Friday, November 22, 2013

Cover Reveal: Sugar Spun Sister by yours truly

Hello, my little sugar cones!

I've been super busy getting my new book buffed and polished for release, and I'm super stoked to reveal the cover today! This one is a trilogy about three friends in San Francisco who make plans to open up an ice cream shop. The trilogy is called Sweet Dreams, and this first book is called Sugar Spun Sister. And now, for the cover....




And now for the blurb:


Life isn’t exactly sweet for Cricket Whittier. Her boss hates her, her work is soul-destroying, and the sexy guy she’s hooking up with doesn’t want to date her. But this girl is far from hopeless. When Cricket’s in the kitchen with her ice cream maker and a few choice ingredients, her troubles slip away as she becomes a delectable dessert-designing powerhouse. She loves it so much, she dreams of opening her own ice cream shop one day.

As it turns out, “one day” just might be closer than she thinks. Propelled by the help and encouragement of her best friends, Lindsay and Nora, Cricket starts making plans to set up shop. Which is easier said than done what with the internal squabbling, the sky-high costs, her parents forecasting failure and her increasingly complicated love life. Despite all these hurdles, will Cricket be able to make her sweet dreams come true? 


I haven't set a definite release date yet, but it will definitely be out there before Christmas. Thanks for reading!

Love,
Anna

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Cover Reveal: Hard Hats and Doormats by Laura Chapman




Hello, my little baked cloves! I'm super stoked to share this cover reveal today. Laura Chapman is one of my very favorite book bloggers, and this is her debut novel! Here you go. The cover of Hard Hats and Doormats:




And now for the synopsis:


Lexi Burke has always been a stickler for following rules and procedures. As a human resources manager for a leading Gulf Coast chemical company, it’s her job to make sure everyone else falls in line, too.

But after losing out on a big promotion––because her boss sees her as too much of a yes-woman––Lexi adopts a new policy of following her heart instead of the fine print. And her heart knows what it wants: Jason Beaumont, a workplace crush who is off limits based on her previous protocol.

While navigating a new romance and interoffice politics, Lexi must find the confidence to stand on her own or face a lifetime of following someone else’s orders.

Who says nice girls have to finish last?


To celebrate the cover reveal for her debut novel, author Laura Chapman is sharing behind-the-scenes tidbits about the making of Hard Hats and Doormats here and on other blogs wiht her "Hard Hat Confessions."

Here's # 6:







About the author:





Laura Chapman found a way to mix her love of romance and humor as a women’s fiction author and blogger. A 2008 graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Laura studied journalism, English and history. She traveled across the United States as a writer/photographer before settling into a career in communications. She also maintains Change the Word, a blog devoted to promoting women’s fiction and documenting her experiences as a writer. Born and raised in Nebraska – in a city, not on a farm – she is a devoted fan of football, British period drama, writing in bars and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Hard Hats and Doormats is her debut novel.


Connect with Laura
Website (http://www.laurachapmanbooks.com/)
Blog (http://change-the-word.blogspot.com/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/laurachapmanbooks)
Twitter (https://twitter.com/lmchap)


Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes Meets Lying to Meet You in New York


Baking Hot in Birmingham!

My name's Stella and I'm a girl on the wrong side of forty, my marriage is in crisis, my daughter's a Goth. My mother's gone global (don't ask) and I'm about to lose my job as a TV producer.

But hey, when I'm in that kitchen baking I don't give a damn. There's something about the combination of butter, sugar and flour that never lets you down, isn't there?




Anyway, I've been corresponding with Chloe, the fashionista heroine from chicklit novel, 'Lying to Meet You' and having met up with her in New York recently, read about that experience here I returned the favour and invited her to my favourite place in the UK, my kitchen. So as I said, I love to bake (and eat!) cacke, I am also 20 pounds too heavy (oh ok... so I lied, 30 pounds and counting!) Chloe is young, thin and pretty, so I shouldn't really have anything in common with her, but she's feisty and fun and loves cupcakes... what's not to love?

I welcomed Chloe to the Midlands where I live near the city of Birmingham, famous in showbiz circles for being the birthplace of Ozzy Osbourne and David (Homeland) Harewood. After NYC, Birmingham is not the most inspiring place on Earth, but I took Chloe straight to my kitchen -- which is very inspiring! I didn't want her fretting about calories and working-out during her stay, so I told her to leave her trainers at the airport, as there would be no power-walking, sit-ups or spinning classes while she was with me. The only time I raise a sweat is when my oven's on and I'm baking a batch of delicious fairy cakes (you'll know them as cupcakes!)




Without giving too much of my story away, I am trying desperately to win a contract to bake cakes so I can leave my job as a TV producer (where I suffer daily at the hands of my nasty boss MJ). One of the contracts I'm working towards is the opening party for 'Strictly Come Dancing,' which you will know as 'Dancing with the Stars.' Like the US version, ours is a prime time treat of celebrities, glitz, music and dancing -- and there have been celebrity love affairs, scandals and sporting injuries along the way (you see, too much activity can damage a person -- proof).

Anyway, I'd invited Chloe to share some baking time and make two hundred chilli chocolate cha cha cakes for the 'Strictly Come Dancing' bid. I knew she'd appreciate the work that goes into my cakes and as she's into fashion I showed her some of my design sketches.




These cupcakes are sweet yet with a little sizzle, just like the dance. The paper cases are metallic red to suggest a hot scarlet dress and there's a hint of spicy chilli for some rather hot Latin dancing.

After a cup of coffee and a chat (I thought I had a complicated love life until Chloe told me about hers!) we began baking... with a little Latin influence in honour of the cha cha.

"Now," I said through cake crumbs (I was 'testing'); "Chloe, cream that cake batter, and start by letting your hips sway very slowly... feel that music pulse through your body and let those Latin rhythms take you as we cha cha round the kitchen."

Chloe really embraced this and and at one point was so enthusiastic, I had to move my porcelain balking bowl as she shimmied past the kitchen table a little too close and too fast!

While the cakes baked, I made hot coffee and opened my cake tin for Chloe to sample my latest 'Violent Violet Punk Rock Fairies.' These bright purple cupcakes with a Mohican top were recently created for a 70's theme night and I'm very proud of my recipe collection (to be found in Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes).




Once the cha chas were out of the oven and filling the room with warm, spicy chocolate aromas, we dressed them. I showed Chloe how to swirl warm, chocolate fondant on top of each one, (while gyrating -- of course) then we had great fun throwing on red sparkles and bling from a great height. Of course, the most vital part of baking is the testing -- and I am relentless in my cake research. So we both took several big chocolate chilli bites and danced the night away... who needs the gym when you can bake, bake, bake?

So, do I get that cake contract? Can I escape my hellish boss? Will I save my marriage and convince my daughter it's ok to wear pink? And can I stop my mother dating on Ebay?

It's all in the book 'Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes,' a story of love, loss, friendship and cake.


Here's a short excerpt if you'd like another little bite of fairy cakes...

After a tough time, Stella's best friend Lizzie has taken her on holiday to relax... to Ibiza, where everyone is 21 and 'relaxing' is not on the menu...

"The brochure described our resort as 'famous for its old town, cobbled streets, tasty local sausage and fine linen'," I called through to Lizzie.

She laughed. "Sweetie, it is a bit younger than I thought but on the plus side, it's just full of young men. Babes, it's Cougar Town out there!"

I drank my tea in silence. So, Lizzie had already discovered what the brochure referred to as 'tasty local sausage' and it was only the first night.

When we woke the following morning to the distant-yet-insistent beat of 'Veejay Bobbi' I stood on the steaming, concrete balcony and surveyed the scene. It was incredibly warm already and not yet ten. By the pool, a few late-night revellers had abandoned themselves to the sun-loungers and were sleeping off last night's orgasms on the beach and long hard screws against the wall (and no, I don't mean the cocktails).

As I sipped yet more comforting hot tea I heard Lizzie singing and rummaging around in the room. She was so used to travelling with work, she never bothered to unpack and by the end of the week her suitcase would look like an explosion in a dress shop, but as she pointed out, "a designer dress shop, darling." Anyway, from the already-detonated suitcase Lizzie had extracted a really stylish lime-green tankini which she was now sporting on the balcony with a matching silk sarong and a golden layer of 'Fake Bake'.

"Lizzie, you look gorgeous," I said, almost as green as her outfit with best-friend envy.

"I have a turquoise set too," she said. "You can borrow it if you like. It would go great with your blonde hair."

I looked at Lizzie's full, curvy shape, chin-length auburn bob and (despite years of Merlot and Marlboros) perfect skin, and smiled; she was so kind.

"I couldn't possibly look as lovely as you, Lizzie. I'd never get those lycra shorts over my bum. I'll stick to my big black upholstered costume, thanks."

Lizzie put down her cup and saucer and grabbed my wrist, gently but firmly dragging me inside the room.

"Madam," she said in a mock-stern voice. "You are looking good -- there's nothing better than a bit of marital trouble to make those pounds melt away."

She plucked the turquoise beach set from her exploded case and handed it to me. "Just try it on..."

****





Can you really make a a living from indulging in your dreams?

TV Producer Stella Weston is over worked, overweight and under fire. Having battled uphill for years to balance her career with family life, she is repaid by being put out to pasture on a religious gardening programme -- complete with a nervous vicar, his nymphomaniac wife, and 22 stone Britney wannabe gardener, Gerald.

In the past, comfort has always been found at the bottom of her mixing bowl, but when even the most delicious lemon sponge with zesty frosting cannot save the day, Stella decides enough is enough.

However, finding the courage to quit is sometimes the easy part. Can you really turn a passion into a profession? Does more time at home actually give you a happier family life? Are men truly from Mars or another universe altogether?

Stella has to roll up her sleeves and find out -- when the going gets tough, the tough get baking...

You can find Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes on Amazon US and Amazon UK.

Monday, October 21, 2013

United Authors of Chick Lit



Hello, my little jet setters!

Fasten your seatbelts and put your tray tables in the upright and locked position. Over the next few days, some of your favorite Chick Lit characters will be jetting across the Atlantic to visit with fictional friends on the other side of the pond.



On Tuesday, Oct. 22, read about Stella from Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes and Chloe from Lying to Meet You as they travel across the Atlantic to visit each other.

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, it's time to discover what happens when Emma from The Polyanna Plan and Kim from Blogger Girl meet.

On Thursday, Oct. 24, Izzy from Izzy's Cold Feet and Jamie from Finding Lucas will be taking you on a trip alongside their characters.

And on Friday, Oct. 25, Kate from Sealed with a Kiss and Pilar from In Need of Therapy will be chatting about their overseas experiences.



Here's a little sneak peek at the fun, frothy books and sassy gals featured in our international promo, all of which are priced at $3.99 or less:

Finding Lucas by Samantha Stroh Bailey   Daytime talk show producer Jamie Ross is beyond fed up with her toxic bad boy turned metrosexual boyfriend. Spurred on by her gang of quirky friends, she goes on a hilarious, at-times disastrous, and totally life-changing hunt to track down "the one who got away." But are some loves best left behind? Available on Amazon, Amazon UK and Kobo

In Need of Therapy by Tracie Banister   Handling the problems of hysterical hypochondriacs, lovelorn neurotics, and compulsive man whores is all in a day's work for super-shrink Pilar Alvarez. But can she deal with her crazy Cuban family, a trio of unsuitable suitors, and a threat to her practice without ending up on the couch herself? Available on Amazon, Amazon UK and B&N.

Lying to Meet You by Anna Garner   Overworked New York fashion girl Chloe Lane has no time for a real relationship, but when her childhood pal asks her to play the part of his girlfriend in order to test a theory, she decides to go for it. The lies start piling up and things start getting crazy. Will Chloe be able to keep it together? Available on Amazon, Amazon UK and B&N.

Sealed with a Kiss by Rachael Lucas   Kate breathes a sigh of relief when she's dumped at her best friend's wedding. When she takes a job on the island of Auchenmor, she's determined to have a year off men, but that's before she rescues Flora the seal pup with the help of Roddy, her mysterious new boss... Available on Amazon and Amazon UK.

The Polyanna Plan by Talli Roland   Emma Beckett has always looked down on 'the glass is half full' optimists. But when she loses her high-powered job and fiance, Emma makes a radical decision: from her on in, she'll attempt to see the upside, no matter how dire the situation. Can adopting a positive attitude give Emma the courage to build a new life, or is finding the good in everything a very bad idea? Available on Amazon and Amazon UK.

Blogger Girl by Meredith Schorr   Kimberly Long has two passions: her successful chick lit blog and Nicholas, her handsome colleague down the hall. But when her high school nemesis pops onto the chick lit scene with a hot new book and eyes for Nicholas, Kim has to make some quick revisions to her own life story. Available on Amazon, Amazon UK, B&N and Apple iTunes.

Izzy's Cold Feet by Sarah Louise Smith   Izzy is engaged to Greg, who is everything a girl could want. The trouble is -- all she can think about is the men she loved before she met him. In the week leading up to her wedding day, Izzy is forced to ask herself who she loves the most. And, given the choice, who would she want to spend her life with? Available on Amazon, Amazon UK, B&N and UK Nook.

Fat Girls and Fairy Cakes by Sue Watson   TV Producer Stella is overworked, overweight and under fire battling to balance family, career and those weighing scales. In the past she's always found comfort at the bottom of her mixing bowl but now the most delicious lemon sponge with zesty frosting has no effect. However, life is about to get tougher... and Stella has to face some truths about herself, her life and her future. Available on Amazon and Amazon UK.



SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

Tuesday, Oct. 22
Stella will be on my blog and Chloe will be on Sue Watson's blog.

Wednesday, Oct. 23
Emma will be on Meredith Schorr's blog and Kim will be on Talli Roland's blog.

Thursday, Oct. 24
Izzy will be on Samantha Stroh Bailey's blog and Jamie will be on Sarah Louise Smith's blog.

Friday, Oct. 25
Kate will be on Tracie Banister's blog and Pilar will be on Rachael Lucas's blog.

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Cover Reveal: Vegas to Varanasi by Shelly Hickman

Hello, my little pumpkin seeds!

I'm so stoked to share with you the cover of my author pal, Shelly Hickman's upcoming romantic comedy, Vegas to Varanasi. And here it is:




I just love it when the characters are smiling on the cover of a book. A sure sign that the story will make me smile! Here's the blurb:


Anna has never been the beautiful one; she’s always been the nice one. So when the gorgeous man sitting across the table at a wedding reception remembers her from high school—and quite fondly at that—she’s taken off guard. Formerly overweight and unpopular, Kiran has never forgotten Anna, the one person who was kind to him when no one else could be bothered, and Anna’s a bit flustered as she slowly comes to grips with his intense attraction for her. In what feels like a romantic dream come true, all-grown-up, hunky Kiran invites Anna on a trip to Varanasi. But her troubled, whack-a-do ex-boyfriend starts interfering, creating drama at every turn, which begs the question, “Can nice girls really finish first?”


Well, I'm sold! Love the idea of a humble heroine, not to mention enduring childhood crushes and whack-a-do, troublemaking characters. And the fact that the heroine's name is Anna is pretty cool too. I'm just sayin'...

And now I would like to introduce the lovely Shelly Hickman:




And here's a little bit about her:

Living in Las Vegas since she was two, Shelly Hickman has witnessed many changes in the city over the years. She graduated from UNLV with a Bachelor of Art in 1990, and in her early twenties worked as an illustrator for a contractor for the Nevada Test Site.
In the mid-90s, she returned to school to earn her Masters degree in Elementary Education. She now teaches computer literacy and media technology at a middle school in Las Vegas. She loves to write about people, examining their flaws, their humor, spirituality, and personal growth. Shelly lives with her husband, two children, and their dog, Frankie. 

You can find Shelly on her website, on Facebook, on Twitter and on Goodreads.

Thanks, Shelly, for including me in your cover release! Until next time...

Love,
Anna

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Getting into the Spirit of the Holidays

Hello, my little gingersnaps!

I'm super excited to share the fabulous cover for Merry & Bright, the upcoming holiday anthology from Simon & Fig, which includes a short story by yours truly. Isn't it lovely?




Sip your eggnog, linger under the mistletoe, and make a Christmas wish. Merry & Bright brings you six tales of Christmas cheer, featuring stories of budding romances, Southern charm, lost loves, heaps of humor, and lots of pie by authors Isabella Louise Anderson, Cindy Arora, Laura Chapman, Lauren Clark, Libby Mercer, and Nancy Scrofano. From sunny Los Angeles to the Rocky Mountains to the Deep South, Merry & Bright will take you on a heartwarming adventure you'll love to visit again and again. Wrap yourself in holiday mirth and prepare to be swept off your feet.


I had so much fun working on my story. It's called "Secret Santa" and it takes place in St. Louis, Missouri, the city I grew up in and this is the first time I've set one of my stories in my hometown. So I hope you'll "meet me in St. Louis" when the anthology is released in November. Pardon the cheesy reference. I just couldn't resist!

More details to come.

Love,
Anna/Libby

Sunday, September 8, 2013

This Just In!

Hello, my little bookworms!

Lying to Meet You has flown the nest and is now out there for public consumption. The whole thing was a bit nerve-wracking since it's the first book under my real name and all. I'm happy to report that the feedback has been fabulous. So far. A little afraid of jinxing myself! I'll just paste some highlights from the reviews and let them speak for themselves. But first, here's another look at the cover:




And now for a few tasty tidbits from my reviewers with links to their posts:

















Okay, I'd better stop now before I get too carried away! But I'm beyond happy that Lying to Meet You is being warmly received, and I had to share.

Love,
Anna

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Just Four Days to Go!



Hello, my little Swarovski crystals!

Things are a bit manic at HQ, of course, getting all these last-minute things together before publication next week. I wanted to pop in here to share something I'm super excited about though. Kelli, the illustrious review blogger from I'd So Rather Be Reading, has chosen Lying to Meet You as her Book of the Month read for August! I am absolutely over the moon here. What an honor!! Check out the post here.

I'd get back to work. Just wanted to share my fabulous news!

Love,
Anna

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Lying To Meet You: the Cover and Blurb

Hello, my little fashionistas!

Things are crazed here (as per usual) and I did my official cover reveal a couple of days ago, but I definitely wanted to also post my fab new cover here on this blog. I am so in love with it. Sue Traynor designed this one for me as well, and she's so amazing. Feast your eyes on this:






And here's the blurb:


Does being in a relationship make you a hot commodity in the eyes of would-be suitors?


Chloe Lane is about to find out. When her childhood pal, Ethan Webster, asks her to play the part of his girlfriend in order to test this theory, she reluctantly agrees. As a work-crazed fashion designer, boutique owner and soon-to-be reality show judge, Chloe has no time for a real boyfriend, but being part of a faux pair will do just fine. Not that she has any intention of trying to attract someone else.

However…

Opportunity unexpectedly knocks when Chloe meets fellow reality judge, William Shannon. Super successful and super sexy, this high-powered entrepreneur inspires Chloe to test Ethan’s theory herself. Now, on top of keeping her fashion business productive, carving out a new role as a television personality, maintaining a fake relationship and attempting to lay the groundwork for a future relationship, she’s lying to William, lying to her friends, lying to her family and quite possibly lying to herself. Will Chloe be able to keep it all together, or are things about to explode?



Only 25 days to go until release date. Eek! For anyone who'd like to add it on his/her Goodreads list, you can find the link here (and I'd really appreciate it!) :-)

Okay, I'd better get back to work. Lots to do!!

Love,
Anna

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Cover Makeover: Is This All There Is?

Hello my little kitty cats!

I'm thrilled today to share the brand new cover for Is This All There Is? by the lovely Patricia Mann. And now, without any further ado... ta da!




I love it! You can just tell it's a gripping, emotional read (and a sexy one) can't you? Here's the blurb:


Beth Thomas has the perfect life. At thirty-five, she's married to her college sweetheart, has two adorable kids, and teaches part time at the local university. But when a friend persuades Beth to go dancing on a rare night out, a chance meeting with twenty one year old Dave, one of her former students, changes the course of her life. Loud music, too much to drink, and the thrill of feeling young again lead to an unforgettable kiss that was never supposed to happen. As she tries to put the memory behind her, Dave's pursuit leaves Beth torn between what her mind says is right and what her heart and her body crave.

I cannot wait to read this one. And you must out the book trailer for this book here. The music is perfect. Really makes you want to jump right in and find out what happens to Beth.

From the press release:

Is This All There Is contains 206 pages of an everyday woman's real life struggles, rewards and temptations and how she navigates her responsibilities, expectations and desires as a woman, wife, mother and professor.

And for a final treat, here's the full cover for the printed version:




So fabulously atmospheric, don't you think? Congratulations, Patricia, on your fab new cover!!

Love,
Libby

Monday, July 15, 2013

Author Interview: Kamy Chetty

Hello my little lollipops! Today I've got Kamy Chetty on my blog, who's had three of her red hot romances published. Read on to learn more about her writing experience, the way her nursing career influences her writing, and, of course, read on to find out more about her sizzling stories!




Libby Mercer: Welcome to my blog, Kamy! I understand that you work as a nurse. It’s great that you have the professional experience to authenticate the medical aspect of your stories. Are there any real-life situations that you’ve used in your books?

Kami Chetty: Some of the medical situations are similar to those situations I have worked in, and there are those I have fabricated. The characters are all fictional.

LM: Do your colleagues at the health service you work at read your books, and if so, do they try to look for themselves in your fictional characters?

KC: My books are based in a private hospital situation but all my colleagues and family read the book looking for a character that might be them but there is no character that resembles them at all. My books are an escape from work and life and I would hate for it to imitate real life in any way. That being said, my husband would like to think every hero has some of him in the characterJ

LM: About the cover of Breathe Again, hello! Am I right to assume this is a red hot read?

KC: You would be absolutely right. I had a hard time coming to terms with the fact that I write very, very hot romances, steamy sex scenes that are classed as erotic romance. I still go around saying, but it’s just very steamy sex scenes and everyone else says, no it’s off the charts hot. Who knows how they class it? All I know is I write an emotional story with steamy sex, you make up your mindJ

LM: The cover of Family Ties is so different. Is this more on the sweeter side or are there some sizzling scenes in this one as well?

KC: This one also has steamy sex scenes but I thought it would be a nice touch to let this book have a family feel to it. I’m not sure I know how to write sweet romanceJ

LM: How long ago did you start writing?

KC: I have been writing all my life. When I wasn’t writing in diaries, I was writing poems and short stories but I quit for a long time after I had children and life got in the way. Then I started again eleven years ago. I was reading a book and got frustrated with a lacklustre plot which had me throwing the book across the room thinking, I can do better than this. The dream of being published started at that moment, and I worked at it until that dream came true.

LM: Did you always want to be an author or did you get there in a roundabout sort of way?

KC: When I was five, I knew that I was going to be a nurse. That was it. There was no other path for me. So I am not sure how my passion for writing tied in with my nursing but somewhere along the way writing became my release and a way to get lost in my own world. There are so many times when I am challenged as to which profession I love more, but the beauty is I never have to choose.

LM: Tell me, do you have any wild or wacky writing quirks?

KC: No wild writing quirks but I have to have my coffee, music and a clear writing space with a pen/pencil and pad to scribble notes

LM: Who are some of your favorite authors?

KC: There are quite a few, Maya Banks, Nalini Singh, Amy Andrews, Jodi Picoult, Dean Koontz, Robin Cook, Stephen King

LM: What’s your all-time favorite opening line?

KC: Jack Torrance thought: Officious little prick. Stephen King- The Shining

LM: What’s your ultimate professional dream? Bestselling author status? Hollywood film adaptation? Total world domination? All of the above?

KC: Total world domination would be boring, I’d hate to have to give up all the time I’d need for shopping to have to rule the world. So maybe become a bestselling author and have my book turned into a movie so I could have more funds to shopJ

LM: What’s your next project? Are you working on a new book right now?

KC: My next project is a sequel to my first book Falling into Paradise. Watch this spaceJ

Read on for The Lightning Round, but first a peek at the caliente cover of Breathe Again:




and now for... THE LIGHTNING ROUND

Plotter or Panster?

Both


Character first or Plot first?

Character 

Mac or PC?

PC

Edit as you go or Power Through and edit later?

Edit later

Early bird or Night owl?

Night owl

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee

Coke or Pepsi?

Coke

Sandals or Stilettos?

Sandals

Diamonds or Pearls?

Diamonds

Snow-capped mountain or Sandy beach?

Sandy beach

Cowboys or CEOs?

Both

Ginger or Mary Ann?

Mary Ann

Superman or Batman?

Superman

Alpha heroes or Beta heroes?

Alpha

Austen or the Brontes?

Austen

Mr. Darcy or Captain Butler?

Mr. Darcy

KC: Thanks for hosting me, this has been so much fun and I absolutely love your coversJ

LM: My pleasure! Thanks so much for being here, Kamy, and thanks a million about my covers. You've just made my day!!

Folks, you can visit Kamy's website here

And her Facebook page here

And you'll find her on Twitter here

Friday, July 12, 2013

No News is Good News



Or at least that's what I'm telling myself to justify the fact that I blog so infrequently...

Hello my little party poppers!

Things are truly insane these days. Since I last checked in, I've been working on my ice cream girls trilogy, finishing up a short story I wrote for Simon & Figg's holiday anthology, and done some promo for The Karmic Connection.

These days I'm working on prepping Lying to Meet You for its upcoming release: just signed off on the final cover art, which I love (yay!) and now I'm contacting reviewers and trying to secure the rights to use some song lyrics. (Fingers crossed.) Soon I'll need to start building the Anna Garner platform - just created a Facebook page, and I'll need a Twitter account too. I will probably end up turning this blog into a Libby/Anna thing because I don't think I'll be able to manage two different author blogs. We shall see.

The Lying to Meet You cover reveal is scheduled for August 9th and I cannot wait to share it with you!!

Hope you're all doing well and enjoying the summer. I just wanted to pop in and say hi, let you know I haven't fallen off the face of the earth!

Love,
Libby

Monday, May 20, 2013

What's On Page 25?

Hello my little dew drops!



It's that time of year again: International Chick Lit Month. I'm super stoked to be participating in this fabulously fun blog hop, and we have a seriously awesome prize we're giving away. A Kindle Keyboard 3G with free 3G + Wi-Fi and a 6" E Ink Display and a copy of all the books by the authors participating on the tour! Now, onto what's happening on page 25 of The Karmic Connection...




Poor Adam. I spend a great deal of the first part of this novel torturing this guy. First he's yanked from his office in the middle of the night and thrown into a chauffeur driven car bound for where? He doesn't know. He arrives at a wellness center deep in the woods of Vermont where there's no coffee and no way of communicating with the outside world. He's miserable, stuck up there with (according to him) a bunch of New Age whack jobs when all he wants to do is work.

Page 25 is actually the first page of Chapter 2. Adam has just met Lorraine - the beautiful, but flightly weirdo who introduced herself as his "wellness guide". He's sitting on the grass outside the big old farmhouse, feeling very sorry for himself. (Win the grand prize! The eleventh secret word in the 27-word sentence is: chick.) He's wondering what's going on in the office and cursing his bad luck for being imprisoned at the wellness center. To make matters worse, one of the weirdest of the weirdos staying at the center is intruding in his personal space.

So there you have it! Now, onto the subject of our Grand Prize giveaway: if you're a little unsure how to go about entering the drawing, be sure to check this fantastic post written by Julie (our fearless leader) with excellent instructions on how to go about collecting the secret words. You'll find that post here.

Thanks for reading and happy hopping!!

Love,
Libby


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, May 3, 2013

I've Been Through the Desert on a Book with No Name...

Sorry, I just couldn't help myself. I can't get that song out of my head.




Hello my little brainiacs!

I need your help. I'm polishing up the next story I'm planning to release, but there's only so much I can do at this point because I cannot come up with a decent title for it! I finished this book way back in 2009, and the title I've been using for it is Playing House. You'll see why in a sec. But I don't love Playing House. In fact, I kind of hate it. So I'm sending this one out into the cyberworld in the hopes that someone will be able to come up with the right title, the one.


If you happen to suggest the title that I end up using, here's what I'm thinking:

1) You'll get a mention on the acknowledgments page of the Book with No Name (yet)

2) You'll get a free copy of the Book with No Name (yet) e-book or print - your choice

3) You'll get a character named after you in one of my future books. It can be your first name, your last name or both. Or if you're not comfortable with this, I can use any other name you like. Want me to name a character after your dog or cat? I can work with that!


Sound good, I hope? Now, I need to tell you a little bit about the Book with No Name. Here's a rough description of the setup:



Does being in a couple make one a hot commodity in the eyes of would-be suitors?

Chloe Lane has her hands full. She runs a fashion wholesale business as well as managing her own boutique, so her love life (or lack thereof) is the furthest thing from her mind. When her childhood pal, Ethan Webster, asks her to pretend to be his girlfriend in order to test this theory, she reluctantly agrees. Not that she has any intention of trying to attract someone else. She just wants to help out her friend. Ethan already has his heart set on a woman he works with. However...

When Chloe agrees to judge a new reality show, she finds herself instantly smitten with fellow judge, William Shannon, a tech whiz millionaire who looks like Superman. Since opportunity is knocking, Chloe decides to test the theory herself, orchestrating a casually flirtatious relationship with William that gradually intensifies.

So things get increasingly complicated as Chloe maintains her faux relationship, attempts to lay the groundwork for a future relationship, works hard to keep her fashion business productive, carves out her new role as a television personality and struggles with keeping track of all of the lies. By posing as a couple, she and Ethan are lying to their families and their best friends, and the lies just keep stacking up, one after another. 


More information:

I chose Playing House as the working title because Chloe and Ethan have been friends since they were three years old. And there's this bit in the book when Chloe is musing on how it's sometimes difficult to separate Ethan the adult from Ethan the child. I'm sure you can see where I was going with the title, but... meh. I don't think it works.

I also considered Bizarre Love Quadrangle as a possibility. It works as far as the plot goes, and it's a twist on the New Order song title, "Bizarre Love Triangle". But it's definitely not the right title for this book. Unless you're familiar with New Order, it just sounds weird.

I thought I might play with the Superman theme in the title. William Shannon is repeatedly described as the "millionaire Superman". He looks like Superman (as portrayed by Christopher Reeve). Ethan is basically Clark Kent. Although not awkward and nerdy, he is unpretentious and somewhat wholesome. And also, he works as a journalist at the New York Times. As for Chloe... well, her last name is Lane. I think it could be really fun to work the Superman angle into the title, but so far I haven't come up with anything good.

I absolutely love book titles that sort of twist old titles or sayings (Misery Loves Cabernet, The Misfortune Cookie, The Kitchen Shrink).

And I really love titles that just sort of hit you with a POW (Dancing Naked in Dixie, Sleeping with Ward Cleaver). How could you not click to see what those books are about when they have such excellent titles?

I know this is a lot of information, folks. I hope some of you feel up to this challenge! I feel like that perfect title is out there somewhere, but I've been trying to catch hold of it for four years now and it's been out of my reach. So if you would put your thinking caps on, my little lovelies, and answer my call for help, I would be super, super grateful.

If you have any suggestions, please post them in the comments section. Thanks!

Oh, and just in case you're not sure what I'm talking about with the "been through the desert on a book with no name" post title, here's a link: America video. My parents were hippies. Sort of.

Love,
Libby