Author Archives: Peggy Jaeger

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About Peggy Jaeger

I've been many things in my life,but the most consistent is WRITER.

The things I learn just to use them in my books…

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I came across this little meme today and -surprise! – thought it was perfect for a writing post! Yeah, I know, it always amazes me where inspiration comes from too!

Anyway.

If you know me personally you know I lovelovelove to cook. My mother is not exactly what could be termed “a good cook.” Working 2 jobs during most of my childhood made for many dinners that were thrown together at the last minute with no preparation or thought put into them. Dried, baked chicken with no seasonings served with bland boiled carrots became a staple as did peanut butter and Fluff sandwiches. Is it any wonder when I grew to maturity the desire to learn how to actually cook a meal that tasted good was a necessity?

I scrounged garage sales, discount stores, and the sale racks at books stores for any kind of cooking tome from How-To’s, to 50 ways to make chicken books. Currently, I have over 100 well loved, dog-eared and, frequently used cookbooks in my house. A new cookbook as a present will send me into spasms of pleasure that equal…well, I let you fill that in with your own imagination!

In every book or story I write, someone cooks. Well. The MacQuire women are all superb cooks who can whip up five-course meals for a house full of company in less than an hour. The San Valentino women cook old-school recipes using things we’ve been told are bad for us like real butter, cheese and red meat. No one in the family has any kind of weight problem from eating this way. Interesting, don’t you think?

I use my cooking skill in my books, and I’m still learning new recipes and ways to cook and serve food everyday and I will until I can’t hold a ladle any longer. So…have you ever learned something new just to use it in a book? Or do you incorporate any hobbies or things you love to do into your own stories?  Let’s discuss….

And since we’re talking about cooking, here’s a little sumthin’ sumthin’ from my 3/11/16 release of THE VOICES OF ANGELS.

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“T’isn’t the most nutritious meal I’ve ever prepared in this house,” Addie said, “but at least it’ll fill your bellies.”

“Personally, Addie,” Mike said, “I love sandwiches for dinner and cold turkey is my absolute favorite.”

Addie beamed. “Sure now, you’re just saying that to make an old woman feel better.”

Mike made an elaborate gesture of crossing his hand over his heart. Through unblinking eyes that zeroed in on the older woman’s face, he said, in a voice filled with sincerity, “I swear on my life, these are the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten.”

Addie and Carly burst into laughter.

“Well now, there’s a sweet man you are. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” she removed her apron, “I’m off. It’s plum worn out, I am. I’ll see you both in th’morning.”

Carly rose and kissed the woman’s cheek. “Thank you for everything, Addie.”

“Oh, darlin’, t’is more than welcome you are.”

When they were alone, Carly sat back in her chair. “That was sweet of you. Addie may look and sound as tough as nails sometimes, but she’s always pleased with a compliment.”

“I meant what I said. I do love these kinds of easy dinners. I’ve made them enough for myself and Cole over the years to appreciate them.”

Buy Links: The WIld Rose Press /// Amazon

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One down and now gearing up for another…

So I guess this isn’t really something to complain about, but….lol

I just finished my book/release tour of 3 WISHES and now, on March 11, my 4th book in the MacQuire Women THE VOICES OF ANGELS is being released into the book reading world. Two books in two months! Yeah, I’m a little full of myself at the moment (hahahah).

To get you as excited as I am about this, here’s a little sumthin’ sumthin from VOICES. For those of you in the know, this is the story of Carly Lennox and Mike Woodard, Tiffany and Cole’s parents from SKATER’s WALTZ, my debut novel. I went prequel with this one because I loved the story of how Mike and Carly got together and wanted to share it.

And, of course, I’ve enclosed the pre-order buy link, just in case, you know, you want to…buy it!

THE VOICES OF ANGELS

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Love is the last thing Carly Lennox is looking for when she sets out on her new book tour. The independent, widowed author is content with a life spent writing and in raising her daughter. When newscaster Mike Woodard suggests they work on a television magazine profile based on her book, Carly’s thrilled, but guarded. His obvious desire to turn their relationship into something other than just a working one is more than she bargained for.

Mike Woodard is ambitious, and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else. As he tells her, he’s a patient man. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. Carly Lennox is the missing piece in his life. Getting her to accept it-and him-may just be the toughest assignment he’s ever taken on.

Excerpt:

“I…” Carly began, then stopped.

“Oh, hell. I’m not good with words in situations like this.”

His laugh came quick, charmed by her nerves. “Pretty pathetic declaration for a writer.”

Carly stuck out her bottom lip in a very alluring pout. He was tempted to stop and take her mouth with his again.

“Don’t mock me. When it’s on paper I can get it right. Real life has no re-writes, no editing.”

“Granted.” The sunlight played with the alternating auburn and fire-red highlights in her hair as they began to walk again. He was convinced no color had ever been so alive.

Carly squared her shoulders. “I don’t want you to get the wrong impression about me. Concerning men.”

When he didn’t comment, she continued. “It’s only, well…I haven’t been involved with anyone since my husband died. I’ve been busy with my daughter and my writing. I haven’t met anyone I’ve been interested in, I guess.”

“Until now.”

Carly turned to look at him. Irritation crossed in her narrowed eyes. “You’re pretty sure of yourself.”

“No,” he replied. “I’m more sure of you, though.”

“Excuse me?”
Mike laughed again. He stopped and cupped her cheeks. “You’re even more beautiful when you’re angry. Your left eyebrow arches ever so slightly and your eyes turn the most incredible forest green.” He kissed her and felt her pulse trip again under his fingers.

Buy Links: The WIld Rose Press /// Amazon

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Filed under Alpha Hero, Alpha Male, Author, Characters, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, Life challenges, love, MacQuire Women, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women, The Voices of Angels, The Wild Rose Press, WIld Rose Press AUthor

A little post-Valentine’s Candy…

I’ve had several readers write to me asking for Chloe’s candy recipes. Now what kind of a professional chocolatier would she be if she divulged all her secrets and recipes?? She was persuaded to give you all one, though, and I’ve listed it below.

You’re welcome, from Chloe!

Caramel Oreo Cookie

***I’m giving you the easy recipe for this one – you don’t have to be a chocolatier to make it. Just know in my shop I make and temper my own caramel and chocolate pieces. Chloe San Valentino

1 bag of Oreo cookies – the REAL kind, not the generic, cheaper kind.

1 bag of baking chocolate ( Baker’s semi sweet chocolate pieces is the best brand commercially.)

1 package Brach’s caramel pieces

1 bag of white baking chocolate ( again Bakers is the best)

Method:

1. line a huge baking sheet with parchment paper because nothing sticks to that.

2. Melt the white chocolate in a double burner under a very low heat until it is smooth, stirring constantly. The color will be slightly dull. Pour it into a decorating bottle or into a pastry bag and add a #1 or # 2 tip to the bag. You want a small round opening to drizzle the chocolate out.

3. At the same time you are melting the white, melt the baking chocolate in a double burner under a very low heat until the chocolate is completely melted and smoothy. Dip each individual Oreo  into the chocolate letting the excess drip back into the sauce pot. Place on parchment paper and let cool at least 15 minutes.

4. Once cooled, drizzle the oreos with white chocolate forming criss-cross, thin lines around the entire cookie. Place on the parchment paper again let cool at least 15 minutes. ( you may have to heat the white chocolate up a little before deorating – just put the bottle into the bottom of the double boiler to let it stay hot, or don’t put the white chocolate into the bottle or pastry bag until you are ready to drizzle. Either way works.

5. When all the cookies are decorated in white chocolate and the outer chocolate coating, melt the caramels using the double boiler method until they are smooth and shiny, stirring constantly. Once again, you can drizzle the cookies, but I use the prong ends of a fork because the caramel will harden by the time you get it in a pastry bag or decorating bottle. Let cool.

6. Eat..Enjoy..Share.

Love, CSV

New release 3 WISHES (A Candy Hearts Romance)perf5.000x8.000.indd

Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her 30th birthday, she just might get her three wishes.

Get it here: Amazon //  The Wild Rose Press // Nook//  Kobo //

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The benefit of having hobbies…

Some people I know who shall forever and always remain nameless, still consider my writing a hobby.

Yeah…I know. I’m surprised they’re still breathing, too.

Anyway. Writing, as you know, is like oxygen to me. I need to write in order to live, much the way I need oxygen in order to survive. It’s not a hobby, but a necessary facet of my life. A hobby, on the other hand, is nice, but I don’t need to have one to live.

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This got me to thinking, though, that having a hobby is a…good thing, to quote Martha Stewart. Hobbies distract us from the mundane aspects of our work lives; they bring us a little fun in a day that can be fun-less and soul-sucking. Hobbies can clear our minds of the detritus and negative energy our work can bring, and focus us instead on something positive and enriching.

hobbies

Now, my writing gives me all those positive things I just mentioned. But it’s still not a hobby. Nor, is it in reality, work. Not for me. Writing is as necessary to me as water is to the balance of nature and all living things. Writing centers me; keeps my mind sharp, my memory intact. Writing makes me smile and laugh. Of course, when I’m writing something sad it can also make me weep and wail. Well, maybe not wail…but you get the premise. A hobby doesn’t do that. A hobby doesn’t make you sweat and toil, worry and wallow when you aren’t getting the thought you want just right, or the dialogue as tight as you can and still convey the essence of the words. A hobby doesn’t make you bleed emotions and rip your heart into shreds. A hobby doesn’t make you feel immortal or powerful or omnipotent.

So, don’t call my writing a hobby, because it’s not. It’s a…vocation; a calling; a mission. But  it’s not a hobby.

 

New release 3 WISHES (A Candy Hearts Romance)perf5.000x8.000.indd

Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her 30th birthday, she just might get her three wishes.

Get it here: Amazon //  The Wild Rose Press // Nook//  Kobo //

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Starting anew..

I’ve started a new series of books ( see my previous post about storyboarding) and this time I’ve invented an entire town in New Hampshire as the setting.

Scary stuff…but also a little exciting.

I wanted a town with a specific name ( no sharing details for you yet, peeps!!) because the name is integral to the stories and it needed to be made-up because I needed to have total control over the street names, store names, etc. Can I just tell you how HARD this was?!! To not only come up with the town’s name, but the street names to go along with the theme and then the stores, businesses, etc, to further it? My head hurt after an hour of planning. There’s a reason I didn’t go into municipal development, folks.

city

But, after a while, the names started flowing and I felt…okay, I’ll admit it:  omnipotent. Tycoon-ish.  I made a town, I named the streets, shops, roads and government office buildings. It was like playing Monopoly, but for real!

All the other stories I’ve written have taken place in actual settings; cities like New York; states like Connecticut. This time I wanted a New England feel, so, of course, I chose my home state of New Hampshire, the prettiest state in the east, and built the town somewhere between Concord and Peterborough. A large enough geographic divide that I could play around with it, but far enough distance between the two where I wouldn’t be stepping on another town’s toes. Does that make sense?

Anyway, this is kind of cool. I’m looking forward to seeing how it all comes out and together and what the reader response will be.

So, writing peeps… ever make up your own setting? How hard was it? Or, how easy? Let’s discuss…..

 

New release 3 WISHES (A Candy Hearts Romance)perf5.000x8.000.indd

Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her 30th birthday, she just might get her three wishes.

Get it here: Amazon //  The Wild Rose Press // Nook//  Kobo //

Tweet Me// Read Me// Visit Me// Picture Me //Pin Me//Friend Me//Google+Me//

 

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Filed under 3 Wishes, Author, Candy Hearts, Characters, Contemporary Romance, Life challenges, New Hampshire, Romance, Romance Books, The Wild Rose Press, WIld Rose Press AUthor

The art of Storyboarding…

On Saturday, my New Hampshire chapter of RWA was given a treat: our chapter President, Christyne Butler, gave us a masterclass on storyboarding. What is storyboarding? I am so happy you asked.

Typically used in visual media, a storyboard is defined as such: a sequence of drawings, typically with some directions and dialogue, representing the shots planned for a movie or television production. This helps the film people plot the story, frame by frame, sequence by sequence.

But writers use storyboarding as well.

Most books are comprised of chapters, scenes within chapters, and actions within scenes. Instead of framing the novel action by scene by chapter, writers approach the storyboard a different way. Christyne showed us her way, which is how her characters are plotted out. She boards each individual character and things that might pertain to him/her when she starts to write. She has a complete visual reference for the entire book at her fingertips when she begins to write her story. She must be doing something right because she is a multi-published, very popular author!

Now, when I plot a new story it looks something like this:

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I write everything out longhand once I find pictures of my  characters. I fill entire composition books with pictures, descriptions, motivations, and backstory. It takes a while, but so far it has worked for me. With Christyne’s method – a more visual one – it seemed like it was worth a try, so I did it. Here’s where I’m at after 2 days: ( those are my feet in the bottom of the photo – damn crop app didn’t work!

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This is a three book arc. My heroines are on the left side of the board, my heroes on the right. Just from viewing this I can see I know a whole bunch more about my girls than my boys!! SO right away, this has become a valuable tool for me. Since I am character driven, I have pictures of my peeps, their bedrooms ( I always want to imagine where they sleep!), things about their careers – quotes or pictures of occupations, and the colors on their individual blocks are foils for one another. For instance, the top is black and white because those two love interests perceive everything emotionally in shades of black and white – no gray. My goal is to get them to the gray! I love assigning colors to characters because I think of them in shades of colors. It’s hard sometimes to explain how my brain works, but the black and white instance is the easiest way for me to get you to understand how I envision people/characters.

This is all after 2 days. I’m hoping ( wishing?praying?) to have it done this weekend. I’ve already written two chapters, but I feel as if now I’ll know my characters much better when I write the rest.

So, if you’re a writer, do you storyboard? Write out everything in longhand? Fly by the seat of your pants? What? let’s discuss……

New release 3 WISHES (A Candy Hearts Romance)perf5.000x8.000.indd

Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her 30th birthday, she just might get her three wishes.

Get it here: Amazon //  The Wild Rose Press // Nook//  Kobo //

Tweet Me// Read Me// Visit Me// Picture Me //Pin Me//Friend Me// Google+Me//

 

 

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Filed under 3 Wishes, Author, Candy Hearts, Characters, Contemporary Romance, Literary characters, New Hampshire, NHRWA, Romance, Romance Books, RWA, WIld Rose Press AUthor

My Sexy Valentine #128

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Readers, please visit  Author Central where we’ll be sharing even more from our authors besides Saturday’s snippets. We’d love to have each and every one of you there as we’re starting new things this month with fun and prizes along the way.

This week’s theme is My Sexy Valentine and this theme needs no explanation…show us the most romantic, the most frustrating or the most exhilarating sexy Valentine’s Day ever between two lovers…or maybe even between frenemies.

Share your story’s  most fabulous moments with some very sexy, hot characters in a love that’s destined to last forever, please share them with us…share all those sexy moments that you have between your characters even if your story doesn’t exactly fit the theme this week…remember every relationship is important!

Sexy can be anything, such as romantic moments like walks on the beach, a home cooked meal or even in another galaxy. It could be two lovers here on Earth dreaming about the day where they go on a magical vacation to another planet. Or staying right here at one of those wonderful places we can find in our own world.

Readers want to see those characters, the ones who can’t get enough of each other as well as ones who are fighting their way back to being part of the world once again. These are the types of characters they can’t forget, the one they want to take home and keep forever. Readers love the kisses, the looks or touch of each and every one of our characters.

Sexy has nothing to do with looks or status or even wealth. It doesn’t demand perfection and it isn’t pretentious but it does make us want to read those books.

We know that everyone has their own idea of sexy and we all love sexy!

Valentine’s day is tomorrow and my new release 3 WISHES takes place on that wonderful day devoted to love. My heroine, Chloe, isn’t oo sure about the availability status of the guy she’s just met, but she does know she wants to spend Valentine’s day – which also happens to be her 30th birthday – with him, preferably naked and horizontal. Here’s a little sumthinsumthin‘ of their interaction:

His grin spread, and I swear my girlie parts quivered.

Quivered.

When he came toward me, eating up the floor with his long stride, a hot bead of awareness burst from somewhere deep, deep down inside me.

When he was within smelling distance—and have I mentioned how amazing he smelled—he stopped, his gaze lasered on my face.

“Your eyes are stunning,” he said, his voice soft, almost reverential.

“Says the man with the exact same eyes,” I spit out before thinking.

Heat flew up my face, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. I heard his swift inhalation, and I swear my knees went wobbly.

3 WISHES perf5.000x8.000.indd

Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her big 3-0 birthday, she just might get her three wishes.

Available from:  Amazon//   The Wild Rose Press //Nook//

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Filed under 3 Wishes, Author, Candy Hearts, Contemporary Romance, love, My Sexy Saturday, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women, The Wild Rose Press, WIld Rose Press AUthor

A visit with Candy Hearts author C.J. Fosdick

Today, for my final CandyHearts installment, I’m introducing you to author C.J.Fosdick. CJ was nice enough to agree to be interviewed by me and suffer through my long list of questions! Stick around because after the interview she’s got alittle sumthin’ sumthin; for your from her Candy Hearts release, HOT STUFF.

Here’s C.J.

CJ – The Writer 

cj fosdick

  1. What drives you to write? Perspiration, Inspiration and Deadlines! When I’m not hit by holidays and other distractions, I “drive” with my laptop. With an empty nest and horse barn now, I hope to become a writing tornado, mobilized by readers who loved my debut novel and can’t wait for the sequel! Deadlines are also a good fire starter. Working with WR editors between assignments from a local magazine always brings the deadline deal home!
  1. What genre(s) of Romance do your write, and why? Historicals so far. I may have a reincarnated soul; I’ve always been curious about the past and there’s never a shortage of stories to research about any era. All costume dramas—and even living history sites—grab and inspire me. We can learn so much from the resourceful lives and crisis’s our ancestors faced. But stopping at one genre is like eating only potatoes at every meal. I also love writing romantic comedy and suspense. ALL my books will have some history/mystery/romance and a thread of humor in them—multi genres to be sure.
  1. What genre(s) of Romance do you read, and why? Reading historicals is like armchair time travel. International settings, colorful dramas, rich dialects always make me think about our ancestors, how resourceful and tough they were with a lot less than we have, and how their values relate to us today. As a teen, I read a lot of mysteries and suspense and later became a fan of Robin Cook, Anne Rice and Sue Grafton’s books. I also loved romances by the late Kathleen Woodiwiss. Today I’ll read romantic suspense and contemporary romance if it isn’t too dark and serious.
  1. What’s your writing schedule? Do you write every day? In small undisciplined ways, yes. Every email, tweet, newsletter or Facebook post is an exercise in writing. When I’m rolling with my new novel, I am in another writing zone entirely. I can write for 8 hours without moving much more than my fingers. I might even skip eating if the hubster didn’t fix me snacks and protein drinks.
  1. Give us a glimpse of the surroundings where you write. I write on my laptop in a far corner of the living room by large windows with an outside view on two sides. My comfy upholstered wing rocker has been in the family for nearly 50 years. It’s been recovered twice. Once, after I was shocked to learn my children referred to it as “the booger chair.” Let your imagination run!
  1. Are you the kind of writer who needs total quiet to compose, or are you able to filter out the typical sounds of the day and use your tunnelvision? I concentrate better with few distractions, and hate phone interruptions. We live in a super-insulated house surrounded by acres of woods so we don’t even hear wind or rain.
  1. Do you listen to music while you write, and if so, what kind? I love a background of instrumental easy listening, Enya, or light classical with the volume low. There are also some great movie soundtracks that curry memories…and envy. I can especially imagine my sweeping historicals with that kind of visualization, someday. Grin.
  1. How did you come up with the plotline/idea for your current WIP? I fell in love with Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series a few years ago. Her unique time-travel historic theme has to resound with history buffs, and the robust romance of two very strong characters is a multi-genre feast. Her writing is well-researched, intelligent and often lyrical. Time-travel is a great way to compare civilizations and provide instant conflict. I became more of a Gabaldon fan after meeting Diana twice at Historical Writer Conferences, and found her very accessible. She was touched when I put her in my novel’s dedication. She even offered to read for me when I developed laryngitis at the Denver Conference last June.
  1. Which comes first for you – character or plot? And why? Depends on the romance. With a historical or mystery, plot becomes naturally paramount. With a contemporary, a strong character has to carry the story. Strong characters, however, seem to take over my plots and sometimes even wake me up at night with their conversations. (I keep a notepad and pen at my bedside.)
  1. What 3 words describe you, the writer? Curious, Creative, Capricious.

 

CJ – The Person 

 Tell us one unusual thing about yourself – not related to writing! I am passionate about horses and most animals. We had horses for years that my daughters competed with and over 15 summers, I gave riding lessons to 60 kids. We even took in rescue horses, dogs, cats, and trained two wild Mustangs. I’m currently training dozens of wild deer with a bell and cracked corn. Can’t get enough pictures and videos of them at our feeding stations twenty feet from our kitchen window!

  1. Who was your first love and what age were you? The neighborhood paper boy. Both of us were 15.
  2. If you could relive one day, which one would it be? Think GROUNDHOG DAY, the movie for this one – you’ll have to live it over and over and… I usually look forward to the celebration of every new day. It would be fun, however, to take my best day writing and live that over and over—if it didn’t produce the same manuscript.
  3. Do you like a guy in boxers, briefs, or commando? I’ll take a tall, trim, thoughtful guy any day, in any of the three.
  4. If you had to give up one necessary-can’t-live-without-it beauty item, what would it be? I can do without the “dewy” look! Mascara makes my eyes water.
  5. What three words describe you, the person? Fun, Emotional, Creative.
  6. If you could sing a song with Jimmy Fallon, what would it be? “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” (No really, this IS an old song from a classic Fred Astaire movie!)
  7. If you could hang out with any literary character from any book penned at any time line, who would it be, why, and what would you do together? Scarlett O’Hara and we would sow field oats instead of cotton and redecorate Tara after the Civil War—after convincing Rhett Butler to pay for it all.

 

Bonus roundI love the Actor’s Studio show on Bravo, so this is my version of it:

  1. Favorite sound? Babies laughing or birds chirping. Same thing?
  2. Least favorite sound? Whiny, jabboring people—of all ages.
  3. Best song every written — A tie: John Lennon’s “Imagine” or Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”
  4. Worst song ever written — Was “Ninety-nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall” even written down?
  5. Favorite actor and actress—Right now it is Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe from the Starz Outlander series. But Aiden Turner gives Sam competition in the wonderful PBS series, Poldark.
  6. Who would you want to be for 1 day and why? ( It can be anyone living or dead) I’d love to be Diana G. to get tips on how an international best-selling author (26 million books) balances fame, family and…gets anywhere on time.
  7. What turns you on? Besides a great review, a movie or book with a great love scene.
  8. What turns you off? Negative, unkind, sarcastic people.
  9. Give me the worst 5 words ever heard on a first date—Want to meet my mother?
  10. What’s your version of a perfect day? Riding bareback on my late white Arabian on a sandy beach with turquoise water, followed by a spa massage package and a seafood dinner at a seaside café with either Aidan or Sam! All with the blessing of my dear hubby. Oh wait, that was my laughing-gas-fantasy when I got a root canal!

Anything Else?: I knew when Rhonda announced the premise for the Candy Heart line, I HAD to have the slogan, “Hot Stuff” to play with the double meaning. This was where character and plot coincide. The rookie cop who comes to investigate a simple theft (hot stuff), turns out to be pretty hot himself, in the eyes of a klutzy, single slogan writer with a brother who has Asperger’s and a penchant for “collecting” neighborhood lawn statuary. I have a couple friends with autistic sons who handle the syndrome with amazing grace and a balance of humor. Inspiration for my heroine and her cookie-bribing grandmother.

HOT STUFF

Blurb:

hot stuff

Hot Stuff takes on double meaning when klutzy Kate is faced with rookie cop Dallas looking for a stolen lawn statue. In her quiet, crime-free Wisconsin village, Kate has her hands full writing slogans for candy hearts and keeping her kleptomaniac brother with Asperger’s Syndrome inside the law. Even her grandmother’s famous snickerdoodle cookies can’t ameliorate the crime when a stolen lawn statue turns out to be a drug dispenser. Will Kate rise above her concern of what Dallas’s uniform represents and admit the charming Texas rookie is the man of her dreams?

Excerpt

“Over the years, we’ve learned some lawn décor Evan brought home belonged to that category you call a 10-99…er…some might call it this.” He finally smiled when I pulled a handful of candy hearts from my pocket and singled out the one that read Hot Stuff.

“Billington knows about all this?”

“Certainly. Our neighbors are aware of this, too. When something goes missing, they usually show up here first to see if it’s planted in his garden. If they can identify it, we simply have a custody exchange, then mollify my brother with a trip to a local garden shop for some kind of a replacement.” I popped a candy heart into my mouth and offered him one after flicking a strand of cat fur off the KissMe heart.

He screwed up his face, clearing his throat. “Valentine candy in July?”

“I won a six-month supply after writing new imprints for the company. The candy has a long shelf life,” I added.

He declined my offer.

“Bite Me.”

“Ma’am?”

“That was one of my slogans. The candy boss wanted something modern. You Know was another one. Kids today can’t get through a sentence without sprinkling it with ‘you know’.

He studied me with a lopsided grin. “Why didn’t Billington tell me all this?”

“I don’t think he knows I write slogans and ads.”

He pulled on his ear. “I mean about your brother stealing yard ornaments.”

“Oh well, I suspect Evan’s fancy may be an inside joke at the precinct.”

Buy Links:   The WIld Rose Press   Amazon

 

AUTHOR BIO:

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, CJ Fosdick has freelanced for over 30 years, writing stories and articles for local and national publications. She has stories published in three anthologies, including Minnesota’s Blossoms & Blizzards. Her debut novel is The Accidental Wife published in 2015. She pursues her novel dreams on a wooded country hilltop in Rochester, MN, with husband, family, and a menagerie of wild and domestic animals. Follow her on…

Fin CJ Here:  Website //Newsletter // Twitter // Facebook // Goodreads //

 

 

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Media Blitz: the aftermath…

For the past 6 weeks, I, and 39 of my fellow Candy Hearts Romance writers have been involved in nothing less than a well-organized blitzkrieg of marketing. We have blogged, tweeted, toured, read and reviewed; commented, liked, shared, followed, favored, and pretty much done anything and everything we could to promote the series – and our individual contributions to it – on social media.

And I am tired!

Don’t get me wrong – it was worth it. I loved meeting so many  of my Wild Rose Press sistahs, visiting their websites, and giving them shout outs. And I am very appreciative of what they have done  for me along the same lines.

But I am tired!

I’ve done no new writing during this period. Oh, I’ve done my share of blog pieces, character interviews and questionnaires for ther blogs, not to mention formatting the interviews and release day pieces on my own blog. But I’ve done nothing new pertaining to my own fiction and romance writing, No edits, no critiques, no new ideas. No character outlines or plot synopses. I haven’t sent out one query.

And, I am tired. Bone weary tired.

So, now that the novellas have all been released into the Nooks and Kindles of the reading public, I am going to sit back, take a quick rest to recharge, and then start back up on the pieces I was working on before January 1st came. I need to finish the edits on my final MacQuire book so I can submit it to my editor and I need to seriously start working on my O’Dowd family books – all 3 of them for now, maybe more in the future.

And because I am tired, I am going to try and sleep.

So, no discussion for now, just blissful slumber…unless there’s something you want to discuss. Then, I’ll make time…

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3 WISHES ( A Candy Hearts Romance)

Blurb:perf5.000x8.000.indd

Valentine’s Day is chocolatier Chloe San Valentino’s favorite day of the year. Not only is it the busiest day in her candy shop, Caramelle de Chloe, but it’s also her birthday. Chloe’s got a birthday wish list for the perfect man she pulls out every year: he’d fall in love with her in a heartbeat, he’d be someone who cares about people, and he’d have one blue eye and one green eye, just like her. So far, Chloe’s fantasy man hasn’t materialized, despite the matchmaking efforts of her big, close-knit Italian family. But this year for her big 3-0 birthday, she just might get her three wishes.

Excerpt    

At about five minutes of ten I was almost ready to turn the Closed sign on the door when it opened. I heard Janie’s breath hitch and turned from where I was sweeping up. Staying open late is always a risk, with the thought thieves will invade at the end of the day.

If the guy standing at the door glancing around the shop was a thief, then Dio mio, I wanted to be robbed.

About six foot, his hair was the color of a deer’s pelt, with autumnal golds and browns shot together in a glorious patchwork that grazed the collar of his jacket and curled a little at the ends. He wore a faded brown bomber jacket over a shirt I couldn’t see, but he had shoulders almost as wide as my doorway. A pair of well-worn jeans covered his mile long legs, and the fabric on the stress points at his knees was practically white.

“We’re about to close,” I heard myself say. “Can I help you?”

It was at that moment he looked over at me.

His face could have been sculpted by Da Vinci or Michelangelo. A broad, smooth, forehead housed naturally arched eyebrows I knew some of my gay guy friends would have paid a fortune to have on their own faces. His cheeks were carved from marble, high, smooth and deep. And his mouth, mother-of-God, his mouth. Full, thick beautiful lips sat perfectly over a chin with a dent you could shove a button into and have it stay put.

“Sorry,” he said, those fabulous lips pulling up a little shyly at the corners. “I got stuck at work and couldn’t get here until now. I’ll be quick. Promise.”

So here’s the thing: the guy was gorgeous. But even if he’d looked like a frog with raw antipasto smothering his face, I would have dropped to my knees when he opened his mouth. Warm honey, a shot of raw whiskey, and a little hot puff of smoke wafted from his mouth like a fine and rare brandy being decanted.

Buy Links:  Amazon   Wild Rose Press

Some Reviews for 3 WISHES

booksigning2

Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance author who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.

Her current titles, available now, include SKATER’S WALTZ and THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME, and FIRST IMPRESSIONS books 1, 2 and 3 in her 6-book The MacQuire Women Series, published by The Wild Rose Press.

Tying into her love of families, her children’s book, THE KINDNESS TALES, was illustrated by her artist mother-in-law.

Peggy holds a master’s degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer’s Disease during her time running an Alzheimer’s in-patient care unit during the 1990s.

In 2013, she placed first in two categories in the Dixie Kane Memorial Contest: Single Title Contemporary Romance and Short/Long Contemporary Romance.

A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.

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The final Candy Hearts Books are here!

promojpg

Oh. My. Goodness! Today is the last day of new releases for the Candy Hearts Romance Series! I can’t believe we’ve releases all 40  into the reading-sphere. I’m pleased to introduce you to today’s authors: Veronica Lynch, C.J. Fosdick, Beverly Breton and Tamrie Foxtail and their Candy Hearts books FOR KEEPS, HOT STUFF, I’M SURE, and ALL MINE. And don’t forget – you’ve got one final chance at winning a KINDLE FIRE, courtesy of THE WILD ROSE PRESS. Details are at the end of this blog. Here are your final CH books!

FOR KEEPS by Veronica Lynch

Blurb

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Meghan Muldoon is at a crossroads: struggling to balance the demands of a high stress vocation as an advocate for victims of violence and her feelings for Keenan Rossi, a man who wants to make their relationship permanent.

On Valentine’s Day, a series of routine crises force Meg to question staying in a profession which fulfills her both professionally and spiritually–or devoting the rest of her life to the one person who completes her.

Which one is For Keeps?

Excerpt:

He quirked one heavy brow and grinned. “There’s a half bottle of wine left from dinner the other night. Would you like a glass?”

Meg loved the cool sensation of crisp sheets against her skin as much as the feel of him naked and ready between her thighs. “Better not. I’m on first call tonight.”

That response cast an unfortunate pall over the festivities.

“You take call too damn often,” he muttered. “If you’d quit that job and marry me, like I’ve asked at least a million times, we could—”

Here we go again. She resisted the urge to yawn as he recited from the first chapter of the book Whose Job is More Important, a title they’d revisited more than once after taking the next step in their once strictly professional relationship.

Ignoring the thorny topic of holy wedlock, again, Meg focused on one of the lesser conflicts that too often reared its ugly head. “I’ve told you before, Keenan. Call is taken on a rotating basis among the staff. Tonight is my turn.”

He rose up on one elbow to glower at her, using what she termed his bad cop persona. “Let me remind you of your position at that zoo known as Crime Victim Services. You are the boss. And bosses shouldn’t take call on any night of the week.”

Per usual, her significant other of little over a year insisted on having the last word. As much as she wanted an end to the discussion—so that they could get on with the entertainment portion of the evening—she wasn’t about to give in and have him think he’d won.

“You take call. On a fairly regular basis.”

“Not as regularly as you.”

That put her neck up enough to snipe back. “Two nights ago, that wasn’t me sitting alone in a darkened movie theater while Tom Cruise felt his need for speed?”

“Now, Meghan…”

Buy Links: The WIld Rose Press    Amazon

Bio:veronica

Veronica Lynch spent her professional life working with and advocating for women in need. She spends her time in Western New York, enjoying her family and hobbies.About Veronica:

FInd Veronica here: Website 

Read my review of  For Keeps Here

 

HOT STUFF by C.J. Fosdick

Blurb

hot stuff

Hot Stuff takes on double meaning when klutzy Kate is faced with rookie cop Dallas looking for a stolen lawn statue. In her quiet, crime-free Wisconsin village, Kate has her hands full writing slogans for candy hearts and keeping her kleptomaniac brother with Asperger’s Syndrome inside the law. Even her grandmother’s famous Snickerdoodle cookies can’t ameliorate the crime when a stolen lawn statue turns out to be a drug dispenser. Will Kate rise above her concern of what Dallas’s uniform represents and admit the charming Texas rookie is the man of her dreams?

EXCERPT:

“Over the years, we’ve learned some lawn décor Evan brought home belonged to that category you call a 10-99…er…some might call it this.” He finally smiled when I pulled a handful of candy hearts from my pocket and singled out the one that read Hot Stuff.

“Billington knows about all this?”

“Certainly. Our neighbors are aware of this, too. When something goes missing, they usually show up here first to see if it’s planted in his garden. If they can identify it, we simply have a custody exchange, then mollify my brother with a trip to a local garden shop for some kind of a replacement.” I popped a candy heart into my mouth and offered him one after flicking a strand of cat fur off the KissMe heart.

He screwed up his face, clearing his throat. “Valentine candy in July?”

“I won a six-month supply after writing new imprints for the company. The candy has a long shelf life,” I added.

He declined my offer.

   “Bite Me.”

“Ma’am?”

“That was one of my slogans. The candy boss wanted something modern. You Know was another one. Kids today can’t get through a sentence without sprinkling it with ‘you know’.

He studied me with a lopsided grin. “Why didn’t Billington tell me all this?”

“I don’t think he knows I write slogans and ads.”

He pulled on his ear. “I mean about your brother stealing yard ornaments.”

“Oh well, I suspect Evan’s fancy may be an inside joke at the precinct.”

Buy Links:   Amazon   WILD ROSE PRESS

About C.J.cj fosdick

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, CJ Fosdick has freelanced for over 30 years, writing stories and articles for local and national publications. She has stories published in three anthologies, including Minnesota’s Blossoms & Blizzards. Her debut novel, The Accidental Wife published in 2015, evolved from an award-winning short story. She pursues her novel dreams on a wooded country hilltop in Rochester, MN, with husband, family, and a menagerie of wild and domestic animals.

Find C.J. Here: Website

 

I’M SURE by Beverly Breton

Blurb

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During the day, Megan surrounds herself with water lilies and goldfish in the ponds she creates. At night, memories of her lying ex-boyfriend are a reminder she can never again trust a man.

Jason embraces his career as paramedic firefighter, even though ugly experience declares his profession a greedy mistress. During quiet nights at the station, he wonders if this bachelor existence is all he’ll ever know.

Then Jason meets Megan and sparks fly, chased by flashes of anger when Jason, battling a raging apartment fire, stands up Megan on their first date. Is St. Valentine powerful enough to bring these two strong-willed people together?

Excerpt:

Jason reaches over the table and takes my hand in his.

Much as I try scrubbing at the dirt, my nails are almost never 100% clean, and I’ve got a long scratch across my knuckles. And anyhow, in the middle of a work day, that’s part of who I am.

He turns my hand palm up and runs his finger across the calluses.

My heart skitters a beat at the feel of his hands cradling mine. His touch exudes caring. Imagining him tending a person in distress is easy.

Need I say it? I like the feel of him touching me. The world is charmingly in order right here, right now. But what is he doing? “Is something wrong with my hand?”

“Every time I see you, you’re in the water. And you’re the odd duck. I was just seeing”—he turns his head to examine my palm, his carved cheeks in profile—“if there’s a web between your fingers…”

Bemusement laces his tone. “Like a Labrador retriever?” I retort, stifling the urge to flex my fingers; I don’t want him to let my hand go.

He laughs and releases my hand. “My favorite animal. But a dog? No. That’s not what you bring to mind.”

His grin is so open, so easy, I decide to divulge something I’ve never told anyone. “I did wish for scales when I was younger. I thought it would be cool to be a mermaid.”

Buy Links   Amazon   The WIld Rose press

About Beverly:bev betton

ALL MINE by Tamrie Foxtail

Blurb:

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For nearly a decade, Maggie has put the needs of her younger siblings ahead of her own. Now she’s willing to accept a marriage without passion in order to protect her brother, but fate has a wicked sense of humor. On the eve of her wedding, Maggie meets the man of her dreams.

When Shamus loses a bet, the penalty is a blind date. Shamus is prepared to endure a long, boring night; the last thing he expects is to find the woman who can bring his heart back to life.

But Maggie is keeping secrets–and her engagement is only one of them.

Excerpt:

“And we are thirty seconds from the New Year,” the TV announced.

Shamus stood in front of Maggie, drawing her to her feet.

“Twenty seconds!”

His dark blue eyes appeared almost indigo in the soft light of the bar.

“Ten seconds!”

“Nine…eight…”

He cupped her face in his hands.

“Five…four…”

I can’t kiss him. I’m engaged.

As the old year closed and the new one began, Shamus touched his lips to hers. The noise surrounding them faded.

The warmth of his callused hands framed her face. His rum and coke flavored kiss began with a tenderness that stole the breath from her lungs. As his kiss grew in intensity, the warm swirls that had danced in her blood all night grew as well, reaching a lava hot stage within seconds.

When Maggie was fifteen, her mother told her about the first time she kissed Maggie’s father. “Once in your life,” her mother said, “there’s a kiss that shatters everything you thought you knew and changes the direction of your life.”

She understood now. Maggie pressed her fingers to her lips in a fruitless attempt to hold onto the sweetest kiss of her life. Tears strangled her heart at the realization that it was also the most bitter, since it could only mean farewell.

Buy Links:  The WIld Rose Press   Amazon

About Tamrie:

I’m married to real-life romance hero who, despite being a master in martial arts and having nearly thirty years in law enforcement, insists that my mind is a very scary place. I’m a mother and grandmother and I thank my own mother for giving me a love of reading. I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. I lived in the Pacific Northwest and on the Gulf Coast before following my husband to Oklahoma.

 

Don’t forget to enter the WILD ROSE PRESS RAFFLECOPTER for a chance to win a KINDLE FIRE. CLink on the “http://link below

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