Welcome to she said, he said

What does a cover tell you?

2012-02-25T05:46:00.002-08:00

My new cover is here! And it's fabulous.
I've had a great week! Not only did I find a wonderful review for Monogamy Twist, I got my new cover for my second contemporary novel from The Wild Rose Press...and I really love it.
Once again Kim Mendoza, cover artist, has made me a fantastic cover.
Have a look and tell me what you think the book is going to be all about.
I tried this on my lovely daughters and they were close...but not perfect. Can you pinpoint it?

Siren Book Reviews: Nancy Jardine, Monogamy Twist

2012-02-20T01:20:00.000-08:00

Siren Book Reviews: Nancy Jardine, Monogamy Twist

Four and a half shells!!

2012-02-19T14:04:00.002-08:00

Way hey! It's never too late to say thank you, I hope! I'm grinning from ear to ear. :-)))
I just found a review done on MONOGAMY TWIST way back on October 10th 2011 by Siren Book Reviews. A belated thanks to you Siren!
Here's what they had to say...and I love it...

Siren Book Reviews: Nancy Jardine, Monogamy Twist

Oct 10, 2011

Nancy Jardine, Monogamy Twist. Title: Monogamy Twist. Author: Nancy Jardine. Rating: Four And A Half Siren Stones.

Who in their right mind would leave such a property to Luke? And with the conditions! But he hesitated to turn it down, for if he did, the house and land would soon fall to shambles.

Then there's Rhia. Their first encounter was anything but pleasant, considering she thought he was a burglar. But this little spitfire catches his attention, and Luke asks for her help.

Monogamy Twist is a light-hearted contemporary with a mystery element that will soothe the reader's soul. This isn't a graphic or violent novel. Instead, this is in the classic type of romance, and it aims to please. Nancy Jardine delivers a wonderful book that will have you turning the pages in awe to find out more. It's beautifully written with great plot, characters, and just the right amount of descriptions that leaves the readers with plenty to imagine.

If you enjoy a contemporary mystery romance, don't miss this book!

Nearly Valentines!!

2012-02-09T07:15:00.000-08:00

The Romance of it all. Isn't that how it's suppsed to be? Well, life gets in the way sometimes and it's not all chocolate and roses.

What was it like around Valentines Day for Rhia? Was her hero, Luke, coming up to scratch and making her feel warm and fuzzy...and loved?

Here's a liitle snippet from MONOGAMY TWIST that shows just how different Valentines day can be.

More than seven months into their co-habitation things began to unravel. Much as he didn’t want to Luke had to spend a night in London without Rhia. She’d picked up a disgusting cold followed by a persistent chest infection and wasn’t well enough to travel.

On his return the following evening he swept her into his arms and kissed her cheek soundly-because she turned her cracked lips away just in time. He was distressed to find she was still under the weather, her cough rattling like mad, but he had the very thing tucked away in his pocket. After a theatrical flourish, he presented her with a beautiful white gold amethyst pendant with matching bracelet and earrings.

“To cheer you up.”

“I don’t need jewelry, Luke!” Rhia croaked, handing the set back to him.

It was grossly unfair of her to take her mood out on him, but he could see how miserable she was feeling. Any amusement vanished though when her next retort blasted out.

“Take them all back and get a refund!”

An attempt to soften her nasty comment failed, even though she told him she was touched he’d thought about her and had taken time out of his work-filled schedule to buy the gift. She was shrewish over the incredible expense, and even cast doubt on his purpose. “It makes me feel like your mistress-waiting at home for your return—someone who has to be thrown a bone to keep her happy, Luke. I don’t want them!”

In her present mood he couldn’t persuade her otherwise, her vehement reaction to the gift creating tension between them.

“I wanted to cheer you up, Rhia,” Luke protested. “My first proper gift and you throw it back in my face. I wish I’d never bothered.”

Hope you enjoy reading their Valentines with a difference.
Slainthe!
Nancy

There’s more to Robert Burns than haggis!

2012-01-25T01:01:00.000-08:00

How many loves can a person have in one lifetime? Some romantics might say you can have only one true love of the heart and soul. I believe Scottish poet, Robert Burns, tells you differently. His poems are vast and varied, in mood, in length, and in the messages they convey.

So what made the man famous? He had a canny way with words!

He wrote of his love for all aspects of his life- women he’d known, women he wanted to know better, his friends, the land he lived in, creatures of that land…and he was sometimes very whimsical as well. As a public speaker, or even when he was drinking a wee dram at his local pub, he produced lots of observations on life.

Address To A Haggis, widely spouted at Burns suppers the world over, is only one of these.

Sometimes he took well known songs and put his own version of words to them. At other times he created new poems and songs, and tunes have become attributed to them.

One of my favourite Burns songs is John Anderson My Jo. As a child I learned a traditional tune version of it, and have always thought it a most poignant, lovely song. Only much later, as an adult, did I learn that some people claim Burns took a well know bawdy song of the time (probably around the 1780s) and put his own loving version to it. (The bawdy version can be accessed elsewhere on the web but not on my blog.)

People have made differing interpretations on what the poem is about. Some think it refers to a love that is everlasting, right to the grave, as a couple age. Others have thought it was written to celebrate the friendship and camaraderie shared by ‘boozing’ buddies. Whatever, I love the words…and I love the old traditional tune.

John Anderson My Jo

John Anderson my jo, John,

When we were first acquent,

Your locks were like the raven,

Your bonnie brow was brent;

But now your brow is beld, John,

Your locks are like the snaw.

But blessing on your frosty pow,

John Anderson, my jo!

John Anderson my jo, John,

We clamb the hill thegither,

And monie a cantie day, John

We’ve had wi’ ane anither;

Now we maun totter down, John,

And hand in hand we’ll go.

And sleep thegither at the foot,

John Anderson, my Jo.

For truly romantic words many would say you can do no better than A Red, Red Rose.

A Red, Red Rose

O, my luve’s like a red, red rose,

That’s newly sprung in June.

O, my luve’s like the melodie,

That’s sweetly play’d in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass,

So deep in luve am I,

And I will luve thee still, my Dear,

Till a’ the seas gang dry.

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my Dear,

And the rocks melt wi’ the sun!

O I will luve thee still, my Dear,

While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only Luve,

And fare thee weel a while!

And I will come again, my Luve,

Tho’ it were ten thousand mile!

(acquent: acquaintances, brent: unwrinkled, beld: bald, old-spotted, pow: head, cantie: fine, maun: must, thegither: together)

I hope you enjoy these. Happy Burns Day!

Slainthe!
Nancy

Love is in the air! No, I’m not talking Valentine’s Day yet…but I am talking Burn’s Day 25th January.

2012-01-24T04:40:00.000-08:00

How to describe your heroine? - Here’s how Robert Burns did it. (Born 1759, Died 1796)

Robert Burns, of Auld Lang Syne fame the world over, was one of the best romantics ever. He loved many women during his life, and penned many a poem to them. Sometimes the poems were written in a flurry, and others with much deliberation. Some were complex, others straightforward. The amount of vernacular Scots he used often mingled with standard English. I've chosen this really simple one today to use as a little challenge. Let’s have a look at some of his phrasing and see what you would do to complete it.

These lines are taken from a poem called The Lass of Cessnock Banks. The complete poem is 13 stanzas of rhyming couplets. The first stanza is as follows:

On Cessnock banks a lassie dwells,

Could I describe her shape and mien;

Our lasses a’ she far excels-

An’ she has twa sparkling, rogueish een! (This line becomes the last of every stanza, except the very last one)

The stanzas now follow with these as the first lines of each:

She’s sweeter than the morning dawn …

She’s stately like yon youthful ash …

She’s spotless like the flow’ring thorn …

Her looks are like the vernal May …

Her hair is like the curling mist …

Her forehead’s like the show’ry bow …

Her cheeks are like yon crimson gem …

Her teeth are like the nightly snow …

Her lips are like yon cherries ripe …

Her breath is like the fragrant breeze …

Her voice is like the ev’ning thrush …

Now follows the complete last stanza:

But it’s not her air, her form, her face,

Tho’ matching Beauty’s fabled Queen:

‘Tis the mind that shines in ev’ry grace-

An’ chiefly in her rogueish een!

(Not sure of a word? –mien: appearance, een: eyes, show’ry: showery, bow: bough, rogueish: mischievous)

What do you think would be the missing lines? Go on, have a go! Take your pick and write your own stanza using Burn’s original first and last lines.

(If you find the poem and cheat I'm probably going to guess!)

Slainthe!

Nancy

What's doing?

2012-01-20T04:33:00.000-08:00

Good question, that.
Obviously not much on my blog, yet, this year. But what I have been doing is getting on with that WIP that's coming along nicely. I've also been doing edits for my second contemporary contract with The Wild Rose Press. Details on that soon, I hope! My novel for children is moving through some very interesting stages at the moment. Again, to be updated on.

I'm excited today to be on a new blogsite called tbrtheblog.blogspot.com . So if you've nothing to do pop on over to it and say hi for a chance to win a copy of MONOGAMY TWIST if you haven't read it already.

But back to that Work In Progress.
Lots of nice research to do for it, and lots of words down on paper already. I've chosen lovely pics for my hero and heroine from my favourite Royalty Free site called www.123RF.com They're sitting facing me as I write, just how I like it!
The WIP has around 45 thou at the moment-I reckon it's going to be a 90 thou work. The mystery deepens, and the big decision will come soon- is it TOO complicated for my readers to follow. Nonetheless, I'm very happy with how my plot plan is developing. How about the romance? -That's heating up nicely too.
Did I say I used to be a pantser?
This WIP needs a bit more of the carbon scribbles, so that I can keep track of the exciting things happening to my lovely characters called Teun and Keira. Whether that will always be their names has yet to be seen since I've changed names before-for different reasons. And it doesn't even have a title, yet, so can't divulge that!

Updates whenever!

Slainthe!

Janus...the coal bearer…or the key? And does it really matter which?

2012-01-05T08:32:00.000-08:00

Who was Janus? What does he have to do with coal? And what’s this key all about?

Well, as I’m sure you’ve already guessed, they’re all associated with opening doors and heralding in the future year. Yet however many faces Janus might have (bearded or shaven), with or without coal, and maybe brandishing a key in his right hand, I’m ready for those new beginnings. So here’s a hearty welcome to my first blog of the New Year!

Growing up in Scotland ‘first footing’ with a lump of coal was a well practised custom. The Old Year would be let out through the back door and the New Year let in through the front door at the chimes of midnight. (If you only had one door you ad-libbed on that one!) If the first person to pass over the threshold after midnight was a dark haired male bringing coal or whisky, for luck in the New Year, it was deemed a good omen. But in reality the darkest haired individual in the vicinity was welcomed- even when it was a child.

As the darkest haired person in my neighbourhood my New Year as an eight thro’ thirteen year old was a blur. Immediately after the ‘bells’ (midnight and into the brand new year) my family would raise their glasses in a toast first to the New Year, and secondly to my mother since January first was also her birthday. I’d drink my tiny little tot of ginger wine (all I was allowed since my aunt’s home made was particularly potent!), gobble down a piece of shortbread and then would be up, and literally running, by perhaps two or three minutes after midnight to chap excitedly on the door of our nearest neighbour to bid them Happy New Year.

Growing up in Glasgow, Scotland, in the late 1950s, this meant that as soon as I went into the first neighbouring house and wished them Happy New Year the man/ men in that house could then go out and ‘first foot’ at my house. (Usually the women of the house waited in for a while to dispense the drinks and food to new arrivals.)

After a quick drink and maybe a slice of dumpling, or fruit cake, or another piece of shortbread I’d move on the next house-thus releasing another adult male. And onto the next house and so on. Yes, it was a chain of sorts.

By half past midnight I’d probably been in around 6 or 7 houses and was so full of drinks and sweet foods that I was reeling. Just as well that the neighbours NEVER gave any of their ginger wine! And, of course, the fact that I lived in a tenement apartment block of 8 houses accessed by one central stairway meant I actually did not travel very far, and usually no more than twenty yards, or so, from my own ‘close’.

When I was at the youngest age phase way back then I was always amazed that by the time I returned to my own house it was jam-packed with neighbours already partying merrily. It helped that my mother was the best cake and cookie maker in the area and her tray bakes were devoured pretty quickly. It was a time of sharing too, though, for although the party most often ended up in my house all the neighbours would contribute by adding sandwiches and other foods and drinks to our supply.

A Guid New Year was had by all, and lots of singing and dancing of traditional Scottish and more modern songs (of the time) went on into the wee sma’ hours. Whether the singing was unaccompanied, or whether there was a vinyl record (I know I’m that old!!) to hand, an impromptu sort of Karaoke went on with everybody joining in- though if it was someone’s ‘party piece’ they had first shot at it BEFORE it became a communal sing-together.

That explains the coal but what about Janus if you don’t already know?

Janus was the Roman god of beginnings and endings, and of gates and doors. With two heads he was able to look both ways, and was considered the guardian of peace when the door to his shrine in Rome was closed. If neighbouring cities were informed of open doors they knew Rome was at war, and Janus could intercede through those open doors.

He also represented transitions-for example changes in the aging processes from childhood to adulthood, or the opposites of country and city life. He was worshipped at births and weddings, clearly new starts in the life cycles of those individuals. At harvest he was given due deference as the end of the growing season gave way to the rest of winter.

The two faced/headed Janus was depicted on many Roman coins, the god being associated with money. (Of course, the two-faced Janus is also associated with duplicity…but we’ll skirt over that one!)

Now… someone is bound to say… but what about that sneaky four faced Janus?

A temple to Janus was also built with four portals where he could look to all four quarters. A very clever idea for detecting enemies coming at you from all directions so BEWARE of any four-faced Janus for he’s likely to corner you just a bit too much!

The image I like best about Janus is the two-faced god, bearded or not, holding a key in his right hand.

What’s his key for?

You may care to disagree but I’m happy with the interpretation that it opens the door to my future year…and maybe even beyond. I believe I can hold that key in my hand just like Janus. New openings and new beginnings are a fabulous concept. As a writer how can I not get excited about new openings, new chapters, and new places to venture into?

Yep! I’m also going to aim to open new doors – new places for my work to feature, new hosts to meet in blogs, and welcome new guests to mine. So how about I get to work and crack how to use www.goodreads.com properly and all those other places I’ve joined but don’t have a clue how to use effectively?

Bye, bye… and my best wishes for A Guid New Year to you too!

What do you think about that key? Please take a moment to share with me what it represents for you.

Whoopee! Jack Wittingham comes to visit.

2011-12-09T01:21:00.000-08:00

Today is my lucky day!

I’m getting to meet this gorgeous hunk wearing the Santa hat. Laura browning will be along in a while, but first I’m meeting Jack Wittingham from Santa’s Helper. (Laura will give us details of Santa’s Helper, newly released two days ago on 7^th December, a bit later on.)

Hello, Jack, come in and make yourself comfortable and tell me a little about yourself. Where are you from?

I’m from Kentucky. A city kid. Born and raised there, but spent most of my time as a kid as one of the have-nots. I’ve come a long way since then.

I’ve never been to Kentucky…yet. Maybe someday, but you could tell me what your life is like there?

Like I said, I didn’t have much as a kid, but I swore even back then that my life would change. I’d make it. I started my own construction business and worked my...uh...behind off so I could have everything I’d only ever read or dreamed about. I’ve got a great house now. It’s one my dad used to do odd jobs at. Now I own it. I collect art, too. I like bold, bright work. Fond of Matisse. His later stuff, once he really hit his own stride... Sorry, I tend to go off on subjects I really enjoy.

There’s no problem with a bit of enthusiasm, Jack. I’m hearing you’ve been a bit enthusiastic about a cute little female you recently met. Where were you when you met Merry for the first time?

Ringing the Red Kettle bell outside the mall. Lost a bet with the guys who work for me, so I took over their shifts. Merry was on her way into the mall.

You were ringing the little bell and encouraging the ladies in? Hmmm….don’t think you’d have too much of a problem there, Jack! So what was your immediate thought when you first saw her?

I thought she was a real cheapskate. I mean, she only forked over a buck, you know? I was really embarrassed later when I figured out what was really going on.

Give us a little description of what she was like that day?

She’s beautiful no matter what. I noticed her right off because she seemed so put together like one of those women who never has a hair out of place. She was hurrying along in this perfectly tailored winter coat with a big smile on her face. I figured she was getting ready to splurge with hubby’s platinum Amex. Wow. Was I wrong.

What did you like most about Merry at first?

The very first time I saw her? Nothing. Even her smile ticked me off. I wasn’t in the best of moods. Then she showed up with a cup of coffee, and she was dressed in an elf’s costume. Good lord! I about busted a gut. It dawned on me how off-base I’d been about her.

Aha! So your opinion about her changed pretty quickly then?

Night and day. Here I thought she’d come to the mall to shop and she was there to work part time as an elf. We started talking, and I realized she was working her butt off to support herself and her son, yet she still thought to bring me coffee, and she was amazing with those little kids lined up to see Santa.

Here’s the big question for all the female readers today, Jack. When did you first know you loved her?

She fascinated me from the start, but I think it was when I saw her sit on Santa’s lap to help a little girl get over her fear of the jolly old guy.

If I had Merry on the chair beside me how would she describe you?

Like a bear. She’s so delicate. Like a princess. I must seem pretty big next to her. Self-assured. Successful. Hell, I don’t know. I’m not comfortable talking about myself like that. I hope she knows how much I love her...that I’ll always be there for her and Scotty, that’s her boy.

That’s a really sweet answer, Jack, and I sure hope Merry appreciates you but don’t go away just yet. We’re going to look at a little bit of Santa’s Helper now. The cover is absolutely fabulous and you both look quite...ahem...sssssexy?

Blurb:

Merry Collins is trying hard to live up to her name this holiday season. Between juggling three jobs, contending with a car on its last leg, and her ex-husband suddenly demanding visitation with their son, she’s finding it tough to keep her impish smile in place as one of Santa’s part-time elves.

After losing a bet, Jack Wittingham finds himself ringing the Red Kettle bell in front of the mall for two weeks. A successful self-made businessman, Jack’s not long on Christmas spirit, but a bet’s a bet and he’ll ring for a good cause. So when an elf appears bearing a hot cup of coffee, he's intrigued, especially when she blushes.

Can Merry and Jack put their holiday troubles behind them to open the greatest Christmas gift of all—love?

Excerpt:

“I thought you might like a cup of coffee.”

Jack looked down for what seemed like forever to a pair of bright blue-green eyes and curly red hair

sticking out from beneath…an elf’s hat? He blinked. Was he delusional? Had the cold gotten to him to the

point where he was imagining elves?

Her smile disappeared as she bit her lip. “I noticed you when I came in to work. I thought you might be cold if you were still out here. And we—we had some leftover coffee.”

He took the cup from her. “Thanks.”

She shifted from one foot to the other. “Right. It’s black. I hope that’s how you like it.”

“It is.” Jack knew he was making her nervous, but he couldn’t resist. He remembered her now. She was the woman in the tailored overcoat who’d been so cheap…tossing in just a buck. And here she was dressed like an elf.

She hadn’t entered the mall to shop; she’d arrived for work. The woman in the tailored camel hair coat was working as an elf. For whatever bizarre reason, Jack found that intriguing.

She nodded and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. A small shiver shook her slender frame beneath the costume.

“You’ll freeze out here. You should go in unless elves have some sort of magical protection.”

This time she blushed, as if only now realizing she still wore her elf suit, and nodded her head…Her hands fluttered, and he noticed how fine-boned she was. “I should go inside.”

She turned to hurry away from him.

“Wait!” She stopped and glanced over her shoulder. His gut clenched with sudden desire.

“What’s your name?”

She blinked. “Merry.”

“Mary?”

“Merry—like Merry Christmas.”

I’m guessing that she doesn’t run away from you, Jack, but to ask you would be too telling! Never mind though for here’s Laura Browning now. Laura you wrote Santa’s Helper so let’s find out a bit about you.

I live in North Carolina with my husband, son and a menagerie of animals. In addition to writing, I also teach high school English. Teaching is a second career for me. I graduated with a degree in Journalism and spent many, many, many years working as a television news producer. When I switched to the classroom and told my husband I was just a little concerned about getting up in front of a roomful of kids, he laughed and said, “Honey, just pull out the producer voice. You won’t have any problems at all.”

What do you find most relaxing in a typical day then, Laura?

My pets. We’ve got horses, cats, dogs—even a lizard. She’s not exactly oozing personality. However, right now we’ve got puppies and they are such a riot. Sitting down and having them jump up to be cuddled really is a huge tension reliever. We have Jack Russell Terriers and also JRT/Border Terrier crosses. I used to be a large dog breed fan, but the terriers have really won me over. They are always so ready to be where you are doing whatever you want to do.

What have you learned most about being a writer?

Probably the biggest thing I’ve learned is that when you’ve written the first draft—the work is really just beginning. I have immense respect for editors even if sometimes my initial reaction when I see a change is: “How could you not find every single letter and comma absolutely perfect?!”

Do you have a favourite character in Santa’s Helper?

Jack. No hesitation there.

If you spent a day with Jack in Santa’s Helper, what would you most like to do with him?

What rating is this blog?? Well, if Merry weren’t in the picture, I wouldn’t mind finding Jack under the Christmas tree in desperate need of unwrapping.

I’d like to unwrap him too! So what’s next in your writing schedule?

I am working on a series of books about a family who own a newspaper dynasty. Coincidentally, the initial book, Bittersweet, also just released on December 5, 2011 from Lyrical Press.

Where can your readers find you?

I have a website – www.laurabrowningbooks.com a blog – www.laurabrowningbooks.blogspot.com I’m on facebook as Laura Browning and Laura Browning Author (I love friending people!) and on Twitter @laurabrowning4.

To buy Santa’s Helper use the link: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=175_133&products_id=4705

One lucky person will be chosen from today’s comments box and will go into a draw to win an ecopy of Santa’s Helper so don’t forget to leave an email contact in the comments box, please. Laura intends to draw the winner on Sunday 12/11 at 10pm EST.

Thank you for coming Jack. You know I think I’m jealous Laura gets to take you away today! Never mind though as I can read all about you soon…in Santa’s Helper. Thanks for coming today, Laura!

Slainthe!