Interview with Jay Walking author, Tracy Krimmer

Chelsea Wyatt, a single mom trying to build a life for her and her son, is sick of the body she sees in the mirror. A daily diet of Cookie Crisp cereal is not doing wonders for her mood or her figure, and it’s time for a change. Setting out to get fit, she commits herself to a daily walking plan, forcing herself to give up her all-sugar and carb diet, a difficult task at her donut obsessed job.
But her plan goes sideways when a stumble on the ice puts her in the arms of Jay, an attractive young man out on a run. They grab coffee together, and Chelsea finds herself thinking about him long after their short meeting. The thought of dating again hadn’t crossed her mind in years, and she doesn’t even know if Jay is available, or if he would be interested in her despite her unfit body.
Just when she has a handle on her new routine, her past catches up with her, throwing her blossoming relationship with Jay and the rest of her life into chaos. Can Chelsea hold onto the people she loves most, or will a wrong turn set her up for failure?
This is book 2 of the Pastime Pursuits series, and can be read as a stand-alone novel.

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Hi Tracy! When did you first start writing? And when were you first published?
I first started writing in grade school. We kept a notebook that we wrote tiny stories and drew pictures in. Technically I was first published in the school newspaper and again in a vanity press in 1992. I was so excited because I didn’t know that with a vanity press they publish you as long as you pay! Still, it was an exciting experience for me as a kid.

What is it about 'chick lit' / 'romance' that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres? 

I enjoy it’s light hearted and a quick read. I can read it with distractions around and still keep straight what’s happening! The female leads are typically strong and easily relatable. I read a lot of other genres, including science fiction.

Can you tell us a little about your latest release? 

Jay Walking is about a single mom who wants to lose her baby weight and meets a man in the process. The book deals with self-image and fighting for what you believe to be what you think is best. Sometimes you need to sit back and reevaluate a situation to realize it’s not right for you.

What inspired you to write it? 

My Pastime Pursuits series is about being active. The first book in the series, Caching In, focuses on geocaching which includes a lot of hiking! This book starts with walking and eventually leads to running. I think having an active lifestyle is important and I wanted to showcase that in this book.

If it was made into a film, who would you cast as the main characters? 

I have thought of this and I picture Zachary Levi as Jay and Scarlett Alice Johnson as Chelsea.

What is your favourite book that made it to the big screen? 

Gone Girl. Loved the book and the movie.

What was the last book you read and would you recommend it? 

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner. It’s a young adult sci-fi / fantasy book. The writing is beautiful and it kept me on my toes. I am reading the sequel, This Shattered World, right now.

Where do you currently write? 

And where would be your dream writing location? I write mostly at my kitchen counter! I put my laptop out in the morning and write in small 500 – 1000 word spurts, usually. My dream writing location would be on a balcony overlooking either a lake or a breathtaking skyline and a perfect 75 degrees.

Tell us a random fact about yourself. 

I don’t watch football, which is uncalled for where I live.

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live. 

How about this – we don’t even have a Target!

What inspires you as an author? 

Everything inspires me. I may see someone on a bike or a piece of paper or smell something and it sparks an idea.

What are your (writing) plans for the future? 

I’m writing a third book in the Pastime Pursuits series right now. That will probably come out next. I have a few other stories in the works.

What do you listen to whilst writing? 

It depends on what I’m writing. I like a playlist according to what fits the mood of the book.

Name one of your all time favourite songs. 

This is so hard! There are a few songs I loved as a kid that I’ll always love, like “Back Where You Belong” by 38 Special and “Leader of the Pack” by Shangri-Las. Modern day, I love Maroon 5 & Pink.

Tracy's love of writing began at nine years old. She wrote stories about aliens at school, machines that did homework for you, and penguins. Now she pens books and short stories about romance. She loves to read a great book, whether it be romance or science fiction, or any genre in between, or pop popcorn and catch up on her favorite TV shows or movies. She's been known to crush a candy or two as well. Her first romance novel, Pieces of it All, released in May 2014 followed in December with Caching In, a romance mixed with the hobby of geocaching. She also has written several short stories. You can find her on the following social media sites: 

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I have a new lifestyle blog!

I'm so excited about my new lifestyle blog, which I launched recently. Although I'll still be talking about my books, I'll also be talking about yoga, writing, health, life in Portugal and general lifestyle issues that affect women of all ages. Although I've had the domain name for some time, and have used it in varying degrees on blogger and weekly, it's now a fully self-hosted site over on Wordpress so I'm serious about taking it to the next step!
What is difficult, however, is gaining followers so if you'd like to pop on over and check it out, please do follow me - either via Bloglovin or by following posts, both of which can be done on the right-hand side of the front page.
I look forward to welcoming new readers! Oh and please share with your friends. Thanks guys and gals :D

Red Nails and a Toolbox can be a Girl's Best Friend by D. C. Legendre

I'm delighted to have the amazing Diane Caron (aka D. C. Legendre) with me today. Diane has written a fabulous guest post...

Every girl should have a toolbox. You know, one of those plastic fishing tackle boxes with all the neat little squares and rectangles where you can fit spare pins, nails, screwdrivers, a tube of mascara, nail files, and even a bottle of nail polish (and let's make it a bright red)! Underneath the top, you can fit a hammer, bungee cord, blow dryer (if you're lucky), a hair straightener and, most importantly, a pry bar.
The main character, Hunter, in "Red Nails" finds out how valuable tools are as she learns to live alone in her home in its unfinished state.
I thought I'd take you behind the scenes as she journeys through her story, when she is away from her computer not playing "Halley". At every turn, there is something to be fixed, or ripped off the wall. When she needs a tool, Hunter goes scavenging through the tornado of a mess all over the garage floor and yells "Yay!" whenever she finds something that will work. When she keeps dropping her earrings down the bathroom sink, a vice grip wrench saves her life. There is nothing like getting that twisty thing unscrewed under the sink to let the contents of the pipe pour into a bucket and sift through whatever is there to find a tiny diamond stud. Before he left, her husband could find an earring anywhere, whether it was in a mound of maple leaves or in a pile of sand near a building site, besides dealing with the drain pipe fiascos. It's not easy for her but she gets on with it with wild abandon.
Not only does she deal with the use of every tool imaginable (including a five pound hammer to pull up and close the garage door that has been disconnected from its electrical opening device), but she confronts a piece of machinery that stops her in her tracks. The lawn tractor. That mysterious machine that makes your lawn look better than if goats chewed it down. (But, the goats would definitely be much cuter.) Hunter must find a key and a rubber drive belt which are conveniently missing so that she can restore the yard to its previous lush state, if that is even possible.
After finding a key and having a new belt installed under the mower, a five minute lesson and she is let loose to attack the raggedy wreck of acres of grass left behind. The farmer and the bushwacking man had already done their part in helping get rid of the hayfield that used to be green grass. On her first pass down the lawn as she is doing her best to sit as far back on the seat to keep the mower mowing, she hits the side of a tiny birch sapling. If not for her hands gripping the wheel so tightly her knuckles turn a deathly white, Hunter would have been sent flying and the tractor would have headed straight down the lawn and into the evergreens. At this point, she decides to tape the button under the seat down and see what happens. The mower won't stop and the tractor halts with gray smoke billowing from the engine. As she sits in the middle of the lawn, it's starting to rain and in a drenching downpour she removes the tape and the tractor starts. Off to the garage she goes to hide and allow her heart to stop hammering in her head.
As Hunter sorts, organizes and tries to decide what to do, it's time to deal with the bookcase that is a massive two tier monstrosity that was a birthday gift, built for her. Only a few screws show so she takes the trusty electric drill she found and successfully removes them. Unfortunately, the bookshelf won't budge a bit. Up close and personal with a flashlight, Hunter discovers nail after nail driven in randomly all over the back of the top tier. The nails with no heads. Even worse. The only way is to hammer the nails further into the wall through the back of the bookcase with a pointed nail setter and then go for it with the King of Tools - the pry bar. After finally figuring out which direction to put the end of the pry bar, she pushes gently and it begins to creak away from the wall. Once the top tier is off, she is left with over thirty nails, with some so deep in the sheetrock that the only option is to hammer them in more and cover them with joint compound. The hammer won't work on the nails that are sticking out so, once again, the pry bar rescues her from total disaster. The pry bar becomes her hero but after sitting and staring at that massacred wall, she lays back onto the floor and stares at the ceiling. There, she notices the embossed ceiling adornment and her clouded brain wonders how to remove that too.
When Hunter finally leaves her home, into the car goes the plastic box with an array of adopted tools, screws, nails, red nail polish, and, of course - the pry bar. Secretly, she hopes to never have to use it again eventhough she knows the search for the truth led her to realize things about herself that would have lay hidden forever if not for her crazy year alone. As time flies by, Hunter realizes that maybe she should have left with just her suitcase of clothes and a small vase (or in her case - a small, round wooden box), like the character in that movie. Instead of deciding what to take, ripping things down and working so hard to organize everything, Hunter could have just moved away, bought a deserted cottage (or villa) and spent her time restoring it and filling it with everything she could find at T.J. Maxx (or T.K. Maxx?). It might have been more fun? Perhaps, she could have met her true soulmate in that far away place and never looked back. One that would keep her away from machines and tools? There's still a chance. Her story hasn't ended yet.
Just know that if you are ever faced with a "hurricane" in your life, consider getting out the red nail polish, pack your suitcase and stay away from the tools. (Oh, away from the computer too....except to buy an airline ticket!)

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Download your #FREE copy of Forever Fredless today!

Once upon a time, a long time ago a little girl noticed a very special little boy at a kids disco at a caravan park in Skegness. The two bonded over a shared look and that's all it took for her to never forget that little boy. 

That little girl was me and this is what inspired Forever Fredless, my first chick lit novel that continues to receive rave reviews from readers. Today and tomorrow, Forever Fredless will be FREE! So what are you waiting for? Go and grab your copy now!

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'If you want a fun romance read, which is a bit dramatic, this is the book you should read!'

Kate Robinson has spent the past two decades yearning to find her soul mate, the boy she found and then lost during a family holiday.

Shortly after her twenty-eighth birthday, however, she inherits a fortune from an old family friend and becomes something of an overnight celebrity. Can her new-found fame lead her to him after all this time?

˃˃˃ 'A wonderfully fun, light, happy read. Just what chick lit should be!'

'Suzy Turner you have found your calling. More of this please! You have made a die hard fan!!'

Up to I Do by Samantha March

Emerson Sinclair, twenty-seven year old hotel heiress, has said yes. With just over a year to plan her extravagant, over the top nuptials to Logan Worthington, it’s all hands on deck with the wedding plans. A Sinclair marrying into the Worthington family is the talk of their small New Hampshire town, and ideas include filming the wedding for a TV segment. But as the items get checked off the list, plans start to go ... not as planned. From not getting a designer dress to a selfish bridesmaid and unaccountable best man, Emerson is afraid her wedding will be more a joke than anything.
When both her mother and sister seemingly begin to lose interest in her wedding plans in favor of their own personal lives, Emerson fears her big day will turn into the forgotten wedding. With the pressure to pull off a beautiful and elegant event that everyone expects from their respectable families, Emerson starts to forget the reason why she is saying I Do in the first place.

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Samantha March is an author, editor, publisher, blogger, and all-around book lover. She runs the popular book/women’s lifestyle blog ChickLitPlus, which keeps her bookshelf stocked with the latest reads and up-to-date on all things health, fitness, fashion, and beauty related. In 2011, she launched her independent publishing company, Marching Ink, and has four published novels—Destined to Fail, The Green Ticket, A Questionable Friendship, and Up To I Do. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging, you can find her cheering for the Green Bay Packers. Samantha lives in Iowa with her husband and Vizsla puppy.

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Author Interview with Tom Conrad

Hi Tom! When did you first start writing? And when were you first published?
I’ve always had a love for writing; though in earlier years this love manifested itself in writing long-winded emails to girls I had huge crushes on.
Later in life, I found myself miserably failing my English Lit degree, or at least not quite achieving the grade I wanted. I subsequently took a module in ‘Creative Writing’, got a First (a glittering A) and boosted my overall mark up to a 2:1 (kind of like getting a good, solid B).
My first published full-length novel was back in 2012 - called Rich Picking for Ravens (it’s a humorous romance about a chap/ghost called Midnight Merlot attempting to discover who killed him, and why none of his ex-girlfriends attended his humanist funeral).

What is it about 'chick lit' / 'romance' that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres?
I’d say my novels That Semicolon Bitch Had to Die, and Couldn’t Love, are flirting around the edges of “Chick Lit”, or maybe “Chick Lit” meets “Dick Lit”?!
The genre appeals to me because, at heart, I’m a hopeless/hopeful romantic. You could even say, I’m a bit of a naive optimist who’s constantly fighting his inner cynic aka still holding out on the noble but simultaneously insane idea I’ll meet “the one”.
Oh, and I read and write many other genres including crime, humour, contemporary, literary, classics, fantasy and sci-fi.

Can you tell us a little about your latest release?

I’ve most recently re-released That Semicolon Bitch Had to Die.
I didn’t feel happy with the first edition so I re-published the work with 13 new chapters, an alternative ending, and a new cover.
The story is about two writers falling in and out love – here’s the blurb:
Frankie, the ellipsis radical, and Abbey, the semicolon stickler, are love's young dream. In this light and dark romance, we follow the loved-up pair "twirting" around the fanciful fringes of London town - having a right ole time of it. Indeed, Frankie couldn't be happier, finally having met a girl far curvier than even the most desirable of punctuation marks.
Cue the eponymous semicolon; a winky blighter destined to royally mess things up; in fact, the semicolon seems intent to mark its territory; all too soon representing much more than the lovers’ stance on punctuation alone.
That Semicolon Bitch Had to Die is a wild and errant love story featuring a most unlikely of threesomes: one where punctuation threatens to become a character itself ... or, to put it another way, when two writers fall in and out of love, punctuation is bound to spill! ... ?!?! ;)

What inspired you to write it?
Well some reviewers on Amazon seem to think That Semicolon Bitch had to Die is autobiographical, which I take as a tremendous compliment. Part of writing fiction is convincing the reader your story is plausible, and so I take their comments as confirmation they found my fiction believable (the central premise, and much of the plot, is wholly invented and fictional, though).
With that said, elements of the story are definitely based on my own opinions and life experiences, and the actual inspiration for having “semicolons” as one of the stumbling blocks, in Abbey and Frankie’s relationship, came about as a result of a conversation with another writer - the writer suggested I could do with using more semicolons in one of my short stories (annoyingly she was right).
From that starting point, I wondered what it would be like to date another writer (I never have), and what pressures it might put on both your writing and relationship.

If it was made into a film, who would you cast as the main characters?
Simon Pegg from the hit sitcom Spaced – although atm he continues to ignore my tweets.
Emma Stone from Crazy, Stupid, Love. – well, assuming she can do a good English accent.

What is your favourite book that made it to the big screen?
The Great Gatsby. I love the book and love the Francis Ford Coppola/Robert Redford version of the film.

What was the last book you read and would you recommend it?
Julian Barnes, The Sense of an Ending. I’d highly recommend it; it’s a great read.

Where do you currently write? And where would be your dream writing location?
I write when I finish my day job, usually at home in bed or at my desk. But since having a smartphone I’m free to write down notes anywhere.
Actually, I sometimes wonder whether I look like a texting fiend when I’m thumbing away in bars – waiting for a date or some pals.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I eat far too may Jaffa Cakes. I consider myself expert level.

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live.
It has good transport links for getting to the shops and buying Jaffa Cakes.

What inspires you as an author?
Life. The pursuit of happiness... and impressing girls.

Do you have a muse?
Yes! I just haven’t met her yet ;)

Who would play you in the movie about your life?
Meryl Streep. Let’s see how versatile she really is.

What are your (writing) plans for the future?
I’m working on a novel about four guys living in London. It’s essentially Sex and the City from a guy’s perspective. I’m also working on a collection of short love stories, and the second book in my Afterlife Crisis Trilogy.

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list.
To do a North American book tour - and say a big thanks to all the folks over there who support me on Facebook and other social networks. Also to travel the world, especially South America, New Zealand and Fiji.
Of course, as long as I finish writing all the books I plan to write, I’ll be happy.

Tom Conrad
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Guest Post by A Perfect Man author Cecilia Dominic

How far will she go to find her perfect man? How far will he go to be one?
When Karen Hardeman sets foot on the Foothills University campus, it’s her first step toward proving her abusive ex wrong. Just her luck, her first writing assignment in Intro to Romance sends her in search of the perfect hero—a quest she’s never managed to conquer.
Worse, her professor forces her to collaborate with the most overconfident, annoying guy in the class.
Seth Sayers is also at Foothills to find new direction—preferably one that takes him far away from the family drama that’s followed him since his father’s death. He didn’t mean to humiliate Karen by rewriting her manuscript from the hero’s point of view. He blames the painkillers the ER doctor gave him after stitching up a wine-induced cut on his hand.
As their collaboration progresses, Karen begins to trust Seth with her manuscript, then maybe a little piece of her heart. But Seth’s half-brother resurrects Seth’s suspicions about his father’s death. Until he finds the truth, he can’t be the hero in anyone’s life. Even his own.
Warning: Some alcohol consumption. Okay, writer amounts of alcohol consumption. There are also some adult situations, but nothing too explicit. It is a romance-writing class, after all.
A Perfect Man will be released May 12 from Samhain Publishing. If you’d like to read the first part of the first chapter, please check out: http://ceciliadominic.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-perfect-man-first-chapter-and.html
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The inspiration for A Perfect Man

I started writing A Perfect Man in June 2007. I know this is the date because I have a journal I started at the same time titled “M.F.A. in Genre Fiction Process Journal.” I wasn’t in a real Masters of Fine Arts program, but it sounded very tempting. I was two years out of school, still at my first job, married less than three years, and figuring out adulthood. I’d already tried to avoid “adulting” as long as possible by going to graduate school, but they kicked me out once I got my doctorate in clinical psychology.
In 2007, I would have loved to go back to school, but the husband made it quite clear that a Ph.D. was a terminal degree, and he wanted the option to go back, so no more school for me. Plus, as I wrote in my journal, I didn’t want to do a regular fiction M.F.A., but all my searches for “genre fiction MFA” came up with rants about how M.FA. programs focus on “unpublishable” literature. Plus, although I’d written a couple of books at that point, I wasn’t published, and I felt I needed something more structured to help me get my writing up to publishable levels. So that’s when I came up with the idea for a self-study Masters of Fine Arts in genre fiction program with each semester focusing on a different genre but keeping the same group of characters. I would write a book in that genre each semester, just as my characters do, except I was nicer to them and assigned novellas rather than full-length novels.
Oh, and it gave me the excuse to buy and read more books – always a plus. As I wrote in my journal entry under how this was going to happen, “A careful organization and recording of time spent. Clear goals that mean something. Gadgets and books (smiley face).” Of course the gadgets in 2007 were different from what they are now. Touchscreens were just coming into use, and I didn’t even have a smartphone yet. I had also had my first laptop for about a year or so, and I still had a desktop at home. My cats didn’t appreciate the progression of technology from large, warm monitor to laptop screens.
The first question was, what genre should I start with? I was interested in romance and enjoyed reading it, especially chick lit, so that’s where I began. According to my journal, I also planned to do mystery and speculative. I guess I wasn’t that into historical at the time, but that was also before I discovered steampunk. I picked up romance genre-focused books like Leigh Michaels’ On Writing Romance as well as some general writing books.
So I had my plan, but where would I place this program for my characters? I went to the University of Georgia for my Masters and Ph.D. degrees and loved living in Athens, so I based Foothills University on UGA and set it in the North Georgia mountains. I put a few “Easter eggs” in the book that those familiar with UGA’s campus will recognize.
The next question was who would teach the course? Apparently I was more than a little frustrated with my failure to get published because the character of Doctor Sue Ellen Forrester-Schmidt, or Dr. F-This as my characters come to call her, is like the personification of a form rejection letter – cold, uncaring, and impersonal. I made sure to tell my Samhain editor, who is the opposite of Sue Ellen, that I wrote Dr. F-This long before I met her.
Finally, my hero and heroine were several years in the making, and both went through a lot of revisions before I finally finished the book. Originally the book was just from Karen’s point of view. She was a lot like me when I started graduate school, and she developed her own personality in progressive drafts as I got a better idea of her internal conflict. Seth’s perspective came later when I realized he needed to have his say, too. He was fascinating to write as he struggled to adopt more of the alpha traits he was learning about while maintaining his sensitivity and trying to be a good example for his younger brother.
As happens with many students, I was engaged in this particular course of study much longer than I originally planned, definitely more than a semester. By the time I finished A Perfect Man, I probably could have gotten than M.F.A. degree. Writing the book ended up being even more of a learning experience that I anticipated, especially with regard to character development, so I’m glad I took my time with it. Perhaps someday I’ll find an M.F.A. program similar to the fictional one at Foothills University, but meanwhile I’ll continue writing and learning on my own and with the help of great professional writing organizations like the Georgia Romance Writers.
Seth and Karen meet to write together in coffee shops around Foothills. What’s your idea of a perfect date? Comment below for the chance to win a $5 Starbucks gift card. Please include your email address with your comment so Cecilia knows how to get in touch with you if you win.

Cecilia Dominic became a clinical psychologist because she's fascinated by people and their stories, but she couldn't stop writing fiction. By day, she helps people cure their insomnia without using medication. By night, she blogs about wine and writes fiction that keeps her readers turning pages past bedtime. Yes, she recognizes the conflict of interest between her two careers, so she writes and blogs under a pen name. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia with one husband and two cats, which, she's been told, is a good number of each. She has been published in short story and novel-length fiction and currently writes urban fantasy, new adult contemporary, and steampunk for Samhain Publishing.

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Hollywood's Golden Age: a guest post by Carla Caruso

I'm delighted to have the fabulous Carla Caruso here today. Carla is the author of rom-com mystery Pretty Famous (Harper Impulse) - isn't that cover divine?!

Anyway, I'm handing over the blog to her...

I’m a sucker for anything to do with Hollywood’s Golden Age.
Well, the last part of the period really, which extended from the end of the silent era in American cinema in the late 1920s to the early ‘60s when movies were being prolifically released by the studios.
I’ve got an Audrey Hepburn DVD box set comprising films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Roman Holiday, have binged on Alfred Hitchcock thrillers, read about Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton’s tumultuous relationship in the biography, Furious Love, and visited Grace Kelly haunts in Monaco.
So it’s no real surprise I’d one day weave this passion into a novel of my own! Which turned out to be the third in my ‘Astonvale’ rom-com mystery series, Pretty Famous. The series revolves around neat-freak professional organiser Celeste Pretty and her builder beau, Lenny Muscat, plus a different character from the well-heeled suburb of Astonvale each time and their ‘crush’.
This time Celeste’s nemesis, uber-blonde interior designer Imogen Karmel, got her time in the sun. Imogen just happens to be Grace Kelly-obsessed and her lifelong ambition is to marry a prince. (Her model mum dated one.) Then a mysterious guy, Hudson Addison, lands on Imogen’s doorstep and all signs point to him being a royal in hiding. There’s no way she’s letting Hunter out of her sight! But is he really who she thinks he is?
Interlaced with this is Celeste’s organising work at the home of a late 1950s screen star’s grandniece. Here, Celeste finds herself blowing away the cobwebs on a sixty-year-old Hollywood secret. Ooh, er!
Writing the book gave me plenty of excuses to read up on classic Hollywood stars for inspiration (Cindy De La Hoz has some fantastic books on everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Lucille Ball), plus watch films like Nicole Kidman’s Grace of Monaco. I have to admit the research wasn’t very hard work at all, nor was the writing. In fact, I had a ball. I hope readers will, too.
Get your copy of Pretty Famous from Harper Collins.

Carla Caruso was born in Adelaide, Australia, and only ‘escaped’ for three years to work as a magazine journalist and stylist in Sydney. Previously, she was a gossip columnist and fashion editor at Adelaide’s daily newspaper, The Advertiser. She has since freelanced for titles including Woman’s Day and Shop Til You Drop. These days, she plays mum to twin lads Alessio and Sebastian with hubby James. Visit www.carlacaruso.com.au or her blog, www.theunitalianwife.com.

Interview with Chick Lit Author Jillianne Hamilton

Do dreams ever inspire your writing? What did you last dream about?
It may be for the best that my dreams don’t inspire my writing. Otherwise, my work would be a lot more surreal. Lots of me being chased by dinosaurs. Last night I dreamt that, because of me having Crohn’s Disease, I had to have my legs amputated. They promised me cool bionic prosthetic legs but they just handed me a pair of crutches and sent me on my way.

When did you first start writing? And when were you first published?
Like most writers, I’ve been writing my whole life. My mom says I’ve been writing since before I knew how to write. It depends how you define “published.” I had a monthly music review column called “The Limelight” in my junior high newspaper. I studied Journalism in college, did two newspaper internships so I was published in both of those. My first appearance in a book was in 2013. A local writing group put together an anthology of their work. My submission was an essay about living life as a short(ish) person and heightism. (I’m 4 ft. 9 and a half, for the record.)

What is it about 'chick lit' that appeals to you the most? Do you read other genres?
Chick lit just combines two of my favorite things: humor and stories told from a woman’s point of view. I also read a lot of memoirs (especially if they’re funny), historical non-fiction, a lot of books about writing and publishing and since doing research for my book, a fair bit of true crime. I’m getting into comics these days too.

Can you tell us a little about your latest book?

Sure! Molly Miranda: Thief for Hire is the first in a series of novels about a professional burglar. In this book, we get to know her world and the various people who she works with as part of her job. Things get a little messy when she sleeps with her roommate, a cute waiter named Nate. Right after, she is assigned a job in Scotland with a partner she doesn’t know. Her partner, Rhys, turns out to be a handsome, cheeky Scottish pain in the butt for Molly. This book is a combination of chick lit, action and comedy.

What inspired you to write it?
I was looking for a book that fulfilled three requirements: female protagonist, funny and action/adventure. I couldn’t find anything at the time so I decided to write one myself. I’ve always been fascinated by characters in media who fit the “bad girl” title. I wanted to create a likeable character that did bad things on a regular basis. Molly is a criminal but her crimes don’t physically hurt anyone.

Who designs your covers?
I design my covers. Under most circumstances, I wouldn’t recommend people design their own covers. (There are a lot of bad covers out there.) After I studied Journalism in college, I studied Multimedia and now I’m a graphic designer in my 9-5 life.

If your latest book was made into a film, who would you cast?
Oh maaaan. Matt Bomer could play Rhys, as long as he could do a Scottish accent. Zachary Quinto could play Molly’s roommate (but he’s likely a touch too old). Maybe someone like Blake Lively could play Molly’s best friend (and accountant) Ruby. As for Molly… that’s really hard. Maybe Samaire Armstrong. Ooh, maybe Amber Tamblyn or Carey Mulligan. Chloe Grace Moritz would be fantastic but she’s a bit too young.

What's your favourite 'chick lit' book that made it to the big screen?
I’m a sucker for the Bridget Jones’ Diary movie. I’ve also seen The Devil Wears Prada an embarrassing number of times. Meryl Streep as Miranda Priestly? Perfection.

What were the last two books you read?
Science… for Her! by Megan Amram (hilarious, if you’re into satire) and Dispatches from the Dating Zone by KT Valentine (very funny and sassy).

Name one female author you think deserves to be better known.
Louise Rennison. I’ve re-read the Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging series so many times, even as an adult. Rennison taught me books can be funny.

Where do you write?
Usually at my corner desk on my iMac in my bedroom. I swear, I will have an office one day. ONE DAY!

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I played a gender-swapped Max (Maxine) Bialystock (Nathan Lane’s character) in a two-person version of The Producers in high school. I still know all the lyrics to “Betrayed.” I also share a birthday with Nathan Lane.

Who would play you in the movie about your life?

photo credit: david_shankbone via photopin cc

Amy Poehler. ;P

Tell us an interesting fact about where you live.
I live in Prince Edward Island, the setting of Anne of Green Gables. I was a big fan of Anne as a child and ended up moving to PEI for school. I met a guy and ended up staying here.

What are your (writing) plans for the future?
I intend to write a few sequels for Molly Miranda (and at least one prequel). I have an idea for another chick lit novel kicking around in my brain but it’s gotta stay put for a while.

Tell us one thing that's on your bucket list.
I want to take my mom to Toronto or New York and see The Phantom of the Opera.

Name one of your all time favourite songs.
“Marching Bands of Manhattan” by Death Cab For Cutie, especially the line “I live like a hermit in my own head.”

What do you listen to whilst writing?
A playlist of instrumentals. The soundtracks to “Small Apartments,” “Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” and “The Social Network” are perfect for that.

Who (or what) did you want to be when you were a kid?
A writer. haha I also wanted to be an actress, an artist and a palaeontologist.

Find Jillian on Twitter or her Website.

WIN!
If you'd like to win an ecopy of Jillian's book, Molly Miranda: Thief for Hire, leave a comment below and a winner will be chosen in a week or so!

One Day This Will All Make Sense by Katie Jansson Shahin

One Day This Will All Make Sense
by Katie Jansson Shahin 

In the three years since Emma, Human Resource professional by trade and writer at heart, moved to Los Angeles from Sweden it has been anything but smooth sailing. When she was offered a new job Emma thought she had finally found the security she’d been looking for since moving to the city of her dreams.
The bliss is short-lived as Emma struggles to adjust in her new role and environment. She fails to learn how to play by the unwritten rules and office politics of corporate America, leaving her defenseless against a new boss who soon makes it clear that he wants her gone. After having put her writing before her HR career for so long, Emma knows it was just a fluke when she was hired and is determined not to let it slip away. But she cracks under the pressure and is ultimately fired. Will she be able to dig herself out again? Or has she peaked at 27? More importantly, will she survive in the city that represents everything she has dreamt of becoming?
Amazon US
Amazon UK

Excerpt
Not one day had passed since I had moved to LA two and half years earlier when I wasn’t grateful and aware of what city I was in. Not one morning had passed that I had driven to work, which was usually around six forty-five a.m., when my mind hadn’t gone completely quiet and at ease at the sight of Vine Street, coming off of the 101 South. I knew I was fortunate. Many young people in Sweden dreamed of moving to LA and tried so hard to find ways to stay once they made it here on a student visa. For the most part, people either got married or never found a way to stay. I, on the other hand, had gotten a green card through my dad since he’d become a naturalized citizen before I turned twenty-one. I continued down Vine Street and saw the W Hotel sign up in the sky, and a few blocks farther down I passed the bright red building that housed The Redbury hotel, with the world famous Capitol Records Building on my right side.
As I got on to the 101 North, driving ten miles an hour in Friday traffic, I wondered to myself what it was about LA that had me so wrapped around its finger. The first time I fell in love with California was when I watched The O.C. Shortly thereafter my dad moved here from Wisconsin, and I was able to go visit the place I had only seen on TV. Of course, the entire show was filmed in LA, but I didn’t know that back then. I then discovered the show Entourage, and that’s when real things started to happen inside me. I couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. Was it the beautiful weather and the smell of freshly-cut grass all year round? Was it the wide streets you could barely cross in time before the streetlight turned red for the pedestrians again? Was it the buildings that on the outside looked like nothing more than a chunk of cement, but on the inside were beautifully decorated lounges? Was it the powerful rush I had gotten the first time I went ninety on the empty freeway at three a.m.? Or was it simply the fact that I knew I was in the same city where all the Hollywood movies came from?
While I saw all the beauty that L.A had to offer, I wasn’t oblivious to all the things that other people usually saw as the downside of moving to LA: the constant sound of traffic and honking; the fuel-filled air and the fog; the enormous city where everything was separated by insane distances; the huge freeways; the above-ground electrical lines; the cracks in the pavement left by earthquakes. I saw all those things too. But my love for this city was an unconditional kind of love—I didn’t love LA despite its flaws. I loved it even more for them. We could be flawed together.

Katie’s love for writing is versatile. Before taking the big leap into novel writing she focused mostly on screen writing. In addition to that, she has a blog where she writes book reviews and articles on writing: An Authorista’s Blog.
Katie is originally from Sweden but moved to California four years ago and currently resides in the North Bay area just outside of San Francisco. When she’s not working on her writing, she is an HR and recruiting professional. Although her debut novel is not a biography, as you may have guessed One Day This Will All Make Sense is heavily inspired by her own experience moving from Sweden to Los Angeles and her life there.
Blog
Twitter: @KJanSha

Mega Cyber Monday Promotion

I'm delighted to help spread the word about some awesome women's fiction on sale this Cyber Monday!!

Looking for great deals on some amazing books this Cyber Monday? Look no more! Below are books that are priced at 99 cents or lower - get them quick before the sale ends! From chick lit to women's fiction to romance and more, we have something to keep everyone happy for this holiday! Find a special tweet at the end of each description and help us spread the word about these amazing deals!

Chick Lit

Pie Girls – Lauren Clark
Princess, Southern belle, and spoiled-rotten social climber Searcy Roberts swore on a stack of Bibles she’d never return home to Fairhope, Alabama. After marrying her high school sweetheart and moving to Atlanta, Searcy embraces big-city life—Carrie Bradshaw style. But now, Searcy has a teeny, tiny problem. Her husband’s had a mid-life crisis. He’s quit his job, cancelled her credit cards, and left her for another man. Searcy returns to Fairhope, ready to lick her wounds. But when her mother falls ill, she’s thrust into managing the family business—only to discover the beloved bakery is in danger of closing its doors forever. Enlisting the help of the adorable bike store owner next door, an array of well-heeled customers, and her soon-to-be ex-husband, Searcy hatches the plan of the century to save Pie Girls. Original Price: $3.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook  Twitter: @LaurenClark_Bks Tweet: PIE GIRLS by @LaurenClark_Bks is just #99cents! #chicklit for your ereader! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1omATqP


Dancing Naked in Dixie- Lauren Clark
Travel writer Julia Sullivan lives life in fast-forward. She jet sets to Europe and the Caribbean with barely a moment to blink or sleep. But too many mishaps and missed deadlines have Julia on the verge of being fired. With a stern warning, and unemployment looming, she's offered one last chance to rescue her career. Julia embarks on an unlikely journey to the ‘Heart of Dixie’—Eufaula, Alabama—home to magnificent mansions, sweet tea, and the annual Pilgrimage. Julia arrives, soon charmed by the lovely city and her handsome host, but her stay is marred by a shocking discovery. Can Julia's story save her career, Eufaula, and the annual Pilgrimage? Original Price: $2.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @LaurenClark_Bks Tweet: #CyberMondayReads - get DANCING NAKED IN DIXIE by @LaurenClark_Bks for only #99cents! #chicklit #booksale http://amzn.to/10dXICb


The Dr. Pepper Prophecies – Jennifer Gilby Roberts
25-year-old Mel Parker has a few tiny problems: * Her job is terrible * She's been dumped yet again (and her ex is now her boss) * Her parents think she's a loser compared to her perfect younger sister * All her efforts to improve her life seem doomed to failure * There just isn't enough chocolate in the world to make up for the above. The best thing in her life has always been her best friend Will, who has seen her through every crisis from lost toys to pregnancy scares. But his girlfriend (who's prettier, better-dressed, more successful and secretly evil) is determined to replace Mel as the woman in his life and how is Mel supposed to compete? And what do you do when you've pretty much given up on your own life? You help others, of course! Whether they like it or not. Original Price: $2.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @GilbyRoberts Tweet: #ChickLit Sale! THE DR. PEPPER PROPHECIES by @GilbyRoberts is only #99cents! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/ZLDdvT


French Twist – Glynis Astie
Sydney Bennett had spent her life in pursuit of perfection. She planned, weighed her options and made careful choices based on calculated outcomes. Through all of her efforts, she had come pretty close to perfection, if she didn’t say so herself. She had fled the cold winters in New York for sunny California, found a job that she loved and lived in the same town as her sister, and best friend, Kate. The one area of perfection that had always eluded her was her love life. No matter how hard she tried, she always ended up with a broken heart. After a particularly traumatic breakup, Sydney vowed that she was done with love. Just as Sydney threw herself into her new plan to forget about men, a handsome Frenchman tossed all of her intentions out the window as he swept her off of her feet. Louis Durand had lived a life filled with excitement and adventure. He was impetuous, intelligent and incredibly charming. So naturally, he scared Sydney half to death. From the moment they met, Louis and Sydney’s romance progressed at warp speed. Sydney did her best not to run, but her deep rooted relationship anxiety threatened to provide an easy exit. When Louis mentioned marriage before Sydney even knew his favorite color, she was more than tempted to reach for her running shoes. Will she be able to put her fears aside to follow her heart? The one thing that Sydney will learn is that sometimes perfection comes with a twist... Original Price: $.99 Sale Price: FREE Amazon acebook Twitter: @GlynisAstie Tweet: Who doesn't love FREE #chicklit? Grab your copy of FRENCH TWIST by @GlynisAstie now! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/10dZnaM


French Toast – Glynis Astie
Sydney Bennett is back! And her pursuit of perfection is alive and well. Naïve to the core, Sydney believed that when she finally married the man of her dreams, the hard part was over. Following a civil ceremony as a means to keep Louis from being deported, Sydney continues to plan the fairytale wedding that she had dreamed of since the age of five. Much to her chagrin, she discovers that her mother-in-law is planning what seems to be a rival wedding in France that SHE has been dreaming about for her only child since before he was born. How will poor Sydney be able to ensure two perfect weddings in the midst of Louis’ fruitless job search? Especially when her mother-in-law’s idea of perfection appears to be having Sydney embarrass herself in front of hundreds of French people that she has never met? As if she didn’t have enough on her mind already, Sydney finds herself faced with the trials and tribulations of being a wife. Sydney had always heard that marriage was hard, but she thought that this was just a ruse that married couples portrayed in a bid to make single girls feel less desperate. But as the bills pile up and emotions run high, she realizes that there may just be some truth to this statement. And as she watches Louis’ perfection fade away before her very eyes, she begins to wonder if she made a rash decision in marrying a man that she had known for a mere six months. With all of the obstacles that Sydney and Louis will encounter, will they be raising their glasses in celebration or watching their impulsive marriage crash and burn? One thing is for certain, Sydney and Louis Durand are headed for one hell of a toast… Original Price: $2.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @GlynisAstie Tweet: #CyberMondayReads: Get #chicklit for just #99cents! FRENCH TOAST by @GlynisAstie #booksale http://amzn.to/1yS3vLZ


In Need of Therapy – Tracie Banister
Lending a sympathetic ear and dispensing sage words of advice is all part of the job for psychologist Pilar Alvarez, and she’s everything a good therapist should be: warm, compassionate, supportive. She listens, she cares, and she has all the answers, but how’s the woman everyone turns to in their hour of need supposed to cope when her own life starts to fall apart? While working hard to make a success of her recently-opened practice in trendy South Beach, Pilar must also find time to cater to the demands of her boisterous Cuban family, which includes younger sister Izzy, an unemployed, navel-pierced wild child who can't stay out of trouble, and their mother, a beauty queen turned drama queen who’s equally obsessed with her fading looks and getting Pilar married before it’s “too late.” Although she’d like to oblige her mother and make a permanent love connection, Pilar’s romantic prospects look grim. Her cheating ex, who swears that he’s reformed, is stalking her. A hunky, but strictly off-limits, patient with bad-boy appeal and intimacy issues is making passes. And the sexy shrink in the suite across the hall has a gold band on his left ring finger. When a series of personal and professional disasters lead Pilar into the arms of one of her unsuitable suitors, she's left shaken, confused, and full of self-doubt. With time running out, she must make sense of her feelings and learn to trust herself again so that she can save her business, her family, and most importantly, her heart. Original Price: $1.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @traciebanister Tweet: IN NEED OF THERAPY by @traciebanister is just #99cents for #CyberMondayReads! Get #chicklit for your eReader! http://amzn.to/1DsNPi0


Limoncello Yellow – Traci Andrighetti
Francesca "Franki" Amato is a tough-talking rookie cop in Austin, Texas—until an unfortunate 911 call involving her boyfriend, Vince, and a German female wrestler convinces her once and for all that she just isn't cut out for a life on the police force. So Franki makes the snap decision to move to New Orleans to work at her friend Veronica's detective agency, Private Chicks, Inc. But Franki's hopes for a more stable life are soon dashed when Private Chicks is hired by the prime suspect in a murder case to find out what really happened to a beautiful young boutique manager who was found strangled to death with a cheap yellow scarf. When she's not investigating, Franki is hoping to seduce handsome bank executive Bradley Hartmann, but most of her time is spent dodging date offers from a string of "good Italian boys"—make that not-so-good aging Italian men—that her meddlesome Sicilian grandma has recruited as marriage candidates. As Mardi Gras approaches and the mystery of the murdered shop girl gets more complicated, Franki must decipher the odd ramblings of a Voodoo priestess to solve both the murder and the mystery of her own love life. Original Price: $3.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @TAndrighetti Tweet: LIMONCELLO YELLOW by @TAndrighetti is just #99cents for a limited time! #CyberMondayReads #chicklit http://amzn.to/1zhY8Xo


Prosecco Pink – Traci Andrighetti
For Franki Amato, life in New Orleans is anything but “The Big Easy.” When she met handsome bank executive Bradley Hartmann, she knew she’d finally found a man she could trust. But she can’t say the same for his sexy new secretary, who is about as trustworthy as Mata Hari and every bit as seductive. Meanwhile, Franki’s best friend and employer, Veronica Maggio, has named her the lead investigator in the murder of a gorgeous cosmetics CEO who was found lying dead in the master bedroom of a historic plantation home. Now the pressure is on Franki to figure out what a bottle of pink lip gloss and the legend of a pink diamond have to do with the bizarre killing. The problem is that the plantation is notorious for being haunted, and Franki is less than enthusiastic about the prospect of meeting a ghost. Adding to her stress, her Sicilian grandma is up to her usual meddling antics—this time planning Franki’s engagement to Bradley before he’s even considered popping the question. As Bradley grows distant and plantation employees begin dropping like Southern belles during a sweltering summer, Franki turns to a psychic with a phobia of ghosts to solve the mysterious murders and her own relationship fears. Original Price: $3.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @TAndrighetti Tweet: Get #chicklit for just #99cents when you grab PROSECCO PINK by @TAndrighetti during #CyberMondayReads! http://amzn.to/14djjw6


Breaking the Rules – Cat Lavoie
When twenty-seven year old Roxy Rule’s best friend and roommate accepts a glamorous new job overseas, she expects their relationship to continue as it’s always been—carefree and easy—until they share a heart-stopping kiss moments before his departure. Overcome with mixed emotions, she fights the urge to over analyze the situation and resumes back to her normal life in New York City, working for an intolerable boss at a dead end job, creeping further and further away from her own dreams of becoming a professional chef. While things become more complicated between her and Ollie, Roxy is sure that nothing can come between two lifelong best friends—not even mild jealousy over a thriving career or a silly little kiss that meant nothing. In fact, it was such a meaningless and forgettable kiss that she convinces herself that it’s not even worth mentioning to her fiancé, although it is all she can think about. Roxy’s already topsy-turvy life only gets more complicated when her sisters Steffi and Izzie suddenly become her roommates. Steffi is six months into a pregnancy she refuses to discuss and Izzie is in the throes of a premature midlife crisis. Roxy tries to take control of her career, her love life and her sisters – but can she really handle it all? And can the Rule family keep it together – or break under the pressure? Original Price: $3.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @Catenabi Tweet: BREAKING THE RULES by @Catenabi is just #99cents for #CyberMondayReads - fun #chicklit! #booksale http://amzn.to/1umGCxm


Zoey & The Moment of Zen – Cat Lavoie
When coffee shop owner Zoey Everwood takes her obsession with ex-boyfriend Braden too far, everyone—except Zoey—is convinced a bit of fun in the sun at the Moment of Zen Wellness Resort will help her get over him once and for all. But Zoey's relaxing vacation turns out to be anything but peaceful when she meets Shane Lawson, a resort guest who bears a striking resemblance to Braden. And things get even more complicated when the resort's owner starts spilling secrets about Zoey’s aunt Nessa, the woman who raised her. Add a snarky Wellness Coordinator and Nate Holmes—Shane's grumpy friend—to the mix, and you've got the recipe for a perfect tropical storm. When Zoey comes back home with a new husband instead of tacky souvenirs, she must convince everyone she hasn't completely lost her mind. As Zoey and Shane struggle to keep the magic alive outside the resort, Zoey discovers that she isn't the only one having trouble letting go of the past. And when Nate drops a bombshell that changes everything, Zoey must decide if the old saying is true—what happens at the Moment of Zen stays at the Moment of Zen. Original Price: $3.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @Catenabi Tweet: Grab ZOEY & THE MOMENT OF ZEN by @Catenabi for only #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! #chicklit http://amzn.to/1EBDcKl


When Girlfriends Chase Dreams – Savannah Page
A novel about chasing dreams, for better or worse, and living your love story. Claire Linley is finally a bride! After nearly ten years with her college freshman sweetheart, Claire is going to become Mrs. Conner Whitley. She’s got her bridal magazines, is the biggest Martha Stewart fan, and subscribes to all the major wedding blogs. She’s been dreaming of this moment for years! How could planning her dream wedding be anything but perfect? The easy-going and bubbly type, Claire will obviously have a blast planning, and with her fantastic group of girlfriends-made-bridesmaids she just can’t go wrong. Whether it’s wedding gown shopping, makeup trials, or cake-tasting, Claire’s friends are there in a pinch. But how big does the pinch get? All Claire wants to do is get married, but at every turn something seems to go awry and she’s starting to lose it. How is a girl supposed to remain cool and collected when the pricey dream wedding planner isn’t turning out to be so dreamy? When DIY projects and the perfect venue are going up in smoke? How is Claire supposed to marry Conner when the special day that’s supposed to join them together, forever, is slowly tearing them apart? This is the charming story about how sometimes the biggest events in life are defined by the smallest acts of kindness and love. It’s a love story about dreaming large, loving deeply, and, in the end, truly having the happiest day of your life, no matter what happens (or doesn’t). About what happens when girlfriends chase dreams. Original Price: $3.99 Sale Price: FREE Amazon Facebook Twitter: @Savannah_Page Tweet: FREE #chicklit from @Savannah_Page when you grab WHEN GIRLFRIENDS CHASE DREAMS! #CyberMondayReads  http://amzn.to/1tAt3dC


When Girlfriends Collection 1-3- Savannah Page
This digital boxed set includes the first three novels of the When Girlfriends collection: When Girlfriends Break Hearts, When Girlfriends Step Up, and When Girlfriends Make Choices.  WHEN GIRLFRIENDS BREAK HEARTS Follow Sophie Wharton as she learns what to do about matters of the heart when things don’t quite go according to plan. A novel about the bonds of friendship, the power of forgiveness, and the lessons you learn when you let go. WHEN GIRLFRIENDS STEP UP Join mom-to-be Robin Sinclair as she embarks on a journey she never could have imagined. A novel about love and support, and learning that with enduring friendships, no woman is ever alone. WHEN GIRLFRIENDS MAKE CHOICES Follow Lara Kearns as she struggles with how far she’ll go for true love…however forbidden… A novel about forbidden love, the choices you make, and discovering what’s important in life. Original Price: $7.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @Savannah_Page Tweet: Get 3 titles from the WHEN GIRLFRIENDS series from @Savannah_Page for only #99cents! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1s92x6C

Women’s Fiction

Toronto Collection 1 – Heather Wardell
"Go Small or Go Home": When massage therapist and aspiring artist Tess begins treating stressed but attractive hockey star Forrest, her art career soars due to his gallery-owning mother, but her creativity plummets under the weight of rules and deadlines. Soon, she's lost the freedom and joy she'd always found in art. Is having her dream career worth losing doing her art her way, or can she somehow have both at once? "Planning to Live": Determined to lose weight for her best friend's wedding, goal-obsessed Rhiannon flees her parents' Christmas Day feast to avoid overeating but her car skids off the deserted road into a tree. Trapped and bleeding, with her cell phone out of reach, she struggles to escape, and to accept that she's spent her whole life planning but hasn't ever really lived. Will she get the chance to change that? "Stir Until Thoroughly Confused": Mary's given up everything, including an unsatisfying marriage, to become a chef. But the career comes with a side dish: Kegan, her sexy but controlling new boss. They're soon in a relationship, and in all-too-frequent arguments, and when it becomes clear they can't work together and be together Mary faces a dilemma: keep her dream job or her dream man? "A Life That Fits": Twenty-eight-year-old Andrea is devastated when her boyfriend of fourteen years leaves her for a woman he calls Andrea's opposite. Determined to get him back, Andrea changes everything in her life. New clothes, new activities, new friends... she'll be her opposite in no time. But will she change enough to get Alex back? And if she does, will he fit into her new life? Original Price: $9.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @heatherwardell Tweet:  Get 4 titles from @HeatherWardell for only #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! http://amzn.to/1r1aY3g


Toronto Collection 2 – Heather Wardell
"Live Out Loud": Songwriter Amy wants to honor her late best friend by starting the support center for teenage girls they'd planned when they were just girls themselves. When her song becomes an internet sensation she sees how to get the money she needs, but soon realizes she adores her new pop star career. She must choose: create the center she needed herself as a teen or truly become Misty Will, pop princess. "Blank Slate Kate": Waking up with a strange man is scary. Realizing you lost fifteen years of your life overnight? That's terrifying. With her memories from seventeen to thirty-two gone, Kate has no idea who she is and where she belongs. As she begins to fall for the man who found her, she wonders if she forgot those years for a reason. Should she keep trying to retrieve her original self, or start a new life? "Finding My Happy Pace": If thirty-year-old Megan were any more of a doormat, she'd have footprints on her back. She takes up running to strengthen her body, but marathon training with cute but heartbroken coach Andrew strengthens her assertiveness too. When her best friend's demands threaten her race Megan must decide: cave in as she always has before or stick to her new-found 'happy pace' in running and life. "All At Sea": Three months after they met, Melissa will marry Owen on his family's annual cruise. He's a great catch, though, so although they're moving fast she's sure they'll be fine. But when he proves to be a gambler and deserts her for the onboard casino, she wonders if she really knows him and if their marriage will meet her needs. Melissa must decide: stay with Owen or jump ship. Original Price: $9.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @heatherwardell Tweet: #CyberMondayReads: Four titles for one low price of #99cents from @HeatherWardell! #booksale http://amzn.to/1t2uVvs


Redesigning Rose – Lydia Laceby
Rose Parker's husband has been lying. About everything. When a conversation with her husband triggers questions, Rose Parker uncovers alarming answers that shatter her perfect life. But it is only when she shoves her belongings in her SUV and drives off that Rose realizes just how far from perfect her life actually was. She has nowhere to turn. While debating between distressing sleeping arrangements–her mother’s house full of questions or a hotel room with too much solitude–Rose bumps into an acquaintance from her gardening class and allows bubbly, exuberant Becky to indulge her in a wild night full of whiskey, weeping, and whispered confidences. Suddenly, Rose has a new friend, a roof over her head, and two gorgeous men moving her out of her marital home. As Rose struggles to settle into her new life, she remains determined to comprehend her past. And with time and distance and especially wine, comes knowledge. Frank wasn’t the only one lying to her. Rose was lying to herself. Original Price: $2.99 Sale Price: $0.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @lydialaceby Tweet: REDESIGNING ROSE by @lydialaceby is only #99cents for #CyberMondayReads! #womensfiction http://amzn.to/ZLDwXi


The Holdout- Laurel Osterkamp
Robin wanted to win The Holdout, a cutthroat reality TV show, so she gave it her all, challenge after challenge. Then she fell for Grant, with his irresistible eyes and heartbreaking life story. But Grant was only using Robin as they competed for a million dollars. Once home, Robin wants to hide from the humiliation as episodes of The Holdout are aired, and she worries her family was right all along; she’s not a survivor. Yet she could surprise everyone, and have the last laugh. Besides, Robin now has jury duty. And as she forges ahead, confronting her demons about bravery, justice, and romance, Robin will come to decide which is more important: the courage to stand alone, or the strength to love again. Original Price: $2.99 Sale Price: $.99 AmazonFacebook Twitter: @laurelosterkamp Tweet: Get your copy of THE HOLDOUT by @LaurelOsterkamp for only #99cents! #CyberMondayReads #womensfiction http://amzn.to/1sGHNWl


The Next Breath – Laurel Osterkamp
"I kiss him, choosing love over honesty, which is a choice nobody should ever have to make…" Robin loves sweet, responsible Nick, with his penchant for Beethoven and Ben Folds Five. But she also still loves her college boyfriend Jed, an irreverent playwright plagued with cystic fibrosis. Now Robin is struggling to reveal her secrets and confront her past, as she finally performs in the play that Jed wrote for her, eleven years ago. Will Robin have the strength to keep her promise and stay true to her heart? Alternating between present-day scenes, college flashbacks, and segments from Jed’s play, this tear-jerking yet uplifting tale illustrates how life is finite but love is infinite, and the road to recovery begins with the next breath. Original Price: $3.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @laurelosterkamp Tweet: #CyberMondayReads: THE NEXT BREATH by @LaurelOsterkamp is only #99cents! #booksale http://amzn.to/1FrbFfP


Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda – Tara Lee Reed
Elle Masters is over dating. It used to be fun: the drama, the angst, the exhilarating beginnings, the bittersweet middles, the blowout endings. Then the tears, hangovers, rebounds, and another addition to the Heartbreak Box in her closet. Now Elle can't remember the last time a guy made his way into her box. When her friends Rachel and Valerie insist she snap out of her post-breakup funk with a girls' night out/rebound hunt at a San Francisco bar, she isn't expecting tall, dark, and hummuna-hummuna, Nick Wright. This is no rebound guy. He's definitely, maybe, The One. In Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda, you play Elle as she and her pals put the "antics" in "romantics." You'll question everything you thought you knew about love, over-analyzing and second-guessing your way through hundreds of modern dating dilemmas and passionate predicaments. With 60 Happily Sometimes Afters, you'll always have another chance with Mr. Wright. Original Price: $3.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Link: Amazon Facebook Page: Facebook Twitter: @DoorFlowerCO Tweet: Interactive fiction for only #99cents! Get COULDA, WOULDA, SHOULDA by @DoorflowerCo! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1vCDaie


A Questionable Friendship – Samantha March
Brynne Ropert and Portland Dolish have been best friends since being paired as roommates in college. Seven years later they are now twenty-five, married, and living in Maine–– but the two women couldn’t be more different. Brynne finds fulfillment in her life as a wife, mother and owner of a small café and bookshop, but is struggling to expand her family. Portland is still coping with her mother’s death during her childhood, and her marriage is unraveling before her eyes. Portland envies her friend’s seemingly stable and easy life while Brynne doesn’t understand the growing distance between them and cannot begin to guess what secret Portland is hiding about her husband and crumbling marriage. While one woman feels shut out, the other enters into a web of lies to protect herself. A Questionable Friendship explores what really makes someone a true friend, a support system, a sister. How much trust goes into a friendship and when is being a friend not enough? Brynne and Portland’s story will attempt to answer those questions, and show that happily ever after isn’t in the cards for everyone. Original Price: $2.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Link: Amazon Facebook Twitter: @SamanthaMarch23 Tweet: A QUESTIONABLE FRIENDSHIP by @SamanthaMarch23 - only #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! #booksale http://amzn.to/10W3WGk


Something Yellow – Laura Templeton 
Thirteen years ago, Holly’s nine-year-old sister, Rachel, disappeared without a trace. Thirteen years ago, Holly left her hometown. Thirteen years ago, Holly’s first love and high school boyfriend, Houston, was the only suspect. Now, another girl has disappeared. Holly is back, and so is Houston—never charged and still proclaiming his innocence. Can she trust him? Should she trust him? When out-of-work banking executive Holly McCann moves to the rural mountain town of White Cove, Virginia to care for her dying mother, the past collides with the present. A violent crime against her nine-year-old neighbor evokes memories of the eerily similar disappearance of her sister thirteen years earlier. Holly is thrilled by the arrival of her estranged brother, Oliver, but concerned by his mysterious behavior. She is befriended by the new minister, Jonah, an outsider haunted by his own painful past, but it is Houston Phelps, the only person arrested for the disappearance of her sister, who forces Holly to confront the past and start living in the present. Original Price: $3.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Link: Amazon Facebook Page: Facebook Twitter: @Laura1264 Tweet: SOMETHING YELLOW by @Laura1264 is only #99cents for #CyberMondayReads! #womensfiction http://amzn.to/1pYp70V

Romance & New Adult

The Right Design – Isabella Louise Anderson Interior designer Carrie Newman could not have envisioned a more perfect life for herself. She had a great job doing what she loved, wonderful friends, and a close relationship with her sister and brother-in-law. Add in an amazing man who she’d hoped would soon become her husband, and her life was perfect. Until one devastating decision ruins her relationship and changes the course of her life. Determined to make a new start, Carrie leaves Texas and heads to Palm Beach to pick up the pieces of her shattered and broken life. The last thing she expects is to find herself attracted to her first client at her new job--Brad Larson, who has proven himself time and time again to be caddish. But there’s something beneath the surface of Brad’s arrogant exterior that keeps her craving more of him--something almost sweet that Carrie can’t seem to resist. Is Carrie ready to take another chance on romance? And will this new design of her life prove to be the right one? Original Price: $2.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Link: Amazon Facebook Page: Facebook Twitter: @ILA121209 Tweet: #CyberMondayReads: Get THE RIGHT DESIGN by @ILA121209 for only #99cents for your eReader! http://amzn.to/1wjP26U


Laurel Heights – Denise Moncrief
A dark cloud of deceit hovers over her family tree... Left an estate by an aunt she’s never met, Laurel Standridge takes possession of Laurel Heights, hoping it will be the safe haven she needs to recuperate from her ill-fated relationship with Rand Peterson. Secrets long buried rise to the surface when her cousin James is murdered and dumped on the highway just outside the gates of Laurel Heights. Her past trails her to the mountains of Arkansas... Caught in an obligation Chase Peterson feels he cannot ignore, he agrees to help his brother Rand take back the property he believes Laurel stole from him, but Chase remains at Laurel Heights after he discovers Laurel took nothing of Rand’s away with her except nightmares, fading bruises, and a broken rib. Unexplained disturbances shatter her hopes of a normal life... Are the strange bumps, thumps, and bangs reverberating through the night caused by the murderer of Laurel’s cousin James, someone Rand has sent to exact his revenge, or a disturbed soul existing in another dimension, trying to communicate with the living? Drawn together by the intrigue surrounding Laurel Heights, Chase and Laurel become hopelessly entangled in a relationship that goes deeper than mere physical attraction. Can their love survive the haunting of Laurel Heights? Original Price: $2.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @DMoncrief0131 Tweet: LAUREL HEIGHTS by @dmoncrief0131 is on #sale for #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! http://amzn.to/1CLjLMe


Chez Stinky – Susan C Daffron
Kat Stevens is a slightly insecure, mostly bored technical writer who likes her cat a lot more than her boss. She hasn't laid eyes on her great aunt Abigail since she was eight, so she's stumped when she inherits Abigail's house in the small hamlet of Alpine Grove.Kat's uncomplicated life gets decidedly less so when she discovers the inheritance comes with some hairy conditions: four dogs and five cats that her aunt wanted her to love as her own. Of course, the house smells like a barn--with a touch of antique skunk--and, naturally, has serious roof issues. And that's before the three-legged cat gets stuck in the wall and the shower goes kablooey. When Kat meets Joel, an unemployed techie type with no love lost for his sister, Kat looks past his obvious flaws, given his timely and desirable skill set: a talent for fixing things (and his own tools). Despite out-of-control dogs, cat fights, dust dinosaurs, massive spiders and an old grizzled hippie passed out in the yard, Kat discovers the tranquility of the forests of Alpine Grove starting to seep into her soul. And why she can't she stop thinking about Joel? Original Price: $2.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @susandaffron Tweet: Get your discounted copy of CHEZ STINKY by @susandaffron for #99cents! #CyberMondayReads http://amzn.to/1sQOh4P


Hard Hats and Doormats – Laura Chapman
 Lexi Burke has always been a stickler for following rules and procedures. As a human resources manager for a leading Gulf Coast chemical company, it’s her job to make sure everyone else falls in line, too. But after losing out on a big promotion–-because her boss sees her as too much of a yes-woman––Lexi adopts a new policy of following her heart instead of the fine print. And her heart knows what it wants: Jason Beaumont, a workplace crush who is off limits based on her previous protocol. While navigating a new romance and interoffice politics, Lexi must find the confidence to stand on her own or face a lifetime of following someone else’s orders. Who says nice girls have to finish last? Original Price: $2.99 Sale Price: $.99 Amazon Facebook Twitter: @lmchap Tweet: HARD HATS AND DOORMATS by @lmchap is only #99cents during #CyberMondayReads! #newadult http://amzn.to/1GPd5l9