Tuesday, February 02, 2010

MOON CRAVING

Several years ago, when attending the Romance Writers' of America conference in Denver, I was introduced to Lucy Monroe at the post awards party. It was just before she sold her first "Presents" to Harlequin and since then her career has taken off like a rocket. We met again in New York, where we had dinner and then again in London. (Sometimes, just occasionally, we authors get out of jammies, put on the glitz and party!) She is just amazing, and I'm absolutely delighted to share my blog with her today.

Here's Lucy...

READERS AS PART OF THE WRITING PROCESS

One of the things I love best about the Internet is how easy it makes it for readers to contact me. There have been days that writing felt like chiseling on stone with a rock and petrified stick. When those days come, getting letters from readers that share how my stories have touched them in a postive way keeps me going. Keeps me connected.

But readers can have a much more direct impact on the writing process too. A few years ago, I ran a contest asking readers to help me name the homeland of my royals for a trilogy I was writing for Harlequin Presents. Their suggestions led to me starting a new personal mini-series, The Royal Brides. The book I'm working on right now has a hero-heroine pairing suggested by a reader, and it resonated with me. I realized that was exactly who was supposed to be with whom. She just wanted to know if I was going to write either or both of these minor characters' stories. It surprised both of us that her question was the catalyst for my next book.

And then there are the stories that might never get written if readers didn't keep emailing me and letting me know they were waiting. One such story is my newest release, MOON CRAVING. When I started my Children of the Moon books, I intended to have at least one release a year, but then serious family crises cropped up...one after another. And my health took several downward turns that some might even call a spiral. Things are looking up now, but I wrote MOON CRAVING when they weren't, when life was so hard in spots I didn't know what each new day would bring.

My family and yes, my readers...kept me focused, kept me connected, kept me believing in myself and my stories.

It's your turn: tell me the books you are keenly waiting for your favorite authors to write, or wish they would.

Moon Craving
Feb 2010 - Berkley Sensation
ISBN-13: 978-0425233047
Children of the Moon Book 2

If it were up to him, Talorc—laird of the Sinclair clan and leader of his werewolf pack— would never marry. But when the king orders that Talorc wed an Englishwoman, the lone wolf is shocked to find his mate in the strong-willed Abigail. And after an intensely climactic wedding night, the two fiercely independent souls sense an unbreakable bond…

Deaf since childhood, Abigail hopes to keep her affliction from Talorc as long as possible. And for his part, he has no intention of telling her about being a werewolf. But when Abigail learns that the husband she’s begun to love has deceived her, it will take all of his warrior’s strength—and his wolf’s cunning—to win his wife back. And Talorc will have to face his biggest challenge yet: the vulnerability of a man in love…

Read an Excerpt | Buy the Book

Watch the Book Trailer



As a special thank you to readers, Lucy is giving away a prize pack of pamper yourself products and paranormal romance. All you have to do to enter is send an email with Moon Craving Contest in the subject line to moon_craving at yahoo dot com before February 28th, 2010. The drawing will be held March 1st and the winner will be announced on her blog.

7 comments:

Lucy Monroe said...

Thanks so much for having me here, Liz! You are such a kind person and someone I'm truly glad to know. :)

Liz Fielding said...

Hi Lucy

It's lovely to have you on my blog - especially that gorgeous video link!

I checked out the link to the wedding photograph, too and you all looked so great. I'm glad you had a fabulous day.

Lucy Monroe said...

Thanks, Liz! :) I kept thinking as each moment bled into the next that we were making memories we would never forget. :)

Liz Fielding said...

Lucy, I'm fascinated by the video trailer for your book. Did you do that yourself, or have it produced professionally?

Lucy Monroe said...

Liz...I used COS Productions. They're a multi-award winning film production company and their distribution is out of this world.

http://www.cosproductions.com/

Liz Fielding said...

They've certainly done a great job for you, Lucy.

Lucy Monroe said...

Thanks! Readers have come to expect the book trailers now and I don't mind providing considering what a blessing to me my readers are. I know there are several other promotional venues that make book trailers, but none that have the distribution of COS. However, COS does have a distribution package if you know someone who can make your trailer for you. :)

Thanks again for having me, Liz!