Tag Archives: Author

March 21, 2016 · 8:35 am

So it turns out, I didn’t need a wingman afterall!

Whew! Yesterday is a bit of a blur. If you’ve read the blog post before this one, you know I was an emotional wreck about my appearance at the 2016 Monadnock Women’s Expo. I was going to solo and terrified. Turns out, I didn’t need to be.

Way over 600 + women showed up of all ages, backgrounds, cultures and socio-economic status. A lot of them I had a passing acquaintance with, either as teachers of my daughter, or parents of her friends; patients of my husband – and I’ll admit, of mine -, and women ,who knew women, that I knew, personally. What’s that old saying? “Everyone you meet is a real or potential friend?” Yeah, that’s the way it felt.

I’ll be honest – I was afraid I wouldn’t sell one book, have one person stop at my table, and would have wasted over 5 hours of a weekend day. Turns out, I didn’t need to be afraid at all. I sold a lot of books ( A LOT!!!!), and hundreds of women stopped to chat. Of course the fact I was giving away free M&M’s if  someone stopped at my table might have helped, but…whatever. WItht hose M&Ms I was also giving the flat/postcards of my books, so they were getting candy and I was introducing them to my work. We both scored!

My take away from this event, because if I don’t learn something when I conquer my fears, what’s the point? That it’s good to challenge yourself, do something that initially makes you uncomfortable, and face your fears. I wasn’t walking around naked for all the world to see my body; I wasn’t facing a firing squad for crimes against humanity; I wasn’t being judged. I was simply sitting at a table trying to sell some books and get my name “out” in the universe of my target audience: women.

So, wingman not needed.  Now, let’s see what comes next…..

THE VOICES OF ANGELS

Blurb:

perf5.000x8.000.indd

The last thing Carly Lennox is looking for as she sets out on her new book tour is love. 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 show 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 an ambitious man-and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else, and as he tells her, he’s a patient guy. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. No. Carly 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.

 

Amazon /// TWRP /// Kobo /// Nook

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

3 Comments

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

Tagged as , , , , , ,

March 15, 2016 · 10:48 am

Meta- what??!!

So at a recent NHRWA chapter meeting, this really cute guy named Mike came and talked to the group about Social Media and Internet marketing. Did I mention he was cute? He was also a treasure trove of technical info that, for a total tech-NO savvy writer such as me – opened my eyes to how valuable social media and the internet can be to someone in my profession.

The very first and most important thing we need as writers in today’s cut-throat market is a website that has key words and phrases congruent with “searches” that will bring people to our site. One piece of key info I didn’t know was that Google is responsible for 67% of all searches on the internet. That’s 2/3 of all – ALL – searches being conducted. As a romance writer I need to know which words or phrases are the most beneficial to get my site, my books, my name, the first thing to pop-up on a search.

This is invaluable information, folks, for any writer who wants to sell a book.

Another point he made was telling our group the power of Google Analytics. You can glean so much knowledge about your readers and your website visitors from this, and also who will be more likely to buy your type of book than another.

Informational gold, people. Gold!

I will admit this freely – I am a facebook junkie. Mike ( did I mention he was cute?) is a big proponent of using FB as a marketing tool. This, at least, I had some idea about! You can reach so many people  through FB, it’s crazy. But crazy-good. One of the points I learned about FB that I had no clue of before this little lecture? You should always LIKE and SHARE your own posts. Right away, and then several hours later. So for instance, suppose I post this blog at 7 am. I should like and share it then and again at noon because the FB news line will roll with it, thereby getting people to see that “Oh, PJ liked this, let me take a look!.” That person may not have been awake at 7 am when I did the original post, so I missed out on a potential “looker” at that time.

Again, gold, people. Informational gold.

There were a whole bunch of other goodies Mike gave us, too many for me to list in a quick blog. But he has published books of his own on this stuff, so you click here and see what he’s published:  Mike Dolpies. p.s. Did I mention he was cute?

Stuff like this is the reason I never miss an NHRWA meeting.

Now, what kind of blogger would I be if I didn’t hawk my own stuff?
Here’s the newest release:

THE VOICES OF ANGELS

Blurb:

perf5.000x8.000.indd

The last thing Carly Lennox is looking for as she sets out on her new book tour is love. 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 show 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 an ambitious man-and not only in his chosen profession. He wants Carly, maybe more than he’s ever wanted anything or anyone else, and as he tells her, he’s a patient guy. But the more they’re together, Mike realizes it isn’t simply desire beating within him. No. Carly 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.

 

Amazon /// TWRP /// Kobo /// Nook

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

Leave a comment

Filed under Author, Characters, Contemporary Romance, Life challenges, love, MacQuire Women, New Hampshire, NHRWA, Romance, Romance Books, The Voices of Angels, The Wild Rose Press, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Tagged as , , , , , , ,

February 22, 2016 · 9:39 am

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

perf5.000x8.000.indd

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

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

1 Comment

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

Tagged as , , , , ,

February 20, 2016 · 10:38 am

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 //

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

 

Leave a comment

Filed under 3 Wishes, Author, Characters, Contemporary Romance, Life challenges, love, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women, The Wild Rose Press, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Tagged as , , , , , ,

January 19, 2016 · 1:55 pm

A cold day and I’m doing…

Nothing. I’m sitting here at almost 9 am in my nightgown, sipping Diet Mountain Dew, staring out my home office window and the 20 mile an hour winds with the drifting snow flying off the trees.

And I’m trying to write…something…anything!

Ahhh…the life of a solitary writer.

Tweet Me    Friend Me  Read Me

Google+ me  Visit me

2 Comments

Filed under Author, Candy Hearts, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, female friends, Life challenges, Literary characters, MacQuire Women, New Hampshire, Romance Books, Strong Women, WIld Rose Press AUthor

Tagged as , ,

November 5, 2015 · 10:06 am

Still NaNoWriMo-ing

Day 5 of NaNoWriMo and I’m way into my current WIP ( work in progress). Yes, I love a personal challenge. Yes, I adore a writing challenge. And yes yes yes I love to combine them both.

nanowrimo

But I do have a life away from the laptop.

Yesterday, I started writing a 3 am ( chronic insomnia, folks) and went strong until 9 when I realized I couldn’t feel my a**. So, I got washed up and went off to the gym for  a few hours to pump and cardio myself into a clear head ( and a smaller a**).

Back home I banged out another 1200 words before I stopped for lunch, then another couple hundred more before I called it a day.

A day for writing that is. When I closed my WP program, I did three loads of laundry, ironed it all and put it way, vacuumed the four floors in my house – yes folks – 4 FLOORS – dusted, put various stuff away and a took care of paying the monthly bills.

Then I started dinner.

After dinner I worked on two courses I am taking online, wrote this blog and stashed another one away for a future release.  I am reading two books on kinesthetics, so I delved into those for  a while.Tomorrow  the car has to go in for service, so I will bring my laptop with me and NaNo while I wait ( like the way I made the challenge a verb, there?)

For those lucky people who can sit all day long and create ( and not have their a**es grow and spread) power to you. I am jealous. I am envious. I am filled with angst.

But not really, because…I do have another life.

So, if you are NaNo-ing, are you an all day typer, or do you take breaks? Let’s discuss

Leave a comment

Filed under Author, Contemporary Romance, First Impressions, Life challenges, NaNoWriMo, Romance, Strong Women

Tagged as , , , , , ,

June 18, 2015 · 11:27 am

An interview with Pretty-Hot.com…

Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I’ve been many things in my life but the number one favorite is being an author. I’ve written 27 books from children’s tales, middle school stories, mystery to romance. Currently I’m focusing just on contemporary romance novels. I had my first romance published this year by The Wild Rose Press, titled SKATER’S WALTZ

What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
There’s No Place Like Home is the second release in my series The MacQuire Women. It tells the story of Moira Cleary and Quentin Stapleton, lifelong friends, who realize they are nothing without the other.

Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Actually, no.

What authors, or books have influenced you?
My biggest influences are Nora Roberts, Jayne Ann Krentz, Jill Shalvis and Lisa Kleypas.
When I was a kid I was fascinated with The Nancy Drew books and Agatha Christie.

What are you working on now?
Books 4-6 in the MacQuire women ( book 3 is in copy edits)

What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I use Twitter and my facebook author page the most.

Do you have any advice for new authors?
Keep writing no matter how hard that first sale is. If you have something to say, say it.

What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Put your butt in the chair and write. No excuses – Nora Roberts

What are you reading now?
Sherryl Wood’s “Vows” Series

What’s next for you as a writer?
Book 3 First Impressions comes out this summer. I’m going to the RWA conference in July and I’m trying to find an agent.

What is your favorite book of all time?
The Little Engine that Could because it’s the best book about self actualization and motivation ever written.

Author Websites and Profiles
Peggy Jaeger Website
Peggy Jaeger Amazon Profile

Peggy Jaeger’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account

Leave a comment

Filed under Alpha Male, Author, Contemporary Romance, Family Saga, love, MacQuire Women, Romance, Romance Books, Strong Women, There's No Place Like Home

Tagged as , , ,

January 4, 2015 · 2:30 pm

just one piece of advice…

During an interview recently – and I can’t tell you how much I LOVELOVELOVE saying I was “interviewed!” – I was asked about the one piece of writing advice that has stuck with me and gotten me through publishing hurdles, humps and heartbreak. It was actually difficult to come up with just that one exclusive iota of writing  wisdom that has resonated with me.

My first thought is the one I received from a literary agent many moons ago which I’ve written about before. Although this agent didn’t accept me as a client, she wrote a handwritten note at the bottom of her letter (this was pre-email, folks) stating, “…you are an excellent writer and I have no doubt I will be reading your published works one day soon. It only takes one “yes” to make a difference in your writing career…” I have never forgotten those words.

Another piece of writing advice that comes to mind is when I heard Nora Roberts speak at the National RWA conference in 2014. She was asked how she can be so prolific a writer and what was her secret. She replied, “Put your butt in the chair, your fingers over the keyboard and write. That’s it and that’s all.”  Butt in seat, fingers on keyboard, write. Can it be any simpler than this?

I would guess the piece of writing advice I’ve learned to repeat daily to myself, is actually one I gave myself  many years ago and had nothing to do with writing at the time I came up with it. I call it THE TAO OF NGUNGI ( pronounced na-goo-na-guy). It means, NEVER GIVE UP AND NEVER GIVE IN. I was going through a difficult period of my life and the days ahead looked bleak and scary. But when I started saying this to myself, it resonated loudly and I was able to get through the period relatively emotionally unscathed.

Now, when I want to have a writing pity party for myself, I repeat the phrase as many times as I need to in order to dig myself out of my depressing black hole. By practicing the TAO Of NGUNGI, I have pushed onwards all this years and finally have a publishing contract.

Never Give up and Never give in. One piece of really good advice – for life and for writing.

4 Comments

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

December 8, 2014 · 10:50 am

As a writer, what are your favorite words?

I wasn’t a normal kid. By that I don’t mean  I was abnormal. I didn’t have horns; wasn’t born with three eyes, or two hearts. I experienced the same childhood illnesses and complaints other children did and went to school on the correct chronological spectrum.

Where I was different, though, was in the material things kids want.

Growing up, children my age would ask for Christmas and birthday presents like a new bike, or an Easy Bake Oven. Barbie dolls were big, as were roller skates. When it came to writing out a Christmas wish list every year, I typically had three items:

  • Rock’em Sock’em Robots
  • Books
  • Pencils and paper

I was never going to get Rock’Em Sock’Em Robots, my mother explained, because that was a present for boys, not girls. Hey, this was the ‘60’s. People were still unbersexist and not afraid to talk about it.

But I did get the books I asked for and the writing instruments. My favorite present when I turned 8? A Webster’s Dictionary.

See? Not a normal kid.

Even as a child I loved words. Words lived in dictionaries. Words led to sentences, which turned into pages, then chapters in a book. And I loved books. More than anything.

I used to try and learn a new word everyday after I received my dictionary. Words like escarole and calliope; diminutive and xanthene. These wounds rolled off my tongue, harsh and alien at first, but after practicing them a thousand times, they were familiar friends.

So, with all the hundreds of thousands of words in our language, which are my favorites?

If you ask a parent “which child is your favorite,”what response do you get?

If you ask a chef what is their favorite taste, or flavor profile, what do they tell you?

Can an ornithologist choose their favorite bird? Will a philatelist be able to select a favored stamp?

My response would probably be the same as these: I don’t have a favorite because I love them all.

Words have power. They have depth. The can signify courage, fear; describe emotions and colors. They can make you think of a thousand reasons “why” and answer a thousand more times “why not?”

As a writer I use words to tell a story. But I use them for so much more, really.

Here’s a quick story: John meets Mary, falls in love with her, and they marry. Eleven words that tell a story. None of the words are repeated, all but two are monosyllabic, and yet they complete a circle – beginning to end.

It should be enough. But you know it’s not. How did John and Mary meet? Why did they, with the millions of other people on the planet to choose from, fall in love with each other? When did they marry? Who are their children? Their families? What do they do to make a living? All of this is the actual story  I can tell with – you got it – words.

Quite simply put, words make me happy. I like reading them on the page, speaking them out loud,  hearing them, learning them, using them and playing with them.

I can’t chose a favorite. It’s impossible for me. But then, maybe my favorite word is…words.

 

 

 

 

 

Leave a comment

Filed under Uncategorized

Tagged as , , , , , , , ,

August 3, 2014 · 4:50 pm

Exercise your writing muscles…

At the recent RWA 2014 conference, Nora Roberts made a statement that resonated with me as writer who currently has a different, full time,  paying job. When asked if she ever took a vacation or time off from writing, her response was, “Writing, to me, is like exercising your body. If you go a few days without doing it, your muscles start to get weak and break down and then you need to start building up again to where they were when you left off.”

Wow.

Read that statement again. It’s such a simple declaration, but it makes so much sense.

Because I can’t write all day everyday due to my work obligations, there are sometimes days that go by where I won’t write anything more than a few emails. On the days I can devote to my writing, I find I need to reread and edit what I’ve done before I can go forward. This is because I’ve gotten out of the habit of writing the story. Life intervened, work took over, and my time was not my own to devote to what I love.

Several years ago I broke my ankle and wasn’t able to go to the gym for 8 weeks. When I finally did get back there, all the progress I had made in my arm and stomach muscles before the accident, went the way of the dinosaur and I was a hot flabby mess again. I needed six weeks to get back to the point I was at before my ankle sidelined me.

Not being able to write in a timely fashion does the exact same thing. I loose the progress I’ve made and need to refresh my writing muscles – and my brain and creativity – in order to move forward.

I always knew Nora Roberts was my writing mentor – even though she doesn’t know it – and this point drove home just why she is such a special woman. Not to mention an AMAZEBALLS writer!

My goal for the next month is to write something everyday in my WIP no matter how much time I can devote to it. 30 minutes or 8 hours. Anything is better than letting my writing muscles go slack.

If this resonates with you, drop me a line and let me know. Visit my new page on Facebook : Peggy Jaeger, Author too.

Leave a comment

Filed under Editors, New Hampshire

Tagged as , , , , , , ,