Full Throttle is Coming Soon

Look at my newly created cover art for Full Throttle! I think the artist, Trisha Fitzgerald, did a fanastic job.

Full Throttle will be available October 1st through Champagne Books. Here's a blurb about this contemporary romance (my first!):

When ex-Harley racer Linc plots a full throttle seduction of motorcycle tech Samantha, the last thing he expects is love to throw a wrench in the works

Phoenix is hot but the bikers are even hotter and Samantha finds this out firsthand after partnering with her cousin to run Dr. Doug’s Mobile Dyno, a motorcycle testing and performance tuning business. Spurned by an ex-fiancée and resolved to taking care of her aging father and his medical problems, romance is the last thing Samantha’s looking for while expanding her new business is at the top of her priorities list.

Along comes opportunity in the form of Linc Montgomery, a tough, business-savvy, ex-Harley racer and new owner of Full Throttle Custom Cycles in Phoenix. Linc is used to having gorgeous women fall at his feet. When he meets Samantha and agrees to contract her dyno services, he quickly realizes she isn’t one of those brainless bimbos he normally dates before carelessly tossing aside.

The challenge is on for Linc as he sets out to seduce Samantha just to prove he can. He doesn’t plan on the interference of his ex-wife and her ex-fiancée – both of whom serve to make him realize that along the way, his seduction scheme causes him to fall head over heels in love. It isn’t so easy to convince Samantha she belongs to him

This book is so far the nearest and dearest to my heart. It is based on my own experiences owning a mobile motorcycle dynamometer and the adventures my partner and I had traveling around the area and attending biker events. I can't wait until it comes out, and hope you can't either!

It’s All About Promotion

At least that’s what, as a romance author, I’ve been told over and over again by the wonderful staff at my publisher, Champagne Books. It’s not just enough to write a romance novel and get it published.

That’s when the real work just begins. Blogging, chatting, book signings, handing out bookmarkers and business cards, marketing the website, posting excerpts, creating profiles at book-related sites, social networking – the list goes on and on.

Honestly, how’s anyone with a “real” job supposed to write another book, let alone keep the home fires burning so they remember what romance is supposed to be like, and keep up on promotion?

Yeah, it can be difficult. Unfortunately, just because you create an artistic piece doesn’t mean someone will find it, and buy it. Promotion is the difference between being a no-name artist and one who becomes an icon.

Even so-so artists have been able to make a career out of their art because of great promotion. Take Bob Dylan and Madonna, for example. Or Willie Nelson. None of these singers is particularly talented vocally, yet all have made millions of dollars.

For a romance novelist, the road can be rocky indeed. I know very few authors have ever made big bucks on their first novel. Look at Janet Evanovich. She started out writing category romances for Harlequin many moons ago. Were those books great literary works of art? Hardly. But I guess they paid the bills until she could sell the fantastic novels she writes now.

Does that mean I aspire to be a so-so writer who just markets herself successfully? Not in the least. I’d much rather be known as a good writer, but am realistic enough to realize that is not enough in today’s ultra-competitive market.

Call me a promo whore. Maybe one of these days it will pay the bills.

Master's Mistress Now Available

Master's Mistress

by Patricia Bates

Historical Romance

Published March 1, 2009 by Champagne Books

In a world of betrayal and murder, a vibrant Celtic slave woman holds the key to her Viking master’s heart.

My dear friend, Patricia Bates, realized a dream when her first full-length novel was released Sunday, March 1st from Champagne Books.

I had the pleasure of reading this book before publication. Patricia has a very distinct style to her writing and a masterful way of creating characters the readers can genuinely care about.

Review:
Amoda Ni Cormac is a slave meant for a member of Viking royalty as a wedding present from his father. It is Olaf's brother, Mykyl, however, who yearns to have the beautiful and intelligent slave as his own. Although she resists, in the end, Amoda cannot deny her own attraction for the handsome and virile Mykyl.

Although the plot of a lord falling in love with his slave is a familiar one, Patricia freshens this wonderful tale with her well-paced writing and strong characterization. You will fall in love with Lord Mykyl and feel compassion for the slave, Amoda, whom he will do anything to possess. Accurate history and vivid descriptions make Master’s Mistress a certain to be a favorite with anyone who loves rich historical romance set in medieval Europe.

Visit Champagne Books and check out Patricia's great novel today.

Valentine's Day - Worth the Hype?

Before Valentine’s Day became the Hallmark holiday now appropriate for all members of the family, it originated from the customs of the ancient Romans. Although the martyred Valentines (there were more than one) of the early centuries were honored for their religious contributions, by the 14th century another Saint Valentine came to be associated with romance. This connection is largely attributed to a couple short lines written by Geoffrey Chaucer (Hallmark should probably pay tribute to the man in appreciation - heck it would be another opportunity to sell cards!). The idea of February 14th being a day for romance then took off in Paris and by the 1800s the holiday of St. Valentine’s Day had spread across the globe.

If you’re married or in a relationship, Valentine’s Day can be oh so romantic – perhaps the day that special someone finally professes his love or produces the coveted engagement ring. Sometimes it’s just a great excuse for having a bout of wild and passionate sex. Of course the longer you’ve been married, the more likely it is that the honeymoon is over and the day may pass without much more than a peck on the cheek.

If you’re single and unattached, however, it can be nothing short of stressful. From the time we women have been little girls in grade school, we’ve known the humiliation of being the only one in class not to get any Valentine’s cards delivered to our cardboard ‘mailbox’. In high school, we may have been the unpopular girl who didn’t receive any of the balloon and flower grams sold by the cheerleading squad. By the time we began working, we might have been the only woman in the office who didn’t receive a delivery of flowers on the holiday.

I can remember some years when I’ve gone on fantastically romantic trips with the boyfriend du jour. I can also remember other years renting When Harry Met Sally and going through a pint of Chunky Monkey alone in the dark. I’ve got to admit, Valentine’s Day is not my favorite holiday. Any celebration in which my delight of it depends purely on the presence of a man in my life – honestly – really sucks.

So what do you think? Is Valentine’s Day a valid holiday or just another day when Hallmark and Brach’s and Teleflora make money hand over fist? Feel free to share your best, or worst, experiences.

Holiday Treats

Just in time for the holidays, the Champagne Authors collaborative blog, The Writer's Vineyard, is featuring a different short story daily in the months of November and December. Some of the stories are excerpts from great books available for purchase while others are original, yet-to-be-published vignettes. My own contribution is an original short story which gives a hint at the plot to GOLDEN ENCHANTMENT's sequel, CHASING ENCHANTMENT. It involves the gorgeous, sexy, Kent McCabe, the ex-Texas Ranger and best friend to Jake Houston, the hero of GOLDEN ENCHANTMENT.

Other fantastic authors who are contributing to this event are Ciara Gold, Gemma Halliday, Margaret Moore, Barbara Baldwin, and a host of other talented writers in all genres.

Visit the blog throughout November and December for a variety of opportunities to win some fabulous prizes.

Dancing in the Rain

Labor Day weekend 2008.

After church on Sunday my husband and I headed over to the Orchard at Charlie Clark’s. This is the oldest restaurant in the White Mountains, housed in a fantastic historic building. The outdoors Orchard is only open in the summer – usually Memorial Day to Labor Day. It is an outdoor area set amongst over two acres of evergreens and apple trees, complete with bar converted from an old barn, dance floor, outdoor heating oven, and horseshoe pits.

This was the last weekend, the last hurrah of the summer before all of our “Flatlander” visitors left the White Mountains to return home to Phoenix until skiing season.

Labor Day weekend at the Orchard features a craft fair, with vendors of arts and crafts and foods and such set up all around, and live music.

My husband and I had to go. After all, it was the last hurrah.

It had been raining all morning – a sullen, gray, wet day but cleared up a bit by the time the church service was over. For the most part, the weather reflected my mood. Dear husband and I have been going through some tough times this summer and it hasn’t exactly helped the state of our marriage. We had to save money and hadn’t been doing much for entertainment throughout the summer. Going to Charlie Clark’s on Labor Day Sunday was a much-needed respite from real life. For a few hours we forgot about money issues, lack of work opportunities, the high price of gas and groceries, and paying bills.

We frequented the outdoor bar – a comfortable place with “windows” that open to the fresh air via wooden planks and rows of bar stools along two sides. A collection of beer bottle caps line the bar’s wooden countertop and a profusion of signs, the likes of which proclaim Only Cowboys Served Here add a homey decorative touch.

We drank beer. We shopped. We made an extravagant purchase of a beautiful lamp – so unlike us for so long. It was a heady feeling.

Not long afterward it started to rain again. The darkening clouds knit together into a dense blanket overhead and a gentle shower began.

“Let’s dance.” My husband turned to me beneath our flimsy shelter of pine boughs. The rain came down harder.

When was the last time we’d danced? Nearly a year earlier, I quickly figured in my head, ticking off the months while drops danced on the brim of my red felt cowboy hat.

“But it’s raining,” I protested, watching puddles form on the dance floor and vendors pull tarps over the front of their canopies.

“So?”

So, indeed. I surely wouldn’t melt.

I took a big gulp of my beer and shrugged. “Sure. Let’s dance.”

And so we did. We danced in the rain. We splashed through puddles. We danced when no one else was brave enough to weather the gentle storm. We applauded the one-man band who was giving his all, singing such classic tunes as New York, New York. We danced to slow tunes, and to two-steps.

Peeking out from the brim of a black cowboy hat, I gazed into beautiful blue-green eyes, as stormy and intense as the sky overhead, as I was twirled about the rustic dance floor, the eyes of all spectators watching our moves.

And I was reminded of why I’d fallen in love with and married this man.

Because he will dance with me. In the rain.

Are you a closet romance reader?

When I was growing up, reading romance novels was something one did in private. For me, it entailed sneaking into the bookstore when no one I knew was shopping, lurking until the coast was clear, and then sneaking into the aisle filled with colorful, bodice-ripper covers. I had to make my selections quickly by skimming the descriptions on the back covers and then, preferably, finding a mainstream novel or book to place on top of my stack so no one could see what I was buying. The tension would continue to mount until I got to the cash register. Since I knew the bookstore owner, I hoped he wouldn’t make a comment as to my choice of reading material. I could hardly wait until he shoved my books into a brown paper bag and I could finally breathe a sigh of relief as I hurried home to pore over my new romances. The same modus operandi was used even at the public library, because, of course, in my small home town everybody knew me there, too.

Things, thankfully, have changed - romance novels don't carry quite the same stigma any more. Either that, or I’ve changed and I just don’t give a darn what people think about my taste in books. Plus, being an author of romance books means I have to believe in the product I produce. And I do. Valid romance novels (not erotica or porn) aren’t just trashy bodice-rippers, nor have they ever been. Historicals are rich with history and facts that are carefully checked while contemporaries often educate the reader about exotic locales and unusual professions. Successful authors take great care and do extensive research to create believable, sympathetic characters, detailed plots and an interesting story. While romantic interludes are key to the genre, there's much more than just love scenes in a romance novel.

Rest assured that readers of romance are continuing to grow steadily in number. According to Simba, a 2006 report indicated that romance fiction accounted for more than 26% of the book market of all genres and types. That's all genres including nonfiction, mystery, and that generic category of "novel". Pretty impressive. That means there are literally millions of romance readers out there.

There is a plethora of online options for those romance readers looking for others of like mind. There are also numerous sites which include forums, review books and give recommendations for reading based on your preferences. Clubs for readers of paranormal, historical, Westerns, contemporary and every other category you can imagine abound. Romance Novel TV (www.romancenoveltv.com) includes video interviews with authors, excerpts of new books, contests and updates on the latest conferences and events. To find a site that caters to your specific desires, just Google “romance readers websites”. While there are too many to mention specifically, Romancing the Blog (www.romancingtheblog.com), Love Western Romances (www.lovewesternromances.com) and The Romance Reader (www.theromancereader.com) are some of my favorites.

And, of course, for the best in romance books, visit www.champagnebooks.com to check out the newest releases for 2008 (my Western historical, Golden Enchantment available March 1st!!!).

Cheers!

Adding Romance - Tips to Romanticize the Single Woman's Life

Valentine’s Day, when you are unattached, can be the worse holiday of the year. I know, I’ve been there many times!

It is not, however, an excuse to wallow in misery. Instead of thinking about the absence of a lover, why not treat yourself to some romantic indulgence? After all, you deserve it! Try some, or all, of these tips and enjoy the assault on your senses.

* Just because you are eating alone doesn’t mean your meal has to be boring. Try putting a vase with a single flower in it and a lit candle on the dinner table. Even frozen dinners taste better in the right ambience.

* Burn a candle as soon as you get home. Who doesn’t like their place to smell nice?

* Take a bath instead of a shower. When was the last time you relaxed in a tub full of bubbles with a glass of wine, a lit candle and a good book (preferably a romance!)?

* After washing your bed sheets, spritz them with a little of your favorite scent. The feeling of lying between fresh sheets that smell good is delicious!

* Add a fresh strawberry or raspberry to your glass of soda or wine and sip it while listening to a CD of your favorite relaxing music.

* Buy some sexy new underthings (Victoria’s Secret has the best) and wear it under your business attire. Try garters and stockings instead of pantyhose.

* Schedule a massage for the end of the day. After you get home, dive into a box of expensive, decadent chocolates.

* Invest in an herb or flower-filled neck wrap that can be heated in the microwave (best place to find one is at your local business offering spa and massage services). At the end of a stressful day putting a warm wrap around your neck is incredibly soothing and it smells good, too!

* Raid your local video store and rent an armload of “chick flicks” for video night. After all, when you’re attached your man will most likely be less than interested in watching a romantic movie so now's the time to catch up on that latest sappy romance.

* Head to the library or the bookstore and find some wonderful romance novels to sink your teeth into. Of course, some of the best are on www.champagnebooks.com (as mine will be in March!).

Now, go forth and find romance!