Susanna Carr's Blog

An almost daily blog about reading, writing and romance fiction

Monday contest

Posted on March 5, 2012

Last month I read a lot of romance with billionaire heroes and now I’m glomming medical romances where the heroes are usually doctors. Which hero do you prefer?

Answer the question in the comment section for a chance to win!

Question: Billionaires or doctors?

Prize: a $10 Amazon.com e-mail gift card

Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here. Contest ends Thursday, March 8, midnight Pacific Time. I will choose a winner  using random.org and contact the winner on Friday.

Good luck!

**Update: Congratulations to Jane. Her name was randomly chosen to receive the Amazon.com gift card. Thanks to everyone for weighing in on their favorite type of hero.**

Posted in Win It | 10 Comments

Weekend Read: Time Out by Jill Shalvis

Posted on March 2, 2012

Rainey Saunders is a bit of a control freak and she’s having a dry spell in her dating life. Maybe it’s because she wants to have a plan but dating doesn’t work that way. Or maybe it’s because she’s not looking for a hook-up but a connection. But it’s probably because she would always be attracted to Mark Diego, but he’s unattainable.

Mark is temporarily back in town and volunteering to coach the summer league for teenagers. He’s interested in Rainey and feels like they have some unfinished business, but he’s definitely not looking for a relationship. He’s also very protective of Rainey and his kind of interference once ruined their friendship.

It was fun to see Mark totally out of his comfort zone when dealing with teen girls. I also loved the flirty banter between Mark and Rainey. And I adored how Rainey, control freak that she was, tried to set ground rules. She doesn’t want to get attached because Mark was the kind of guy who walks away. But there is just no way to control the heat between these two.

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Artist’s date #6: Read an unfamiliar magazine

Posted on February 29, 2012

Maybe I’ve visited too many waiting rooms and reception areas recently, but it seems they all have the same magazines: People and O, The Oprah magazine. If I’m lucky, there’s an old copy of Real Simple to break the monotony.  The best selection is in my dentist’s office. She offers a wide range of magazines I haven’t seen elsewhere.

I decided that I would leaf through a magazine I wouldn’t normally pick up the next time I was in a reception area. I didn’t care if it was a magazine about finance or motor racing or the Smithsonian. I’d give it a try even if I wasn’t the target audience.

The magazine for my Artist’s Date turned out to be Psychology Today.

I wasn’t sure what to expect. My vague hope was that it was a) entertaining and b) I wouldn’t start self-diagnosing after reading the articles.

Instead, I discovered some off-beat studies that had sparked my imagination.

For example:

* Did you know that a person has at least 4 unsexy thoughts while having sex?

* On average, a man will start thinking about saying “I love you” two months in a relationship while the woman will take about five months. It’s believed this is because women historically had more to lose in the relationship.

* A young woman in the UK discovered that her twin was not her twin. It turned out she had been accidentally switched at the hospital. Her identical twin lived in the next city.

Does this mean I’m going to write a story about a young woman who has a habit if voicing unsexy things in bed and wonders aloud why her boyfriend of two months hasn’t said “I love you,” and if her twin is really her twin?

No.

It means that my Artist’s Date allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and let my imagination play.

 

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One Question with Jess Michaels

Posted on February 27, 2012

Historical romance author Jenna Petersen also writes erotic romance as Jess Michaels. I enjoyed Watching Tessa, her latest contemporary romance. It has a heroine who’s a little insecure and hasn’t tapped into her full potential and a hot private detective who is fascinated by Tessa just as she is. This is a sensual and romantic story with a fun investigative subplot as they hunt for someone through the sexy side of Seattle. I’m telling you, I’m looking at Seattle in a very different way!

What’s the story about?
Tessa Drew has a successful comic strip that just got national syndication, but she’s not that happy with her life. Until private investigator Jason Wilcox comes into it. But he’s been hired to check out why she’s been using a credit card for a sex-fueled trek through Seattle. After a sexy night, he realizes her identity has been stolen.

Tessa is fascinated by the idea of an Other Tessa with a life so different from her own. She blackmails Jason into helping her follow the Other Tessa and change her own life. But as her eyes are opened to a much more sensual side of the world, she begins to realize that the biggest and best change she’s made is Jason. And he might just be out of her reach.

Order the book on Kindle, Nook or Smashwords

Since the heroine in Watching Tessa draws a comic strip, I asked Jenna about her favorite comic strip. She said:

“My favorite comic strip was always The Far Side. I do miss it…”

Thanks, Jenna! My favorite is Garfield. I’ve decided he’s my spirit animal.

To find out more about Jenna/Jess, visit her website, Facebook page and Twitter.

Contest
Now it’s your turn! Answer in the comment section for a chance to win.

Question: Do you (or did you have) a favorite comic strip?

Prize: a $10 USD Amazon.com e-mail gift card

Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here. Contest ends March 1, 2012, midnight Pacific Time. I will choose one winner using random.org and contact the winner on Friday.

Good luck!

**Update: Congratulations to Yazmin. Her name was randomly chosen to receive the Amazon.com gift card. Thanks to everyone for sharing their favorite comic strip!**

Posted in Read It, Win It | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

E-newsletter contest winners

Posted on February 23, 2012

I held a book giveaway extravaganza on my e-newsletter this month. Thirty-five winners received a signed copy of Swap. This book was written as Jenesi Ash, my erotica pen name, and it had been nominated by Romantic Times for Best Erotic Fiction.

The winners were:

Angela P. of Michigan, Carolyn A. of Massachusetts, Cate S. of Indiana, Celeste D. of Oklahoma, Cindy M. of California, Edna W. of Washington, Estella K. of Oregon, Gigi H. of Georgia, Glendel W. of Kansas, Jean H. of Florida, Jean M. of Colorado, Jennifer M. of Massachusetts, Jody R. of Minnesota, Judy P. of Maryland, Kelli R. of Minnesota, Kimberley C. of Texas, Laurie G. of Florida, Lexee T. of California, Linda B. of Illinois, Linda D. of Tennessee, Linda H. of Missouri, Lisa W. of Oklahoma, Liz C. of Missouri, Lois H. of California, Mary Ann M. of Connecticut, Melissa K. of Texas, Mina G. of Pennsylvania, Patricia C. of Texas, Patricia M. of Florida, Shani S. of New York, Sharron B. of Georgia, Sherry H. of Arkansas, Suzy R. of Illinois, Trisha D. of North Carolina, and Winnie K. of Michigan

The winners also received a signed copy of Naughty Bits 2 as a bonus gift. That’s a total of 70 books that were given away this week. Whew!

To subscribe to my e-newsletter, click on this link link.
The sign-up form is on the right.

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Artist’s Date #5: Improving your memory

Posted on February 22, 2012

I had to take memory classes when I was a child. I attended a religious school and was required to memorize prayers, important passages, and the church’s catechism. While I can no longer rattle off the books of the Bible anymore (I always get stuck at Hosea), I’d like to believe that the class gave me the skills to exercise my memory.

This card game requires you to find a matching pair, but only two cards can be exposed at the same time.

But did the memory exercises help my creativity? I’m not sure. All I know is that the memory classes coincided with the time I became interested in writing.

What does memory and creativity have in common? In Twyla Tharp’s The Creative Habit, she recommends harnessing your memory. “Creativity,” she says, “is more about taking the facts, fictions, and feelings we store away and finding new ways to connect them.”

So for my Artist’s Date this week, I decided to work on my memory. Instead of trying to memorize a passage or follow one of Tharp’s exercises, I chose to play a card game. My family had called it Concentration but I think it’s more widely known as Memory.

My memory was pathetic during the first round of the game, but it became increasingly better with each round!

Posted in Write It | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Monday contest

Posted on February 20, 2012

I rarely listen to the radio or my MP3 player, but I write to music because it helps me get into the zone. For example, I had listened to big band Christmas music when I wrote “Hot for the Holidays.” It was weird listening to the music before December! It really threw me off.

It turns out I have a couple of quirks when it comes to writing with music. (No surprise there!) I don’t make playlists for each book but I will listen to an album the entire time I write the story. I also discovered that I do better listening to music that doesn’t have lyrics. The lyrics can really influence a story!

When I wrote The Tarnished Jewel of Jazaar, I listened to The Gladiator soundtrack. Gorgeous music! These days I’m listening to the Gone With the Wind soundtrack with my current manuscript. I haven’t decided if it’s the best music for this story, but I find myself humming Tara’s theme at the oddest moments. And usually when I’m at a public place. Sigh.

What are you currently listening to?

 

CONTEST

Answer the question in the comment section for a chance to  win!

Question: What  music or song are you currently listening to?

Prize: a $10  Amazon.com e-mail gift card

 

Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here.  Contest ends Thursday, February 23, 2012, midnight Pacific Time. I will choose  a winner using random.org and contact the winner on Friday.

Good luck!

**Update: Congratulations to Mary Preston. Her name was randomly chosen to receive the Amazon.com gift card. Thanks to everyone for sharing what they’re listening to!**

Posted in Win It | 10 Comments

Weekend Read: Tag Team by Nicola Marsh

Posted on February 19, 2012

Three years ago, bio-weapons expert Coralee “Lee” Keaton wound up in bed with special ops team leader Garcia “Fox” Diaz. Lee is tough and brave, but she doesn’t like how Fox still makes her feel. He is more of a threat to her than anything she has faced in her profession. But when they are under attack, Lee and Fox are trapped in the safe room alone.

Nicola Marsh packs a punch in Tag Team. This novella has a relentless pace, high stakes, sizzling tension and memorable characters.

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Movie of the Month: The Vow

Posted on February 16, 2012

Today I went to see The Vow starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum. The story is about a woman who suffers from memory loss and can’t remember her husband. The husband hopes that she will regain her memory, and if that doesn’t happen, fall in love with him again. But if you don’t have your memories to back up your decisions, would
you make the same choices?

The Vow is a sweet and romantic movie, but I would recommend waiting until it’s on DVD or TV. The story is a little predictable and the emotional moments were surprisingly not that deep. I will admit, however, that Channing Tatum came across as vulnerable and adorably awkward.

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Monday contest

Posted on February 13, 2012

“The Lady in Red” by Chris De Burgh is considered one of the most romantic songs and it reached a milestone yesterday. Twenty-five years ago it had been the #1 song. (Wow, I remember when that song was always on the radio. Has it really it been that long?!)

I always sing along when I hear “The Lady in Red,” but I think my favorite love song is either “Careless Whisper” by Wham or “I’ll Stand by You” by The Pretenders. Very different groups and the lyrics have very different messages, but my favorite love song usually depends on the kind of mood I’m in.

CONTEST

Answer the question in the comment section for a chance to win!

Question: What is your favorite love song?

Prize: a $10 Amazon.com e-mail gift card

Contest rules, guidelines and fine print can be found here. Contest ends Thursday, February 16, 2012, midnight Pacific Time. I will choose a winner using random.org and contact the winner on Friday.

Good luck!

**Update: Congratulations to Shelly! Her name was chosen to receive the Amazon.com gift card. Thanks to everyone for sharing their favorite love song.**

Posted in Win It | 14 Comments