CJ Lyons Behind The Scenes

As a writer, wardrobe is an important concern when going to work.  Pajamas?  The robe?  Sweats?  This interview with Dr. CJ Lyons provided a new options - scrubs.  I cannot believe how comfortable they are.  Plus, there are all these pockets - a million places to stuff thing.  It’s really a whole new world.  

But the best thing about scrubs…when you wear them, people think you’re important.  Try it - go to the grocery store in scrubs.  Hit the mall - no one thinks you’re underdressed, they just think you’re cool.  

I borrowed my scrubs from a friend, a dental hygienist.  Dr. Lyons pointed out a rather large stain on the pocket, which she said was against OSHA standards (as it should be).  Of course on the way home, I had a really hard time focusing on my driving because I just couldn’t stop thinking about that stain.  What heinous procedure performed on some sad soul caused such a potent bodily fluid to leave its permanent mark on the top? (Ugh - I’ll be right back.)

I did try to tell CJ that the human body had 2006 bones, but she was pretty sure that there were only 206.  That’s probably the kind of stuff you learn in medical school.  I’m sure at one point during the interview, Dr CJ was thinking to herself, “I passed my MCAT, years of medical school, crushing student loans and residency…only to be interviewed by these two?”

But to make CJ feel better, we reminded her that she’s a Romantic Times TOP PICK, and Publisher’s Weekly said, ”A spot-on debut….Lyons delivers a breathtakingly fast-paced medical thriller.” 

About Lifelines: The lives of four women will intersect as they meet the challenges of saving lives, finding love and developing friendships despite their differences and the secrets they each try to protect.

The bonds these women form surpass mere friendship as they become each other’s heroes, helping to save lives, avoid heart ache and face their worst fears.

You can visit CJ’s website here, her blog here and most importantly, purchase Lifelines by going here.

Posted by: Jill Monroe

CJ Lyons Author Talk Interview #7

Jill and Gena interview Dr. CJ Lyons about her cutting edge (yes, I said cutting - she’s a doctor, right) medical thriller.

From Lifelines: July first, the most dangerous day of the year.

I only thought authors were dangerous, but couple that with a writer doctor and you have one scary situation.  Look for the Behind The Scenes on Monday.

Warrior Riiiizing

PC Cast’s Warrior Rising, or Warrior Riiiizing as more commonly pronounced, was released this week.  In it, PC retells the story of the Trojan War.  Now before you jump to conclusions, this book is not about THOSE kind of Trojans.  Rather, it’s about some war that took place in China or Africa, a horse may have been involved…I don’t know.  I do know that PC Cast is a fabulous writer and she can make a book, even if it’s not about THOSE kind of Trojans fantastic.

PC and her daughter Krissy were in our third Author Talk video.  The comments Gena and I receive about this episode are varied, but one thing is for certain - teenagers hate me.  I’ve been called anything from rude, stupid to a mahjor bitch (yes, that’s the spelling used).  Feel free to join in on the fun of calling me something nasty by visiting here.

You can purchase PC’s book here and visit her website here.

Posted by: Jill Monroe  

 

More Romance Novel Crime

To make James happy, here’s another book illustrating the crime that IS romance novels.  Today we’re looking at Jaci Burton’s Riding Wild.  Just look at it - with a name like that - it just screams crime Crime CRIME!

Throw in the motorcycle and, well you see the problem!

But wait, we haven’t even come to the back cover blurb.  Check it out:

He’s a Harley-riding ex-thief…she’s a gun-toting ex-socialite. Together they’ll take the ride of a lifetime in this erotic romance from “an undoubted master.”

 
Mac Canfield was the last man Lily West expected to see again, never mind aim

 her gun at. But there he was, the bad boy who’d broken her heart years ago-still a thief, hijacking a priceless artifact-and it was all she could do to push aside the memories of how it felt to have his perfectly chiseled body next to hers.

To read James’ comment in all its glory, you can watch the first AT Extra Video by clicking here.

You can buy this book here and visit Jaci’s website here and her blog here.

Posted by: Jill Monroe

The Brenda Novak OnLine Auction

Although no one specifically asked (other than my mother) what I was saying while Gena thoughted all over me in our last video, AT Extra - Questions From Jane, one of the things I mentioned was the great romance community.  

One of those great members is Brenda Novak.  Not only is Brenda Novak an amazing writer, she also organizes an auction with the proceeds going toward Diabetes research.  Many authors have donated items, including AT’s own Gena Showalter.

You can check out the 4th Annual Online Auction by going here. 

Look for more Romance Novel Crimes and a new author video next week! 

Questions From Jane - Author Talk Extra #2

Jane from Dear Author wrote an interesting opinion piece on Book Trailers.  As an author who made a book trailer (for my book Hitting The Mark), I also wonder about whether they’re effective marketing tools.  Most (if not all) of the readers concurred with Jane - trailers never really made readers all that interested in buying a book.    

Jane sent us a list of questions, and we were excited to see that they were in true AT fashion, so we had to reply in video.  Check it out:

This was great fun to do - thanks Jane!  You can read Jane’s full article and all the comments here.

Posted by Jill Monroe

HelenKay Dimon Behind The Scenes

Until this interview, all of our authors have lived in easy driving distance to our homes in Oklahoma City.  HelenKay insists on living in some placed called…California.  Despite the rule that wherever you are in the continental US you’re within 24 hours of Oklahoma, HelenKay just didn’t want to drive.  Have I mentioned how authors are difficult?

Then, while gazing at her website I noticed she has this whole phone theme going on…and the telephone interview idea blossomed.

Of course making that idea into reality was a lot harder.  HelenKay’s interview was originally going to be our 3rd or 4th.  Then our fifth - but she always had some reason why the video was never in my inbox.  Something about the flu, and then some nonsense about taking care of the paying job first…but finally I received the notice that it had been successfully uploaded to youtube.

I will say that Gena and I were extremely impressed with HelenKay - she actually memorized her lines.  WE don’t even do that.

If you’re wondering about the towels, pajamas and face cream, that’s our normal author working attire.  While we were filming Rachel Vincent’s interview, she casually mentioned how most authors prefer to look their best in public - that’s when we KNEW what our “costumes” would be for this episode.  Hope you enjoyed it.

HelenKay Dimon is a great author and really, a fantastic actress.  To see the phone thing for yourself, you can check her website here and buy Right Here, Right Now here.  Look for Hard As Nails - which hits bookstores in July 2008.

HelenKay Dimon Author Talk Interview #6

Okay, finally - we have a new Author Talk.  Silly me, I thought talking with an author one-on-one was difficult, this author made things even more difficult.

Look for the the Behind The Scenes on Monday.

The Crime of Romance Novels

In our first Author Talk Extra, we responded to a comment from James who thought all the time and energy spent on romance novels was a crime.  James, we just have to thank you for exposing romance novel crime.  Today, we’re going to profile one of the books in our video - Phantom Pleasures by Julie Leto.

Book Description: A hotel developer who wants to turn an abandoned island into an exclusive resort unwittingly unleashes a phantom cursed centuries ago-a spectral man who turns her secret desires into reality…

You can buy this book here and visit Julie’s website here and her blog here.

Are you an author whose books have also been committing crimes?  Drop us an e-mail, and tell us all about it.

Posted by:  Jill Monroe

Photo from of Big Stock Photo

Author Talk Extra #1

One of the problems with e-mail is that people ask you questions and expect you to answer them. Here Jill and Gena tackle some of the most recent questions asked at Author Talk.

PLEASE NOTE: If you’re offended by bleeped out curse words, maybe you’d like to watch a different video.