Sit Down And Write!

Today I'm giving all the writers out there a pep talk combined with a stern finger wag. Yesterday a friend of mine on Twitter who is a full-time writer was contemplating the choice between a nap (it was 3 in the afternoon) or a cup of coffee. I spluttered my indignation at her. This is why people think we romance writers laze around in yoga pants eating truffles between sex scenes. This is why her own mother still wistfully talks about her getting a REAL job, even though she's a bestselling and award winning author. I was ready to jump in the car, drive to her house in Wisconsin and slap her awake. And it wasn't just bitterness that I was stuck at my day job, where they tend to frown on naps.

It was the final straw in a rant that had been gathering steam in me for a while. Writing is a job and must be treated as such....here's the kicker...WHETHER YOU ARE PUBLISHED YET OR NOT. Because you've got to set up the rigorous habits right now. I'm moving next week. Most of the house still needs to be packed. It'd be easy for me to skip writing at night for the next week with that as an excuse. But I won't. Because writing is my job. And there are no excuses (although be prepared for me to whine a little...or a lot...about all the packing). Yes, your child is home with the umpteenth snow day and your schedule is disrupted. Yes, you are repainting the bathroom and the whole project has escalated into two weeks of non-stop home improvement. Yes, you've got a big proposal due at the day job that requires extra hours.

No, that does NOT mean that your deadline will change. The words have to come out anyway. My husband has admitted that he could never, ever work from home, because he needs the structure of an office and daily reminders of deadlines. Well, writers don't have that luxury. Our editors leave us alone for four months while we write. We ourselves have to be the bad cop, the one filling in the squares on the mental timesheet. Time you steal one week becomes time that you can't necessarily make up the next week when suddenly promo is due for a blog tour. Or when you lose hours to designing snazzy swag for a convention. Without anyone looking over our shoulders on a daily basis, we have to kick our own butts. We have to flip off the damned imaginary muse and make the words come out no matter what.

Would you nap in the middle of the day if you were a court stenographer? Nope. Would you not clock in for two days as a cop because you'd rather get your bathroom done quickly? Nope. I promise, if you turn yourself into a hard-ass boss on this whole writing thing, your life will actually become easier. The words will flow with more regularity...as you write with more regularity. The stress of squeezing in the time to write a three-book proposal on top of the book that is due will even out, because you will already be on schedule with the WIP. People will learn not to call you in the middle of the day to chat, because it is your work time (or at ten at night - whenever you may put your fingers on the keyboard). Clock in five days a week. You'll end up thanking yourself.

Fabulous Cover Reveal for Caged In Winter!

I'm so happy to share this cover reveal of CAGED IN WINTER by Brighton Walsh. We were in a Christmas anthology together last year, so I can personally attest to her writing brilliance. I'm super excited for this book to come out, so at least seeing the cover helps tide me over....

In this emotional and sexy New Adult debut from Brighton Walsh, the only thing more frightening than commitment is hope…

Aspiring chef Cade Maxwell is immediately, viscerally attracted to Winter Jacobson. But it’s not her mouthwatering curves he’s drawn to—it’s the strange emptiness in her eyes. When Cade saves her from a drunken customer with grabby hands, he’s shocked at her response…

Winter doesn’t need Cade’s help. After a lifetime of getting by on her own, she’s happy to rely on herself. She’s exactly seventy-six days away from graduating college, and if she can hold it together that long, she’ll finally be able to rise above the crappy hand she was dealt.

But now, every time she turns around, Cade is there, ready to push her, smile at her, distract her from her plans. Winter knows she can’t afford to open up—especially to a man she’s terrified to actually want.

Brighton Walsh spent nearly a decade as a professional photographer before deciding to take her storytelling in a different direction and reconnect with her first love: writing. When she’s not pounding away at the keyboard, she’s probably either reading or shopping—maybe even both at once. She lives in the Midwest with her husband and two children, and, yes, she considers forty degrees to be hoodie weather. Her home is the setting for frequent dance parties, Lego battles, and more laughter than she thought possible. Visit her online at www.brightonwalsh.com.  

Release Day of HARD AS YOU CAN is Finally Here!!!!

It’s release day! And I’m so excited to share Hard As You Can, the second book in the Hard Ink series, with all of you here today! Hard As You Can follows the surviving members of a disgraced Army Special Forces team as they fight to regain their stolen honor, and finds their investigation crossing paths with a waitress willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive and protect her younger sister. For Shane McCallan, saving Crystal Dean is a mission he refuses to turn down.

Today, I’ve got a super sexy scene to share with you, one that was a total surprise to me as I was writing it! I hope you enjoy this peek at the first time Shane and Crystal find themselves alone with each other:

“Do you like to dance, Crystal?” Shane asked in a low voice.

“Uh, what? Why?”

His smile was crooked, playful. “ ’Cause dancing’s something people do when they’re getting to know each other.”

“Really?” Maybe where he was from. Then again, she worked in a strip club. Dancing was something people did to make money. So, okay, maybe her view of dancing was a bit jaded.

“Absolutely. Ask anybody.” The song faded away, followed by the announcement of a Southern rock station’s call sign. A new song started, and Shane turned to her with a smile. “Dance with me.”

Crystal peered up at him without the slightest idea how to respond. Because her body was saying hell, yes!, while her brain was screaming bad idea, really, really bad idea.

He stepped closer, arms raised, expression full of all kinds of invitation.

The next thing she knew, her right hand was in his and her left had slipped around his neck. Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod, ran over and over in her mind. What am I doing? But then he tucked her hand against his chest and tugged her against him with the hand that settled at her lower back. And the closeness stole her breath.

He moved them to the beat of the song, a slow, sexy, bluesy number she didn’t know but would never forget. Some songs carried memories like the images were imprinted upon the very lyrics themselves, and she had no doubt this would be one of them.

All of a sudden, the air in the room felt ten degrees warmer. As they swayed to the beat, Shane’s body pressed against hers from thighs to chest. With every step and move and turn, Crystal’s breasts rubbed against the hard plane of his chest. Strong hands held and guided her body, making her want to feel them explore her everywhere. Arousal rose like a waking dragon inside her. Cautious. Curious. Dangerous.

This was wrong and stupid on so many levels. But, scary as it was, it felt so freaking good that she couldn’t force herself to pull away. One song. It’s just a dance. Just a dance just a dance just a dance.

And, holy crap, she wasn’t the only one aroused.

Against her belly, Shane hardened.

Crystal sucked in a breath, and he pressed his lips close to her ear. “We’re just dancing here. That’s all. I promise,” he said. But the adrenaline was already in her blood, setting her to a trembling she couldn’t control. Part curious interest and part instinctive fear. “Sshh,” he almost cooed. “Just dancing.”

The echo of her own thoughts from a moment before allowed her to draw a breath that almost calmed. They turned and swayed to the music, moving closer, pressing tighter, Shane’s lips so close to her face that she could feel his breath shudder across her cheekbone.

He was a fire she had no business playing with. She knew that even as she leaned her face against his . . . and got exactly what she’d hoped for.

He kissed her.

Just a brush of his lips against her cheek, but a kiss all the same.

And as much as it made her head spin, it was the little catch of breath in the back of his throat that sent a jolt of electricity down her spine to settle low in her belly. Light as a feather, he caressed her cheek, her temple, her ear with his lips. With him, always such gentleness, so different from almost every other sexual experience she’d ever had. It made her feel safe to allow this to continue.

Between them, his erection was firm, long, totally unyielding.

She shivered, caught between interest and fear, desire a river moving faster and faster inside her. The whole experience was a revelation—that her body had the capacity to respond this way, that a person existed who could pull these reactions from her.

For a moment, she gave herself over to the dizzying sensations. In her mind’s eye, she saw them undressing, fumbling their way back the hall, falling naked and wanting on the bed. What would it be like, just once, to take something that she wanted without worrying about anyone else, without being afraid? Just one wild, secret night, all for her? What would Shane be like?

So that’s Shane and Crystal for you! Did you have a favorite line? Thanks for reading!

~Laura

“Edgy, sexy, and full of suspense! A great read from a great new author!”

~J.R. Ward on Hard As It Gets

About Hard As You Can:

Five dishonored soldiers.

Former Special Forces.

One last mission.

These are the men of Hard Ink.

Ever since hard-bodied, drop-dead-charming Shane McCallan strolled into the dance club where Crystal Dean works, he's shown a knack for getting beneath her defenses. For her little sister's sake, Crystal can't get too close. Until her job and Shane's mission intersect, and he reveals talents that go deeper than she could have guessed. 

Shane would never turn his back on a friend in need, especially a former Special Forces teammate running a dangerous, off-the-books operation. Nor can he walk away from Crystal. The gorgeous waitress is hiding secrets she doesn't want him to uncover. Too bad. He's exactly the man she needs to protect her sister, her life, and her heart. All he has to do is convince her that when something feels this good, you hold on as hard as you can--and never let go.

Read an Extended Excerpt of Book 1, Hard As It Gets

Buy Hard As You Can at Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen books in contemporary and paranormal romance. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. She lives in Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and cute-but-bad dog, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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#Release Day of a Sexy Romantic Comedy - A Matchless Romance Is Finally Here!

If you like smart men, computer geeks who just happen to be ex-Olympic athletes dripping with sexy handsomeness (but don't know it), then have I got a book for you! Yes, it is release day for A Matchless Romance. It has the aforementioned cluelessly sexy hero. A sassy heroine. The fabulous city of Chicago. Two weddings, in full, romance-drenched detail. And tons of laugh out loud moments. I hope you'll help me spread the word far and wide, because I am in love with this wrap up to the Aisle Bound series.

Tabitha Bell is the face of Chicago's premiere matchmaking service. At least, she hopes it will be someday, once business really takes off. What she needs is more clients, so when she meets a sexy gamer in need of help, it's the perfect opportunity.

His discomfort talking to women almost cost Drew Watson his job. He'd be happy holed up in his office, designing blockbuster video games, but his boss considers talking to investors a nonnegotiable requirement. Who better than a matchmaker to teach him how to be comfortable around the opposite sex? Trouble is, Drew wants to get more than comfortable with Tabitha, while she's determined to keep their relationship all business.

Soon Tabitha learns that beneath the geek-chic hoodie lies six feet of sexy physique—and the more time she spends with Drew, the more she appreciates his brainy brand of charm. Will she succumb to his sweet-but-nerdy charm offensive or will it be game over before he can win her heart?

And because I'm celebrating release day, I'm going to treat you to a sneak peek at the very beginning:

No matter how fast Drew Weston ran down the tree-lined Chicago street, he couldn’t escape his problem. Even if he managed to strap turbo thrusters to his shoes, it wouldn’t make a difference. Aside from looking kick-ass cool, that is. Huh. The row of old brownstones behind black wrought-iron fences faded out of focus as his mind clicked into designer mode. Turbo sneakers. Interesting idea to work into his next video game. That is, if his boss-from-hell gave him the chance to come up with a new game after he got Quest rolled out . Thinking about Keiko fueled his frustration, and he put on a burst of speed.

Which plowed him right into the soft curves of a woman. Moving solely on reflex, Drew grabbed what he could. It happened to be her lush ass. He spun to slow his momentum and keep them both from crashing to the ground. They ended up plastered against a glass storefront. Late afternoon April sunlight haloed around her deep red hair. The sensual hits didn’t stop there. Her thighs were tight to his, breasts crushed to his chest, and glossy peach lips parted in surprise. Wow.

This was the closest he’d been to a woman in ninety-four days. Ninety-four endless days—and endlessly frustrating nights—since he’d last had sex. ’Cause yeah, he’d been counting. They might be vertical right now, but the position definitely put Drew in mind of horizontal hijinks. Made him wonder if the thick black lashes on those green eyes of hers would flutter shut if he pressed his mouth to hers.

“Did you run into me just to cop a feel?” she asked in a husky voice. One that sounded like the beautiful redhead had rolled out of bed after screaming her pleasure to the rafters for three rounds.

“No.” What kind of creep did she take him for? For God’s sake, this wasn’t some sleazy alley at midnight. Sure, he’d gotten off of the El at the wrong stop, so Drew couldn’t pinpoint his location. But this street was only a block away from what the bumper-to-bumper traffic he’d seen lurching below the train indicated was a main drag. He’d jogged by a couple of boutiques and art galleries as he tried to run off his irritation. All he’d really done was feel stupid for running in jeans.

Her eyes narrowed. “Then is this your lame signature move? Did you figure that once we sidewalk snuggled, I’d be putty in your hands?”

“No.” Drew knew just enough about women to know it was never that easy. “I figured running into you was better than making you fall down. Lesser of two evils. But I’ve gotta say, the result doesn’t suck.” After all, the hot mystery woman still hadn’t pulled out of his loose embrace.

“Thanks.” High, arched eyebrows gave her a look of being in on a joke with the rest of the world. “Now do you maybe want to let go of my ass?”

“Wouldn’t be my first choice. It’s a pretty terrific ass.” Nevertheless, Drew dropped his arms to his sides. He didn’t want to scare the pretty woman Fate had dropped into his path.

Purchase at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Carina Press

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A Country Music Filled Book You Won't Want To Miss!

The only thing that comes close to the excitement of my release days? When I get to talk about my talented friends releasing their books! In Country Heaven by USA Today bestselling author Ava Miles a down-on-her luck cook uses food’s magical properties to tame a beastly country singer after he hires her under false pretenses to restore his image.

When famous—and infamous—country singer Rye Crenshaw saunters into the diner where she cooks, Tory Simmons is certain she’s got him pegged. He’s a bad boy who indulges himself in all things, women included. But while she couldn’t care less about country music or arrogant men, Rye makes her an offer she can’t refuse when he asks her to be his private chef on his multi-city concert tour. The job is the answer to all her prayers: it will clear out her debt and finance the fresh start she desperately needs.

Rye is certain his sassy new cook is the last woman who’d ever tempt him, but spending time with the wholesome girl next door will do wonders for his damaged public image, whether she likes being forced into the spotlight or not. Her food also happens to be the best he’s ever eaten, both comforting and seductive. But spending time with Tory on the road shows him a new side to her—one that’s as impossible to resist as her food. And when an emergency in his family whisks him home, he does the one thing he’s never risked: he lets a woman into his heart…

Soon the emotions Rye faked for the tabloids become all too real, but will the country heaven he’s found in Tory’s arms survive in the real world?

Purchase at: Amazon * B&N * iTunes

And of course, I'll give you the treat of an excerpt!

 A Prize Kiss

What’s the prize for riding the bull the longest?

“I don’t want the prize.”

“Don’t work that way, honey,” Clayton said, dragging her forward while women continued to call her inventive names from the sidelines.

She pulled back. “You only want this for your PR campaign, admit it.”

He just laughed and continued pulling her along. “I’ve never seen a woman so hesitant to kiss you, Rye. Maybe it’ll teach you some humility.” His hands propelled her into Rye.

There was no smile or wicked gleam in his eyes when he pulled her to him. In fact, his face was totally blank.

“You’d better be careful, partner. She’d as soon bite you as kiss you.”

“Look, it’s just a kiss,” he murmured.

Right. She was making too much of this, wasn’t she?

But she hadn’t kissed a lot of men, so it didn’t seem insignificant to her.

“Fine,” she said. “Just do it.”

His mouth twitched at that. People whistled and screamed and heckled all around them. Her face grew hot. He lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. The touch was electric, and she jumped, bumping their noses together.

“Settle down,” he growled, caging her waist with his hands.

She started laughing, a strange impulse that seemed to come out of nowhere. “That had to be the worst kiss on the planet.” What had she been so worried about?

Patting his chest, she took a step away.

His hands gripped her hips again and yanked her close. Her breath rushed out when she found herself pressed full length against his rock-hard body. Those hazel eyes gleamed down at her as they scanned her face. “Can’t have you impugning my reputation.”

It was a pretty impressive word, she thought, and then he pressed her back a few steps until she hit the fence, throwing all thoughts aside. He yanked off his hat and threw it.

Uh-oh. Laughing had been a bad idea.

“I didn’t mean—”

“Shut up,” he commanded and cupped her face, fitting his mouth to hers.

Oh no.