Jennifer’s Random Musings

“Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book!” - Unknown

I love this quote because it is so true.  With books you can go anywhere, be anyone, do anything, etc.  They are great for the imagination.

So I was tagged by two people, Cheryl St. John and Jambrea.

Apparently I need to share 6 or 7 unusual or interesting facts about myself. 
I have already done this before so I will try to come up with some new info…in fact, I think I will make them book-related to change things up

1.  The first book I ever remember reading on my own was The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.  A few years ago, my parents gave me a copy for Christmas as a nostalgia gift.

2.  The first adult romance I remember reading was Julie Garwood’s For the Roses.  I didn’t know it was a romance when I got it (I have told that story here), but once I read it, I was hooked on the genre and haven’t stopped reading romances since…which leads to #3…

3.  For almost 9 years, I only read historical romances.  Then a few years ago I began reading other genres.  And as you can tell, I now read a little of everything.  I am willing to give any genre of romance a try.

4.  Rarely does a week go by that I don’t buy at least one book.

5.  I am a compulsive book finisher…meaning, when I start reading a book, I have to finish it…eventually.

6.  I sometimes rewrite books in my head or dream about alternate storylines.  I especially do this when I discover a secondary character that I really like.  But I am definitely NOT a writer!  LOL

7.  I make book thongs to give to friends and other readers, but I don’t use them myself.

I am supposed to tag 7 people, but instead, I will just ask all of you:

Tell me something unusual or interesting about yourself…can be related to books or not, you decide!

First, the final winner of a mini-WM promo pack with goodies from me is: azteclady (comment #4)

Please e-mail me using the addy in the sidebar.

Congrats to all of the winners and if you didn’t win, don’t worry.  I will be doing plenty of giveaways in the future!  In fact, I have one coming up very soon

I want to send out a BIG Thank You to the Writeminded Authors for being my guests this week.  I really appreciate it!

Readers, if you didn’t get enough of the authors you can find them at their group blog:

http://www.writemindedblog.com/

And you can also join their Yahoo Reader Group that is VERY fun and VERY active!  We’re a chatty bunch

Click to join writeminded_readers

 Again, thank you to the authors and to all of those that commented this week!  It was a lot of fun!

So, what is everyone up to this weekend?

First, yesterday’s winner of a mini-Writeminded promo pack and goodies from me is: Ashley V (comment #2)
Congratulations!  Please e-mail me using the addy in the sidebar!

Writeminded Week is coming to a close and our final guest is Stephanie Tyler!

Stephanie’s upcoming release, Hot Nights, Dark Desires is an anthology, coming May 20th from Bantam Dell with novellas by Eden Bradley, Sydney Croft & Stephanie Tyler.
Stephanie is also one half (along with Larissa Ione) of Sydney Croft!

Inspired by the sultry heat and sensual ambiance of New Orleans, this steamy collection delves into the erotic underground of the Big Easy. Here is a tantalizing trio of stories by three rising stars that will tease your imagination—and seduce your senses.

Lush, haunting, and provocative, New Orleans has something to satisfy every desire—as three very lucky women are about to discover.

In “Shadow Play” (by Sydney Croft) an ex-supermodel desperate to revive her career seeks the help of a gorgeous, reclusive photographer with a special gift—and offers him anything he wants in return. The result is a series of erotic positions captured on film—along with a mind-blowing physical connection neither expected….

In “The Art of Desire” (by Eden Bradley) a sheltered young woman turned on by the idea of getting tattooed dares to make her fantasy a reality. But as her arousing sessions with a dangerously handsome tattoo artist move from the tattoo parlor to the bedroom, they make an impression that’s more than skin deep….

And in “Night Vision” (by Stephanie Tyler) when artist Catie Lanford hires professional cooler Bat Kelly to whip the failing bar she’s recently inherited into shape, she’s not looking for a lover—until she lays eyes on the sexy wild man. Soon they’ve agreed to mix business with pleasure, and Catie discovers that Bat is just what she needs to set her artist’s imagination—and her body—on fire.

Abandon your inhibitions and excite your spirit with a gathering of tales that’s as sexy and spicy as the city of New Orleans itself.

You can learn more about Stephanie and her books at her website:   http://www.stephanietyler.com/

You can learn about the Sydney Croft books here: http://sydneycroft.com/

Check out how Stephanie completed the sentences…

I am:  never sure what day of the week it is.

I like: chocolate

I love: Zoo, Lily and Gus

I dream:  sporadically when I’m sleeping, but I daydream constantly.

I wish: for more sleep.  Lots and lots of sleep.  Oh, and cigarettes without illness…

I pretend: I don’t need to wear glasses.  

I know: I’m clumsy.

I fear: escalators, wind chimes, butterflies and closed-minded people.

I appreciate: my friends

I hope: my daughter will walk unassisted one day.

I look: like my mom…I can get recognized all over town by people who knew her when she was my age.    

I read: everything and anything.

I want: more time to read and relax.

I need: a cake.

I will: bake more, because it relaxes me.

I can: balance dimes in my double jointed fingers

I dance to: anything, really – I love music – my taste runs from AC/DC to Mary J. Blige to Toby Keith…

I wish I had thought of: oh, dangerous question – I try not to covet things because it’s counterproductive…so I asked Zoo.  His answer?  Plastic.  *rolls eyes*

I cannot live without: my computer.

I am happy when: the phone isn’t ringing.

I would like to meet: Linda Howard, so I can gush to her about Wolf Mackenzie.

I am annoyed by: people who don’t think before they speak.

I have always wanted: to be a rock star.

I encourage people to: do what they think they can’t.

I think it would be cool if: I lived in Africa

I love to dance when no one is looking.

I write romance because: I believe in happy endings!

I would love to know what readers think of: books in a series – love ‘em, hate em’ or wish there was a definitive ‘end’ to an ongoing series…

Thanks so much, Stephanie!

So how about it, readers…what do you think of book series?

Love ‘em, hate ‘em? 
Do you like for them to go on and on?
Or would you rather there be an “end”?

Just like yesterday, if you comment below, you will be entered to win a mini-Writeminded promo pack with bookmarks, magnets, a pen, and goodies from me!

Tomorrow, I will announce the winner!  So please remember to come back!

First, yesterday’s winner of a mini-Writeminded promo pack and goodies from me is:  Darla (comment #12)
Congratulations!  Please e-mail me using the addy in the sidebar!

Today’s guest is Maya Banks (who also writes under the name Sharon Long)!

Maya’s book, Sweet Surrender is available now!

Sometimes the first step in taking control is surrendering.

Under Faith Malone’s deceptively soft exterior lies a woman who knows exactly what she wants.  A strong man who’ll take without asking—because she’s willing to give him everything…

Dallas cop Gray Montgomery is on a mission: find the guy who killed his partner—and bring him to justice. So far, he’s found a link between the killer and Faith—and if Gray has to get close to her to catch the killer, so be it.

Faith is sweet and feminine, everything Gray wants and desires in a woman, but he suspects she’s playing games. No way she would allow a man to call the shots in their relationship. Or would she?

Faith sees in Gray the strong, dominant man she needs, but he seems determined to keep her at a distance. So she takes matters into her own hands to prove to him it’s no game she’s playing. She’s willing to surrender to the right man. Gray would like to be that man. But catching his partner’s killer has to be his first priority. Until Faith is threatened and Gray realizes he will do anything to protect her.

You can learn more about Maya and her books at her website:   http://www.mayabanks.com

And you can learn about her books written as Sharon Long here:  http://www.sharonlong.com/

Let’s see what Maya had to say…

I am: happy

I like: orange

I love: my children

I dream: of falling off bridges…

I wish: vacation was here

I pretend: that I’m sane

I know: I’m not sane.

I fear: death

I appreciate: bluntness

I hope: that my children are happy and healthy

I look: around me and realize how lucky I am to have such a wonderful family

I read: romances.  Lots and lots of romances.

I want: to be successful

I need: my husband’s hugs.

I will: finish this &*^$%@ book!

I can: feel joy

I dance to: uhm I never dance.  Ever. (scary)

I cannot live without: my family and friends

I am happy when: my daughter crawls into my lap for hugs and snuggles.

I am annoyed by: mean people, stupid people and judgmental twerps.

I have always wanted: to travel on a whim
I encourage people to: Dream big and just do it.

I think it would be cool if: I got to travel on a whim *g*

I love to _____ when no one is looking.  I’m always paranoid someone is looking.

I write romance because: the thought of a job outside the home gave me hives
I would love to know what readers think of: their favorite authors, their favorite books and favorite characters.

Thanks, Maya, for taking the time to complete the sentences!

So, readers who are some of your favorite authors?

Favorite books?

Favorite characters?

What makes them favorites for you?

Just like yesterday, if you comment below, you will be entered to win a mini-Writeminded promo pack with bookmarks, magnets, a pen, and goodies from me!

Tomorrow, I will announce the winner and begin another giveaway as I welcome Stephanie Tyler!
So please remember to come back!

First, yesterday’s winner of a mini-Writeminded promo pack and goodies from me is:  Stephanie S. (comment #19)
Congratulations!  Please e-mail me using the addy in the sidebar!

Today’s guest is Amy Knupp!

Amy’s last release, Doctor in Her House is still available online!

Living in the moment takes courage. So does love.

Katie Salinger has spent most of her adult life looking for the next big adrenaline rush. But the extreme sports journalist faces her greatest challenge when she returns to Lone Oak, Kansas…and meets the attractive, secretive doctor who’s intent on buying her beloved family home.

Ever since he returned from Africa, Dr. Noah Fletcher has been haunted by a tragic loss. His hometown thinks he’s a hero, including Katie, the risk-taker, who’s determined to uncover all his secrets. Noah can’t deny their mutual attraction. But he also can’t let her close. Because last time he fell in love, it almost killed him.

You can learn more about Amy and her books at her website:   http://www.amyknupp.com

Check out Amy’s completed sentences…

I am: a Libra and can’t make decisions to save my life.

I like: sugar. Cheesecake, cake, ice cream, candy and any combination.
I love: my (mostly) sweet, noisy little boys.
I dream: of finding a way to bottle little boy energy and sell it.
I wish: I could write faster.
I pretend: I’m sane.
I know: I’m not sane.
I fear: the wrath of Sharon/Maya.

I appreciate: my husband’s willingness to listen to me ramble on about plot ideas at 2am.
I hope: my boys have long, happy, healthy lives (and that they don’t marry stupid girls who I dislike. *g*)
I look: like I got dragged by a freight train.
I read: in the bathtub almost every night.
I want: dessert that has no calories but tastes like heaven. And six more hours in every day.
I need: to lose 10 pounds.
I will: start on that the day after tomorrow.
I can: justify just about anything.
I dance to: make my boys laugh.

I wish I had thought of: post its.
I cannot live without: banana laffy taffy.
I am happy when: I can sleep in.
I would like to meet: Bono.
I am annoyed by: stupid people, bad drivers, insurance companies and category snobs.
I have always wanted: to like exercising.
I encourage people to: have another drink.
I think it would be cool if: Sharon/Maya got totally drunk off her a**.
I love to sing in the car when no one is looking.
I write romance because: I looooove happily ever afters. And I love the psychology of two people falling in love.
I would love to know what readers think of: excerpt booklets.

Thanks, Amy!

So, what do you think of excerpt booklets, readers?

Just like yesterday, if you comment below, you will be entered to win a mini-Writeminded promo pack with bookmarks, magnets, a pen, and goodies from me!

Tomorrow, I will announce the winner and begin another giveaway as I welcome Maya Banks!
So please remember to come back!

First, yesterday’s winner of a mini-Writeminded promo pack and goodies from me is:  Greta (comment #23)
Congratulations!  Please e-mail me using the addy in the sidebar!

Today we have Writeminded author, Jaci Burton!

Jaci’s book, Riding Wild, is available in stores now!
He’s a Harley-riding ex-thief working undercover for the government. She’s a gun-toting ex-socialite hired to protect a valuable museum exhibit. But in her attempt to stop a heist, she never anticipated having her breath and her heart stolen…

Mac Canfield was the last man Lily West expected to see again, never mind aim her gun at. But here he was, the bad boy who’d broken her heart years ago-still a thief, this time high-jacking a priceless artifact–and it was all she could do to push aside the memories of how it felt to have his perfectly chiseled body next to hers.

Mac was no less shocked to see the beautiful girl-next-door all grown up, threatening to shoot him on the spot. Little did she know she was blowing his cover-and now he had to figure out how to get her out of harm’s way without succumbing to his crazy desire to take her on a hot trip down memory lane.

Unfortunately, Lily has no intention of going anywhere with Mac. Which means he has to resort to kidnapping. Unless, of course, she agrees to let him take her for the kind of ride destined to drive them both unbelievably wild…

You can learn more about Jaci and her books at her website:   http://www.jaciburton.com/

Let’s see how Jaci completed the sentences…

I am: always working on a book

I like: reality television

I love: my husband

I dream: really weird dreams

I wish: no child would ever go hungry

I pretend: there aren’t dirty dishes in the sink

I fear: losing those I love

I appreciate: what I have

I hope: I can continue to do what I do for as long as I can

I look: like my mom

I read: every day

I want: to go on vacation this year!

I need: a nap

I will: get my living room and kitchen painted this year

I dance to: just about any song

I wish I had thought of: J R Wards Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Man, that was brilliant!

I cannot live without: chocolate

I am happy when: I finish one of my books.

I would like to meet: Nickelback. Or Daughtry. Or Bon Jovi.

I am annoyed by: narrow minded people

I have always wanted: to learn to speak Italian again (I spoke it as a child)
I encourage people to: be kinder to each other

I think it would be cool if: Barack Obama became President of the United States

I love to dance when no one is looking.

I write romance because: I believe it
I would love to know what readers think of: what I write.

Thank you, Jaci!

So, readers, have you read Jaci’s books?  What do you think of her books? 
If you haven’t read her, visit her site and tell me what books might interest you…

Just like yesterday, if you comment below, you will be entered to win a mini-Writeminded promo pack with bookmarks, magnets, a pen, and goodies from me!

Tomorrow, I will announce the winner and begin another giveaway as I welcome Amy Knupp!
So please remember to come back!