What Gwen said

Fitbit meets National Novel Writing Month #FiBiNaNoWriMo Challenge

2014-10-27T14:43:00.002-07:00

Calling all writers!

November is National Novel Writing Month in which millions (may be an exaggeration) of writers commit to writing 50k words and finishing that damn book. But followers of Gwen Hayes know that a sedentary lifestyle is bad for your health--so we're combining two challenges in November. Join the shenanigans and pledge to write 50k words and take 300k steps starting November 1.

If you Fitbit and are interested in earning swag for your steps, please join the Fitbit group here: Fitbit Group

If you don't want to join there, or don't have a Fitbit, but want to be encouraged to write and move, you can join the NaNo thread here: NaNo Forum

If you don't want to join but kinda want to lurk and follow along, let's just all agree to use the hashtag #FibiNaNoWriMo

Either/And/Or on all of those is fine by me. However, there will be prizes on the Fitbit activity group. I don't have all the details yet--but finishing will be rewarded.

Please change your sedentary lifestyle: A cautionary tale plus Gwen gets real

2014-06-09T13:43:00.002-07:00

Lots of things have been going on lately in my life. Good things and bad things. And the worst thing is probably the best thing.

huh.

There has likely been some confusion swirling around about my career.
I had a medical scare. I've been on the fence with how much to share, but my goal here is to encourage people to take better care of themselves, so I'm going to offer my story up. I want to say up front it was a medical scare that turned out okay. I was in a high risk category but I don't think I am now (I see the doc again tomorrow.) The lifestyle changes I am making are to prevent being scared again--but I feel great right now. So--people stop worrying.

Three weeks ago, I developed a blood clot in what, luckily, turned out to be a superficial vain. It still hurt really bad. And the length of the vein damage (groin to calf) bumped me in a higher risk category for the kind of clot that has much worse complications. I was given a few choices for how negate this happening, and being a granola kind of girl, I chose the one with the least amount of chemical medications and invasiveness (also I'm totes not into getting a shot EVERY DAY.) The doctor told me when I was sitting I had to elevate my leg above my heart and put hot compresses on it. And I wasn't allowed to sit much. And the rest of the time, I had to be walking and moving.

Not wanting to have him change my prognosis at the next appointment (because shot EVERY DAY) I set about to do this moving that he spoke of.

Which is really hard to do when your work keeps you sitting at a computer 10+ hours a day every day. I had to figure out how to live offline. Not easy for this girl. I had to squeeze work into 20-30 minute sprints with my legs on a yoga ball and my laptop on my chest. Again, not easy. And, after doing some research, I realized that I have probably been killing myself by sitting at a computer 10+ hours a day.

" Women who sit for more than six hours a day have a roughly 40 percent higher risk of dying from any cause, regardless of their fitness level, versus those who sit for fewer than three hours."
"Sedentary women have more than double the risk of developing a pulmonary embolism, a.k.a. a blood clot in the lungs. "Prolonged sitting makes your blood flow sluggish and more likely to form clots, which can become lodged in your lungs," explains Christopher Kabrhel, M.D., M.P.H., an emergency medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital."
http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/standing-desk

So, I had to make some choices about adding balance to my life. We're saving for a treadmill desk for long-term and I need to take a pause and make getting healthy my full-time job for the short-term.

Which means I have to step away from management at Entangled Publishing. A job that I love, adore, and worked so hard build. But I can't do it justice right now.

So, long story short. This message is to encourage you to move. Right now, I work in 30 minute sprints and move for 30 minutes. When I get the clean bill of health, I'll need to do 45/15 for the rest of forever. I bought a Fitbit--which I encourage everyone to do. I am spending more time with my husband, with my dogs, with the outdoors. I'm losing physical weight. And I'm weighing all my choices to make sure I am eating, sleeping, loving, and working in a way that my health (of my mind, body, and soul) is my focus. And my work is definitely a part of that because I love what I do. I just need to remember it's part of the pie chart, not the whole pie.

So, if you hear rumors. I wasn't fired (still at Entangled, just stepped down from management), I'm not dying (scary and expensive wake up call), and I'm still freelancing. What I'm not doing is sitting at a desk from 6 a.m to 8 p.m or later. I removed myself from almost all loops and subscriptions (I'll miss you Publisher's Marketplace). I play Words with Friends once a day with my first cup of coffee and then don't get on Facebook again until next morning. I check into Twitter several times a day, but don't leave it open. I'm looking in to ways to listen to manuscripts (the text-to-speech is still weird to me, but I'm trying to acclimate myself.) I'm drinking lots of water. I cut back on meat--once or twice a week instead of once or twice a day. I go for short walks, I go for long walks, I go up and down my basement stairs ten times a day on purpose. I am reading for personal enrichment. I am going to bed earlier. I'm going to street fairs and festivals instead of holing up in my house and staying away from people. I wrote this blog post in two different sessions. :) I edit for half an hour and then think about it while I walk. I started writing again. Because all of these things together make me a better, happier person. (Don't try to make me drink my coffee without my full fat cream though.)

Most of my friends are editors and writers and agents and we are all sitting too much. Please, for me, make it a priority to move. Circulate your blood. Get fresh air. It doesn't matter if you exercise once a day at the gym and are in great shape, if your job is sitting, you need to break it up with movement. In a week, you will be rewarded. More clarity. More energy. More better stuff. I promise.

And I'm still taking submissions!

ETA: This is the Fitbit I have.

Mother Daughter Romance Writers Robyn DeHart and Hattie Mae plus giveaway

2014-05-09T08:02:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother's Day weekend everyone! Today's guests are authors Robyn DeHart and Hattie Mae--mother and daughter romance writers who write completely different genres, with completely different voices, but I've been lucky enough to work with both authors.

To celebrate Mother's Day, I've asked them to share what it's like being in publishing at the same time--yet not together. I'm also hosting a giveaway of two of their books--no purchase required!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hattie Mae and Robyn DeHart’s FAQ’s

When people find out that we’re mother and daughter, there are always questions….

1. Do you write together?

Robyn: Absolutely not. We don’t write the same things and writing together would take a level of cooperation that I don’t think I’m prepared for. We do, however, brainstorm and critique together.

Hattie: Not at all. We are often in the same space writing our own books. I so love historicals and I do help with her research but as far as writing together, no way. But I don’t know what I would do without our ability to brainstorm and critique together.

2. Do you have similar writing styles?

Robyn: Somewhat. I’m very much a plotter and character-driven writer, but I’m also precise and deliberate in my plotting. My writing isn’t very organic, I’m too analytical in my approach. I know my mom is a far more organic writer, she’s definitely a natural storyteller and the reason I love stories and books the way I do.

Hattie: I think in a lot of ways we do. I plot, and work on my characters like she does, but a little looser. My characters walk onto the page named and with their features complete. I know the beginning and usually the end. The other difference we have is she can write out of order, my day follows the story of the characters as their life unfolds.

Robyn: LOL! That’s true, I can write out of order. Not with every book, but sometimes that happens for me. I find it irritating how she always knows her ending before she starts. I sometimes don’t know the endings to my books until I’m doing revisions.

3. Who got started first?

Robyn: Technically my mom did, but I’ll let her tell you her story. But I am one of those people who has always written. I was fortunate to grow up in a family that never thought my dreams of becoming a writer were ridiculous. They even sent me to a Writing camp at the university where my dad taught (and still does and so does my husband, The Professor) when I was in high school. When I was fresh out of high school and barely in college, we found out about the RT Conventions and I was too afraid to go alone so my mom went with me. We went to Nashville and it was at the height of the male cover model competition and we met Fabio! My mom didn’t register to go to the conference other than as a companion and so she’d wait in the lobby while I went into the classes and I’d come out and find her surrounded by hot guys. Evidently she was finding food for the models, but to me, the then 19 year old girl, I was simultaneously horrified and thrilled.

Hattie: I guess I did in a way. I can’t remember when I didn’t make up stories. I told them to my children when they were young and then have had the blessing of making up stories for all six of my grandchildren. They would crawl up in my lap and while I rubbed their back I would tell them a story, they named this activity a back story. My oldest grandchild is 21 and is 6 ft 5 and if he could he would still sit in my lap and let me tell him a story. My youngest grandchildren are Robyn’s girls (ages 3 and 5) and they refer to our story time by asking me to ‘make them a story.’

4. Do you write the same kind of books?

Robyn: Not even close. I write sexy historicals with lots of intrigue and adventure. I have a tendency to kill people – in my books, of course. I focus primarily on the dialogue, that’s where the magic of the story lives for me. What can I say, I have British people that speak to me. J When I first started writing, I think it kinda bothered mom that all of the mothers in my books are either dead or mean, but it really is the best source of internal conflict for my characters – which she certainly came to embrace with writing her own books.

Hattie: I wish I wrote more like Robyn, more adventurous. But my books are sweet romance that are family based, and filled with traditions. I hope they spur on some laughter and tears just as life does. I love to have children in my books; it just comes naturally to me. So if you close my books with a smile on your face and feel a lasting relationship with my characters, then I have done my job.

5. How does it feel to have your mom read your love scenes/read your daughter’s love scenes?

Robyn: People always ask us this and I don’t know, it doesn’t bother me at all. I think it’s because of the way I was raised. I could always talk to my mom about anything, sex included. So it doesn’t phase me at all that she reads my books. I mean hello, she’s how I found romance novels. She always read them and at some point I just took one off her shelf and started reading it and well, the rest, as they say, is history. But it’s not embarrassing or anything for me. The only thing she ever comments on is if I use too many curses in my books.

Hattie: I love Robyn’s books, sex and all. If it becomes too much for me I just turn that page. And she is right about the curse words. But it’s not targeted to her books, it is any books I read or movies I see, nothing will pull me out of a story faster. But I will admit sometimes a good curse word is called for.

Robyn: I knew it!

6. If you could write any other kind of book, what would it be?

Robyn: I’m pretty happy writing historicals. It’s where my voice feels the most accurate, the most natural. I suppose there’s a part of me that would like to write a contemporary, but I worry about my voice.

Hattie: I would love to write YA, but I’m not sure if I have the voice for that genre.

Robyn: You should write that YA thrilled idea you have, it’s just fantastic. So I have a question for you, what is your favorite of my books?

Hattie: Oh, where do I start? I love your first one, Courting Claudia, and the Legend Hunters have to be one my favorite series, but your Jack the Ripper book, The Secrets of Mia Danvers might be my all time favorite Now what about me? I don’t have as many as you but what is your favorite

Robyn: I love Under the Sassafras, but I also have a soft spot for Teacups & Mayhaw Pie – I know you’ve revised it a lot since I last saw it, so I can’t wait to see what you’ve done with it.

Hattie: I am still working on those revisions but I’m taking it slow. One of the many things I’ve learned from you. It’s a take on an old thing I use to tell you and your siblings: nothing is worth doing if you don’t do it right. I admire your ability to layer your revisions and your knowledge of how you know a character’s conflict just by reading your synopses.

Robyn: I have to say that one of the things that I admire about your writing ability is the ease with which you write children. That’s not easy to do. Kids are just hard to add to books, but you seamlessly incorporate them into your writing and they’re so real to me. That really goes for all of your characters. I also love the sweet southern charm of your voice, it’s just so comforting, like a perfect cup of hot tea.

Hattie: I will say that this has been a fun interview. It is such fun to share something with one of your children that you both love.

Robyn: Yes, thanks to Gwen for having us today! She’s another thing we have in common as she’s worked with both of us on our books. She obviously has great taste – well, really it’s just that we’re both really smart for working with her. Have a great Mother’s Day y’all!

About Robyn

I’m one of those writers who always knew that she wanted to be a writer. It took me a while, however, to figure out precisely what I wanted to write. Reading Kathleen Woodiwiss’ “A Rose in Winter” sealed the deal for me and I’ve been reading and writing romance ever since. I should have known I was destined for this when my Barbies insisted on hosting elaborate masquerade parties, complete with stolen kisses in the moonlight.

I’m the youngest of three children, so of course I’m the favorite. I was raised in central Texas, in the beautiful Hill Country, right smack-dab between Austin and San Antonio. My parents were high school sweethearts and married a week after my mother graduated – they both needed their parents’ permission to marry since they were so young. So I blame them and their amazing marriage for the fact that I’m a hopeless romantic.

Somewhere along the line, I graduated from college with a degree in Sociology, only after completing an internship with none other than award-winning best-selling author, Pamela Morsi. It was one of the coolest experiences of my life and I learned more about the writing business than I could have hoped.

After college I worked a myriad of jobs: Computer Software Trainer, Recruiter, Administrative Assistant. But no matter what my day job, I come home to my real job and click, click, click away on my computer and get lost in my imaginary world where justice always prevails and the girl always gets her guy! It’s the coolest job in the world.

I’m married to the most amazingly supportive man. He’s so proud of my career, and loves to tell people, “My wife is a romance novelist.” We live in the Austin area, where my husband is a university professor. He’s ridiculously smart, but remains goofy enough to make me laugh every day. We’re the parents of two beautiful and precocious little girls who keep me quite busy during the day. We also have two very spoiled cats who are of no help at all when it comes to my writing, although they sometimes nap in the same room where I sit diligently working.

I’ve published eleven historicals so far, all of which have received great reviews and a handful of them have won awards. I love to hear from readers, so feel free to send me an email or you can find me online at The Sisterhood of the Jaunty Quills, or, Peanut Butter on the Keyboard, my newest blogging endeavor that’s all about writing moms or moms who write. You can also find me on my Facebook or my Facebook Author page and on Twitter. I’m everywhere!

About Hattie

Hattie MaeAward-winning author, Hattie Mae was born and bred southern, cutting her teeth on cornbread and greens and running barefoot through the canals of her small Louisiana town. So when it came to writing, there was no question as to where to set her books. She’s now writing her fourth book set in Bon Amie, a busy little town nestled in the heart of Cajun country. She’s also published a short story in The Cup Of Comfort For Teachers. The love of books and writing runs in her family, Hattie’s daughter is award-winning historical romance author, Robyn DeHart.

When not writing you can usually find her playing with her grandchildren or cooking up some healthy versions of tasty southern fare. She lives in central Texas with her husband and one crazy cat.

You can find her online on Facebook, Twitter or via email.

Help a Scandalous author @calliehutton become a USA TODAY bestseller! She's close!

2014-04-22T13:48:00.002-07:00

Because of readers like you loving The Elusive Wife and spreading the word, Callie Hutton has a chance at becoming a USA TODAY best-seller. Wouldn't that be amazing?!

Our goal at Entangled has always been to help authors realize their dreams. You can help Callie continue to reach hers! Just share this book with your friends, post your honest review at retail sites, and enter our Rafflecopter and help spread the word.

To say thank you, Callie is giving away a Kindle Paperwhite.

Enter HERE!

New Falling Under fan art--thank you Adelle Yeung!

2014-02-20T15:02:00.002-08:00

I am absolutely in love with this depiction from Falling Under. My husband always called Theia's handmaidens "the Splice Girls" and that they are. I get the biggest kick out of fan art. Thank you again Adelle. (who has a Facebook page you can visit here)

I have more fan art on...my fan art page if you are interested.

New Release from Gwen Hayes ...and Win a Kindle

2014-01-13T03:00:00.000-08:00

Warm up your winter by reading something…HOT.

Online virile.com dating columnist Dane Martin has no plans to give up his reign as bachelor extraordinaire. He has a reputation to uphold, especially with the upcoming release of his book Coming on Strong.

Holly Winters, everyone’s favorite girl next door, thanks to her blog of the same name, gives advice, but she doesn’t always take it. When she meets Dane Martin, every fiber of her being warns her to turn tail and run. Instead, she risks her future as an authority on relationships, jeopardizing her upcoming self-help book for women struggling to find commitment among the Virile sycophants.

Has the Girl Next Door tamed the most Virile man alive, or is she just another notch on the bedpost?

Kindle | Nook | iTunes

What the critics are saying about Mr. Virile and the Girl Next Door:

"I was surprised to find how sexy this story was, a lot of explicit scenes and cursing. Call me old school, or prudish, or whatever."

"The language was stronger than I expected but I'm starting to get used to it."

"So, I’m not a prude by any means, and I love a good book with sex in it, but holy cow, that’s all this book was about!"

"They’re in love, and having sex ALL THE TIME. No joke, like every three pages"

But also:

"Sexy, clever, and fun. Gwen writes a romance that you can't put down." NYT bestselling author, Shelli Stevens

"Sweet and sexy, Gwen Hayes knows how to bring the heat!" USA Today bestselling author, Karen Erickson

Enter to win a Kindle

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Help a girl out--win two free books from Entangled Publishing @entangledpub

2014-01-03T20:03:00.002-08:00

Dear Reader,
I need your help! I have an Entangled release coming out on the 13th about two dating advice bloggers...and I need ten "Dear Abby" type questions to throw at these characters for a special promotion. Please email me (gwen @ gwenhayes.com) as many as you like between now and Sunday night (Jan 5th)...they should be about dating and romance...and they can even be a little crazy and fun. If I use yours, you'll win a backlist Indulgence AND Scandalous ebook.

Here is the blurb to get you started...poor Holly and Dane have no idea what they have coming. My readers are CREATIVE.

Online virile.com dating columnist Dane Martin has no plans to give up his reign as bachelor extraordinaire. He has a reputation to uphold, especially with the upcoming release of his book Coming on Strong.

Holly Winters, everyone’s favorite girl next door, thanks to her blog of the same name, gives advice, but she doesn’t always take it. When she meets Dane Martin, every fiber of her being warns her to turn tail and run. Instead, she risks her future as an authority on relationships, jeopardizing her upcoming self-help book for women struggling to find commitment among the Virile sycophants.

Has the Girl Next Door tamed the most Virile man alive, or is she just another notch on the bedpost?

Mr. Virile and the Girl Next Door is available for pre-order.

A Tribute to Christmas Vacation and John Hughes--Christmas Village Style

2013-12-23T08:27:00.006-08:00

As you know by now...I love to '80s. And I love John Hughes movies. And I love Christmas. So it likely surprises no one that my favorite holiday movie is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Also, it's well known that my husband is extraordinary and he made the best Christmas village ever this year. Some of the items were purchased, but the finishing touches were MacGyvered with items he found around the house.

And why is the carpet all wet, Todd?

Shitter was full.

Going for a new amateur recreational saucer sled land speed record, Clark W. Griswold, Jr. Remember, don't try this at home kids; I am a professional.

Fresh Eyes Critique Holiday giveaway of books by Tammy Blackwell and Danielle Monsch

2013-12-22T13:28:00.000-08:00

Way back when, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life my first year of college. I vividly remember saying, "I wish someone would pay me to read."

It took a long time to get here, dude.

I started Fresh Eyes Critique last year and it has been such an enriching experience personally and professionally. Not all of my clients have released their books yet, but today I'm giving away two ebooks that I collaborated on. Thank you Dani and Tammy. I enjoy working with you both so much.

STONE GUARDIAN
Adult Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance by Danielle Monsch

Gryphons flying past Skyscrapers? Wizards battling it out in coffeehouses? Women riding motorcycles with large swords strapped to their backs? All normal sights since the Great Collision happened twenty-six years ago.

Well, not normal for everyone. Larissa Miller may have been born after the Great Collision, but as a history teacher who lives in the human-only city, she has never come into contact with any other race or species. That is, until one day she walks out of her apartment only to be attacked by a mob of Zombies, but then is saved by a Gargoyle.

Leader of the Gargoyles, Terak has been watching over the human woman for months because of a cryptic prophecy. Gargoyles trust no one outside their Clan, but something about this woman stirs every protective instinct within him. When he realizes the danger to her is real, he refuses to allow her to explore this new world without him at her side.

In the course of their investigation Terak becomes entranced by his little human. But when he discovers why Necromancers want her and the great reward that awaits him if he betrays her, he must choose between the welfare of his Clan and not only Larissa’s life, but the fate of this new Realm as well.
www.daniellemonsch.com Buy on Amazon.

Fragile Brilliance
YA/NA Paranormal Romance by Tammy Blackwell

Maggie McCray has worked her whole life for the opportunity to attend Sanders College. It’s her one chance at becoming a world-renowned artist, and she’s determined nothing will get in her way. But when a murder brings Maggie and her powers to the attention of the Alpha Pack and the tragically handsome Charlie Hagan, her carefully planned future hangs in jeopardy.

Charlie Hagan isn’t happy when the Alpha Female assigns him as Maggie McCray’s personal bodyguard. Just being near the Thaumaturgic threatens to unleash the primal instincts he’s been suppressing for so long. Charlie knows if the coyote is uncaged, then the person he’ll most need to protect Maggie from is himself.
www.misstammywrites.com Buy on Amazon.

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Entangled Scandalous submission call for 1950s stories

2013-12-07T11:04:00.000-08:00

Love Me Tender

Scandalous Submission call for stories from the 1950s

As you probably know, our regular submission guidelines stop at 1949. We thought it might be fun to see what you creative types could do with some pomade, pencil skirts, and rock-n-roll music, so we invite you to submit a story that takes place any time from 1950-1959.

Wordcount 15-20k
heat level: any
Happy Ever After please!
Submissions end March 31st

Please submit to the following link, using Love Me Tender in the Attn: box: https://entangledpublishing.submittable.com/submit/19013

Also, Don't forget the Bring On the Heat submission call ends soon. http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=e8fdc62952&id=76ae6fb7cc for more details.

Win free books for you and a friend by Bria Quinlan (@briaquinlan) and Gwen Hayes

2013-12-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

The lady in red............

Many of you know that author Bria Quinlan is amazing and she's also like a sister to me. So, when her debut YA novel released this year, it seemed fitting somehow that our first covers were similar, yet completely different. Just like sisters are.

Since it's the holiday season and you're probably out shopping for everyone but you, I suggest you enter to win the contest below. Winner will receive ecopies of both Falling Under and Wreckless from your preferred vendor (Kindle, Nook, or Kobo) AND you can choose another set to be gifted to a friend, or sister, or someone who feels like both to you.

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Happy Holiday Giveaway of eBooks edited by Gwen Hayes

2013-11-30T10:26:00.001-08:00

It's the holiday season.....and the family is getting ready to trim the tree and I am in the mood. This means I'm feeling very giveaway-y. Lucky you!

As most of my readers know, in addition to writing books about kissing, I also edit books about kissing. Because I'm saving the world one love story at a time, yo.

I'm giving away three books that I personally edited and hope you all enjoy them as much I did.

A Very Scandalous Holiday by Nancy Fraser, Sophia Garrett, Amber Lin, and Crista McHugh

Entangled Publishing presents…A Very Scandalous Holiday Anthology. Four very spirited vignettes of holidays past.

Erin’s Gift by Nancy Fraser
Chicago 1920
Widower, Seth Harrison, has no intention of falling in love again but will he be able to resist the sweetness of his son’s nanny, Erin O’Mara—his sister’s best friend?
An Eternity of You by Sophia Garrett
England 1833
The Duke of Sharrington left Rebecca with more than a broken heart six years ago—he left her with a son. His return rekindles their passion, but only a Christmas miracle will convince the town surgeon to believe in his promises of eternity again.
Letters at Christmas by Amber Lin
England, late Regency
After three years at sea, Captain Hale Prescott has the means to marry the love of his life and his best friend’s sister, Sidony Harbeck. However, she might never speak to him again. Despite their whispered adolescent promises, he never wrote her a single letter…at least, none he ever sent.
Eight Tiny Flames by Crista McHugh
1944 Ardennes, WWII
Lt. Ruth Mencher has always secretly admired Capt. Joseph Klein, but it takes the lighting of a Hanukkah candle to uncover the spark of mutual attraction. Each night awakens a new facet of their relationship, but as the Battle of the Bulge begins, the approaching Nazi forces threaten to tear them apart.

Second Chance Christmas by Ellen Butler

Prominent DC attorney Emma Taylor is pulled away from a promising date the week before Christmas to pick up her ex-fiance from the ER after a bar fight. She's in no mood to re-open old wounds, but it’s Christmas and she can’t just leave him alone and injured.

Eight hundred eighty-four days. That’s how much time has passed since Major Colton Evans made the biggest mistake of his life. Even after two tours of duty and too much shrapnel in his leg, it’s still the loss of Emma that haunts him. And if he can win her back, he’ll take any chance.

When she insists he stay with her during the holiday, they put out enough sexual electricity to rival the most decorated house on the block. But will it be enough to light the way to a future together?

Confessions of Love by Melissa Blue

London, 1817
Lieutenant Jonathan Rycroft is intoxicating. His hands know just where to touch her, his lips know just how to trip her pulse, and his body knows just how to bring about every forbidden desire Lindsay Dunsfield has ever felt. He's the one man that's owned her heart...and he shattered it two years ago.

Returned to London on assignment with the War Office, Jonathan's mission is hindered by a love he cannot forget. One scorching kiss reignites the flames of their passion, but he inadvertently drags Lindsay into a mire of murder and deception that hits closer to home than she ever would have dreamed.

In a world where Lindsay can trust no one, will she find renewed faith in the last place she expected to look?

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Scandalous submission call for holiday stories

2013-11-21T19:13:00.000-08:00

Now is the time to write a holiday romance...for next year
2014 Holiday Anthology

There's a chill in the air. You're planning your Thanksgiving menus, pulling out the mittens and scarves, sitting by the fire in the evening....and thinking about the holidays. What better time to write a holiday romance than when you are already in the mood? Use the seasonal music to your advantage. Let the crackle of the wood and the smell of cinnamon bring your characters to life. Get inspired by the candlelight dancing on the Menorah. Put on some fingerless gloves (so you can type!) and warm up your favorite beverage.

We are looking for stories that are 15-20k about the holiday season that take place in any era up to and including WWI. Stories must be romance, heat level may vary, and writing must be strong. We'd love to also see protagonists of color and ethnicity as well as characters who are not heterosexual ...give us a great love story, that's all we care about. You may submit your stories via the Scandalous portal here.

Stories must be finished at time of submission and the call ends March 15, 2014.

Happy Halloween from Gwen Hayes

2013-10-28T16:54:00.003-07:00

I thought I'd trot this picture out again because it's my favorite. My grand-baby from last year.

So Over You by Gwen Hayes available now in paperback

2013-10-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

For all my readers who prefer turning actual pages, you dreams have finally come true. (Too much?)

So Over You is available in paperback...

Available at Amazon or ask your bookstore to order it for you.

Layney Logan, girl reporter.

That's all she's ever wanted to be. This year, her senior year, not only does she have to share the coveted Senior Editor position with her arch nemesis, Jimmy Foster, she also has to figure out how to keep the school paper alive. With the local paper closing and the school cutting Journalism from the budget, it's a long shot. Working side-by-side with Foster, the guy she likes to call Lucifer,makes it even worse.

The only thing Layney dislikes more than swimming in the high school dating pool is Jimmy Foster thinking he got the best of her, so she takes his ridiculous newspaper assignment--to go on twelve blind dates--to prove his powers of darkness won't work on her. The trouble is, the more she learns about herself on her journey of bad blind dates, the more she wonders if maybe Foster has known her better than she knows herself all this time.

And maybe she should have trusted him with the secret she's kept for four years—the secret that broke them up to begin with.

Kindle Daily Deal is Scandalous! All titles .99

2013-10-22T11:00:00.000-07:00

Announcing the Scandalous One Day Sale!!

All of our Scandalous books are on sale TODAY ONLY for just $0.99 each. That means you can grab all of these great stories for less than $22!!

Kindle Daily Deal page.

To celebrate, our fabulous Scandalous Authors have put together a scavenger hunt with a Kindle Fire as the prize. Hop on over to the event page to join in the fun!!

Scandalous historical doesn’t mean antiquated! Passion and romance are exciting in any era. And torrid love affairs are even more illicit when social mores forbid the entanglement. These stories are bold, sexy, and heartfelt, and can be funny, action-packed, mysterious, dramatic, but above all…scandalous.To find out more about our titles, chat with authors, participate in special events, and to find out what books you’ll be coveting next, visit the Entangled website, follow us on Twitter, like our Facebook page, and join our Book Club!!

Secret Girlfriend by Bria Quinlan is FINALLY out

2013-10-17T07:22:00.000-07:00

My common law sister, my amazing friend, and one of the best writers in the 'verse released a very special book today. Not very special like a very special episode of a television show...but special in the way that there is nothing else out there like this book special.

Bria Quinlan is able to do something that not many people writers can...she writes hard stuff...funny. Meaning, she can write about real issues, serious issues, but not make them maudlin or melodramatic...but uses comedy to underscore the heart of the matter without turning it into a farce.

Please enjoy the following excerpt from a book I was lucky enough to be a first reader on.

Since her mom died, Amy Whalen’s been invisible—but not in the cool, superpower kind of way. Overlooked at school and ignored at home, Amy holds tight to her few constants: running, painting, and her long-held crush on soccer god, Chris Kent. But as senior year nears, Chris doesn’t just notice her, he needs her.

Amy will agree to almost anything to be with him.

Everything is great—sort of—until Luke Parker shows up for soccer tryouts and sees through every one of Amy’s defenses. When Luke decides he wants Chris’s spot on the team and wouldn’t sneeze at the captain’s jersey either their rivalry spins out of control.

It doesn’t help that Luke also wants the girl Chris kept hidden all summer: AMY.

Amazon

CHAPTER 1

Seven lockers down Chris Kent was making out with Cheryl, the way-too-perky head cheerleader.

I tried not to stare, but when his hand slid past her waist and over her hip, I slammed my locker shut and stormed off in the opposite direction. Not that anyone noticed. The problem? Not only was I that gorgeous jock’s secret girlfriend—I also had a secret power.

I’m invisible.

Okay, not invisible invisible. But, in the not-so-mythical land of Highschoolia where blending in equals obscurity, I rated a negative seven JD on the Jane Doe to Lindsay Lohan Visibility Scale. I’d have been the first to tell you I didn’t mind. Well, typically.

I’d made a deal with the devil… I mean the boy… and stomping away was the only thing I could do.

That boy? Chris Kent? Yeah, he and his Plan might just kill me where Advance Trig had failed. But, with my dream guy as the self-proclaimed prize, what’s a girl to do?

I’d been only too happy to sign onto The Plan. And, since tryout sessions were closed, little Miss Wave-My-Butt-Around-In-My-Too-Short-Cheer-Skirt couldn’t show up to practice no matter how much she fluttered her eyelashes.

You see, I’ve been in love with Chris Kent since fifth grade and, as senior year was about to start, he was finally all mine—well, sort of.

All I had to do was follow The Plan until after Homecoming, track the soccer team’s stats with the same dedication Aunt Susan counted Weight Watchers’ points, and not kill Cheryl. Easy, right?

But as I stalked down to the field, I fought the picture of my boyfriend’s mouth being confiscated by that social-climbing cheer captain. Again. Unfortunately, killing his public-image girlfriend fell way outside the stupid plan.

I mean, The Plan—note the capitals.

I totally got that Chris needed to get into MonroeState. After meeting with an alumnus, he’d become absurdly focused. Apparently, no matter how many years you played in the Jr. Olympics, the school wanted more. More extra curricular. Higher grades. Just…more.

Chris had gotten it into his head that matching his senior year resume to that alumnus’ would be the key to the golden acceptance letter. Homecoming was the first step. Prom King was the last. Every popularity rung in between was weighed against that alum’s perfect year.

And what was I supposed to say? Every time I tried to push, he’d answer with something like, Cheryl’s totally on board with this. Or, Cheryl isn’t arguing about not spending time with that guy she met at Ashburk Tech. So, if Cheryl could be 100% behind the charade—I mean The Plan—I should have been too.

Of course she was onboard. She was getting her popularity quota filled. Having Homecoming Queen under her belt would make her a shoe-in for Most Popular when yearbook came around. Chris said she lived and breathed yearbook slots. Best Looking was her Holy Grail.

And yet, I’d quit cross-country to become the soccer team’s stats girl so I could see him everyday. That was pretty on-board.

Of course, part of it was that my no-longer-team was filled with insanity. Not the good kind. With last year’s seniors gone, no one was fast enough to train with me and it was frightening to have a flock of backstabbers running behind you. I could run on my own, without the drama, and get bonus Chris Time. Win-win.

But Chris’s farce of a relationship with Ms. Popularity was a little too much. Especially now when he and I weren’t working at the RecCenter anymore. No more evenings together after work. No more post-camper brownie binges. No more just-the-two-of-us time.

How was I going to handle being his secret girlfriend once school started in a week? Pre-school tryout, Day One: Emotional Torment was deadly enough.

At the bottom of the hill, the soccer fields were empty except for the coaches. The older boys were too smart to show up before roll call and the younger ones too scared. What did that say about me?

Historical Fiction Survey

2013-10-16T07:27:00.002-07:00

AN OPEN REQUEST ...

Last year’s reader survey conducted by M.K. Tod uncovered insights about those who read historical fiction and those who do not - demographics, story preferences, favourite time periods, reasons for reading or not reading this genre, top authors, the different perspectives of men and women, sources of recommendations and so on.

The 2013 survey will augment these results with a broader focus on reading habits as well as social media’s role in enhancing the reading experience. Survey questions were developed in collaboration with Richard Lee, Founder of the Historical Novel Society.

Whether you read historical fiction or not, please take a few minutes to complete the survey. To add to the robustness of data collected, please pass the survey URL along to men and women of all ages and in any part of the world you can reach!

Here's the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JCG7NYP

So Over You by Gwen Hayes gets a new look plus enter to win eBook giveaway

2013-10-11T12:47:00.000-07:00

So Over You has a new look!

I'm not usually one for change...but I felt like Layney and Jimmy (better known as Logan and Foster) needed a freshening up. This is probably one of my favorite books (don't tell my other books) because these two characters just leap off the page. I didn't need to finesse much. Layney is...well...prickly. And pragmatic. And so in denial. And I think anyone who has read this one will remember that Jimmy Foster has a squishy heart underneath that tough exterior.

To celebrate the new cover (and upcoming print version!) I'm giving away a free ebook next week. Enter below using the Rafflecopter widget.

Here's their story:

Layney Logan, girl reporter.

The only thing Layney dislikes more than swimming in the high school dating pool is Jimmy Foster think he got the best of her, so she takes his ridiculous newspaper assignment--to go on twelve blind dates--to prove his powers of darkness won't work on her. The trouble is, the more she learns about herself on her journey of bad blind dates, the more she wonders if maybe Foster has known her better than she knows herself all this time.

And maybe she should have trusted him with the secret she's kept for four years—the secret that broke them up to begin with.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Scandalous call for submissions...you know you want to.

2013-09-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

Putting on my editor hat here and calling for writers. As you can see, my job totally sucks:

Warm up your winter by writing something…HOT.

Do you write historical romance? Do you write steamy sex scenes? Are you feeling Scandalous?

We’re looking for a few hotter than hot stories for an untitled anthology. We want those digital ereaders to start smoking, so don’t shy away from the sex. Bring it on…we can handle it.

Specifically, we want:

Historical romance (Happy Ever After or Happy For Now ending) any era or setting through WWII
15-20k words
Open door sex scenes—kink is welcome but not mandatory, frank language is expected
Submission call closes on December 31^st, 2013. Anthology pub date is expected to be fall/winter of 2014
Please submit here: https://entangledpublishing.submittable.com/submit/19013 and use “Bring on the heat” in the ATTN: box.

Expected FAQ answers (It’s not our first rodeo):

No, you are not limited to two sexual partners.

Yes, we are open to same sex partners.

No, we are not interested in incestuous partners.

No, the animals are not welcome in the sex scenes.

Yes, mild paranormal is fine.

No, we are not accepting on proposal due to length of stories.

Yes, you may use historical terms for sexual organs or, if you prefer, you may use current terms that feel less “purple prose” to you.

There is no limit to amount of sex scenes or length—only that they must heat up the pixels on a digital reader AND romance is still the core of the plot.

My pumpkins bring the boys to the yard

2013-09-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

I love this time of year!

I just decked out the blog for Halloween and I'm in the mood for fall.

What are you favorite things about Autumn?

Scandalous Submission Call for Entangled Publishing: Who's That Girl?

2013-09-18T09:01:00.001-07:00

Who's That Girl?

We invite you to participate in a unique anthology opportunity using a book cover as a writing prompt. Who is the woman in the picture? What is her story? You tell us. We'll choose four stories that entertain us the most.

Your story must:

· Be a romance
· Happen in the early 20th Century
· Be 20-25k words
· Be submitted by February 15, 2014.

The rest is up to you. We are open to any heat level and any tone. Let your imagination take you someplace fun, intriguing, and most especially...scandalous.

Please submit to: https://entangledpublishing.submittable.com/submit/19013 and use Who's That Girl in the ATTN: box.

Gwen Hayes As New Editorial Director of Scandalous

2013-05-23T20:42:00.004-07:00

It's true! It's true! I just got a new job. And you can read all about it here.

Into the Darkness Peering Giveaway with Guest Amber Gilchrist

2013-05-17T10:49:00.002-07:00

My friend, the fabulous Amber Gilchrist, released her first YA this week. Into the Darkness Peering is a paranormal teen romance that I had a chance to read long before the rest of you but don't be upset....you'll get your chance! Please comment on this post (either at blog, Facebook post, or Goodreads post--wherever you are reading this) and I will pick a winner on Saturday May 25th for a free Kindle or Nook version.

Amber sent me a the guest post below...don't forget to comment to be entered for free book.

When her father died, leaving behind nothing but chaos and a secluded Gothic inn, seventeen-year-old Voirey Cruz lost control of her life and her faith in anything. Her search for answers about her father’s mysterious behavior and sudden death thrusts her into a world of evil doppelgangers intent on destroying everything she has left.

If she believed in magic, she’d bring her father back from the dead. If she believed in heroes, they wouldn’t be punk boys with guyliner, tattoos, and a lip piercing. But if she doesn’t start believing in demons, she might not make it to eighteen.

Buy at Amazon

My first YA book, “Into Darkness Peering” hit the shelves on May the 15th. I have been asked one question more than any others. What was your inspiration when writing this book?

There are many interesting and fabulous answers to questions like these when people talk to authors. Mine will not be one of them. I’ve been writing for many years, somewhere along the lines of 25 years, and never once in all that time did I have the urge to write a Young Adult novel. When I was a young adult myself, those sorts of novels weren’t really a genre. You had Judy Blume and that was pretty much it. At any rate, I had no interest.

My best friend of many, many years reads only YA or the old fashioned regencies where dancing the waltz twice is considered risque. I kept refusing. I didn’t want to do that. I didn’t want to think like a teenager again. I didn’t want to work out of memories. Didn’t want any of that.

Finally, she bugged me so much, for so many years, that I caved. Basically, my inspiration for this book was getting my BFF to shut her pie hole.

I figured that it would never see the light of day. I was writing it for her and no other purpose. Which might have seemed like a lot of work for the whims of a friend, but actually I’ve been writing books for friends for years. In high school I would write books for my friends as Christmas presents, staring them and their crushes in modified character form. So this was just another case of, hey, this one is for you.

I figured I hadn’t seen that many wizards aside from Harry Potter, this was approximately 2006 or 2007, and I would just pull out a wizard and go to town. It didn’t much matter to me what the story was about, since my motivation for writing the book was lame. I decided to go for a hero wizard and a girl who was just a normal human landed in a weird situation.

But as I started debating what I was going to write about, an interesting phenomenon began to happen. These characters were chatty. Much more so than the others I’d been writing since I’d gotten out of my 20s. It was just a constant stream of information. The heroine, Voirey, let it be known that, in fact, SHE was the wizard, not the hero. That wasn’t something I’d expected and I wasn’t sure what to do with that. Then Griffin, the hero, gave me a surprise announcement of his own and it was something I very much did not want to hear. I won’t say what it was because it’s a pivotal surprise in the story, but it wasn’t something I was cool with. I argued, but he was insistent this fact was true.

Now, this may sound like I have a special brand of the crazy, unless of course, you’re another writer in which case it sounds like every third Tuesday, but it really isn’t that nuts. Characters talking to me is how I write every story.

Armed with this new information about Voirey and Griffin, I went to work. And I worked, and worked, and worked, and worked. This book is approximately 75 thousand words, maybe on the downside to eighty. It took me 10 days to write this book. Ten. Days. It was a nightmare of fevered typing that never stopped unless I simply had no choice. I rarely ate, I didn’t shower (don’t judge me), I barely paid any attention to my family at all. The characters never shut up. It was a constant stream of very clear information. I would stumble into bed at two or three in the morning and pull myself out at six and start all over again. It was like being possessed.

It’s not an experience I ever want to have again, but it was definitely unique. These were some people who had a very clear and very defined story to tell and I just happened to be the person lucky enough to come along and be able to tell it.

It was the beginning of my new career since, as opposed to what I thought, writing YA was a total joy and it invigorated my love for writing, which had faded to the every-day drudgery of a 25 year career writing veteran.

I thought this book would go nowhere and I began the process under duress. But these characters became my favorite ever and this series is very close to my heart. I love these people in the Soulguard world. Every one of them. I hope all of you enjoy them too.

Amber

Want a review copy of DATE BY MISTAKE? Looking for reviewers

2013-04-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

I would love to see more reviews posted about the super fun anthology that came out last month. I'm willing to gift ten review copies to reviewers who will post their honest review online. You don't have to give it a positive review if you don't like it....I just want to get more buzz going.

Date by Mistake is not YA. It's an adult contemporary romance anthology. There are four stories that range in heat level, but all are centered around blind dates of some kind. It's currently offered only in ebook format.

To be considered for a free copy, please email the following information to gwen @ gwenhayes.com

1. Links to where you post reviews (Goodreads, review sites, Amazon, BN, etc)
2. Where you'd like your gift copy to come from: Kobo, Kindle, or Nook site
3. Your favorite kind of cookie. (just kidding)

I will choose ten over the next few days. I'll respond to each query by Friday.

Here's the blurby stuff:

DATE BY MISTAKE

I'm in anthology with some of my favorite people and we had a blast coming up with ideas for the theme of blind dates gone wrong.

My story is Mr. Virile and the Girl Next Door.

Dane Martin is the guy all women want and all men want to be. The original Mr. Virile, he runs a successful blog coaching men how to score and is about to release a book teaching men how to be real men. He's the James Bond of the blogging world, and he is infallible, at least that is what his agent says to her friendly rival who represents Holly Winter.

Holly's agent insists that his client could mop the floor with playboy Dane. Her successful blog on dating and relationship advice for women has also garnered her a great book deal and a huge following, but can she hold her own against the raw magnetism of the Mr.Virile himself when he represents everything she teaches women to stay away from?

And can Dane resist the heart of a woman who offers him everything he never wanted but desperately needs?

Here's the official blurb:
You never know what you’ll get when …

Mr. Virile and the Girl Next Door by Gwen Hayes
Seduction is the name of the game when two rival dating advice darlings agree to be romantically linked to boost publicity. But all bets are off when they take the battle of the sexes from the web to the bed!
Tycoon Reunion by Candace Havens and Shannon Leigh
Sparks fly when a project brings a heartbreaker back to town and into the path of the woman he left behind. He’s determined to win her over in the boardroom … and the bedroom!
Passionate Persuasion by Rosemary Clement-Moore
A hot playboy who has left a string of hearts in his wake can’t forget the cellist who haunted his fantasies. Now it is his turn to use his power of persuasion to prove he’s the only man to keep her satisfied.
Date on the Run by Jill Monroe
When an reporter mistakes a hard-bodied military man for a crime source, she soon finds it’s just as much fun undressing her new bodyguard as it is uncovering her latest case…
Four stories, four dates. How can these dates by mistake turn into love ever after?
Kindle | Nook | Kobo| iTunes

What Gwen said

Fitbit meets National Novel Writing Month #FiBiNaNoWriMo Challenge

Please change your sedentary lifestyle: A cautionary tale plus Gwen gets real

Mother Daughter Romance Writers Robyn DeHart and Hattie Mae plus giveaway

About Robyn

Help a Scandalous author @calliehutton become a USA TODAY bestseller! She's close!

New Falling Under fan art--thank you Adelle Yeung!

New Release from Gwen Hayes ...and Win a Kindle

Warm up your winter by reading something…HOT.

What the critics are saying about Mr. Virile and the Girl Next Door:

But also:

Enter to win a Kindle

Help a girl out--win two free books from Entangled Publishing @entangledpub

A Tribute to Christmas Vacation and John Hughes--Christmas Village Style

Fresh Eyes Critique Holiday giveaway of books by Tammy Blackwell and Danielle Monsch

Entangled Scandalous submission call for 1950s stories

Love Me Tender

Scandalous Submission call for stories from the 1950s

Win free books for you and a friend by Bria Quinlan (@briaquinlan) and Gwen Hayes

Happy Holiday Giveaway of eBooks edited by Gwen Hayes

Scandalous submission call for holiday stories

Happy Halloween from Gwen Hayes

So Over You by Gwen Hayes available now in paperback

Available at Amazon or ask your bookstore to order it for you.

Kindle Daily Deal is Scandalous! All titles .99

Announcing the Scandalous One Day Sale!!

Secret Girlfriend by Bria Quinlan is FINALLY out

Historical Fiction Survey

So Over You by Gwen Hayes gets a new look plus enter to win eBook giveaway

Scandalous call for submissions...you know you want to.

My pumpkins bring the boys to the yard

Scandalous Submission Call for Entangled Publishing: Who's That Girl?

Gwen Hayes As New Editorial Director of Scandalous

Into the Darkness Peering Giveaway with Guest Amber Gilchrist

Want a review copy of DATE BY MISTAKE? Looking for reviewers

Here's the official blurb:You never know what you’ll get when …

Here's the official blurb:
You never know what you’ll get when …