WRITING CHRISTMAS

HOLIDAY IN CRIMSON

There’s something about murder and Christmas that just seems to work for me. Even though they have a short shelf life, Christmas romantic suspense stories are my cup of eggnog.

I’ve actually written FOUR Intrigues set at Christmas.

In my last blog, I wrote about killing Santa Claus in HOLIDAY IN CRIMSON, published last month in Entangled Publishing’s new Dead Sexy romantic suspense line.

What you might not know is that HOLIDAY IN CRIMSON actually is an updated and editorially revised version of CRIMSON HOLIDAY, which I wrote for Harlequin Intrigue in the late 80s.

Then, when Intrigue wanted to celebrate its 10th anniversary several years later, the powers that be decided not only to reprint some of its most loved books in a leather bound edition, but to offer readers connected books to each of the ones included in the collection.

And so I wrote CRIMSON NIGHTMARE, using many of the fun characters from CRIMSON HOLIDAY. My heroine, Pippa McNabb is the younger sister of Rand McNabb, who was my hero in the original story. I revised and updated CRIMSON NIGHTMARE for Dead Sexy, as well.

NIGHTMARE IN CRIMSON is now available in digital formats:

Another year, another Christmas party...another dead Santa! Run down by eight tiny reindeer and a sleigh, was he killed by accident—or was it murder?

NIGHTMARE IN CRIMSON

At last season’s party, it was Pippa McNabb’s faithless Santa-clad husband who died—so after another St. Nick ends up dead, she’s at the top of the police suspect list. When hunky sleigh-driver Sky Thornton offers his help to find the real culprit, she accepts, and soon finds herself snuggled up with him before a holiday fire—and falling hard for the blue-eyed stranger. But how does he know so much about her...?

Suddenly she isn’t certain if her mysterious new lover is attempting to help her clear her name, trying to frame her for a murder he might have committed...or working to win her heart forever.

Writing romantic suspense doesn’t get much more fun (at least not for me) than that.
                       
The most challenging part of writing the second story was to make it different from the first. Both CRIMSON stories are set at Christmas, both at the same department store, both with a dead Santa as the central mystery. The first thing I had to do was figure out a death that would be different, interesting and leave the authorities confused about whether the hero, the heroine, or someone else did the deed. The fun for me was in having Pippa and Sky suspect one another even as they are attracted to each other. And in having Pippa discover Sky’s true involvement AFTER she falls for him. I hope that’s fun for readers, too.


In RED CARPET CHRISTMAS, a 2005 Intrigue -- the final book of the Club Undercover series -- my hero Gideon put his former lover Simone’s father behind bars for killing his own father. Now she needs his help... to clear her of a murder she didn’t commit.





And in CHRISTMAS DELIVERY, a 2010 Intrigue, part of a Holiday Mystery at Jenkins Cove series with Rebecca York and Ann Voss Peterson, my hero Simon returns from the dead after 13 years and is hell-bent on revenge. Only a Christmas miracle could reunite him with Lexie, the girl he’d once loved... and the daughter he didn’t know he had.


Take the time to enjoy a holiday read this coming week.

Happy Holidays to all and to all a good night :)

Patricia Rosemoor has written more than 90 novels for 8 publishers and has more than 7 million books in print. She writes “dangerous love,” casting her lovers against a backdrop of mystery and suspense.

                           

Branching Out

With the exciting directions the publishing industry is taking, I'm not one to sit back and rest on my laurels. I'm jumping in with both feet and loving it! As a writer I like to vary the types of stories I write. I love writing intrigues, mysteries and suspense, but I also love writing fun cowboy stories, paranormals and historical novels. For the past six years I've written a number of Harlequin Intrigues. This year I'll have a Harlequin Romantic Suspense, 2 Harlequin Intrigues, 2 Harlequin Nocturne Cravings and 1 full-length Nocturne. And that's just my Elle James pen name! I also write sexy westerns under my Myla Jackson pen name. What does that mean? That means I'm a very busy author with lots to write to keep my fans happy. I've listed below a few of my stories releasing this year. I haven't received all the cover art for the rest. Exciting, huh? If you want to learn about the other books coming this year check my websites at

ellejames.com and mylajackson.com

As a reader are you pretty set in your reading tastes? Or are you like me and like anything with a really good story?

As Elle James

DEADLY RECKONING

HOT DEMON NIGHTS

THUNDER HORSE HERITAGE

As Myla Jackson (my sexier books)

BOUND AND TIED

BOOTS AND CHAPS

BOOTS AND LEATHER

Suspense Rocks!

Last year at the Romance Writers of American Conference, I was asked to submit an idea for the Harlequin Nocturne Cravings line and I think, “Yeah, okay. I can do this.” Make it hot. Check. I can write hot. I do a lot of that under my alter-ego pen name Myla Jackson. No problem. Give us paranormal creatures. Check. Again, I’ve written paranormal. My first Intrigue had a werewolf villain and I’ve written more paranormals under my Myla pseudonym. I've got this.

And the rest is up to me. So what do I do? I add a mystery and suspense. After all these years of writing Harlequin Intrigues, I find it difficult NOT to write without a little mystery and suspense in it. Maybe it’s the adrenaline junky in me. I like it when my fingers fly across the keyboard when I’m writing. I’m hoping my readers’ eyes are flying through the pages as the suspense carries them along like a runaway freight train.

Given all that, this month my first Nocturne Cravings 

HOT DEMON NIGHTS 

is available. I got a kick-ass heroine and a sexy demon teaming up to bring down the source of the latest string of zombies.  

Come out and play in these HOT DEMON NIGHTS.

Rookie cop Katya Danske didn't ask to become a member of Manhattan's Paranormal Investigative Team or to be partnered with a sexy-as-hell demon. Then a zombie literally drops into her lap and she's recruited to help Blaise Michaels battle an impending zombie outbreak.

Blaise is as exasperating as he is arousing, but while Katya's head tells her she should keep her distance, her body wants something else entirely. Forced to work closely together, their investigation takes them into the darkest shadows of the Manhattan underworld and makes their attraction impossible to deny. But with the zombie threat rising, their hot nights together may be their last...

Elle James aka Myla Jackson spent twenty years livin' and lovin' in South Texas, ranching horses, cattle, goats, ostriches and emus. A former IT professional, Elle is proud to be writing full-time, penning intrigues, historical and contemporary westerns and paranormal adventures that keep her readers on the edge of their seats. She has 29 novels or novellas with Harlequin, one self-published novel under pen name Elle James, 36 books or novellas with other publishers including Samhain, Elloras' Cave.

Visit Elle James at www.ellejames.com  and Myla Jackson at www.mylajackson.com

SPOTLIGHT ON: SKIN

SHE WOULD DO ANYTHING TO SAVE HER SISTER...

After a decade of searching for her runaway sister, Lilith Mitchell finds her dancing at a gentleman's club. They barely reconnect when a killer kidnaps Hannah. Keeping his victims prisoner for days, he then hunts and kills them in a forest preserve.

Determined to identify the killer and find her sister, Lilith transforms herself into Hannah’s double and gets a job at the club to lure the killer into coming after her.

The killer savors the idea of doing the sisters together but first takes up Lilith’s challenge by terrorizing her.

In a world of deception, where everyone seems guilty, who can Lilith trust?

Ten Things You May Not Know about Robin Perini and Finding Her Son PLUS GIVEAWAY!

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And the WINNER OF THE GIVEAWAY is

VALRI!!!!

Please send me an email at robin (at) robinperini (dot) com with your address and I'll send you a copy of Finding Her Son! Congratulations!

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Thanks for stopping by to visit today, everyone!

I'm excited and thrilled to be blogging about my very first Harlequin Intrigue, Finding Her Son. The entire process of writing for Harlequin has been a dream come true for me. In Finding Her Son, a determined woman suspected in her husband's death is forced to team with the man assigned to prove her guilt in order to find her kidnapped son.

So here are ten things you may not know about me and my very first Harlequin Intrigue, Finding Her Son.

10. I train in small-bore silhouette shooting.

9. Finding Her Son won the 2011 Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart as Stolen Lullaby in the Contemporary Series Romance: Suspense/Adventure.

8. My 'how-to-write' workshops have been included on the Top 24 Workshops CD from the Romance Writers of America's® National Conference CD five times (Bill Stephens Productions).

7. Finding Her Son takes place in Denver, Colorado, where the hero Mitch Bradford was on the SWAT team with the Denver Police Department.

6. Mitch has three siblings: Noah, Chase and Sierra. His father Paul is a former Denver cop who was paralyzed as a result of a gunshot wound.

5. Autographs don't have to come on paper. If you have a Kindle version of Finding Her Son, you can get an autograph through Kindlegraph. (http://www.kindlegraph.com/authors/RobinPerini)

4. Emily Wentworth, the heroine of Finding Her Son, has one brother who is in the military and is stationed in Afghanistan.

3. Mitch's last name of Bradford came about because I am a huge Oklahoma Sooners Fan (and alumni) and a big admirer of Sam Bradford, the Sooners' Heisman Trophy winning quarterback who now plays for the St. Louis Rams.

2. I have broken my tibia and fibula near my left ankle and used my rehabilitation and physical therapy experience when writing the rehab scenes between Mitch and Emily (who is a physical therapist.)

1. Finding Her Son is my second published novel. My first novel was In Her Sights, published by Montlake Romance in November, 2011.

I'd love to answer questions, about almost anything on either Finding Her Son, In Her Sights or my upcoming projects. If you comment, you earn a chance to win an autographed copy of Finding Her Son.

I love to hear from readers. You can catch me, read excerpts, read reviews, sign up for my quarterly newsletter or mailing list, and even request trading cards or a Kindlegraph on my website at www.robinperini.com. I'm also on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.

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CURRENT RELEASE - FINDING HER SON

4.5 Stars from RT Book Reviews – "Perini keeps the tension taut, the romance irresistible and the mystery...deep."

THE ONLY MAN A DESPERATE MOTHER CAN TRUST…

Investigating a cold case is SWAT cop Mitch Bradford’s worst nightmare—especially when it involves a kidnapped infant. But thanks to an injury, he’ll have to settle for following Emily Wentworth instead of breaking down doors and cuffing criminals.

The prime suspect in a mysterious disappearance, Emily has always claimed she was framed. And as he earns the trust of the incredibly desperate—and unbelievably beautiful— mother, every instinct tells Mitch to believe her. Then new evidence unfolds, revealing an elaborate conspiracy and forcing Emily into a deadly spotlight. Now, torn between loyalty to the badge and his promises to Emily, Mitch may have to make the ultimate sacrifice if he’s to bring her little boy home.

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EXCERPT

Chapter One

Cursing under his breath, Mitch Bradford yanked his collar up against the bitter Colorado wind. Where was Emily Wentworth going? He stalked across Colfax, on a stretch of the street known as a candy store for illicit drugs and prostitution. He could've been home alone in front of the fireplace, his bum leg propped up, nursing a stiff drink and a double dose of ibuprofen. The irony didn't amuse him. He'd been tapped for the Wentworth case because of his injury. One more reason to kill the guy who'd shot up his leg during his last SWAT operation.

Mitch ducked his head and plunged forward into the night, ignoring the exchange of money on the corner. He would've busted the dealer any other time, but he refused to let his suspect out of sight. When she approached a group of gang-bangers, he tensed and reached for his weapon.

They circled her.

Two murders last night in the neighborhood. No time to be subtle.

He broke into a run, disregarding the twinge in his leg. He'd pay for it later, but they could shoot or stab her in seconds. Before he reached her, she tilted her head at the assailants like she was flirting and skirted through the wall of thugs. They let her go.

Mitch pulled back. Crazy woman. He tucked his Glock into the shoulder holster. He'd had enough of these cat-and-mouse games. He sped up and followed her across an alley. The scent of vomit and urine, and God knew what else, soured the night.

She stopped in front of a darkened building. After a furtive glance right, then left, she knocked. The door cracked open, then squeaked wider. Before he reached the entrance, she vanished behind the worn oak.

"Figures." Why would anything about this case be easy? Cold seeped through his jeans as he searched the front of the building for a sign. Nothing. No indication of what took place inside. That didn't bode well. His guess: drugs, sex, who knew what else.

[Cover Art Copyright © 2012 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited. Cover art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.]

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BIO

Award-winning author Robin Perini is devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high-stakes adventure with a love story sure to melt their hearts. Her mission's motto: "When danger and romance collide, no heart is safe." After seven prestigious Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finals, Robin sold seven novels within one year. She won the Golden Heart® in 2011, and that title became her first Harlequin Intrigue, Finding Her Son (March 2012). Residing in the southwestern United States, by day, she works for an advanced technology corporation, and in her spare time, you might find her giving one of her many nationally acclaimed writing workshops or training in competitive small-bore rifle silhouette shooting.

She is the author of In Her Sights (Montlake, 2011), Finding Her Son, Cowboy in the Crossfire and Christmas Conspiracy (Harlequin Intrigue 2012) as well as the upcoming Montgomery Justice Series from Montlake Romance.

Robin loves to interact with readers. You can read excerpts, read reviews, sign up for her mailing list and even request trading cards or a Kindlegraph on her website at www.robinperini.com. She's also on Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads. She'd love to hear from you.

Many Flavors of Romance

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, lots of folks are thinking about romance these days. All sorts of gift anxiety going on out there, whether it's what to get a spouse or what's appropriate for a new significant other.

All the romance talk has me thinking about romance in general and, more specifically, what people consider romantic. I'll freely admit, I'm not girly when it comes to romance. The joke around my house is that a man wanting to propose to me would be better served offering me a new laptop computer than a ring. It's a joke that's funny because it's true; I hate wearing rings, but I'll always take a new computer.

I like gifts that are specific and meaningful. Roses and candy are nice and all, but surprise me by cleaning my bathroom and making me a nice dinner, and I'm yours.

I think some of my attitude shows up in my books. My heroes and heroines aren't big into fancy dinners, big bouquets or roses or expensive jewelry. For them, a romantic gesture might be a foot rub after a long hike through the woods in an attempt to avoid a killer hunting them. Or surprising a partner with a burger and shake in the car on a stakeout.

So what about you? Are you a traditional romantic? Or a quirky one like me? What's your ideal romantic gesture?

Leave your comment and I'll draw a name to win a $20 gift certificate to Amazon.com.

Where do you get your ideas

The other day there was a discussion among writers about titles. One author said she started the book with little more than the title. It was an odd title but she got a book out of it.

Which brings me to where writers get their ideas. Anywhere. Everywhere. In the strangest of places.

For most of us, it's just letting the imagination run wild. That's easy for me. When I get in a car, I always check the back seat. I can scare myself way too easily. I also always keep an eye on the car behind me. In Montana, there is usually only one or two cars behind me for miles on end. That's because I usually drive over the speed limit. :)

But what if one of those cars is following me? I mean really following me. I start thinking about who could be behind the wheel. Why they're after me. What I've done to make them want to kill me. (All logical steps in a writer's crazed mind.)

When I was writing short stories for Woman's World magazine, I would get a lot of my ideas from country western songs -- the sadder ones the better. Now I find myself getting ideas from TV commercials. One the other day involved a house and a porch swing. A short story came to mind and I was tempted to write it even though I need to work on the six books I'm writing this year.

I have dreamed some pretty wild entire plots. I usually wake myself up if I think the plot is too good to waste. Unfortunately the plots often have some major flaws once I'm fully awake.

I've seen cowboys at the rodeo, overheard conversations at the grocery store and read billboards that have inspired entire books. Last year I saw one line: Can you keep a secret? I quickly reached for my AlphaSmart and started writing. I wrote the opening of Big Sky Dynasty, part of the Corbett Brothers, Whitehorse, Montana series that comes out in June.

Next month's book, Hunting Down the Horseman, came from stories about old ghost towns in the area of Montana where I live. Like Stephen King, I'm intrigued by the idea that evil remains in some places -- and invites more evil to stop by.

My September book, Smokin' Six Shooter, started with a woman finding out that she'd inherited some property in Montana that she'd never heard about. What she inherits is far more frightening and mysterious of course than land. Ever thought about what would happen if you found out you aren't the person you thought you were and that your entire life has been a lie?

Probably not. I often ask my husband questions like that. Funny but he doesn't think about those kinds of things. Then again, he writes nonfiction. Now where is the fun in that?

Win a Book Day!

Mallory Kane here--
JUROR NO. 7 is my new Intrigue out this month (May). To celebrate the release, I'm giving away one of my backlist books to one lucky reader.

My heroine in JUROR No. 7 is trying to do the right thing by voting to convict a mob hitman, even though her life is threatened. And the man who's assigned to lean on her is an undercover cop, so he can't tell her he's one of the good guys.

Have you ever served on a jury? Do you have a weird or funny story about your experience? Tell us about it and I'll put your name in the drawing for the book!

Looking forward to hearing your stories...

Mallory Kane
http://www.mallorykane.com