I love to feature new books on this blog and this one just came to my attention.  I can't wait to read it and I've added it to my TBR list!

Paisley feels like her life is falling apart and nothing can help her climb out of the hole that seems to be getting deeper and deeper with each new obstacle she faces…

 After leaving his home in Tennessee Jake hopes that he can find a fresh start from the past he wants to leave behind…

 Can two lost souls find love in Topsail Island, North Carolina? Or will they let their past ruin their second chances at true love?

Johnson is the proud mom of two beautiful little girls and is married to her high school sweetheart and greatest supporter who she considers the rock that keeps her grounded to reality. 

She was first introduced to the world of fantasy when she was seven years old reading The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe making her never want to read about the “real world” again. Her mom and grandmother’s love of romance novels gave her the opportunity to learn about book trading, taking all of their old books to the local flea market to trade for anything that sparked her interest. Those days are long gone; her books now stay safely on her book shelves at home and out of harm’s way. 
 
She loves to hear from readers, writers  and reviewers so please drop her a note at Jenn@JNJohnsonauthor.com. 

I'm really going to show my age here and reveal that my first memories of Johnny Depp aren't of his off beat characters, but as a then unknown actor in the horror flick Nightmare on Elm Street and a few years later as the heart throb Tom Hanson on 21 Jump Street.  He was everything an up and coming star should be: Good looking, intense, and a little bit of a bad boy.

So, why am I writting a blog post about Johnny Depp?  Because, believe it or not, we can all learn from him.  The indie publishing revolution is all about taking chances and jumping into the unknown.  Johnny Depp did just that when he left his Hollywood idol image behind to play the lead role in Tim Burton's Edward Scissorhands.  That was a huge risk for him to take!  People thought that he was crazy to "throw away" his heart throb image to play a cooky role that would surely be the end of his career.

Now, be honest, can you picture anyone else playing that part?  Depp has made a career out of unusual roles, even Captain Jack Sparrow was a gamble as Pirate movies hadn't made money in years.  So what can we take from this? Maybe, while the publishing world is turned upside down by ebooks and idie authors, we should all look around and see what risks could we take to improve our careers or our writting.  Maybe we all need to stop and ask ourselves:  What would Johnny Depp do?

Whenever possible, I try to take part in the Top Ten Tuesday feature from Broke and Bookish.  This weeks feature is the ten books that are on my to be read list for Spring.

1.  An Alpha's Path by Carrie Ann Ryan- Not only does the story sound interesting, but it's short so I should be able to finish it.

2.  A Taste For A Mate by Carrie Ann Ryan- This is the next book in the above series.

3.  Trinity Bound by Carrie Ann Ryan- Book #3 of the above series, would love to knock out the entire series.

4.  What The Heart Wants by Kelli McCracken, Mimi Munk- The cover of this one really caught me attention!

5.  Fallen by Laury Falter-Love the cover (Silly Reason, I Know)

6.  Pies and Potions by Rose Pressey-Local author, llove her other work, gotta check this one out!

7.  Fierce Dawn by Amber Scott-Everyone keeps telling me how good this is!

8.  Airel by Aaron Patterson and Chris White-Again, love the cover and it seems to have an interesting story.

9.  Great Hexpectations by H.P. Mallory- It's H.P. Mallory, what more needs to be said?

10.  Love Beyond Loyalty by Rebecca Royce- She's doing a guest post on my blog next month and now I'm dying to read this!

So there are my top ten books for Spring, what books are at the top of your to be read list for Spring?

 We all know how much I love all things UK!  (Let's not forget about my not so secret crush on a certain British actor)  Today I am lucky enough to have an actual visitor from the UK, romantic comedy author Jane Wenham-Jones!  She's here talking about her new novel Prime Time. 

DMB: First off, welcome to the blog. Can you tell us a little about yourself? 
JWJ:  I’m a jobbing writer – have written four novels, two non-fiction books, hundreds of articles, columns and short stories. And far too many emails….

DMB:  How old were you when you decided that you wanted to be a writer?
JWJ:  About 29 I think.
 
DMB:  For those readers that haven’t had the pleasure of reading your work, can you tell us a little about it?
JWJ:  My novels are usually described as romantic comedy – tho they have their dark corners. My non-fiction – Wannabe a Writer?  and Wannabe a Writer We’ve Heard Of? might be described as How-to comedy… I have a regular column in Woman’s Weekly Fiction Special here in the UK and I am the agony aunt for Writing Magazine.  

DMB:  Do you see yourself in any of your characters? 
JWJ:  There is always a little bit of me in my
heroines.

DMB:  Do you have any odd writing habits or rituals?
 JWJ:  Not really – I like to write straight onto the screen – can’t do longhand fast enough – and I drink a lot of green tea with lemon. I sometimes add wine or chocolate to that.
 
DMB:  All writers have them, but what was that a-ha moment that inspired you?
 DMB:  When I realized it beat going out to work to do a proper job.

DMB:  What are your most difficult scenes to write?
 JWJ:  Sex scenes – I feel silly writing the squidgy bits.

DMB:  Describe your ideal writing place.
JWJ:  My writing room at home which is quite large and has a fridge hidden in the envelope cupboard. It also
has an open fire, a sofa to lie back and look writerly on, lots of books and an assortment of perfumed candles – of which I am very fond.  There are two desks – one for the computer, one for unpaid bills – and I usually have
flowers in here too though they are sadly lacking as I type… 

DMB:  When you first started out as a writer, what were some of your biggest challenges?
JWJ:  Getting published; making any money.

DMB:  Any advice for other writers that are just starting out?
JWJ:  Marry somebody rich.
 
DMB:  Are your family and friends supportive of you?
JWJ:  I have wonderful friends. When he was small my son used to position himself between me and the computer screen and pull my face away from it! (He’s grown out of that now he’s eighteen). My husband cheered up about the whole business once the cheques started coming in.
 
DMB:  What writers have inspired you?
JWJ:  Oh so very many. I am constantly in awe of other writers.  
 
DMB:  Who is your favorite character from another author’s work?
JWJ:  Bridget Jones was genius.

DMB:  What do you do when you are not writing?
JWJ:  Walk, talk, read, play tennis, do the crossword, see my friends, drink wine, wake up at four in the morning thinking “why did I SAY that….?” 
  
DMB:  What can we expect from you in the future?
JWJ:  Who knows…. J


*****


www.janewenham-jones.com
and www.wannabeawriter.co.uk


Buy links for Prime Time:


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006M0TUQC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelt-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B006M0TUQC


http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B006M0TUQC/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=lucyfelthouse-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B006M0TUQC


http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prime-time-jane-wenham-jones/1107994945?ean=9781908262790&itm=1&usri=prime+time+jane+wenham+jones


 

Now I know that she didn't really go anywhere, but in a way she did, and now she's back and I admire her even more.

I first discovered my love of her books with Interview With A Vampire.  She brought a humanity to her paranormal world that was haunting.  I read as much of her work as possible, savoring each story as if it was my last meal.

As a writer, my work reflects what is happening in my life at that moment and I always assume that many other writers experience the same thing.  The focus of their life changes and it changes their work.  When the tone of Rice's novels moved from torturned paranormal creatures to a religious romantic series, I followed along, knowing that the change had to symbolize a huge shift in her life.

It turned out that after years of considering herself an atheist, Anne Rice returned to the Catholic church of her youth and for twelve years she was a devote catholic.

Then came the day in 2010 when I came to admire Anne Rice even more. 

In 2010, I found myself newly widowed, a single mother, and scared. When I think about it, scared isn't even the right word.  It's a feeling that goes deeper than missing your spouse or worrying about how you're going to do it all alone.  You always want to protect your children, but suddenly there is this overwhelming feeling that you have to sheild them from the entire world. 

Anne Rice must have felt the same way when she broke with the Catholic church in part due to its stand on homosexuality.  Rather than turn her back on her gay son Christopher (an talented writer himself), Rice stood next to her son, supporting him against the religious world.  Suddenly, Anne Rice wasn't just the writer that created the stories that I loved.  She was a mother that couldn't stand with a group that stood against her child. 

Now, with the release of The Wolf Gift, Anne Rice has returned to the paranormal.  I know her work won't be the same as before.  She's changed and grown, her work will reflect that.  One thing that I know for sure, I admire her as a gifted writer and a devoted mother.  Perhaps she can't go back to the Catholic church, but the literary world will welcome her back again and again.

I love participating in the Top Ten Tuesday posts with The Broke and Bookish!  This week's subject is my top ten favorite works of historical fiction.

1.  Gone With The Wind:  Anyone that knows me is aware of how much I love this classic about romance and survival in the Civil War era!

2.  Anna Karenina:  This story is haunting in its tragic beauty and aamazing prose.

3.  Little House On The Prarie:  This was a favorite of mine as a child.  I read and reread the entire Laura Ingalls Wilder collection until the pages were falling out!  While based very strongly on fact, Wilder took just enough liberties that I'll consider it fiction for this list.

4.  Memoirs of a Geisha:  I loved the way the culture of Japan was weaved throughout and even helped push the story along!

5.  Anne of Green Gables:  Another classic that I loved from childhood.

6.  War and Peace:  Epic!  That's all I've got to say.

7.  Water for Elephants:  A wonderful novel that helped bring awareness of animal cruelty in circuses to more people.  They story is amazing and deeply moving.

8.  The Great Gatsby:  A classic of the jazz age.

9.  The Beautiful and The Damned:  I admit, I only read it after seeing a You Tube video of Michael Praed (my not so secret crush) singing in the musical version.

10.  The Devine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood:  Okay, so part of the book is set in modern times, but my favorite parts were of Vivi and her friends in the fifties.  It was tragic the way that social expectations made Vivi pick a life that was not at all suited for her, tainting not only her life, but her children's as well.

As a writer, I am always trying to create a romantic story that will capture my readers attention from start to finish.  There are times though when it's nice to leave fiction behind and take a look at the great romances that actually took place throughout history.  To me, perhaps the greatest romance of all time is the story of Lord Nelson and Emma, Lady Hamilton.

Emma was nothing more than a maid that became the muse to George Romney and eventually the wife of Sir William Hamilton.  With Lord Nelson she found her equal in temperment and ambition.  Their love affair was the talk of not only England, but the world, and almost destroyed the career of Lord Nelson.

Never married, the two lived a quiet life in the country until Lord Nelson was called back to war.  Killed in battle, Nelson's wish was that Emma be taken care of, but his pension went to his estranged wife. 

In the movie, That Hamilton Woman, Emma is arrested and thrown in prison where she tells her story to a group of women.  When she reaches the end and recalls the death of her lover, one woman asked her what happened next and she replies that then there was nothing. 

Now THAT is an amazing romance!  A heroine rises from nothing to conquer the conquerer, a love that breaks all the rules, and a beautiful and tragic ending.  What more can you ask for?  What's your favorite romance from history?

I'm excited to share this release with my readers!  Hot Aussie Weekend by Liia Ann White is sure to get your blood pumping!

Newlyweds Jaycee and Campbell are stressed. Constantly working, trying to set up a secure future for themselves, they rarely spend time alone, enjoying each other’s company.
 
So, to celebrate their first anniversary, Campbell whisks away his wife on a romantic getaway where he plans to pamper her and lure her into the ultimate relaxed state. But what is his ulterior motive? What secret has he been keeping from his new wife?

Excerpt

Jaycee let out a long sigh as the bath bomb fizzled out beneath her legs. Lying completely immersed in the hot
scented water was just what she needed. She hadn’t realised she was stressed until she was on the car ride down here. The tension always knotted her neck and shoulders, which ached. 

The fact that Campbell had even thought of giving her a weekend away where he could pamper her was enough.
The fact that he was actually doing it? Oh yeah, he got extra brownie points for that. She could have jumped him the second she stepped through that door, but now she was so relaxed, all she wanted to do was curl up next to him and snuggle. 
 
As the bath water cooled, Jaycee pulled herself out and dried herself. Assessing herself in the mirror, she noted her pink cheeks and the way loose strands of hair had curled around her face and neck. Knowing Campbell loved that look, she left her hair up in the messy bun she had and left the bathroom. 
 
Wrapping the towel tightly around her, Jaycee wandered to the bedroom area, sighing when the cool air hit
her skin. She’d sat in the bath for too long and overheated herself a bit – she did that every time. 
 
The second she set eyes on Campbell, her temperature rose again. Topless and wearing only a pair of cotton
pants, he was mouth-wateringly sexy. Her eyebrows rose and she smiled as she took in the sight of him standing at the edge of the bed. 
  
“You look…” she paused, trying to think of an appropriate word, but nothing described how attractive he was.
With a light moan, she stepped up to him and ran her hand down his bare abdomen, smiling when the muscles contracted underneath her fingertips.
 
Whatever it is, it’s guaranteed to be a weekend full of eroticism, love, romance and some surprises on a Hot Aussie Weekend.

Buy Links

 All Romance eBooks - http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-hotaussieweekend-720064-144.html

Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Aussie-Weekend-ebook/dp/B00794L608/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1330420295&sr=8-5

 Amazon UK - http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hot-Aussie-Weekend-ebook/dp/B00794L608/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330437007&sr=8-1