Susanna Carr Blog » Contests and Giveaways

January winner

Susanna — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 08:01:30 +0000

Congratulations to Leni, who wins a signed copy of Valentine’s Day is Killing Me! Using random.org, Leni’s name was chosen from those who commented on my blog during the month of January.

Birthday Weekend

Susanna — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:34:48 +0000

Jen the Twin and I turn 40 this Sunday. We had big plans for this milestone birthday but they fell through. Today she asked me what I was going to do for my birthday. Since it’s on the weekend, I decided I was going to celebrate both days. In fact, I’d start early and observe this momentuous occasion on Friday. I might take Monday off, too, while I’m at it.

Jennifer replied, “Why not take 40 days to celebrate?”

That made sense to me. “Why not celebrate for the next 365 days?” I asked. “We’re going to be 40 all that time.”

Jennifer’s response? “Now you’re just talking crazy.”

OK, 365 days of partying might be a tad excessive. But 40 days spread thoughout the next year? Jennifer and I can do that. Easy. Now all we have to do is think of some good ways to celebrate.

If you could do anything you wanted, how would you celebrate your birthday? Tell us in the comment section before Tuesday at midnight Pacific Time. On Wednesday, I’ll randomly choose two winners and they will receive a $20 Bath & Body Works gift card.

**Update: Thanks to everyone who shared ideas on the best way to celebrate birthdays! And congratulations to Maisey (commenter #3) and Laney4 (commenter #9). I randomly chose their names and they each receive a $20 Bath & Body Works gift card.**

1 Day to The Year of Living Shamelessly

Susanna — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 09:00:21 +0000

I read a blog recently arguing that romance fiction was the modern-day fairy tale. Instead of a dragon or evil stepmothers, the woman is faced with monstrous credit card debt or a boss from hell. As cutesy as the comparison is, all I have to say is this: Just because the a story has a happily-ever-after, it doesn’t make it a fairy tale. Satisfying, long-term relationships occur in real life, too.

Another point I’d like to make is that fairy tales aren’t bad for your health or state of mind (despite what my twin sister may say). I’d also mention that while men like The Grimm Brothers are the most famous fairy tale authors, women created fairy tales, too. Centuries ago females weren’t allowed to voice their opinion, but a woman could speak out against society in the form of a fairy tale. These stories were shared by women, handed down from mother to daughter.

A woman’s role in society has changed and the fairy tale has evolved along with it. However, they did not transform into a romance novel. The target audience for the fairy tale is the children, and the stories reflect today’s sensibilities. Disney princesses are becoming the center of the story instead of the fairies or talking mice saving the day. More important, fairy tale as literature still has value.

When I wrote Red-Hot and Royal, I wanted to tell the story of three modern-day women who met their princes. I didn’t follow any specific fairy tale because I didn’t think those stories fit in today’s world. The women in Red-Hot and Royal aren’t damsels in distress and they aren’t as pure as snow. They don’t fit the requirements of fairy tale princesses from way back when, but they are the kind of women who can face today’s challenges and rule the world.

Red-Hot and Royal was a finalist for the CRW’s Award of Excellence and it won the Winter Rose Award. I have one signed copy to give away to a reader. For a chance to win, just answer this question:

What is your favorite fairy tale?

Tell me in the comment section before Tuesday, October 6 at midnight Pacific Time. I will pick one reader to receive a signed copy of Red-Hot and Royal. Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here. Good luck!

**Update: Congratulations to Stephanie, commenter #8. She won a signed copy of Red-Hot and Royal. I can’t decide which is my favorite fairy tale, but thanks to everyone for sharing theirs!**

2 Days to The Year of Living Shamelessly

Susanna — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:00:44 +0000

I remember a time when I was a teenager and I was reading a very dramatic, high-octane love story. The tormented heroine had to make a difficult choice and I wondered why this woman didn’t have any friends to talk to. It took me a while to realize that if she received any sound advice the problem would be resolved and the story would end too quickly.

Then again, friends can sometimes cause more angst than a troubled love affair. In my novella collection Bad Girl Bridesmaids, each of the reluctant bridesmaids feels the pull of friendship and attends the wedding against their better judgment. They act with the best intentions to help their friends, but it doesn’t always go as planned.

I try to add friends in my stories, for the hero and heroine. In The Year of Living Shamelessly, Katie has two friends, brainiac Hilary and sports junkie Melissa. They have their moments of encouragement and there are times when they give opposing advice. Ryder, the hero, also has an important friendship with Jake, Katie’s brother. Ryder doesn’t want to do anything to jeopardize the one lasting relationship he’s had, even for the chance of something wonderful with Katie.

A few reviewers have already expressed hope that I will write Hilary and Melissa’s stories. I’m not sure if that will happen. Sometimes the friends are better off in their supporting roles than as the main character. Melanie Hamilton in Gone With the Wind would not have made an interesting heroine, especially after reading Scarlett O’Hara’s story.

Who is your favorite best friend in fiction or film? Are you a fan of Ethel in I Love Lucy or are you more in favor for Rachel from Friends? Do you like the camaraderie in Golden Girls or do you like the friendships in Sex and the City?

Tell me in the comment section before Tuesday, October 6 at midnight Pacific Time. I will pick one person to win a $15 Barnes and Noble gift card. Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here. Good luck!

**Update: Congratulations to Crystal, commenter #6. She won a $15 Barnes and Noble gift card. Thanks to everyone for sharing their favorite fictional best friend. I think my favorite is Laverne & Shirley. I know I’ve had more than my fair share of Laverne & Shirley moments.**

3 Days to The Year of Living Shamelessly

Susanna — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:00:03 +0000

In The Year of Living Shamelessly, whenever Katie needs a bit of confidence, she wears a pair of knee-high black leather stiletto boots. She thinks they make her look edgy and sophisticated. Her friends, however, think it has less to do with sophistication and more to do with the stiletto. They believe there’s a correlation between the levels of her confidence and the height of her heels.

Wearing something to tap into the inner vixen happens to a few of my characters. In my novella collection, Pink Ice, three sisters shared a pair of pink diamond earrings. When they wore the pink ice, they had the confidence to act like the women they wanted to be.

I know a lot of women who wear something special for a quick pick-me-up or as a confidence booster. It could be a piece of jewelry, a pair of shoes, or a bold shade of lipstick. It’s almost as if they wear it as an amulet, warding off evil spirits. They know that these items aren’t magical, but it does have the power to make them feel good. That’s the best kind of magic, in my opinion.

One item I’ve noticed that is a great pick-me-up is color. A favorite color will perk up any woman of any age.

What is your favorite color? Tell me in the comment section before Monday, October 5 at midnight Pacific Time. I will pick one person to win a $15 Borders gift card. Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here. Good luck.

**Update: Congratulations to Karen, commenter #7. She won a $15 Borders gift card. Thanks to everyone for sharing their favorite color!**

4 Days to The Year of Living Shamelessly

Susanna — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:00:27 +0000

The Year of Living Shamelessly is set in Crystal Bend, a fictional small town set in the Cascades Mountains. Creating characters is a labor of love but I discovered that creating a town is quite the challenge. Making the town smaller doesn’t make it easier. There is a close-knit community complete with nosy neighbors, a web of secrets and unique traditions. And that’s just the start.

For instance, Ex, Why and Me is set in Carbon Hill, a fictional town set in the Midwest. There is so much history in the town that the festival organizers put together a scavenger hunt based on the railroads and unsolved train robberies. Michelle, the heroine, is very reluctantly partnered up with Ryan, her ex-lover. Now she has to work together with the one man she never wanted to speak to again.

Creating a scavenger hunt in a small town isn’t easy. I read up on team building activities that are used in corporate training sessions. Some of the stuff they expect people to do is crazy–like putting together puzzles in the dark. I used that one in Ex, Why and Me because I’m all for torturing my characters.

And, fortunately, I had my twin sister as a resource. Jennifer loves reality TV. Whenever I got stuck planning the scavenger hunt, I would call Jennifer and we would brainstorm. Once I had the tasks decided on, I imagined Michelle and Ryan running against the clock in a small town filled with railroads and cobblestone streets. Before I knew it, Carbon Hill became a character of its own.

I have to admit that it was hard finding a reason why Michelle would a) participate in the scavenger hunt and b) participate with Ryan. I’ve seen a few reality TV shows like Wipeout and there is no way I would ever sign up for it. I’m sure those thrill-seekers think it’s a crazy adventure but it looks like a lot of stress and agony to me!

Which makes me wonder: If you had to go on a reality show, which one would you choose? Tell me in the comment section before Sunday, October 4 at midnight Pacific Time. I will choose one person to win a signed copy of Ex, Why and Me. Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here. Good luck!

**Update: Congratulations to Jane, commenter #6. She wins a signed copy of Ex, Why and Me. Thanks to everyone for blogging with me! I really need to catch up on my reality shows.**

5 Days to The Year of Living Shamelessly

Susanna — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:00:29 +0000

My stories seem to show a lot of holidays. The Year of Living Shamelessly has Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Merry Christmas, Baby obviously has Christmas. Lip Lock has a few Thanksgiving scenes. And then there is Valentine’s Day is Killing Me.

Valentine’s Day is a very important holiday for my twin sister. My novella “Valentine Survivor” was inspired by Jennifer’s opinion on how Valentine’s Day should be observed. Roses, candlelight dinner, etc. etc. I, of course, had to systematically destroy each fantasy element, and add a homicidal twist while I was at it.

What can I say? Valentine’s Day is not my favorite holiday.

But I’m not sure which holiday is my favorite. There are a lot to choose from, but there are many that create a lot of additional work. Thanksgiving, for example. Love having a nice dinner with family and friends, hate organizing and cooking for it. Some years it’s worth the effort, and some years I swear I’m going to run away to a tropical island and let everyone else fend for themselves. That hasn’t happened. Yet.

So what about you? Do you have a favorite holiday? Tell me in the comment section before Saturday, October 3 at midnight Pacific Time. I will pick one person to win a signed copy of Valentine’s Day is Killing Me. Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here. Good luck!

**Update: Congratulations to Maureen, commenter #7. She wins a signed copy of Valentine’s Day is Killing Me. Thanks to everyone for blogging with me!**

6 Days to The Year of Living Shamelessly

Susanna — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 09:00:43 +0000

Shoes are common with my book covers. The higher the heel, the better. Lip Lock was the first cover I had that showed high heels. They didn’t have anything to do with the story, but it gave a hint of the fun and romantic feel of the book. The Year of Living Shamelessly shows a bold pair of leather boots, but those shoes are actually worn by the heroine in the story.

I’ve had a lot of shoes on my covers since, never thinking much about it other than I liked the look. Then I read a news article that stated you can tell a chick lit book by the high heels on the cover. I was surprised and confused because I write romance.

I admit that I haven’t read a lot of chick lit, but I have watched the movies like The Devil Wears Prada and Confessions of a Shopaholic. There are a lot of elements in those movies that I like and that can be found in my books. I can see why some readers think my books are chick lit, or “chick lit hot” as some people call it, but I promise that my books are all about the romance. Think of the happily-ever-after ending as an added bonus.

Lip Lock is about Molly who lies. A lot. The title for the French translation is Menteuse et Fiere de l’Etre, which roughly means Liar and Proud of It. But it’s not like Molly wants to lie. She’s trying to buy some time and then she’ll make it all right. You know where this is going, don’t you?

Lip Lock was recognized with several romantic comedy awards, but unfortunately, this book is no longer in print. However, I have a copy that I’m giving away to one reader. For a chance to win it, answer this question:

How much chick lit do you read?

Tell me in the comment section before Friday, October 2, at midnight Pacific Time. I will pick one person to win a signed copy of Lip Lock. Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here Good luck!

**Update: Congratulations to Lois, commenter #3! She wins a signed copy of LIP LOCK. Thanks for blogging with me!**

7 Days to The Year of Living Shamelessly

Susanna — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:00:05 +0000

Villains intrigue me. They can be outright bad guys, troublemakers or those morally ambiguous characters. Sometimes the hero is only as good as the villain is bad. There isn’t a villain in The Year of Living Shamelessly, but there are two antagonists. Tatum and Sasha are the kind of women you love to hate.

But maybe I’m too hasty to make that judgment. After all, I don’t know their side of the story. I guess it’s all about point of view. This week I’m going to see the musical Wicked which is told in the Wicked Witch’s point of view. Everyone tells me that I’m never going to look at The Wizard of Oz the same way again. We’ll see.

But there are times when I’ve seen a story in the eyes of the villain and it doesn’t change the way I think of them. And then there are times when I have to write a story in the antagonist’s point of view. Like when I wrote “Sister Switch” in the Beach Blanket Bad Boys anthology.

Those who read The Wrong Bride knew Tracy was the troublemaking twin. She isn’t nice, she’s manipulative when she’s on her best behavior, and she’s not romance heroine material. But once I got into her point of view, I saw that Tracy was bold, courageous and would do anything to protect her family. Sounds like a romance heroine to me! She’s still trouble, and she meets her match in Nick. He might be the enemy, but he knows exactly what Tracy is capable of. Even better, Nick admires her. He’s actually dazzled by her bad girl brilliance.

After writing “Sister Switch”, I look at villains and antagonists in a different way.

Which makes me wonder, who is your favorite villainess in fiction? Is she from a book, a movie or a TV show? I’m partial to Malificent in Disney’s Sleeping Beauty. (Hello, she transforms into a dragon! How cool is that?!)

Who is your favorite villainess? Tell me in the comment section before Thursday, October 1 at midnight Pacific Time. I will pick one winner to receive a signed copy of Beach Blanket Bad Boys. Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here. Good luck!

**Update: Congratulations to Jessica, commenter #6. She wins a signed copy of Beach Blanket Bad Boys. Thanks to everyone for blogging with me!**

8 Days to The Year of Living Shamelessly

Susanna — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 09:00:50 +0000

Katie, the heroine in The Year of Living Shamelessly, loves arts and crafts. She’s also big on cooking and interior decorating. She wants to create a home with Ryder and she isn’t afraid of the hard work.

I hate to admit it, but Katie is very different from me when it comes to hobbies. I’m not big with the arts and crafts. They stress me out. I’m more interested in cooking but that’s because my taste buds get bored easily. I think that when it comes to interests and hobbies, I’m more like Stephanie, the heroine from Confessions of a “Wicked” Woman. She grew up adoring her television shows so much that she went to California to work in the industry as a makeup artist.

I used to be a TV junkie, but there were a lot of shows I wasn’t allowed to watch when I was growing up. Do you know how hard it can be to follow a soap opera on the sly? You miss all the good stuff because you need to change channels before a parent walks in at the worst possible moment.

But I didn’t spend all my time watching TV. My mom signed me up for all sorts of classes and sports. Dance class, piano lessons, painting, sewing… not that it did me any good. Then again, maybe some of those classes rubbed off on me because I appreciate the handiwork and talent of my friends and family even more.

So what about you? What hobbies or interests do you have? Scrapbooking? Tennis? Playing a musical instrument? Tell me in the comment section before Wednesday, September 30 at midnight Pacific Time. I will pick one reader to receive a copy of Confessions of a “Wicked” Woman. Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here. Good luck!

**Update: Wow, you guys have a lot of different interests! Congratulations to Colleen, commenter #6. She wins a signed copy of CONFESSIONS OF A “WICKED” WOMAN. Thanks everyone for sharing your hobbies with me!**