Monday, July 28, 2014

Secrets to Synopsis Writing, Upcoming Interviews and more!

I'm back from RWA Nationals in San Antonio and I have to say that I had a fabulous time. Stay tuned for a post on Nationals complete with pics in the next few days! In the meantime, I have two new writing related posts up:

Secrets to Synopsis Writing - over at Kelly Steel's Chasing Happy Ever After blog and...

Muse-Jogging Tips & Alternatives - over at Romance Book Paradise

Also, I'll be interviewing some fabulous authors over at USA Today's Happy Ever After blog in the next few months, starting with the incredible and lovely Catherine Lanigan, the real author behind the character, 'Joan Wilder', who wrote the famous Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile. Look for the interview on August 1st (I'll post the link here or check out the right column when it goes live). Check out my 'upcoming interviews' in the right column to see who'll be in the spotlight in September and October!

EDITED TO ADD: READ CATHERINE LANIGAN'S USATODAY HEA INTERVIEW HERE!

And if you can't wait to see at least a few of the upcoming pics, check out the one's I tweeted from Nationals @RulaSinara but I'll post even more here soon :).

I hope everyone is having a fab summer! I'll see you soon :).

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Giveaway: Show your 'Sweet and Heartwarming' spirit!

Happy July, everyone! This month is all about celebrating. My friends up North kicked it off with Canada Day and here in the U.S. we're getting ready for an 'Independence Day' Friday full of fun and fireworks. July is also an extra special month for the romance writing community because, on July 23rd, the Romance Writers of America annual National Convention kicks off. So many opportunities this month for friends and family to gather together...and what's more heartwarming than that? ;)



The Harlequin Heartwarming authors want to help spread the 'sweet and heartwarming' spirit, so we're doing a month long giveaway of 50 spirit bracelets like the one shown in the photo above. Details, rules, regulations and all that jazz can be found at the Heartwarming Authors blog HERE. But to give you an idea of how this giveaway will work, here's a copy of the main part of that post:

  1. Tell us via social media how much you love Sweet and Heartwarming Romance! Post a comment here. Post a comment on our Facebook page under our Sweet and Heartwarming Posts (and like us!). Share our post on Facebook with the#GoHeartwarming hashtag. Tweet about our giveaway: I love Sweet and Heartwarming Romance! #GoHeartwarming. Spread the word on Goodreads. Every comment/post/share/like/tweet/hashtag is an entry. We'll track entries each week!  We're giving away 50 bracelets to our social media supporters during the month of July!  
  2. To our sweet romance fans and our writing sisters who'll be attending either the RWA Literacy Booksigning July 23rd in San Antonio at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter OR attending the RWA conference July 23-26, if you come across a Harlequin Heartwarming Author wearing a pin like the one shown below (green beads and the distinctive "H"), all you have to do is say: I love Sweet and Heartwarming Romance! And you're an instant winner!

Sharing the love on blogs and forums counts too! All you have to do is leave a comment on the 'Sweet and Heartwarming' post on the Heartwarming Authors blog and/or here...and be sure to include a link back to where you mentioned your love of sweet and heartwarming romance. We just need to be able to keep track for the weekly drawings (again, check the link for details).

And for those of you who read the fine print and are bummed that winners have to live in the U.S., I'm going to add a separate (international) giveaway that includes anyone who leaves a comment and 'link back' here on this blog. If you spread the spirit through social media, as stated above, but aren't a U.S. resident, then leave your 'I love sweet and heartwarming' comment here on this blog with a link back to where you spread the word...plus, state your country (no specifics, just country)...that way we'll know which giveaway it's for (note: if you're a U.S. res. then you'll be entered for the bracelet too). On July 28th, I'll randomly draw one winner. The prize: An autographed copy of my Harlequin Heartwarming, The Promise of Rain, along with a matching bookmark. Be sure to check back here on July 31st so that I can get contact info from the winner!


Now, go spread the spirit of all things sweet and heartwarming! :)