Cover Reveal #3 ~ Buckle Bunny ~ LOVE UNDER FIRE #RomanticSuspense Box Set #CowboyRomance

We've already revealed the Box Set
cover, now see each individual one!

A few weeks ago, I revealed the cover for Love Under Fire, a limited edition box set releasing in November, which will contain my latest romance + ghost mystery, The Haunting of Hillwood Farm.  I'm thrilled to be a part of this project, which involves 21 USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon Bestselling Authors each contributing a brand new story filled with passion, thrills, and danger to benefit Pets For Vets, a charity that pairs rescue pets with veterans in need of companion animals.  To find more info on Love Under Fire and how you can get your limited edition copy of 21 books for just 99 cents (!!!!), click here or find the links below after the cover reveal.  Because right here on my blog, as we build up toward release day, visitors get to see each *individual* cover and read the accompanying blurb...so keep checking back, because we have 18 more to reveal, including mine! Up today is Buckle Bunny by Pamela Fagan Hutchins.

The last guy to call Maggie a buckle bunny didn't make his eight seconds.

Every cowboy at the Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo is hot for rising music star Maggie Killian.  But Maggie is laser focused on her songs, her next show, and her future.  She's not going to be any cowboy's buckle bunny.

Down-and-out bull rider Hank Sibley needs big money fast, so he strikes a deal with the devil to lose in Cheyenne for cash.  When Hank reneges to get Maggie to go out with him, the only thing standing between him and deadly payback is a pissed-off, buckle-wearing Maggie.

Gorgeous, right?  This cover feels like it matches the story perfectly, and Maggie seems like one kick-butt heroine.  I haven't read a lot of romances set around the rodeo circuit, so I'm really excited to get my hands on this one.

In case you missed the other Love Under Fire reveals, here is the list so far:

1.  Reign of Fire by Casi McLean
2.  The Asylum by Aaron Paul Lazar

We still have 18 covers in the set left to reveal!  Some of the stories in the box set contain paranormal elements, and some a different kind of danger or enemy...but all contain page-turning, spine-tingling romance and suspense!

Sound good?  Pre-order the whole set for 99 cents today!  Links for Apple, Nook, and Kobo are below, Amazon now available too!

Love Under Fire on Amazon/Kindle

Love Under Fire on iTunes/iBooks

Love Under Fire on Nook/Barnes & Noble

Love Under Fire on Kobo

Love Under Fire additional links

LOVE UNDER FIRE ~ 21 stories to heat up your winter!

Cover Reveal! Dangerous Currents #book #coverreveal #RomanticSuspense

Who doesn't love a cover reveal?  Seeing the artistic creation that will be the "face" of months (in this case, years) of hard work is an unbelievable feeling!  Unless the author isn't happy with the cover, something that has certainly happened to a few of my author friends, and it's devastating.  Thankfully, I've really loved all of mine, and this one is no exception.  My fifth novel, Dangerous Currents, is a second-chance romance with plenty of suspense, although not what most people think of when they think of the genre "Romantic Suspense", which is why I'm going to try to clarify.  It's pretty much the same thing I've been going through with most of my other novels for years--Silver Lake, Gull Harbor, and Haunted Souls often get classified as Paranormal Romance, for lack of a better term, but they don't fit the traditional description, since these three books are a mix of romance and a ghost mystery rather than a main character being a supernatural being.  But, I digress...here we go, what do you think?  Blurb and Pre-order links are below the cover, done by the talented author and graphic designer K.R. Conway.

No ghosts in this one, but plenty of dark secrets, danger,
and of course, steamy romance!
Grab your copy on Pre-order!

When a costly mistake ends Malorie Montgomery’s career, she returns to Cape Cod in search of a fresh start.  But her plans for a new—and quiet—life are quickly derailed when she makes a grisly discovery in the woods, and her screams bring the one person from her past she’d hoped to avoid.  Dean Slater, the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart in high school, now lives in the beachfront community that was supposed to be her haven…and he’s just as hot as he was six years ago.

With his rough background, Dean always knew he wasn’t good enough for the kind, intelligent beauty who claimed his heart, but somehow he’d believed their love was strong enough to survive anything—until the tragic night she turned her back on him when he needed her trust the most.  Despite their painful history, Dean can’t resist the instinct to protect her, especially when it becomes apparent there’s a killer in their town.

Their former chemistry soon reignites, but Malorie has long accepted that her dark family secret has destined her to a life alone.  And when she uncovers evidence that makes her the killer’s target, a deadly confrontation threatens to destroy any possibility of a second chance.

Preorder Dangerous Currents to hit your Kindle, Nook, or iPad on May 3rd!  Print paperbacks will be available in May as well.

Dangerous Currents Kindle

Dangerous Currents Nook

Dangerous Currents Kobo

Dangerous Currents iTunes

Galley Copy- the Last Step in Book Production! #amwriting #ghosts #romance #military

YUMMMM

I had a wonderful Easter surprise yesterday, in addition to the Lindt Dark Chocolate and Coconut bar left on my laptop (thank you Easter bunny!)—an email from my editor with the final galley copy of HAUNTED SOULS attached!  The galley copy of a manuscript is the last step in production at my publishing house.  The pre-galley file comes from production back to the editor and author formatted for printing and e-files.  No more writing edits are allowed at this point—only line corrections that may need adjustments due to the formatting process.  Each correction goes back on a master list with the page and line number associated with the change.  Once these small changes have been made, the galley comes back, ready to go, once the author signs off.

I’m a perfectionist, so I had gone through the pre-galley with a fine-toothed comb and retained the list of any issues I found.  With that list, I was able to go through the galley quickly, en route to Easter brunch at my sister-in-law’s house, and double-check each correction to make sure nothing was missed.  Happily, it was perfect, and I was able to sign off with a joyful electronic signature and celebrate this last step at our family get-together.

So, what’s next?  With the galley finished and approved, the manuscript gets into the queue for a release date.  Marketing estimates a June release date with pre-sale up on Amazon by mid-April!  So excited for this ghost mystery/military romance to be available to readers!  In the meantime, please enjoy the blurb below, check out the Pinterest storyboard, and give one of my other novels a try if you like spooky suspense mixed with steamy romance!  Happy reading.

Absolutely LOVE the cover!

Cover Reveal! #Ghosts + #Romance #CoverReveal #amwriting

Yay!  A cover reveal!  I am so excited for this cover.  My publisher allows authors to fill out a “cover sheet” once a work has been contracted, and I spent a lot of time on this one, as I had a clear image in my mind of a perfect cover for HAUNTED SOULS.  We’re even allowed to link photos, so I chose a few from my Pinterest Cover Inspiration board…including the stock photo of the graveyard which became part of the cover!  That photo really resonated with me, since it closely resembles Cobb’s Hill Cemetery, the actual old graveyard on Cape Cod that appears in the book.  I am so grateful to cover artist Debbie Taylor for capturing my dream cover…and here it is! 

Final edits are in, but I’m still anxiously awaiting a release date.  In the meantime, please check out the blurb below.  And if it sounds good, you can try one of my other ghost story/romances in the meantime: GULL HARBOR and SILVER LAKE.

Four years ago, Emily Shea and Staff Sergeant Brett Leeds agreed to part with no strings attached. Sparks flew during their brief affair, but fate intervened, sending Brett overseas. When an unexpected pregnancy derailed Emily’s own plans, her attempts to locate Brett were soon overwhelmed by the challenges of single motherhood. Now, Brett has returned home, and Emily is forced to share her secret.

Despite feeling betrayed, Brett is determined to forge a relationship with their son, Tyler. As the former lovers battle both their inner demons and their mutual desire, another presence enters their lives—Tyler’s imaginary friend.

Soon, however, the chilling evidence points to a different conclusion: a ghost has formed a dangerous connection with their son. Emily’s attempts to help both a lost soul and a friend in need spiral toward a deadly confrontation, and Brett must race to save Emily before he loses her again—forever.

Thanks for sharing my excitement today!

Time for a #1click Vote for DIVINE FALL's cover? #amwriting #romance

Another Cover Love Poll to vote on!  There are 8 covers up for Best Cover over at Lolly Tova's blog.  I'm hoping you'll take one second (literally!) and vote!  No emails, registrations, etc...just pick your favorite and hit "Vote".  If you like several, guess what?  You can vote again tomorrow, and the next day, until the poll closes on November 30th.

Of course, I'm hoping you'll vote for the beautiful cover of DIVINE FALL.  You see, this cover is very dear to me, as I had an integral part in the design.  My first two novels, SILVER LAKE and GULL HARBOR, are with a publisher, and therefore, the cover is designed by their artists and owned by the company.  And I truly do love how the covers came out...spooky and mysterious, just right for haunted romantic suspense.

But I decided to publish my new Young Adult Paranormal Romance independently, for a number of reasons.  One big part was complete control of the cover.  For anyone interested in the details of each step I took in the cover design process, you can see my post about it here.

And please take a moment to vote!  Here's the link: Cover Love Poll.  A big thank you!

DIVINE FALL Release Day! #YA #Angels #Romance

It's here!  There's nothing like a release day.  I began DIVINE FALL in February 2013, when I came up with the idea for my first Young Adult book.  Writing YA is a very different endeavor, but I love a new challenge, and I'm thrilled with how this book turned out.  In particular, the first person POV presents a number of obstacles, which I discuss here.

The cover of this book was another new challenge for me, as I was able to take control of the entire process.  With a combination of research and luck, however, I found the right people to bring my vision to life with art and font even more beautiful than I imagined.  More about designing the gorgeous cover here.

Of course, what's inside needs to be compelling, too--and I'm hoping my readers enjoy this story, which is a bit different than my two previous ghost story/reunion romance novels, SILVER LAKE and GULL HARBOR.  But I needed a change, and this story demanded to be told once the initial idea grew in my mind.

So, without further ado, please enjoy the blurb and the cover of DIVINE FALL below.  My character and setting inspiration board on Pinterest is linked below as well, along with Buy links for all formats.  Thanks for stopping by to celebrate with me!

After tragedy tears Jamie Brandt’s life apart, her only goal is to finish high school so she can leave her small hometown behind.  In the meantime, riding her horse is her main source of solace, until a mysterious stable hand shows up at the barn.  There’s something not quite right about the handsome new employee, and the more Jamie sees of him, the more determined she becomes to figure out what he’s hiding.

Dothan Reed came to historic Huntsville, Maryland, for one reason—revenge.  But his plan can’t move forward until he finds the missing piece he needs to enhance his powers.  As the only surviving Nephilim, Dothan is not only weaker than full-blooded angels; his forbidden lineage makes him an outcast in both worlds.  When he discovers Jamie is the key to locating an ancient weapon, he’s forced to interact with a vulnerable human girl—a task that becomes more appealing with each encounter.

Jamie soon learns Dothan isn’t the only one with a dark secret.  Each new revelation further threatens her safety, and Dothan’s betrayal shatters her heart.  Forgiving him seems impossible, but the thought of turning her back on him is equally painful.

As their connection deepens, Dothan will have to make his own difficult choice: continue on his path of vengeance, or protect the girl he loves.  And when Dothan’s actions thrust Jamie into an unforeseen danger, he must seek the help of his enemy…or risk losing her forever.   

BUY from Amazon - Kindle or Print

BUY from Barnes & Noble

BUY from iTunes

DIVINE FALL Pinterest Board

Designing the Cover of DIVINE FALL #angels #amwriting

I love the covers of all three of my books.  When I received my first contract for SILVER LAKE, I was absolutely overjoyed, and the whole process was brand new to me.  My publisher, The Wild Rose Press, actually allows the author quite a bit of input in terms of cover art.  A detailed questionnaire was provided, and I filled it out with my ideas and suggestions.  We're encouraged to send in pictures or copies of book covers we like as well, and I had a ball searching the Internet for inspiration.  You can find the pictures I sent in on the Pinterest board for SILVER LAKE, and the one for GULL HARBOR.

However, the final decision on the cover belongs to the publisher, as they've bought the rights to the book.  A cover needs to do a lot of things...in this competitive market, visibility is key, and an eye-catching cover can help with that.  I read a lot of YA books, and I think this is especially important within the Young Adult Romance genre.  There are so many absolutely breathtaking covers!  And yes, I know the old adage about not judging a book by its cover, but gorgeous covers get noticed, and a reader can't consider a book unless they've noticed it among the millions of choices.  The cover, or packaging, is one of the 5 "P"s of Marketing.

Which leads me back to my original degree--I have an MBA in Marketing.  So with my third novel, I decided I'd step up and use it, along with what I've learned about the industry in the past 6 years, and take total control of DIVINE FALL.  Yes, that means publishing the title on my own--a scary process.  There's so much to consider and more things to learn.  But it also meant I could design the cover from start to finish, and while it felt a bit overwhelming at first, I am so, so happy with the results.

Where to start?  If you google "book cover artists", the results are mindboggling.  So I headed back to my favorite place for inspiration, Pinterest.  I searched "beautiful book covers" and went from there.  And then I found her--the artist I knew I needed to have: here is a board of book covers created by Phatpuppyart.  Every single one is stunning, in my opinion.  I sent the initial email, and I described what I was envisioning for my new book's cover.  Claudia and I decided to work together, and things moved very quickly from there.

The linked hands

First, I needed to pick out the pair of linked hands from a stock photo site.  That was fun (literally) - I think I viewed every single photo of arms on depositphotos.com.  I was able to compare them in a "lightbox"; I then picked out my two favorites and sent them to the artist so she could choose the one that would work best.  I purchased the rights to use the one Claudia selected.

Claudia's creation...I love the mystical
quality, the vivid colors, and the
juxtaposition of light and darkness

From there, we discussed the background...this book takes place during autumn, and much of the action takes place in the woods.  Plus, there is the paranormal element...a fallen angel, or Nephilim, with a host of dangerous secrets.  Once I described the setting and mood and sent the blurb, Claudia came up with the gorgeous background in record time.  I was absolutely blown away.  It's perfect!





Then one of Claudia's partners, The Font Diva, took over.  Again, I got to look over the portfolio of covers and pick out fonts I liked.  Once I sent in my choices, she designed the font for the title, author name, and added the floating feathers to bring in the Nephilim element.  Again, I was blown away.  So, so beautiful.  Now that the formatting is done, she'll be creating the spine and the back cover, complete with more feathers and beautiful lettering.

The finished product!  The Font Diva added
both the perfect font and the feathers, and I love
the colors and shading she used in the title

I can't say enough about the level of professionalism and the quality of their work.  I'm so happy with the finished product, and I enjoyed the process immensely!  DIVINE FALL has its own Pinterest board, of course, which I sent to Claudia when we began.  Check out the characters, setting, and cover art inspiration - and click here to add to your Goodreads list!  Less than a week until release day--July 25--, and I'll be able to hold the physical book, with the beautiful cover, in my hands!