The Brava Authors congratulate Jill Shalvis for her RITA® finalist nomination for Best Contemporary Single Title for INSTANT ATTRACTION!!
Archive for General – Page 3
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Categories : General, Jill Shalvis
Tags : Sylvia Day
The romance world is awash in conferences and confabs, from RTs blowout coming up in April to a cluster of regional meetings across the country. Have you been to any, or checked them out?
Hi there, long time no see! I trust everyone is well and reading like fiends? I’m in the middle of a romance reading spurt myself, and in my humble opinion, there’s nothing like a good book to make everything good.
Well, a good book AND maybe some junk food. Say like cookies. The other day I was taking a writing break and sitting on my deck reading and eating. A neighbor stopped by, took one look at the half naked man on the cover and wrinkled her highbrow. Or high brow. Whichever. 
“I like books where the covers are more tasteful,” she said.
What she meant was, she liked her sex on the inside, thank you very much, and she’d rather no one know what that she was reading it in the first place.
And that’s okay. I get that. In fact, my first two Bravas were like that. All cozy on the outside, and a little spicy hot on the inside. And then they were reprinted in mass market, and well . . . Maybe you’d better see for yourself.
Get A Clue, original in trade, and then the reprint:
I got lots of mail on the cover of this one.
And then came Aussie Rules, first the original . . .
and then the sexier reprint:
I’m guessing the hotter covers sell better or we wouldn’t be seeing them. My Sexy series out last year, SMART AND SEXY, STRONG AND SEXY, SUPERB AND SEXY, all had pretty hot covers, and they did well, proving the point, I’m thinking.
Next February I have a new series coming out, starting with:
Oh, wait. That’s not quite right, though I LOVE it. Sorry. Let’s reshoot him without my wonderful editor in the shot:
There it is. Not quite as overtly sexy as my past series. Which brings me to my question of the day. What do you want on your covers? Sexy? Subtle? Gorgeous men? Scenery? What? Inquiring minds want to know.
Oh, and I’ll draw a few names from those of you who comment and give away books from my backlist, including the very sexy covered SEXY series, or the more subtle covers of some of my others. Your choice. Now spill!
UPDATE: I randomly drew winners, and they are . . .
Amelia, Aideen, and Antonia Peace! (Funny that it was totally random and yet they all start with A’s!)
Anyway, hit the link to my site and email me from there with your snailmail and a few book choices!
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Categories : General, Jill Shalvis
Hi there! Long time no see, which is entirely my fault, as I’ve actually FORGOTTEN to blog on my assigned day two times in a row. Which tells you how full my brain is. Call it deadline dementia. I know I’d feel a whole lot more relaxed if my Girl Scout cookies had come in, but no. I have to live in Siberia where everything takes forever to get delivered . . . okay, I don’t really live in Siberia. If you read my daily blog, you know I live in the wild Sierras, near Lake Tahoe, where I have all sorts of I-Love-Lucy like adventures, especially with the epic winter we’ve been having.
What was I saying?
Oh, yes, that I’m SCATTERED. And hungry. But I digress. I’m here to talk about my Bravas. Some of you might have read:
Or maybe the sequel:
In any case, the third in the series, SUPERB AND SEXY, is coming out at the end of May.
And I just got a few ARCS (Advanced Reading Copies)! They don’t have the pretty cover on them, they’re basically just bound manuscripts but I figure there’s a few of you out there who would enjoy a copy. So read the excerpt below, and if it sounds like something that would float your boat, leave me a comment here and I’ll draw a few names.
Other than that, I would LOVE to know what you’re reading! Me first, I’m reading Strangers In Death. LOVE J.D. Robb. Now you.
Oh and before I leave, here’s the promised excerpt of SUPERB AND SEXY:
Maddie’s chest felt too tight. Damn it. She let out a long, calming breath, which of course didn’t work. It never worked. Neither did just sitting at the window staring down at Brody, but God, she was tired, and still recovering. Yeah, that’s what this asinine weakness in her knees was — recovery. Because it sure as hell wasn’t for him.
No way.
They didn’t even like each other . . .
And yet she leaned over so she could see out the window again, past the twin tall pines trying to claim her view, at the nearly six feet four inches of rough and tumble, sexy-as-hell male as he unfolded his long legs from the muscle car.
Her pulse took another unfortunate leap. The last time she’d seen him he’d been in his pilot’s uniform, and even though it was ridiculous and juvenile and wrong, it had turned her on. The thought of seeing him out of it? Even more so.
UPDATE:
Limecello, Sonya, and Jen! Your names were picked randomly by my Youngest, so that means you win. Email me with SUPERB AND SEXY in the subject line, and don’t forget to give me your snail mail addy!
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Categories : General, Jill Shalvis
I’m working on a Christmas story for next year, am in fact on deadline, so naturally I’m surfing the net. I got lost on TMZ for an hour, having lots of fun being a celebrity stalker. Just when I think that my life is rough, there’s Amy Winehouse flashing her va-jay-jay, or Britney shopping for light fixtures while her children are waiting in her car, or Akron throwing a kid off the stage and then acting all shocked to find out that’s frowned upon in today’s society.
After my pop culture fix, I sat in the living room in front a raging fire. It was snowing outside, just gorgeous. I was going To Write. Really. But then the puppy stepped on the remote and Project Runway came on. I’ve never seen that show but have to tell you, I was instantly hooked. Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t reach the remote, and complicating matters, Bravo was running a Project Runway marathon.
Four episodes later, I finally pried myself away from the TV, but then the kitten commandeered a long-lost grape, and she was rolling around with it, chasing it, stalking it, attempting to bite it, and this amused me for another hour.
Clearly, I need help.
So I’m asking. Whatever your job, how do you stay focused?? What’s the trick?? And don’t say cookies. I’ve tried that and now my sweats are too tight. 
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Categories : General, Jill Shalvis
My closet is once again out of control. Between my, ahem, slipper problem (I have way too many pairs, some bunny slippers, some Disney character slippers, some down slippers . . . you get the picture) and then there’s all the books in there, and that combined with my little disorganizational problem . . . well, you can imagine. I’d take a picture but it’s too embarrassing.
So I’m once again divulging myself of some books. I have three ARCs left of STRONG AND SEXY, which comes out in late December. I’m going to put up an excerpt here, and if you’re interested, post a comment and you’re in the running. Oh, and also? I want to hear what you’re all reading. I’m in the middle of Tangled Up In You, by Rachel Gibson, and am hooked, which was desperately needed.
And if you’re not reading, we can talk about my second great love, TV. What are you watching? Besides the usuals (House, Heroes, Extreme Home Makeover, Grey’s, Las Vegas, et al), I’m totally and completely gone over Dirty Sexy Money this season. Anyone else??
Okay now as promised, the excerpt for:
Excerpt:
“I saw the mistletoe,” she rushed to explain. “It’s everywhere. And people were kissing. And I couldn’t get kissing off my mind . . . God. Forget it, okay? Just forget me.” She took a step back, but because this was her, she tripped over something on the floor behind her. She’d have fallen to her ass if he hadn’t held her upright. “Thanks,” she managed. “But I need to go now. I really need to go—“
He put a finger to her lips.
Right. Stop talking. Good idea.
His eyes, still hot, and also a little amused – yeah, because that’s what she wanted to see in a man’s eyes after she’d tried to seduce him, amusement — locked onto hers. She couldn’t look away. There was just something about the way he was taking her in, as if he could see so much more than she’d intended him to. “Seriously. I’ve—“
He turned away.
Okaaaay . . . “Got to go.”
But he was rustling through one of the shelves. Then he bent to look lower and she tried not to look at his butt. She failed, of course. “Um, yeah. So I’ll see you around.” Or not. Hopefully not—
“Got it.” Straightening, he revealed what he held – a sprig of Mistletoe.
“Oh,” she breathed. Her heart skipped a beat, then raced, beating so loud and hard she couldn’t hear anything but the blood pumping through her veins.
His mouth quirked slightly, but his eyes held hers, and in them wasn’t amusement so much as . . .
Pure staggering heat.
“Did you change your mind?” he asked.
Was he kidding? “No.”
With a smile that turned her bones to mush, he raised his arm so that the mistletoe was above their heads.
Oh, God.
“Your move,” he whispered.
She looked at his mouth, her own tingling in anticipation. “Maybe you could . . .”
“Oh, no. I’m not taking advantage of a woman in a closet, drenched in champagne.” He smiled. “But if she wanted to take advantage of me, now see, that’s a different story entirely.”
He was teasing her, his eyes lit with mischievousness, and a wicked, wicked intent.
“I’m a klutz,” she whispered. “I might hurt you by accident.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
She laughed. She couldn’t help it. She laughed, and he closed his eyes and puckered up, making her laugh some more, making it okay for her to lean in . . .
And kiss him.
UPDATE:
I had my youngest daughter draw numbers and then I counted down to find the winners. Thanks for playing, I really enjoyed hearing what everyone is reading! The winners are Stacy, JackieToo, and Jane Squires. Please email me from my website with your address!
Comments (88)
Categories : General, Jill Shalvis
Okay, I don’t get it. I really don’t. What is the deal with this Paris Hilton hype? Why do we care? Are we waiting to see if the rich girl to grows into heroine or suffers a tragic end? I can’t figure out the rabid interest.
Maybe I do know. Paris is bigger than life—she’s had it all, money, privilege, weird fame, but we’re looking to see what is under all of that. We’re looking to see if she has substance, the seeds of something real and powerful that will grow into valuable qualities. We’re looking to see what she’s really made of under all the makeup and glamour.
From a writer’s point of view, Paris has the potential to grow into a heroine. I’d tweak her back story a little and make her dramatic mom into a stage mom who pushed her daughter into the limelight. Then I’d get a few more people to take advantage of her, and just when she finally learns to fight back I’d throw her in the slammer.
Once there, I’d force her to see what other people, more specifically the poor and disenfranchised go through, and then I’d have the ingredients for a heroine.
Of course, then I’d really make her life miserable and bring in a hero who doesn’t think she’s worth the time of day…until Paris proved to him, and the readers, that she has become a woman of value, and that she deserves real love.
That’s if I’m writing a romance. And I’d have a heck of a lot of fun finding her a hero for her.
But back in real life, I suspect the media doesn’t want a romance where Paris morphs into an amazing woman and finds soul-filling love. I suspect they are looking for her to spiral into tragedy. Like we don’t have enough tragedy everyday?
It’s the same thing with other young stars like Britney, Lindsay, etc. The crazy media following them endlessly, gleefully reporting on their bad behavior and bizarre antics reminds me in a way of Princess Diana—a woman who molded herself into a flawed but likable heroine. She was rich and privileged but we could identify with her desperation for her husband to love her, and later, her continuing quest to find love. We applauded her standing up against the establishment to raise her sons in the way she saw fit. She had good and bad qualities that we could identify with. In spite of her flaws, or maybe because of them, she made us care about more than just the way she looked, or what outrageous thing she did or said, she made us aware of people and their genuine suffering. She drew us in and made us care with her. We felt a part of her world.
Maybe Diana left a hole in the world that we are trying to fill: A beautiful princess with real substance.
With the young women today like Paris, we are not drawn into their worlds, but watching them from the outside with curiosity. They don’t seem to have substance, at least not yet.
Why do you think there’s so much interest in Paris? Do you think she can find her way into becoming a real life heroine?
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Categories : General, Jennifer Apodaca
Hi Guys! I’m feeling a little bit worn out and under the weather today, so I’m going to cheat. Answer a question and I’ll pick five people to win one book each from my Brava Backlist which includes:
WICKED WOMEN WHODUNIT Anthology
THE SEX ON THE BEACH BOOK CLUB
SUN SAND SEX Anthology
The question: Who is the most romantic couple you know?
For me, it was my aunt and uncle. They traveled, the fought, they made up, they face tragedy, and they experienced joy. And right up until my aunt passed away, they had each other. When my aunt died, my uncle was by her bed, holding her hand. And a year later, when I look into my uncle’s eyes, the love he feels for her lives on.
So who is the most romantic couple you know?
I’ll randomly choose the winners and post their names on the comments tomorrow (Friday).
Good Luck!
Comments (26)
Categories : General, Jennifer Apodaca
I’m in tv season mourning. All my shows are gone, off the air for months, and while there are some really great summer series (Rescue Me anyone?) for the most part my evenings are now free.
So I’m gobbling up books. Because as much as I love tv, I love books more; romances, mysteries, suspense, hell I’ll read a cereal box, I don’t care, I love it all. As I have mentioned here before, my TBR pile is shockingly high, topples over daily, and just last night, smacked my poor dog with a falling tower of paperbacks. I actually have two TBR piles. The first and biggest, is the Someday Pile. You know, for when I find myself stranded in the Bahamas with no laundry and no dishes and nothing to do but read and say thank you to the cute cabana boy for the delicious feast he’s prepared for me … sorry, I digress. Pile number two is smaller and is the imminent reading pile, the absolute NEXT reads on my list, which actually for me often includes a piece of paper with the books that I want that aren’t out yet, like Janet’s Lean Mean Thirteen and HARRY POTTER! My God, I’m pathetically eager for that one.
Unfortunately at the moment, my immediate next reads are me. I have copy edits and galleys due. Not a problem except I’ve already read these books, lol. I like NEW stuff! Hence the towering TBR pile … yeah, I still have hope about that Bahamas trip . . .
Anyway, here’s the question of the day. If you had an imminent list like I do, of books that are coming that you can’t wait for, what’s on it? I’ll be drawing a few names from the comments to be in the running for a free brava of your choice from my backlist.
Update:
Winners are Shuck Ying and Kris! Email me from my website with your book choice and addy.
Comments (35)
Categories : General, Jill Shalvis
Right now, I’m reading Jodi Picoult’s MY SISTER’S KEEPER. My mood is poignant and sad and a little bit hopeful and a whole lot worried.
This morning I had to go get my blood drawn. It’s routine, I’m a regular pin cushion I read the book while waiting for the vampires…uh, I mean the lab coat with the needle, and I realize that I am wondering how many people in the lab with me are sick. How many of them have families that are really worried? Maybe envisioning a future that doesn’t include them.
Grim stuff, I know.
But last time I was in the lab, I was readying Jill Shavis’s SMART AND SEXY. That day, I noticed the pregnant woman whose husband (I assume) loved her enough to go to her doctor appointments with her. I wasn’t grim at all. I was reading a fun love story, my mood was light and hopeful and so when I created stories in my head for the people around me, their stories reflect my mood.
My Book Mood. Today it dawned on me that whatever I’m reading can create a mood that spills over into my regular life.
Does that happen to you? Or is it just me?
P.S. If you’re looking for light fun reads, the SUN, SAND, SEX Anthology with Linda Lael Miller, myself and Shelley Laurenstong will be out in just a few days!
Comments (11)
Categories : General, Jennifer Apodaca
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