My Christmas anthology with Valerie Bowman, Vivienne Lorret & Ashlyn Macnamara, which released today in e-format! My story is titled Sophie & The Duke.
The holidays are a time for dining, dancing, and of course—dukes! Celebrate the Christmas season with this enchanting collection of historical romances featuring the most eligible bachelors of the ton…
A childish prank may have reunited the Duke of Hollingsworth with his estranged wife, but only the magic of Christmas will show this couple ’tis the season of second chances…
Sophie Kinsley planned to remain a wallflower at the Duke of Helmsworth’s ball. Yet when a dance with him leads to a stolen kiss, will the duke be willing to let her go? Or will Sophie’s Christmas wish be granted at last?
To the Duke of Vale, science solves everything—even marriage. When the impulsive Ivy Sutherland makes him question all of his data, he realizes that he’s overlooked a vital component in his search for the perfect match: love.
Patience Markham never forgot the fateful dance she had with the future Duke of Kingsbury. But when a twist of fate brings them together for Christmas Eve, will the stars finally align in their favor?
Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
You like that, don’t you? Though this hot man is in the True Blood series as a wolf shifter, he is also doubling as my man candy inspiration for my newest hero, Leo.
I haven’t found a picture for Genny, but really, how can I look when I have pictures like
<—-that in my image file?
I haven’t said much about my newest trilogy yet, probably because I’m on an insane deadline to complete it before September (only 19K to go). This will also be my fastest book written to date (got a whole three months to do this project).
Hmm, me thinks I should do a shout out for anyone who wants to do a writing challenge.
Over the weekend, I did spurts of writing 1K in an hour with other twitter friends and will continue to do so over the next week and some. But if anyone wants to write 20K right along with me over the rest of the month, I’m totally up for the challenge. Just post in the comments that you are in and I’ll do follow up blogs for everyone’s process.
Happy writing!
Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011
I should know better than to play around with technology. I don’t know if I’ve ever said this to readers before, but in my house, there are rules about Tiffany and things with buttons. You see, I’m terribly unlucky when it comes to electronics, technology, etc. I’m not allowed to program anything, play with the VCR or DVD players, mess with the TV settings, or play with anything with buttons that allow you to program something sort of electronic because something inevitably always goes wrong. This includes making major changes to my computer, cellphone (I’m known as the cellphone killer, and this was far before I even broke down and finally bought a cell phone of my own only a couple months ago). I’m sure this all stems from my extreme clumsiness.
I had a little oopsy over the weekend, and it went a little something like this:
Friend: You can take your profile page on Facebook, turn it into an author page, and amalgamate identical pages. (I’ve been wanting this very thing for months, because I don’t like having two pages where one is people who have liked me, the other is some odd 3000 people who have friended me over the years–and I never use that page).
Me: Really? I heard you lose your real author page when you do that.
Friend: Nope. You can do it for reals now.
Devil in back of my mind: Yeah, but this is you Tiffany, what can possibly go wrong *copious amounts of sarcasm lacing these words*
Me: That is so cool. I’m going to try it, because I don’t want to lose the people who have so kindly and awesomely been chatting with me for over a year on my author page.
Friend: Oh, make sure you download contacts and info on your profile. I’ll send instructions.
Me: This isn’t just cool, this is awesome. Now I can talk to all my friends in one place on FB.
Devil in back of my head, unbeknownst to me: *Rubbing hands gleefully together as I gear up to do something stupid*
Me: I download the contacts like I’m supposed to. Get a message that says, all set, we’ll email you all the information.
Again, need I stress that this is **ME**
I lose the profile page. Much cursing ensues over twitter. I cannot access the profile page at all. So I feel basically locked out of facebook and all my friends. More swearing ensues on Twitter, where the non technology idiots attempt to help me fix my gaffe on many counts–I’m sure it was a bit of a train wreck. But I tend to be a very vocal person *g* Of course nothing works to fix my blunder.
I did manage to find the missing profile page. Thank goodness. And I did attempt to merge said pages, but the button doesn’t work–it does nothing. *BECAUSE THIS IS ME* LOL
So if you were friends with me before. I’m sorry. That page basically doesn’t exist to me anymore, since there is nothing but 3000 likes. No wall, not pictures, no info–did I forget to tell you why? Oh, yes. Uh, the download of all my content apparently didn’t work (I received a message from FB the following day to try again, but it was too late since I already made the move to a page).
If you would like to add my author page you can click HERE.
Also, because I do have the cutest dog on the face of the planet, if you like, there is a link to vote for Scarlett on my page (you have to like the page first before you vote): Vote Scarlett for cutest dog. (Isn’t her new haircut adorable?)
Anyone else out there technologically malfunct (I think I made up a new word)? Tell me I am not alone.
Monday, July 25th, 2011
Congrats, Jo’s Daughter! You’ve won a copy of Stefanie Sloane’s THE SINNER WHO SEDUCED ME.
Thanks again, Stefanie for guest blogging on the Dark Walk!
Thursday, July 21st, 2011
Like many writers, I graduated from college with an English degree. And, like many of those same writers, I assumed that I would eventually produce and sell a work of literary fiction. It wasn’t that I was reading loads of lit fic. Nor was I writing it. But the goal seemed to go hand in hand with the degree.
And then I found myself in the enviable position of working as the Romance editor at Amazon.com. Oh, I knew the Romance genre. My mom is a bestselling romance author and I’d devoured endless pages of delicious historical and contemporaries, paranormals, and romantic suspense throughout my life. So it seemed a challenge that would be both interesting and doable.
Whoa, was I wrong. It was so much more. A typical work day included interviewing authors, discussing promotion plans with publishers, and figuring out how best to hand-sell the books that I’d grown to love. Honestly, it was an honor just to walk in the door every morning, knowing that I was, in some small way, helping to spread the word about a genre that lifted the spirit, warmed the heart, and, well, put the tingle in all the right places!
After leaving Amazon I made the decision to write. And I haven’t looked back—other than to thank earth’s biggest bookstore for the opportunity to find my path and follow my dreams.
In my third Regency Rogues novel, The Sinner Who Seduced Me, James Marlowe and Clarissa Collins must choose between the safety of distance and the danger of desire.
Have you ever held tight to a goal though the outcome looked questionable? Tell me about it, and enter to win a signed copy of The Sinner Who Seduced Me.
Welcome, Christina! Congrats on the release of HEIRESS IN LOVE! Can you tell us about the story?
Thank you for the welcome Tiffany! And thank you all at Vauxhall Vixens for having me today.
InHEIRESS IN LOVE, the newly widowed Jane, Lady Roxdale, is horrified to learn that while her late husband left his fortune to her, his property and custody of his six-year-old cousin go to the new Lord Roxdale, the scandalous Constantine Black. Constantine wants to marry Jane and reunite the two halves of the Roxdale estate. While Jane is terrified of another unhappy match, she longs to keep the little boy she loves, and Constantine ’s seductive powers of persuasion prove impossible to resist. She must trust this scoundrel with her hand, but can she trust him with her heart?
What would you like readers to know about your hero and heroine? Did you base Jane and Constantine on anyone in particular?
Constantine is one of your charming, wicked rakes but at the same time, he is very perceptive. At first, he loves to ruffle the staid Jane’s feathers but he soon sees beyond Jane’s starched up appearance to the passionate, sensual creature beneath. For her part, Jane discovers the true heroic qualities of this unrepentant bad boy, in spite of his refusal to admit he is anything but an utter scoundrel. And against her better judgment, she finds herself championing rather than condemning him.
In looks, I based Constantine on the actor, Rufus Sewell who has black hair, swarthy skin and the most amazing sleepy green eyes. Sewell can play a charming rogue but there’s a lovely intensity about him, especially in romantic roles.
The story sounds fabulous! What’s your writing process like? Are you a plotter or pantser?
Oh, thank you! That means a lot because I love your books, Tiffany.
As for process, I’m a pantser, kicking and screaming all the way. I hate being a pantser now that I have deadlines and proposals to hand in before the book is written. Sometimes the end product bears only the smallest resemblance to the original synopsis, but of course my editor is smart and experienced and she doesn’t care how much I deviate from the outline if the end product is good. But I really wish I could plot. I’ve tried. I made my CPs roll on the floor laughing when I showed them my 4 act 8 sequence structure chart with tiny, tiny writing all over it. They were right to laugh. After I made the chart, I never looked at it again. If I follow an outline it feels like paint by numbers and I get bored. I keep hoping the plotting fairy will visit me one day…
What was your favorite scene to write in the book?
To avoid spoilers I’ll go with one early in the book–the first meeting between Constantine and Jane, where Jane doesn’t yet know who Constantine is. The clash of personalities is evident from the outset and it’s one of those scenes that came to life vividly in my mind as I wrote it. Oh, and I don’t know if I should say this–I’ll get funny looks–but I *love* the love scenes. Each one is special and emotional in its own way.
How did you come up with the concept: Ministry of Marriage?
Historically, important marriages between nobles were approved by the king or queen of the day but by the Regency period, this practice had waned along with the waning power of the monarchy. I dreamed up a formalized way of arranging marriages that flourished in that vacuum. The Ministry of Marriage operates as a cross between the board of a corporation and the NFL draft.*G* Family representatives must present a case for a betrothal to be approved and no one family is allowed to have too great a share of that season’s matrimonial prizes. It is not an official ministry and it would never have happened that way, of course, but it’s fun to imagine.
It’s difficult to pinpoint how an idea grows, isn’t it? WIth the Ministry of Marriage, it seemed like an interesting way to incorporate many elements about Regency historicals that I love into the one series. One of my favorite tropes is the marriage of convenience story, so an organization that arranges marriages fits perfectly. I also knew that I wanted to create my own Regency world, the way fantasy and paranormal writers create theirs. I like the feeling that my characters are not just plonked down in Regency England; there’s an entire history behind each family. If you visit my website http://www.christina-brooke.com you’ll see I had fun creating family histories, mottos and crests for my characters. In the members only “Brooke-Club” on my site, I even have a fun quiz you can take about which family you belong to as well as a silly title generator. Lady Buckfastleigh is one of my favorites!
What’s next for you?
MAD ABOUT THE EARL will be out in January 2012. It’s about the arranged marriage between the beauty of the family and the beastly man her guardian betrothed her to when she was a teenager. The classic beauty and the beast story… with a twist:) And of course, the Ministry of Marriage will be back, meddlesome as ever!
Thank you so much, Christina!
Thank you Tiffany! Thanks Vauxhall Vixens. Now, a question for your readers!
Do you like marriage of convenience stories? What is your favorite romance trope to read or write? I’ll give away a signed copy of HEIRESS IN LOVE to one lucky commenter.
Thursday, June 9th, 2011
Have you ever picked up a book because you saw the book trailer and had to have the book? I have done it.
Last year I saw Gena Showalter’s Lord’s of the Underworld series trailer. OMG, I had to go and buy the books IMMEDIATELY! And I haven’t regreted it since! I’m addicted to this series!
What do you laove about book trailers? What do you like to see in them? What methods of promotion do you like to see from your favorite authors?
This is also adorable.
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011
IT’S RELEASE DAY FOR THE SECRET DESIRES OF A GOVERNESS!
In addition to the first chapter posted on my website there is also a link to read two more chapters, so if you’re curious to see how Abby and Elliott’s first meeting turns out, hop on over!!!
To celebrate the release of Abby & Elliott’s book, I’m holding a CONTEST. I will be giving away one of two copies of Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre, 2006) & one copy of Disney’s Beauty & The Beast! All you have to do is answer the skill testing question 😉 What is my darling puppy’s name? I will also accept nicknames such as: Ratillious, Rat, Scar, etc.
It’s always crazy busy prepping for a release day, and this long weekend was no exception. I did some blogs/interviews that are coming up (I’ll be posting them via my Facebook Page), put together my newsletter, and because I didn’t have enough to do, my wonderful husband and I worked on Romance Trading Cards ALL DAY MONDAY! Maybe if we knew photoshop better we could have done them quicker, but I like the results regardless! I will be handing them out at the RWA national conference! Check them out below!
So tell me, are you planning on getting your copy of The Secret Desires of a Governess today? Do you have any questions you want to ask me about the book? Or any of my previous books?
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011
IT’S RELEASE DAY FOR THE SECRET DESIRES OF A GOVERNESS!
In addition to the first chapter posted on my website there is also a link to read two more chapters, so if you’re curious to see how Abby and Elliott’s first meeting turns out, hop on over!!!
To celebrate the release of Abby & Elliott’s book, I’m holding a CONTEST. I will be giving away one of two copies of Jane Eyre (Masterpiece Theatre, 2006) & one copy of Disney’s Beauty & The Beast! All you have to do is answer the skill testing question 😉 What is my darling puppy’s name? I will also accept nicknames such as: Ratillious, Rat, Scar, etc.
It’s always crazy busy prepping for a release day, and this long weekend was no exception. I did some blogs/interviews that are coming up (I’ll be posting them via my Facebook Page), put together my newsletter, and because I didn’t have enough to do, my wonderful husband and I worked on Romance Trading Cards ALL DAY MONDAY! Maybe if we knew photoshop better we could have done them quicker, but I like the results regardless! I will be handing them out at the RWA national conference! Check them out below!
So tell me, are you planning on getting your copy of The Secret Desires of a Governess today? Do you have any questions you want to ask me about the book? Or any of my previous books?
Thursday, May 12th, 2011
The best thing ever happened on my birthday a few weeks ago. Can you guess what it is by the title?
Well, I’ll give you a clue: It has a pink leather Roots pouch and its body is smooth and slender with a nice big reading screen.
Did you guess an e-reader? Yup, I’ve finally gotten with the times. I’ve always wanted one, just never could pick something (between brands) to make the final jump toward e-reader-dom. (Geez, this is sounding rather Dr. Seuss-ey.)
I have an e-reader, and all I want to do is buy e-books, but my TBR (to be read) pile numbers in the hundreds (no, I won’t tell you how many hundreds–but anyone who is friends with me or follows me on Goodreads will know that my to-read is actually what I have on my TBR).
When the TBR pile is diminished… I’m going to start buying e-books only, except for a handful of favorite authors.
Authors I will always buy paperbacks (mass market/trade/hard cover) are (excluding CP’s because I MUST own all those in multiple formats): Lisa Kleypas, Anna Campbell, Julia Quinn, Lora Leigh, Kresley Cole, Larissa Ione, Jim Butcher, Karen Marie Moning, and I’m going to stop before you have nothing but a list of my favorite authors!
In the mean time, I’m tempted to cut my losses on the books I own, give them away (save me some much needed bookshelf space) and buy them electronically.
So, how many blog readers have converted to e-readers? Do you still want to buy some paperbacks? Which authors are your must haves (in multiple forms, paperback, hard back, etc.)?
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011
The best thing ever happened on my birthday a few weeks ago. Can you guess what it is by the title?
Well, I’ll give you a clue: It has a pink leather Roots pouch and its body is smooth and slender with a nice big reading screen.
Did you guess an e-reader? Yup, I’ve finally gotten with the times. I’ve always wanted one, just never could pick something (between brands) to make the final jump toward e-reader-dom. (Geez, this is sounding rather Dr. Seuss-ey.)
I have an e-reader, and all I want to do is buy e-books, but my TBR (to be read) pile numbers in the hundreds (no, I won’t tell you how many hundreds–but anyone who is friends with me or follows me on Goodreads will know that my to-read is actually what I have on my TBR).
When the TBR pile is diminished… I’m going to start buying e-books only, except for a handful of favorite authors.
Authors I will always buy paperbacks (mass market/trade/hard cover) are (excluding CP’s because I MUST own all those in multiple formats): Lisa Kleypas, Anna Campbell, Julia Quinn, Lora Leigh, Kresley Cole, Larissa Ione, Jim Butcher, Karen Marie Moning, and I’m going to stop before you have nothing but a list of my favorite authors!
In the mean time, I’m tempted to cut my losses on the books I own, give them away (save me some much needed bookshelf space) and buy them electronically.
So, how many blog readers have converted to e-readers? Do you still want to buy some paperbacks? Which authors are your must haves (in multiple forms, paperback, hard back, etc.)?
