Interview with Rebecca Raisin

Today I am so pleased to welcome my lovely friend Rebecca Raisin.

Hi Rebecca

Welcome to Comet Babe’s Books, I hope I don’t grill you too much!

Ha ha! Thanks for inviting me, Jo! And grill away!

Can you tell us about the Gingerbread Café books?

They are a series of three books. The last one will be available very soon! They are set at The Gingerbread Café, in the town of Ashford Connecticut. Lil owns the café, and is passionate about cooking, and trying to stay afloat in the small community. Lil is her no-nonsense fast-talking southern friend who doles out advice and keeps the café ticking over with her famous pies. The girls have a great friendship, and would be lost without each other. As with any small town, everyone knows everyone’s business and the café is a warm inviting place that most of the town folk visit to stop and shoot the breeze. There’s always something happening to keep the girls on their toes…

Can you tell us more about the Bookshop on The Corner?

The Bookshop on the Corner is also situated in Ashford. It’s a stand-alone book, but Lil and Cee make a few appearances! Sarah is the main character, and owner of the secondhand book across from the Gingerbread Café. She’s quirky and whimsical, and loves reading romance. She secretly wants the book boyfriend to come to life, and feels life is passing her by, until reporter Ridge from New York steps into her bookshop…

Will we really see only one more Gingerbread Café book?  No more Lily, CeeCee or Damon?  (I want to read more about this wonderful town and its colourful characters).

Thank you! I’m having a hard time dealing with the idea myself! Like a bookend, the Christmas novel is set to be the last, however…there’s a little twist at the end, so I’ve given myself room for one more, just in case!

Have you have thought of writing a full length version of The Heart of Bali or a follow up to it?

Umm, no! Ha ha, I still blush just thinking of that story! I really wanted to try and attempt sex scenes, and then decided after The Heart of Bali I’d do sweet romance in the future! Though so many people have contacted me about that story, so maybe…

Would you consider writing another genre, ie fantasy or a thriller?

I would definitely try anything once. When I first started out I wrote every genre of short story, to challenge myself and try and write something I’d normally wouldn’t. I’d love to write a thriller one day, but I really don’t think I’m clever enough for all those complex twists and turns. I’d end up making the bad guy a good guy, and well… there’s an idea!

Do you have a routine for your writing, especially with having 2 young boys?

I write after I drop them at school, for four hours if I can. It’s so easy to get distracted by social media, or eating chocolate, so I usually aim for a certain word count to keep me on track.

What is on your desk/writing area?

I write at the dining room table, so at the moment there’s my laptop, a candle in a black glass vase, and two golden ceramic pears. Plus a plethora of the boystextas! (At least it’s not Lego)

Do you have someone that reads your stories before they are published?  Ie a BETA team.

No, I don’t have Beta readers. I am a member of a writing club, and they read sections. Sometimes they read the whole book when I’m done. My Mum reads for me, and is great for spotting typos. She cannot grasp how to copy and paste, or highlight text, so she manually emails me every single error. Poor woman!

Can you tell us about a day in the life of Rebecca Raisin?

I wake up early, not by choice, but because a certain 6 year old insists on it. The other six year old is blithely unaware, and sleeps in! I then proceed to have in-depth conversations with the early-bird six year old about why he has to go to school, and get dressed, and eat breakfast, and brush his teeth. We then have a mad panic to get to school on time because said discussions took hours! I come home and ignore the mess and begin writing and catching up with emails, and social media.

Once I shut down my story for the day, I go on twitter and see where all my UK friends are!

I pick up the boys, and then proceed to have lengthy discussions about why homework, eating dinner, having a bath, are necessary. Then usually run myself a bath, and have a glass of wine because I’ve achieved the miracle of us all getting to/doing what we needed to. Whatever I’ve written that day floats around in my mind, allowing me to edit the next day or add to what I’ve written. Poor Ashley (my partner) has to listen to every character foible, or boy drama I’ve had for the day, and we are only silent when we watch Masterchef! We are a generally pretty happy chaotic family, and don’t take life too seriously!

I know you’re intending to visit the UK next year (Yippee!), can you tell us any of you plans?  (I’m eagerly awaiting the answer to this)!

Oh my goodness! We are so excited! So originally it was just going to be Ash and I travelling, but the thought of leaving the boys at home took the fun out of it, so we decided that we’d take them too. Then my mother-in-law decided to come, and then my sister and her partner too! So there’ll be seven of us descending into London! The plan is a gathering of my book-ish besties the day after I arrive, so March 29th. I expect to be a little jet-lagged but think my excitement at meeting everyone will diminish any fatigue pretty quickly! Aside from that, there’s a couple of girls staying for the week and we’re going to do all those lovely touristy things together! I’m just waiting on invitations to be sent to me, and then I’ll send them out! It’s going to be the most amazing experience! I feel as though my online friends are genuine, and more real than some of my real-life friends, so it’s only fitting we all meet! I may never leave London…

Thank you for coming by Comet Babe’s Books today, really can’t wait for March/April 2015!

Thanks for having me, Jo! I can’t wait to meet you! xx

About Rebecca

Rebecca Raisin is a true bibliophile. This love of books morphed into the desire to write them. She's been published in various short story anthologies and in in fiction magazines, and is now focusing on writing romance.

Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships, and most importantly believe in true love.

Find The Bookshop on the Corner here:

US Amazon http://amzn.to/1jMmIWA

UK Amazon http://amzn.to/1lGBvED

AUST Amazon http://bit.ly/1fTDwWW

Kobo http://goo.gl/PjVtr1

Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/rebeccaraisin/the-bookshop-on-the-corner-by-rebecca-raisin/

Find Rebecca here:

https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaRaisinAuthor

http://rebeccaraisin.wordpress.com

www.twitter.com/jaxandwillsmum

And Coming soon: The Bookshop on The Corner blog: http://thecornerbookshop.wordpress.com/

The Ghostly Father by Sue Barnard

What They Say:

The Ghostly Father

Romeo & Juliet - was this what really happened? 

When Juliet Roberts is asked to make sense of an ancient Italian manuscript, she little suspects that she will find herself propelled into the midst of one of the greatest love stories of all time. But this is only the beginning. As more hidden secrets come to light, Juliet discovers that the tragic tale of her famous namesake might have had a very different outcome... 

A favourite classic story with a major new twist.

What I Say:

I would like to thank Brookscottagebks and author Sue Barnard for sending me a copy of this, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

At the beginning of the book Juliet is asked to transcribe an old manuscript by her Grandfather, not sure she is up to the task as it has been awhile since she learned Italian...

From here the book is written from Fra' Lorenzos point of view, with a series of events leading to Verona that puts Romeo in the middle of the feud.  How this happens is a different way of telling this famous story.

I'm sure everyone is aware of Romeo and Juliet, but what if story that we know to day wasn't the truth but only a portion of it, it would be lovely to think so.  I won't go into detail but will say read this and you will have your eyes opened.

The book is excellently written by Sue and you feel like you are there in Verona.

4 out of 5 stars

An interview with the author 

Hi Sue

Thank you for coming on Comet Babes Books today.

Thank you for inviting me!

Can you tell us more about The Ghostly Father?

It’s a retelling of the story of Romeo & Juliet, but with a few new twists and a quite different ending.  It takes the form of a backstory for the character of Friar Lawrence (the eponymous Ghostly Father, called Fra’ Lorenzo in this version), and the tale is told from his point of view.

Can you tell us who created the wonderful cover for this book?

It was designed by my publisher, Crooked Cat Publishing.  I think they’ve done a fantastic job.

Why did you finally decide to write a book?

It was in response to the prompt “Write the book you want to read.”  I’ve always loved the story of Romeo & Juliet but hated the ending, and I’ve often wished that there was an alternative version of the story which had a more satisfactory outcome.  If this book didn’t exist, then I realized I’d be the one who had to write it.

I originally wrote the book for myself, for the reason I’ve just described.  I wanted to be able to retreat into a quiet corner, read the alternative version, and privately imagine that things might have worked out for the star-cross’d lovers after all.  At the time, I hadn’t envisaged The Ghostly Father being published.  It was only when I showed the first draft to a couple of close friends, and they suggested that I ought to try taking it further, that I thought it might stand some chance of getting a wider audience.

Would you recommend someone who would like to be a writer completing a creative writing course?

Most definitely.  I did several online short courses with the Open University.  Sadly they are now mostly discontinued, but one of them (Start Writing Fiction) is now available as a free online course.  Details here.  As well as learning a lot about how to improve my writing skills and style, I received invaluable feedback on my work and also made lots of good friends.

As you were already in publishing, do you think bloggers help the publishing industry?

Yes – all forms of social media help the publishing industry, because they can spread the word to a lot more people.  I’d say that even if I hadn’t already been working for Crooked Cat as an editor.

What advice would you give to an aspiring writer?

Write something every day, even if it’s only a couple of sentences – remember that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and each step is one step closer to your goal.  

Do you have a desk/writing area and what is on it at the moment?

It’s a table in the corner of my conservatory, from where I have a lovely view of the garden.  At the moment, it’s host to my laptop, my phone, an angle-poise lamp, a copy of Writing Magazine, a copy ofRomance Matters (the magazine of the Romantic Novelists’ Association), a pad, a tub of pens, a tube of sun-cream, my camera (in case any birds come to the feeder), and an empty coffee cup.

Do you have any future book plans and can you share it with us?

My second novel, Nice Girls Don’t, was published  on 15 July 2014.  I have several unfinished projects on the go at the moment.  Whether any of them will ever be completed remains to be seen!

Thanks again.

Jo xx

If you would like to hear more from Sue head over to the lovely Dawn's blog: http://crooksonbooks.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

About the Author:

Sue Barnard was born in North Wales but has spent most of her life in and around Manchester. After graduating from Durham University, where she studied French and Italian, Sue got married then had a variety of office jobs before becoming a full-time parent. If she had her way, the phrase "non-working mother" would be banned from the English language.

Since then she has had a series of part-time jobs, including some work as a freelance copywriter. In parallel with this she took several courses in Creative Writing. Her writing achievements include winning the Writing Magazine New Subscribers Poetry Competition for 2013. She is also very interested in Family History. Her own background is stranger than fiction; she'd write a book about it if she thought anybody would believe her.

Sue has a mind which is sufficiently warped as to be capable of compiling questions for BBC Radio 4's fiendishly difficult Round Britain Quiz. This once caused one of her sons to describe her as "professionally weird." The label has stuck.

Sue joined the editorial team Crooked Cat Publishing in 2013. Her first novel, The Ghostly Father (a new take on the traditional story of Romeo & Juliet) was officially released on St Valentine's Day 2014.  Her second novel, a romantic mystery entitledNice Girls Don’t, is due for release in July 2014.

You can find Sue on Facebook, 

Twitter (@SusanB2011), 

or follow her blog here.

Facebook Events page -

Amazon UK 

Amazon.com

Waterstones

Smashwords

Promo Blitz Cryostorm by Lynn Rush

Book Title: Cryostorm (Touch of Frost #3)

Author: Lynn Rush

Release Date: 7/18/14

Genre: Upper YA/New Adult Paranormal

What They Say:

They made his body, she’ll awaken his soul…

Three months ago, my twin sister, Georgia, and I had to die so our loved ones would be safe from the scientists hunting us. After months of searching, we’re close to finding the one person who can help us find closure, Georgia’s adoptive mother, Lois.

Snowstorms and an unexpected run-in with GenCorp, the latest entity charged with capturing us, delay our mission and break our spirits. The only light in my supernaturally chaotic life is Nate. He’s given up everything to protect and take care of me, and each minute I’m with him confirms how much I love him. Finally ready to share my heart again, I take the next step, admitting my true feelings.

The mad scientists who want to tear me apart and use my body for a freak show, once again taint my happiness with a disturbing technology that rips Nate from my arms. As I battle GenCorp’s warped technology to save my soulmate, I’m faced with the vivid reality: the Nate I knew and fell in love with may be lost forever.

And if I get him back, will I still be able to say those three precious words?

Author Bio: 

Originally from Minnesota, Lynn Rush currently enjoys living in the sunny Arizona desert with her husband of seventeen years and her loveable Shetland Sheep dog, Maddux. Rush holds a degree in psychology from Southwest Minnesota State University and a master's degree from the University of Iowa. When she’s not busy writing her next trilogy, she can be found pounding the pavement, training for her next endurance event.

Connect with Lynn on Twitter, through Facebook or her website. Lynn also writes as Reese Monroe and you can find her alter ego here.

Goodreads Book Link:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22379266-cryostorm 

Frostbite (Touch of Frost #1):http://bit.ly/FrostbiteAMZN 

Absolute Zero (Touch of Frost #2):http://bit.ly/AbsoluteZeroAMZN

Author Website: http://www.LynnRush.com 

Author Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rush_Monroe 

Author Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/LynnRushWrites

Author Goodreads: http://bit.ly/LynnRushGoodreads 

Author Amazon Page: http://bit.ly/AmazonLynnRush 

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/f55fL 

Street Team:https://www.facebook.com/groups/RushMonroeRockStars/ 

Amazon Buy Link:   http://bit.ly/CryostormAMZN  

Cryostorm Rafflecopter Code: Giveaway runs: 7/18/14-7/31/14 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Books and Holidays Special Guest Post by Erin McEwan

Today I would like to welcome Erin McEwen with her Books and Holidays post.

If there is one thing I love more than reading, it's being on holiday. I wish I could spend as much time on holiday as I do reading!

This year I'm going to Florida, I might even be there already when this post goes live but I can guarantee that whenever this post is live, I will be reading!

Whenever we would go away anywhere when I was younger I would always be in a pickle about which books to take with me and would inevitable take a whole pile of them with me, I remember one year that I took 8 books for a week long holiday when I was 14 and I still had to buy more!

For the past couple of years I've had a kindle and have really felt the benefit of having unlimited access to as many books as I can read! 

There are a few books that remind me of being on holiday. 

The first one is Love is on the Air by Jane Moore.

 I read this when I was on a cruise 3 years ago and I remember being really glad that I had taken it with me. 

Another book that reminds me of being on holiday is the fantastic book by Paige Toon; The Longest Holiday.

The reason that The Longest Holiday really resonates with me is it's setting. It's set in Key West which is the most southern of the Florida Keys and it is a place we will be visiting when we are in Florida this year. I loved the laid back attitude to life and the detail Paige included in the description of the location in the book really transported me back there!

Reading and holidays both say relaxation to me, so it's no wonder I really love both of them together!

Blog:

www.erins-choice.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter:

www.twitter.com/erinshoicee

Facebook:

www.facebook.co.uk/erinschoice

Thank you for a wonderful post.

Jo xx

#Not Quite Perfect by Anne Lyons

#NotQuitePerfectBut blogging chain, which will kick the blog tour off today Friday 18 July.

I received an email from the lovely Sara at Carina to say I had been nominated by the gorgeous Becca from Beccasboooks here is why:

Becca to Me: 

"You're #NotQuitePerfectBut you're an amazing friend, who always supports me. There's no showy-offy layers to you! You're just you and I think you're incredible!"

http://cometbabesbooks.blogspot.co.uk/

All I needed to do was nominate someone else for the chain, I nominated Dawn from Crooksonbooks.

 Me to Dawn Crooks:

 “You're #NotQuitePerfectBut you're always there when I need a late night chat.  You're a brilliant friend and so organised.”

http://crooksonbooks.blogspot.co.uk/

Follow the chain through all the wonderful blogs....

What They Say:

Sometimes having it all isn’t enough…

Emma has everything she’s ever wanted. Her boyfriend’s just proposed and her career has finally taken off. And so what if her latest client just happens to be downright gorgeous? She’s getting married. Isn’t she?

Rachel’s married with 2.4 children (well, actually, 3) and life is all about trying to leave the house in a non-stained top. Once it was about skinny cappuccinos, cocktails and dynamic ad agency meetings. She wants her old life back, but can it ever be the same?

A sparkling, funny tale of two sisters and how often you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

About The Author:

Annie Lyons is the best-selling author of Not Quite Perfect(now available in paperback) and Not Quite Perfect Christmas(A Short Story). Her new novel Dear Lizzie is published by Carina and is available as an eBook. 

http://www.carinauk.com/annie-lyons

http://www.facebook.com/annielyonswriter

Twitter @1AnnieLyons

https://www.goodreads.com/annie_lyonswrites

Book Blast The Lost Love of a Soldier by Jane Lark

 

Title:  The Lost Love of a Soldier (Marlow Intrigues #4) 

  Author:  Jane Lark 

  Genre:  Historical Romance 18+ Regency Period

  Publication Date:  July 10, 2014 

  Publisher: HarperImpulse an imprint of HarperCollins

  Event Organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.  

What They Say:

Young, naïve and innocent, Lady Ellen Pembroke falls for a young army officer. Paul has such an easy enchanting smile and his blue eyes glow, vibrancy and warmth emanating from him. She is in love. Captain Paul Harding, finds his attention captured by the beautiful young daughter of the Duke of Pembroke at a house party in the summer. Finding Ellen is like finding treasure on a battle torn field. His sanity clings to her; something beautiful to remind him that all in the world is not ugly. She’s someone to fight for and someone to survive for when he is called to arms in the battle of Waterloo…      

The Lost Love of a Soldier Excerpt

“Ellen?” 

Paul whispered her name into the night as he heard the rustle of frost bound leaves on the ground. His breath rose in a mist into the cold winter air. He was on the Duke of Pembroke’s land. He’d not dared encourage her to take a horse, so he’d come close enough that she might walk from the house and find him.

He waited at the end of an avenue of yews, out of sight of the house, in a place she could easily see him. His horse whickered, sensing something, or someone. “Ellen?” he whispered again.

Still no answer.

He stayed quiet. Listening. Wondering if she’d been caught as she left the house. He hoped not. If she’d been caught her father would give her no freedom. Short of leading a military assault on Pembroke’s home, he would not be able to get her out then.

The horse shook its head, rattling its bit, and snorted steamy breath into the cold air. The chill of the winter night seeped through his clothes. There would be a hard frost. He hoped she’d dressed in something warm.

He’d have to buy more clothes for her before they sailed. She would need garments to keep her warm in the sea breezes she’d face on their journey to America.

There was another sound.

“Ellen?”

“Paul?”

How did this woman manage to make his heart beat so erratically whenever he saw her? He could run into battle and not be so affected.

She looked even more beautiful in the dark. Ethereal.

A band of silver light reached through the scudding clouds and caught her face.

He let go of the horse’s bridle and instinctively moved forward. He’d never held her. In the summer there had been no moments alone, she’d been strictly chaperoned and even when she’d come to meet him she’d brought the groom and her sister. When they’d met a fortnight ago, she’d still brought a groom. For the first time they were alone. “Ellen.” He stepped forward and embraced her. In answer her arm came about his waist. It was the most precious feeling of his life. He would always remember this day. She was slender and delicate in his arms.

She slipped free, but he caught her nape and pulled her mouth to his, gently pressing his lips against hers. It was her first kiss, he knew; he could tell by the way her body stiffened when he‘d pulled her close. He let her go, a tenderness he’d never known before catching in his chest.

“Come.” He took the leather bag she carried. “Will you ride before me, or would you rather sit behind my saddle and grip my waist?”

“Would it be easier if I ride behind you?” Her voice ran with uncertainty. She was giving up everything to come with him.

“Do what feels comfortable for you, Ellen.”

She nodded, not looking into his eyes. “I would prefer to ride pillion.”

“Then you shall.” He warmed his voice, hoping to ease her discomfort.

Turning to the horse he slipped one foot in the stirrup, then pulled himself up. “Did you have any difficulty leaving the house?”

“No, the servants’ hall was quiet, and the grooms had all retired.”

He rested her bag across his thighs, then held a hand out to her. “Set your foot on mine and take my hand. I’ll pull you up.” He watched her lift the skirt of her dark habit and then the weight of her small foot pressed on his, as her gloved fingers gripped his. She was light, but the grip of her hand and the pressure of her foot made that something clasp tight in his chest, and the emotion stayed clenched as her fingers embraced his waist over his greatcoat.

He shifted in the saddle, his groin tightening too. A few more days. Just days. He had been waiting months. As he turned the horse, Ellen’s cheek pressed against his shoulder.

“Did you tell anyone you were leaving? Your sister? Or your maid?”

“No, I did not want them to have to face Papa knowing the truth. He would be able to see they’d lied, and then who knows what he might do.” Paul urged the mare into a trot as Ellen continued. “He made me spend the day on my knees reading the Commandments because I refused to marry the Duke of Argyle.”

“Today?” He wished to look back at her but he could not.

Her father had been diabolical to Paul, sneering as though he was nothing when he’d done the decent thing and offered for her. He could not imagine the way Pembroke treated the girls.

He had to get Ellen to Gretna before her father caught them, so she never had to come back and face his retribution. 

Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes and Noble

About the Author

 
Jane is a writer of authentic, passionate and emotional Historical and New Adult Romance, and a Kindle top 25 bestselling author. She began her first historical novel at sixteen, but a life full of adversity derailed her as she lives with the restrictions of Ankylosing Spondylitis. When she finally completed a novel it was because she was determined not to reach forty still saying, I want to write. Now Jane is writing a Regency series and contemporary, new adult, stories and she is thrilled to be giving her characters life in others' imaginations at last. You might think that Jane was inspired to write by Jane Austen, especially as she lives near Bath in the United Kingdom, but you would be wrong. Jane's favourite author is Anya Seton, and the book which drew her into the bliss of falling into historical imagination was 'Katherine' a story crafted from reality. Jane has drawn on this inspiration to discover other real-life love stories, reading memoirs and letters to capture elements of the past, and she uses them to create more realistic plots. 'Basically I love history and I am sucker for a love story. I love the feeling of falling in love; it's wonderful being able to do it time and time again in fiction.' Jane is also a Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel and Development in the United Kingdom, and uses this specialist understanding of people to bring her characters to life. 

  Connect with the Author: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Website    

    Giveaway

This giveaway, includes an antique English necklace worth £150, plus signed copies of The Illicit Love of a Courtesan The Passionate Love of a Rake And The Scandalous Love of a Duke   a Rafflecopter giveaway