Cover Reveal for 2nd in Series

I am very honored to unveil the second cover in the Meddlesome Matchmakers series. So without further ado, here is the new cover for Climbing Heartbreak Hill, the newest cover in Joselyn Vaughn's sweet romances that have now been officially packaged as a series. Every romance needs a little push to move forward but in these romances, there is a group of senior citizens that believe if a little is needed, a lot is much better and boy, is it funny!

This is a great read about two people at a crossroads and whether to follow their dreams or follow their heart. Who wins....This is one I'm going to read again as I struggle with decisions but luckily mine are only about work. I've got the love one covered. Here is the official synopsis:


Professional runner, Ryan Grant, blows out his knee training for another attempt at the Boston marathon and the dreaded Heartbreak Hill. Ryan retreats home, not looking for anything more than a fast recovery, but he finds solace in the arms of his tax preparer, Tara Mansfield. Tara’s cheerleading career ended abruptly and she faces an upward climb beating the stereotype as dumb blonde in her new calling as an accountant. Framed with defrauding the IRS during the last weeks of the tax season, Tara’s tentative confidence is shaken, but Ryan coaches her in ensnaring the true perpetrator. She cheers him on in discovering his identity as a coach rather than an athlete.With the help of the junkyard king and a mechanical bull, can Tara and Ryan find the courage to climb Heartbreak Hill together?

Check it out for yourself!

http://cleanreads.com/romance/96-climbing-heartbreak-hill.html

Support Boston With Great Romance Read!

My friend and critic partner, Joselyn Vaughn, is a runner. I don’t understand runners but I respect that she fits running in between writing fantastic sweet romance books, managing a household with three preschoolers, and doing volunteer work. I imagine the solitariness of running is the only time she can think up new plot lines. But that is only my guess.

Today her latest is out but it is a bittersweet release. The Boston Marathon bombing hit her hard. With her running, she would have been due to finish about the time the devices exploded and been training for a marathon closer to home. That coupled with her latest romance release is about running. Climbing Heartbreak Hill is about Ryan,  a professional runner at a crossroads because of an injury. He returns home and meets Tara, who he met years earlier. She is trying to finish the last of tax season’s filings when her boss goes into labor early.  Can they coach each other into believing in their future filled with romance? Or will the tax Grinch have them running from an audit?

Because of her compassion for the families affected by the Boston bombing, Joselyn is donating a portion of the proceeds from Climbing Heartbreak Hill to One Fund Boston.  Her books can be read in any order but many characters make appearances from book to book. Her first book, CEOs Don’t Cry, was just an Amazon best seller in Great Britain. I suspect Courting Sparks, her second book, will soon follow.

Tara Mansfield who is the main character in Climbing Heartbreak Hill has a small appearance in CEOs Don’t Cry.  Here is the official book blurb for Tara and Ryan:

Professional runner, Ryan Grant, blows out his knee training for another attempt at the Boston marathon and the dreaded Heartbreak Hill. Ryan retreats home, not looking for anything more than a fast recovery, but he finds solace in the arms of his tax preparer, Tara Mansfield.

Tara’s cheerleading career ended abruptly and she faces an upward climb beating the stereotype as dumb blonde in her new calling as an accountant. Framed with defrauding the IRS during the last weeks of the tax season, Tara’s tentative confidence is shaken, but Ryan coaches her in ensnaring the true perpetrator. She cheers him on in discovering his identity as a coach rather than an athlete.

Check it out here:

Amazon

or

Astraea Press

Contact Links:

Email: joselynvaughn@gmail.com

Website: http://joselynvaughn.com

Blog: http://joselynvaughn.wordpress.com

Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/joselynvaughn

Twitter: @joselynvaughn

Facebook: http://facebook.com/joselynvaughn

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joselyn-Vaughn/225825554094665?fref=ts

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2907038.Joselyn_Vaughn

 

My Critic Group is the BEST!

Today is a beautiful day! I mean that literally in that the temperatures are in the 80s with little humidity and a great breeze. I also mean that figuratively, emotionally and physically. For the last few months I have felt like I have been under a giant thunderhead. I thought it was my looming book deadline but have learned it was a multitude of things and too many to go into in a blog.

However I would like to say to my critic group that I love you guys dearly and thank you for letting me talk on Friday. I know we didn’t get any work done but you don’t know how much it meant to me to be honest and vent. Between that, my first great nights sleep in months and the medication that I think is finally fixing my debilitating headaches, I may not only survive but thrive. I can’t tell you how good that feels. I also feel energy and ambition that I haven’t felt in way too many months.

It also doesn’t hurt that I know where I’m going in the short term and can plan. You know how I like to have the details in order or I go crazy! So the next time we meet, I promise we will get some work done and I will be a regular member  You guys are the best.

Not only that they are each published! Check out their varied works. You won’t be disappointed. How could great friends not write great books? Click on their name to see them on Amazon!

Joselyn Vaughn

Tess Grant

JQ Rose

Summer Reading Plans

This week I'm starting off the start of summer with my wonderful critic buddies doing a blog hop. This is my first blog hop but not my last. Joselyn Vaughn, Tess Grant and JQ Rose know my worst mistakes, my greatest fears and my best writing moments. If you like my books, check out theirs. I love them. The are teh best. I mean both the authors and their books) Add them to your summer reading list.

Summer: It should bring images of hot, lazy days at the beach, long bike rides and kayaking across lakes. It should be a slowing of activities, communing with nature and enjoying ice cream, lots of it…I mean all three. That doesn’t seem to happen in my life. If anything with longer hours of daylight, I try and pack in more.

My dream day would be watching the sun rise and walking along the beach and then a late morning nap with a warm breeze. The afternoon would be spent reading a great book and then getting dressed for dinner with the love of my life. I doubt I’m going to get my dream day but what I am going to make a point of doing this summer is getting in some reading time. It is hard for me to read for pleasure when I’m writing. I analyze the books instead of getting lost in the story. That is the one thing I don’t like about being a writer is that reading books has now become work. Kind of like the reading you had to do in your high school English classes. Took all the fun out of the story when you had to figure out the character’s motivation and what setting added to the plot.

So I am going to give myself permission to read, just jump in and read. On my list for reading is my favorite author, Catherine Coulter’s latest in her FBI series, “Split Second” and “Back Fire.” (I’m a little behind in the series.) A new favorite author is also on my to-be-read pile, Julie Hyzy’s latest in her White House Chef series, “Affairs of Steak.” If I get those three done, I may read some classics that my daughter has to read for school so we can discuss them. I will be happy if I can get my fun three done but I am determined even if I only get in five pages a day.

What about you? What books are on your list for this summer?

Let me know your reading plans and you will be entered for a chance to win one of my books, your choice. Check out these blogs for other great giveaways:

My critic buddies' blogs:
JQ Rose: http://jqroseauthor.blogspot.com/
Tess Grant: http://tessgrant.wordpress.com/
Joselyn Vaughn: http://joselynvaughn.wordpress.com/

Stop By Art Hop

I'm crazy. My son is graduating from high school and the open house is Saturday. Instead of getting ready, I'm trying to sell books at the ‎1st annual Art Hop tonight in downtown Fremont MI (6/3/11) from 4-7 pm. Lots of artists will be showcased including fellow writing buds Joselyn Vaughn and JQ Rose. We will be at the White Agency, at 52 W. Main St., kittycorner from Veterans Park. Come say hello! Buy a book. Hear all about the new one due out in a month! I've just goten the cover. It's really cool!!!!

Mitch Malone Mondays With Joselyn Vaughn

Mitch Malone here. This is my first attempt at interviewing authors although I have interviewed plenty of people as a crime-beat reporter for the Grand River Journal. Today's guest is romance writer Joselyn Vaughn whose latest book, Courting Sparks, was just released.

So, Joselyn, if I may call you that, did you decide to write romance? Wouldn’t a mystery be a better format?

I decided to write romance when I heard you wanted to sink your teeth into a mystery writer. Wouldn’t a doughnut be better? LOL. Actually I decided to write romance because I didn’t want to visit the darker side of life. I wanted to focus on the things that people celebrate and what makes them happy. What could be happier than finding true love? Mysteries have so many dead bodies.

Tell me about what’s going on? There is an arsonist on the loose, right? This sounds like a great story for me to cover.

Really Mitch, you should have been there. In fact, I kinda hoped you’d show up, so Ellen would leave Noah alone. She’s the police detective and has a thing for Noah. She may have transferred her affection to you. Well , depending on what you look like with your shirt off, that is. Anyway, if you were there, you’d have ferreted out who was behind the fires before Daphne’s kitchen burned down. It all started with a woods fire at a local teen hangout. Noah’s a volunteer fireman and spent most of a Saturday trying to put the fire out. They discover some pictures and beer bottles and think they belonged to the arsonist. The pictures are of Daphne.

This Noah guy sounds like a great source. Where can I find him?

He’s the athletic director at the Carterville Public Schools and they could really use some good sports writing in the local newspaper. Could you arrange that? I hear you do workshops. The pathetic football team gets enough coverage. Let’s hear about the cross country and track teams. They’ve made the state finals for three years in a row. When Noah isn’t at school, he’s working at the fire department or hanging out with Daphne.

Now, Daphne sounds like someone that needs a little backbone. Can’t she just say no to these friends who want her to be a bridesmaid? I mean she’s paying for the dress, let her pick out something suitable.

That’s not very nice, Mitch. Daphne could kick your butt and outrun you to boot. She’s had a rough couple years and is just getting back on her feet. It’s like your relationship with Dennis and the Captain. You have to give something to get something sometimes. Dennis has kept your rear-end out of jail on more than one occasion I’m sure, so you help him out by keeping him in the loop on your investigation. Daphne does little things for her friends like wearing an ugly dress or six, knowing that her friends will be there for her when she needs them. Peggy definitely steps up-or steps on the gas-when Daphne needs her.

Well, err, thanks for coming Joselyn. I will certainly keep my distance from Daphne. She sounds like a....lovely person. If you are into romance, check out Courting Sparks at Joselyn's website: http://joselynvaughn.com/

Announcing Mitch Malone Mondays

Mitch Malone here. I’m a crime-beat reporter for the Grand River Journal but W.S. has been whining a lot about not having enough time to write the next of my adventures called A Case of Hometown Blues due out this summer. So, being the gracious guy I am, I’ll be taking over the blogging duties on Mondays interviewing authors about their books. The first one will be next week and feature Joselyn Vaughn and her book Courting Sparks.

W.S. gave me a hard assignment on this one. Ms. Vaughn writes romance. Yuck! However, I’m a consummate professional so it will be a great interview and you will learn all about the book which W.S. assures me is terrific. How she had time to read it when she should be working on my next adventure, I’ll never know. I think she needs some time management or just maybe a single vision focus to her job like mine. I won’t stop at anything to get the story. Speaking of stories, my latest adventure—A Case of Accidental Intersection—just came out in Kindle. Now there is no reason not to read it. Get it in e-book form. For those with the Nook and other readers, it is available in those formats too. Personally, I would prefer you go to your favorite bookstore and pick up a copy. Those bookstores are a dying breed, kind of like crime-beat reporters. So, next Monday. Be here to read about romance from Mitch Malone. (This is going to be one tough assignment. Don’t miss it.)

Oh, yeah. If you have a book and would like to be interviewed by yours truly, just drop W.S. a note at wsgager@yahoo.com. A good mystery author is something I could sink my teeth into. I’m letting W.S. do the scheduling. I’m the star reporter, not the secretary, but if it all the books are romance, W.S. and I will have words.

Day 5 of 12 Days of Christmas Great Reads and Great Authors - Joselyn Vaughn

Today is the day that I arranged for Joselyn Vaughn to guest as part of her book release only two days ago. That was before I had the idea for the 12 Days of Christmas, thanking authors who have been very helpful for me. Ironic in that Joselyn was suppose to be on the first day becuase her impact is felt almost daily. Joselyn and two other wonderful ladies are my critique partners. They help me shape and improve my writing. So first off is Joselyn talking about Mitch Malone, my main character and namesake of the Mitch Malone Mysteries. After that I will talke more about Joselyn and her gifts. Take it away Joselyn...

The day I met Mitch Malone should have been a dark and stormy night. The kind where you can’t see the lines on the road and your headlights don’t penetrate nearly far enough into the inky blackness in front of you.

It should have been because that is where Mitch works best. At night. Where he can see, but not be seen. He can fade into the darkness and catch the story that is going to have people snatching papers off the newsstand in the morning.

I am privileged to have been the first (other than Ms. Gager, of course) to have met Mr. Malone and I will never forget that first read. I read Ms. Gager’s chapter and was disappointed that she’d only managed to pound out eight pages the previous night when the idea came to her. I mean, really. How was I supposed to wait until she wrote more to find out about the femme fatale and the dead body?

That is one of the joys of having great critique partners. You can’t wait to read their pages and find out what happens in the story. You also learn a lot, not just from their suggestions, but from reading their work. You can see different techniques for advancing the story or showing an emotion. Good critique partners can also help you when you are stuck. Ms. Gager has helped me through road blocks and is solely responsible for Noah’s arrest.

We’ve also brainstormed ideas about having the worlds in our books intersect. Could Mitch stay at the Lilac Bower for a case? We didn’t think that would work until Mitch is ready for romance. Because you know Minnie wouldn’t be able to leave the matchmaking alone.

We’ve had a lot of fun with Mitch and I hope that I don’t have to say goodbye to him for a long time.

Now for my turn...

I must have been living under a lucky star when we ran into each other on the streets of Fremont that day more than five years ago? It doesn’t seem possible but here we are. Each with two books out. I would still be wondering why I kept getting rejections if it hadn’t been for you. We have come a long way and I hope that is only the beginning and we keep going in this business that is changing faster than we are getting gray hairs. (Me so many more than you!)


Joselyn writes wonderful romances published by Avalon. Her newest book is Courting Sparks and is a Christmas release (only 2 days ago). You will burn through the pages as the romance of Daphne and Noah seeps through the work of an arsonist intent on dousing the flames building in their hearts. Joselyn’s books revolve around a theme of matchmaking library ladies who work to fix up the town’s single folk. Their antics add a touch of humor to the books. The head matchmaker runs a bed and breakfast called the Lilac Bower. We all need to get away and rekindle our own romance with the help of a place like the Lilac Bower.

Her first book, CEOs Don’t Cry, also featured the manipulations of the Library Ladies intent on making a CPA relegated to a small town want to stay. Let’s just say the numbers on this one refused to add up until Leslie looked at the balance sheet of her life.

Joselyn, I owe you so much and the greatest gift has been our friendship.

For more information check out Joselyn’s page at http://joselynvaughn.com/books-courting.htm or Avalon Books, http://www.avalonbooks.com/catalog/romance/Vaughn_CEOsDontCry.html