Cover reveal for THREE DAYS WITH MOLLY!

I'm happy dancing all over the place today!! I have the cover for THREE DAYS WITH MOLLY :-))


                                   

 

 

The cover was designed by Deborah with Tugboat Design! :-))

www.tugboatdesign.net

Happy Birthday, ONE SMALL FIB

Coffee for everyone! I'm celebrating the first birthday of ONE SMALL FIB being published! It's been an amazing 365 days! The nerves of having my first book out there have settled and I'm able to reflect lovingly on the journey.

From that first sale to today, I am grateful that readers have taken and continue to take a leap of faith in my writing. You all rock!!!

In February, One Small Fib was nominated as Book of The Month by Long and Short Reviews! Whew! A whirlwind of voting took place. While it didn't win, I was humbled that it stood proudly among some other great books. And again, thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who voted (and then re-voted after the technical snafu that dropped the first votes). I have to admit, that was one joyful, nerve-wracking weekend that I still smile about from time to time.

The news that One Small Fib had been chosen to be translated into Greek and sold in Greece made March an incredible month!!

The months following have been equally wonderful, with the release of four other books: Lucky Ducks, Kiss Me, The Gift of Gray, and Stay Close, Novac!

Regardless where my writing journey takes me, I will always have a special place in my heart for One Small Fib.

In lieu of cake, I'm giving away a copy of any one of my books to three lucky people -- (your choice of book since many of you have already read One Small Fib) All you have to do is leave a comment to be entered into the random drawing. Also, please leave your email address so I can notify you if you've won.

You can find my books at: www.janromes.com

Thanks to all of you again for making this heart-and-soul adventure a joyous one!!

Love,

Jan

The Lovely Alle Wells!

 

 

Today I have the honor of having Alle Wells on my blog!


I thought it would be great to ask her a few questions:


Could you tell us a little about your love for writing:

Hi Jan! Writing is my favorite way to communicate. I loved writing in a diary as a young girl and writing steamy love letters to my high school crushes. Whenever I had something to say, I wrote it. Back then, putting my feelings on paper often kept me in trouble at school and at home! Throughout my adult life, I jumped at job opportunities that gave me opportunity to write.

What are you currently working on?

My work in progress is called, Mill People. Mill People tells a story of the people who lived in the now deserted cotton mill towns in the South.

When will it be available for our reading pleasure?

Mill People will be available in the Fall of 2012.

Would you like to share an excerpt?

Well, okay. Here's the Preface:

Hundreds of mill towns sprang up along the water falls and rivers of the Appalachian Mountains and Carolina Piedmont regions during the reconstruction years that followed the Civil War. In many ways, these communities saved our nation's economy and created the backbone of today's middle class Americans. At the dawn of the twentieth century, thousands of displaced landowners and war widows flocked to the newly formed mill towns created by the nation's wealthiest families. There they found job stability and amenities they'd never known in rural farm life. The creation of the American mill town created a new society that would last for the next one hundred years.

You not only love to write, but you also enjoy reviewing other author's books. Can you tell us a little about Alle's Five Star Reviews?

Thanks for asking about my review blog. The blog is dedicated to promoting indie authors. I only post five star reviews because I never want to jeopardize an author's future by posting a negative review. If I don't think a book warrants five stars, then I don't post a review.

When you're not busy writing Southern tales of strength and courage, what do you like to do?

Recently, I've started posting a blog entitled, "Southern Sunday". Southern Sunday is presented weekly on Betty Lee Crosby's Books: Words, Wit and Wisdom site and Goodreads. In Southern Sunday, I write about simple Southern living, my organic lifestyle, and Southern writings. The blog is light and easy, perfect for Sunday morning reading.

In addition to writing, I maintain a complete organic, vegetarian lifestyle. My diet is mainly vegan, but I do incorporate a little low fat cheese occasionally. During the summer months, I purchase veggies from a local farmer. I freeze or dehydrate enough fruits and vegetable to last throughout the winter months. I also have an herb garden in my backyard. The process is time consuming during the summer months but well worth the effort the rest of the year.

Do you have any words of wisdom or writing tips for aspiring writers?

Keep it simple and smile while you write!

Thank you for being here today, Alle!

Obvious/Not So Obvious!

Today has been an incredible day! I've written a lot of words on my upcoming novel, THREE DAYS WITH MOLLY! My fingers have flown across the keyboard, I've guzzled a lot of coffee, and I'm filled with the kind of giddy-happiness that comes from knowing I'm almost finished.

During a much needed break, I took a walk outside to find my Rose of Sharon on the north side of my house in full bloom, so are a few stubborn dandelions. On a whim, I raced back inside to get my camera.

While I let my brain breathe from hours in front of the computer, I snapped a few pictures -- some with obvious beauty, some with not-so-obvious beauty. Thought I would share some of the photos from today and some from awhile back. Enjoy!

 

Have a great Labor Day Holiday!

 

The Glamorous Life or Organized Chaos?!

Have you ever wondered where authors do their best work? I have. I've pictured E. L. James, author of Fifty Shades of Grey, writing in an exotic location sipping margaritas and laughing in between chapters.That's probably not the case, but who knows? I also see J. K. Rowling pecking away at the keyboard in a slightly chilly, dimly lit room. Again, probably not even close.

A few years ago, I took a tour of Ernest Hemingway's house on Whitehead St. nestled in the heart of Old Town Key West. I remember how great it was to get a peek at the place where this creative genius had written, A Farewell To Arms and For Whom The Bell Tolls. There was an old style typewriter and leatherbound books. I was in awe!

I'm not a famous author like E. L. James, J. K. Rowling, or Ernest Hemingway, but I still thought it would be fun to share where I create my stories.

My desk

(usually a lot more cluttered) 

Yep! This is where it happens!

I always keep a manila folder with pertinent information about my characters. I even go so far as cut out pictures of people who resemble my characters so I can refer back to them. In my current work-in-progress, the lovely Anne Hathaway resembles my heroine (lucky heroine) and country star, Jerrod Niemann resembles my hero (lucky hero)!

Also, notice the coffee cup! Without coffee I couldn't function.

Here are some of the folders for my stories. Kiss Me and One Small Fib (which I originally titled, The Frugal Billionaire).

Folders for Stay Close, Novac!, Lucky Ducks, and Three Days With Molly.

I am constantly looking for ways to stay organized. If you have any thoughts on the subject or would like to share how you organize the things in your life, I'd love to hear about them. Please leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of my latest ebook - Stay Close, Novac! (Be sure to leave your email address so I can notify you if your name is drawn)

You can find me at:

www.authorjanromes.com

https://twitter.com/janromes

https://www.facebook.com/jan.romes.5

www.jantheromancewriter.blogspot.com

Snickers Dip

Decadent. Yummy. Easy. 

SNICKERS DIP:

2 - 8 ounce packages of cream cheese, softened

1 - 8 ounce container of Cool Whip

1/4 cup brown sugar

6 Snickers bars chopped


Mix all ingredients.

Serve with pretzels or graham crackers

STAY CLOSE, NOVAC!

Jessi Novac leads the quiet life of a romance author until someone leaves a series of explicit notes under her windshield wipers and heavy breathing on her answering machine.

Until NYPD can track down the culprit who's trying to scare the bejesus out of her, Jessi hides out at her grandmother's beach house in Myrtle Beach where she hopes to get her bearings. Instead, her life takes an even bigger tilt toward crazy when she meets her clumsy neighbor -- Ian Alexander. She's suspicious of Ian and attracted to him at the same time. Their relationship becomes a calamity of errors until strange things start happening at the beach house too. Jessi clings to Ian for protection, but soon discovers her heart may be in more danger than her life.

Excerpt:

     Seduced awake by the smell of bacon frying and the sound of coffee gurgling, Jessi threw her legs over the side of the bed. An overlarge painting of a fisherman holding a stringer of fish greeted her vision, a reminder she wasn't in her grandmother's beach house.

     Jessi chastised herself for spending the night with her newly-met neighbor, and for being a wimp in general. Who behaves like this? No wonder the stalker continued to rule her world - she was easy prey. What must Ian think? "Oh God," she groaned silently. She'd advanced on him, not the other way around. Kissing him equaled madness. After pulling in a long breath of frustration, she blew it out and tried to rationalize her behavior. The kiss was most likely prompted by...by... Crap! She had nothing. In a nutshell, she'd finally lost it.

     The coffee pot no longer made noises and the sound of bacon frying had stopped as well.

     Jessi sprang from the edge of the bed and assessed her appearance in the dresser mirror. Egad! She looked like the spawn of Einstein, minus the mustache. Her short hair stuck out, only on one side of her head - the same side where sleep lines creased her face. She looked as though someone had drawn a line down the center of her - one half rumpled, one half not. Her gaze fell to her attire - once again she'd slept in her clothes. But what a great night's sleep it was. She felt refreshed and ready to kick some stalker-butt.

* If you'd like to read more about Jessi and Ian, you can find STAY CLOSE, NOVAC! at:

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Stay-Close-Novac-ebook/dp/B0080MKMTE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337015304&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stay-close-novac-jan-romes/1110614448?ean=2940014357692

Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/158866

ManicReaders.com - http://www.manicreaders.com/index.cfm?disp=bookDetail&bookid=25514

** Please visit me regularly at www.janromes.com