Kobo: link
Simon & Schuster Website: link

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about "from scratch".  Have you made anything - food, crafts, etc. - from scratch?  On Sunday, I take breakfast cake to church for our fellowship hour.  When the retired ladies compliment me on the cake, I respond I will pass along the positive feedback to Betty Crocker.

(for those outside the US, Betty Crocker is a prepackaged cake mix)

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, September 12, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winners on Sunday, September 13.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Patience Griffin, SOME LIKE IT SCOTTISH, and the Kilts and Quilts series

I have Scotland on my mind ... enter Patience Griffin, author of the Kilts and Quilts series.  From her bio, 

Award-winning author Patience Griffin has been sewing her whole life but didn’t discover her love of quilting until her late thirties. She decided the best way to acquire her first quilt was to make one for herself. At nearly the same time, she started commuting three and half hours a day for her dream engineering job. To pass the time on the long drive, she got hooked on audiobooks—especially books with love stories. Within a couple of years, she was writing stories of her own. It was no surprise to her family and friends when she combined her love of quilting, her small town roots, and her obsession with Scottish romances into novels. She has gained some recognition with her September 11th Story Quilt which has toured the country as the property of the Pentagon. She has a master's degree in nuclear engineering but spends her days writing stories about hearth and home, and dreaming about the fictional small town of Gandiegow, Scotland.

Patience joins me for a cozy chat ....

Kim:  Texas - what is your favorite sight, sound, and smell of the Lone Star State?

Patience:  When I moved from Iowa to Texas, the first thing that stood out to me was how big the sky was here and how blue. After eleven years, I’m still amazed by the big sky and the gorgeous shade of blue when I’m out walking in the mornings.

I love the late fall in Texas when the wind is blowing and my chimes outside my back door are singing to me.

Finally, the smell of the Lone Star State is epitomized in the aroma of Salt Grass Steak House. Pure yumminess.

Kim:  Tell us about the September 11 Story Quilt - I've seen it at the Pentagon.

Patience:  On September 11, 2001, I was home from work with my youngest child and watched on TV when the Twin Towers came down. Along with the rest of the country, I was devastated. To try to make sense of the tragedy, I made a story quilt of the events of the day.

When the quilt was completed, I wasn’t sure what to do with it. I spoke with the owner of Iowa Star Quilts, Cynthia Stary Drajna, and she suggested I donate it to the Pentagon. You can’t imagine my shock when I called the Pentagon, told them I had a quilt to donate, and they said, “Yes, let me connect you with the person who oversees the quilts.” I wasn’t the only one who had used quilting as therapy to get through those early days after the tragedy.

The quilt went on tour across the country as the property of the Pentagon. The woman in charge would send me pictures of servicemen and servicewomen hanging the quilts in their locations—Presidential libraries, big quilt shows, etc. My family was invited to Washington D.C. to tour the Pentagon when few others could get in. We were fortunate enough to see my quilt hanging in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center while we were in Washington.

For many years, I lost track of the quilt. Recently, while posting my quilts on Facebook, I came across a picture of the September 11th Story Quilt. I took a chance and made another call to the Pentagon to see if they knew what had happened to the quilt. Last I knew, my September 11th Story Quilt was hanging in the National Women’s History Museum. The operator at the Pentagon immediately connected me to the right person who said my quilt was indeed still around. The September 11th Story quilt is hanging in the Pentagon, along the tour route, and had been for several years.

I’m sure at some point, the quilt will be packed and stored away, but it makes me smile that so many people have been able to enjoy a quilt that gave me comfort to make.

Kim:  Who or what helped you along the path to publishing?

Patience:  The list is long, encompassing all of my family, RWA in general, and a few key people specifically.

From the first moment I said I wanted to write a novel, PhD (my hubby) and my three children have been behind me one hundred percent. My children love to write as well.

While I was working on my first manuscript, I found RWA on an Internet search which led me to my local chapter, Iowa Romance Novelists, and then to Dallas Area Romance Authors. Both of those groups are filled with giving, talented writers.

But the number one person who has been my cheerleader and mentor is Kathleen Baldwin who invited me to join her critique group when I went to her booksigning in the fall of 2004. I have been involved in the multi-genre critique group ever since. Grace Burrowes is someone else who I owe a lot to for being my champion. Finally, Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency is my wonderful agent who found the right place for my book and series. She has also answered a ton of questions for me along the way.

Kim:  How did you research for your debut series, KILTS AND QUILTS?

Patience:  First of all, I’m a quilter and have been fascinated with the strong bond within the community of quilters. Our group in Iowa met the first Saturday of the month where we sewed our projects together, had potluck meals together, and laughed together. I didn’t know it, but I think I must’ve been doing research even back then because my journals have little snippets from those times of us together.

I’ve bought a lot of books and have done a lot of reading about Scotland. I’ve spent a huge amount of time on the Internet pouring over photos and gathering information, and enjoying every second of the research hunt. Finally, I’ve gone to Scotland and traveled to many small fishing villages and other sites around the country. It’s incredible to walk in the same places that I’ve seen in the pictures that I love so much.

Finally, I think it comes down to putting it all together in my imagination. I grew up in a small town of roughly six hundred people. I’ve taken bits and pieces of what I know, what I’ve learned and experienced, and came up with Gandiegow and my other villages in Scotland. When people ask me if I have based my books on one specific town, the answer has to be ‘It’s a lot of places.’

Kim:  What's next for Patience Griffin?

Patience:  I’m off to Scotland in mid-September, doing research in a small fishing village and then I’m off on a quilt tour. I’ll be speaking at the International Gathering of Guilds in Glasgow while I’m there. I’m so excited about this trip that I’ve been packing for weeks! While I’m in Scotland, I’ll be finishing book five in the Kilts and Quilts series, The Trouble with Scotland, release date April 5, 2016.

Right now, I’m also gearing up for the release of The Accidental Scot, book four in the Kilts and Quilts series, which comes out December 1, 2015. For anyone who quilts, the next Quilt Block contest will be starting near the end of September which will ultimately lead to us giving away then next quilt by the end of the year. I’ll post the contest details around September 15th and of course, send out a newsletter to let people know.

Shortly, I’m going to start something fun on Facebook. I’m crazy about the feature quilt for The Accidental Scot, called the Gandiegow Hometown Quilt. I’m going to make time to get the quilt started—pick out some fabric while I’m in Scotland (with the help of readers), post pictures and videos of my progress, and hopefully finish the quilt in the next year. Here’s the draft of the quilt designed by Iowa Star Quilts. Cynthie wants everyone to know that this is a preliminary design because she plans to add a thistle applique around the motif. It will be lovely. But I can get started on the Jacob’s Ladder quilt blocks now. I hope everyone will help me pick out fabrics and join in the fun. 

But I can get started on the Jacob’s Ladder quilt blocks now. I hope everyone will help me pick out fabrics and join in the fun. 

Lastly, in October, I’ll start work on the sixth book in the Kilts and Quilts series. I know what the story is about but I don’t have a title or a release date yet. I’m having the time of my life with this series, writing about the quilters and the trouble they can get into.

Kim's picture from Alba

Mahalo, Patience, for sharing your love of kilts and quilts! Patience is giving away a copy of SOME LIKE IT SCOTTISH to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about quilts - do you have a treasured one?  I have three made by my husband's fourth grade teacher (and family friend).  She made one for our wedding, my oldest son's birth, and my youngest son's birth.  She make the final quilt two years after his birth, when we were living in the Netherlands, so she incorporated "Dutch boy" into the pattern. I look forward to hanging them in our new home (we are closing today, transforming us from renters to owners).

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 29, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 30.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Patience and her books at patiencegriffin.com.

Check out my review of her Rita nominated debut book, TO SCOTLAND WITH LOVE, at this link.  Stay tuned for more reviews from the Kilts and Quilts series.

Aloha to Tina Gabrielle and AT THE SPY'S PLEASURE

During my recent visit to the NJRW chapter, I invited Tina Gabrielle to be a guest here at SOS Aloha (she write my favorite genre - historical romance).  From her bio,

Tina Gabrielle, an Amazon best-selling author, is an attorney and former mechanical engineer whose love of reading for pleasure helped her get through years of academia. She often picked up a romance and let her fantasies of knights in shining armor and lords and ladies carry her away. Tina’s books have been Barnes & Noble top picks, and her first book, Lady Of Scandal, was nominated as best first historical romance by Romantic Times Book Reviews. Tina loves to hear from readers. Please visit her website to join her newsletter and enter her free monthly contests and giveaways.

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Kim:  Tell us about New Jersey - what is your favorite sight, sound, and smell of the Garden State?

Tina:  This is an easy one. The Jersey Shore is my favorite retreat. I’ve vacationed at Wildwood Crest since I was a young girl and we return every summer. I love the fine sand, the long stretch of beach, and the boardwalk with all its sights and sounds. The only thing that’s changed for me is that I now bring my own children to experience summers at the Jersey shore.

Coming in second place is my vegetable garden. True to New Jersey’s name of the Garden State, I grew up with a family garden. I have my own vegetable garden now, and I look forward to my beefsteak tomatoes each summer.

Kim:  You mention as a teen you had a scotch taped library card.  Can you share a favorite memory at the library?

Tina:  Our local librarians were wonderful ladies in my youth. I had a voracious appetite for reading, and I read all types of fiction. Romance was my favorite, of course. The library didn’t have a separate romance section back then. All the paperback novels were grouped together on two large shelves. I faithfully stopped by the library every week and borrowed a dozen books at a time. My library card was well used and most of the librarians would smile as they helped me at the check out desk. Things have changed, and the library now has a large romance section. It’s better than chocolate and I’m a true chocoholic!

Kim:  I am impressed with your resume! What have you learned from mechanical engineering and law that you can apply to writing romance novels?

Tina:  I learned how best to research in law school. I’ve also written romances with barristers. The hero of my most recent release, At the Spy’s Pleasure, is a barrister by day and a spy for the Crown at night. My Barrister series, In The Barrister’s Chambers and In the Barrister’s Bed, are Regency romances about sexy lawyers and the women who wreak havoc in their chambers and steal their hearts. I researched the criminal law system during the Regency as well how barristers lived and even what their chambers looked liked back then. I used real life experiences to write the courtroom scenes and put those feelings on the page. I had to be careful not to dump all my research into the book but to weave the historical facts with the fun, spicy romance. It was a lot of work, but so much fun to see the books published.

Kim:  Tell us about your books - what inspired them?

Tina:  I have always loved romance novels and admit that I am addicted to the happily ever after. Life has its ups and downs, but romance novels are wonderfully consistent. I’ve read plenty of literary fiction novels in school and I appreciate the talent behind each one, but they don’t leave me feeling happy, satisfied, and uplifted—only romance!

Kim:  What's next for Tina Gabrielle?

Tina:  I’m working on a new Regency romance series about the three daughters of an infamous art forger. I’m excited about the books. I’m an amateur lover of art and often visit the Philadelphia Art Museum across the river from New Jersey.

In the first book of the series, An Artful Seduction, the eldest daughter, Eliza, opens a print shop in order to survive after her art forging father abandons her and her two younger sisters rather than face imprisonment. Grayson, the Earl of Huntingdon, is a well-renowned art critic who was duped by Eliza’s father years ago and who is now seeking justice. But Grayson meets his match when he tries to blackmail the feisty Eliza into helping him find her father. The book was fun to research and write and it will be released in 2016.

Mahalo, Tina, for chatting with us today!  I have to catch up with your series In the Crown's Secret Service, including A SPY UNMASKED and the recently released AT THE SPY'S PLEASURE (stay tuned for reviews).

Tina is giving away two digital copies of A SPY UNMASKED To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about art - do you have a favorite artist or museum?  As cliche as it may be, I'm partial to Monet.  I've seen his classics during my first assignment in Boston (Museum of Fine Art) and my second assignment with NATO (Musée d'Orsay in Paris).  

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, July 18, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 19.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Andrew Peterson, Nathan McBride Series, and CONTRACT TO KILL

 

(using my best Dos Equis man impression) 

I don't often feature male authors on my blog, but when I do, I go for the best.  Thriller author Andrew Peterson joins me today for an intimate chat ...

Kim:  From your bio, you grew up in San Diego - a military town! Can you share a favorite memory of living in Southern California?

Andrew:  I loved seeing the air shows at NAS Miramar when I was a little kid. Being there heightened all my senses, especially sound—the incredible roar as the Blue Angels performed low-altitude flybys. I remember thinking that had to be the coolest job in the world and I’m betting those Navy and Marine pilots agreed with me! The Blue Angels still amaze me today. Seeing them at a young age is what inspired me to pursue becoming a pilot. I have a fixed wing license, but I primarily fly helicopters as a hobby. I just wish it wasn’t so expensive!

Kim:  Looking back at your BS in Architecture, can you apply anything from this technical career to your writing career?

Andrew:  That’s a tough question and I’ve often thought about it. I think it made me pay attention to detail. Architecture is math and physics melded with art. Buildings need to be structurally sound, but they should also be pleasing to the eye. Novels are like buildings in that regard. Although I don’t use architectural skills in my everyday life, it’s a good background to have. It makes me think about structure and creativity working together, not separately. Words, sentences, and paragraphs, are the metaphorical bricks, columns, and sheer-walls of a story and I work really hard to make each word count. On any given book, I spend 75% of my time editing and polishing.

Kim:  Thank you for your continued support of military families! What have you learned about vets while meeting them on your books tours, visiting VA hospitals, etc.?

Andrew:  That’s an easy question. Vets are my heroes. Although I admire their accomplishments, I don’t idolize Hollywood types, professional athletes, or musicians. My heroes are service members who put their lives on the line everyday to protect us. Hey, I know that sounds clichéd but I’ll risk it, because it’s the truth. I sleep well at night because they often don’t.

When I attended the USO Operation Thriller II tour to Afghanistan in 2011 with Clive Cussler, Mark Bowden, Sandra Brown, and Kathy Reichs, I was quite impressed by how professional and sharp our service members looked and acted. They were respectful and dedicated and we never saw an unkempt uniform. We traveled halfway around the world to acknowledge and appreciate them, but everywhere we went, they kept thanking us. It was a tremendously rewarding experience and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.

Many people don’t look at first responders in the same light as veterans, but law enforcement officers and firefighters face potentially life threatening situations every time they respond to calls, especially recently.

To every veteran and first responder reading this: Thank you for your service to America!

Kim:  You were one of a handful of men at the RT Booklovers Convention. Can you share a man's perspective among a sea of female fans?

Andrew:  I’ll have to admit, it can feel a little awkward. I’ve been to the last seven RT conventions, but I’m still getting used to them. Don’t get me wrong, I love the convention. Kathryn Falk and Ken Ruben (RT’s owners) are great people and their friendship is treasured. I’m sure it’s all in my head, but at times I felt like I was being undressed! After all, I was engulfed by a multitude of voracious romance readers. In all seriousness, I’ve never felt threatened because I don’t act like I’m single. I’m joyfully married and I dearly love my wife.

RT is a fun experience and it’s great hear to see so many people dedicated to reading. Romance readers cross genres and read thrillers; the types of novels I write. Over the years, I’ve come to think of RT like a giant family reunion. Every year, I get to catch up with friends and find out what’s new in their lives.

Kim:  Tell us about your Nathan McBride series - what inspired it?

Andrew:  I could write several thousand words on this subject, but I’ll spare your blog readers!

My inspiration can be found in the paragraph above, about vets. I wanted to make a Marine the hero of my stories, but I wasn’t sure what his role or background would be.

At the time I was toying with becoming a novelist, I was heavily involved with the NRA’s high-power rifle competitions and I became a precision target shooter. My friends and I would shoot out to 1,000 yards with match-conditioned M1As and M1 Garands. We didn’t use optics, only iron sights. Often, we’d be shooting in high-wind conditions, so I learned to make exact wind corrections – which I believe is the hardest part of long distance marksmanship.

Creating a fictitious sniper fit the bill for me and I really admired the Marines, especially the recon units. So Nathan McBride was born. I made him an officer, which is quite rare for snipers. Most, if not all of the Corps snipers are enlisted, but I wanted to make him a unique character in more than one dimension. He and his spotter, Harvey Fontana served as scout sniper team in the 1/8 (First Battalion, Eighth Marines – The Beirut Battalion) Nathan lost friends in the Beirut embassy bombing and he swore a personal oath to fight the indiscriminate murderers of Al Qaeda. He approached the CIA and was summarily recruited on the spot. Although he and Harvey loved the Marines, the CIA was a perfect fit for their skill set. Before long, they were conducting covert ops all over the world.

He carries quite a bit of baggage from a botched mission that ended his career. At the termination of the Nicaraguan civil war when he and Harvey served as “advisors” to the Contras, he was captured and brutally interrogated over a three-week period before Harvey was finally able to locate and rescue from the hands of a sadistic madman. Even after twenty years, he still carries emotional and physical scars.

Nathan has issues with trusting people. He’s got a short fuse, and he’s constantly fighting a battle to control his darker nature. Despite all he endured, he’s got a kind heart and sticks up for the little guy. He hates bullies and won’t stand idly by if someone’s being rude or abusive in from of him. If you want to ring Nathan McBride’s bell and see what he’s capable of, kick a dog in front of him. He’ll open a can whoop-ass in a big hurry!

Andrew is gearing up for the release of CONTRACT TO KILL, Book 5, available for preorder now for its August 11 release:

When Toby Haynes witnesses a double murder—and suspects his boss, Tanner Mason, as the perpetrator of the crime—he does the only thing he can think of: he calls in Nathan McBride.

CIA special ops veteran McBride and his partner, Harvey Fontana, respond to their friend’s plea. As they launch a covert investigation into Mason, the security chief for one of the nation’s leading private military contractors, they discover that not everything is as it appears. Mason and his inner circle are leading a top-secret operation to tackle a wave of crime plaguing the US-Mexican border, and the murder may have been part of their complicated strategy—or part of a more menacing agenda. Soon McBride and Fontana find themselves engaged in a deadly game. With a powerful politician behind it all, stopping Mason could mean joining a secret war—with truly global stakes.

I am giving away a book choice from my convention stash, including Andrew's READY TO KILL, to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  What do you know about San Diego?  I know it is crawling with Navy SEALs!

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, July 11, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, July 12.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Learn more about Andrew and his books at andrewpeterson.com.