Welcome to my little corner of the gay erotic romance universe . . . well, half of it, anyway. (You can find the other half at RachelHaimowitz.com.) This is the place to come for sneak previews of new projects, release information, and the occasional M/M book review. I'll also share thoughts on the industry on occasion, and I hope you'll come share yours in return.



Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Marie-Nicole Ryan Talks Shop, Raffles Amazon Gift Certificate!

Good afternoon, my lovlies! Let's all give a warm Fantasy Unbound welcome to All Things Romantic Suspense guest author Marie-Nicole Ryan!

Marie-Nicole is here today to answer some questions about her life as a writer and her latest release, Love Me if You Can. She's also giving away a $5 gift certificate for either Amazon or B&N to one lucky commenter, so be sure to share your love!

First, as always, have a blurb:


Nashville sizzles in the summer. No wonder Tess and Scott combust.

Nashville Homicide Detective Tess O’Malley has a lot to prove. She comes from a long line of police officers, including her father and older brothers. First she and her partner are taken off a high profile case and sidelined with a cold case instead. After reviewing the files, she’s certain her cold case is connected to the current one, and she sets out to prove it. Too bad it means locking horns with a handsome PI who could win her heart and derail her career.

PI Scott Holt is all business when it comes to running his family’s PI firm. When the lovely Detective O’Malley comes to question him about his possible involvement in her cold case, he has everything but business on his mind. Like locking lips with the fiery redhead.

And now I turn the floor over to Marie-Nicole, beneath the jump.


RH: Have you ever written outside the romance genre? If not, do you ever plan to?

MNR: Yes, I’ve written one mystery/suspense novel. One Too Many is the sequel to a romantic suspense. Unfortunately my publisher stopped taking anything but romance-driven stories, so the mystery series died an early death.


RH: By night you’re a caped crusader/romance writer. What do you do by day?

MNR: That’s backwards for me. I’m retired so I’m a romance writer by day. By night, I’m a TV nut.


RH: What was the very first romance you ever read? How old were you? Were you being naughty and sneaking it off the shelf before you really even knew what sex was? How did it make you feel, and is that what hooked you on the genre?

MNR: As the romance genre exists now, the first romance I read was Sweet Savage Love, by Rosemary Rogers. I was an adult, so there was no naughtiness involved by reading it. I loved the wide scope of the story and, of course, the sex. At the time I read a reviewer who called it an “erotic epic.” I knew then I wanted to write one. And I banged out about a hundred pages of one on an old Smith Corona portable typewriter before I gave up.


RH: What would constitute your own personal happily ever after?

MNR: If my house in Nashville would sell, and I make a profit on it. That would be a HEA for me.


RH: Do you own an ereader? Why or why not? If so, what’s on it?

MNR: I own a Kindle Version I. What’s on it? Some classics, lots of romantic suspense, contemporary western romances, a few historical romances, a few bestsellers, a few freebies. I love the ease with which I can download a book, as well as the number of books I can have right at my fingerstips.


RH: Are you a book hoarder?

MNR: I used to be, but since I had to downsize and give away about forty boxes of books to the library, I am no longer. I live in a small apartment and only have space for one bookcase which is filled with my keepers. So far I have about 140 books on my ereader and there’s plenty of room on it.


RH: What’s the one question you wish people would ask you when you tell them you’re a writer? How would you answer it?

MNR: I wish they’d ask me where to buy my book, and I’d tell them. LOL


RH: If you were doomed to spend the rest of your life on an island with only one book, one person, one food (coconuts and fish aside), and one object from the modern world (computer, deodorant, vibrator, etc.), what would they be?

MNR: One book would be Anya Seton’s Green Darkness because it was the novel which influenced my paranormal romantic suspense novel, See You In My Dreams. The person—can’t think of anyone, except maybe my sister, I’d want to be on a island with. Truth be known, my Sheltie Cassie would make a fantastic companion, too. Food would be either French fries or pizza. The object would be a computer of some type with a long life killer of a battery and a tremendous wifi connection.


RH: Speaking of online hangouts, where are yours? Where can your readers find you?



RH: What’s your current book list and where can we buy them?

MNR: In addition to being available at my publishers’, my books are also available at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, etc.

NOVELS
Love Me If You Can, http://thewildrosepress.com
The Man for the Job, re-release on Amazon.com & Barnes & Noble
See You in My Dreams, re-release on Amazon.com & Barnes & Noble

HOLIDAY SHORT STORIES
Mistletoe and Mario, Amazon.com & Barnes & Noble
Pillow Talk, Amazon.com & Barnes & Noble


RH: Anything else you’d like to add?

MNR: Yes, anyone who comments today will be entered in a drawing for a $5.00 GC at either Amazon or Barnes & Noble. Thanks for having me.


Not only did Marie-Nicole agree to answer my questions today, she also provided me with an excerpt of Love Me If You Can to share with you all. If the teaser tantalizes, you can buy the book at Wild Rose Press, Amazon, B&N, or ARe.

Scott parked his car in the lot and glanced at his watch. His first appointment wasn’t for another twenty minutes. Just enough time to duck into the Coffee Shack for his morning jolt of java. Great. Only one customer ahead of him.
The one was a spectacular redhead with a killer body, wearing a light tan jacket and a brown skirt just short enough to show off a great set of wheels. Not that he paid any attention to a woman’s body.
Now, the mind… Who was he fooling?
“Arabian Mocha Sanani. Double grande, skim—no, whole—no, skim.” Her voice was low and pleasant, but did she have to waffle over what kind of milk?
Her head bobbed from side to side while she considered. “No, skim, definitely skim.”
Enough already. “Could you just make up your mind? Some of us have to go to work.”
She whirled and glared. Her wide gray eyes, with flecks of darker gray, flashed with anger. “I just did.” She turned back to the clerk. “Definitely whole.”
There was something familiar about her. Maybe they’d met before? Gone to school together? He glanced at his watch and started tapping his foot.
“Sometime this century, Red.”
This time she whipped around and flashed a badge. “One more word and I’ll arrest you for being a public nuisance.”
A Metro Nashville gold shield. Yeah, one of the O’Malleys. “You’ll arrest me?” Unable to resist, he grinned. “How about I make a citizen’s arrest because you’re a—”
Her fair cheeks flushed an angry red as she interrupted him, “Careful, you are so close to—”
So she had the typical redhead’s temper. Aw hell, she was too cute to alienate. Women love it when a man admits he’s wrong. “All right. I’m a nuisance—one Scott Holt. I admit it. Why don’t you let me buy your coffee, and then maybe you’ll let me apologize over dinner?”
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
A flicker of something sparked, then died in her gaze. “Hmph. Is that your idea of a smooth come-on?”
He tried a smile. Maybe his charm alone would soften her attitude. “It’s the best I can do on short notice.”
Her hardened expression softened. Her lips twitched. “I’ll pass.”
“Now here I thought you were softening toward me. You know you almost smiled. I’m very observant.”
She glanced at her watch. A self-satisfied smile lifted the corners of her luscious mouth. “Thought you had to get to work?”
“Won’t hurt. I’m the boss.”
“Well, I’m not the boss, and I do have to get to work.”
Without another word, she paid for her java, took a sip, and then sailed by him. His chin dropped.
She left the store and headed down Fifth. He smiled. Nice hitch in her get-along. Oh, yeah.
“Hey, buddy,” the barista interrupted Scott’s train of thought. “You gonna order or stare at the scenery.”
Scott laughed. The redhead had him dazzled all right.
And dazzled was rare.

14 comments:

  1. My pleasure, Marie :) I think you've had my favorite answer so far to "What's the one question you wish people would ask you" :D

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  2. Nashville is so gorgeous! Have you lived there or just chose it at random for the setting?

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  3. LOL. Jason, I lived in Nashville for longer than I care to admit--let's let it go at decades. I recently relocated to my hometown in Western KY, but Nashville has a tremendous piece of my heart.

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  4. Rachel, I always try to tell the truth in these interviews. Sometimes I'm even funny.

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  5. Oh, I love a little romance with my mystery...or is it mystery with my romance? lol Yours sounds intriguing!

    Good luck and hope you get hefty sales numbers!
    Melissa Murphy

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  6. Thanks, Melissa. I firmly believe romance should have a mystery of some kind entertwined.

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  7. Marie Nicole, your book sounds really intriguing. Can't wait to add it to my TBR pile. Rather, TBR list on my Kindle. I agree that any romance novel is much better with a mystery tossed in!

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  8. Marie - You should choose me to go to that island with you. You know you'd never be lonely because I'd talk your ear off and I sing too.
    We could have so much fun. You bring Cassie and I'll bring my kitten, Lily.
    I've enjoyed every one of your books. Keep up the great work.
    Cherie Denis

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  9. Thanks, Caroline. I LOVE my Kindle and spend way too much money at Amazon.

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  10. Cheryl, you're too funny. Cassie would bark at Lily all the time, and Lily would spend all her time up a palm tree.

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  11. Love Me If You Can sounds really good, Marie. Adding it to my Kindle wish list!
    Wishing you many sales,
    Rachel

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  12. Thanks, Rachel. I'm glad you like the sound of the premise.

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  13. Winner of today's $5.00 GC is Melissa. Please send me your e-mail address and your preference for Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
    You may e-mail me at marie AT marienicoleryan DOT com.

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