Guest Blog - Shelley Munro

It’s A Goal: The Lure of Sports Romances

New Zealand is a land of sports lovers, and I number amongst them. At this time of the year (our winter) the rugby and netball seasons are in full swing and most weekends I watch the games on television.

Add sports to romance, and I’m in heaven. There’s something about a sports hero that really grabs my interest. I like sports romances because:

1. The sports heroes have very fine physiques, the result of some serious training.

2. The dedication and sacrifices they make to play their chosen sport is inspiring.

3. The heroes have money and fame, which makes them interesting.

4. They’re public figures and under intense scrutiny, and this adds to their conflict.

5. The heroes might find it easy to get women, but when the right woman comes along that’s when they have problems and the excitement begins.

6. The sport adds to the conflict with injuries, loss of form and competition to make the starting team.

7. The book covers are usually hot.

8. They often come in series because lots of sports are team events. A series of sports romances—what’s not to like?

Although I started off as a reader of sports romances—I blame Susan Elizabeth Phillips and my New Zealand roots—it didn’t take me long to try my hand at writing them too.

Playing to Win features a rugby hero and has a suspense element to the story. 

http://www.shelleymunro.com/books/playing-to-win/

Issy’s Infatuation features a female rugby player and a male rugby coach. 

http://www.shelleymunro.com/books/issys-infatuation/

Eye on the Ball is a gay romance and features a rugby player and a coach from an opposition team. 

http://www.shelleymunro.com/books/eye-on-the-ball/

Wanna Do Bad Things With You is also a gay romance and features two rugby players. 

http://www.shelleymunro.com/books/wanna-do-bad-things-with-you/

The Bottom Line features a rugby playing hero, although rugby isn’t a huge part of the story. 

http://www.shelleymunro.com/books/the-bottom-line/

As a writer I try to give my books just enough sports flavor to grab the sports enthusiast, yet not too much that I’ll bore those people who aren’t familiar with rugby. It’s a delicate balance, and hopefully I’ve managed to get it right. It’s certainly a joy writing about the sports I enjoy and to showcase New Zealand as well.

CONTEST: Answer this question and complete the rafflecopter to go into a draw to win an Amazon Gift Certificate (2 x winners). Do you enjoy sports romances and why or why not?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Playing to Win

Professional rugby player, Lane Gerrard is used to women throwing themselves at him, but a scurrilous tabloid article naming him as father of a child sends his temper soaring. The woman he confronts doesn’t fit the blackmailer profile. Kate Alexander is attractive with an enchanting innocence, enticing. A total stranger. Her feistiness draws his unwilling admiration, but the child…he is the image of Lane.

Kate can’t deny her son’s similarity to the sexy man at her door but no way will she hand him over without a fight. Kate doesn’t possess money but she can shower her son with love. With public speculation rife, Kate reluctantly works with Lane to discover the truth. They grow closer as distrust slowly turns to mutual fascination, but the tabloid articles bring out a stalker. Mild pranks escalate into danger, and suddenly Lane realizes Kate is a woman he could love. With Kate and her son, he could have a family. Now, with his heart on the line, this is one game he’s playing to win…

Purchase links:

Ellora’s Cave - http://www.ellorascave.com/playing-to-win.html

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032C9946?ie=UTF8&tag=shelleymunro-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0032C9946

All Romance ebooks - http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-playingtowin-494734-152.html?referrer=509f18e61b0cf

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Shelley Munro is tall and curvaceous with blue eyes and a smile that turns masculine heads everywhere she goes. She’s a university tutor and an explorer/treasure hunter during her vacations. Skilled with weapons and combat, she is currently in talks with a producer about a television series based on her world adventures.

Shelley is also a writer blessed with a VERY vivid imagination and lives with her very own hero in New Zealand. She writes mainly erotic romance in the contemporary, paranormal and historical genres for publishers Carina Press, Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing. You can learn more about Shelley and her books at http://www.shelleymunro.com.

WEBSITE: http://www.shelleymunro.com

BLOG: http://www.shelleymunro.com/blog

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/Shelley-Munro/e/B001JOWGNK

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/ShelleyMunroAuthor

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/ShelleyMunro 

PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/ShelleyMunro

TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/ShelleyMunro

Welcome Marianne Stephens/April Ash

1. How did you start your writing career?

I’d always enjoyed reading. Started with Shakespeare, then biographies, then historical romances. Finally read some contemporary romances and was hooked. Also love paranormals. In 1994, I thought maybe I’d try writing a romance book. I bought a copy of “The Romance Writers Pink Pages” and found agents listed. Sent queries. Two asked for partials and one asked for full manuscript. All were rejected…but the agent who read the full suggested I put DIALOGUE in my story…I’d written most of it as a narrative. I had much to learn! I took some writing seminars, joined RWA and some local chapters. And, got into critique groups.

2. Tell us about your favorite character from your books.

Katie O’Hara from “Gone to the Dogs” is my favorite character. I wrote the book in first person…and LOVED being in her head the whole time! She tries her hardest to be self-sufficient, but can’t ignore the handsome fireman itching to get into her good graces by helping her.

3. Has someone helped or mentored you in your writing career?

I’d have to say all the people in my local RWA chapter have helped me. Some have been super supportive, and my critique groups never failed to make me face reality. Lots of names I could mention, but Carla Cassidy was a big help when she told me I wrote episodes, and needed to connect them. When I looked carefully at what I was doing, I realized she was right. Once I got that fixed in my writing, I felt better about my work and then sold my first book.

4. What is the hardest part of writing your books?

The middle! I ALWAYS get this slump going in the middle of the book. It’s not like I don’t know what I should be writing, but I stumble and groan about it. Sometimes it takes me weeks to straighten it out before I can continue to the end
.
5. Do you use a pen name?

If so, how did you come up with it?I use two pen names. Marianne Stephens is a combination of two first names of people I know. April Ash…my birthday is in April and I wanted a last name that was short and towards the beginning of the alphabet (fits better and easier on promo items).


6. Morning Person? Or Night Person?

Night, although I’ve gotta watch if I’m tired. I can write some pretty awful stuff and make lots of mistakes if I’m tired and stay up late. Nights are quieter for me, even though my kids are grown. I still have lots of family responsibilities that distract me during the day.
7. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

Newest release: “Anything You Can Do” by Marianne Stephens, available at http://www.breathlesspress.com.

Blurb:
What happens when a childcare, clueless male CEO mixes with infants, toddlers, and preschoolers for a week, all because of a dare? Can he keep up with the kids...and maintain his sanity...while becoming more and more attracted to the daycare's owner, the woman who issued the challenge?

Marianne Stephens has contemporary/paranormal romances for Cerridwen Press.

April Ash has contemporary erotic romances at Ellora’s Cave.

Come join me at a new Yahoo group for fun, contests, book/industry news! Join: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/romancebooksrus. I send out my newsletter through the yahoo group. This group also has a blog: http://romancebooksrus.blogspot.com.

Visit my websites for information about my books/interviews/reviews/blogs. Go to: http://www.mariannestephens.net and http://www.aprilash.net.

I also blog every Monday at: http://sevensexyscribes.blogspot.com.

Friend me on Facebook: For Marianne Stephens: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/profile.php?id=1518319389&ref=profile and for April Ash: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/profile.php?id=1683746739&ref=profile

Amber, thanks for the opportunity to do this interview!

CARA - Julia Barrett

Today my blog is dedicated to another dear friend and fellow author – Julia Barrett. Today her book CARA is released with Cerridwen Press. Cara isn’t your typical romance story. While it has romance in it, it also has scenes of abuse, child abuse and rape. These scenes are tastefully done and only enhance the story.
You see, CARA is based on true events. While it may be hard to believe such acts could take place, the truth is, they do - every day. Ms. Barrett has decided to donate 25% of her earnings to special battered woman charities in her area to aid in the resources available to these women. Purchasing CARA couldn’t get any better. You not only will you help battered women, you get a great read. Why not grab your copy today!
Buy link: http://www.jasminejade.com/ps-7222-47-cara.aspx

Here is a blurb and excerpt. At the bottom you’ll also find a link to a review. This book is a must read!

Blurb: Cara’s life has been one nightmare after another. She grows to adulthood blaming herself for everything that’s happened. She believes her safest path is to keep other people at a distance, especially men. James, a young doctor who is aware of Cara’s history, is determined to break through her barriers, enter her world and love her. Cara cautiously allows him in and returns his love, only to watch her new world of happiness, a world she never genuinely trusted, come crashing down. She turns from James and runs far away in an attempt to reinvent herself. She discovers she’s run out of the frying pan and straight into the fire. Now Cara must fight for her survival. No one, not even her beloved James, can rescue her. Cara must believe in herself or perish.

Reader Advisory: Includes scenes of domestic violence, child abuse and rape. Excerpt: By reading any further, you are stating that you are at least 18 years of age. If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site.

An Excerpt From: CARA Copyright © JULIA BARRETT, 2009 All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

Cara finished her phone calls and left the office early. She had a full afternoon of classes and she wanted some studio time. There was a face she needed to paint. A man’s face. James’ face. She hadn’t been able to get him out of her mind since she’d walked out of the conference room. She was hoping if she put him on paper she could gain some perspective. Some distance. Maybe she could look at him with clinical detachment like she did everyone she painted. She clearly recognized the immediate attraction she’d felt. She’d seen the same interest in his eyes. She also recognized the danger. What if she acted on her attraction? What if she opened herself up and he crushed her? What if he saw what she tried so hard to hide? That she was tainted. Dirty. What if she exposed herself to him, dropped her defenses and he rejected her? Cara didn’t know if she could survive that. Not with James. Anyone but James.

What had happened with Randy had been awful but she’d gotten past it, at least to the extent that she could. It was what she’d come to expect from men—no more, no less. Fortunately after that night, Randy had kept his distance. Besides, she’d completely stopped using drugs and last she’d heard, he’d moved to Omaha. Cara hadn’t told the police the truth about what happened. It would be too humiliating and she didn’t want her mother to have to deal with any fallout for her sake. Her mother had been through enough. Cara had simply said she’d been at a party and must have fallen, that she didn’t remember much. The two officers had looked at her skeptically but out of respect for her late father, they hadn’t pursued the matter any further.

James was another animal altogether. Cara cared what he thought of her. She cared deeply. He was a good man. He was intelligent, articulate, courageous and determined. He was almost overwhelmingly beautiful in an utterly intimidating masculine way. But she also remembered very clearly how kind he was. How gently he’d treated her. How respectful and how trustworthy he was. Cara wasn’t certain she deserved a man’s kindness or respect. Though she tried to pretend otherwise, her head was filled with slurs like slut and crazy, words she’d heard her high school classmates use when they referred to her.

Cara’s heart pounded as she ran up the stairs to her apartment. She hoped to God she wasn’t about to have an anxiety attack. She called up her trigger word and a semi-hysterical laugh escaped her. James in the flesh. The laughter seemed to help. In a hurry, she kicked off her shoes and tossed her skirt and blouse on the bed. She pulled on her favorite old faded jeans with the holes in the knees and the rip in the back pocket. When she slipped the paint-splattered white tee shirt over her head, her hair fell out of the twist, so she shook out the remaining pins and left it down. She grabbed her flip-flops and her backpack. She headed back down the stairs and ran across the green grass barefoot. She slid into her flip-flops when she hit Market Street and walked briskly down the hill toward the bridge that led to the art building. She didn’t want to be late for her art history class. They were discussing portrait painting during the Reformation. The current artist under discussion was Hans Holbein, one of the portrait painters to the court of Henry VIII and Cara had volunteered to research his miniature of Anne of Cleves. She had a brief presentation to make today.

She hurried to class, tuning out her surroundings as she mentally reviewed her material. Preoccupied, in the middle of the pedestrian bridge, she unexpectedly banged into a hard body. Cara landed on her backside with a whomp and her pack tumbled off her shoulder. Two strong hands reached down and lifted her to her feet.

“Sorry,” she mumbled apologetically, looking for her pack, “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“No problem,” came a familiar voice.

Cara’s head spun around and she looked up into James’ face. He was grinning from ear to ear.

“I like your hair down,” he said, tucking a long auburn curl behind her ear. “It makes you look like you.”

Cara tried to remember to breathe. She could feel herself blushing again. Just that slight brush of his fingers made the side of her face tingle.

“What-what are you doing here?”

“Well, nice to see you too,” James replied with a laugh. “I was checking out the student art exhibit.”

“No… You weren’t… You didn’t…”

“Yeah, I did. Why? Something wrong with that?”

“No. It’s just that…” Cara stared at him.

“It’s just what? That it’s your work? Is that what you’re trying to say?” He laughed again. “You weren’t this tongue-tied this morning. Is it me?” James looked directly into her wide eyes. “You’re staring at me. Do I have dirt on my face or something?” That got a smile out of her. Cara had a lovely smile.

“No, it’s just that I’m-I’m sort of shy about my work. It’s pretty personal and other than when I speak to my professors, I try not to listen to comments about it.”

“You could say that I guess,” said James thoughtfully. “You could also say it’s pretty damn beautiful stuff. I was blown away.”

Cara looked pleased. “You saw the entire exhibit?”

“Yeah, I did. And I kept this.” He pulled the folded poster out of his back pocket and showed her.

This time Cara laughed. “Thank you,” she said.

James could hear the warmth in her voice. It felt like a caress. Careful, he told himself. He could get caught up in the sound of her very quickly. They stood there silently for a moment, just looking at each other.

The link to the Book Wenches review:http://www.bookwenches.com/july09reviews.htm