Nancy Lee Badger Presents Author Stacy Hoff

Please help me welcome fellow Soul Mate author Stacy Hoff. I have asked her to share her new novel. 

Thanks, Nancy! MAD FOR YOU IN MADRID (Building Love #3) is a romantic comedy inspired by Stacy's recent trip to Spain. Stacy’s love of tasty tapas and the royal palace have become part of this book. MAD FOR YOU IN MADRID (Building Love #3) can easily be read as a stand-alone novel, along with its companions, BETTING ON LOVE IN VEGAS (Building Love #1) and HOTTER THAN THE CARIBBEAN (Building Love #2). MAD FOR YOU IN MADRID (Building Love #3) was recently released by Soul Mate Publishing, Inc. on October 10, 2018.  

Book Blurb:

Lori Cayne is in a tricky situation. Her public relations job has sent her to Spain for a project that is way over her head. Her task is to convince American tourists to stay at a Madrid hotel. Unfortunately, Lori knows little about public relations and even less about the hotel industry. Dealing with the client, however, will be the real challenge. Hotel magnate Daniel Vega is rich, uber-sexy, and the one-night stand that wasn’t. That’s because Lori had inadvertently stood him up before things got a chance to really heat up. Now Daniel wants nothing to do with her, personally or professionally.

Daniel Vega is none-too-pleased to learn that Lori will be handling his new hotel's publicity campaign. Her flaky ways will be hell on his business, and on him. Yet shutting her out is hard to do when the woman is full of surprises and an even fuller heart. Her good nature makes her willing to do anything for anybody. When Daniel’s brother, Elias, asks Lori to be his fake-fiancée at an important event, Daniel is not surprised when Lori agrees. What he is surprised by is the pang of jealousy. Maybe Lori isn't the only one with personal issues to work out. After all, if Daniel is truly the success he thinks he is, how can off-beat, business greenhorn Lori Cayne emotionally bring him to his knees?

When news of the fake engagement creates a scandal, both Lori’s company and Daniel’s world-wide enterprise may be damaged beyond repair. The damage done to their hearts, however, may be a whole lot worse.

Excerpt for MAD FOR YOU IN MADRID (Building Love #3)

Daniel’s head cocked to one side. “Is that your family’s business? A restaurant?”

“Oh, no,” Lori answered. “My family runs a public relations firm. When I was in college, I always worked elsewhere during summer breaks. To, well, you know . . .”

“Escape?”

“Yeah.”

He smiled sympathetically. “I understand. I worked in my family’s business for many years.”

“It’s never easy, is it? How do you handle it?”

“I don’t. My solution was to leave and start my own company. Worked like a charm.”

"You made a good decision. Cheers.” She tapped her glass against his. “Here’s to survival. And to liquid courage.”

“Salud.”

“How exactly did you tell your family you were leaving? I’d love inspiration.”

“Simple. I told them I was going off on my own. Not a bit of drama ensued.”

She felt a sharp sting from biting her lip. “That’s awesome. I don’t think I’d have such an easy time.”

He laughed. “I’m lying, of course. Extricating myself was quite the ordeal.”

Lori burst out laughing. “Should I doubt everything you say? Is your name even Daniel?”

“I would never kid about something as important as my name.”

“I see.” She grinned back at him. “A man who knows his own identity and isn’t afraid to flaunt it.” Heat rushed up to her cheeks. Was she flirting? Definitely. How the hell was she pulling it off? What’s in this drink anyway? A secret concoction of hormones and mojo? Maybe this was typical of how introductions could be—when she wasn’t under her mother’s ever-hovering shadow.

Lori fought off the memory of the last time she’d met an attractive man. Her mother had unexpectedly brought a potential new client around to her cubicle. Lori had been so nervous when she shook his hand, she knocked an entire cup of lukewarm coffee all over her white summer suit. The man’s beige blazer wasn’t neglected either. Horrified, she went to clean up the mess. Grabbing a napkin off the desk, she dabbed at his jacket. Unfortunately, she’s grabbed the napkin she had used for her doughnut. The man’s beige blazer shined from fresh grease. Twin stains of shame. “What the hell?” she had shouted, in full panic mode.

Her mother had frowned. “Maybe if you didn’t constantly eat at your desk, these things wouldn’t happen.”

“How is drinking coffee eating?” Lori protested. “Has coffee morphed into a solid somehow?”

Her mother’s eyes traveled to the stale, damp, jelly doughnut swimming on her desk next to the overturned coffee cup. Powdered sugar particles lay victim everywhere.

Buy Link: 

https://amzn.to/2Qpsy8k

Author Bio:

Stacy Hoff is a multi-published romance author as well as an attorney. Romance novels are her secret passion. She reads and writes until the wee hours of the night. Stacy lives in New England with her husband and two sons. Connect with her here:

Facebook     Twitter     Website 

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Author Casey Hagen

Author Casey Hagen stopped by to share intimate details of her life and talk about her latest book. Falling in Angels Falls is a Romantic Comedy and was released on January 12, 2017. Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.  

Casey- First, this is the second in a series, but can be read as a stand-alone. Ben Marx spent fifteen years in the Army and carries some serious baggage from that time. Now he’s moving on and building his adventure company, Steel Force Adventures. They specialize in giving extreme adventurists, the barest of necessities while keeping them safe during their adventures. In this case, hiking to the tallest waterfall in the world, Angels Falls…a real place! Angels Falls is visited by thousands every year…at the bottom that is. Where is Ben taking them? To the top.

Alexa Dayne is burnt out. She’s been a slave to the building of her very own hair salon in San Francisco. Her best friend is recently married with a baby on the way and Alexa is grieving the changing of that relationship. She’s trying to find her place now. With her business finally in the black, she has time to breathe so she’s seeking an adventure. When her guide goes MIA, she convinces Ben to take the job. She’s a brazen smart-ass and as much as he wants to be irritated by it, he’s drawn to it. Sparks fly and calamity ensues!

Nancy- Describe the genre of this particular title, and is it the only genre you write in?  

Casey- This is a contemporary romance/romantic comedy. Everything I write is infused with humor. After raising three daughters…I’ve learned I had better laugh because if I don’t, I’ll be crying. My writing routine is in a state of flux. It used to be, I get up, get a drink, maybe a bit to eat, and boom…write! The words flowed. Now, not so much. I start to think about those emails just sitting there mocking me. I notice the rug under my office chair needs vacuuming. All of the demands flood me before I can even think about being creative. So now, I do most of my writing in the afternoon and evening. I spend the morning getting organized and addressing those emails and other demands. I can’t tell you the words flow as well at night as they did in the morning. I’m sure they eventually will, but right now, it’s a bit like an old man with a prostate problem trying to pee. I’ll get there!

Nancy- Ha! I am one of three daughters, but the joke was on me-I had two sons! On a more serious note, what sort of promo do you do? Do you have help?

Casey- Promo, marketing, advertising…are dirty, dirty, migraine-inducing words for us authors! It’s a lot like throwing pasta at the wall and seeing what sticks. I’ve used several services like BookDaily and Shout My Book. I would love to tell you they’re great, but they aren’t. I do have a PA now and she pushes my books to several reader groups on Facebook. She’s been awesome. She can make teasers if I want and keep updates fresh on my author page, but right now, I still make my teasers and run my page. I like my readers to get me. You know what’s working for me right now? Kindle Unlimited. I did a free promo period. My sales have rocketed since I did that. I’m talking sales, not free downloads. Paid sales. You know what else is working…Facebook. Be you on Facebook. And when I say “you”, I don’t advise you be the political “you”,  or the ranting “you”. We’ve all had enough of that crap. Be the snarky “you”, or the recipe toting “you”. What are you passionate about? Show us! I just happen to be passionate about snark and smart-assery.

Nancy- Most readers don't realize marketing is a necessity in order to succeed. Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?    

Casey- I could tell you it’s the attention, the sales, the extra money…but what it really is…when that woman who finishes your book in the middle of the night, because she can’t put it down, writes you an email or sends you a message via social media begging you to keep writing and telling you how special your story is. That’s who I write for, even if there’s only a handful of you.

Nancy- Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?

Casey- Oh, you asked me about my writing organizations…you’re going to wish you hadn’t! I’m a member of RWA and New Jersey Romance Writers. Outside of RWA the smaller chapters of RWA, I’m a member of the Penn Jersey Women Writers Guild. So…let’s start with PJWWG. I’m the VP, which in this group, doesn’t mean a whole heck of a lot. I basically run the meeting if Vikki, our chapter president, can’t. This group used to be the Pocono Lehigh Romance Writers under RWA. We’re a group of about twenty women who meet once a month and doing a lot of laughing, brainstorming, and eating!

Now, the New Jersey Romance Writers…I can’t tell you enough about this group. Seriously, incredible women, smart women, and driven women. I’m new to RWA and am very new to NJRW. I’ve been a member for under two years. Nine months after I joined, I agreed to be their conference chair. Total insanity. However, I pulled it out and after ten months of planning, we had a successful conference. I’m continuing my position for 2017 where we have a star-studded lineup. Featured Keynote Kristan Higgins, Luncheon Keynote Nancy Herkness, Special Presentation Keynote Elizabeth Hoyt, and Pre-Con speaker Eileen Dreyer. Our PUB Retreat and PRO Retreat speaker this year is Damon Suede.

For those of you who haven’t heard of our conference, it’s been running for three decades. It’s been looked at as being a mini RWA National. It’s an economical way to get a mini version of Nationals. We have editor/agent appointments too! I wouldn’t be where I am today if not for the women in these two groups and can’t thank them enough for their encouragement and support!

Nancy- Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? 

Casey- Remember who you’re pitching to. I pitched 7 times at RWA Nationals in 2015. Had six requests for fulls and six rejections. All said the same thing, “We love it, but our publishing house will be afraid of it.”

Traditional publishing is not keeping up with what readers want. They are catering to dying demographic right now. I hope this changes, but I won’t hold my breath. So when you get rejected, remember, that doesn’t mean you’re no good. It means, you’re no good for them, at the moment. Even when you have something great, that they seek, you have to hit them at the right time. It’s a bit like nailing Jello to the wall. When they reject you, it could mean your writing needs work. It also may very well mean that you’re onto something awesome! This is what beta readers and critique partners are for. If there is a problem, they’ll tell you.

Do not let yourself be measured by a publisher’s yardstick.

Please Share three fun facts about you that most people don’t know.

1) I’m new to coffee…I’m 39 and started my addiction a month ago. I like two kinds and I like them black, no sugar. Go figure.

2) I wanted to be a lawyer for most of my childhood, when I didn’t want to be an Air Force pilot.

3) I had a pet cow named Jigsy (yes, I know…I can’t explain the name either)

Nancy- What’s next for you?

Casey- I just released a Melody Anne Kindle World novella, The Billionaire Dame and I’m wrapping up a project for Roxanne St. Claire’s Kindle World, Unconventional Love, with a release date of February 21^st. Then, I work on book 3 in the Falling in Paradise series to wrap that sucker up so I can go back to my Livingston Valley series that could end up being twelve books in total.

BOOK BLURB  

The black sheep . . .
Alexa Dayne shocked everyone by refusing to join the family bakery business. She’s worked hard to prove that owning her own salon in upscale San Francisco is more than just a dream; it’s her passion, and she’s made it a huge success, solo. After years of round-the-clock work, her finances are in the black, and Alexa craves both an escape and a new challenge. She’s determined to find both—in the wilds of Venezuela and the promise of exhilarating adventure at Angels Falls, the largest waterfall in the world.

A weary soldier . . .
Ben Marx is running from brutal memories. A career soldier turned entrepreneur, Ben has slaved to make Steel Force Adventures a reality. The business of offering thrill-seekers extreme adventures is how Ben intends to fulfill both a dream and a promise to the one person he was powerless to save. On the cusp of success, he’s approached by a long-legged vixen seeking a guide through the Venezuelan jungle to Angels Falls. Her fearless determination is proof enough she’ll make the dangerous trek alone if he refuses. Her animal print body-suit and makeup scream high maintenance, but her eyes, ice-blue and intense, promise something more.

Testing their resolve . . .
The Angels Falls journey is one of renewal for Alexa and Ben. But when passions flare and hidden motives are revealed, the flames of heart-wrenching pain forge bonds between them—bonds destined to be tested by life’s harsh realities . . . after Angels Falls.

Buy Links….

Find all of my books here… http://caseyhagenauthor.com/  

More About Casey Hagen

Visit http://caseyhagenauthor.com/ You can link with all of my social media and see my blog through this link!

Check out my Amazon Author Page!

Amazon Author Page 

Nancy Lee Badger Interviews Ute Carbone

Today I am interviewing author Ute Carbone. Her book, Afterglow, was released January 7th.

Please tell my readers a little bit about your book.  

Afterglow is the story of India Othmar, a woman of a certain age who has left her philandering husband after thirty years of marriage. India’s best friend, Eva, wants to fix her up with every odd ball in their small Massachusetts town. Her grown children have moved home. And her only romance these days is with Cherry Garcia. India’s more resilient than she gives herself credit for being, though. It takes a broken arm, some creative uses for shoes, a lawn littered with engine parts and an affair with much younger man to help her realize that her life hasn’t ended with her marriage.

Describe the genre of this particular title, and is the only genre you write in?

This book is a romantic comedy. I love writing rom coms, but in a broader sense I write women’s fiction. I have a more serious literary women’s fiction, Blueberry Truth, on my backlist as well as a time travel romance novella. Upcoming are both a new rom com and another women’s fiction title, as well as a historical romance novella—which is a departure for me, but I loved the challenge.  

When did you start writing toward publication?

I started writing seriously about fifteen years ago. I got some poems and short pieces published. Books came a bit later, I finished a first novel about eight years ago. For a long time, I was more invested in writing and learning fiction than in publication. Eventually, though, I did try and get things pubbed. My first book came out in August of 2011.

Did you have several manuscripts finished before you sold? If so, did you send them out yourself?

Yes. I still have a few collecting dust. Blueberry Truth, my debut novel, was actually the fourth novel I’d written. Years ago, small pubs weren’t a viable option. I like having a publishing house behind my work. I like knowing someone thought enough of it to pick it up and I like having a professional editor to help me polish the book.

Why have you become a published author?   

I wanted to share the stories I’d written. Writing a book you don’t plan to share with readers is like baking a cake just for yourself. It can be done, of course, but some things are better if you share them.

Do you have any rejection stories to share?

I’ve gotten lots and lots of rejection over the years. It’s kind of writer’s badge of honor to have them. The best was an agent who read the manuscript on my very first novel. I was pretty green then and really didn’t know what I was doing in terms of submissions. He wrote me a very sweet letter that said, basically, it’s me not you. It felt a little like he was breaking up with me.

What is your writing routine like?

If I manage a thousand words a day I consider it a success. I am persistent, though. I try to write something every day.

Wow! I love days when nothing interrupts me and I get lots of pages written or edited. After publication, what sort of promo do you do? Do you have help?

I don’t have help. I could use help, though. Any volunteers?? J  I have a website that I try to keep current and a blog. I’m also on facebook and twitter. Lately, I’ve done a few bookstore readings—I really like meeting readers in person.

Having achieved your goal to be a published author, what is the most rewarding thing?  

When a reader contacts me to say how much they enjoyed my book. Blueberry Truth is about fostering a child and I’ve had a few readers share their own experiences of fostering with me. That’s very gratifying.   

Are you a member of any writing organizations and, if so, have they helped?

I don’t belong to any large organizations at present. More locally, I belong to the New Hampshire Writer’s Project, which has lots of workshops and resources for writers. Other authors in the publishing houses I work with also offer up a wealth of experience and information.

My first writer's workshop was held in New Hampshire. It was awesome! Will you share some encouraging words for authors still struggling for that first contract? 

Keep trying. Rejection sucks and everybody hates it. But if you really want it, you need to keep at it. Work on making your writing the best it can be. Keep perfecting. Be stubborn, don’t let no stop you from working towards the yes that you want. 

Stubborn? My husband has called me inflexible and mulish, but I think those are necessary traits for a writer.What’s next for you?

I’ve got several projects in the works, including another romantic comedy and a full length women’s fiction with a strong love story. I’m also doing a lot of editing at present. I’ve got another rom com, Searching for Superman, coming out this summer, along with a historical romance novella, Sweet Lenora, and a trilogy of short love stories, I’ll be seeing you.

BOOK BLURB

India Othmar isn’t having a great year. Her husband of thirty-one years has left her for their son’s ex-girlfriend. Her grown children have moved home. Her best friend Eva seems determined to set her up with every oddball in their small Massachusetts town. And her most significant relationship these days is with Cherry Garcia.

But India is more resilient than she thinks. And though it will take a broken arm, a lawn littered with engine parts, some creative uses for shoes, and a scandalous love affair of her own, she learns, much to her surprise, that her life hasn’t ended with her marriage.

EXCERPT from AFTERGLOW

My first affair with Cherry Garcia lasted nearly three weeks. It ended when my best friend, Eva, threw a shoe at my head. My Reebok sneaker to be exact. “Enough,” said Eva from the bedroom door. “You cannot wallow forever. Besides which, I am getting very
tired of walking alone. I’ve started talking to myself, for God's sake. I’ve started talking to the dogs along the way.” She raised her arms like a conductor ready to strike up the band. “Get your hiney downstairs in five minutes or I will dress you myself.” She turned with runway model flourish and sauntered away. I do mean sauntered. Eva was nothing if not dramatic.
I should never have given Eva a key to my house. But I had, and she repaid my trust by yelling up the stairs, “Five minutes, India,” as though it were a curtain call.
    Knowing that there was not the slightest chance that she’d give up and go away, I got up, dug my oldest sweats from the bottom of the hamper, and put on both sneakers.
    “You look like misery’s leftovers,” Eva said when I came down the stairs. I gave her what I thought was a smoldering look, though in truth I don’t smolder well.
    “Let’s just get on with it,” I said.
    We walked the same route we’d walked nearly every day for twenty-five years, discounting my cha cha with Cherry Garcia. It was about two miles long, this walk, down Queen’s Boulevard, along Park Street to Third Avenue, down McKinley past the elementary
 school, and back around to Easterly Street, where Eva and I resided in side by side Dutch colonials, mine with a maple in front, hers with a willow to the side, at numbers 140 and 142.
    “You know what you need?” Eva said as we rounded the corner on McKinley. “You need a night out.”
    “I don’t need a night out. I can barely handle in.”
    We’d just passed the gold brick of McKinley Elementary where I had taught kindergarten for twenty years, ever since my daughter, Allie, had started school. We’d trekked out together, Allie and I, all those years ago. Up until my unfortunate fall in with Ben and Jerry’s, I’d kept trekking along, as trusting as those kids in my class.
    “Mrs. Othmar!” Jenny cute-as-a-bunny Mantillo came bounding down off her porch as we walked by. “You’re feeling better! Mrs. Langtree said you’d feel better and then you’d come back to school.” Jenny started walking with us, backward, “Guess what? We got a new puppy. His name is Delmar and maybe, can I bring him in for show and tell?”
    “Of course, Jenny. As long as someone’s there to take him home.”
    “Oh, Mommy will. I know she will. And Mrs. Othmar? We made you a big card that says welcome back when you come back.”
    “Are you going back?” Eva asked after Jenny bounded back up to her porch.
    “Yes. Probably. I think so.”
    “You know, I don’t envy you your job. God only knows how you deal with a roomful of snot-nosed carpet rats all day long. But you love that job.”
    We walked past the tennis courts, where the Saturday morning enthusiasts were out enjoying the first of the warm weather. Where my husband, Tom, had played tennis on Saturday mornings with our son, Patch. My soon-to-be ex-husband, Tom. And my dear, soon-to-be-if-not-already devastated son, Patch. I walked a little faster, trying to outrace these last thoughts. Eva kept pace. I was glad she wasn’t a mind reader. In fact, she was on a different wavelength all together. “What exactly did you tell Lila Stroud as far as your little absence is concerned?” She marked absence with imaginary quotation marks.
    “I told her I had tuberculosis.”
    “You didn’t, not that old Lila couldn’t use a little shaking up. But India. Well, it’s brilliant, I’ll give you that.”
    Actually, I’d told Lila, the principal at McKinley, that I wasn’t well and needed some time. Since Tamsett is a small town, where gossip travels faster than electricity, it’s not much of stretch to imagine she knew exactly why I needed time.
    “Looking at you, though, I might think tuberculosis myself,” Eva said
    “I’m just taking some time. I’m allowed to take some time.”
    “So? What? You’re going to lie in bed scarfing saturated fat until you die? You have got to get yourself out of this funk. I can’t be dragging you out of bed every day.”
    “I came, didn’t I?” I pointed to my feet. “See? Sneakers. I’m walking.” I did a couple of exaggerated marching steps to illustrate my point.
    “Its a star,” Eva said.

More About the Author

Ute, who pronounces her name oohtah, was born in Germany and grew up in upstate New York. She and her husband reside in Nashua, NH. They have two grown sons. Ute enjoys hiking, skiing, and generally anything that involves being outside. She loves chocolate, wine, and, of course, books.

Books by Ute Carbone:

Blueberry Truth

The P-Town Queen

Afterglow

The Whisper of Time

For more about Ute and her books, Please Visit:

WEBSITE   BLOG   Facebook  

 

Twitter   Goodreads   AMAZON

 

 

Telling Stories (available daily via Paper Li)

 

How can my readers buy your book?  Readers can go to the publisher’s home page at http://Champagnebooks.com

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