My Christmas anthology with Valerie Bowman, Vivienne Lorret & Ashlyn Macnamara, which released today in e-format! My story is titled Sophie & The Duke.

December 1, 2015
Buy the ebook:Kindle
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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?

Every family has them.

Our big family tradition is cracking Easter eggs.

We paint them all up in every colour of the rainbow (after boiling them). The kids love it. Heck, even the adults enjoy egg painting them. We do this every year–dozens and dozens of eggs later . . ..

What the heck do we do with all these eggs?

We set them all out on a table, takes tons of pictures and then we pick them and crack them against our relative opponents. Last egg standing wins a prize. Yup, that’s our crazy family tradition. People have told me that it’s a Ukrainian thing – uhh, not an ounce of Ukrainian in our Euro-muttdom that I know of so really, I have no idea. All I know is, it’s fun. it brings the family together, and most of all, the kids learn a tradition to pass on to their kids . . .

So, what family traditions do you have?

ALSO, if you didn’t already know, The Surrender of a Lady is now only $2.99 on Kindle and NOOK! so go forth and tell everyone you know!!! I say spread the love on these steal deals!

I admit, I’m unread in classic literary fiction. Which is odd, being that everything I have read of the classics I’ve mostly loved.

There hasn’t been many classics that I’ve disliked, and I do wish I had more time to enjoy them. If you had to narrow your list down to just a handful to recommend to others as must reads at least once in their lifetime what would you suggest? More importantly, what am I missing out on?

What I would recommend:

1) Lady Chatterley’s Lover – D.H. Lawrence, This is afterall my favorite book of all time. There is something elemental and raw about human emotion in this book.

2) Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte, tortured characters all around, hell, what’s not to love

3) Les Liaisons Dangereuses – Choderlos de Laclos, this book reads very modern (pub’d 1782), and makes me laugh at it’s badassness

4) Frankenstein – Mary Shelley (one of the few books I remember fondly from high school). Though I did love Jekyll and Hyde and Heart of Darkness.

5) The Monk, Matthew Lewis, you like dark, twisted and pinch of odd humor, this is your book

I admit, there are a great many on my TBR list: North and South, Gaskell; Of Human Bondage, Maugham; A History of Tom Jones, A Foundling, Fielding; Madam Bovary, Flaubert, so on and so forth . . .

Come on in and discuss your favorite classics, or even who you think will be a classic read from our day and age into the next century!

When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a ballet dancer. When my mom said no, I said I wanted to be a veterinarian.

When I was in middle school I wanted to be a writer.

When I hit highschool (five years into playing the clarinet already), I wanted to be a classical musician and playing with the TSO (Toronto Symphony Orchestra).

When I was almost finished high school, I thought it best to be practical about my dreams and go into zoology and study ornithology (birds–No, I didn’t go to university and study it).

When I went into the working world, I worked in multimedia (project manager), then had some babies and when I went back to work it was in admin. While in that job I realized I wasn’t where I wanted to be in my life and refocused my energy into something I loved–writing.

Why am I boring you with my life dreams? Well, there is a reason. I realize, that sometimes, we revisit those dreams we thought might be impossible.

My daughter is obsessed with growing up and becoming an artist. She’s said this since she was three; she’s now seven. I guess this happens when both parents are in the arts professionally. (Daddy is a photographer.) She doesn’t care what she is so long as she’s an artist. If you tell her that’s not art, she doesn’t want to be part of it. I’ll never dissuade her, even though she wants to be a painter and well… let’s just say she doesn’t do a whole lot of painting!

I’ve always wanted to be a part of the arts (hence the highlights of my ‘what I want to be when I grow up’). I didn’t realize my dream until my late twenties.

What about you? Is there something you wish you had done with your life? Are thinking about ‘re-visiting’?

I’ve been a crazy writing chick. I’m writing so much so fast, that I think I dream about typing (hmmm, it’s quite possible that I’m typing in my sleep). I’m one of those people who when they get really involved in a project, they start dreaming about said project. Yes, I’ve been dreaming of hot men for a couple weeks now – you’re all jealous, aren’t you?

I thought I’d do something fun and share things about myself you wouldn’t know — and all about food. And I hope you’ll play the game.

1) I like to drink water at home with lemon in it. I cut the lemons up and keep them in a container in the fridge for this purpose.

2) I will try any kind of food at least once, so long as there aren’t any raisins in it.

3) I am very careful with my diet, because I’m prone to getting sick, etc., so I will force myself to continue eating something I hate, until I can tolerate and then hopefully like it. I really want to meet another person that is like this. Some of the foods I used to hate, but now love (after many forced meals): Avocados, Fish (my second favorite meat dish), dried cranberries, warm tomatoes, blueberries (though sometimes I have to stop and remind myself that I’m not eating worms). And there are tons more I have forced myself to eat that I didn’t like before. Just can’t recall.

4) I can’t have any caffeine after two o’clock, because it makes my restless leg syndrome worse in the evening, and because I will be wide awake till way past my bedtime.

5) I get a sugar high if I drink any pop with caffeine in it. (Like coke.) You’d think I was a kid let off her leash for the first time after I’ve had a Coke.

What about you?

I have this thing: I love little blurbs, stories, quotes at the beginning of chapters. In my books and in books I read. It’s just a nice final touch. Even if it’s just one quote at the beginning of the book. Okay, so you think I’m just weird, and I freely admit that to be the truth!

My first book, The Surrender of a Lady, had titled chapters (a sort of hint into what would happen in the course of the chapter). Titles like Slave Trader, Initiation Into the Harem, Reunion & Reconciliation.

My second book, The Seduction of His Wife, had quotes from my heroines undelivered letters to her husband. all rather romantic, IMO, and growing more and more frustrated as the years of separation started to wear her down:“Words escape me. Why is it I’m helpless but to bleed ink onto paper, even if I never deliver the final version of this letter?”

My third book, The Secret Desires of a Governess, showcases a tidbit of a children’s fairy tale at the beginning of each chapter, which concludes at the end of the book. “In the Kingdom of Brahmors, there was a young prince who lived under the shadow of his father’s rule. He wished to stand up to the king but the prince was young and did not bear the strength needed to do so. The land around the kingdom was sad and oppressed and the heavens no longer rained down atop the grains that sustained the land.
—From The Dragon of Brahmors”

In my current book, tentatively titled Tempted by Your Touch (a picture of my heroine as I see her–dress included–is above), I use actual quotes from composers. Preferably of the love variety (I’m still looking for more)! Of course I use a healthy dose of Beethoven’s from the Immortal Beloved letters (I have a huge crush on the man). Below are a sampling of the ones I am using:

Do not ever conceal yourself from me.
Love demands everything and that very justly.
My angel, my all, my very self. – Beethoven

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. – Schubert

To send light into the darkness of men’s hearts – such is the duty of the artist. – R. Schumann

A thousand kisses from your faithful bride. – Clara Schumann

Do you have favorite books that use any of these methods? Poetry, plays, quotes, etc.? I can think of a few authors I love that use one or more of these items. Do you have any favorite quotes you want to share?

Hello Dark Walk!

I’m going to hog the blog for some shameless self promo because . . .

Today I’m very happy to announce my RELEASE DAY for The Seduction of His Wife! That means you can now buy it in the stores!

Found in these stores: Amazon|B&N|books-a-million|Book Depository|Borders|chapters.indigo|Indiebound|Powell’s

For anyone interested, I’ve posted short excerpts of Seduction on my Facebook Page for the last couple of weeks!

The first chapter is also posted HERE on my website.

Praise for The Seduction of His Wife:

Clare turns up the sensual heat with a sizzling, sexy tale of a husband and wife engaged in a seductive battle of wits that proves to be splendidly entertaining.
-John Charles, Booklist

Clare takes a “second chance at love” romance, twisting the theme into a highly sensual tale of passion and suspense. But there’s also humor, created by secondary characters, and love to round out a tantalizing read.
– RT Book Reviews, 4 1/2 Star Top Pick!

A steamy Victorian. -Publishers Weekly

An arousing and amusing Victorian reverse romance.
-Fresh Fiction

An exciting and imaginative read that captivates the imagination and arouses the senses. Suspense, intrigue and passion abound in this historical romance.
-Romance Junkies

Manipulating sisters, sinister plots and a pending divorce making this romance a bit different than your normal run of the mill romances. The initial scenes will draw you in only to entice you to stay and read more and more. Soon you’ll find yourself riveted to this story only to find you have reached the end.
-Night Owl Reviews, Top Pick

The Seduction of His Wife has all that I love in a book: humor, suspense, sigh-inducing romance, and fan-your-face, sizzling sex scenes.
-Gannon, The Romance Dish

What’s next? The Secret Desires of a Governess releases May 24, 2011! There is a mini-teaser HERE on my website.

So, have you got your copy yet?

I chat to a close friend every night on the phone and every time I have to blog I always say ‘Cyn, what should I blog on.’ She said (because it’s hit so close to home for me these past few weeks), ‘Tiff, blog on the pirating of your debut book.’

I said NO WAY – because I don’t think I can be civilized about it. Screw that, why should I be civilized about someone/ANYONE stealing MY work?

I told my friend this is pretty much how a blog on pirating would go (are you ready? I swear LOTS, and I’m an honest woman, so I won’t hold back – not that I normally do):

Dear Pirates and Whore-ders of free things – because let’s face it, it’s free so you think you need it, and you think it’s okay for you to steal it, because it’s already there and others are stealing it, too:

Fuck You!

Yup, you read that right. And I’m not ashamed to say it again. Fuck You! I don’t believe in ladylike words. I believe in saying exactly how you feel. And right now, I really HATE pirates.

I tried very hard to ignore my google alerts that gave me a link and everything to my very own pirated book. I tried putting off clicking on those links telling myself I really didn’t want to know if my book was being stolen. I was even so naive as to tell myself it wouldn’t affect my bottom line (sales on print books).

I always knew at some point in my career my book would be pirated. I knew it. It’s sad that that is just the state of how things are. It’s almost like it’s an accepted norm. Well you know what, going to your local clothing store and taking something off the rack and shoving it in your purse is not okay. Hell, going into your local bookstore and stuffing a book in your bag without paying for it is NOT OKAY! It’s STEALING.

So what makes anyone think they can download books off the net for free?

Readers, I want you to spread the word right here, right now: You know all your favorite authors? You know the ones that aren’t NYT sellers or USA Today sellers (hell even the ones that are) well, by downloading those ‘free’ books online (even if it’s not you but someone you know), pirates are systematically destroying writers careers, our art, and our livelihoods. Downloading free books is a sale our publisher never sees and therefore we are worth less to them in the long run. All pirates succeed at by downloading free books is ensuring that many mid-list authors do not see another contract.

I’m currently working toward a second contract. This is a big deal and a scary deal in publishing. They say it’s harder to land your second contract more than your first – and I worked HARD to get my first contract. And I’m working HARDER to get my second.

I’m going to be very VERY frank readers and writers so it’s easy to understand (and remember I’m one author) the damage pirates wreck is to thousands upon thousands.

My first book had a 30K print run. That’s actually not too bad in this ebook savvy world (right now). HOWEVER, in the forth month of that book being out (January) There were a total of three websites with free downloads of my books (yes, sites I initially avoided because I said I didn’t want to know after the first one I found one month after The Surrender of a Lady released–which at the time had less than 4 thousand illegally downloaded books).

Each link had more than 10 thousand books downloaded when I clicked on them earlier this month. That is thirty thousand books I did not sell. That I will not make money on. That I cannot support my family with, that hurts me when I want my next book contract because I can’t sell through the stock I have because people would rather steal from me.

Here’s a real life picture. I work TWO full time jobs (yes one is my writing career). I do this to support my family and because I love writing. I have two small children that I support with these paychecks–do you know how expensive it is to live in Toronto? And to raise a family here?

Step back readers and think about your favorite authors. Writing is their livelihoods, too. If you know someone stealing books, tell them why it’s not okay. Tell them that they are destroying someone’s life. Tell them that they won’t be able to read their favorite authors if they don’t stand up for them and say no to pirates.

I feel impotent with this. I have a wonderful publisher with a wonderful legal department that tells these illegal persons to take down the free downloads – and it works for a day or two, but there is always someone else there to post it again. It’s almost impossible to keep up with the sending out of take down notices.

So here is my letter to the pirates and readers of this blog:

Pirates, I hope you enjoy the one finger salute I’m giving you in my mind every time I think of what you are stealing and everyone you are hurting. And because this is my blog and I can say exactly what I feel Fuck You!

And for my readers, I truly love you and the support you’ve shown me as a debut author. It’s a tough business, and I love it in my own crazy way, and I love that you support your favorite (or even new) authors. Continue to do so, and tell people: friends, family, colleagues, whathaveyou, that stealing books is wrong. It’s ILLEGAL and it is literally taking food from a baby’s mouth!

Rant done. And no, I’m not sorry in the least that I stated my true feelings on this topic. It’s been tough facing the reality of my illegal download numbers compared to that of my actual print numbers and my smaller weekly sell-through numbers.

I’m in deadline mode for a project right now so I’m going to shamelessly put out some promo for my contest this month instead of doing some research for a new topic blog.

I have had seven copies of The Surrender of a Lady just laying around my flat for four months. I figure I might as well give them away and give myself back some precious shelf space. Through my website there are four ways to win my debut book.

First) you can fill out the form on my contest page that will sign you up for my newsletter and be sure to tell me why you want to read The Surrender of a Lady (1 book giveaway)

Second) you can tell me on twitter in 140 characters or less (using the hastag #TSOAL) why you want to read my debut novel (1 book giveaway)

Third) You can join my Facebook fanpage and tell me what it is you love about harem romances (1 book giveaway)

Fourth) and certainly not least, you can enter the giveaway on Goodreads! (4 book giveaway)

And I’ve done no Christmas shopping. Is anyone else in the same boat? I have managed to make Ginger Snap cookies for my kids teachers, just in time for the school term to end. But other than that, I’ve done nothing.

I’m going to apologize for my lame post, but I’ve just had my wisdom teeth out and am all out of sorts. Yeah–whodathunk removing a few teeth would knock you on your butt for a few days? Goodness, I feel useless. And this is the worst time of year to feel useless!

How is everyone else’s holiday stuff coming along? Tell me I’m not the only person who hasn’t bought a single present so far.

Got any quick recipes for xmas goodies? I love me some sweets and am going to load up as soon as the big hole in my mouth is all healed up!

Yeah, it’s totally early to plug my next release . . . BUT I got this review that was totally awesome (Night Owl Reviews, TOP PICK-goes live Jan 18) and because I can’t share it, I thought I’d give you SOMETHING.

Just for fun (mostly this is Ely’s awesomeness and helping unfunny/dry-humor me, because she’s awesome at this stuff) here’s a little fun . . .

The Seduction of His Wife:

Here’s a story
of a lovely lady
Who likes to paint
lots of naked ladies *coughs/hacks/coughs* including herself, fair and naughty
She makes lots of money
so it’s hard to care
She has two sisters
that are completely crazy
and dare her do strange things
like climb a tree and roll down hills
You’d think these women were little instead of fully grown!
One sister is a merry widow
who wants nothing more than a brawny bloke
The other is much younger
and eventually runs away for some adventure (cue Beauty & the Beast having babies with Jane Eyre music here)

So,
Here’s a story,
of an arrogant bloke
Who’s as rich as an oak (sorry, Earl didn’t rhyme)
And is a bit of an alpha-hole (but sarcastic as all get-out)
He ran away
when his dad married him to a girl (no really she was like 14 he was only 19)
But now he’s back
with his totally hot sidekick, the Italian Count, Dante (bow chicka bow wow–he’s totally getting it on with the merry widow)
They are running back to English soils
because someone’s trying to kill them
Then he sees his wife in a brothel
All grown up and so hot he gets a boner

She escapes him
And he chases
Because lets face it, he’s like a stag during mating season

And as to the lady
she has this hubby
He’s a complete dumbass
but he can’t help himself
Here ensues lots of steaminess
but said wife proves not so easy to seduce
Now the Earl is forced to think with his other head
but enter the whacked/psycho villain
who shakes things up for happy bliss in this pairing

Of course this is a romance and it ends with happiness
But to read the story unfolding and to see the true end
you’ll have to pick this up in February (1st) man.

Are you excited about this Marriage in Trouble book? Got questions? Curious? You got any fun songs for your favorite romance books?