Want has been such a hit with readers that they demanded a sequel. The characters in Want, Juli and Isaac were compelling which drew the readers into the characters' lives. Today, we are excited to present~ Need, A Want Companion Novel!
When a book is released, it's an exciting time for the author but more so for the readers who can't wait to find out what their favorite characters have been up to! Today our readers are going to delve into Isaac's life after walking away from Juli and learn more about the kind of person he is.
But WARNING~ Need isn't a YA novel. It features some grown up romance, steamy passion, and certainly a few kleenexes!  Isaac Laroche is cursed. All he wants to do is hide out and feel sorry for himself. Never mind that he got caught sleeping with his seventeen-year-old piano student, or that he abandoned her when the truth was exposed.
Isaac’s feisty high school sweetheart has different plans. Heather Swann has returned to their hometown of Mobile, Alabama, to regroup after breaking up with her troll of a fiancé. She’s restless and looking for a diversion, but she bites off more than she can chew when she sets her sights on rehabilitating Isaac with her unorthodox sexual, mental, and physical plans.
The two quickly reconnect, but their happiness is threatened by family secrets, old vendettas and the death of a beloved father-figure.
Can Heather handle Isaac’s baggage, or will her own come back to haunt them both?
Pick up your copy of this riveting tale today! And don't forget to check out Inkspell's Free Reads for other short stories with Isaac, Heather and Juli.
Want has been one of our best selling books. The story tells about two people who are damaged by the world around them but come together in a moment of passion. Need shows readers what happens after the end of the first book.
*Caution: Need is NOT a YA romance. This story contains some sizzling hot sex and shocking revelations!  Isaac Laroche is cursed. All he wants to do is hide out and feel sorry for himself. Never mind that he got caught sleeping with his seventeen-year-old piano student, or that he abandoned her when the truth was exposed.
Isaac’s feisty high school sweetheart has different plans. Heather Swann has returned to their hometown of Mobile, Alabama, to regroup after breaking up with her troll of a fiancé. She’s restless and looking for a diversion, but she bites off more than she can chew when she sets her sights on rehabilitating Isaac with her unorthodox sexual, mental, and physical plans.
The two quickly reconnect, but their happiness is threatened by family secrets, old vendettas and the death of a beloved father-figure.
Can Heather handle Isaac’s baggage, or will her own come back to haunt them both?
Available at Inkspell Publishing and other retailers on May 17, 2013.
If you haven't read the story that started it all.....order your copy today!  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?
 Author bio:
After collecting a couple English degrees in the Midwest, Stephanie Lawton suddenly awoke in the deepest reaches of the Deep South. Culture shock inspired her to write about Mobile, Alabama, her adopted city, and all the ways Southern culture, history and attitudes seduce the unsuspecting.
A lover of all things gothic, she can often be spotted photographing old cemeteries, historic buildings and, ironically, the beautiful beaches of the Gulf Coast. She also has a tendency to psychoanalyze people, which comes in handy when creating character profiles.
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 an excerpt to show you a tease of the character. We hope you enjoy taking a second look at these hotties!
| | | Isaac Laroche
Isaac is a cold, mercurial musician with a giant chip on his shoulder. He's also revered in the classical music community, extremely talented and intensely passionate. He likes keeping secrets and loves his mama. Once you get him to loosen up, he may reward you with a heart-stopping smile.
| EXCERPT:The band tonight is the Cotton City Rollers. Although he also plays trombone, Lenny plays piano during the off-season, and he’s on a kick tonight. Everyone taps their toes, drums fingers on the tables, or waves invisible handkerchiefs in the air.
That includes Isaac Laroche, who beats the drum line on the brown bottle in his hand.
I’m so busted.
I slink down in my chair and cross my arms. I know it won’t help, but I do it anyway. Nothing to see here, folks. Just an underage girl on the wrong side of town.
No such luck. He spots me and heads over. He’s got on a gingham button-down shirt and bizarre surfer shorts with flip-flops. He’s accessorized by clutching a beer. This is certainly a different side of him.
“Isn’t this a school night, little girl?” He smirks. My first instinct is to beg him not to tell my parents. And cry. Instead, I try a different tactic.
“Aren’t you too old to talk to ‘little girls’ in a bar?” For effect, I twirl my hair around a finger. “Besides, it’s June, remember? No school?”
“Touché. Just didn’t expect to see you here, Miss Casquette. You sure you’re only seventeen?”
“I didn’t expect to see you here either, Mr. Laroche.” I uncross and cross my legs.
“Please, it’s Isaac. I’m not that old, and it sounds creepy coming from you. Especially in a place like this.” Amusement flickers in his eyes as he locks them on mine.
I hold my breath. He turns his head to watch the band. Even in the dim light, I see the muscles in his square jaw clench and relax. I follow the line down to his broad shoulders and that little curve that connects his shoulder to his chest. I can’t help but compare him to the boys at school. He’s even bigger than R.J., and older. He doesn’t look a thing like a stereotypical pianist. In fact, he looks like he could be the bouncer.
“Okay, Isaac, here’s a little secret.” I smile up at him, despite the unease that flops around in my stomach. “I come here to listen to Lenny, the guy on piano tonight. His band always plays at the Mystics’ balls.”
“I know.”
“Oh, right. Well, I love this stuff.” It’s the kind of music that’s best heard live because it changes every time it’s performed. It’s so different from what I play. I admire the musicians’ abandon and ability to improvise—two things I can’t do. “Most people—you know who I mean—don’t know about this place. So how come you’re here?”
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he lifts his chin toward the seat next to me. I give him my good-girl smile. He takes that as a green light and sits down, careful to leave a modest amount of space between us. I lick my lips, which have suddenly gone dry. This new tactic could get me in trouble.
He leans in close. “Can I tell you a secret?”
Oh, this is bad. This is very bad.
“I’ll keep yours if you keep mine.”
Wait, did I just say that out loud?
“Fair enough.” He stares off again, listening to Lenny’s solo.
I can almost hear the little angel on my left shoulder do battle with the devil on my right. If I keep this up, I’ll be schizophrenic. Which, when you consider my family, is a definite possibility.
Go ahead and flirt. You’re in a bar. The rules don’t apply here. And he stared at you. Stared! You could totally score an older guy.
Oh, shut up. He’s not into you. Just look at yourself. How could he be? He’s just buzzed. Plus, he’s Mr. Cline’s nephew. It’d be like making out with Mr. Cline.
I choke on my drink.
He still stares at the band, thank goodness, caught up in the bluesy riffs that float on the smoky air. His eyes are darker tonight, almost charcoal in the dim light from the stage. There are lines just forming at the corners of his eyes and deep concentration grooves between his brows, like he scowls too often.
He takes a sudden swig of his beer, and I’m jolted out of my reverie as though I’ve gotten caught red-handed. As though he felt me studying his profile. I’m surprised at his next words.
“My secret is that I used to come here when I was your age, too. Got tired of the canon stuff and wanted to see how the other half played, so to speak. That’s why I minored in Jazz Studies.” He snickers. “Although I did sneak a few beers now and then, unlike you and your…” He waves toward my drink.
“Coke.” Gulp.
“Ah. Can I get you another?”
“Thanks, but no. I have to get back before Mama comes home.”
“Aw, leaving so soon? Mean to tell me your mama doesn’t let you sneak out to bars and talk to older men? Can’t imagine why.” He winks.
I seriously forget to breathe. Relax, it’s the beer talking.
I punch him in the shoulder.
“Hey, you promised to keep that a secret. I know you’ve been in Boston for a while, but you’re back in ’Bama now.” I channel Vivien Leigh and give him my best Southern belle. “You’re bound by a code of honor to keep your word.”
No matter where you end up in life or how long you’re gone, if you’re from south of the Mason-Dixon Line, the code of the Southern Gentleman is in effect. And the minute you violate it, your mama will know by some Southern sixth sense.
“Yes, ma’am. Nothing short of a voodoo curse could get me to spill it.” He places his hand over his heart. “Hey, did you drive here?”
Do not get in his car. Do not get in his car. Do not--
“No, I took the bus. There’s a stop a few blocks down from the back door of the studio. Mama checks the hood of my car to see if it’s warm.”
“Jeez. Doesn’t she trust you?” His question is like a bucket of cold water.
I look away. No, she doesn’t trust me. She--
The waitress comes by to collect my empty glass. I dig into my purse to find my wallet but hesitate, distracted by the other contents. They’ve been rearranged. Again. I push that realization aside and flick open my wallet to get a couple of dollars. By then, Isaac’s beat me to it.
“Said it yourself, I’m back in ’Bama now. It’d be rude not to pay for your Coke since I invited myself over to your table.” When I protest, he puts up a hand. “Besides, your daddy pays me enough to teach you. I can spare a couple of dollars.”
“Fair enough. That’s kind of you, Isaac.”
He puts down a tip for the waitress and stands, stretching his large frame. “Think I’ll go now, too. Have to meet with the maestro tomorrow morning.” He rolls his eyes.
One of the big traditions with New Year's is to write resolutions. These goals are help make the new year even better than the old year. We asked the Inkspell authors what their resolutions are. Here's their responses. What are your New Year's Resolutions? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rebecca Hart:
Being a big procrastinator, I have never been much for making resolutions. Mostly because I generally forget about them or try to ignore the fact that I made them within days of doing so. But, 2013 is a new year, so why not give it a go, right?
So this year, my resolutions are these:
1. Complete two novels and have ready for query at some point during the year.
2. Get on the new treadmill we got for Christmas at least twice a week. (this one is so not going to happen, but adding it makes me look good)
3. Set aside at least one hour each week for undivided "kid time" with my youngest daughter, Shelby.
4. DO NOT GET A NEW DOG THIS YEAR NO MATTER HOW CUTE THEY ARE.
That's it for me. Simple is better to my way of thinking, and I figure if I keep them small and manageable, I have a much better shot at keeping them.
Happy New Year, everyone :)
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Aubrie Dionne:
Both of my New Year's resolutions are writing related for 2013. I'm going to check my Amazon book ranks less- trying for once a month instead of three times a day! (What a time suck that is!) And, I'm not going to read my reviews. The bad ones just bring me down, and then it takes a whole day to get the courage back up to write again. Like last year, I'm vowing to write 1k a day everyday, so I end of with 365K at the end of the year. This past year I made it to 316,090. Almost. But in 2013, I'll make it to 365!
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Lisa Voisin:
I believe in the power of intention and goal setting, and around the end of the old year, I review my year and assess where I am at, so I can chart my course for the future.
To that end, here are my intentions for 2013:
- to be physically active, and to that end, I plan to run another 10KM run. I did this in 2012, and was quite successful.
- to finish writing books two and three of The Watcher trilogy and see them through to publication.
- to make more time for myself in my meditation practice, for everything flows better from there.
- and on a personal note, to endeavor to not take things personally, remembering that other people's opinions of me are not only none of my business, but also reflections of their own world.
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Deb Peterson:
I prefer to think of them as "goals' rather than "resolutions," because as everyone knows, resolutions are only made to be broken and goals are made to be reached... ;)
So with that in mind, my top priority goals for this year are to complete all three of my works in progress, become an expert in marketing...(I hate marketing, so anyone want to help me out with that one?) and spend far more time with my beloved family!
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Stephanie Lawton:
Other than the ever-repeating resolution to lose weight (ugh), I'm going to make it a point to write some edgy stuff in different genres under my pen name. I love YA and romance, but I'm craving the freedom to push the envelop into erotica, horror, fetish, etc.
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T. Michelle Nelson:
I resolve to try even more new things, prove to myself that age is only a number and get into the best shape of my life. To motivate myself to do this, I am signing up to participate in Tough Mudder, a 10-12 mile endurance event with obstacles designed by British Special Forces. Most participants undoubtedly, will be younger and in better shape than me, but I fully intend on crossing that finish line. My mother has always told me there is nothing I couldn't accomplish once I set my mind to it, although I seriously doubt she meant anything like this.
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Majanka Verstraete:
Here are my resolutions for the New Year:
1) Write six new novels this year. I wrote four last year, so I'm trying to bring that number up.
2) Make a list of weekly goals and a list of monthly goals and stick to them.
3) Read and review 150 books (I reached this number last year and I hope I can do it again!)
4) Go on a trip out of the country.
5) Exercise regularly (which means, at least three days a week)
6) Finish last year of university and get my degree.
7) Get my driver's license! It would be about time.
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Brooke Moss:
This year my resolution is to put work on the back burner, and focus on my family as much as possible. Don't worry, I'll still be writing fun stories for my delightful readers to enjoy, but with five children and a wonderful hubby--as well as the horrific acts in Connecticut this past December--my priorities have shifted. I am so richly blessed with a gorgeous family, and I need to seize each day knowing that it could be taken away at any time. Happy New Year, InkSpell readers!
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Kristy Centeno:
My new year’s resolution list:
1- Finish the MS I have started.
2- Find a bigger house to move into.
3- Focus a little more on life outside of work.
4- Go to Disney with the kids.
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Stephanie Keyes:
I love making New Year's resolutions. A clean slate and a fresh start for a brand new year! I have a short list for 2013 that consists of the following:
-Release The Fallen Stars
-Edit and Release The Star Catcher
-Write a brand-new Paranormal Romance!
-Continue to spend more time with my family
-Continue with my workout regime
Happy New Year Inkspell readers!
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Naya Nikki:
My new years resolutions are:
1) Get a 2:1 in my 2nd year at university
2) Do a good deed everyday
3) Get experience in publishing/editorial work so I can pursue it as a career
Share your resolutions? Do you have any in common with our authors?
Happy New Year Inkspell readers. We wish you all the best in 2013!
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 an excerpt to show you a tease of the character. We hope you enjoy taking a second look at these hotties!
| | |
DAVE GASTON
Dave loves to think he's every woman's dream. He likes nighttime walks on the beach (no, really), making people laugh, and is fiercely loyal to those he loves. He knows his way around a kitchen, gives great foot massages and has a never-ending repertoire of dirty jokes. He has a weak spot for beer and redheads.
| Excerpt:
“Sorry. Should take this.” He turns to go outside, but it looks like monsoon season. “Yeah, man?”
I can’t play, so I begin marking up the sheet music. Whoever put in the recommended fingerings is an idiot.
“Wow. Okay. No, that’d be great. Any time, you know that. Uh, yeah, she’s right here.”
At that, my ears perk up. I glance at Isaac, who’s looking at me through narrowed eyes.
“Don’t think that’s a good idea.”
A man’s voice booms from Isaac’s phone so loud I can hear it across the room. “Hah! You are so full of shit! She doesn’t exist!” Isaac rolls his eyes and holds out the phone.
“I’m so sorry. My friend needs to talk to you. I’m not responsible for anything he says.”
“Uh, okay.” His phone smells like aftershave. “Hello?”
“Who are you?”
“Um, who are you?”
“I am every woman’s dream and what I want to know is: who are you; how old are you; and why Ike had the balls to tell me some little girl in Alabama plays Rachmaninoff better than me? And…go.”
“I’m seventeen. It’s not like I’m twelve.”
“Well then, that makes it much better. Totally trumps my Conservatory degrees. Please excuse me while I scrape my ego off the floor. I’m Dave, by the way. And you have a very sexy voice, anyone ever tell you that? Must be the accent.”
“Uh…”
“It’s okay. I often render women speechless. So, Sexy-and-Seventeen, what’s your actual name?”
“Julianne. Or Juli. Whatever.”
“Uh-huh. And now for the real question: Can you really play Rachmaninoff as well as Ike says?”
“I don’t—I don’t know. He said that?”
Isaac rubs his temples.
“He did. And I challenge you to a duel. Hear that sound? That’s me throwing my glove on the floor. I bite my thumb at you. It’s on, Julianne-or-Juli-whatever. Next time I’m in Mobile, it’s you and me in a classical music death match.”
I giggle.
“Too much?”
“A little.”
“Sorry. Nice talking to you, Juli. Can you put Ike back on?”
“Sure. Here.”
Isaac mouths sorry. “Are you done? We’re trying to rehearse here. Some of us take our music seriously. No. I’m hanging up. Later.”
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...
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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.
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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.”
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Now that you have heard from some of our Inkspell authors about their favorite genres... please share your favorites with us!
 Do you love having a paperback book in your hands? Do you
love the smell of a new book? Do you enjoy collecting signed books by your favorite authors?
Inkspell is offering signed copies of WANT for anyone who purchases a print copy of her book today on our store site. WANT is a story that will touch your heart and leave you breathless and wanting more! Due to the nature of the promotion, there will be a delay in the shipping.
Stop by to purchase your special signed book today! This is a limited time purchase so be sure to get your copy today! You know you want one! And at only $14.99, it's sure to be a collector's item!
http://www.inkspellpublishing.com/store.htmlIf you want to follow along with the twitter party and share the love, make sure you follow Stephanie Lawton on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Steph_Lawton Don't forget to watch for and use the #Want hashtag! It's sure to be a rocking party!
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.
Stepahie Lawton's book, Want, has captured the hearts of many readers. They love the spunky heroine and her passion for music. A few weeks ago we took at look at the two men, Dave and Isaac, who loved Juli. Do you have a favorite? I won't tell you mine! But this week, we are going to take a gander at the young woman who has both of them head over heels!
 Character Name: Julianne (Juli) Casquette
Age: 17
Hair: red
Eyes: blue
Height: 5' 8"
Distinguishing features: Flaming red hair, tall athletic build; a bit of a walking contradiction
Most resembles: Model Ebba Zingmark (I think she may actually be the girl on
the cover)
Teaser: Juli's a tough nut to crack--she's both strong and frail, bold and shy, determined to get what she wants, yet gives up too easily. It takes a special guy to handle her and earning her trust isn't easy, but once she lets you in, she's loyal to a fault. Her stellar musical talent makes people respect her, but they're a little afraid to get too close. She loves her brother, dirty jokes and Rachmaninoff. She's drawn to people who challenge her and force her to reach higher, do better, dig deeper... just don't push her too far or you could do permanent damage.
And if you missed our Eyecandy Monday blog post where we took a deeper look at Dave and Isaac, you can find it HERE.
Independence Day or July fourth is a big deal in America. We enjoy celebrating our independence from England and the Declaration of Independence with parades, cook-outs, and fireworks. We asked a few of our Inkspell authors about their holiday plans. We hope you enjoy hearing about their events and have a wonderful holiday too!
 Brooke Moss:
"This year my family is spending Independence Day with my oldest brother and his family. He was a 20 year marine, and now works in national security, so our American pride really comes out when we're together. He survived 3 tours in Iraq, and has devoted his life to protecting the freedoms that so many of us take for granted."
 Rebecca Hart:
This July 4th, the family is heading to "Tortuga", our seasonal, pirate themed campsite in Upstate, NY for a few days of nature, sunshine, BBQs and campfires. No fireworks or big parties, but there is always something for the kids to do or someone for them to hang out with, and you can't beat the fresh air.
I can't wait to sink into five days of outdoor bliss. I might even manage to do a little writing. *fingers crossed*
 Stephanie Lawton:
All our family is a thousand miles away, so we don't have any plans for Fourth of July. The weather is insanely hot this time of year in the Deep South--we'll probably just grill hot dogs and eat them in the comfort of our air conditioning!
 Annabelle Blume:
I'll be enjoying some family time pool-side! My cousin, Kym, and her family have the most amazing backyard. It truly looks like a resort, complete with waterfall flowing into the pool, fire pit and cabana bed. It's going to be a full day of catching up and relaxing.
It sounds like our authors have some wonderful plans for the holiday. How will you celebrate Independence Day?
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! | | Brooke Moss
Ahhhhh....my first crush was none other than the man of the 1980's...Kirk Cameron himself. I remember my heart palpitating every time his show, "Growing Pains" was on, and whenever he had a scene, I would have to bite the collar of my nightgown to keep
from "squeee-ing" in front of my older brothers. I swear to you, I thought I was going to marry him. I really did. But that was before he became an intolerant conservative, but hey...whenever he is quoted in the media with saying something stupid, I just think back to those days on Growing Pains, when he was just a smart-alecky teenager with the most handsome face I would ever see. That is, until a few years later, Joey McIntyre and the boys of The New Kids On The Block came into my life. :)
| 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.
| T. Michelle Nelson
My first crush was Nikki Sixx, the bassist from Motley Crue. I had posters of him all over my room and a giant banner that I hung above my bed when I was in the third grade. Lots of heavy metal posters came and went, but the Nikki
memorabilia stayed and eventually moved with me to my college dorm room. It was quite the long-lasting crush. To be perfectly honest, I may still be a touch smitten. The man has aged remarkably well. Fortunately he has given up the mullet and moved forward with fashion, but I am hoping he kept the leather
pants… | | 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?
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