Chick Lit Goddess

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Modogamous Holiday Hop

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Today, I’m thrilled to bring you the first stop of the

“Modogamous Holiday Hop”!

(Be sure to see other stops and enter to win prizes in the links below!)

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“Modogamous” by Karen Martin

Blurb of “Modogamous”: Kate Adams has it all figured out. Five years out of college, she’s got a steady job, a home she loves in the big city, and good friends who always keep her laughing:  her stylish but nosy roommate Evette, happily-married Cecie, and of course, good old Mitch, her seriously cute co-worker who’s been stuck in the Friend Zone since the day they met.

Everything is going just fine—until the night Kate crosses the line with Mitch, and the boundaries between friendship and love begin to blur. Things get even more complicated when hunky JP enters the scene. What’s a girl to do? Add to the mix a spunky little pug Kate never expected to fall for, and her neatly-ordered life is starting to look more like a dog’s dinner.  Maybe her roommate has the right idea after all:  forget the men, and stick with a canine companion instead.

It’s time for Kate to figure out what she really wants in life. But can she dig her way out of the mess she’s created before she ends up permanently in the doghouse?

Chapter 1 tease

Cecie slipped into the booth at Norm’s Eat-In, where Evette and Kate were already waiting.

“Sorry I’m late, guys. I had to drop Brigid off at the library, but she didn’t want to get out of bed to get ready. You know how it is…” she trailed off, distractedly fishing her cell phone out of the grandma-worthy purse strapped across her torso. She slid the phone onto the table in anticipation of the inevitable interruptions that continually reminded them that Cecie was a parent first and a friend-slash-person second.

“No worries,” said Evette. “You haven’t missed anything good. I was just getting ready to grill Kate about her date last night with Mr. Bowtie.”

“Ugh, Mr. Bowtie,” Kate winced. “Do we have to talk about him before we eat? I’d hate to lose my appetite.” She arched an eyebrow and made a face. “Turns out he wasn’t just Mr. Bowtie,” she said, referring to the online profile picture in which her blind date sported a scarlet bowtie. “He was also Mr. Schnauzer.”

“Mr. Schnauzer?” teased Evette. “Another dog lover? You do know how to pick ‘em.”

“I don’t see what you’ve got against dogs anyway, Kate,” said Cecie. “Dogs are great companions—everyone should have a dog! You should have a dog,” she advised in a matter-of-fact tone, flipping over the breakfast menu to view the daily specials.

“I think not, thank you very much,” said Kate. “And yes, Vetta, another dog lover. This one was a real piece of work. He spent the entire date talking about his dog, Scotch,” she rolled her eyes. “We weren’t even halfway through the first round of drinks when he pulled out his phone and started showing me this endless slideshow of the dog. Every single photo showed him and the dog on a bunch of boulders. Get it? Scotch on the rocks.”

The girls groaned audibly.

“Yeah, that was my reaction, too. ‘Look, here’s Scotch on the rocks at Red Rocks. Here’s Scotch on the rocks at the summit of a fourteen on the Rocky Mountains. Here’s Scotch on the rocks at Rock City, Tennessee.’ I didn’t even know there was such a place as Rock City, Tennessee, but apparently there is, ‘cause I saw fifty zillion pictures of the place, dog’s eye view. Black and white. Very artistic,” she deadpanned.

Cecie wiped away a tear as the girls finished laughing. “Okay, Okay, so he was a little dog-obsessed. Maybe he was just nervous and needed to talk about something he felt comfortable with.”

“Oh, don’t give him that much credit,” Kate grumbled. “I’m pretty sure that man was a one-dog show.” She winked, and the girls erupted into giggles again.

“Well, I adore dogs,” Evette sniffed. “If I were ever going to date again, I’d tell you to send the guy my way.” Two pairs of wide eyes turned to her.

“What do you mean, if you were ever going to date again?” said Kate. “Since when aren’t you going to date again?”

“It’s something I just decided recently,” she said in a chilly tone, meeting the stares of her friends with a defiant, upturned chin. “You know what it’s been like for me since that day.”

Kate and Cecie exchanged a glance, remembering ‘that day’ in June, not quite a year ago. It was Evette’s third wedding anniversary. That was the day Micah had served Evette breakfast in bed—and then served her divorce papers. As if the breakfast would cushion the fucking blow. What an asshat. Kate clenched her teeth and silently fumed, remembering the countless hours she and Cecie had spent comforting Evette in the aftermath.

Even now, poor Evette had to endure Micah’s unforgivably happy presence at Pine Grove Elementary, where she taught fifth grade. His mistress-cum-wife, Louisa, had a daughter in first grade there, so it was impossible to avoid them. They were there for every pageant, every art show, every parent-teacher conference.

And to think, he met the tramp at the school’s Spring Social! Apparently, Micah and Louisa had gotten a bit too social during the behind-the-scenes tour. And then Louisa wound up pregnant. Evette was devastated when she found out. It was all downhill to a quick divorce after that.

“I’ve decided that I’m through with men,” Evette continued. “I don’t think it’s in man’s nature to be faithful. They simply can’t be monogamous. And I…well, I couldn’t bear it if a man ever cheated on me again.” She lowered her head into her coffee cup to hide the morose tears that welled up in the corners of her eyes. Blinking rapidly and drawing in a breath, she lifted her head again and continued. “Nope, from now on it’s going to be just me, myself, and I. And maybe a dog.” Her eyes lit up. “Yes—a dog! A man may not be loyal, but a dog sure is.” Evette looked delighted with the idea; Kate, less so, since it was her condo they shared.

“So much for monogamy. I guess you’ll be modogamous instead,” Cecie wisecracked.

“Yes,” said Evette resolutely, then she smiled broadly at her friends. “Modogamous.”

“Well then,” Cecie raised her coffee mug, “here’s to being modogamous.”

“Modogamous!” the girls said in unison, knocking their mismatched cups together with the earthy clank of glazed pottery.

KarenMartinPic**About Karen Martin: Karen E. Martin, M.Ed. is a full-time freelance writer/editor. She has been in the publishing business since 2004, working on books and publications for major and independent publishers, universities, businesses, and private individuals. Prior to entering the field of publishing, Ms. Martin worked as a Senior EFL Fellow (English as a Foreign Language) for the U.S. Department of State in Romania, a Junior EFL Fellow for the U.S. Department of State in Jordan, and a teacher-trainer for the U.S Peace Corps in Mauritania, Jordan, Romania, and Morocco. Ms. Martin served as a Peace Corps volunteer for two years, teaching English in the Errachidia Province of Morocco.

**Contact Karen: Blog   Facebook   Goodreads   LinkedIn   Pinterest   Twitter

**(Click HERE to see other stops on the Modogamous Holiday Hop, and be sure to check out the Facebook event by clicking HERE!)

**Buy “Modogomous” now!: Amazon   Smashwords

**GIVEAWAY**

Join the Modogamous Holiday Hop Giveaway to win a fabulous Swag Pack full of prizes! The Swag Pack winner will receive a signed copy of the paperback, tote bag, coffee mug, Christmas ornament, and more! Additional prizes include a copy of the e-book, a signed paperback, and a limited edition, signed art print of the book’s cover art…Click HERE to enter!

An Interview with Mary Kay Andrews & a Giveaway!

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With great pleasure, I’m thrilled to have interviewed one of my favorite authors. She’s funny, inspiring, and her books are a true joy to read. Without further ado, here’s New York Times Bestselling Author, Mary Kay Andrews!BlackMKAAuthor, Mary Kay Andrews

INTERVIEW

Have you always loved to write? Yes! On the first day of first grade our teacher asked us to draw a picture of what we wanted to be when we grew up. While the other kids drew firemen and nurses and teachers and cowboys, I drew a picture of a lady sitting at a tall table in front of a wall of books—my six-year-old image of what a writer looked like.

How did you celebrate when you first book was published? With a party! My friends threw me a party at the house that inspired the setting for my first book, EVERY CROOKED NANNY.

Where is your ideal place to write? I like to write with the sunshine streaming in on me—at our vacation house on Tybee Island, or in the sun room of our restored Craftsman bungalow in Atlanta.

How has social media changed your career? Social media has connected me with so many fans and given me instant feedback on what my readers like and dislike. They enjoy being part of a community, and I enjoy hearing from them. That said, I spend a tremendous amount of time and energy staying connected with them.

What is the best advice you can give to a new author? Don’t fixate on writing that first “perfect chapter.” Just get on with the story—and finish it. You can go back and revise and hone and polish after you get the story down in black and white.

Who or what inspires you to write? Envy—when I read a great novel or chapter, I want to try to create something just as moving.

What is your favorite word? Vintage!

Every writer must have a…: Fine-point black felt tip pen.

What time of day do you seem to work best? Mornings when I wake up with an idea bubbling up from my self-consciousness, I reach for my laptop, prop myself up in bed and write like a woman possessed.

If you’re not writing, you’re probably: junking

What are you reading right now? Lee Smith’s Guests on Earth.

Are you a panster or planner? Mostly a pantser, although I’m always trying to plot and plan.

Do you have a motto? You can’t fix what you ain’t wrote.

Where is your favorite vacation place? Tuscany. Would love to go back someday soon.

Do you and your family have any Christmas traditions? If so, what are they? Children’s mass Christmas Eve, baking cookies together, Christmas stockings opened first thing Christmas morning, burning all the dried-out greenery in the fireplace Christmas night.

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**GIVEAWAY**

 **U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY, PLEASE**

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If you’re in the Christmas spirit as much as I’m beginning to be, then you must enter to win the prizes in the picture seen to the left. I’m currently reading “Christmas Bliss” and am loving it, and I know you will, too!

How to enter: 

Step 1) Write a comment below telling me about your favorite Christmas tradition.

Step 2) Do NOT forget to leave your email address! (This is so I can contact you to let you know you’ve won). **If you do not follow this step, I have no way of contacting you.

Picking a winner:

1) I will draw a winner out of a hat on Friday, November 22nd!

1-year Birthday Bash for “The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything” by Francine LaSala

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It brings me great pleasure to be part of the 1-year celebration of “The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything” by Francine LaSala, which there has been a lot of praise for!

GUEST POST by Francine LaSala

Teamwork and the Indie Author

When I self-published my first novel, Rita Hayworth’s Shoes, I knew everything there was to know about publishing a book. Literally. I had had nearly 20 years of experience in book publishing, after all. I knew I had to launch it at just the right time, that the cover had to be fantastic. What I didn’t realize was that in order to successfully make a self-published effort sing, I needed to make friends–and lots of them.

By the time Diversion Books picked up Rita Hayworth’s Shoes, I still hadn’t learned this lesson. So while I had the support of a publisher now, and I was selling more than the three books per month I had previously sold, I still wasn’t reaching an audience.

Then the most remarkable thing happened. I discovered a world of writers’ groups on Facebook, and it made all the difference. Chicklit Goddesses, in fact, was my first-ever Facebook writing group to join. I noticed in my feed that Meredith Schorr, a fellow New Yorker with whom I’d had a passing non-Facebook association, had joined Chicklit Goddesses, and I checked it out. I asked to join, was graciously welcomed by Isabella and the rest of the ladies in the group, and what a difference that made!

I interacted with people. I asked and answered questions. I made jokes and I made friends. By the time I published The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything, I had made a group of writer friends to do fun holiday promotions with. I had a network of supporters who shared my statuses and tweets, and I theirs. I signed up for blog hops and other writer’s groups, where I could reach audiences outside of Chicklit, a category for which I don’t completely fit the mold, but have been lovingly embraced by authors and audiences of this genre anyway. And I have made friends, true and special friends whom I cherish.

None of this has existed in the world of traditional publishing. Though they are starting to catch on. 🙂

When you’re a writer, you’re very isolated. You work in isolation. Chances are, you feel isolated when you talk about what you do with your family and friends who want to support you, but really have no idea what you’re talking about half the time.

When you’re an indie writer, you also have that isolation of not having a publicity-marketing team behind you. As an indie writer, you have to make that team. The great thing about this? Instead of having one or two people backing you up, you have hundreds. It’s a wonderful feeling to support other writers and to be supported by them.

There is no “I” in teamwork, but there is a “we.” There’s also a “wok,” a “meat,” and a “mow.” That’s all nonsense, though. Because the most important thing in teamwork is the friendship, the camaraderie. The sense that we’re all in this together, and we work together to help each other succeed. Call me a Pollyanna, but if you’re an indie author, this is what makes all the difference!

**GIVEAWAY**

Be sure to enter the Goodreads giveaway to win a copy of “The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything”

**GET YOUR COPY TODAY**

**From today to November 8th, “The Girl, the Gold Tooth & Everything” is on sale for $0.99!**

FrancineLaSalaPicAbout author, Francine LaSala:

Francine LaSala has written nonfiction on every topic imaginable, from circus freaks to sex, and edited bestselling authors of all genres. She is now actively taking on clients for manuscript evaluations, editing services, copywriting (covers, blurbs, taglines, queries, and more), website and blog creation, and developing kickass social media campaigns. The author of novels Rita Hayworth’s Shoes and The Girl, The Gold Tooth & Everything, and the creator of The “Joy Jar” Project, she lives with her husband and two daughters in New York.

 **Contact Francine:

Alissa Baxter

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About author, Alissa Baxter: Alissa Baxter was born in South Africa, and grew up with her nose in a book on a poultry and cattle farm. After school and university, where she majored in Political Science and French, she published her first novel, The Dashing Debutante. Alissa travelled to London, England, and did an odd assortment of jobs while researching her second novel, Lord Fenmore’s Wager, which she wrote after she moved back to South Africa and settled in Durban. Alissa then relocated to Cape Town where she wrote her third novel, Send and Receive, before moving to Johannesburg, where she currently lives with her husband and son.

INTERVIEW

Describe your writing style in five sentences: I write sweet romance with a chick lit flavour, primarily from the heroine’s point of view – although I usually manage to sneak in the hero’s point of view with either emails or blog posts. I enjoy writing witty, humorous dialogue and the tone of my books is usually light-hearted. However, I like to explore particular themes in my books on a deeper level. I write in the third person, although I usually manage to incorporate this heroine’s first person point of view in some way or another. My books are generally quite fast paced.

Have you always wanted to be a writer? I’ve wanted to be a writer since the age of seven when I learned to read.

What was your writing/editing/publishing process like? I wrote the first draft of the manuscript in ten weeks, which was pretty exhausting! I have a wonderful editor at Decadent Publishing and her helpful suggestions were just what I needed to polish the manuscript. Decadent is a wonderful publisher in that they are very professional, but they treat you as an individual as well.

Who or what inspires your writing? Real life people and events inspire my writing. I enjoy analysing relationships and trying to understand what makes people tick.

What time of day do you seem to work the best? I work best in the morning – although at the moment I tend to work at night, as I have an 18 month old toddler who keeps me very busy during the day!

How did you celebrate when your first book was published? I celebrated the publication of my first novel (a Regency romance) with my parents. They’ve always been so supportive of my writing journey and I wouldn’t be where I am now without them.

If you could meet any author, who would it be? I’d love to meet Cathy Kelly – I really enjoy her novels.

What are you reading right now? The Magic of Christmas by Trisha Ashley.

In five years, where do you see yourself? Hopefully having published a few more books.

Hard/paperbacks or eBooks? I love reading hard/paperbacks, but I’ve just bought a Kindle so I’m sure I’ll be reading more eBooks soon.

Do you have a motto for writing? “When you’re feeling scared about something you’re about to write, press through that fear. It’s that which takes you to a new level in your writing.”

Can you tell us about any upcoming projects? I tend to become intrigued with the lives of the secondary characters in my books, and I’m writing a story at the moment about a character who appeared in The Blog Affair.

**Contact Alissa:

Website   Blog   Facebook   Goodreads   Twitter

**Buy “The Blog Affair”:

Amazon – US   Amazon – UK

**Click HERE to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway**

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Blurb of “The Blog Affair”:

Twenty-something, white, South African Emma Bradshaw has a pattern of falling for unsuitable men and starts a blog about these so-called “serial datists”. Her search for new beginnings takes her to Cape Town, where she gets a job working for sexy author, Nick Reynolds. Romance with her boss is a no-no, but slowly, Nick works his way around her defenses. Trust him, or not, especially with her awful track record with men?

When an anonymous male reader of the blog challenges her on her ideas about the male species, Emma realises she must confront her past and find her true self before she can move forward…and love can blossom again in her future.

Chapter 1 tease of “The Blog Affair”

Durban, South Africa

Emma Bradshaw stared out into the inky darkness of the garden. The cool night air whispered in a soft, faint breeze against her skin and she shifted in her chair. She was sitting on the veranda of the house she shared with four other people, and though the sun had set a full hour ago, she hadn’t switched the outside light on. Instead, she welcomed the darkness and solitude of the winter evening, wrapping it around her like a well-worn coat.

Solitude, like the darkness, was her old friend.

Everyone else, as far as she could tell, had gone to the movies tonight, but she had elected to stay at home. Hearing a sound behind her, Emma turned her head and blinked a few times as light flooded the outside area.

Angie, one of her digsmates, opened the door and stepped out onto the veranda. “Hey, Em. Why you’re sitting alone in the dark?” She came across to the ancient sofa where Emma was curled up.

Emma summoned a smile. Out of all her housemates, Angie was the one she was most able to deal with at the moment. Short, pretty, with dark, curly hair, Angie always reminded her of a porcelain doll for some reason. One of those delicately made figurines with big, blinking blue eyes and real eyelashes that gazed out on the world with innocent candour.

“I’ve been out here for a while. Didn’t have the energy to turn the light on.”

Angie sat down. “You okay?”

“I’m fine, just a bit tired. You?”

Angie had an abstracted look on her face. “I’ve just got the most unexpected email.”

Emma straightened her legs and sat up. “Oh?”

“You remember that guy I told you about, the one I had an email relationship with? Well, he’s just written to apologise. I can’t believe it.” Angie frowned as she glanced down at the page in her hand. “I’m not sure what to make of it. What do you think?”

Emma took the piece of paper and scanned it.

“Dear Angie,

I’m sure you never expected to hear from me again. I certainly had no intention of ever writing to you again. But, somewhere at the back of my mind, the thought of you kept nagging, and my rather inactive conscience decided, much to my surprise, to kick into gear.

Dear, sweet Angie, who probably never sees anything except in terms of black or white. Most of us, though, are shades of grey. I know I am, although I’m probably on the darker side of grey….

An explanation, I suppose, is due you, but what in all honesty can I say? And honesty is the key word in all this. You will see me as a scoundrel, no doubt. A lying cheat. I have no acceptable explanation or defence, acceptable to you, that is, my idealistic Angie, but what I will say is that I saw in you, for a brief time, my lost innocence, and it appealed to me. It appealed to me damnably, and I ended up hurting you in the process. I’m sorry about that.

I’m also sorry that I’ve lost a potentially brilliant PA, and that I’ll have to advertise for one, after all. It would have been interesting to work with you, but our roads, of necessity, must remain parted. I hope I haven’t knocked too many stars out of your eyes, but I have a feeling that you have your own inner spiritual resources to draw on, and that you’ll bounce back in time.

Take care of yourself,

Nick.”

“Ha! The darker side of grey. You can say that again.” She handed the letter back to Angie.

Her friend seemed troubled. “What do you make of it?”

“His guilty conscience is playing up, so he thought he’d contact you, because he knows you’re a sucker, and you’ll write back to him, forgiving all.”

“So you don’t think he’s being sincere?”

“When are men ever sincere?”

“You can’t generalise like that!”

“Okay. Correction. When are men ever sincere in their relationships with women? They’re all liars. You know that.”

Angie studied her in silence. “You still haven’t got over him, have you?”

“Over who?”

“Phil.”

“I got over him a long time ago. In fact, I’m not just over him; I’m over the moon he’s overseas at the moment.”

“You sound really over him.”

Emma said nothing and returned to her study of the garden. After a while, she said, “I wish I could just get away from it all. Move away…start a new life, in a new place, without any memories holding me back. I can’t escape my mind, and that’s the worst thing of all. He’s always with me and everywhere I go, I see him.”

“Why don’t you move, then?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know. I suppose I’m scared. It’s one thing changing jobs, but moving away from Durbs? I’ve been in my job for three years now. You don’t just throw away a job like that.”

“You could find another job as a PA.”

Emma gave a short laugh. “With your friend Nick, no doubt.”

“I hadn’t thought of that! But ja, why not? You could move to Cape Town, and I could have someone to stay with when I go on holiday there!”

“I’ve always wanted to move to Cape Town so people could use me as a cheap holiday destination.”

“Seriously, Em! It’s a great job. It’s not only PA work. I imagine you’d help Nick research his books, as well.”

“You really want to toss me into the lion’s den with that seducer of innocents?”

“He didn’t seduce me!”

“He sure as hell tried to. No, Ange. It’s a silly idea.”

“Think about it, at least.”

She frowned. “But wouldn’t it be kind of weird? Me working with your email lover?”

“My ex-email lover. Besides, I’m over it all now. Since I’ve been going out with Guy, I’ve barely thought about Nick. It wouldn’t bother me in the least if you worked for him.”

“It might bother him, though,” Emma pointed out.

Angie smiled in triumph. “So you are considering it!”

She shrugged again and said nothing.

“Think about it, Em. It could be just what you need.”

“You’re so keen to see the back of me?”

“Of course not! I’d miss you if you went. But you said you need to get away. And Cape Town’s beautiful.”

Angie went back inside five minutes later, and after a while, Emma followed suit. She walked into her bedroom and went directly to her desk in the corner. Opening her laptop, she logged onto the Internet. Her mind wandered back to her conversation with Angie, and she sighed. Maybe a change of scene would do her good; help her move on with her life and put the past behind her.

For the past few weeks, she had been thinking a lot about changing her life, and had been toying with the idea of creating her own blog so that she could clarify her thought processes. She’d always kept a diary, and a blog, in a lot of ways, was an online diary—with the added benefit that she could interact with people online. The idea of venting her emotions in cyberspace was appealing, and in some way, symbolic of letting go…. And she certainly needed to let go.

She went through the blog registration process, and then frowned at the blank screen as she contemplated what she should write for her first post.

After a few moments, she started typing.

PENELOPE’S PANTRY

…A PLACE FOR YOU TO POINT OUT YOUR VIEW

Serial Datism

The first time I ever met a serial datist, I was nineteen years old. At that age, I wasn’t capable of recognising the warning signs of this particular species of the human male. Needless to say, I got burned. Badly.

Serial datism is a concept I’ve been pondering recently. And it’s something I hope to examine in this blog. Any comments from readers are welcome, therefore, as I attempt to shed light on a variety of the dating male that has me completely bemused.

The best way to do this, I’ve decided, is to debate in an open forum—where I, and any other participants in the discussion, can flick on the switch, in a manner of speaking, and illuminate the matter.

I attract serial datists, and so it is perfectly fitting that I should introduce this topic into cyber space. But this doesn’t mean I’m an expert at identifying them. You see, the tricky thing about serial datists is that they aren’t easily defined.

They come in many shapes and sizes and forms, and they may even mutate! They can start off in one form and end up in quite another shape and size within a small space of time. And therein lies their danger.

Okay—to introduce myself. I’m Penelope (well, that’s one of my names) and this blog is called Penelope’s Pantry, because like Penelope from ancient Greek mythology, I’ve had loads of suitors in my life.

And the pantry part? Well, a pantry is a dark storeroom, and this is where I hope to stockpile my thoughts and feelings and emotions. On neatly stacked shelves, of course. I’m a fanatically neat person, and like things to be tidy.

So let’s start at the very beginning (my ordered mind demands this) with a definition of a serial datist: He is a male who, like a bee, goes from one woman to the next, landing on each female blossom for a short period of time. When he leaves, he stings them.

But unfortunately, unlike a bee, a serial datist doesn’t die after he stings. He goes on to sting again and again, and the only way to kill him is to swat him, or stomp on him with your heel. Or leave out a bowl of sugared water in which he can drown. But, on second thoughts, I think the latter technique is for ants….

Be that as it may, before anyone starts wondering whether I’m a convicted killer, I hasten to assure you I am not. I’ve certainly felt a strong desire to stomp on the various bees that have entered my life, but fortunately for these creatures, the thought of killing causes me to break out in hives. Therefore, it is only a fantasy I have indulged in from time to time.

Now that we’ve cleared up the fact that I’m not a murderer, I would like to point out that the bee who delivers his nasty stings is the real killer in the scenario. Why? Well, it’s obvious. He kills your feelings, and leaves your emotions bleeding to death. Some more pedantic readers out there might point out that bee stings don’t cause you to bleed. So what—I’m using it in a figurative sense.

But, and here I’m not being figurative at all, bees can make you swell up. Besides the fact that their stings can cause you to comfort-eat, it is possible to develop a life-threatening allergy to them. And I’m afraid that’s what’s happened to me. I am allergic to serial datists AKA bees AKA Emotionally Unavailable Men.

But I’m jumping ahead of myself. That is simply one of the categories of serial datists. According to my calculations, there are at least four others.

Allow me to list them:

1) The afore-mentioned Emotionally Unavailable Male

2) The Wannabe Player

3) The Commitment-Phobe

4) The Bad Boy

5) The Misogynist (before he finds a woman to control)

I will be examining each category in more detail later. But in the meantime—any comments from readers on what I’ve already expounded are most welcome.

Posted by Penelope on Tuesday, July 8 at 08:32 p.m.

Captivating the CEO

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Blurb of “Captivating the CEO”: When live-for-the-moment massage therapist Willow Jeffries bursts into Colin Vanderhayden’s office, she makes it her mission to loosen up the future-focused CEO, knowing each moment of the present is too precious to waste. Despite her immediate attraction, the only future she can offer is one full of heartache.

The last thing Colin needs is a flighty woman messing up his carefully-constructed plans, but her heavenly massages and addictive personality prove heard to resist. But he has no idea how sick she is.

No longer able to ignore her life-threatening medical condition, Willow slips away to spare Colin a miserable future with her. Is Colin willing to sacrifice his well-laid future plans to get Willow back?

Excerpt of “Captivating the CEO”

Cupping her face with his hands and angling his mouth, he poured the intensity she’d previously only seen him devote to his work into turning her body into a tingling, craving mass of need. She loved the way he cradled her-so gentle, yet firm.

Stars danced in front of her eyes, but she willed them away to press her tongue between his lips. No matter how light-headed she became, she refused to miss a moment of the kiss. Colin’s mouth made the opportunity to enjoy worth the risk of passing out.

But, too soon, he broke off, panting, his eyes dilated with desire. “I have to get that.”

“Get what?” His words made no sense, then her ears started ringing. No, not her ears. His damned phone.

“Of course you do.”

But he’d already turned his attention to a conversation he gave far more importance to than anything she offered.

Sinking onto the couch, she pressed her fingers to her still tingling lips. Dear God, she hoped she didn’t affect him as strongly as he affected her. If he became emotionally invested, she’d bring pain and misery into his life.

SaraDanielPic**About Sara Daniel:

Sara Daniel writes what she loves—irresistible romance, from sweet to erotic and everything in between. She lives her own happily-ever-after romance with her hero husband.

**Buy “Captivating the CEO”

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**Contact Sara:

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**Click HERE to subscribe to Sara’s newsletter!

**GIVEAWAY**

Click HERE to enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card!

**Click HERE to see more of Sara’s stops at Bridging the Gap promotions!

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Won’t Last Long

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“Won’t Last Long” by Heidi Joy Tretheway

Excerpt:

Setup: Joshua and Melina are on their first date in Seattle, and while Melina has her first-date routine down pat, Joshua’s easy humor and sharp disarm her. Melina’s used to being in control—she cultivates it—but in Won’t Last Long her carefully guarded façade is about to come crashing down.

Melina had a lot of rules about dating.

If they don’t call, don’t bother. Men will walk through fire to get in touch with a woman they really want.

If they’re more than fifteen minutes late or if they stand you up, don’t go out with them again and don’t return their calls.

Don’t go out more than three times per week, or with more than three men at a time. Four or more make it hard to keep track of the conversations you’ve had previously.

Melina’s rules for a first date were specific.

Always be early. Make it your turf.

Always choose the location. Your choice speaks volumes about you, so it should be hip, expensive, exclusive and a little mysterious.

Always drive yourself. It’s easier to leave a date.

Always have drinks, not dinner. It’s acceptable to leave after one drink, and OK to stay for two.

Never eat. You could get caught with your mouth full when he asks a question, or get something stuck in your teeth.

Always leave them wanting more.

One of Melina’s tried-and-true rules was to ask a man what kind of car he drives as soon as he asks her out. The answer was important, of course—Melina couldn’t see herself dating the kind of guy who drove a lifted pickup truck or a sedan that looked like it came from a rental car fleet.

But Melina asked the question not only to size up her date, but also to watch him size up himself. The answer, either with pride from the owner or with stuttering explanations, spoke volumes about his confidence.

In Melina’s book, Joshua’s confident answer was spot-on.

Despite her rules, Melina wasn’t doing a good job of keeping up the sophisticated façade she usually maintained on a first date. Caramel apples? How lame is that?

She surprised herself by letting him order her wine. Does that make me look like I don’t know my way around a wine list? She caught herself nibbling on the appetizer he ordered.

And she felt her mind wandering back to that first touch—it was as if he’d found her “on” switch. Now all of her senses were on high alert, watching, anticipating, and considering this man across the table from her.

**About author, Heidi Joy Tretheway:

HeidiJoyTrethewayPicHeidi Joy lives in Happy Valley off Sunnyside Road. She swears she did not make that up.

Heidi’s obsessed with storytelling. Her career includes marketing, journalism, and a delicious few years as a food columnist. Media passes took her backstage with several rock bands, where she learned that sometimes a wardrobe malfunction is exactly what the rock star intends.

You’ll most often find Heidi Joy with her husband and two small kids cooking, fishing, exploring the Northwest, and building epic forts in their living room.

She loves to hear from readers via messages at facebook.com/author.heidi.

**Contact Heidi:

Website   Amazon — Author Page   Facebook   Goodreads   Twitter

**Click HERE to enter to win a “Seattle Prize Package,” US only!

**Click HERE to see other stops on Heidi’s Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours!

A Giveaway and Interview with Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

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About author, Carolyn Ridder Aspenson: Carolyn Ridder Aspenson is the author of two novels, Unfinished Business An Angela Panther Novel and Unbreakable Bonds An Angela Panther Novel, both of the chick-lit and paranormal genres.

Carolyn wrote her first novel, Unfinished Business shortly after her mother died. She felt the need to let the world know a little about the woman who drove her absolutely crazy but loved her with an intensity unknown to normal people. While some of the book is loosely based on events surrounding her mother’s death, the author swears she’ll never tell if she really did bury her mother illegally.

An avid fitness buff, Carolyn writes a monthly health and fitness column for Northside Woman Magazine. She also writes several freelance articles monthly for various Atlanta area media outlets including the Forsyth Herald, the Milton Herald, The Revue and News, The Johns Creek Herald, Countyline Magazine and many Internet publications. She’s written notebooks full of great story ideas from the entertaining people she’s met as a journalist. If you know one of them, don’t mention her books to them, just in case.

Carolyn has written hundreds of guest blog posts ranging from humorous to serious about varying aspects of parenthood and marriage. She considers herself an expert at not being an expert parent and works to spread her lack of expertise far and wide.

Dogs and recently cats too, are Carolyn’s preferred companions. She loves their loyalty, unconditional love and inability to talk in a language of which she understands.

A native of Indiana, Carolyn called the northwest Chicago suburbs home for over eighteen years but because she hates the way snow sounds when she walks on it, has spent the last sixteen living in the Atlanta suburbs with her husband, son, two dogs and a cat. Her two daughters live close by.

One day she plans to retire to a peaceful home with a fantastic view of something other than her neighbor’s house with a plethora of rescue animals by her side. Oh, and her husband too.

INTERVIEW

Welcome back, Carolyn! What have you been up to since your first appearance? I’ve been busy! I’m finishing up the second book in my Angela Panther series and hope to have that out in late November. I’ve also started a short story with a holiday theme that will be included in a book with several other great authors. That’s going to be available around mid-December for a holiday release. It’s going to be only on E-book through Amazon but will be free for part of that time, too so that’s great! There are several wonderful authors involved along with a team of professionals for editing and cover design. I’m excited about that.

How do people react when they find out you’re an author? I actually have a hard time telling people that and usually say something like, “I’m a writer but I’m only self published”. They tell me that a writer is a writer and it doesn’t matter who publishes the book! They think it’s wonderful and I feel like a braggart, which I know I’m not but I still feel silly. I’m trying to adjust to it all!

What author do you admire the most and what (if anything) have you learned from them? I really admire Robert Parker, who wrote the Spenser PI series. He passed away a few years ago and I still feel that loss. He is the ‘grandfather of the PI novel’ in many respects but for me, I admired his writing. He said so much with so few words and I work hard to be that way, too. He was much better at it than I am but of course he wrote over a million books so I guess he got it down. I’m a  little late to the game.

Salty or sweet? I’m starting to realize that both together are a pretty darn good combination but if that’s not available, I’m going for the chocolate first. I’ve recently given up sugar (again) so it’s been a rough few days but I do feel better physically. No whites either so no flour, bread, pasta, etc. Once I’m over the emotional part of it all, I’ll feel much better.

What so far has been your biggest accomplishment as an author? Getting the first book done. I wasn’t sure I’d actually complete it and I’m glad I did. I wanted to complete it but it was an emotional rollercoaster for me and at times I just had to step away and repair my heart. It was a very close to home story for me, with Fran being a slightly (just slightly) exaggerated version of my mother.

Describe your perfect day: I have a few different ones. First a ‘professional’ one where I’ve got my to-do list and I get it done and am on a writing role whether it’s for my books or my freelance writing gigs. A ‘personal’ perfect day would be one spent with my family when (a miracle would happen) and no one bickers or whines. Ha! That only happens when everyone is asleep!

Every writer must have a…: cheerleader to keep them moving forward when they feel like they want to quit. That’s my husband for me. He has total faith in my writing and thinks I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread. Hard not to want to continue when I know he sees great things in me.

What is your favorite quote? It’s actually a song lyric from Van Halen, during the Sammy Hagar years (I preferred those years for sure!) In their song, “Right Now”, which I consider to be my theme song, they say, “Right now it’s your tomorrow, right now it’s everything”. That helps me not put off things I should or could do today, to live my life and not worry about that past and not let the things that could bother me bother me. It doesn’t always work but I try to be that way as much as possible. Try being the most important word in that sentence.

How has the social media helped your career? I’m not sure yet. I’m still trying to figure that out. I can say that it’s helped me connect with a lot of authors who I’ve learned a great deal from and all of them I met because of you, so I’m especially grateful to you for that!

What do you want readers to take away from your books? I want readers to walk away having felt different emotions. I want them to feel satisfied. I don’t want them to think too deep or analyze too much. I just want them to be able to put my books down having been able to feel emotions.

Can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects? Whoops. I did above because I’m excited! I’ve got a few other things in the ‘pot’ though that I’m working on. I’m going to be publishing some novellas in the next few months as a way to get more of my writing out. None of them are focused on my series yet but I’m considering a short on Fran. Just not sure. I will be writing more traditional chick lit books (starting with the novellas) and am considering tackling a cosy mystery. I just need to figure out a way to add more hours into my day.

Unfinished Business**Contact Carolyn:

Email: carolynridderaspenson@gmail.com   Website   Facebook   Twitter

**ENTER A GIVEAWAY**

PRIZE: 2 (two) winners get an eBook copy of “Unfinished Business”

Click HERE to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway!

Good luck!

Tonya Kappes

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About author, Tonya Kappes:

“Full of wit, humor and colorful characters, Tonya Kappes delivers a fun, fast-paced story that will leave you hooked!” Bestselling Author, Jane Porter

“A GHOSTLY UNDERTAKING is hauntingly good read with authentic Southern charm.” -Heather Webber Author Heather Webber

“Tonya Kappes strings together the perfect blend of family, friends, and fun.” Author Misa Ramirez

USA Today Bestselling Author, Tonya Kappes writes humorous cozy mystery and women’s fiction that involves quirky characters in quirky situations. Not only have her novels made the USA Today bestsellers list, but they are an Amazon Top 100 author, Amazon Movers and Shakers, and International bestsellers.

Splitsville.com, the first novel in the Olivia Davis Mystery Series, is a double finalist in the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the Mystery and Humorous Categories.

Carpe Bead ‘em is 2012 winner in Amazon’s eFestival of Words in the Women’s Fiction Category.

A Charming Crime, the first novel in the Magical Cures, is the 2013 eFestival of Words in the Fantasy Category Winner.

A New Tradition the Indie Romance Convention 2013 novella of the year.

When not being the princess, queen, and jester of her family of three teenage boys, an adoring husband, and three fury kids, she travels to various writing groups as guest speaker on “How to Market and Promote Your Novels Effectively,” where she is known as a marketing guru.

Become a member of Tonya’s STREET TEAM! It’s a gathering place of readers who love Tonya Kappes novels and Tonya gives away monthly prizes! To sign up for Tonya’s STREET TEAM, newsletter, view book trailer, and upcoming news, check out Tonya’s website, Tonyakappes.com.

And be sure to stalk her on Facebook and Twitter!

INTERVIEW

What attracted you to writing in the first place? The idea that I could tell a story.

What genre are you most comfortable writing? I consistently write in two genres: romance and mystery. I love them both. Once I finish a romance, I have to have a break and I get a chance to do that by starting a new mystery.

How has your upbringing influenced your writing? Every novel of mine is set in a small town, I grew up in a small town. Every novel I write has to do with a strong family unit, my family is thick as thieves. I guess you could say that I want everyone to experience the love of a small town and the love of family that I did.

Where do you get your inspiration and ideas from? Everywhere! It might be an overheard conversation, a situation, or just an idea that pops into my head.

Do you have any writing rituals or listen to “mood music” when you write? Where is your favorite place to write? I do have some type of white noise going on in the background. Most of the time it is music. I love to write in my office or on my back porch starting at 6:00 am.

What’s your favorite place in the entire world? My parent’s house.

Fame or fortune, which would you prefer? Fortune!

What was your favorite part of this book to write? Which part was the hardest? I love writing the coming of age of the protagonist. I love developing that storyline. The hardest part was when my protag realized what was truly important in her life and what she believed was never the case.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you “grew up”? Actress.

If you couldn’t be an author, what would your ideal career be? I do have an outside career. I’m a Child Intervention Therapist. I guess you could call it my part time job where I work two half days a week. I love working with children and their families to become the best person they can be.

If you could live inside the world of a book would you choose? I would have to pick Whispering Falls from the Magical Cures Series. It’s a magical place with talking crystal balls, fairy dust, and fairy god-cats~how fun is that?

Give your fans three fun facts that they may not already know about you. I’m addicted to Red Hot candy. I order a large diet coke with extra ice in a stryofoam cup every single time I go to McDonalds. AND I’m scared of the dark.

Chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry? Hands down, chocolate.

If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you? Pen, paper and my hubby

Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. It’s 285 pages that is filled with fun, love, laughter and coming of age.

You just made the USA TODAY BESTSELLERS list with TWO novels in the same week. WOW! How did that feel? AMAZING! Nothing short of amazing! I was shocked with one, but two…..le sigh. The Perfect Ten is a box set collection of nine other bestselling authors that we put together in order to reach more readers and cross-promote, so I knew it would be well received by readers. But STRUNG OUT TO DIE! To make the list on my own is a dream come true. I couldn’t be more honored and grateful for it. I’m still giddy over it.

So what’s next for you as an author? Any last words? I’ve got another book coming out in a brand new mystery series, A GHOSTLY UNDERTAKING. Plus I just had two novels debut on USA TODAY Bestseller list, and I’m excited to see where that goes.

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Blurb of “Grooming Mr. Right”: Luvie Beiderman is blindsided when she is fired from her junior fashion design job in New York City and is forced to move back to her small town in Kentucky. . . under her parent’s roof.

Being home isn’t so bad, after all, Luvie started Primp My Pet Mobile Pet Spa and is dating one of her client’s owner, hunky Jase Nelson.

When Luvie is offered her dream design job in New York City, she is forced to make a decision between a career she’s always dreamed of or the new life she has created in her hometown with the man she loves

**Contact Tonya:

Website   Facebook   Goodreads   Pinterest   Twitter

**Buy the book!:

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**GIVEAWAY**

Leave a comment below to win a signed print or eBook copy of “GROOMING MR. RIGHT”!

(Please leave your email address so that I can contact the winner!)

Book Cover Reveal – Unbreakable Bonds An Angela Panther Novel

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It brings me great pleasure to be featuring the beautiful cover reveal of Carolyn Ridder Aspenson’s second book, “Unbreakable Bonds An Angela Panther Novel”!

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When Angela’s best friend Mel thinks her husband is having an affair, she turns to Angela for help.   The two come up with the perfect plan to catch him in the act but to make it work, they’ll need help from Angela’s mother, Fran.

There’s just one teeny, little problem.

Fran’s dead.

And since Angela’s psychic gift is currently out of service, connecting with Fran is a little complicated.

While Angela searches for a way to fix her psychic radar Fran and a multitude of other ghosts continue to try to make a connection. And it’s driving Angela crazy.

But Fran won’t let her daughter’s problem stop her from helping someone she loves and she sets out to catch the cheater on her own, using a few tricks and tools from the afterlife to get it done.

**Click HERE to see the trailer of “Unbreakable Bonds An Angela Panther Novel!

**Book two of the Angela Panther series will be available November, 2013 in e-book and paperback.

**GIVEAWAY**

Carolyn Ridder Aspenson is so nice, that she’s having a giveaway where a winner can win an e-copy of her first book, “Unfinished Business an Angela Panther Novel”!

There are two ways you can win an e-copy of her first book:

Visit www.carolynridderaspenson.com and sign up for her newsletter

or

Tweet or share your blog and tag @awritingwoman or post it to www.facebook.com/unfinishedbusiness

The contest runs through the 15th, so be sure to enter each day until then!

Unfinished Business

Angela Panther is an ordinary stay at home mom with a satisfying, albeit slightly mundane life.

Things get a little crazy for Angela when her mother dies and comes back as a ghost.

It seems Fran’s got some unfinished business on earth and she’s determined to get it done, no matter what.

But Fran’s not the only ghost with unfinished business and her return opens a portal between Angela and the afterlife. Now every Tom, Dick and Harry ghost around comes knockin’ on Angela’s psychic door, looking for help.

And it’s a pain in the butt.

Having her mother around is a double-edged sword for Angela. On the one hand, she’s glad to still have the connection but on the other, death has given Fran some annoying abilities and she’s seriously trying Angela’s patience.

When Fran tells Angela her teenage daughter Emily is in trouble, Angela decides to let her mother use her ghostly skills to keep tabs on the girl.

Well, not all of her ghostly skills.

But that doesn’t stop Fran from causing a little trouble – just to protect her granddaughter, of course.

Now Angela has to find a way to keep her old life in tact and help the dead with their unfinished business, all while trying to keep her mother out of trouble.

And it’s a lot for one woman to handle…

Good luck!