Welcome Jennifer Jakes

Good morning from First Timers Presents! Today we are pleased to welcome Jennifer Jakes who brings Twice in a Lifetime, an erotic Time Travel/Pirate Historical to us.

What is Twice in a Lifetime about? It’s a Time Travel Historical set in 1768 aboard a pirate ship. It’s different because the hero and heroine are on the verge of divorce in 2011, but in 1768, the hero doesn’t remember the heroine at all.

What did you think the first time you saw the hero and heroine in your head? I’m a sucker for tall, dark and handsome. Because of that I usually start with my hero’s image, but this time, Isabella came to mind first. She looked totally different than any other heroine I’ve ever written. Since I write historical, my heroines have beautiful, long hair. Izzy is from 2011 and goes back in time, so she has a cute short – bleached blonde – hairstyle!

What was your second thought? How much fun I was going to have with this modern heroine going up against a historical (pirate) hero – who just happens to be the very image her husband.

Did you think it was love at first sight? Oh, Izzy definitely fell for Ian on sight.

What do you like most about them? I like her spunkiness and I like his yumminess.

How would you describe Izzy? She’s stubborn, sometimes to the point of making bad decisions.

How would she describe you? Izzy could say the same about me, but I’m getting better about that with age 

What made you choose Writing as a profession? It chose me. I had way too many ideas and plots and characters talking to me to be a normal person.

What is your biggest fear? That I’ll write crap.

How do you relax? Either [listening to] music or [watching] TV. I love this time of year because of all the romantic holiday movies on the Hallmark Channel. Yes, I’m a hopeless romantic.

Who is your favorite fictional character and why? The answer is always the one(s) I’m writing right now. Because they are so “alive” in my mind and I get to create their story.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? Never give up. So see, that stubborn thing has come in handy.

Jennifer, what movies or books have had an impact on your writing? Westerns such as “The Outlaw Josey Wales” or “Pale Rider”, then epic sagas like “Dances With Wolves” or “Open Range”. This Fall I’ve been watching the new AMC Western, “Hell on Wheels”. Oh, and of course, “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Can’t forget Cap’t Jack Sparrow.

Before we go farther, let's read a blurb for Twice in a Lifetime:

Be careful what you wish for. . .

No-nonsense stunt woman Isabella Douglas will do anything to stop an unwanted divorce and reclaim the happy life she had, even allow her old friend to concoct a magical spell to turn back time. But when the spell goes awry, Izzy finds herself trapped aboard a 1768 Caribbean pirate ship with a captain who’s a dead ringer for her sexy as sin husband, Ian. Convinced he’s playing a cruel joke, she’s furious – until she realizes he doesn’t know her or believe they’re married.

Captain Ian Douglas does not have time to deal with an insane woman who claims to be his wife; he has to save his kidnapped sister. But as Izzy haunts his dreams and fills him with erotic memories he can’t explain, he’s forced to admit he feels more than lust.

Trapped in a vicious cycle of past mirroring present, Izzy knows they only have days to find Ian’s sister and prevent disaster from striking a second time. If she doesn’t, their marriage will be destroyed again – along with the man she loves.

And to follow that, let's see an excerpt:

Her fingers threaded in his thick hair as she traced his mouth with the tip of her tongue. “Kiss me.”

He hesitated, then groaned and covered her lips in a breath stealing kiss. Hot, wet, silky. Her nipples hardened, ached for his touch, the tug of his fingers, the pull of his mouth. “Touch me.” She pressed a kiss to his throat, then licked his collarbone. “I need your hands on me.”

He grunted and slid his hands down her back. Rough palms gripped her cheeks, grinding her against his erection. His gaze burned through her as he moved his thigh between her legs.

“Yes. Please.” She tilted her hips, rubbing, needing release more than air. “Oh, God, yes.” Desire roared through her, the ache building. Building. The orgasm so damned. . .close.

A sharp knock sounded at the door. “Captain? The men are ready to go ashore.”

Ian pulled back and swallowed hard, his expression hungry, his heart thumping against her breast.

“Captain?”

“Yes. Yes, I’ll be right there.” His heavy lidded gaze skimmed her body. Possessive. Aroused. Regretful as he set her aside.

Her mind crawled to process what was happening while her body was doused with disappointment. “You’re still going?”

He raked through his hair, then nodded. “We need provisions before sailing for Jamaica. I’ll only be a few hours.” He stepped to the door, but turned and pinned her with a hard stare. “But when I return . . .”

“Yes?” Her heart thumped in anticipation of some explicit description of what he would do to her. Oh, but his tongue was naughty in all the right ways.

“. . . I expect an explanation.”

Izzy drooped against the door, her thoughts racing even though her legs collapsed. This was going to be the shortest second chance in history.

We'll talk about that gorgeous cover in a sec, but first tell us why you elected to go the self published route. I’m sure my publisher for Rafe's Redemption, the Wild Rose Press, would have looked at it, but I wanted to try my hand at self-publishing and thought a novella would be a great place to start. My decision had several layers to it: First, as fast as the publishing world is changing, I think having your eggs in one basket might not be smart. Second, it’s tempting to keep more money for yourself. That’s not to say I just slapped something on the screen and pubbed it. I had my critique partners help edit; I paid someone to format it for me because I’m totally un-techy.

And of course I paid Hot Damn Designs to do the cover because if you don’t have quality work – and I mean from the outside in – then you’re going to get horrible reviews and you’ll have no one to blame but yourself. Once you have the final version formatted and ready, you can upload it and expect it to go “live” within 12 to 48 hrs.

Thanks so much, Jennifer, for honoring us with a visit. Much good luck to you in your dream of writing that best seller. Kat

To learn more about Jennifer Jakes and the stories she creates go to: http://www.jenniferjakes.com

To purchase TWICE IN A LIFETIME, go to Amazon http://tinyurl.com/7gvanj6

Or SmashWords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/108621

Also available at ARe and BookStrand.

for all things Scots--here's the blog for you!

First Timers Presents is pleased to welcome, all the way from Scotland, Nancy Jardine who brings Luke Salieri, from Monogamy Twist, a recent release out of the Champagne Rose line of the Wild Rose Press.

First, let's learn a bit about Nancy, former teacher of middle-school age children and, like me, loves spending time with her new granddaughter:

I’m from Scotland, where I’ve lived all my life save 3 years in Holland, and a couple of months in Norway. I currently live in the ‘Castle Country’ in Aberdeenshire, which is in the north-east part of Scotland.

Before we get into meeting the hero of Monogamy Twist, here's a short blurb:

Luke Salieri thought he'd seen everything. But when he inherits a dilapidated English estate from a woman he's never heard of—and with quirky conditions besides—it’s a mystery he wants resolved immediately. There must be a woman out there who can meet his needs. But how far will he have to go to persuade her?

Lucrative employment for a whole year? The job of researching the old house and its fantastic contents is enticing – but Rhia Ashton can’t see herself living with gorgeous Luke Salieri and not wanting his body as well. Can she live and sleep with him for a whole year and then walk away? Rhia has her own ideas about what will make it worth her while.

And an excerpt:

…But his craving probably wouldn’t last. He’d had her twice already. He’d get bored with her soon.

Moving up from the long mahogany table he couldn’t resist looking out into the garden to watch her approach. She was wearing a short skirt; her top shimmered around her breasts as she jogged across the grass, and Thor bounded around her. A surge of recognition flooded him; the tiny spark of libido he’d tamped down for the afternoon flared up again. She was just a woman and Thor was just a dog, so why was he so happy to have them disturb him?

Usually he was so focused that very little would break his concentration, but he was honest enough with himself to acknowledge it had been shot to hell that afternoon. The tension that still beset him had nothing to do with the complexities of the new project of restoring Greywood Hall, and everything to do with concentrating on blocking out the thoughts of Rhia’s delightful body. She was right down below the window now, playing the fetching games Thor loved.

Luke had again lost track of what the assembled group were discussing. “We’ve done enough for today guys,” he declared as he turned back to the table. “It’s already well past eight o’clock. We’ll resume our findings tomorrow morning.”

Well, gee, how do we follow that—other than talking to the man himself. Luke, where are you from? I’m a born and bred Brisbane Aussie, son of an Italian father but the last 5 years, or so, I’ve lived mostly in England- zipping back to Oz to keep a check on my businesses over there.

What is Monogamy Twist about? In a nutshell, you could say I was pretty miffed that a completely unexpected inheritance had just been dumped on me with friggin’ stupid conditions attached. Sure, I could have walked away from it, except that’s just not me-so that left me time-strapped to find a female who’d take me on…err…help me out a bit, you know? For a while…Well, more like…a year. (A first cheeky smile appears) Rhia stepped into the breach, but I tell you, that woman sure had some conditions of her own.

What did you think the first time you saw Rhia? -My first thought? (deep throat clearing here) Mmm. Very, very, nice. Absolutely gorgeous. A lust worthy little pixie of a woman who’d just burst out of the woods with her bl**dy err…excuse me…ruddy huge Irish Wolfhound. She cast a magic spell on me down there on the lawn as she bounced around playing with Thor, breasts a-jiggle under a tight little yellow T-shirt. Never ever going to forget that.

What was your second thought? What the bl**dy hell had Rhia Ashton just done? Can you believe she called the cops and had me arrested? (Hearty laugh here) She thought I was a damned burglar! Me? A burglar? My Rhia can be such a snippy little cat!

Did you think it was love at first sight? - Love? No way! Remember I was using the woman to get me out of a bind. She was just temporary. Even if she needed to be physically around for a year, I didn’t need to bother if the initial lust wore off. Yet, I lusted after her gorgeous body for weeks and weeks, couldn’t keep my hands off her, but it still didn’t occur to me it could be anything long-term.

What do you like most about Rhia? I knew right from the start she was smart…but just not how smart. She’s a genius at winding me up, at winding me around the proverbial finger…and she’s incredible at getting me to compromise. Absolutely nobody else in this whole world can make me do what she can! I’m still talking decisions here…of course. But I love her enthusiasm; she’s a glass is half full kind of person…except when she’s mad at me…and that can be pretty often.

How would you describe her? Compared to me, Rhia’s knee high to a grasshopper, but she makes me feel like the happiest giant ever, even if the top of her head barely reaches my chin. She has the cutest little pixie face with shiny darkest black hair that curves down to her chin and always makes me want to tuck it behind her cute little ears. Her eyes are the deepest chocolate brown that get me hot as a furnace every time they flick my way. And her dinky button of a nose is a magnet I’m always popping kisses on.

How would she describe you? It would go something like: an arrogant sod, mad, stark raving bonkers, unpredictable wretch, a workaholic, a manipulator… (Another hearty laugh) She even called me ‘a big oaf’ when we first met. And I’m a liar, as well, by the way. Of course she’d definitely also call me a sex-maniac…and the love of her life.

What made you choose Chartered Surveying as a profession? That was a no-brainer really since my mother had a construction business going on in Brisbane, back in Oz. I couldn’t get out of my parents pushing me to do a stint at university, so I made sure it would benefit me in the long run and got me a Chartered Surveying Degree. The restoration of old estates just sort-of happened when I arrived in England and a buddy of mine nudged me in that direction.

What is your biggest fear? That would have to be if anything happened to Rhia. She burst into my life and I never, ever, want her to burst out of it.

How do you relax? You talking about that would be legal on this spot? I’ll leave it to your imagination…but let’s say relaxing time is always short so put some champagne, a few other intriguing knick-knacks into the picture along with…Madre di Dio!...my very hot Rhia…and you’ve got it.

Who is your favorite fictional character and why? It’s got to be Scooby Doo. I used to love watching it as a kid…thought that huge dog was really dopey. Now, of course, I’ve got my very own version of dopey-dog in Thor. And that clever Rhia, love of my life, sometimes makes Velma look like an amateur.

What is the best piece of advice you ever received? That’s a good one, a very good one. How about ‘put your back into it and never give up.’ Tailor made for me really, for I never do—give up, I mean.

Kat's turn: Let's hear a bit from Nancy: What movies or books have had an impact on your writing? I love paperback romances, and classics-especially romantic ones. Colin Firth’s 1990s TV/film version of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is my favorite. While ‘tidying up’ my book collection of literally thousands of paperback romances and hardback books a couple of years ago, it was re-reading Charles Dickens Great Expectations which gave me the impetus to write Monogamy Twist.

Tell us a bit about your publisher. My publisher is the Wild Rose Press.

How did you hear about them? In 2010 I wrote my first contemporary romance Monogamy Twist, having only written one other full length historical romance. I searched the internet for a publisher who would read an un-agented submission and found the Wild Rose Press.

Tell us a bit about the submission process. How long did it take from query to release? I sent Monogamy Twist to the Champagne Rose line Dec. 2010 and by 1^st March 2011, after some re-writing, I signed my first ever contract for it. I can truly say I was stunned since by the end of July the print version was available, and on 24^th August 2011 the digital version was released. The experience was excellent; my editor was absolutely marvelous at helping and encouraging and always responded quickly. I’ve just recently signed my second contemporary contract with the Wild Rose Press.

Kat: this is very encouraging to new authors, those who are just testing the waters on the road to publication. Thanks, Nancy, this has been fun and Luke sounds like someone to behold—and hold onto!

A huge thank you from me, Kat, for having me on your blog today. Luke enjoyed getting an ‘airing’. So from all of us at Monogamy Twist, Slainthe! Nancy Jardine

To learn more about Nancy Jardine and the stories she creates go to: http://nancyjardine.blogspot.com

http://nancyjardineauthor.weebly.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nancy-Jardine/257979237559223

For viewing the Monogamy Twist book trailer go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJVzbrkJQzA

To purchase Monogamy Twist, go to:

http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=191&products_id=4613

http://www.amazon.com/Monogamy-Twist-Nancy-Jardine/dp/1601549652/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313524579&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/monogamy-twist-nancy-jardine/1105052518?ean=2940013040922&itm=1&usri=monogamy%2btwist