Author Interview: Sherry Isaac

***We have a winner!! Congratulations, Urve! Sherry has your contact information so she'll be in touch. A big thanks to everyone who visited!**

I'm thrilled to have author Sherry Isaac joining me today on Armchair Heroines.

Winner of The Alice Munro Short Story Award, Sherry Isaac's tales of life, love and forgiveness that transcend all things, including the grave, appear online and in print. Her first collection of shorts, Storyteller, debuts July 2011. For more information, or to order an autographed copy, click HERE.


Your collection of short stories, STORYTELLER, came out recently. Tell us about it.

Writer Lesson #1: When a publisher calls to tell you she's read some of your short stories, and then says, 'I'd like to be the first to look at your collection. Do you have one ready?" the answer, whether you have a collection or not, is, "YES."

She did give me time to get existing stories polished, and I admitted that I'd need to write a few more. Then I pushed everything else aside and focused on that one task night and day for three months. I polished and revised existing work, dusted off and developed some ideas (that idea file sure does come in handy) and came up with a few new ones.

It's odd, because I never saw myself as a short story writer. Shorts were for contests and magazines so I'd have credits to point to when soliciting agents for The Novel. Now, I'll have a printed book to point to. I'm good with that.

Congratulations! In your interview with C.J. Lyons you characterized yourself as "...a trouble maker often resigned to the children's table...". I can sympathize. Care to tell us more about that?

Don't suppose I can plead the fifth?

Uh-huh!

I think it comes down to not knowing when to shut up. I heard a great line years ago: 'Sometimes I only take my foot out of my mouth long enough to put the other one in.' That would be me. I speak out of turn, blurt out whatever comes to mind, rarely use a filter. But it's done in fun and with humour.

People say I'm funny. I'm not. I just say funny things. I attribute those quips to the lack of filter, that knee-jerk response. Humour has to be honest and raw to work, to touch another who thinks, Yeah, I feel like that, too. There are people who make a living out of crafting comedy on demand. I'm not one of them. That's not to say their humour isn't honest or that it's forced. If it's not true, if it's not natural, it's not humour. I'm just not good at finding that humour switch. Mine turns on when it wants to.The rest of the time, I am a miserable, sad and lonely soul. Snort!

A very long and round-about answer but there you have it: trouble, for me, comes from being silly.

A good way to get in trouble, I'd say. Who is the most memorable character you've written about? Why?

In the collection, I'd say Ella Ryder. Ella is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. She's alone, and not terribly likeable, but I feel an empathy for her all the same. Some of her traits are not what you'd call neighbourly, but as the story progresses, (I hope) the reader sees that some of her behaviour is defence-driven, as she tries to deny and conceal her symptoms. I think the connection we make is this: that our mind is our identity. The helplessness when a silent monster slides into our psyche and steals what is most precious, our memories, our personality, our self, is a very scary thing.

I agree. And who is the most memorable character you've read about and why?

My favourite book growing up was 'Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret.' Years (and years and years) later, I was surprised to find an adult novel by Judy Blume, 'Summer Sisters'. Fabulous. I still react when I think of the story in too much depth, so I won't dwell.

Two reasons why. One, the plot is about two women, not sisters, and their complex relationship. Those characters, and their journey, still haunt me. Two, my deep emotional response to their story. A writer in waiting, I remember thinking, if I could harness the talent to make a reader feel one tenth of what I felt reading Blume's book, what an awesome gift that would be.

The goal of all writers! Are you a night owl or an early riser?

Night owl? Are you kidding me? Bonafide morning person here. And I do like naps. Mmmm. Naps.The world would be a better place if we all took naps.

I'm with you on the nap thing. If you could compile a soundtrack for your book, STORYTELLER, what would it be?

Being a short story collection, it would have to be a various artists compilation. Haunting fiddle for title short, Storyteller. Spirit in the Sky (Norman Greenbaum, 1969) for The Visit. Une Bal-musette (a French Waltz) for Pickpocket in Paris.

Interesting choices. Other than telling readers about STORYTELLER, what are you working on now?

My middle-grade novel, Strawberry Hero, is on the agent circuit, looking for representation, and I am diving nose-first into revisions on my current work-in-progress, Homecoming, a paranormal romantic suspense set in a rural town on the Canadian prairie.

You are busy! Where can we find you in the www? Twitter? Facebook? Shelfari, etc.

sherryisaac.com for a start. I have my own blog, Wildflower, where I feature emerging and established authors. I was recently asked to join the blog Romance & Beyond with Carole St-Laurent and Sharon Clare, where the focus is the writing journey. Twitter is on my To-Do list. Author chum Joan Swan wrote a great three-part Twitter How-To. I'll be consulting Joan's advice a lot! I suppose I'll have to look into a Facebook/Twitter feed or whatever it's called. This is the point where the brain tissue turns to jelly...

I haven't heard of Shelfari. What's that? NO! Don't tell me! I'm on technological overload.

Just in case you change your mind down the road, Shelfari is a social cataloging website. As a registered user you build virtual bookshelves. You can also rate, review, tag, and discuss books. Authors can have a page and add blog posts, covers, a bio and other information. I belong to several readers groups there that are a ton of fun! Check it out at www.shelfari.com

Thanks for joining me, Sherry!

Sherry is offering up an autographed copy of Storyteller to one lovely Armchair Heroine reader. Tell us about a time you got into trouble because you couldn't keep your mouth shut or ask Sherry a question. We'll use random.org to choose the winner.

Have a great day!

** If you're at RomCon this weekend, find me and introduce yourself! www.romconinc.com

Featured Author: Donna MacMeans

Current Read: Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day

Please welcome today's featured author, Donna MacMeans!


I just read The Trouble with Moonlight and loved it! Could you tell us a little about it (for those
of us who haven't read it)?

First, let me thank you for having me here today, Tiffany. You may regret it as you can see, short answers are not my thing J

Hahaha! Are you kidding? We're perfect for each other - short questions and short answers aren't my thing, either! :0)

The Trouble with Moonlight is my second Victorian romance and my one and only historical paranormal. It involves an invisible heroine – she turns invisible in moonlight, she can’t help it, and it’s just her, not her clothes. She’s a bit of a thief, so if your husband is so foolish as to gamble away your jewelry – my heroine will get it back for you…but it has to be during a full moon and she has to be naked.

BTW, The Trouble with Moonlight won the 2008 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for Historical Love and Laughter and received third place in Light Paranormal category for the Prism Award. It’s a finalist in the paranormal category for the Book Buyers Best contest. (winners announced in August).

I have to tell you – I loved writing this book. The idea came to me as I was despairing of ever publishing. I had just received another rejection on my first Victorian historical, The Education of Mrs. Brimley, this one complaining about the striptease premise. Okay, I figured. I’ll show them. I’m going to write something so fresh, it’ll be rejection proof. I look ed around at what was popular…Heroes on TV, super hero movies on the big screen, and I thought – that’s what I’ll do. I’ll give my Victorian heroine a super power. Flying wouldn’t work – all those clothes? No way! Then I thought of invisibility and everything fell into place. I started working on the story and was so wrapped up in it, I sort of forgot that The Education of Mrs. Brimley was still making the rounds. Then it won the Golden Heart for best long historical manuscript. A month later it sold in auction! 2006 was an amazing year.

Congratulations! It reminds me of the Elaine Paige song "A Perfect Year". The Trouble with Moonlight involves the Nevidimi. Do they really "exist" or did you invent them for the story?

Well gee, Tiffany, it’s not like I’ve seen them (grin) but they cou ld be out there.

OK, that was a dumb question - they are invisible! :0)

One of the things that sold me on the book was the story of the headless horseman. In my world, he was one of the Nevidimi. He was there. You just couldn’t see him because he only rode in public during a full moon. You could see his clothes, but not his head – loved it.

I came up with the name Nevidimi after I’d come up with the concept. I wanted something Russian sounding as the hero had a problem with Russians and this would add to the conflict. Nevidimi is part of a Russian word for invisible. It just rolls off the tongue…Nevidimi. I was hooked.

Brilliant! You had a new book come out in April. Tell us about it.

Seduction of a Duke came out in April and it’s the sequel to The Education of Mrs. Brimley. It’s a straight historical – no woo-woo in that one, but lots of yummy sexual tension.

It’s loosely (very loosely) based on the story of Consuelo Vanderbilt. The duke who is the brother to Nicholas, the hero of Mrs. Brimley, needs cash . So he marries – sight unseen – an American heiress. The heiress, of course, isn’t fond of the idea and doesn’t want to move to England. The hero is shocked at how quickly the marriage is put together. He figures the heroine must be pregnant. This doesn’t bother him too much as he’s getting a ton of money out of the deal – but he wants to know if the child – if there is one – is his. Only one way to find out – don’t consummate the marriage. That way he should know in just a month or two if his bride starts to show. The heroine, on the other hand, discovers a loophole in the marriage contract that says she can return to America if she gets pregnant. So she’s trying to seduce the duke to
get pregnant as soon as possible while he tries to hold her off at arm’s length. Fun!

Sounds wonderful! I've heard of Consuelo Vanderbilt. I love how you connect everything to up the conflict - that's something I struggle with in my own writing. What are you working on now?

I’m working on the final story of the Mrs. Brimley set. This one I’m calling The Redemption of the Rogue. It involves the sister of the two other heroes, Arianne. This is a kidnap story and I’m having a lot of fun with it.

Another one to put on my "must buy" list. :0) I hear you have a bit of a reputation regarding choclate and alcohol (two of my favorite things, I might add). Can you elaborate?

Ah, Tiffany, we’re obviously two of a kind (grin). I have a reputation for many rather ornate desserts that must include chocolate and copious amounts of alcohol. A group of friends have met every couple of months for years and I always bring the dessert. The two most requested desserts are my Fuzzy Naval Cake ( peach schnapps) and Mississippi Mud Pie (Jack Daniels and Kahlua). Must say, I have a very well stocked liquor cabinet for someone who doesn’t really drink…much.

That's awesome! Thanks for humoring me with an answer to suc h an impertinent question. :0) Maybe you should write a book about a Victorian baker and include some yummy recipes? (Hint, hint!) OK, back to business: You just returned from the big Romance Writers of America National Conference (I'm jealous, by the way). How was it? What were the highlights for you?

I had a great time! The internet allows us to have so many close friends amazing distances away. It’s so cool to meet these people face to face! I blog with the Romance Bandits which is a group of twenty authors – eleven published – that originally met as finalists for the Golden Heart back in 2006. Two of the authors are from Australia, one from Eng land, one from Canada, the rest spread all across the country. We only get to meet once a year at National – so that was fun. Plus I get to meet with my agent and editor – that’s important. Plus I attended a workshop with Susan Elizabeth Philips – my hero! Next year the conference is in Nashville. Can’t wait.


I'm saving my pennies so I'll see you next year in Nashville! Your stories take place in Victorian times. What draws you to that era?

Before I wrote The Education of Mrs. Brimley, I wrote contemporary romantic suspense. About that time, I learned that Lori Foster had a contest requiring a scene with great sexual tension. Her editor, who read the finalists, had a reputation for picking up the winners for a novella. Sounded good to me!

I thought of an idea involving a reluctant striptease – but didn’t think it would work as a contemporary. We wear too few clothes! So I decided to set the story in a historic period when the women not only wore a ton of clothes, but the morals of the time made the concept of a forced strip tease especially emotional. As I researched the Victorian period I loved it. Unlike the regency period there’s hot water and indoor plumbing (grin), and the women wore those sexy form fitted corsets. .

I love hearing how inspiration hits you. Have you read any great books lately?

Most of the books I read are research related to add authenticity to my stories. Plus I get the best ideas from the actual events found in the research. Right now I’m researching sailing vessels of the 1880s. Not exciting stuff.

Oh, I don't know - I imagine you'll make it very exciting! :0) Besides writing, you work as an accountant. How do you balance your time? When do you write - certainly not during tax time?

Yes, I’m a CPA – fortunately a self-employed CPA so that gives me some flexibility. I try to write every day even during tax season. It’s harder then and I don’t get to spend as much time as I like at my laptop. I try to write like crazy in the months leading up to tax time – but that can be hard as well. It seems there’s always something…

Do you like to listen to music when you write?

Sometimes…and sometimes not. I don’t have any special mus ic (although I’ve always found the soundtrack to The Last of the Mohicians great for romance ). If the environment is noisy or distracting then I slip on noise reduction earphones and plug in my ipod. I might have to pause in my writing to belt out a favored song, but otherwise it works for me (not sure the other people around me would agree ).

Hehe, great visual! What is your favorite thing about summer?

It used to be water aerobics, but I didn’t sign up th is year L. I think being able to write on my porch outdoors is a biggie. It’s where I’m most productive. (Doesn’t work so well when there’s snow outside J). Ice cream tastes especially great in summer – but that doesn’t stop me from indulging the rest of the year. I love being able to open windows in good weather, (I’m not a fan of the recycled air inside a house in winter.) and barbeque – loved the smell and taste of barbeque anything!

I agree! Thanks so much for joining us today, Donna! This interview was a kick. :0)

AH readers be sure to check out Donna's website at www.donnamacmeans.com. Donna also has a story in the Tails of Love anthology so check it out.


I have a signed copy of The Trouble with Moonlight to give away so share your thoughts and aske some questions. Donna is all yours today!

Featured Author: Sara Taney Humphreys

Current Read: Atlantis Unleashed by Alyssa Day

Please welcome today's feature author, Sara Taney Humphreys! Some of you may recognize Sara from the Happily Ever After group interview from February.

Tell us about your first book, The Amoveo Legacy.

I'm really excited about it. I've always loved vampires but shape-shifters are particularly interesting to me. I had the idea for the series for a long time but finally sat down to write it last year. It's set in Westerly, RI, which is where my family has a summer home. There's something so beautiful and mysterious about the beach and it just felt right to set the first book there. I'm actually doing a book signing in Westerly at Paddy's Beach Side Restaurant, which is highlighted in the book.

Here's a little burb about The Amoveo Legacy:

What if everything you knew turned out to be a lie? You find out that you aren't even human - at least not entirely. What if, one day, you realize your world will never be the same again? These are the questions that Samantha Logan must face in The Amoveo Legacy. A dream on her thirtieth birthday compels her to leave her artists loft in New York City and move back to the beach with her grandmother, Nonie. However, the instant Samantha steps foot on the salty shores of her childhood home, she realizes the landscape has changed.

The moment she encounters the mysterious, arrogant neighbor Malcolm Drew, her life is never the same. Through a seductive courtship, he introduces her to the magical, mystical world of the Amoveo: the dream walking, telepathic, shape-shifters that he claims are her true heritage. However, Malcolm holds back a secret that could destroy them both. Will he be able to protect Samantha and convince her of the secret legacy buried deep inside her?

I'm hooked! Is this book part of a series? Tell us more about it.

This series is about The Amoveo people; they are an ancient race of shape-shifters who have lived secretly among humans for thousands of years. The Amoveo are made up of ten different animal clans; Eagle, Lion, Panther, Tiger, Bear, Wolf, Falcon, Fox, Cheetah and Coyote. They are telepathic, dream walking, shape-shifters that are born with a pre-destined soul mate. If an Amoveo does not find their mate by the time they reach the age of thirty they begin to lose their abilites and eventually die. They can only have children with their life mates. They are physically beautiful, incredibly strong and once they are mated have considerably longer life spans than humans. However, the limitations with their breeding patterns, makes their race extremely fragile.

Only two branches of humans know of the Amoveo's existence; the Caedo family and the Vasullus family. For generations, the Caedo family has dedicated their lives to the annihilation of the Amoveo. Like so many others, they are driven by fear and ignorance. They have hunted the Amoveo to the brink of extinction. When an Amoveo is killed, their mate eventually dies and any children they would have had are lost. The Vasullus family, however, serve as protectors for the Amoveo.

The first book which is set on the misty, summer shores of Rhode Island, focuses on the courtship of Malcolm Drew of the Eagle Clan and his mate, Samantha Logan. Sam is the first of her kind. She's a hybrid; half human and half Amoveo. Her very existence challenges everything that the Amoveo have known. Her parents were killed in an accident when she was an infant, and she was raised by her human grandparents. As a result, Sam was never taught any of the Amoveo ways and her abilites have lay dormant all of her life. At least until she meets Malcolm. A dream on her thirtieth birthday compels her to leave her life in NYC and move back home with her grandmother, Nonie. The novel focuses on the quickly evolving, passionate coupling of Malcolm and Samantha. He introduces her to the magical, mystical world of The Amoveo people and her newfound legacy. Their courtship is complicated by the looming threat of the Caedo that are hunting them. Can Malcolm convince Samantha before it is too late?

Very creative and unique - I can't wait to read it! What has surprised you most about being a published author?

The incredibly small amount of marketing that is done by the publisher. All of it falls on the author.

I've heard that from several other authors as well. You have four children - four boys. How in the world do you find time to write?

That is a consistent challenge! I do most of my writing at night after they're settled. I have a very patient husband.

Thanks goodness for sleeping children and patient husbands! Do you listen to musci while you write? If so, what are some of your faves?

I love Billy Joel, Maroon 5 and Nickelback. I used to be an actress so I have a lot of show tunes on my IPod...much to my hubby's dismay. Currently my absolute favorite artists are Amy Petty and The Strike Nineteens. Amy is an incredible musician! Her music really speaks to me and wakes up my muse. Amy is actually playing with me at several of my book signings. You can find her musci at her site: http://amypetty.com . My faves are "Honey On the Skin" (which she and her label let me use for Book 2's trailer) and "Long Way Down".

I'm definitely going to check her out. That's so cool that you got to use her song on your trailer! Do you ever get "writer's block"? If so, how do you deal with it?

Two ways. First, I'll talk out possible directions of the story with my husband. He really is such an incredible sport! He has patiently listened to all of the Amoveo adventures (or possible adventures). Also music. Amy Petty's music in particular.

Good strategies. Read any good books lately?

I just finished Christine Feehan's new novel in her Carpathian Series, Dark Posession. It was great! I love her work.

I'll have to add that one to my "to be read" list. If a book club was discussing your book, what would drive the conversation?

Interesting question. Probably the twist to the story...who's the real bad guy.

Now I'm really intrigued. What's next for Sara Taney Humphreys?

Book 2: An Amoveo Heart is in the works now and will hopefully be out in September. I'm also working on a vampire series. It's kind of "Sex and the City" with vampire chicks.

You're running a very special contest right now as well as donating proceeds of your book to a special cause. Tell us more about that.

Sure.

As a special thank you to our service members and their families I am running a very special contest for Military Wives ONLY. This contest will run from June 1st to August 31st, and during the contest months a portion of the proceeds from ALL of my book sales will be donated to the ASMBA STAR Foundation. The mission of the ASMBA STAR Foundation, located in Nashville, Tennessee, is to improve the quality of life of the military service member, veterans and their families, by contributing to the financial, educational, social, employment and medical needs unmet by the U.S. government. The Foundation has awarded grants to organizations such as the National Military Family Association, Helping our Veterans, Operation Stand Down, and many others.

How to enter:

Send an email to info@novelromance.net with a picture of you with your spouse in uniform and a little bit about what branch he serves in, where you've been stationed, challenges you've been presented with, etc., for two entries into the contest. If you purchase The Amoveo Legacy, email the receipt along with your photo for eight more entries in the contest.

Please put "Military Wives Contest" in the subject line.

Prizes:

Once a week, one entrant will be chosen and featured on her blog. These weekly entrants are the semi-finalists. Over the Labor Day weekend, one winner will be selected by Sara from the semi-finalists. The Grand Prize Winner is to have her name used as a character in one of her books and a $100 Amazon gift certificate.

First Prize is a $50 Amazon gift certificate.

Second Prize is a $25 Amazon gift certificate.

Thank you to all of our military for their service!

You can see the weekly Semi-Finalists on my blog http://amoveoromanceseries.blogspot.com .

What a wonderful way to give back, Sara! What is your favorite thing about summer or favorite thing to do in summer?

Definitely family BBQs. No doubt. Those Rockwellian moments that we remember forever will color our memories of the entire season. I just try to make sure I stop and recognize them when they happen.

Sara is running a contest for Armchair Heroines readers. If you sign up for Sara's newsletter, you get 10 entries into a drawing for a $25 Amazon gift certificate. If you purchase Sara's book, email proof of purchase to her and you'll get an additional 100 entries into the drawing. Be sure to comment below and let us know what you did so she knows to include you in the Armchair Heroines contest.

Thanks and have a great Wednesday!

Author Feature: Marcia James

Current Read: Sugar Daddy by Lisa Kleypas

Today I'm pleased to welcome colleague and friend, Marcia James!

*** Big round of AH applause ****

So, Marcia, one of your stories, “Rescue Me”, is part of the Tails of Love anthology that just came out this month. Tell us about “Rescue Me”.

In “Rescue Me”, ex-quarterback Adam “Nuke” Baumgardner saves a starving stray, and Buddy, the Chinese crested hairless dog, returns the favor by reuniting him with his lost love, veterinarian Claire Mendelsohn. Reviewers have described the story as heartwarming and humorous. One of the reasons I enjoy including “crestie” dogs in my stories is I love the comic contrast between a tough, Alpha-male hero and a tiny dog. And I’m a sucker for a pet who’s also a matchmaker. By the way, I have an excerpt of “Rescue Me” on my Web site’s Books page: http://www.marciajames.net/books.html

I checked it out and it's great! How did you get involved in the Tails of Love project?

Tails of Love (Berkley, June 2009) is NY Times bestselling author Lori Foster’s pet project, pun intended, and she invited me to donate a story to the anthology. I was thrilled to be asked. Lori supports many charities and spearheads a benefit anthology each year. 100% of the author and agent proceeds from Tails of Love will go to the Animal Adoption Foundation, a no-kill animal shelter in Hamilton County, OH. Lori contributed a story to the anthology, along with mine and those of award-winning and bestselling authors Kate Angell, Stella Cameron, Dianne Castell, Anne Christopher, Donna MacMeans, Sarah McCarty, Patricia Sargeant, and Sue-Ellen Welfonder. Each of the stories features an animal--from dogs and cats to a goat and a monkey. Lori created a cute book trailer for Tails of Love that I have on my Web site: http://www.marciajames.net/index.html

What's next from Marcia James?

The first in a comic romantic mystery series I’m writing, featuring a sex therapist/amateur sleuth, is with Berkley Publishing. The heroine “writes” a sex advice column on my Web site (http://marciajames.net/QandA/). Dorchester and Sourcebooks have requested the manuscript I’m finishing--a funny contemporary set in a clothing-optional Caribbean resort. Beyond Tails of Love, I don’t have a release date for my next book. There’s a lot of “hurry up and wait” in publishing.

You're not kidding. But how exciting for you! Tell us seven things we couldn't possibly know about you.

I have a list of “fun facts” on my Web site’s bio page (http://www.marciajames.net/bio.html), and the following is from that:

1. As a volunteer at charity events, I’ve met a lot of celebrities, including Tom Selleck, Paul Newman, Michael York, and Bob Hope. I have photos with some of the stars on my site (http://www.marciajames.net/Photos_Celebs.html).

2. My wedding was covered by People Magazine because we encouraged our guests to donate to charity vs. giving us wedding presents.

3. I worked as a sound technician for an NBC-TV affiliate in Maryland. (This was a challenge, given the weather girl’s sometimes salty language.)

4. I was a movie extra in a church scene for the War and Remembrance miniseries. (The part required 1940s dress, hairstyle and make-up but no acting, thank goodness.)

5. I participated in a March of Dimes Celebrity downhill ski race in Big Bear, CA. My team captain was Olympic gold medal pole vaulter, Bob Seagren.

6. I wrote, produced and directed training videos for the U.S. Navy. We videotaped aboard nuclear subs, a minesweeper, a destroyer and a tender.

7. I once asked actor David Niven, who was appearing on The Charlie Rose Show, what Scotsmen wear under their kilts. (The answer? Nothing.)

Hahaha, that's an amazing list! What's the craziest place you've found inspiration?

Before I moved to Ohio, I worked in video production in Washington, D.C. I was involved in shooting a Chinese beer commercial and learned firsthand how difficult it is to get the necessary filming permits from the various federal and D.C. agencies who have jurisdiction over the nation’s capital. That lack of interagency cooperation gave me the idea for my first book, At Her Command (http://www.marciajames.net/books.html). The premise question for that comic romantic suspense: What might happen if the DEA, FBI, and D.C. police unknowingly put operatives undercover at the same sex club? The comic and sensual possibilities were endless. ;-D It was a fun book to write.

I'll bet. You've had a lot of varied experiences (jobs, travels, etc.). How do those experiences contribute to your writing?

As a freelance video producer/scriptwriter and advertising copywriter, I’ve worked on a wide variety of projects for corporations, nonprofit organizations, government, and the military. That gives me a lot of experiences to draw from when I write my contemporary romances. And the sense of humor I’ve needed to deal with many of the personalities I’ve encountered serves me well when writing hot, humorous fiction.

What's your best marketing advice for new authors?

My best advice is not to ignore the business side of publishing when learning the craft of fiction writing. Learn about promotion and branding before you sell. Once you’re a published author, choose those self-promotion options that work best with your budget, time constraints, books, and personality. I present author PR online workshops (check my site’s Schedule page for upcoming workshops: http://www.marciajames.net/schedule.html), and I see how stressed authors can get from attempting to do too much promotion or the types of promotion that don’t come easily for them--such as a technologically challenged person like myself trying to learn Web design. Since authors’ Web sites are our most valuable promotional tool, it’s important the sites look professional. I also recommend understanding what your brand is and making sure your Web site and PR materials reinforce your brand. Jenn Stark is the go-to person on author branding, and she has information on her site (http://www.jennstark.com/branding.aspx) to help authors determine their brands.

Great advice! I can't wait to take your PR class in September. If you could invent a new holiday, what would it be and why?

I’d establish “Read a Romance Week” for people who have never tried a wonderful, feel-good romance. It’s ironic that most of the people who denigrate romance novels have never tried one--at least not in this century. In addition, I could definitely get behind a “Support Your Local Author Day”. ;-)

Love both of those. :0) What's your favorite thing to do in the summer?

I’m not a beach person, but I definitely enjoy relaxing with my husband on our patio after dinner, reading a good book and watching the chipmunks and rabbits who like to hang out in our back yard. I also enjoy road trips through Ohio and neighboring states, especially when we come across small-town street fairs and yard sales. And year-round I like to get out from behind my computer to meet friends for lunch. Writing is a solitary job, so I enjoy socializing online, on the phone, and in-person.

I'm a backyard hanger-outer myself! I'm so sad - our plants got stripped last evening during a gargantuan hail storm. I'll post pictures on Friday...

Thank you so much for being here, Marcia!

AHers, a copy of Marcia's book At Her Command is up for grabs today. Comment, ask questions, just let us know what you're thinking for your chance to win! The winner will be announced Friday in a new blog post.

Second Life: A Place for Readers and Writers to Mingle

This is a picture of an author salon I attended last month in Second Life. You can just see me back in the corner on the left near the Soul of a Highlander poster. What is Second Life, you ask? It's a virtual world where you can do almost anything you do in "real" life. Most exciting, in my opinion, are the opportunities it presents to meet other readers and our favorite authors.

Getting started in Second Life (http://www.secondlife.com/) is relatively easy. You download it to your computer and create an account. It's free, and I haven't had any problems with viruses. You choose a generic avatar then, once you're in-world, you can get clothes, accessories, tattoos, basically anything you desire to personalize your avatar. You can also stick with the newbie avatar until you feel ready to "get a makeover". I just got mine yesterday. :0) The currency in Second Life is called Linden dollars, but there are many free items out there, so don't feel like you have to purchase Linden dollars right away.

Yesterday yours truly, along with two of my colleagues and friends, Melissa Mayhue (http://www.melissamayhue.com/) and Elaine Levine (http://www.elainelevine.com/), were interviewed in Second Life at a show for readers called Off the Shelf. You can listen to the interview here if you're interested: http://www.archive.org/details/OffTheShelf-Episode0007 . The Off the Shelf gang is an active group of readers who have interests that span the genres. They hang out at Bookstacks.

Another great way to mingle with authors is at author salons hosted by Melissa and Elaine. In fact, there's a salon this Wednesday with talented author/agent Lucienne Diver. It starts at 7 pm mountain time. It will be held at Melissa's booth. If you'd like to attend, get your account set-up, come into Second Life Wednesday night a little before 7 pm then send me an email or a message in Second Life with your SL name, and I'll teleport you to Melissa's booth.

You can also send me a message when you join Second Life. My in-world name is TJ Capelo. I can send you landmarks to my favorite reader and author places. Feel free to send me an email at Tiffany@TiffanyJames.net if you have questions.

Happy Monday, and I'll see you in Second Life!

Author Feature: Rosalind Noonan

Current Read: What current read? School's out and I'm still trying to submit requested partials...

Today, I'm pleased to welcome author Rosalind Noonan! Please give her a big round of Armchair Heroines e-applause.

Welcome Rosalind. Tell us about ONE SEPTEMBER MORNING.

The novel begins when Abby learns that her husband John, who left a successful career playing for the NFL to enlist after 9/11, has been killed in Iraq. When Abby investigates the circumstances of John's death it becomes clear that he was shot by someone in his platoon. At the same time we see the grief caused by John's death sweep through family and friends, including his father who served in Vietnam, his mother who has always felt at home in military communities, his brother Noah who is a fellow soldier, his younger sister Madison who has been protesting against the war. The story spins into a mystery suspense plot toward the end, which was a lot of fun to write.

Sounds wonderful. Is this your first novel?

SEPTEMBER is my first novel, which is exciting and nerve wracking. I was so vested in this book that I used my own name on it, which had a wonderful silver lining: friends that I've lost touch with over the years have found the book and contacted me. It's better than a school reunion! My friend Audi from college, Kathy K from St. Philip Neri, my sorority sisters and other alums from Wagner College have been in touch, and I'm hoping to visit with them in the future.

Although this is my first novel, I am no stranger to publishing. I was an editor at Silhouette Books in its infancy, and have written dozens of books under various pseudonyms, including Carolyn Keene, Roz Bailey, Carly Alexander. Look me up on Amazon and you'll see a CHARMED book I did years ago that's still selling well. I'm still not sure how my real name got on that one...

You're a pro! While you write and work on a specific book do you find you enter that world?

When I'm working on a book I do enter that world, which might explain why it takes me so long to finish the first hundred or so pages of a book. Although I work from an outline, there's still a fair amount of world building and character dimension/backstory that needs to happen, and for me that takes place in the first painful century of pages. Sometimes during that stage of writing I have to make some significant changes to characters, add or cut a character, to make things work. I envy those writers who say that they sit down and the characters just run away with a scene or use them as a means to channel through! A lot of my time is spent molding and psychoanalyzing my people. The up side of this in my process is that if I do the heavy building up front, the second half of the manuscript flows for me.

Do you have a mantra or favorite saying in relation to your writing?

My goal is to entertain, educate a little and build empathy -- my three Es. On a more mundane level, I always say you just have to get it down on paper -- do the sloppy copy -- and then you can go back and rewrite, slash and burn. I think we would all love to have perfect prose flow from our fingertips, however if you don't have something flawed to work with, well...you don't have a story.

Good point. Just get it down! What's next for Rosalind Noonan?

In November 2009, Kensington is publishing SNOW ANGELS, an anthology led by Fern Michaels. My contribution is a novella called MIRACLE ON MAIN STREET, which was inspired by my husband's twenty plus years with the NYPD. The setting brought me back to my old stomping grounds in Flushing, Queens. The sights, the sounds, the roar of the subway trains, the smell of the pretzel carts...it was very nostalgic for me, and I enjoyed writing a story in which a longstanding romance is reawakened.

As I write this I'm working on a novel slated for publication in 2010. It's a family drama that will be stylistically similar to ONE SEPTEMBER MORNING, but it's a very different, much smaller world, this one set in Syracuse, NY. One of the bonuses of this story is a developing romance between my main character Kate and the detective who's trying to help her pin her son's attacker. This one was a bear to start, but I've reached page 100 -- insert happy dance here! -- so I'm starting to get a handle on these characters.

Those both sound great. Old flame stories are my favorite! Finish this sentence : I'm happiest when......

I've just finished a book and I've nailed it! The characters, the twists, the ending...when it all comes together and I've finally got it on paper after carrying these things in my head for so long, the adrenaline rush is tremendous. My kids are usually happy when I nail it, too, because that means I can leave my cave and resume cooking, carpooling, road trips, etc.

Ain't that the truth?! Read any good books lately?

I just finished Anna Quindlen's BLACK AND BLUE for the second time, and I don't reread books very often to that's a rave. I enjoyed it on a different level, realized it's somewhat picaresque in structure. Anna Quindlen creates scenes, characters and impressions in such a complete yet compact way. She is one of the great American writers.

And have you read Nora Roberts' ANGELS FALL? That book transported me last summer. Her romantic suspense novels always deliver, and there's something about the worlds she builds that just makes you want to go there.

Hear that Armchair Heroines? Two more books for your "to be read" piles. :0) What is one thing you love to do in the summer?

Summer is my favorite time of year! I love to sit on the dock and read, swim in the lake, stretch out in the sun and dream. (Oops...I think that's way more than one!) Sometimes my husband and I walk for miles on the beach, and there is nothing quite like that total plunge into a salty wave. I guess we're water people!

I used to go to Nantucket as a nanny in the summer. Going back and hearing the ocean always made me feel like I was returning to an old friend...now I'm in landlocked Colorado (but it's beautiful). :0)

Rosalind, thank you so much for being here and best of luck to you.

AHers, thanks to the generous folks over at Kensington Publishing, I have TWO ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies) of ONE SEPTEMBER MORNING to give away. Leave a comment about your favorite summer things, good books you've read lately or ask Rosalind a question and you'll be entered in the contest. The winners will be announced right here on Friday!

*****

Sorry, ladies, I had this set to post automatically yesterday and it didn't!

Congratulations to:

Dina

&

Robyn L

You are the lucky winners of the One September Morning ARCs. I have your addresses (as past winners - congrats) so I'll get your books in the mail on Monday!

A huge thank you to Rosalind for spending some time with us here at AH, and as always, thank you to all of you readers out there!

Have a great weekend!

Feature: Historical Romance Author Kris Kennedy

Please welcome my friend and author, Kris Kennedy!

First of all, congratulations on your debut novel, The Conqueror! And can I just say: Wow! What a cover! Tell us about The Conqueror.

Ack! I stink at blurbs, but here goes . . .

THE CONQUEROR is a hot, sweeping medieval romance with a reluctant alpha hero, a desperate heroine, and a love that can unite a kingdom or bring it crashing to the ground.

After seventeen years of a civil war, a midnight rescue results in a night of unforgettable--and forbidden-passion. Their explosive reunion, a year later, follows betrayal and a bloody invasion. Someone has to win, after all. And the other person is very, very angry.

And it's full of an ‘adventure' piece, if you like that kind of thing. J Abductions, midnight rescues, sword fights. Hidden agendas. Betrayal. Revenge. Imprisonment. Buried treasure. Enemies on the prowl. And hot sex. Oh, it's fun! :-)

Uh, you did a pretty darn good job with that blurb...Michelle Buonfiglio over at Romance: B(u)y the Book (myLifetime.com) says she's "pretty damn wildly excited about it" and that it's the medieval she's "been waiting for"! Have you always written medievals?

I was really excited to have Michelle love the book! Since then, it’s started receiving other reviews that have been pretty positive.

Dear Author named it a Recommended Read for May, and two other ‘tough’ review sites also seemed to like it: All About Romance gave it a B+ and Wendy the SuperLibrarian give it a solid B, and said “It's easy to see why this book finaled for RWA's Golden Heart award. It's really a very accomplished debut novel, and fans of medievals should just beat the Christmas rush and start rejoicing now.”

So, of course, I still go back and re-read that. LOL

As far as “have I always written medievals” . . .

My very first story was actually a very bad post-Revolutionary War era story. Let us hope it stays hidden in the vaults, because it is one scary piece of writing. ;-)

After that, I started writing stories based in Ireland, following an Irish awakening, which took the form of obsessive, unstoppable research into Ireland. J I was increasingly intrigued by the medieval era as a result, but when I read Marsha Canham’s Through a Dark Mist and In the Shadow of Midnight, that was the match that totally ignited my love of the middle ages. :-)

If (when?) I get a review like that, you can bet I'll have it committed to memory! :0) How is writing a medieval romance different than writing historicals from other eras?

I have to say, I don’t really know! LOL You have to do a ton of research, of course, but it’s so far in the past, and so much of the research is stitched together. Sometimes you’re writing between the lines of what’s known as historical fact and what’s simply believed to be true.

It was a wild time, with lots of approbations on behavior, but still so much leeway. There were fewer people, living further apart, and it was pretty easy to get away with outlawry. There were also lots of small battles and conflicts, legal and martial, and this just lends itself to drama and fiction. Even some of the things that came to be so accepted in Western culture were still being formalized in this time. For instance, in the era THE CONQUEROR takes place in, primogeniture—or the right of the eldest son to inherit the father’s titles and lands—was not solidly in place. Sometimes the eldest son inherited, but it was still debatable, and was most often settled by who was still standing at the end of the day; i.e. who won the fight? And legal disputes were still being settled by battle and torture.

So, all of these things lend themselves to writing a rich tapestry of fiction, with a variety of different outcomes that can be woven into the real history of the times, which I LOVE doing.

Sounds crazy! Tell us a little about how you research.

I read. Incessantly. :-) I’m the dork lugging around the big heavy research books. LOLI’ve also been fortunate enough to travel to Ireland, England, and Germany, so I’ve crawled all over the castles as much as possible, trying to imagine how it would have felt to be alive back then.

Some of my best friends are dorks lugging around heavy research books. :0) What's up next for you?

I recently turned in WANTING FINIAN to my editor, which is the story that won the 2008 Golden Heart Award for Best Historical Romance last summer. Here’s an excerpt: http://www.kriskennedy.net/books/wanting-finian) I did extensive revisions to it following the Golden Heart awards, and, barring additional revision suggestions from my editor, it’s essentially done. Hurray!

Of course, I don’t yet know what it will be titled. I doubt my editor will keep my title, so be sure to stay tuned for news on that. :0)

Otherwise, I’m back to working on another book which could follow THE CONQUEROR, but certainly works as a stand-alone book. It’s a medieval with a wronged & angry heroine, a very, very dangerous hero, and both of them with something precious to protect. My working title is simply: The Jamie Story.

Mmm, sounds intriguing. You have a page on your website called "My Girls". What's that all about?

Those are the other writers I know and think readers might enjoy. I actually have to update that page—thanks for mentioning it! LOL.

That’s the great thing about the world of fiction—there’s room for all of us. The whole genre improves when another great author comes along. :0)

I love that - "there's room for all of us"! I frequently comment on how wonderful it is that there are so many different books out there - something for everyone! :0) What have you found most surprising about being a published author?

How long it takes to do revisions when you realize (hopefully) thousands of people will be reading your book. Call it obsession or stark fear, whatever. :0) It makes me work very hard to do a fabulous job, making the revisions very time-consuming. :0)

I didn’t quite ‘get’ this with the first book. Before you sell a book, it’s all about the selling. Afterwards, it’s all about ‘OMG, how did I ever sell this thing??” ;-)

Now that THE CONQUEROR is out in stores, though, I realize what I really care about is the readers. I’ve received the nicest, most exciting letters form people who picked the book up in a grocery store, for instance, and just loved it. I can’t put into words what that means to me.

That's truly what it's all about, after all. What advice did your mother (or another close female, mom-like person) give you that you've found indispensable?

Hmm…I love the question, but I don’t have an answer. LOL I don’t think I categorize things in my mind like that: I don’t have a file drawer named ‘advice,’ that I can open and look at. Too bad, because I like the idea of it.

I do know I really like the idea of ‘guiding principles,’ and I use them to help me make decisions at hard times.

I think if I had to give advice to a younger female (totally not what you asked ), I’d suggest she work on discovering what she values, what & who she has respect for, then come up with some basic, ‘guiding principles’ that invoke those behaviors. Ex: “When in doubt, be compassionate in how you interpret someone else’s behavior.” Then, when she’s having her own ‘dark nights of the soul,’ J, she can fall back on these as a guide.

And finally, besides your new book :0) and loved ones, what's your most prized possession?

Holy cow, you ask the best questions that I have no answers for! LOL Possessions . . . Prized . .

I could say my computer, b/c of all of the info on it, but if the info were put somewhere else, I wouldn’t care about the computer at all.

Pictures. Pictures of my past, my family and friends.

Oooh, I love pictures (just take a look at my blog recently)! Thank you so much for being here with us today, Kris!

Thanks so much for having me, Tiffany! I’d love to ask your readers a question. Since I am apparently so deficient in recalling advice given to me, I’d love to hear some of your readers’ advice, about dreams.

If you have/had some advice--guiding principle—about dreams, what would they be? What would you tell a young girl about her dreams?

Look at you turning the tables! Great question. I can't wait to hear all of our armchair heroines' answers! And one of you will receive a copy of Kris's book. So let us know your thoughts on dreams and guiding principles.

Congratulations Lyoness2009! You are the lucky winner of The Conqueror. Email me your snail mail address at Tiffany@TiffanyJames.net and I'll get your book headed your way!

Thanks to everyone who joined us for Kris's feature!

Watch the upcoming events for happenings here at AH. See you next Wednesday. :0)

Featured Author: Emily Bryan

Howdy, Armchair Heroines! I'm thrilled to host historical romance author Emily Bryan today. She's had some interesting experiences, and I love her books!

So, how about a round of e-applause for Emily?!

Welcome, Emily! Vexing the Viscount is your latest release. Please, tell us about it.

VEXING THE VISCOUNT is a sexy, light-hearted romp (with a more serious story-within-a-story embedded inside it.) It’s the tale of Daisy Drake, a well-born miss who developed a childhood infatuation for Lucian Beaumont, now Viscount Rutland. Unfortunately, his father holds a terrible grudge against her uncle, but Daisy doesn’t let that daunt her. She masquerades as a French courtesan to convince Lucian to let her help him find the lost Roman treasure he seeks.

The secondary love story explains how the Roman payroll went missing in the first place. Readers can sample a little of both on my website http://www.emilybryan.com/ .

Sounds wonderful! Readers, you can purchase your very own copy of Vexing the Viscount here. You sang opera for awhile (in Colorado - my home state). Does that experience carry over to your writing? If so, how?

Yes, I confess, I was a schleppy soprano. I made my debut with the Denver Symphony and actually won the Metropolitan Opera auditions there in Colorado! My singing experience carries over to my writing because when I prepared an operatic role, I always devised a backstory for my character (you know what I mean, the whole “What’s my motivation?” dilemma actors go through!) I still love opera, though I always hate to see the soprano die just when the tenor finally figures out that he loves her! In my books, my heroines get to live AND keep the guy (who’s much smarter than the average operatic tenor!). It makes a nice change.

Getting to live and keeping the guy...now that's a happily ever after! :0) Did you always know you wanted to write historical romance?

I didn’t even know I wanted to write till 2001, but I was always a voracious reader and gravitated toward historicals. I love the whole “take me away” quality of a good historical. Sub-genres tend to go through cycles of popularity, but historicals are the “little black dress” of romance. They’re always in style.

I have to agree (although I love many different romance genres), there is something about historicals that really take me away from reality for awhile! Tell us a little about how you research your books.

Once I know when I’m placing my story, I start with TIMETABLES OF HISTORY by Grun. This is a quick overview of the political, cultural, religious and scientific events of any given year. I hit the internet for background material, of course, but I don’t take anything I find there as gospel unless I can confirm it with a 2nd citing.

I love to visit art museums and study portraiture to get a handle on how people presented themselves in different eras. You’d be surprised what you can glean about clothing, cosmetics, weaponry, even pets, from a study of the art of a period.

My old music history books even give me a peek into how people lived in other times. For instance, did you know that JS Bach walked 100 miles to hear his favorite organist, Buxtehude, play in recital? Now that’s a devoted fan!

Interesting approach, and I'd never heard that about Bach before! What can we expect to see from Emily Bryan next?

VEXING THE VISCOUNT is still available in bookstores now. My next release is A CHRISTMAS BALL, due out September 29th! For this holiday anthology, I’ve teamed up with USA Today Best Seller Jennifer Ashley and exciting new author Alissa Johnson. All our characters are attending Lord and Lady Hartwell’s grand Christmas Ball and YOU are invited too!

My current WIP, STROKE OF GENIUS is the story of a Bostonian heiress who takes courting advice from the brilliant artist who’s engaged to sculpt her hands. She attracts the attention of a duke, but finds herself yearning for the brooding, darkly dangerous genius who helped her transform from an ugly duckling into a social swan. Look for STROKE OF GENIUS in the summer of 2010!

Please sign up for my newsletter at http://www.emilybryan.com/ for reminders of what’s coming next!

Both sound intriguing, and I love the idea of seeing an event through the eyes of three different authors and their characters. Can you tell us about some of your favorite interactions with readers?

Hand’s down, it’s got to be my 50day/50blog VEXING THE VISCOUNT tour! I set off on a whirlwind trip through cyber-space at the first of the year and picked up a fun core group of “blog touristas” who came along for the ride. We had a great time and still do, at my personal blog http://www.emilybryan.blogspot.com/ .

The high point of my recent Romantic Times Convention was meeting two of my touristas, face to face!

How fun! If you could lead a secret double life, what or who would you moonlight as?

Don’t look now, but I’m already doing it. Mild-mannered house-wife by day and romantic wild-child by . . . day, too. Actually I squeeze the wild-child in between loads of laundry and walking Susie the Wonder Dog.

We should start a secret sorority...Sisterhood of the Romantic Laundresses/Writers! ;0) Which of your characters are you most like? Most unlike?

That’s a toughie. Actually, there’s a little of me in all of them since they all sprang from my subconscious. (Which sort of makes me go “hmmmm” when I think about the less-than-nice villains who abound in my stories.)

I’d like to be more like Daisy Drake, who knows what she wants and is willing to go after it no matter what that entails. Admit it! Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to wear a courtesan’s shoes? Daisy knows first hand.

I can't wait to read more about Daisy! With Mother's Day just around the corner, what is something invaluable you learned from an important woman in your life?

I have many incredible women in my life, including my two daughters. But I have to say I learned about keeping love alive from my mother. My dad was a railroader and she always made it an occasion when he came home. We’d all run to hug and kiss him. (I have 3 sisters—like I said, lots of incredible women in my life!) Every single time, it was as if the conquering hero had returned. She didn’t greet him with news of the leaking hot water heater or the trouble one of us girls might have gotten into while he was gone (remember I said incredible women, not perfect!)—no, she welcomed him like a king. She and my dad have been married for over 50 years and he’s always treated her as his queen.

‘Scuse me, my DH is at the door. Time to run for a hug and a kiss!

Thank you so much for being here, Emily! Any parting words?

Thanks again for having me, Tiff. Readers can learn more about my books at http://www.emilybryan.com/ . I’ll be back to respond to comments or questions. As an added incentive, anyone who leaves a comment or question will be entered in a drawing for a signed copy of PLEASURING THE PIRATE.

You heard her, AH Readers. Let us know what's on your mind for your chance to pick up a copy of PLEASURING THE PIRATE. The winner be announced right here by Friday!

Happy Wednesday!

The winner of Pleasuring the Pirate, generated by Random.org is:

Mari

Congratulations, Mari! Email me at Tiffany@TiffanyJames.net with your snail mail address and Emily will get your book "sailing" your way! :0)

Thanks to everyone who joined us yesterday - what fun! Be sure to stop by Emily's blog on Monday to say "hi" and then get your patooties back here on May 20th to meet historical romance author Kris Kennedy.

Author Feature: Elise Chidley

Current Read: Your Roots Are Showing by Elise Chidley

I'm thrilled to have double RITA Finalist Elise Chidley here today. In the writing world a RITA is like an Oscar! Elise's debut novel, Your Roots Are Showing, is nominated in the Best First Book category and the Contemporary Single Title category. I am reading it right now and love it! It's one of those books that, as an aspiring author, makes me want to throw my arms in the air and quit because I'll never be that good. :0) And on that note, please welcome today's featured author, Elise Chidley!

Tell us about your first novel, Your Roots Are Showing.

Your Roots Are Showing was inspired by a house we lived in briefly in England—the bare-bones, badly-laid-out rental house Lizzie relocates to at the start of the novel after her husband walks out on her. I remember standing in the hallway of that very house, looking up at a light bulb swinging from the ceiling, and then out of the window at the desolate front yard, and thinking it was the ideal setting for a book about a woman whose life had suddenly fallen apart. The house was like a clean slate—somewhere to reinvent yourself and start all over again.

In Roots, this is exactly what Lizzie has to do. Ironically, by zapping off an unforgivable email to her husband by mistake, she sets in motion a train of events that will force her to reevaluate herself, her choices, and the state of her married life.

What a great inspiration! I can just see the house...Have you ever sent an email to the wrong person? :0)

Yes, I often make email blunders, but nothing truly devastating has ever gone astray.

I understand you've also written short stories. Tell us more...

I wrote a collection of stories for my MFA thesis at Penn State University. One of these, The Water Diviner, was short-listed for the Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award. Another, Gifts, was short-listed forThe New Writer’s annual Prose and Fiction Prize. The stories are set in South Africa, where I’m from, and are more literary in tone than Your Roots Are Showing.

What are you working on now?

I’m at the editing stage of a second book, and beginning work on a third. They’re both similar in style to Roots, and both deal with the ways children can complicate and enrich a woman’s life. (Can you tell I don’t like the term ‘mom lit’?)

Tell us three things we don't know about you:

I’m not very tall; okay, I’m ‘petite’—I like to say I’m 5’2” but I think it’s a whisker less than that.I drink an awful lot of tea, so I’m hoping to live forever. Then again, maybe it’s the wrong kind of tea…

After years of suppressing the urge, I realize that in my bones I’m an avid gardener, just like my mother.

If Elise Chidley were a fictional character in a book, what would she be like?

I’d be tall with one of those golden skins that tan easily; I’d have eagle eyes, and I would know for a fact that you can’t please all the people all the time, so I wouldn’t even try.

Is that close to the real Elise? What did you change and why?

As I’ve already confessed, the word ‘tall’ could only be applied to me by leprechauns and their ilk. I’m plagued with very fair skin that keeps me ducking around under umbrellas and shade trees outside for fear of wrinkles and skin cancer. I’ve been myopic all my life, and I’m a habitual ‘people pleaser’. I think my fictional life will be a lot easier without these all-too-real shortcomings (pun intended).

I can sympathize, I have the "people pleasing plague" as well. :0) And finally, where can we find you?

Look me up at www.elisechidley.com and www.elisechidley.wordpress.com. I’ll be speaking and signing books to promote Chicken Soup for the Soul: Power Moms (in which I have a piece) at the New Canaan Library, New Canaan, CT at 7pm on Tuesday, April 21; at the Greenwich Library, Greenwich, CT, at 6:30pm on Tuesday, April 28, and at Barnes & Noble in the Lincoln Center, New York, NY, from 1-3pm on Friday, May 8. I will also be signing books at the RWA’s “Reader’s for Life” Literacy Autographing at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington D.C. on Wednesday evening, July 15. For more about the RWA Conference, go to the RWA’s web site: http://www.rwanational.org/cs/conferences_and_events.

Wonderful, Elise! Thank you for being here.

Elise is giving away one copy of Your Roots Are Showing! All you have to do is comment - let us know what's on your mind or ask Elise a question and you're in. The winner will be announced here on Friday. So, let the fun begin!

And heeeeere's the winner of Elise's contest:

Last Nerve

Email me your snail mail address at Tiffany@TiffanyJames.net and Elise will get Your Roots Are Showing headed your way!

Thanks again to Elise and to all of you who joined us! Be sure to join me next week when I chat with historical romance author Emily Bryan!

Happy Friday!