The baby in the picture is my great grandmother Ella "Tootsie" Rhoan.
Native Pride
My newest Harlequin Romantic Suspense series, Native Country, which hits stores July and August, has special meaning to me. My maternal ancestors hail directly from Yosemite National Park and many photos in the museum feature members of my family. It's a special honor to share Native blood and I'm overjoyed to finally tap into that resource with this new series. Although this series is set on the Hoh reservation in Washington state, the pride those feel with share Native American ancestry remains the same. I am continually amazed by those who have integrated their culture into their daily lives so that their Native voices are not lost.
I dedicated this series to my great grandmother Ella and my maternal grandfather Orval. My great grandmother was an amazing woman, tough enough to raise more than 10 children and countless grandchildren, and yet patient enough to try and teach a reluctant girl their Native language. I regret not embracing my culture at such an early age.
My grandfather Orval is a special human being, who throughout my life, has been a constant source of wisdom and kindness, not to mention hilarity, as he has a corny sense of humor that never failed to make me laugh or at the very least, smile. I've been blessed in my family, without a doubt.
I wanted to bring a sense of family and fierce loyalty to this series and I hope I achieved that goal. Readers will have to let me know.
I just returned from RWA National in New York and although I didn't win in the RITA category I was nominated (category series adventure/suspense) I had a wonderful time and I can't wait for next year in Anaheim. Of course, one of the perks of RWA conference is the copious amount of free books that you come home with! So in the spirit of generosity, and to celebrate the release of my new series, I want to give away free books, too!
To one lucky poster, I will give away a set of my Native Country series. All you have to do is leave a comment on my blog and at the end of the week, I'll draw a winner. To get the conversation started, tell me, how do you celebrate your heritage? Where do your ancestors hail? Let's share!
I love posting excerpts. Mostly, because as a reader, I know how exciting it is to get a sneak peak of a book you've been waiting for, or are curious about. So, I'm going to post an excerpt from my new download only Kindle book, A RED HOT MESS. How's that for cool?
Here it is:
Laurel saw the man across the crowded bar just as she was about to flag the cocktail waitress for another round. She was already on her second Apple-tini and technically tipsy but since she wasn’t driving, she didn’t mind the free-floating and giggly feeling.
“Seriously hot stuff coming this way,” Alice said, zeroing in on the dark-haired man Laurel had snagged gazes with only moments ago. “Anyone calling dibs?” she asked.
“Me,” Laurel piped up, surprising them both. She smiled tremulously, feeling every drop of that Apple-tini as she said, “You’re the one who said I needed to get my mind off what’s-his-face and flirting with a hot stranger seems like a step in the right direction.”
“Honey, I want to do more than flirt with him,” Alice said dryly but gave Laurel the go-ahead. “He’s yours. But don’t let that succulent piece of man candy go untouched or else you’re going to get an earful from me for being wasteful.” Alice scooted from the bench seat with their other friend, Tansy and suddenly Laurel was alone.
Laurel watched as he threaded his way to her, a faint, flirty smile playing with his fine lips and she flushed, feeling very decadent and heathen-like. Broad shoulders narrowed to tight hips and she caught the definition of strong arms beneath his shirt. She imagined he’d have no trouble at all hoisting her up so she could wrap her long legs around his waist. Thank God it was dark. Her flaring cheeks would’ve ruined the whole “sexy siren” thing she was going for tonight.
“Can I buy you a drink?” he asked once he got to her table. His voice, deep and smooth, conjured all manner of naughty things — things she’d never had the sexual wherewithal to try or even suggest with past lovers — and the breath hitched in her chest.
She nodded and smiled — did she look drunk or sexy? She hoped the latter. She was going to do something out of character, something wild and crazy to usher in the “new” Laurel.
She was going to ride this luscious stranger six ways from Sunday without a thought more complicated than wondering which position to try first.
“Do you have condoms?” she asked, delighting when her pointed question caused his Adam’s apple to bob.
“Y-yes.”
She reached for his hand. “Then let’s go.”
***
A RED HOT MESS is available for download through the Kindle and Smashwords.
My first download only digital novella, available through Amazon.com
You can't peruse the Internet without a web article somewhere talking about how the publishing world is changing. I've watched as traditionally published authors have started revamping their backlist after reacquiring their rights to charge into the wild blue yonder of self-publishing or epublishing with the hope of giving the stories new life and to find new readers. And, while I'm happily published with Harlequin Superromance and Romantic Suspense, the allure of going into that unknown stratosphere of self-publishing and electronic books beckoned.
To that end, I thought I'd give it a try. Before I was published, like many before me, I toiled away at any number of projects that never actually made the light of day. Maybe they were rejected, maybe they simply languished for other reasons, but suffice to say I have a bone yard of sorts in my computer. One of those stories, originally entitled Marriage Material, was one of my favorites. It was funny and sassy but it was rejected by the PTB — and for good reason. Simply put, it wasn't ready for the masses. But now, many years later and with 15 contracted books under my belt, I've revisited that beloved story and found, "Hey! This is pretty good!"
So, using the knowledge I've gained through being traditionally published, I managed to tear apart, revise and revamp this great story into something I think is hilarious and fun to read in a short format. Viola! My first hot contemporary novella. At 38,000 words, it's a quick read but long enough to be satisfying. I decided to call my novellas the "Short & Sassy" series and I plan to sell them exclusively online.
To sum up, in addition to the five books I have hitting stores (Mama Jo's Boys and Native Country series!) I have this fun romp that I think readers will really find entertaining.
I love being traditionally published, but now I can have the best of both worlds — and so can my readers.
It's funny how you think something is going to turn out, yet invariably it goes the opposite direction. Take my daughter's first soccer game. I thought for sure she was going to love soccer because she has two older brothers who both played soccer and she's used to the rough life associated with brothers. At practice she did fine, had fun, and no worries.
<------------And then this is what happened at the actual game. Tears, tears, and then just when we thought the tears were through...they started again. *sigh* It's going to be a long season, methinks.
Curious for a peek at my newest release? Well, you're in luck. Here's an excerpt!
Archer Brant slipped his key in the lock of his front door still surly over the forced convalescence dictated by the Bureau doc but the three hour drive from San Francisco had at least leached most of his anger so that he didn’t feel the need to punch something any longer. He gritted his teeth against the pulsing ache in his busted-up shoulder from sitting in the car too long and thoughts of a beer with a Vicodin chaser crossed his mind but the moment he stepped over the threshold of his cabin, the hairs on the back of his neck stiffened with a sense that something wasn’t right.
Quietly pocketing his keys, he moved to the scarred oak cabinet where he kept his spare Glock and retrieved it slowly from the drawer. Once the comforting weight of the gun was in his hand, he moved through the bottom floor in a security sweep. Finding nothing, he made his way up the stairs.
His ears pricked at an odd, unfamiliar sound coming from his bedroom.
Creeping along the wall, he pushed open the door to his bedroom and crossed inside. Someone was in his bathroom. The air still held the balmy, damp moisture left over from a hot shower. He caught the sound of soft singing, slightly off-tune and he wondered what kind of idiot broke into a stranger’s house that was hidden in the middle of the Sierra National Forest to make use of the soap and shampoo like it was a friggen Holiday Inn yet bypassed the valuables like the flat-screen plasma television mounted on the wall or the accompanying high-end Boise stereo system. He curled his lip. Whoever was in there was murdering a classic Journey song and that was near enough to a crime in his book to warrant shooting first and asking questions later but he was supposed to be convalescing so he ignored his itchy trigger finger and his protesting ear drums and just prepared to oust his uninvited house guest with a little force.
He moved into position along the sidewall, gaining an excellent vantage point and his disposition brightened at the thought of scaring the life out the trespasser but as a figure moved into view from the mirror, Archer blinked and frowned with surprise. He’d been expecting a punk, pimply-faced kid or a perhaps a homeless man but he was damn sure not expecting to see dark hair cascading down a petite backside that was nearly engulfed in his white terry cloth robe that had been hanging on the hook beside the shower. Strong, slim legs, rounded calves and pretty ankles met his gaze as he assessed his trespasser. A woman. A shapely woman, he noted with faint appreciation for the rounded swell of hips hidden beneath the robe and even as his hormones pumped a healthy dose of turned-on man juice into his veins, he looked for evidence of a partner. A beautiful woman provided great distraction for the thug that’s about to cave in your cranium from the back while you’re panting over a fine piece of ass and that’s not how he was going to clock out of this world.
But his quick check revealed nothing, not even a bag of belongings. Then, he saw, on the bed, something that narrowed his stare and made him swear under his breath.
A baby bottle. Leaking something wet and pale onto his $500 duvet. “This just ain’t my day,” he muttered, tucking his gun into his waistband. Of all the places this wayward chick could’ve stopped, why’d it have to be his? He wasn’t in the mood to play host no matter what her hard luck story was. He pinched his brow ridge and exhaled a short breath before stepping into view, ready to get this over with. “You picked the wrong house to freeload in,” he announced, grim satisfaction in the woman’s startled jump as she spun around to face him.
But holy hell, his gut clenched. The air in his lungs evaporated. His heart squeezed to a stuttering stop. He knew this woman. A shaft of white-hot misery speared his insides and his voice cracked with surprise as he managed to murmur her name, though in truth it was a miracle his voice worked at all, his shock was so great. As he stared at the face that haunted his dreams and took center stage in his most private thoughts, he couldn’t help but drink in her appearance, even if he’d never admit to anyone — least of all her — that losing her had been as painful as tearing off a limb and tossing it down the garbage grinder. And just as permanent.
“Marissa.” He recovered, ashamed at his gut reaction and the sudden leap in his heartbeat, to demand, “What the hell are you doing here?”
Oooooo...what happens next? If you have an ereader you can buy it online RIGHT NOW. Crazy stuff, huh? Here's the
Or maybe you want to preorder from like Barnes & Noble. Do that .
Are you getting excited? I am. The countdown has begun...
So my new book is coming out and while those in the book club may have already received their November shipment, the rest of the world has to wait until A MAN WORTH LOVING hits the shelves the second week in November. And because I'm excited about the release of this new book, I thought I'd give one away! But first, you have to answer a question. I'll pick one lucky poster and send them a free book. Is that cool or what? I think so. Free books make my day.
Okay, so here's the question: What do you think about heros that start out kinda prickly? Personally, I love them. Maybe it's because once upon a time I used to have a thing for bad boys, I don't know, but I do love reading books with jerky heroes. With that said, they have to change and become wonderfully soft and sweet by the end of the book in order to qualify.
Tell me what kind of hero makes your toes curl and I'll randomly pick a winner!
I told you change was coming! My new website, courtesy of Stonecreek Media, is looking pretty sharp, wouldn't you say?Look around, check things out, watch the book trailer I spent months trying to put together (I confess, I begged the hubby to lend a hand) and don't miss the page all about Emmett's Mill. Of course, there is more to come. I'm currently working on audio files (like podcasts) to post on the site as well as video content so please bookmark the site for future fun! I'm also looking into creating a newsletter (like quarterly or something like that) just to keep my fans updated on what's new and what books are coming up.
Until then...
Oh, and guess what...new cover! This is the cover for my November book, another Emmett's Mill story (Sammy Halvorsen!) so for my fans, this is an eagerly anticipated story. I think the cover is yummy.
Kimberly Van Meter
A new cover is always cause for celebration, especially when it's been a stretch since the last one came around, which is certainly the case with this one.
My sixth book will hit the shelves in July (it seems so far away at this point) but I'm very excited about this book. This story features the most amazing couple. John Murphy and Renee Dolling are two characters that I loved from the start. I have a soft spot for men who are slow to speak and quick to listen and that's who John is. Then there's Renee. When I say that I loved her, you'd be surprised why. Renee abandoned her three small children but no one feels that pain more sharply than she does as she tries to make amends. I loved her spirit, her determination, and her ability to grow and change through adversity. What can I say? I love flawed characters.
My editor said this book made her cry. (This is a very good thing!) And you know what? This book made ME cry. So I was really anxious for the art department to create a killer cover. And I have to say, they did a bang up job. Although John is a wee bit more manly looking in the book, the man on this cover has a warm smile and that is certainly true of John (when he smiles, that is).
Boy, it's been a while since I blogged. Geesh, can you tell I'm not very good at keeping a schedule? Let's see, what's new? Well, I managed to finish all of my contracted work (no small feat with back to back deadlines) and now I'm coasting. Confession: I don't coast very well but I have a few projects that I've been tinkering with and my agent really wants me to put some effort into and well, now I have no excuse! Oh, and here's some exciting news; I've decided to give my website an overhaul and it just so happens that Amy Knupp and her uber cool hubby are in the webdesign biz and so as soon as I pony up the cash, the site is going to get a fresh, hip new look and boy, do I have some wild ideas in store for the site. Keep checking for updates. It's going to be COOL.
Anyway, since it's been sooo long since I blogged I figured WTH, let's give something away. Post your opinion on my new cover and someone will win a book. Not gonna tell you what book. It's a surprise. I'll just put my paw into my book bag and draw something awesome.
So my new book is coming out and while those in the book club may have already received their November shipment, the rest of the world has to wait until A MAN WORTH LOVING hits the shelves the second week in November. And because I'm excited about the release of this new book, I thought I'd give one away! But first, you have to answer a question. I'll pick one lucky poster and send them a free book. Is that cool or what? I think so. Free books make my day.
