Just a reminder

Just wanted to remind y'all to visit my new blog:
http://jennifersrandommusings.wordpress.com

I have enjoyed all the new visitors and hope my old friends from here drop by!

Blog has moved and there is a party going on!

Hello all!

Just wanted to remind y'all that I am now blogging over at http://jennifersrandommusings.wordpress.com/

The ladies of Destination Romance are my guests this week...so join us for fun and prizes!

I will be blogging at the new home permanently so please update any links you might have!

Blog Moving

Hey all! Long time no post!

I just wanted to let my readers (all 3 of you...LOL) that my blog has a new home! I have some exciting things planned for it so please visit often! Official "relaunch" is October 1!

http://jennifersrandommusings.wordpress.com/

It’s gonna be a hot one…Guest Blogger Heidi Betts!

Hello, and thank you so much to Jennifer for inviting me as a guest blogger this month!

As many of you may know, “Shaken and Stirred” is my very first novella. I couldn’t have been more excited when my editor at Harlequin invited me to take part in the HEAT WAVE collection of sexy beach reads with authors Stephanie Bond and Leslie Kelly. I think I jumped up and down, and then immediately began dreaming up the story I wanted to write for the anthology.

The idea for Mike’s and Abby’s story came to me pretty quickly, but there was one small problem—I wanted Mike to be a United States Marine, even though I know absolutely nothing about that (or any other) branch of the armed services. Not that I intended to let that stop me. One of the lovely things about being an author and belonging to a rather extensive community of other writers is that you can usually find someone who knows all about whatever it is you need to research. In this case, I had a friend who had a friend who had a Marine father, a Marine husband, and a handful of Marine sons. Ooh-rah! (That’s Marine lingo for “yippee,” by the way. *vbg*) I hit the jackpot. And once I had Amy to turn to, I knew I’d be all right.

Then came the second hurdle…deciding on the perfect title for my sexy summer set-on-the-beach novella. I started out calling it something like “California Lovin’”…the only problem was, the story wasn’t set in California. Then I considered “Summer Lovin’,” which I liked, but also thought was a bit generic. After a while, given the storyline, I decided to try the title “Good Girl Gone Wild.” The story was set in Fort Lauderdale, after all, and I thought it would be an amusing play on all those “Girls Gone Wild” videos. Then as I was chatting with some friends at a conference, one of them suggested calling the story “Cinderella Gone Wild,” because Abby Weaver does have a bit of a Cinderella moment during her adventure to the beach. I stuck with that one for quite a while, but at the last minute before sending the completed story to my editor, I decided to change it to “Shaken and Stirred.” No reason, other than that I thought it suited the heroine’s emotions at the situation she found herself in. I also suspected that Harlequin would want the title changed no matter what I called it, and in that case, I fully intended to go back to one of the others I’d toyed with while writing.

Instead, I got a phone call from my editor for this project informing me that they just loved the title of my story. They thought it was fabulous and suited the story and heroine so well. (Yay for me, but color me surprised.) As was becoming sort of typical for this novella, there was only one problem… They wanted even more references written in that would tie the title to the story. The characters drinking martinis or a mention of something James Bond-ish. Okay, no problem; I could do that, right? (The answer is yes. *g*)

So this is my challenge to you: As you’re reading “Shaken and Stirred” in the HEAT WAVE anthology this July, see if you can spot my favorite reference to the story’s title. There are two, but one of them still makes me smile. J

Drop me a line if you find it…or just to let me know what you thought of Mike’s and Abby’s story.


Until then, stay cool!
Heidi
www.HeidiBetts.com

Contest winner and a link to another contest!

Congratulations to Crystal B. from KY! Thank you to all that entered and be sure to visit again...never know when I am going to have another giveaway!

Here is a link to another contest that might interest some:
http://momofajl.blogspot.com/ (you'll need to scroll down a bit to find it).

Hugs and happy reading to all!

Cheryl St. John's The Preacher's Daughter and a Giveaway!!!

Available this month is Cheryl St. John's latest book The Preacher's Daughter!

Look for The Preacher's Daughter in stores or order it from Amazon.com, BN.Com, or eHarlequin.com.

I have an unsigned copy of Cheryl St. John's previous release, The Lawman's Bride, and some goodies to giveaway to one lucky reader!

If you would like to enter just send an e-mail to jenscontest @ gmail.com (no spaces) letting me know you would like to be entered. Please put "Cheryl St. John Contest" in the subject line.

Contest ends June 30, 2007!!

One entry per person please!!! Must be 18 to enter! One winner will be chosen randomly from all correct entries received by 11:59 pm EST June 30, 2007 and announced here on the blog (with winner's permission). Winner(s) will be notified via e-mail and asked to send their mailing address. E-mail addresses will only be used to contact you if you are the winner...they are not collected or used for anything else. Once notified, winners will have one week to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Feel free to post about the contest and spread the word! Let me know if you have any questions!
If you have not read a Cheryl St. John book, I highly recommend that you do!

Visit her site and check out her blog!

Interview with Jude Liebermann

Have you ever had a dream? Jude Liebermann was 13 when she read and 18 when she wrote her first romance novel. Still an avid reader, she enjoys anything from romances to horror and science-fiction/fantasy, and her own books have pretty much the same range. For two decades now, Jude has dreamt of becoming a published author. Well, that dream only became a reality after spending her own money to self-publish her books. You can read about them by visiting her site at http://www.judesplace.com.

Her first novel, Formerly Brandewyne is currently being offered for free to read online (or you can get the paperback for just the cost of shipping!) as well as a few of her earlier stories (visit her forum to read more about them.) A few years ago, she was inspired to write her first fanfiction, which led to several more. The first one is based on the character of Legolas from Lord of the Rings and the others were inspired by Orlando Bloom's movies, so be sure to check those out at her Orlando Bloom page! Jude’s next project in the works is her first trilogy. The first two are available for purchase and the third is now being edited. She’s really excited about these stories, which have the title of A Modern Myth. Nada’s Secret and Grady’s Return are both for sale through lulu.com.

What inspired you to become a writer?
I CAN’T REMEMBER A TIME WHEN I DIDN’T WRITE. I WAS A VERY IMAGINATIVE CHILD AND CAN REMEMBER WRITING MY OWN VERSION OF A NANCY DREW MYSTERY WHEN I WAS ABOUT 5. HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT. WISH MY MOTHER HAD KEPT IT, SINCE IT WOULD BE A HOOT TO SEE HOW HORRIBLE IT WAS! STORIES HAVE ALWAYS JUST COME TO ME, SO IT WAS ONLY NATURAL TO START WRITING THEM DOWN.

How long have you been a writer?
WELL, EXCEPT FOR THE FIRST 5 YEARS, ALL MY LIFE

Please tell us about your book(s).
MY FIRST ROMANCE NOVEL WAS BASED ON MY OWN EXPERIENCES. IF SOMETHING IN MY LIFE DIDN’T TURN OUT THE WAY I WANTED IT TO, I WOULD CREATE AN ALTERNATE ENDING IN A STORY. THAT HELPED FUEL THE REST OF MY BOOKS, WHICH NOW HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH ME. THE BOOK I’M CURRENTLY WRITING IS ABOUT A 21ST CENTURY WOMAN WHO IS TRANSPORTED TO 1935 BY TOUCHING AN OLD PORTRAIT. I’M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS STORY AND PLAN ON IT BEING MY NEXT PUBLISHED NOVEL.

What inspired the story/stories?
SOMETIMES WHEN I WRITE, I FEEL AS IF I’M MORE POSSESSED THAN INSPIRED…LIKE A REAL MUSE IS WHISPERING INTO MY EAR AND TYPING THROUGH ME. ACTUALLY, THAT IS A GREAT FEELING.

Which comes first for you…plot or characters?
DEFINITELY THE PLOT…THE CHARACTERS SORT OF FIND THEIR OWN WAY AND THE STORY PROGRESSES.

What is your favorite part of being a writer? Least favorite?
WHEN THAT FIRST INKLING OF A NEW STORY STRIKES AND I’M ABLE TO START IT AND KEEP IT GOING IS MY FAVORITE PART. THE WORST PART? WRITER’S BLOCK. I ACTUALLY SUFFERED FROM THAT FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS AND IT WAS TERRIBLE. SINCE THEN, I’VE BEEN WORKING ON 2 DIFFERENT STORIES! SO MUCH BETTER…THE OTHER LEAST FAVORITE ASPECT IS HOW HARD IT IS TO GET PROFESSIONALLY PUBLISHED, BUT THEN I HAVE SO MUCH MORE CONTROL OVER MY STORIES THIS WAY.

How did you decide to self-publish your work? What did self-publishing involve?
I TRIED FOR ABOUT A DECADE TO GET PROFESSIONALLY PUBLISHED BEFORE I DECIDED THAT IT WAS POINTLESS…MANY FAMOUS NOVELISTS HAD TO GET STARTED BY SELF-PUBLISHING, AND IT IS A LOT EASIER NOW THAN IT WAS WHEN I FIRST GOT STARTED. THERE ARE SO MANY VENUES AVAILABLE NOW THAT ARE SO REMARKABLE. I HAD TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY WHEN I STARTED IN 1997…NOW THERE IS LULU.COM, WHICH IS INCREDIBLE!! I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THAT COMPANY. SELF-PUBLISHING ISN’T EASY THOUGH. YOU HAVE TOTAL CONTROL OF EVERYTHING, WHICH INCLUDES EDITING, TYPESETTING AND OF COURSE ADVERTISING. THANK GOODNESS FOR THE INTERNET, OR IT WOULDN’T BE POSSIBLE AT ALL! I’M MAKING A NAME FOR MYSELF WITH MY SITE, MY FORUM, AND NOW HOPEFULLY MYSPACE. HOPEFULLY SOMEDAY I CAN JOIN THE PROFESSIONALLY PUBLISHED ELITE.

What do you hope readers get out of your work?
I HOPE IT MAKES THEM LAUGH AND CRY AND THINK. I WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO ESCAPE INTO THE STORY. WHEN I’M TOLD THAT SOMEONE COULDN’T PUT MY BOOK DOWN ONCE THEY STARTED IT, THAT IS THE BEST COMPLIMENT THEY COULD GIVE ME!

What would you like to tell aspiring writers?
DON’T EVER STOP WRITING. EVEN IF YOU THINK YOUR STORY IS TERRIBLE, KEEP TRYING. YOU WILL GET BETTER WITH EVERY ATTEMPT


For fun:
Describe yourself in 3 words.
LOYAL TRUSTWORTHY DILIGENT

How do you relax?
I WORK ON MY FORUM OR WATCH TV OR I WRITE

What do you like to read?
I LOVE TERESA MEDIEROS’ NOVELS.

What is your favorite book of all time?
OOH TOUGH ONE. I DON’T THINK I HAVE ONE OF THOSE. THE FIRST ONE THAT JUMPED TO MIND WAS “THE GREEN MILE” BY STEPHEN KING…DON’T EVEN KNOW WHY…MAYBE CAUSE IT MADE ME CRY MY EYES OUT.

If you could save one book from destruction, what would it be?
MY TRILOGY…HMMM, ANOTHER TOUGH ONE.

If you had a time capsule to be opened 50 years in the future, what would you put in it?
A CD OF ALL MY BOOKS

Thank you Jude for a great interview!

You can check out Jude’s work at her site: http://www.judesplace.com/

Heidi Betts Giveaway Winner!

Sorry I am so late adding this. I became ill and had some computer issues making it difficult to blog!

Congrats to Diane M. from WA! She is the winner of the Heidi Betts Giveaway!

If you didn't win this time, don't worry I have another contest coming up sometime next week so be on the lookout for it!

Happy Reading!