Interview with M.J. Smith

Jen: This weekend we are happy to welcome M.J. Smith to Romancing the Book. Will you please share a short bio with us?
Jackie: I live in Quebec, Canada. I have a sociology degree and I love ice hockey.

Jen: Tell us about Forever Yours and where it's available.
Jackie: Forever Yours is a historical romance set in WWII. War in England reunite two childhood friends and separate them. My book is available online at http://jackiemsmith.weebly.com/ and at Amazon.

Jen: At what age did you discover writing and when were you first published? Tell us your call story.
Jackie: I discovered writing when I was sixteen. I started with short stories, poetry. My book was first published in August 2009. When I received the call, first, I couldn’t believe it. Then, I read and reread the email until it sunk in. Sometimes, I look at my book on my bookshelf and still cannot believe I’m a romance writer.

Jen: Are there any other writers, published or not, in your family?
Jackie: My sister is a writer. She’s not published yet. But she will be soon. I encourage her to pursue her dream.

Jen: How does your family feel about your career?
Jackie: Everyone is so proud of me. My mother has always encouraged me to pursue my dreams. And she brags about my book to all her friends and other family members.

Jen: Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing?
Jackie: Definitely. I must have a comfortable place to sit, a good pencil because I write everything by hand before typing it. And I must have a quiet place to write.

Jen: Do you have a writing routine?
Jackie: My writing routine is pretty simple. I write in the evening and I type everything during the day.

Jen: What kind of research did you do for this book?
Jackie: For my first and each book I write, I research on the internet, I read lots of books, watch documentaries, period movies and of course interview people if possible.

Jen: Do you feel as if the characters live with you as you write? Do they haunt your dreams?
Jackie: Oh yes! Sometimes it’s scary. I can feel them and see them when I write. They definitely haunt my dreams especially when I write just before going to bed.

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?
Jackie: Danielle Steel, Dan Brown, Jane Austen, my mother Rita and my sweet soon-to-be-husband. I’d like to say to them “thank you”.

Jen: Who are some of your favorite authors and books? What are you reading now?
Jackie: I love Danielle Steel’s Jewels. Right now, I’m reading Margaret Moore’s A Lover's Kiss (a regency romance). I love historical romances.

Jen: What do you do in your free time?
Jackie: Anything to relax and get my mind off of writing.

Jen: What's next for you?
Jackie: Right now, I’m writing my fourth book, a contemporary romance. I’m really concentrating on my writing career. It’s not easy because it demands a lot of patience and hard work but I see results.

Jen: Where can you be found on the web?
Jackie: I have two main websites. My blog http://jmsmithromanceauthor.blogspot.com/ and my author website http://jackiemsmith.weebly.com/

Jen: Is there anything you’d like to ask our readers?
Jackie: If possible to leave me a comment on my website or blog. I’d love hearing from them.

Jen: Readers, Jackie is giving away a copy of Forever Yours to a lucky commenter. Due to shipping costs, the contest is open to US and Canada residents only. To enter, first leave a question or comment for Jackie. 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, May 13.

Guest: Tierney O'Malley

Hello friends,

Thank you so much for your emails and wonderful support. I am so glad that you all enjoyed reading Passionate Bid. Although it was a bit challenging, I have had so much fun writing this story. In Passionate Bid, I got to create Julian Ravenwood's character, a drop-dead gorgeous character and unfold his story to the best of my ability. Joanie Saint Claire, the heroine in the book and also the woman who drove Julian batty, was such a blast to create. I adore her. She made me laugh and cry while writing this story.

There are so many reasons why I love writing contemporary romance. One is being able to create characters most of us can relate to, whom we can say, “Oh, she's just like me” or “I can totally dig her.” Each time I create a character, he or she is always a part of someone I know, of myself, or people I happen to see while looking out my window. Because of this, I can dig deeper into their psyche, touch their innermost feelings, and of course, their uninhibited passion.

Passionate Bid is the second book of mine that Red Rose Publishing published. Like Wicked Knight: Knight Brothers Series, Passionate Bid has made it to the bestsellers list on its release day.

It has been such a wonderful experience to write these two books. Tristan Knight, the first Knight I introduced in Wicked Knight is…how did a reviewer say it? Ah, droolworthy. Well, all of them are. I think all of the brothers in this book including their only sister stayed with me. They are almost like real family to me. My own brothers inspired me to create the teasing, bantering scenes.

My next book soon to be released by Red Rose Publishing is an erotic romance under the sub-genre Paranormal. This is a new route for me. Although the characters possess powers to shift into their wolf form, the elements I often use in my contemporary books are still there. The spicy romance and happy ending still exists.

If you have enjoyed Wicked Knight: Knight Brothers Series, Wicked Proposal, Wicked Persuasion, Wicked Night Before Christmas, To Trust a Wicked Man, and Three Christmas Kisses, I hope you'll give Passionate Bid a try. Let's share the experience, emotion, conflict, and love that I put in all of these books.

Again, thank you so much for your support. You all keep my dreams alive.

Leave me your comments and I'll be here to reply. And if you leave your email address in your comment, you'll be entered in a drawing for a copy of Passionate Bid in PDF format. Only restriction is that the winner must be over the age of 18. The winner will be chosen on Sunday, May 9.

Tierney O'Malley

To learn more about Tierney, you can check out our interview with her that was posted in December 2009, which can be found here or visit her website.

Excerpt from "Passionate Bid" by Tierney O'Malley

The destiny of a man

Drop dead gorgeous veterinarian, Julian Ravenwood, has made a mistake--slept with a young virgin, Joanie Saint Claire. Forced to do the right thing, he marries her then leaves while she's still in her wedding gown.

The fate of a young woman

Joanie finds herself facing an altered life after her one night with Julian. She's left alone with a little bug who means the world to her.

The spirit of an abandoned wife

An opportunity to solve Joanie's problems comes when Julian shows up to serve her. She agrees to sign the divorce papers on one condition--he pay her one hundred thousand dollars.

The unexpected love

Julian can't believe it. His scrawny bride has grown into a seductive, attractive, and feisty woman he can't stop lusting after. And the secret she has kept rocks his world.

Excerpt:
Julian looked around for Joanie but didn't see her. The waitress came back and gave him his beer--in a bottle.

“Sorry, this is what we got left. Widmer Brothers, locally brewed. It's good. You must be from out of town.”

“What made you say that?”

“Because men in this town always come here early every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.” Sweetmelon blew her bubblegum to a size of a saucer and sucked the air back in until it resembled a cows old wrinkled testicle.

“ Why, what's the occasion?”

Instead of answering his question, Sweetmelon pointed at the stage the same time the lights went out except for the stage spotlights.

Men started chanting the name Cherrybomb. When the soft music floated in the air, everyone quieted.

Ah-hah! A show. These people weren't here to eat, but to watch a freaking show. A minute after, a masked woman in a red silk gown and red stilettos came out to stand in the middle of the stage. She made a low bow, giving those who were in front a tantalizing view of her nicely rounded breasts.

Julian found himself staring. The dancer looked like God's creation. A goddess. She was close to being perfect if it weren't for her height.

From where he stood, he could see just a hint of her smile. An expert, he thought. The woman knew how seductive her smile looked, and she was using it to her advantage. A smart move for a dancer.

Slowly, her hips swayed in tune to the music.

Mixtures of grunts, gasps and groans collided in the air when the woman's gown slid down her shoulders until it pooled around her feet. A red skimpy thong with what looked like chicken feathers barely covered her pubic mound. And her top--if one could call it a top--covered practically nothing. Now he knew why the men were here early. To secure a front seat. Hell, he wished he were there in the front.

Without a doubt, this woman possessed the greatest body he had ever seen. Georgina, he bet, would kill to have a waistline and flat abs like this goddess. It must have taken her years of practice to move like that--slow, sensual, provocative. And to have such a small waist--damn. He could wrap his fingers around her waist while she was on all fours and he standing behind her. Someone whistled.

Julian took a sip of his beer, cursing the primal beast inside him for thinking lustful thoughts.

The dancer flipped her long cascading dark brown hair. Lights made it shine so beautifully. Julian thought the woman's hair was her other weapon, on top of 136

her spectacular figure.

When the music picked up a faster beat, the woman's seductive movements quickened as well.

The crowd came back to life and started throwing money on stage, calling the dancer's name. He noticed the dancer mixed Jazz, modern, and ballet in her movements. She arched and swayed her body as if there were invincible hands caressing her and she was responding to the touch. Her mouth was slightly open, a thin sheen of perspiration shone above her lips. Julian stood mesmerized. He'd never seen anyone dance so erotically the way she did. She looked like she was making love and on the verge of having her orgasm.

He couldn't take his eyes off of her.

It was amazing how she held the men enthralled, including him. Surely, if his body were on fire, he'd bet his Porsche the rest of the men were, too.

Julian continued to watch, ignoring the warm bottle of beer in his hand. The woman looked his way. Through her mask, he could see her eyes almost unblinking. She stared at him. He must have distracted her because she stumbled a bit. What, did he make her nervous? She started biting her lower lip and her tongued darted in and out the way Joanie would when…Goddamn son of a bitch! He narrowed his eyes. No fucking way.