Jen: This week we welcome Sarah Pekkanen to Romancing the Book. Sarah, will you please share a short bio with us?
Sarah: I grew up in Maryland, and after college, I began working as a journalist. I covered Capitol Hill for a while (where I constantly misquoted this one politician from Mississippi because I couldn’t understand his accents) then I moved to The Baltimore Sun to write features. When my oldest son was born, I stayed home and free-lanced for newspapers and magazines. A few years ago, I began writing a humor column for Bethesda Magazine. I still live in Maryland, with my husband and three young boys. And my dog Bella. I can’t forget to name Bella, or she’ll get all pouty.

Jen: Tell us about The Opposite of Me and where it's available.
Sarah: It’ll be at bookstores everywhere, as well as on-line at places like Amazon.com and Powells.com, on Tuesday, March 9. I can hardly believe I just wrote those words!

Here's the blurb for the book:
Twenty-nine year old Lindsey Rose has, for as long as she can remember, lived in the shadow of her devastatingly beautiful fraternal twin sister, Alex. Determined to get noticed, Lindsey is finally on the cusp of being named Creative Vice President of an elite New York advertising agency, after years of 80 plus-hour weeks, migraines, and profound loneliness. But during the course of one devastating night, Lindsey’s carefully-constructed life implodes.

Humiliated and desperate, she flees the glitter of Manhattan and retreats to the time warp of her parents’ Maryland home. As her sister plans her lavish wedding to her prince charming, Lindsey struggles to maintain her identity as the smart, responsible twin, while she furtively tries to put her career back together. But things get more complicated when a long-held family secret is unleashed that forces both sisters to reconsider who they are and who they are meant to be.

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Sarah: I started writing books when I was a kid. A few years ago, my niece discovered an old letter I’d written on Raggedy Ann stationery asking a publisher when my book, titled, “Miscellaneous Tales and Poems” would be published (hey, at least all the poems rhymed!). I carry that letter with me every time I go to New York to meet with my publisher.

After my agent submitted The Opposite of Me, we were incredibly lucky to get multiple offers. I went to New York to meet with editors, and I was about to board an Amtrak train home the next day when my agent called with the results of the auction. I was six months pregnant, sweaty, and fighting my way through the mosh pit to try to grab a seat – but I sure smiled the whole way home.

Jen: Are there any other writers, published or not, in your family?
Sarah: The joke is, we’re all writers! My father has published seven non-fiction books, and he was on Oprah twenty years ago for his book “M.D. – Doctors Talk About Themselves” (Oprah? Are you listening? Don’t you think it’s time to have anther Pekkanen on the show?) My older brother is a professor at the University of Washington at Seattle, and he has published academic books – and so has his wife.

Jen: How does your family feel about your career?
Sarah: They’re so proud! My parents routinely accost people in the grocery store line to tell them all about it, and they keep trying to buy an advance copy of The Opposite of Me. I tell them that they fed and clothed me for 18 years, and I’d like to give them a copy, but they’re stubborn.

Jen: Do you have a writing routine?
Sarah: I get insanely jealous when I read about authors who say things like, “When I’m starting a book, I like to escape to a secluded beach cottage and take long walks in the sand while watching the sun rise before I sit down to write the day’s chapter.” I mean, I’m lucky if I get to stare at a YouTube clip of the ocean for a few seconds before I start work! I’ve got three little boys, which means I bring my laptop everywhere. I wrote some of my novel at Chuck E. Cheese (I used to work in loud newsrooms so I find background noise oddly comforting). I write in little snatches of time, like for 15 minutes if I happen to be the first one in the house awake, as well as bigger spaces when I can score a babysitter. I’m lucky to have very supportive parents who live nearby and are always willing to lend a hand. And my husband is great about clearing away some time for me to work on weekends.

Jen: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Easiest?
Sarah: The easiest part of writing, for me, is talking about it. It’s so fun to chat about writing a book – but actually sitting down and filling those blank pages? Much, much harder. It requires copious quantities of chocolate and caffeine.

Jen: What’s the most rewarding aspect?
Sarah: Having written. It’s kind of like the feeling you get after exercising – a relaxed high.

Jen: Do you have a favorite character or one you most identify with?
Sarah: I love my main character, Lindsey Rose. Like most of us, she can be insecure and anxious about how her butt looks in her jeans, but she’s got a huge heart. I can definitely identify with her about the butt part.

Jen: Is there a genre that you’d like to write? Is there a genre you’ll probably stay away from and why?
Sarah: I love my current genre – commercial women’s fiction, or chick lit, or whatever you want to call it. I doubt I could write a dark book or a historical novel, just because I don’t usually read those types of books so I’d probably be in over my head.

Jen: If The Opposite of Me was made into a movie, which actors would you choose to play the hero and heroine?
Sarah: Love, love, love this question! How about Reese Witherspoon for the heroine and Ryan Gosling for the hero? My main characters aren’t perfect – they’re quirky and funny and they have faults, just like all of us. But I tried to make them lovable.

Jen: What did you do to celebrate this book?
Sarah: My husband came with me to New York when I met with publishers, and we spent a few days there together, as a mini second honeymoon. I kind of floated around for weeks after I learned my book had been sold.

Jen: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Sarah: Jen Weiner is the reigning queen of my bookshelf. I’ve adored her since her first book, Good in Bed, was published – and when my agent told me that Jen Weiner’s editor wanted to buy my book, I almost passed out. Luckily I had chocolate in hand to revive myself. I just read a terrific book called Pieces of Happily Ever After and I’m about to dig into Marian Keyes’ latest, The Brightest Star in the Sky.

Jen: What's next for you?
Sarah: I’ve finished my second book! My agent is reading it now, and once I’ve incorporated her edits, we’ll submit it to my publisher. This is definitely what I want to do for the rest of my life. Writing books was my first love, and I’m so glad I rediscovered it.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Sarah: My website is www.sarahpekkanen.com And for readers who subscribe to my newsletter (there’s a little box on the main page) I hold a raffle every month for a book and Godivas!

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Sarah: Here’s something I’d love to know: When you walk into a bookstore, what draws you to a certain book? The cover, the title, the quote on the cover…. Or where the book is placed in the store?

Thanks so much for having me today and for reading this!

Jen: Readers, the SheKnows Book Club is offering up three copies of The Opposite of Me to lucky commenters this week. Due to shipping costs, the contest is only open to US readers. To enter the contest, first you need to leave a comment or question for Sarah. Then to finish your entry, either include your email address in your comment or send a message to contests.bookblog@gmail.com. The winners will be chosen on Sunday, March 14.

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Hi there! My name is Dena Celeste, and I’m an author of erotic romance. The genre that I tend to write in is BDSM, though even when it’s not explicitly BDSM my tales tend to have an Alpha male and a strong, yet submissive female somewhere in there. In my life and in my writing, I like to push the envelope on exploration.

In some ways that’s hard for me, and in some ways it comes naturally. I’m the curious sort, so exploring sensations, from feather ticklers to harsh canes, is natural for me. Seeing where pain and pleasure meld, where pain is erotic and where pleasure is painful, is also an interest of mine. It’s fascinating how we can use our bodies to communicate, to create, to go beyond thresholds we never thought we could.

I explore the sensations themselves in my books, but also the ‘whys’ that tend to come up. Some people feel like they’re freaks if they want a little bondage, or some spanking in the bedroom. Or even more than that sometimes! I want to show that there are differences in types of pain, types of pleasure, and how they can be played with to mutual satisfaction. Because my stories definitely explore a variety of kinks. There’s so much out there to try, and I want to see most of it, if I can.

The hard part for me comes with reining myself in. How far is too far for the people I’m writing for? It took me a long while to find a publisher that would accept the F/F/M ménage in Her Master’s Gift. Sexuality is also a fluid sort of thing, and exploring it is fun for me! But for some reason, women together just isn’t preferred. Thankfully, Noble Romance did accept my story and let me take it to the level I wanted to, the level that it deserved!

So, that begs the question, dear readers: how far is too far? That’s up to you of course! But I hope that my books can nudge the curious into action, and maybe even bring a sense of understanding to those on both sides of the line. Because I don’t just write about sex. I write about experiences.

So for the moment, there are limits on what I can write about and get published with a reasonably well-known, royalty paying publisher. Forms of play that have many facets. Watersports. Some people think “Eww!” but there’s something very primal about marking. Primal play, gang bangs, blood play that doesn’t have to involve vampires, hunting, sacred harlots, etc. And then there are other dynamics besides Master/slave or Dom/sub. There’s Owner/pet, Daddy/girl (which, despite popular belief, has nothing to do with Father/daughter), Rider/pony, Owner/toy and many others that some find hard to understand.

I don’t practice all of those dynamics of course, but I like to try to understand them. Too far, in my opinion, would be going beyond the realms of Safe, Sane and Consensual. Anything that would harm someone. I say harm, and not hurt or injure, because sometimes that’s the name of the game. Branding is an injury. So are bruises. And they can hurt. But consenting to those brings them into a different realm. Harming someone would be not respecting their free will in either giving consent or withholding it.

I do tend to dial my writing back a bit because I don’t just write hardcore BDSM, I write about romance and relationships. It’s not just about the play, it’s about what makes the play possible, enjoyable, and fulfilling. I don’t want to alienate the reader with something he or she isn’t ready for. Still, like I said before, I like to explore the boundaries, and push the limits. So I write what’s in my head, and keep my story ideas in a file for those times when I get a spark of inspiration on how to make it relatable to someone.

It sounds very clinical when I put it like that, but when I write it’s a very…visceral experience. I put myself in the character’s headspace. So I go into a place where I may not have been before. And I do the research by either asking my lover to help me experience those things, or talking to those who have experience in a certain dynamic or with certain toys that I don’t have the chance to experience yet.

I write either what I know, or what I want to know. Writing is my path to understanding, and I want to share it and help others learn what I have.

* * * * *

Dena Celeste, sassy 20-something from the southeast United States, writes dark, delicious erotic romance. In her writing she likes to explore the darker edges where pain and pleasure mingle into intense physical and mental experiences. Her tales let her share her vision of what living and playing in the Lifestyle is in addition to creating fantasy worlds where her characters dreams always come true. I can be found at www.denaceleste.com, and www.heetr.com, as well as on facebook here, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dena-Celeste-AUTHOR/177334456211?ref=ts

Readers, Dena is giving away a download of either Her Master's Gift or Winter's Kisses anthology to one lucky commenter. Due to the content of the books, our winner must be over the age of 18. To enter the contest, first you need to leave a comment or question for Dena. Then to finish your entry, either leave your email address in your comment or send a message to contests.bookblog@gmail.com. The winner will be chosen on Thursday, March 11.

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Copied from Sarah's March Newsletter

Dear Reader,
You've probably heard me mention a time or ten that my debut novel, The Opposite of Me, will be published by Washington Square Press, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, next week. But before it hits bookstores, we're holding "Sarah Spike Day," with a big raffle and an extraordinary giveaway for everyone who pre-orders my book this Wednesday, March 3!

First, a little background on how all of this got started: I'm fascinated by the behind-the-scenes workings of the publishing industry, and one thing I've learned is that sites like Amazon.com take notice of good pre-pub sales and recommend that book more frequently to shoppers. Early on-line orders also spike interest from other booksellers - which all combine to give a debut author a much-needed boost.

I know there are a lot of books competing for your attention. So, what's in it for you if you order The Opposite of Me on 3/3? Excellent question; you're clearly a savvy consumer. Here are my raffle prizes:

* A small, sleek HD camcorder from DXG USA's Pro Gear line for 2010, which retails for $300.
* A gift bag containing five hot new Simon & Schuster releases.
* Five high-end, cotton t-shirts from Heart Threads Clothing. You pick the size, color and secret message printed on the inside of your shirt and worn close to your heart. Five winners!
* A 30-minute phone consultation in which I'll explain, step-by-step, how I got signed by a literary agent and publisher. This will include an editorial critique of your manuscript of up to 40 pages. If you're not interested in writing a novel, you can gift this prize to anyone you choose.
* This last prize is one a character in my book, Lindsey, would especially like: A $35 gift certificate to MAC cosmetics (Lindsey is a fan of their eyeshadow) and a gorgeous red bustier from Affinitas Intimates. It would probably look best on a woman, but we won't pass judgment if the guys want to win it.

But that's not all. Now for the even bigger news... I'm proud and honored to announce that #1 New York Times bestseller Jennifer Weiner, author of seven blockbusters including Best Friends Forever and In Her Shoes, which was made into a major motion picture staring Cameron Diaz, is supporting The Opposite of Me by holding an incredible giveaway of her own! Please visit Jen's website at www.jenniferweiner.blogspot.com for the details of how she is giving a free, autographed copy of one of her books to every single person who orders The Opposite of Me on March 3 only, until she runs out of books - which she says won't be for a while (yes, you read that right - you get a Jen Weiner book! And you! And you! And you over there in the corner!) Jen is my favorite author, and I'm blown away by her generosity - or Jenerosity, as we're calling it. She's a huge success, and now she wants to reach out and help a debut author because she remembers the feeling of waiting for your first book to come out - and I'm the lucky one.

So, to recap:

1. Buy The Opposite of Me on-line on Wednesday, March 3 from places including Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, and Borders.com
2. Email your receipt to me at sarah@sarahpekkanen.com and put CONTEST in the subject line.
3. Then mosey over to Jen's website at www.jenniferweiner.blogspot.com and read about where to email the same receipt to get a free, signed book by Jen Weiner.

I'll notify you on Friday if you're a raffle winner. If you'd like to read the first chapter of The Opposite of Me, a Redbook magazine book club pick, there's a link on the main page of my website, www.sarahpekkanen.com. Thank you so much for considering this and for supporting the launch of The Opposite of Me!

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Jen: Please help me welcome Adrianne Brennan to Romancing the Book this week. Adrianne, will you share a short bio with us?
Adrianne: Sure! :D Adrianne Brennan stumbled into her love of writing by accident at the tender age of ten when she was given a creative writing assignment for her science class. The end result was her writing a brief science fiction comedy featuring numerous puns regarding vegetables. Once the writing bug bit, it bit pretty hard, and from the age of fourteen onwards she worked on a lengthy fantasy novel.

An avid reader, Adrianne has been most influenced by various science fiction and fantasy authors including Madeleine L'Engle, Roger Zelazny, Laurell K. Hamilton, LA Banks, Yasmine Galenorn, Michael Ende, Neil Gaiman, and Alan Moore. Like her main character from Blood of the Dark Moon, she professes a love for Iamblichus and Greek philosophy.

The author resides in Boston, Massachusetts with two cats and a car she has aptly named "the TARDIS." She assures her readers that people tell her it looks bigger on the inside.

Jen: Tell us about new releases and where they are available.
Adrianne: Certainly! I've had three recently, so I'll talk a bit about those:

Blood of the Dark Moon, a vampire/paranormal erotic romance/dark urban fantasy novel in the Dark Moon series, recently had a print release. It came out in ebook first back in '07 with Aphrodite's Apples. When the publisher closed the following year, Freya's Bower accepted it and has since released it and other books in the series. You can read more about it here: http://www.adriannebrennan.com/botdm.html

Dawn of the Seraphs, a m/m scifi/paranormal erotic romance, just had a print release in the Immortal Fire anthology in addition to its original release in ebook and Kindle. It's published with Love You Divine and its information link is here: http://www.adriannebrennan.com/dawnoftheseraphs.html

My Big Fat Greek Pagan Lesbian Wedding, a f/f sweet romance in the To Love and To Cherish anthology of lesbian wedding stories, is about to be released by Love You Divine. You can read more about it here: http://www.adriannebrennan.com/greekpaganwedding.html

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Adrianne: Since I was ten and wrote my first story I've dreamed of writing! It has always been my passion. I was first published back in '07 with Aphrodite's Apples with the first release of Blood of the Dark Moon on ebook. After it closed, I submitted it to Freya's Bower where it now has a happy home. :)

Jen: How does your family feel about your career?
Adrianne: Only my dad knows, and he's both proud and very supportive of me.

Jen: Describe your writing in three words.
Adrianne: Only three words? Intense, unique, and thoughtful.

Jen: Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
Adrianne: Music, time, and on occasion a nice glass of wine. :)

Jen: What is it about the romance genre that appeals to you?
Adrianne: I'd have to say that I was inspired to write paranormal, scifi, and fantasy works first and romance last. :) I didn't intentionally start out in romance; I just sorta stumbled into it! LOL I love all forms of the speculative fiction genres including mainstream, erotica, romance, and erotic romance. They're my favorite genres to read and hence are my favorites to write. The actual process of writing--especially and including finishing a manuscript! I love, love, love to write. Love it! I think it's the concept of building worlds and all the unique people who go into them.

Jen: What’s the most challenging aspect of writing? Easiest?
Adrianne: Most challenging? TIME. As in, enough of it! I live a pretty full life and it can get in the way of my writing. My day job is software engineering and you can only imagine how that goes!

Easiest? Finding the inspiration. I have so many stories in me!

Jen: What’s the most rewarding aspect?
Adrianne: The idea of building worlds, the people in them, and how others react to them when they read my stories.

Jen: Do you become attached to your characters and have a hard time letting them go, or are you happy that their story is told and you can move on?
Adrianne: I do indeed! It's why I love to write series versus one-offs. :)

Jen: What five authors or people, from the past or present, have been important to you as an author? What question or comment have you always wanted to say to them?
Adrianne: Madeleine L'Engle, Antoine de Saint-Exupery, Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, and Robert Calasso--the last one being non-fiction. I would love to talk with them about what inspires them and the philosophy behind their writing.

Jen: What did you do to celebrate your first book?
Adrianne: I went out to a wonderful restaurant and toasted with wine. :D

Jen: What’s the most interesting comment you have received about your books?
Adrianne: "How does a gorgeous woman like you write vampire novels? Is it due to some psychic impression of a past life event?"

Jen: What's next for you?
Adrianne: Finishing the Oath and Dark Moon series plus various short stories in anthologies. :)

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Adrianne:
http://www.adriannebrennan.com
http://twitter.com/AdrianneBrennan
http://facebook.com/AdrianneBrennan
http://adriannebrennan.blogspot.com

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Adrianne: What have you seen me write which you would like to see more of? Which *haven't* you seen from me which you would like? And lastly...what have you read from me which you would like me not to repeat? ;)

Jen: This week's contest prize is ebook, winner's choice of PDF of either vol 2 of To Love and To Cherish anthology featuring "My Big Fat Greek Pagan Lesbian Wedding" (f/f sweet romance), Dawn of the Seraphs (m/m scifi/paranormal erotic romance), or The Oath, Book 1: Bound (m/f, BDSM/paranormal/fantasy/erotica). The contest is only open to those 18 years of age or over due to potential adult content. To enter the contest, you first need to leave a question or comment for Adrianne. Then to finish your entry, you must either leave your email address in your comment or send a message to contests.bookblog@gmail.com (with your choice of book in the body of the email). The winner will be chosen on Sunday, March 7.

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First up, here are the winners from several contests held at Romancing the Book over the past couple weeks:

Anna and Miranda won the redraw contests for copies of I'll Have Who She's Having.
Paige won a copy of Chante's Song.
LSU Reader won a copy of Spider's Bite.
Barbara won a pair of earrings from Donna Russo Morin.

And to finish up, romance author M.J. Smith is giving away a copy of her book Forever Yours at her blog. For more information on how to enter, go to http://jmsmithromanceauthor.blogspot.com/2010/02/book-giveaway.html.

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Jen: This weekend we welcome mystery author, Deborah J. Ledford to Romancing the Book. Deborah, will you please share a short bio with us?
Deborah: I began my writing career as a screenwriter and have completed seven original screenplays. As well as a novelist, I am a three-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize in the short story category and a number of my award-winning shorts appear in print publications and anthologies.

Jen: Tell us about Staccato and where it's available.
Deborah: First of all, thank you for this opportunity. I realize this is primarily a romance readers’ forum and I hope I don’t scare any of you followers away. Please know that although Staccato is primarily a suspense thriller, there is a main thread of romance throughout the entire novel. In essence, my hero’s journey is all about finding out who killed his lover—and how far he is willing to go to seek retribution for her death.

Staccato is my debut suspense thriller published by Second Wind Publishing. It’s trickling into independent bookstores, but always available on Amazon, for the Kindle, and from the publisher.

Here’s a little taste: Three world-class pianists. Two possible killers. One dead woman. Who is her murderer? Who will be next? Staccato: Retribution played double-time.


Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Deborah: I started out creatively as girl who loved to sketch and in later years I would write poems and stories based on my drawings. My first publishing credit was in the 2005 Arizona Literary Magazine for the short story “For Katie” which also won first prize in an international writing contest. I received my first Pushcart Prize nomination for this short story.

Jen: Describe your writing in three words.
Deborah: Intense, visual, gripping.

Jen: How do you approach your writing? Do you plot or go with the flow?
Deborah: I’ve found that each long-version project has gone a little differently, but before I begin I’m very clear about my first five chapters, the ending, a few climaxes and some choice bits of dialogue to implement. It takes a long time to write a novel and if these beginning points don’t resonate with me I don’t want to wind up abandoning the work mid-stream.

Jen: What kind of research did you do for this book?
Deborah: Endless hours of research went into choosing the appropriate classical piano pieces to highlight scenes and characters’ emotions, feelings and mood throughout the novel. I reached out to two professional pianists who at the time of Staccato’s inception had just moved from young world-class competitors to professional status. These gentlemen were quite helpful in putting me in their mindset when it came to performances and what it was like to tour internationally. Also, I spent my summers growing up in Swain County, North Carolina, which is the location for Staccato, so I conjured a lot of memories and visuals I remember from my time there.

Jen: How do you pick the character’s names?
Deborah: Names are crucial for me. I research a lot to find the “perfect” name for all of my characters, even down to those who have very little time on the page. The nemesis in Staccato is from Hungary so I had a great time researching the ideal name for who turned out to be Alexander Ambrus Kalman.

Jen: Do you have a favorite character or one you most identify with?
Deborah: I love to write bad guys better than any other character, but I can’t say that I identify with the truly diabolic Alexander Kalman.

Jen: Who has inspired you as an author?
Deborah: Probably the first writers who really resonated with me: Steinbeck, Hemingway, Edna Ferber, Daphne du Marier.

Jen: If Staccato was made into a movie, which actors would you choose to play the hero and heroine?
Deborah: As I am also a screenwriter, this is a great question. I’ve always visualized Alexander Kalman as Rutger Hauer. Henry Simmons would be perfect as the African-American hero Deputy Steven Hawk. Christian Bale or Hayden Christensen as Nicholas. And Helen Mirren would be ideal as Aranka Kalman. My “vision” of Jessica Taft has changed with different versions of the manuscript, from Jennifer Connelly to Natalie Portman.

Jen: Most people only dream of becoming a published writer. Now that you’ve accomplished that goal, is there anything else you dream of doing?
Deborah: Since I began my writing career as a screenwriter, I would love to see Staccato as a motion picture. I also hope to have the opportunity to see the other two books in this series in print.

Jen: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Deborah: Although I primarily write crime fiction I don’t read a lot in this genre, but I do look forward to every Lisa Gardner, Greg Iles and Kate Atkinson release. I prefer literary fiction, especially when I’m writing. Pat Conroy, Isabel Allende, Michael Cunningham, John Irving, Zadie Smith, Ann-Marie MacDonald are among my favorites. I acknowledge Frank Conroy’s masterpiece Body and Soul in Staccato. I recently devoured Stephen King’s Under the Dome. I’ll be attending the Left Coast Crime convention in March and am currently reading a few authors’ latest releases who will also be there.

Jen: What do you do in your free time?
Deborah: I don’t find myself with a lot of free time. My hours are spent writing, editing other writers’ work, moderating a rather large critique group, and reading. But I do enjoy watching movies, which I consider to be research. I suppose photography is my only non-industry interest—although a good photo is great to prompt an idea or location.

Jen: What's next for you?
Deborah: I’m putting on the finishing touches for the second book of the Steven Hawk/Inola Walela series. For the first time ever I’m considering a different title than the one I originally came up with. It has been suggested that I stick with the music theme since the plot also involves the music world (this time a rock star is in peril). I think that’s a great marketing idea, so I’ve been kicking around options.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Deborah: The first 6 chapters and four of my published short stories are on my website. I can be found on Facebook, and there’s a Fan Page for Staccato on Facebook. Also, Goodreads, Twitter, and MySpace.

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Deborah: Classical music is a major element to Staccato and I’m considering a CD companion. Would a recording tie-in to the book be of interest to you as readers? Also, any one-word music term suggestions for the title of the next book would be greatly appreciated!

Jen: Deborah is giving away a print copy of Staccato to a random commenter. To enter the contest you first must leave a comment or question for Deborah. Then to finish your entry, you need to either leave your email address in your comment or send a message to contests.bookblog@gmail.com. The winner will be chosen on Saturday, March 6 (due to Jen's vacation).

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No. It can’t be . . .

He didn’t have the courage to look at her closely, so he repositioned the body, then dragged the cloth sack beyond her shoulders.

The sweet scent of gardenias and rosewater hit him with blunt force. His gut churned, a lump formed in his throat, strangling his whimper.

Mind racing, he swept the hair from the corpse’s face. He cupped her head in his hands and bent inches from her. Blood slammed to his brain, ringing in his ears deafened him. He managed to utter a guttural growl.

God, no, not Elaine. The one person he trusted completely. She, who had unselfishly relished his triumphs and filled his days and nights with excitement and passion.

He could do nothing but stare at her beautiful, porcelain face, now turned ashen, expressionless. She had been his salvation. He mourned every time they were apart, rejoiced once they reunited. He would never see her again, be with her, love her.

Nicholas wrapped his shaking arms around Elaine’s body and rocked her. Tears coursed down his cheeks. He mumbled her name again and again. After a long time, he lifted her from the tumble on the floor, swept the bag from her body and crumpled the cloth into a ball at her feet. Placing her carefully in a seated position on the passenger seat, he smoothed her hair and took her limp head in his hands. He kissed his lover’s waxen forehead and released her limp body. Pulling the seat belt tight, he snapped her securely in place.

His entire body shook as he shut the door, then paced in front of the car and raked his hands through his hair. Thoughts of retribution filled his raging mind. Vows of revenge rocked the core of his being. He opened his arms and lifted his head to the misty sky. A wail of anguish emitted from deep inside him, rising in intensity until he expelled no more sound. He thrust himself forward and crashed his fists down on the hood of the Porsche.

The cacophony of sound echoed throughout the parking lot, mixing with his strangled sobs.

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When acclaimed pianist Nicholas Kalman discovers his lover’s dead body, he sets out alone to find her killer. During his journey, he meets an unwitting female accomplice who soon becomes determined to help Nicholas wield his retaliation. Following a parallel path for justice, Steven Hawk, the deputy of a sleepy Southern county, is assigned to the case. Pursuing the investigation, Hawk finds himself entangled in a world of vengeance, greed and manipulation.

Performed against the backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, Staccato transports readers to a behind-the-scenes glimpse of professional musicians, the psychological twists and turns of its characters, and in the end, retribution that crashes in a crescendo of notes played at the literary pace of a maestro’s staccato.

Review by Melissa Cornwell
First, I would like to say that I enjoyed Staccato very much. It was a very intense adventure right from the beginning. The characters were very enjoyable, especially Nicholas. He was a very convincing character, and I felt for him the entire way. I just really liked the intensity of the novel. It was to the point, and I liked that about it. I also felt that the background behind the story was thoroughly explained. As mentioned in the acknowledgments, a lot of research was required to make this book possible, and the effort shows in the result. I could also feel like I could connect to the characters on my own emotional level. Everyone has secrets, or skeletons in the closet, that they would rather not address, and I felt that coming from the characters. I could also relate to the musical side of the book, or that passion for music, or for any form of art. The characters were extremely complex, like Sampte. I felt that he was a character torn between loyalty and doing what is right. What person hasn’t been put in that position at one time and another? This novel was very realistic in terms of what the characters portrayed: Alexander, who was never truly loved, and Timothy, who wanted to find acceptance. The villains had a very human side to them. I was also really glad that Nicholas was able to continue playing after doing therapy. His was a well-deserved happy ending. This book brings out these qualities of humanity, and that is why I liked this book. Excellent writing technique and language, which made the book easier to read. All in all, an excellent debut novel, and I wish the author future success in her career.

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