Ideas, Ideas. Wherefore Art Thou, Ideas?

I've been busy plotting away today...okay plotting, yes. But "away"? Umm, not so much. It's slow going. To stir my creative pot, so to speak, I called one of my critique partners, Jessica Lee, and we started talking about story ideas and where they come from. For instance, the idea for the third book in her Ariel Estates series--which she just sold to her editor at Resplendence Publishing!!--came to her while she was eating a taco at Moe's. Apparently that "Welcome to Moe's!" really got those ideas in her head cooking--pun totally intended. The idea for Slave to Fashion by Debra Glass, my other critique partner, came to her while watching the fashion makeover show "What Not to Wear".

I've read where several authors have notebooks and notebooks full of ideas for future books. Can I just get one of those pages? Because my ideas are like my kids in school--smiley faces one day, straight faces the next. Totally unpredictable. And unfortunately, I can't bitch 'n complain to my imagination about "doing right". Stories come from the most unlikeliest places and at the oddest times. Like tonight, while trying to plot a romantic suspense, I had this really cool idea for a contemporary romance while watching The Voice. I started picturing this Jude/Tommy/night-and-day romance like on "Instant Star". Hey. Don't judge! It was a great show! Anyway, my heart started racing with excitement. And all because I saw Usher waltz with this contestant as he taught her to sing to the melody by dancing with her. I thought it was beautiful! And it had my love-o-meter chiming!

I don't think I can really beat out the Moe's restaurant for oddest times and places, but one of the weirdest places--or most inappropriate, depending which side of the fence you're on-- an idea came to me was during bible study. My pastor was teaching about the kinsman redeemer out of the book of Ruth. And suddenly...ding! If I'd been in a comic strip, I would've had a light bulb blinking over my head! What if Ruth was this Boudica-type heroine that followed Naomi back to her homeland and caught the eye of the king? That one's still in my "Story Idea" file waiting to be fleshed out but I thought it was so cool! Who knows when or if I'll write the story one day but I loved the idea... I did end up telling my pastor about it, and he wants me to make sure I spell his name right in the Acknowledgments...

My complete, undying adoration for Donnie Wahlburg inspired my second book, Love and Protect. One day I was going through my daughter's closet searching for a shoe that she "Couldn't find annyywheeere!" and found an old folder with all these pictures and articles I'd clipped out and saved from those old teen magazines. You remember them! Tiger Beat and Bop! God, I'm old... Anyway, I found this story I'd written when I was fourteen about him and me, how we met and fell in love. How he chose me over all those other groupies, I mean, girls. Sigh. It was awesome. And the idea for the rock star hero just formed...

Speaking of Love and Protect... *Cue Dolemite music here* It is available in print today at Ellora's Cave! Whoo-hoo!

Ex-DEA agent Erin Montgomery is reluctantly back on the job, posing as the sex-kitten groupie girlfriend of rock star Sean Ledger. She’ll be joining his band’s tour to try to catch an obsessed, dangerous fan. Tormented by nightmares of her failed last assignment, Erin’s not exactly eager to be drawn back into the fray. But once she meets Sean, all rocker, all man and dripping with raw sex appeal, she knows she’s right where she belongs.

Sean is reluctant to have someone investigating his crew, but when he meets Erin, his objections fly out the window. The beautiful, hard-bitten agent turns him on like no other woman ever has. Sean’s caught glimpses of the fiery passion lurking under Erin’s cool front and he’s determined to break through her hard exterior and make her his.

But Sean’s stalker is still at large and she’s made it clear that she’s willing to stop at nothing—even murder—to get him.
 
Check it out here!

My Next Big Thing!

Okay, see, what had happened was... Hee-hee! Anything that starts off like that is guar-oon-teed to be an excuse about sumthin'!! I was tagged by the hysterical Jennifer Echols in this Blog Hop thing where writers answer questions about themselves and then tag others to reveal all...hopefully something really embarrassing and blackmail worthy, but really who gets that lucky these days? Sigh. Well, here's the dirt on my next book, the first in a romantic suspense series with Entangled Publishing...expected to be released in June of this year... *Cough! Buy it! Cough!* That was subliminal in case you didn't catch it...

By the way, I don't have a cover so here's a menage--I mean, collage, COLLAGE!--of my recent covers! Hee-hee! My bad...



1). What is the working title of your next book?

 Secrets and Sins: Gabriel. The next one in the series? That's Malachim. Why the angel names, you ask? Well, June's a-coming! Why, yes, yes. I am a promo whore...

2). Where did the idea come from for the book?
From some serious brainstorming sessions with my critique partners, Jessica Lee and Debra Glass.

3). What genre does your book fall under?
It is romantic suspense. A deviation from the erotic genre my books usually fall under. And lemme tell you, it was a huuuge change!

4). What actors would you choose to play the parts of your characters in a movie rendition?
Oooh. I Paul Walker as Gabriel. And for Leah? Aishwarya Rai!

5). What is the one sentence synopsis of your book?
A private detective's investigation into a twenty-year old disappearance threatens her relationship with the man she's been in love with since childhood and ensnares her in the diabolical game of a madman bent on revenge. Dang! That was a super long sentence!

6). Who is publishing your book?
Entangled Publishing, more specifically the Entangled Suspense line.

7). How long did it take you to write the first draft of the synopsis?
Which first draft? I originally wrote this book during NaNoWriMo. But then did two complete overhauls. Soooo MONTHS!

8). What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?
I don't know! Uum... If a reader likes Cynthia Eden and Katie Reus' romantic suspense books, I think they'd give mine a whirl.

9). Who or what inspired you to write this book?
The alarmingly dwindling deadline. Hee-hee! Okay, seriously. Stand By Me and my favorite friends-to-lovers trope. I just can't get enough of that!!

10). What else about the book might pique the readers' interest?
The book has secrets galore, a tortured hero and a bromance between four friends....so does that make it a menage a quatre bromance? Hmm...

So here're my author peeps I'm tagging:

The brilliant Debra Glass, author of erotic historical romances!

The wonderfully talented Kerry Freeman, author of sexy m/m erotic romances!

The fantabulous Jessica Lee, author of beautiful paranormal romances!

The marvelous Paisley Smith, author of hot girl-on-girl erotic romances!

Check back with them to find out what they have going on!

Bringing the Heat to Hoover, AL!!

Bring your "Hallelujah" fans, avaricious appetite for books and your sense of humor! Five of romance's steamiest writers are bringing the heat to a Barnes and Noble near you! Well, depending on where you live at, it may not be sooo near you, but...I digress! Kira Sinclair, Debra Glass, Carla Swafford, Kerry Freeman and me, Naima Simone, are going to be signing books, selling 'em and most likely telling inappropriate jokes on February 16, 2013 at the Patton Creek Barnes and Noble in Hoover, Alabama. Admit it! You want to come! Well give in to the desire...for books!

Find us at:
Barnes and Noble
Patton Creek Shopping Center (next to the Galleria)
171 Main Street
Hoover, AL 35244

Here's a link to the store - http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/store/2175

We're looking forward to seeing you!



Kira Sinclair

Debra Glass



Carla Swafford

Kerry Freman




Naima Simone

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Souther Magic Readers Luncheon 2012!

Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love

November is one of my favorite months! And not just for the obvious Thanksgiving holiday. Or the two federal holidays aka vacation days. Nope. Although those are very good reasons, the first Saturday in November is my local RWA chapter’s annual Readers Luncheon! I love this event! Every year I meet fabulous readers, visit with awesome authors I love and admire, get lotsa free goodies, win cool gifts and have a wonderful lunch. Not to mention I have the opportunity to listen to inspiring authors such as Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love, this year's keynote and introduction speakers. 




Sherrilyn Kenyon and me!

For four hours we laugh, joke—sometimes cry, all depends on who’s speaking!—hug, cheer and celebrate. We celebrate each other’s careers, our milestones—I had my fifth sale this year!— and our successes. It’s a readers’ luncheon but aren’t we all readers? Like I had a total “fan girl” moment when I met Sherrilyn Kenyon. Yeah, I gushed. And so what? I’ve loved her books for years! I can’t count the number of blissful, excitement-and-escape filled hours she’s given me. Also, it’s a time when I came face-to-face with people I’ve joked and talked with over loops and Facebook.


 

Debra Glass and me!

And always seeing fellow Ellora’s Cave author, my good friend and critique partner Debra Glass is awesome! She is so gorgeous and, if I didn’t love her so much, I’d probably give her the stink-eye every time she passed by me! LOL! No, really. A more gracious and kinder lady a person would be hard pressed to find. And she’s just an example of the authors in attendance every year! So if you’re in the Birmingham, AL area next November, come join us! Southern Magic can promise you a good time!




My first booksigning!

Lynn Raye Harris and Kira Sinclair!



Rashda Khan and Lexi George!

Jennifer Echols and Carla Swafford!

Christy Reece!



M.V. Freeman and Katherine Bone!