DIPLOMATIC TUTOR

By:  Sandra Elzie

Okay, so I’m sure you’re all aware of how quickly things are changing in the world…and nothing is changing faster than the publishing industry.  That brings me to what I want to talk about today.  Back in 2008, I sold my first book to Avalon and it was well received …in hardback form…by libraries, my friends and family.  But once it was out of print, I started watching the ticking clock for when I could get my rights back.  A lot of authors today are happy to get the rights to their book back…some to eventually independently publish them on Amazon & Barnes and Noble in e-book form.

I marked my calendar for when my first book’s rights would be available to me…and even began to look at pictures for a possible new book cover.  And then I’m notified that Avalon Publishing has been sold to Amazon…and I quickly realize what this could mean.  My hopes of getting the rights back on that book are squashed.  (sigh)

With Amazon now in control of my book, I have a couple choices…stomp & scream or just shrug and go with the flow of life.  I chose the later.  It’s much less stressful and besides, I happen to believe that God is in control, so if something good is to come out of a negative situation, then it’ll happen…sooner or later.  As it turns out, it’s a good thing I didn’t waste time stressing because in November I received a nice, early Christmas present…Amazon notified me that they would be issuing Diplomatic Tutor in digital form.   Well, I guess the next best thing to releasing it digitally myself is having it released by Amazon with their name behind it.  I haven’t received the first royalty check yet, but I’m hopeful that this side business with Amazon will turn out well for the both of us.

The Diplomatic Tutor is a contemporary romance about a young girl from West Virginia who applies to the United Nations to become a tutor for a delegate living in America.  When she’s chosen, she has no idea just how much her life will change.

If you like a bit of suspense with your romance, this just might be the book for you.  Or maybe you just want to see how this strong-willed young woman handles a very precocious child (who steals almost every scene she’s in) and how she interacts with a British diplomat, then, again, I’ll suggest that you might enjoy this book. Below is a short description of The Diplomatic Tutor. 

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When Natalie Holmes accepts a position to tutor Kelsey, the five-year-old daughter of a British diplomat, she never expected to be the one put to the test.  She never expected to fall in love with the child or her handsome father.  She fights the attraction since she knows he could never love a coal miner’s daughter from West Virginia.

Trenton Lancaster is a widower with strict mandates concerning the safety and education of his daughter. Natalie and Trenton immediately clash, but he can’t resist her homespun simplicity and intelligence, and she falls in love with his strength of character and devotion to Kelsey. When Natalie thoughtlessly breaks a rule, she thinks she’ll surely be fired. Only Trenton’s growing affection for Natalie and her obvious devotion to Kelsey convince him to retain her services. Each must change, but when the prize is living happily ever after, it’s worth any risk and sacrifice.

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Since Petit Fours & Hot Tamales is having a month-long Anniversary celebration, I’m offering a free Amazon download to not one, but TWO of our lucky commenters today.  Happy New Year!   So be sure to leave a comment to be in the drawing!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Sandra Elzie was challenged by her husband in 2001 not to wait until retirement in 2005 to start writing the book he’d been hearing about almost since they had been married.  Picking up the gauntlet he’d thrown down, Sandra spent the next eight years honing her craft and finishing twelve manuscripts.  She now lives in southern Georgia with her husband and cat and enjoys reading, traveling and family gatherings.  The Diplomatic Tutor was  Sandra’s first published book.

Sandra loves to hear from her readers or if you just want to learn more about her, be sure to click on her name above and visit with her at her website.     She also writes and has independently published several other stories as  Sandra McGregor.  Check them out on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

  WE HAVE NOT ONE…BUT  THREE SPECIAL GUESTS TODAY!  WELCOME LADIES!  TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW BOOK.

   THREE COWBOYS

by:  Julie Miller, Dana Marton & Paula Graves

Harlequin Intrigue
ISBN: 0373696582

THIS CHRISTMAS, THE McCABE BROTHERS ARE COMING HOME TO TEXAS…

VIRGIL    by USA TODAY bestselling author Julie Miller
Detective Virgil “Bull” McCabe hadn’t been back on the J-Bar-J Ranch in more than a decade. What he finds is his family in turmoil and his childhood friend, Tracy Cobb, all grown up…and more beautiful than ever.

MORGAN    by Dana Marton
It took a lot to bring ex-soldier Morgan McCabe home. But when his brothers sent out a call for help, that was all the incentive he needed. Once there, though, it’s his former flame, Dakota Dayton, and her toddler son who might just convince him to stay.

WYATT     by Paula Graves
Sheriff Wyatt McCabe has faced a lot of criminals, but none as ruthless as the one holding his sister hostage. Now, forced to work with Elena Vargas, Wyatt has to ensure his family’s safety without giving in to his burning attraction to the gorgeous agent.

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The 3 McCabe brothers were recently interviewed.  Want to get to know these hunky heroes better?   Read on.

MEET THE McCABES

        QUESTION:  Public service seems to run in your blood. Who inspired you to serve in the military or law enforcement?

VIRGIL:  God, good genes and years of hard work on the ranch made me a big, bad S.O.B. There’s got to be a reason for that—protecting people and taking down bad guys seems to work for me. Besides, I saw and endured enough trouble growing up that I’m motivated to keep any innocent from suffering the
way my brothers, my mom and I did.

MORGAN:  The older brother of my best friend who was a Navy S.E.A.L.   He was tough, didn’t take bull from anyone. He would defend the weak and stand for our country. He was the first real life hero I met.  Before that, I thought heroes were people in history books.

WYATT:   Both of my older brothers went off to be heroes. What was I going to do, sit at home on the ranch while they were off being cool and all? And as much as I love Serpentine, Texas, this wild and wonderful town where we grew up, I couldn’t think of a better town to protect.

          QUESTION:  What’s the first book you remember reading?

VIRGIL:  Um… That I’ll admit to?  I remember Mom reading SMOKEY, THE COWHORSE to me as a kid.  I liked it. And Tracy Cobb, my neighbor and best bud, got me through American Lit our junior year.  TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is one I actually own a copy of now.

MORGAN:  The James Bond series. He had the gadgets, the cars, always got the girl. <shrugs> What’s not to like?

WYATT:  Zane Grey’s KNIGHTS OF THE RANGE.

          QUESTION:  What’s your favorite “love” word?

VIRGIL:  Blue Eyes

MORGAN:  I rather show love then talk about it. And I definitely won’t talk about what happened in the upstairs hallway closet. A gentleman doesn’t… kiss and tell

WYATT:  What kind of sissy question is that? Did one of my brothers put you up to it? Oh, all right. I guess I like the word “adore.” What’s not to like about “adore?”
       QUESTION:  What’s your idea of a unique date?

VIRGIL: My favorite date is to ride out to a remote corner of the ranch with a picnic basket and some cold beers. Long talks, fresh air, moonlight. Depending on the company, I’d pack a blanket or sleeping bag, too.

MORGAN:  Tandem skydiving. Get a girl’s knees shaky and it’s easier to sweep her off her feet. I already have a date scheduled for you know who. Don’t tell her.

WYATT: I don’t know if it’s really unique, but a girl who finds the romance in going bass fishing on Lake Amistad is what I’d call a keeper.

          QUESTION:  Who’s your favorite action hero?

VIRGIL:  Ben Grimm in the Fantastic Four (btw, Morgan is Reed Richards—well, he thinks he’s Mr. Fantastic—and Wyatt’s gotta be Johnny Storm—Flame on, pipsqueak!) We do Adam, Hoss and Little Joe Cartwright, too. (Well, about 20 years ago we did.)

MORGAN:  Lara Croft.  I like strong, smart women.

WYATT: Detective John McClane. Yippy Ki Yay.

          QUESTION:  What’s your favorite cartoon character?

VIRGIL: Elmer Fudd

MORGAN: I’m not admitting. My brothers would never let me live it down. Sorry, folks.

WYATT: Bugs Bunny, because he’s chock full of attitude.

     (Special thanks to Intrigue Author Angi Morgan for conducting the interview!)
Now it’s time to meet the authors! 

        QUESTION:  What was the most challenging part of writing Virgil’s story?

JULIE’S ANSWER: I had the brother angle on this story down pat. But I will confess, I’m a Marine Corps brat/city girl, so creating authentic ranch life with a hero who’s a former rodeo bull-riding champ required a little research. Fortunately, my CP (author Sherry James) raises horses and lives on a ranch, so she let me ask her all kinds of questions. Plus, she won a dinner with a group of rodeo champs when the
National Finals for bull riding were held in Grand Island, Nebraska—and she took me as her guest! I met a real “Bull”—a stock manager from South Dakota who provided bulls for the event.

DANA’S ANSWER: He’s soooo stubborn. He never did what I wanted him to do. Dakota had the same trouble with him. Sometimes it’s hard to decide whether to kiss a guy or strangle him. He was that guy.  I’m pretty sure he gave me gray hairs. Thing is, he’s worth the trouble.

PAULA’S ANSWER: Trying to get the flavor of South Texas right. That part of the state is very different from where I live in Alabama — flat, dry and expansive rather than hilly and damp — and I really wanted people to get a taste of the terrain, since my characters spend a lot of time out in it.  Fortunately, I minored in Spanish in college, so I was able to sprinkle the story with a little bit of Spanish, especially helpful since my heroine is Latina.

QUESTION:  What movie or TV show is your favorite cowboy inspiration?

JULIE’S ANSWER: For me, it’s THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. The movie, the tv series—any incarnation. I’ve always loved the story idea of a group of individuals—each with unique skills, talents and personal baggage—coming together as one unit to defeat the bad guys. They find a useful purpose for themselves, regain honor and find loyalty among true friends. Plus, there’s something about having a hero to suit whatever mood I’m in.

DANA’S ANSWER: Deadwood.  Loooooved that series!

PAULA’S ANSWER: I always loved The Rifleman. I liked that Lucas McCain was a tough guy who could handle a fight, but he tried to avoid conflict when he could, and he was a decent and honorable man. He was a good father, and watching him raise Mark to be a decent, honorable man absolutely melted my heart. Plus, he was one of those lean, rangy cowboys who make my heart flutter.

              QUESTION:  And what’s next for our three talented authors?

Julie Miller, TACTICAL ADVANTAGE,  March 2013

Paula Graves, CODE NAME: WILLOW, available NOW!

 Dana Marton, DEATHSCAPE, available NOW!!!

Who are your  favorite cowboy heroes?  Real or from movies/TV/books?  Or who are your favorite brothers from the world of fiction and   entertainment or real life?

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Petit Fours & Hot Tamales would like to thank these three ladies for giving us such a great interview!  But that’s not all!   Since the Christmas season is all about giving gifts, Julie, Dana and Paula each came with one for a lucky person who leaves a comment today.

THREE lucky commenters (one for each of our heroes!) will each win one of the following prizes:

1) A print or e-book from Julie Miller (winner’s choice).

2) An e-book from Dana Marton.

3) An Amazon or B&N gift certificate from Paula Graves for one book (winner’s choice).

Julie Miller is an award-winning, USA TODAY bestselling author of breathtaking romantic suspense–with a National Readers Choice Award and two Daphne du Maurier’s among other prizes.  In 2009 she earned an RT BookReviews Career Achievement Award for Series Romantic Suspense. For a complete list of her books, monthly newsletter and more, go to www.juliemiller.org

Dana Marton is the author of over thirty novels published in a dozen languages around the world.  She is the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, and a Rita Award finalist. www.danamarton.com

As a child, award-winning novelist Paula Graves’s favorite books were Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries and Harlequin Romances. When she realized there were books that featured both romance and mystery, she knew she’d found her calling. Now Paula writes romantic suspense novels and novellas, where she gets to play both matchmaker and murderer and has a blast doing it. She loves to hear from her readers, who can reach her by clicking the contact button on her website, www.paulagraves.com.

 First, thank you to Petit Fours & Hot Tamales for inviting me to blog with you today! I was flattered to be asked and am always excited to meet new readers. I hope you’ll get to know me a little better by picking up a copy of my brand new release, KANSAS CITY COWBOY, or by checking out one of my backlist titles. You can read about all my books, see my monthly newsletter, enter book giveaways and more at my website at www.juliemiller.org.

As the published author of nearly 50 books, I get invited to present workshops at conferences, speak at book clubs, etc. I get fan mail and reader e-mail. I socialize on Facebook and Twitter. I blog on the Intrigue Authors blog http://intrigue-authors.blogspot.com, post regularly on the http://community.harlequin.com  boards, and post a monthly newsletter on my website. Plus, I grocery shop, attend my son’s music and school events, work with the community theater and treasure time with my family and friends. In other words, there is plenty of opportunity for people to ask me about my writing.

Some questions make me laugh out loud; others make me wrinkle my brow and wonder what planet that person just transported from. A few comments touch my heart. As any shy person (like me) out there knows, it’s easier to jump into a conversation when someone asks me a question, and so I’m grateful to all the queries I’ve been asked over the years. I’ve started some wonderful friendships from just one little question.

Today I thought I’d share some of those questions that I’ve heard more than once over the years. And I’ll give you a bit of my responses as well. Enjoy!

1. Is that you and your husband on the cover?

Yes. Look at the cover of AT YOUR COMMAND. I’m a tall, willowy blonde with a slammin’ body, and my hubby is a 6’4” lean, mean, muscle-packed Marine who goes through his daily life without a shirt. Okay, that’s sarcasm. Wishful thinking. I’m married to the Marine’s comic sidekick. I’m leaning toward middle age and have a sedentary job. The only thing “slammin” about my body is when I trip down the stairs. But I appreciate anyone who thinks we resemble the heroes and heroines on my covers. Really. Thanks!

2. Your characters feel so real. You’ve lived through those experiences, right?

I write romantic suspense, folks. Happily, I’ve never been a serial killer. And while yes, I’ve been the victim of crime, I’m far less brave than my fictional counterparts. In my other life as a teacher and IMPROV trainer and processor, I’ve been fortunate to work with trauma nurses, DEA agents, undercover cops, detectives, rape counselors, doctors, attorneys, ranchers, firefighters, computer techs, reporters, business executives and more. I’m lucky that I’m a great observer of people. I’m luckier that these people enjoy my company and are willing to answer my questions. Plus, I’m an avid reader of fiction and non-fiction, a television watcher and movie fan. I immerse myself in how others portray the characters and situations I’m interested in—then I internalize those real feelings and responses and bring them out in my own unique characters. It’s an acting technique I learned in the theater that also works well in writing fiction.

3. I have a great idea for a story, will you write it for me? (and split the money, of course)

Um, no. I have far too many stories of my own playing inside my head—stories I’m anxious and excited to tell. It seems that with each story I write, new characters and situations pop into my head—a supporting character who calls to me to be featured in his/her own story, a plot-line that I’d like to try with a different character or setting to see how it would play out, etc.

4. Are your characters real people? Where is this precinct/bar/school/hospital/etc. where your characters work and hang out so I can meet them?

 Again, I’m writing fiction, folks. While I try to make my characters as realistic as possible, they’re all figments of my imagination. My Precinct books for Intrigue are set in Kansas City, Missouri—a very real, diverse, rife-with-potential-settings, city. However, while I pepper in the name of a highway or art museum, historic landmarks, etc., in my stories to give it an accurate sense of place, the homes, workplaces, neighborhoods, etc. are created by yours truly to meet the fictional needs of each particular story. One fun thing I do for my family and friends is to drop in the mention of something real from our lives into a story—only the family member or friend will get the reference, but it’s a fun way to personalize a book without the readers never knowing. For example, almost all the pet names I’ve used in my books are the names of pets I’ve had or have, or the names of friends’ pets. So, there are some real inspirations in my books, but they’re truly works of fiction.

5. Where do you get your ideas?

The short answer? Everywhere. Observations of life. Favorite tv shows, movies, fictional characters. Travel. Learning history. News. Reading other books. Writing my own books. My imagination. As a shy kid growing up, I spent a lot of time inside my head, creating stories to entertain myself so that I was never bored. It’s a habit that has continued my entire life.

So, do you have any questions you’d like to ask? These, of course, were on the more humorous side of things, but I’m happy to talk more seriously, too, if you have questions about my books, about writing your own stories, the publishing market or whatever. I’ll give away a copy of KANSAS CITY COWBOY to someone who posts a question or comment.

Best wishes, Julie Miller

USA TODAY Bestselling Author

Breathtaking Romantic Suspense

Julie Miller and her Daphne du Maurier Award!

To connect with Julie, you can go here:website: www.juliemiller.org

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Julie-Miller/25063057967

Twitter:  #JulieMillerAuth