This week we wanted to see how varied the many tastes of our authors are. Many of them write contemporary or paranormal romances but was this what they loved to read? So we asked our Inspell authors about what was their Favorite Genre to read. We also wanted to know why? Do real stories about characters like themselves fuel their passion or does romances with legendary creatures like Angels, Vampires and other paranormal elements thrill their souls! Cecilia Roberts: My favourite genre: paranormal & urban fantasy and contemporary romance. Contemporary romance: This is a genre I've been reading for the last twenty-something years. (I must have been about twelve when I read my first romance. I loved everything about it: the muscular guys on the covers (and there were handful of those), the hero chasing the heroine, to accept him, love him, plus the heroines feistyness, and finally the happy ever after. Later on I discovered paranormal & urban fantasy. The reason I loved this was, the fact that an author can create such a believable world, with fantastic creatures in them, and still manage to make it so real. Absolutely amazing. And of course the romance in them. :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mark Jay Harris: I'd have to say Urban Fantasy. I like it because it is grounded in a location people can relate to. Because you feel comfortable in surrounding you recognize, when the fantasy element kicks in it is more jarring and consequently more exciting and fun to play with in a story. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Deb Peterson: While still in elementary school—fifth grade, I think—my Aunt Karen introduced me to Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. Those two novels hooked me on the classics. I love reading them as much now, as I did back then and many times over the years, I have read and reread my favorites. I have even developed a taste for Shakespeare, with “A Midsummer Night’s dream, heading the top of that particular list. Alongside the classics, I also have to include Historical Romances to my preferred genres. History is a passion of mine. Ancient, modern and everything in between, has always piqued my interest. Therefore, I just can’t resist a novel that allows me to exist in another time and place, even if just for a little while. I think that might be why, in the novels I have written thus far, a hero from the past, meets a contemporary heroine... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Stephanie Lawton: I prefer Young Adult, though I'll admit, since I've begun hanging around with romance and erotic-romance authors, I've been reading quite a bit more of that. Both have their purposes and it's nice to switch back from forth from the "less-is-more" camp and the "kick-the-bedroom-door-wide-open" camp. :) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aubrie Dionne: My favorite genre to read is epic fantasy with a dash of romance. I love the different races: elves, dwarfs, rangers, etc and all the various foes: ogres, dragons, orcs, witches, fairies...the possibilities are endless. Quest novels are the best, because the characters go on a physical journey along with the emotional one. Magical items, such as amulets, invisibility capes (or rings!), or swords always add to the fun. I know I'm such a geek, but to be honest this will always be my favorite genre. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kristy Centeno: Although I enjoy a great contemporary story any day of the week, my favorite genre is definitely Paranormal Romance. Maybe it’s because you can drive the plot to unimaginable dimensions and not have to worry so much about whether or not you’re being accurate about facts and such. Writing Paranormal Romance allows for more freedom when it comes to developing a storyline and the mystery behind the supernatural is just too tempting for me to resist picking up a vampire, werewolf, ghost, mermaid, etc. book and not read it : ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kacey Vanderkarr: My absolute favorite genre is Young Adult. Not only does YA encompass a wide variety of all my favorite genres, fantasy, sci-fi, and of course, romance, it also examines the most vulnerable time in a person's life. You can always expect YA to deliver a story of personal growth and exploration where the main characters discover things about themselves that oftentimes we, as adults, are still trying to figure out. After all, isn’t the real world just a glorified version of high school? Besides, as a Young Adult author, I justify my passion for YA books as “research.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Now that you have heard from some of our Inkspell authors about their favorite genres... please share your favorites with us!
Because it takes a lot of work to make Mondays fun, we at Inkspell decided to start a new blog feature we like to call Eyecandy Monday. Each Monday we will feature the characters from one Inkspell novel and share with you all the fine details and tasty tidbits we can dig up about these interesting and well written main characters. Max and Amy started out as friends in Familiar Ties. They leaned on each other while raising their daughters but the spark of passion ignited and they became more than friends. Can you see how easy that would be with these two good looking people? Wouldn't you risk your friendship for love? Name: Max Nathanial West Age: 27 Hair: Blonde Eyes: Blue Distinguishing Features: Cheeky Grin Famous Person they resemble: Chase Crawford /Kellan Lutz Character Teaser: A single father who looks after his 4 year old girl while chasing his dream of becoming a writer as well as going after the girl he really loves. Although a dedicated father Max is torn between doing what he thinks is right for his daughter and what is really right for her. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Name: Amy Sue-Ann Riley Age: 26 Hair: Brunette Eyes: Grey Distinguishing Features: Always wears a silver necklace Famous Person they resemble: Sophia Bush Character Teaser: Amy, a fashion designer who has achieved her dream of becoming a mother as well, is always looking for love. Thinking she found it in her boyfriend Jack, she was faced with disappointment when he left her and their daughter for his directing job on the other side of the world. Ellie is finally here - of course waving at us from the sea! She is glad that finally this generation will understand her need to break all rules and sail away as a pirate. None in 1600s did! She also thanks her author, Rebecca Hart, for telling her story. Have you picked up a copy yet? No? Even after this beautiful cover page? Then, this should do the trick. "Call Of The Sea" is 30% off only on our website till 30th June! Grab your copy now! Print Book Price: $9.79 (Only at our website!) eBook Price: $3.5 (Only at our website!) Author: Rebecca Hart Genre: Paranormal Romance Length: Super Novel ISBN: 978-0-9850115-9-8 (Print) 978-0-9851483-0-0 (eBook) Neither can deny the call of the sea, but how long can they deny their feelings? Elysandra Winters has always yearned for a life of adventure on the rolling seas and is willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill her dream. When her Privateer father continually refuses to allow his only daughter to sail, Ellie defies him, disguises herself as a boy, and goes in search of a captain who will give her a chance to prove her worth. Thanks to the cursed selkie blood coursing through his veins, Daniel O'Rourke needs the sea to survive. After giving up on his humanity and spending three years in seal form, he decides to give his human side another chance. Daniel goes in search of a job and a sense of normalcy, earning himself a position aboard Captain Winter’s ship, The Siren's Call. However, his new captain’s first assignment has nothing at all to do with sailing, and everything to do with his headstrong young daughter. Years later, when the leader of a band of bloodthirsty pirates murders Captain Winters, Daniel and Elysandra’s lives come crashing back together with the force of a hurricane. Both experts in deception, they must find a way to trust each other in order to quell the raging storm between them or have any hope of hunting down the captain’s killer. Last week we found out about our authors' first crushes. It was fun to see just who they dreamt about. This week, we asked our authors to share their favorite strong female characters from a book. Again, they come through with some wonderful and exciting choices. Naya Nikki My favorite female character is Jo March from Little Women. She is strong,brave and independent in a time when women were not thought to be. She writes her own novel as well as plays which inspires women to break those glass ceilings that we have been given. I mean she even cuts her hair so her family has money...can you get any more bad ass than that?? Sasha Summers I can’t give you my absolute favorite female character because I have several. But a character that’s stayed with me since I read her story years and years ago would be Judith Dunbar from Rosamunde Pilcher’s World War II novel, Coming Home. You meet Judith when she’s 14 and stay with her through the war, experiencing her life in a very personal and poignant way. If you haven’t read it, you should. It’s a lovely book. T. Michelle Nelson My favorite strong female character? It may sound trite and overdone, but as a southern woman, it would be almost offensive for me to overlook the obvious choice of Scarlett O’Hara. Putting aside her ability to turn men into goo and her uncanny fashion sense, Scarlett was a woman who was strong and independent in a time when women weren’t supposed to be anything but pretty and quiet. She was resilient and managed to not only survive the Civil War and it’s aftermath, but eventually flourish.Scarlett’s appeal only magnified as Margret Mitchell revealed all her character flaws. Selfish, manipulative, vain and anything but maternal, Scarlett is one of the most real and for me, most likeable heroines of all time. If you’ve only seen the movie, I recommend reading the book. I found myself literally laughing out loud at her antics. Brooke Moss When I was a kid, I read a book called "Poor Gertie", by Larry Bograd, and it literally changed my life. Growing up, my family didn't have much money. In fact, there were times when we were downright poor, and that's why I connected with Gertie so well. She was plucky, and defiant, and determined to help her family. Plus, she liked to draw and write stories, which was (obviously) right up my ally. I've been searching this book online for years now, and to my knowledge, it has gone out of print. Which is sad, considering how very much Gertie and her story touched me. I feel like every middle grade kid should read it. It's *that* important! I did manage to score an old discarded copy from a library in Brooklyn, which was quite the feat, considering I live in Washington State. My ten year old daughter loves it, and I can't even begin to describe how proud I am that Gertie and her story have touched another kid. Aubrie Dionne My favorite strong female character in a book would have to be Jane Eyre. She stuck to her beliefs even when her heart wanted something else, and she had the strength to withstand hardships I couldn't imagine. She's small like me, but she doesn't let her physical appearance weaken her resolve. She won't settle for anything that isn't true love. Jane Eyre is a truly exceptional character. Stephanie Keyes One of my favorite female characters (because I can't just pick one) is Laurel from OR Melling's The Summer King. She is a no-no sense character with a level of skepticism about the paranormal that makes me smile. She doesn't put up with much and I like that! Majanka Verstraete Phew, that’s a tough question! If it was female character in general, I’d reply “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” in a heartbeat. She has it all: she’s tough when needed, she’s strong and confident and she saves the world every year, give or take a few. But when it comes to book characters, I have to go for Katsa from Graceling. She’s an amazing character, and Kristen Cashore’s writing is sublime. She makes the character come to life on those pages. Katsa is a strong warrior graced with exceptional skills, but that isn’t what makes her a strong character. It’s her personality, her will to keep going on even when everyone else has long given up. Her true strength is in her determination and her ability to put other’s needs – and the kingdom’s needs – above her own. Kacey Vanderkarr Tris from Divergent had me captivated from the beginning. She’s fierce, brave, and someone who refuses to take no for an answer. She leaves her “safe” Abnegation faction and her family to join Dauntless, and doesn’t give up, even when she’s the smallest one there and the least likely candidate to actually become a Dauntless “fighter.” If she’s not big enough to out-power an opponent, she outwits them, and goes from being the lowest ranked trainee to one of the highest. Just reading about her courage made me wish I was brave enough to become Dauntless as well, though I think I would’ve wimped out on day one! Last week we sat down with Hollywood Ever After author Sasha Summers to find out more about herself and her writing. This week we are going to ask all our authors a question and you get to see all the responses! It is like a mega interview!
Lisa Voisin My first crush was a french exchange student named Pascal. I was in the ninth grade and everyone in my french class in Vancouver did an exchange with another family in Quebec as a way to learn about the language and the culture of our French-speaking province. We stayed a week in each other's homes. I was one of the few girls who had a boy to billet with, not Pascal, but one of his friends. So, in the short time we had, we spent a fair bit of time together, and I soon fell head over heels. Sadly, one of my friends thought it would be fun to get a boy who I liked to like her instead. I was totally out of my league. But as soon she proved she could get him, she turned him away and told me she just wanted to win. She broke two hearts that day: his and mine. He never spoke to either of us again.
Rebecca Hart I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but my first crush was actually on my 7th grade Science teacher. I've always seemed to like older men *wink* Since I still live in the same general area as him, I'll withold any names, but I used to hang out in his classroom for my daily study hall, and feign interest in his collection of strange science specimens just to get the chance to hang out in his classroom, and listen to him talk. *blushes* Stephanie Keyes My first crush was on Tom Selleck. At the time, though I know I'm dating myself, the hot show on TV was Magnum PI. I remember that I wrote to his official fan club and I received one post card from Tom, thanking me for signing up. My mom went out and got me a Hawaiian shirt just like Tom’s in the picture. Later the following year, my little brother Adam, was born. One night, I was placed in charge of watching him and he promptly threw up on the Tom Selleck shirt. No stain-removing products were successful in getting out the baby formula stain. The vomit on the Tom Selleck shirt has been a point of contention for the nearly thirty years that have followed the event. My brother, who is now a chaplain, was told by a patient just last week that he looks like a young Tom Selleck. Oh the irony! Annabelle Blume My first crush was a little boy named Shaun in preschool. We played “Greatest American Hero” every day on the playground (it was our favorite show, obviously) and we never failed to save the day. His stellar pretend-flying skills were a great compliment to my crime fighting smarts. We made a great team and I was sure we would marry. Alas, we did not. Although, my husband is routinely told he’s the spitting image of Clark Kent, so it seems I married a Superhero after all. Sasha Summers My first crush was a celebrity – Christopher Reeves in “Somewhere in Time”. He was so… so… perfect. I know he was also Superman, but I wasn’t really into the man in tights thing. It was this part that ‘did me in’. His love for Elise, and his determination to go back in time just to be with her made my heart flip-flop and my tummy knot-up. And come on, he was so gorgeous. And the film was a tragic love story, my favorite kind, so I was done for. None of the boys I knew could compete! Debbie Peterson In all likelihood, from the time I knew guys existed, I probably had a crush of one kind or another, even if an actor from a movie or TV series. (I can’t help it; I’ve always been a romantic and I like guys!) But, having said that, the first flesh and blood “crush” that popped into my mind was Russell Bowers, one of the students in my third grade class. He was tall, dark, and handsome…yes he was. And, as destiny smiled down upon my smitten heart, he became my square dance partner during the P.E. portion of our school day. Why? Because he was the tallest boy, and I just happened to be the tallest girl at that time. Yes indeed, the snowy winter was the most memorable season of my third grade year! Majanka Verstraete Believe it or not, but my first crush was on a book character. When I first read “In The Forests of The Night”by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, I immediately fell in love with one of the main characters, a vampire named Aubrey. Mind you, this was all before vampires became popular, even before Buffy The Vampire Slayer aired – or at least, before I was old enough to watch it. Originally I had borrowed the book from the library, but after reading it over thirty times in one week, my Mom bought a copy for me. However, according to my Mom, my first ever crush on a real life person was back when I was in kindergarten. I used to chase one of my best friends and try to give him kisses on the cheek. I don’t remember that though – but I’m glad I don’t! Kristy Centeno My first mayor crush happened after my mother took my brothers and me to live overseas. I was about ten at the time and going to a new school in which all children spoke a language I could barely speak myself was in itself intimidating. However, when I walked through those metal gates on my first day of school and caught sight of a tall boy with long brown hair and hazel eyes my heart caught in my throat. Suddenly, the new school didn’t seem so bad after that. His name was George and he was sweet and had a smile that could render you speechless. His morning ritual consisted of bringing me a box of candy and then would smile sheepishly when the others boys gave him a hard time for it. Although we dated for a time when we got older, we ultimately decided remain friends. Aubrie Dionne My first crush was Christian Bale when he played the cabin boy in Treasure Island back in 1990. I first saw it in English class in 6th grade, and I was smitten. I made my sister watch it over and over again, and I even had an alternate ending worked out in my head involving me and him! Maybe that's how my writer's brain got started? Stephanie Lawton I was born boy-crazy, but I think my first crush was Michael Jackson. In kindergarten, I even wore one silver glove to school and had a silver glove necklace. I'd swoon whever he came on the radio and make up little dance routines to his songs. It is fun to see all the different men who inspired our first crush. Now that you know a little about our authors's first crushes, who was yours?
With such a gorgeous cover and super-awesome readers like you cooing about this amazing book, how better can a book birthday be? Well, it can be! Because we have 30% off on this awesome book exclusively at our website!! And what does our book birthday girl, author Stephanie Lawton, feel on this special day? When asked, she says, "Honestly, it feels like it's happening to someone else. It hasn't hit home yet. I'm sure that'll change now that Want is officially out in the world". Of course Stephanie! We wish you all the best in your journey as a writer. Price: Print: $14.99 eBook: $4.99 Genre: Young Adult Release Date: June 7th, 2012 Format: eBook and Paperback Page: 318 Length: Super Novel ISBN: eBook: 978-0-9850115-8-1 Paperback: 978-0-9850115-7-4 Julianne counts the days until she can pack her bags and leave her old-money, tradition-bound Southern town where appearance is everything and secrecy is a way of life. A piano virtuoso, she dreams of attending a prestigious music school in Boston. Failure is not an option, so she enlists the help of New England Conservatory graduate Isaac Laroche to help her. She can’t understand why he suddenly gave up Boston’s music scene to return to the South. He doesn’t know her life depends on escaping it. Julianne must face down madness from without, just as it threatens from within. Isaac must resist an inappropriate attraction, but an indiscretion at a Mardi Gras ball—the pinnacle event for Mobile’s elite—forces their present wants and needs to collide with sins of the past. Will Julianne accept the help she’s offered and get everything she ever wanted, or will she self-destruct and take Isaac down with her? Welcome to the our first Wednesday Writer Spotlight. So glad you could join us.Today we have the author of upcoming Inkspell release (July 21, 2012), Hollywood Ever After, Sasha Summers. Thanks for stopping by, Sasha. So happy to have a chance to sit down with you and learn a bit more about you and your novel. When did you first start writing? What made you want to be a writer? I’ve been writing since I was little. Before I could write, I drew picture stories – I still love to draw and paint too. I come from a very theatrical family: big readers, theater and film fans. So stories were an important part of my life. I enjoyed telling stories too, I just didn’t know if I was really good at it. I decided I’d try to become a dedicated (full-time) writer about 2 years ago. And I’m so glad I did. What inspired you to write Hollywood Ever After? Hollywood Ever After helped me get through some rough stuff. I put a lot of my angst in Claire, to help process the changes that I was facing in my everyday life. I guess you could say HEA was my therapy? LOL! Are you a pantser or a plotter? Pure pantser for my contemporary romances. I have an idea of what’s going to happen – but I let my characters pick the route we take to get there. Do you have any writing rituals or special processes you complete before sitting down to write? No. I have four kids so I write whenever I can. Ideally, I close myself in my home office, blast the soundtrack I’ve created to write to and go until my hands are numb or the kids start banging on the office door. But that rarely happens. What authors inspire you? I love Stephanie Dray, Diana Gabaldon, Julia Quinn, Stephanie Perkins, and so many more… I rarely read a book that isn’t inspiring in some form or another. Sometimes it’s more of a ‘Don’t want to do that.’ Other times it’s ‘I want to do something like this.’ Make sense? If you could only write in one genre for the rest of your career, what genre would you choose? Why? I’m not sure I can answer that. I love writing in different genres. I think it helps keep me ‘fresh’. I worry about having my stories or characters becoming stale so bounce from genre to genre. Not really an answer, I know. Which of the characters in your current release is your favorite? Why? I relate to Claire, she’s kind of every woman facing middle age and an uncertain future. But I love Josh. He’s this sweet, idealistic guy who loves his woman, unequivocally. Are any of your characters modeled after real people? If so, which ones? Like I said, huge movie fan. I tend to use actors and actresses for my characters – for physical cues and ticks. And while this might turn a few people off of Josh, I used Robert Pattinson as my inspiration. Others were a conglomeration of family, friends, and actors. I’m not going to reveal who’s who for that. ;) What music was on your playlist while writing your novel? Here’s the link to my Hollywood Ever After playlist. You can see: Jason Mraz, Colbie Callait, upbeat stuff mostly. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL82CE7EB058BAD4BF&feature=mh_lolz Morning person or grumpy bear? Morning person – you kind of have to be with a herd of kids running around Tell us one thing it would surprise us to know about you? I know how to sheer and wash a sheep. What is next for you? Hollywood Holiday comes out in December. While Josh and Claire aren’t the main characters, there are still a big part of the story. It’s funny, sweet, and sexy. Do you have any unique skills or talents? If so, what? I’m a painter – murals and paintings. For example: my boys curtains are Star Wars. Left curtain is all the Rebel ships from all the movies, right side – all the bad guys ships, including the Death Star. We’re talking detailed – my boys were very invested in making sure the antennas, doors, wings, engines were all good. If I were to look in your closet right now, would I find frills and lace or demin and tees? Denim and tees. It’s not that I don’t want to wear frills and lace but… did I mention the 4 kids? You sure did... what a handful. All that and she still has time to write some fantastic novels. Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit today, Sasha! Thanks for interviewing me! To learn more about Sasha or her book, Hollywood Ever After, please visit the links below: Sasha's Website Twitter (@sashawrites) Hollywood Ever After on Goodreads Pre-Order Links: Direct from Inkspell Barnes and Noble The heartfelt journey of Max West and Amy Riley in to your hearts begins today at Inkspell Publishing. It comes with a special discount too! Enjoy 30% of this brand new contemporary romance as we celebrate release day. The book birthday girl, author Naya Nikki cannot catch up with sleep these days. She says, "It has been a long process filled with twists, turns and bumps but it has all worked out. I am so grateful for this opportunity and it really is a dream come true to see my 'baby' out in the open for everyone else to share. I do not think I will ever get used to seeing my name in print but now my ‘baby’ is there for you all to love as much as I do." Of course we love the book, Naya. Its been an honor for us to be part of Max and Amy's journey. We are celebrating the book release with a fabulous exclusive discount on our website. Buy the book from our web store and enjoy 30% discount on both print and ebook! Hurry, because the offer lasts only till 30th May!! And now, presenting you Familiar Ties, a contemporary romance novel by Naya Nikki! Print Price: $12.99 eBook Price: $4.99 Pages: 250 Length: Novel Format: eBook and Paperback ISBN: ebook: 978-0-9850115-6-7 Paperback: 978-0-9850115-5-0 Max West is a widower raising Phoebe, his four-year-old daughter. Phoebe has to live with the fact that the day she was born is also the day of her mother's death. As her fifth year without her mother approaches, Phoebe finds solace in her godmother, Amy Riley, and her daughter, Grace Crawford, another single parent family. Amy Riley is a successful fashion designer who spends most of her days raising her four-year-old daughter, Grace, while her wayward boyfriend is travelling the world making the next best film. As the fifth year without her best friend looms she finds comfort in her ex-boyfriend, Max, and his daughter, Phoebe. These two “broken” families have a tough week to face as the dreaded day approaches. However through their past, present and debatable future will their choices affect the outcome both parents clearly want and are simply denying? Or will Phoebe and Grace lose the only “whole” family they have ever known? Read an excerpt from the novel! “Amy,” Max warned, “You’re not going to just take pictures.”
He chuckled as he stood behind Amy, who was trying to figure out the new camera. Grace and Phoebe were posed perfectly on the sofa like little angels, big smiles showing rows of shiny white teeth, with the odd one or two missing. “You see,” he showed her. “There's this new, fancy thing called a timer. This means that all of us can be in the picture, including you.” She playfully swatted him, as he jumped back, “Oh zip it.” She laughed, “I look a mess. Anyway I want a picture of you three for my desk, not me.” Grace sat up as she swung her little legs off the edge of the sofa, her feet not even scraping the floor. “Come on, Mommy! Pwease?” She was missing her two front teeth and therefore she couldn’t pronounce her L’s properly. Amy thought it sounded so cute and secretly hoped that they’d never grow back. How could she possibly say no to her little darling? She watched as Grace began to pout and bat her big, grey eyes at her. It was her infamous look that could make anyone fall for her, including her mother and her Uncle Max. “No, not the pout,” she joked. “Anything but that, Gracie you know I can’t resist that cute little pout of yours.” Once Max finished setting the timer, he curled his fingers around Amy's pale bangle covered wrist and pulled her towards the girls and the sofa. As they both sat down, on either side of the girls, he leaned over the girls’ heads to whisper, “I taught her that pout.” “Yes, I know,” she replied. “Because that’s how you got Anna to fall for you.” She was about to laugh when she realized what she’d said. There was a moment of silence as both contemplated the loss of Anna. “Sorry,” she whispered to him. “I shouldn’t have said that.” “It’s fine,” he whispered back, before he could say anymore Phoebe crawled onto his lap. He smiled and saw the splitting image of his deceased wife staring back at him. He didn’t mind that Anna was gone, because she’d left him the most precious of gift. Amy smiled as she lifted Grace onto her lap. Both parents shuffled closer together as a unit. “How long do we have, Daddy?” Phoebe asked, as she snuggled into her father’s chest. “Thirty seconds,” he answered. “Can you smile big for me?” he asked. Phoebe nodded as she smiled her massive toothy smile and reached for Grace's hand. “You too, Grace!” Phoebe instructed her friend. “Smile really, really big!” For a moment, Amy remembered Anna again. They’d both been only eight years old when they’d sat and posed for a different camera. Amy still had that picture on her bedside drawer, next to one of Phoebe and Grace as babies. 'Smile real big,' Anna had said as she’d tilted her head against Amy’s to become one. The smile on Amy's face wasn’t a sad one anymore. She was fortunate that she could feel Anna’s presence, through her charming daughter. As she looked at the camera, she hadn’t realized that Max had put his free arm around her waist, pulling them closer. The camera started to blink, indicating to be ready. “Ready?” she asked them. “On the count of three, okay? One…Two…” “Three,” they all said together, smiling big for the camera, to produce the perfect family photo, to anyone who didn’t know them. The wait is over! Indulge in some delicious romance as the love of Charolette and Vincent unravel on this cover today. Apart from the cover, the book is extremely sweet just like our author Brooke Moss. Without further ado, lets read a bit about what The Carny is all about! Two people from opposite worlds, one unforgettable kiss. You can't judge a carny by its cover. At a town fair on the coast of Oregon, handsome Native American carny, Vincent Youngblood, bestows an unforgettable kiss on shy, awkward teenager, Charlotte Davenport. Then disappears without another word, leaving her baffled and enamored. Ten years later, Charlotte is still living in the small fishing town of Astoria, while being trained to--reluctantly--take over for her philandering hotelier father when he retires. After all, who else will do it? Her two perfect sisters are busy being married to their flawless husbands and having cookie cutter children, while Charlotte remains single, childless, and every bit as mousy as she was a decade ago. As Charlotte struggles to climb out from underneath her judgmental parents thumb, the carnival rolls back into town, and Charlotte finds herself face to face with Vin again. He's back to run his father's carnival, walking away from a promising career in medicine he started in Chicago. Will her biased and judgmental family accept her relationship with a man who is not only a Native American, but works as a carny for a living? And what unsavory secrets bind the well-educated and seemingly superlative Vin to that ramshackle carnival? After all, you can’t judge a carny by its cover. Genre: Contemporary Romance Release Date: July 7th, 2012 Format: eBook and Paperback ISBN: Print: 978-0-9851483-1-7 Ebook: 978-0-9851483-2-4 This is part of the “Know the team” series as part of the Inkspell Publishing Launch Party. We introduce one fascinating team member every alternate day through out the "Be Enchanted" challenge. There is no better way to start this than introducing our first contracted author. Meet Cecilia Robert, author of Truly.Deeply.Madly.You.! Role: Author Zodiac: Gemini Favorite Color: Red, Yellow, green Favorite Food: Not easy to pinpoint which one. But love more spicy foods. Book Last Read: The Bastard by Brenda Novak Currently Reading: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa Favorite Author: Unfortunately I cannot point out one particular, because I read in different genres, and in each, I have two to four favs. All Time Favorite Books? I have a couple favs. From the top of my head, I would say Die For me, The Fever Series, Salem's Lot, The Highlander series, Any book written by Judith McNaught, Mortal Instruments, Infernal Devices, Twilight (Yes), The Host, Odd Thomas... If you were on an island, who would you want to be with? Why? I would want to be with my children. Because they are the only ones make me experience nearly all kind of emotions and sometimes all at once. Love, laugh, irritation, love again, angry, laugh again. A never ending circle of emotions. And the good thing is they love me without prejudice, and me them. What drives you everyday? Food (lol) books, my children, music, my writing, my big fat family. What word describes you best? Gemini! What sets Inkspell apart? Firstly the name itself. Inkspell. Magical indeed. Inkspell is committed to working with their authors, whether it is in book promotions, cover art (which I think, their designer has a sort of midas touch thing going on). The Inspell Team I have had the pleasure of meeting, are exceptionally patient, open communication and friendly as well. Your plans for Inkspell? Other than send all my stories to them for publication?... :) Thank you Cecilia for your time. Have you checked her books yet? Click here to take a peep! |