Author: Cindy

I'm irritated because my posts won't publish.

Go, Go, Gokey…Gone!

Le sigh.

I really wanted Danny Gokey to make it to the American Idol finals last night. Alas, it was not to be. I went into the episode expecting either Danny or Adam Lambert to get kicked off. As much as I’m not into Kris Allen, I thought he did a good job this week, and the dramatic thing would be for him to make it into the finals ahead of the two expected choices.

The good thing for me is now I know who to root for next week—Adam. If Adam and Danny had both made it through, I would have had to wait until next Tuesday’s performances to make my final determination, and, honestly, I don’t think it would have mattered to me which of them won the whole smackeroo.

Now, I definitely know I want Adam Lambert to win.

And Gokey will be okay. When you see what non-finalists like Jennifer Hudson and Chris Daughtry have done with their careers, well, I think it’s only natural to assume we can expect the same from Danny Gokey. He’s got a multitude of talent, and his voice is very unique.

So…any Danny lovers out there who wished he hadn’t been kicked off? Who will you vote for/root for now that he has been? I don’t vote myself. Being Canadian, I don’t feel it’s my place. But I do “root” for a finalist. This year, that’s Adam Lambert.

Go, Go, Lambie!

Welcome Guest Blogger Christy Reece

SERIES: LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM?reece_pic

Hi Cindy and everyone! Thanks for having me on the Muse Interrupted blog. I’m excited to be here and look forward to a good discussion. Since RESCUE ME, the first book in my back-to-back trilogy just came out a couple of weeks ago, and the second book, RETURN TO ME, comes out on May 19 and the third one, RUN TO ME, is out on June 23, I thought I’d blog about series. Why we love them or hate them. I have to admit, I’m more in the ‘love’ category. And not just because that’s what I’m writing, though that does help.

Here are the reasons I love them:

1. The continuity of a storyline or theme: If it’s a storyline I love, I want to know what happens next. If the series revolves around one particular person, I love sharing their adventures. Or if there are different characters each time but have some kind of link, I love the familiarity of knowing other characters and their storylines. It’s like a good television series. You get close to a character or characters and want to visit them frequently. You can do that in a series.reece_rescue_cover

2. Secondary Characters: I don’t know how many times I’ve read a book and have fallen in love with a secondary character and wished I could read his or her story. Creating characters can be hard work and making them interesting and likeable even harder. So when an author creates a secondary character that captures my attention, I feel a bit cheated when I don’t get another story.

  1. 3. Saying goodbye hurts: I have to admit, when I love a book and its characters, I often don’t want to let them go. That’s one of the reasons I love epilogues. I want to extend my happy ending as long as possible. I don’t have epilogues in any of my upcoming books, but I think that’s because most of my characters make an appearance in the next book in the series. If they weren’t so closely connected, I’m sure I’d be tempted to write an epilogue. It’s just so hard to say goodbye, but with a series, you don’t always have to.

4. Predictability: And I mean that in a good way. When I read an author I’ve read before, I have certain expectations of what the book will be like. I recognize the author’s voice and know what type of book they write, so I’m rarely surprised by a completely different kind of story. However, with a series, there’s no doubt. If the book is connected, whether it’s through a relationship, an event or in my case, an organization with a common purpose, you have an assurance that even though it will be a different story, there will be similarities to the previous books. If you liked one, more than likely, you’ll like the others.

5. The anticipation: This kind of goes back to the first point of falling in love with secondary characters. I love looking forward to a book of a secondary character I’ve liked. There’s just something about the excitement it generates. Will it be as good as the book before it? Will it be better? Will it live up to your expectations? Will you be glad that character got their own story? Will you be happy with who the character ended up with? And if it’s by one of your favorite authors, the anticipation blooms even bigger.

6. Back-to-Back Trilogy: Okay, I admit, this one’s a bit different, but it does often apply. More and more publishers are putting out back-to-back trilogies. And I love that they are. Of course, since that’s what I’m doing, I’ll admit I’m a bit biased. However, I love reading back-to-back from other authors and here’s why. Almost immediate gratification. How often have you read a book you’ve loved and found out that indeed there’s another one coming out in the series but you have to wait months, perhaps a year or more to read it? The wait can be agonizing! That’s the great thing about back-to-back releases. Almost no waiting. How cool is that?

So what about you? Do you love or hate them? Why do you feel that way? What are some series that you absolutely adore? What are some upcoming series books you’re anticipating?

Thanks again, everyone. Now let’s talk series!

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Please leave a comment to enter to win a copy of Christy’s RESCUE ME. Entries accepted until midnight PST.

To read Christy’s bio and the back cover for RESCUE ME, please see yesterday’s post. To learn more about Christy and her books, please visit her website.

Christy Reece Guest Blogging Tomorrow!

Please join me tomorrow in welcoming dark romantic suspense author Christy Reece to the blog. Christy’s first series, the Last Chance Rescue trilogy, is being released in back-to-back months by Ballantine. Christy is blogging on Series: Love Them or Hate Them? and is giving away a copy of RESCUE ME, her May release and the first in the series.

Back Cover copy for RESCUE ME:

A covert operative of Last Chance Rescue Enterprises (LCR), Eden St. Claire has made secrets her life’s work. Seven years ago, an evening of emotional vulnerability and pure pleasure almost destroyed her. Now Eden wears her beauty like a mask, concealing any hint of vulnerability or demons of her past.

A daring rescue of an innocent girl on a Greek island leads Eden to a new partner. Jordan Montgomery, new to LCR, has been looking for Eden—though he knows her by another name, from another time. But his search for her is overshadowed by a case that’s gone international. A powerful, ruthless, organized network is stealing women and children around the world—as a lover, a traitor, and a killer all wait for Eden’s next move.

About Christy:reece_pic

Growing up in a tiny community in Alabama boasting only one stop sign and a gas station gave Christy ample opportunity to create daring adventures in her head. When she wasn’t thinking of her story characters, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys kept her entertained and out of trouble. Later came the chills of Stephen King and the thrills of John Grisham, but the romance genre always held a strong place in her heart.

After leaving her career with a major insurance company, the characters in her head came alive again and Christy decided to write her own stories. And now, she and her characters couldn’t be happier.

A member of Romance Writers’ of America and International Thriller Writers, Christy lives in Alabama with her husband, two incredibly cute canines and one very shy turtle.

You can visit Christy on the web at www.christyreece.com.

Happy Mother’s Day!

bestmothersdaycard-772312

How are you celebrating? I’m taking my mother to brunch with Little Pisser and hopefully a niece. After, I hope to get some writing done. Then tonight I’m confiscating the monster TV! I have season finales to watch for The Amazing Race, Celebrity Apprentice, Brothers & Sisters, and then I must see Desperate Housewives, too. Sunday night is my new Must See TV. Thank God for the PVR, or I’d never manage it all.

The Joy of Writing

Warning: Could get graphic!

love_your_job

 

 

 

 

Why, Cindy, why?

  1. I’m still writing the WIP. I do believe I’m in the second-to-last chapter. A couple of days ago, I thought I was in the second-to-last chapter, but now I’m almost certain I am!
  2. I have a chiropractor appointment on Friday, and I. Can’t. Wait.
Published
Categorized as Writing

Welcome Guest Blogger Mary J. Forbes

SPRINGTIME HAPPINESSforbes_pic AND…LOVE

The scene on the cover of my May release, THE DOCTOR’S SURPRISE FAMILY, 3rd installment of my “Home to Firewood Island mini-series,” makes me think of summer.  A little boy fishing, a lake in the background, trees fully leafed out. No doubt about it, I love summer, and we’re almost there if we look at the calendar.

But in truth, it’s still springtime. It’s also the season that evolves in THE DOCTOR’S SURPRISE FAMILY.

Over the past few years, I’ve set a number of books on the cusp of springtime. I wondered if that held any significance to the stories and/or my characters. I didn’t have to look far to get my answer. Gazing out my window, I knew.

forbes_surprise_coverSpringtime is a sign of hope.

And hope is what romance novels are all about.

So what is it about springtime that’s so unique? What makes springtime a season of, well, happiness and love?

Off the cuff, there are several reasons spring makes me smile more, laugh more, and just…feel good.

For one, springtime is warmth. It’s sunshine and milder temperatures. It’s about chasing off cold and cloudy days and being able to go for walks without shivering.

Two, springtime is alive. Growing things are edging out of the earth. Trees turn mint green. Forsythia shrubs showcase their yellow bell-shaped flowers. Rebirth is on the horizon.

Spring is melodious. Songbirds fly up from the south and sing in the backyard. They tug worms from my garden. With a sense of urgency, they flash color here and there among shrubs and trees where they build nests. Where life moves forward.

During spring the skies offer shades of blue and cottony clouds. Eagles and hawks hang against them on the breeze, searching the ground below for food to offer their young.

In the greening woods, does hide fawns. In my backyard, squirrels chatter with gusto. Babies appear.

Everywhere I look I see spring hosting one key element: new beginnings. That evolution grew into the backdrop of THE DOCTOR’S SURPRISE FAMILY. Hero and heroine, Dane and Kat, endured a great deal of heartache. In the end, they needed an omen, a sign. So I gave them nature’s forecast that love waits just around the corner.

I gave them springtime. 🙂         

Tell me about your favorite season—and win a chance to choose a copy of your choice of either THEIR SECRET CHILD, AND BABY MAKES FOUR or THE DOCTOR’S SURPRISE FAMILY.  

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Entries accepted until midnight P.S.T.

To read Mary’s bio and the back cover copy for THE DOCTOR’S SURPRISE FAMILY, please see yesterday’s post.

To learn more about Mary and her books, please visit her website.