Pulling Into an Irish port with Loucinda McGary
The Romance Writer's Revenge presents another fantastic guest blogger. With her debut novel, The Wild Sight, hitting shelves October 2008, it's only a matter of time before this author's career shoots straight to the stars. Loucinda McGary, a.k.a. Aunty Cindy on the Romance Bandits blog, blends suspense and magic while still delivering a satisfying love story. She was generous (read: brave) enough to agree to an interview so without further ado, I give you my chat with Loucinda McGary.
Loucinda, welcome aboard and thank you for blogging with us today. We can't offer the cabana boys you ladies keep in the Bandita Lair, but we do have a rather generous crew of Hotties. Feel free to flag any of them down should you need a drink. Or a foot rub maybe. Or you just want to, you know, try one on.
Why thank you, Bo’sun! As you know, Aunty likes her hotties tall and lean (a la Hugh Jackman, Eric Bana, and Paul Bettany) and a foot massage is almost The Best Thing Ever! What’s not to love about having a hottie at your feet?
Having one on his knees. J But lets get down to business. Your debut release, The Wild Sight, hits shelves October 1. I'm stealing a page from the Bandita book and asking if you could share with us your *call* story?
Actually, I never get tired of telling this story, because truth really is stranger than fiction. And the truth is that I met my editor in an elevator at RWA’s National conference in Atlanta. My room was on the 20th floor and there were already two people in the elevator when my roomie and I got on, headed to breakfast. One introduced herself as an editor, and when she saw my Golden Heart finalist ribbon on my name badge, she asked me about it. I told her I was a finalist in romantic suspense and she said, “I’d really love to read your book.” And gave me her business card. Her name was Deb Werksman and she was acquiring for a new romance line for Sourcebooks.
Of course, I sent her my manuscript as soon as I got home. No, she did not buy it, though it took her six months to reject it. L However, at the urging of my CP and fellow Bandita Jo Robertson, I sent Deb a query for my work in progress. Three months later, she asked to see the partial. Then, on July 27, 2007 she called my house to ask me to submit the entire manuscript. I was out to lunch with three of my best friends and when I got home, my DH started babbling incoherently and shoved a piece of paper at me. He had answered the phone and when he realized it was an editor, he wrote down every single word she said, because he knew “…Cindy will kill me if I screw this up!” (And he was correct, I would have! J)
I emailed her the whole thing and promptly convinced myself that there was no way a manuscript ever sold to the very first editor who read it. Happily, I was wrong! On the morning of September 14, 2007 my ringing phone awakened me from a dead sleep. I am not a morning person, and everyone who knows me knows better than to call before 9 a.m. Expecting some dire emergency, I answered only to have Deb Werksman identify herself and say she wanted to buy my “beautiful book!” After I screamed “Oh my God!” in her ear about nineteen times, she told me she wanted to release the book in the fall of 2008. I believe it is the first romantic suspense in the Sourcebooks Casablanca line.
So there you have it – I sold my manuscript to the very first editor who read it, and I met her in an elevator. Truth really is stranger than fiction!
I love *call* stories. They always give me goose bumps. Someday…someday. Where was I? Oh yes, tell us about The Wild Sight. Especially Donovan O'Shea. If that isn't the perfect name for an Irish hero, I don't know what is.
Faith and begorra, Bo’Sun! Like so many of my characters, Donovan arrived with his name intact, first, middle and last. But I did use some Irish census data (broken down by county) to come up with authentic names for many of the characters in the book.
The Wild Sight is actually my third romantic suspense manuscript. The previous two were set in Italy, and since nobody was exactly beating my door down to buy them, I decided that I would set my third book in Ireland. The DH and I are both of Irish lineage. In fact, his maternal grandmother emigrated from Ireland to America and he still has relatives who live there. However, they live in Northern Ireland, not the Republic. This is the Ireland I’m most familiar with and the one I chose to write about, even though I’ve never seen another contemporary romance novel set there.
Makes sense. But The Wild Sight is more than a contemporary romantic suspense, isn’t it?
Yes, all of my romantic suspense tales have what I call paranormal elements. In my first book, the hero and heroine may or may not be reincarnated 15th century lovers. The heroine of my second book receives “messages” from her recently deceased aunt in her dreams. I have always been fascinated with the Celtic notion of second sight, and decided to use it in my third book. Most of the time, female characters seem to be the ones who have this ability, so I started thinking, “…what if a man had it?” And that is when Donovan Joseph O’Shea appeared. J Here’s a bit of the back cover copy to whet your appetite:
He was cursed with a “gift”
Born with the clairvoyance known to the Irish as “The Sight,” Donovan O’Shea fled to America to escape his visions. On a return trip to Ireland to see his ailing father, staggering family secrets threaten to turn his world upside down. And then beautiful, sensual Rylie Powell shows up, claiming to be his half-sister . . .
Was it difficult to convince an editor a book that starts with the hero and heroine thinking they are brother and sister would sell?
*ahem * Technically, the hero never believes she is his sister… But, I will say that I had several people who read the opening chapter or heard the idea react with, “EWWW!” One went so far as to tell me I’d never sell the book (Never say never!). I knew it would probably be a “make it or break it” issue. However, my critique partners were very supportive and said they couldn’t wait to see how I got my characters over this huge stumbling block. You’ll have to let me know how I did after you read the book.
As for my editor, the possible half-siblings turned out to be one of the things she loved about the book! Have I mentioned how much I LURVE my editor?
Can you tell us what's up next? What are you working on now? Sequels maybe?
As a matter of fact, I am working on a sequel. When my editor told me she wanted to buy The Wild Sight, she said in a rather off-hand way, “You did intend for this to be a series, didn’t you?” And I said, “Sure!” even though I’ve never before written a sequel. GAH!
But did I mention how much I LURVE my editor? Plus, she’s a very smart woman, so if she wants a series, then I’ll write one.
Here’s hoping she likes my latest ideas and decides to buy the sequel!
I think you'll find big fans of series here on the ship. What about it Wenches? Since Ms. Loucinda here is just starting on her whirlwind promotional tour, and we are honored she included us in her itinerary, how about everyone give her a little info on what makes you pick up a book? What makes you buy it? And what makes you tell all your friends about it?
Yes please! I’d love to know, and I’ll give away some Bailey’s Irish Crème filled chocolates to one lucky commenter.
Books by the Crew
60 comments:
OOOOOH! Did I hear the word 'BAILEY'S'???!!! Forget the rum, give me the Bailey's!
And it looks like I got the rooster, should a rooster decide to take to sea.
Hiya Pirate Buddies!!! A rum toddy if there's no Bailey's available, please!
Cindy and Terri, fantastic interview. Cindy, I can't wait to read this book. It sounds like a fantastic read. And as I've said to you before, I'm looking forward to exploring a setting I've never read before in a romance novel. I've visited Ireland but we stayed in the Republic. Mind you, there were still bombs flying around when I was there so I don't think many people took Northern Ireland seriously as a tourist destination.
These days, I know about so many books through the Internet, I tend to miss out on the casual choice that turns out to be a keeper experience. I must say it used to be the blurb and the cover and sometimes the quote - if it's an author I love who recommended it, I'll often give the book a go. But mainly it's name recognition and word of mouth. I think that's always been the same for me. If I find a writer I like, I tend to want EVERYTHING she's written, even the efficiency report for the local sewer company LOL.
Great interview Ladies I am so looking forward to reading this book, I love books that are in a series because I always feel so close the characters and that I am on the adventure with everyone that I need to follow up with the secondary characters.
I have read all the excerpts that Aunty Cindy has let us have over the last few months and Donovon and Ryley just sound so real and wonderful that I can't wait to meet them and join their adventure with books to follow I can't wait.
I love to talk about the books I have read and recomend them to everyone who will listen and of course the blogs are one of the best ways to find out about new authors and great books.
Way To Go Aunty Cindy
Have Fun
Helen
Really informative interview. I too love "first sale" stories because it gives me insight into the brain of a writer when it finally all *clicks*. I'm still working on reaching that moment.
Regarding what makes me pick up a book in the store? A gorgeous cover will draw me in, but I'm hooked by a delicious plot and reeled in by a great opening chapter (example: Dara Girard's July release.). If I'm flipping through RT, it's the premise and title that catches my eye. Then I'll take a gander at the author's website and if there's plenty to look at, I'm usually sold.
I love Bailey's. I had my first glass of it ever in an Irish pub and thus began a love affair with all things Irish. The book sounds great! As an aspiring writer, I always want to check out debut authors to see what's working in the marketplace. I've cut down my autobuy list significantly but am lucky some friends take pity on me and send me stuff. When I buy a book, it's usually from positive praise on the Internet from selected review sites and Nathan Kamp on the cover, LOL. Speaking of which, yours is gorgeous!
I love Irish settings. This book sounds so interesting... no ewwww factor for me.
Maggie I'm bad at picking up those Nathan Kamp covers just cause he's on it... lol!
And those bailey's filled choco's are the bomb... My mouth is watering thinking about them...
Cindy--If there is one thing I've noticed about Sourcebooks--it's their gorgeous covers!
A riveting story is what makes me recommend a book!
Welcome to the ship Loucinda! Since you were so kind to sail with us today, I'm giving you my portion of rum:>)
I love your call story, the things that can happen in an elevator...who would have thought:)
Usually a friend's recommendation entices me to buy a book, and I'm a sucker for cool cover art.
Terrific interview! Welcome AC! I'm so excited about THE WILD SIGHT coming to the shelves in just a few short months. It sounds fabulous and what a beautiful cover! Nope, no ewwww factor for me either.
Most of my book buying these days comes by way of recommendations from cyber-friends like those here on the ship and at other sites, from authors whose books I already enjoy and from blogging published and soon-to-be published authors whose voices I enjoy. I love turning people on to books I've read and loved. Fact is I usually can't shut up about them. lol If a book keeps me up turning pages past my bedtime you can be sure you'll be hearing about that book!
The last time I chose a book at random knowing nothing about the author was spring 2007. The cover of Robyn Carr's Virgin River caught my attention from the shelf at Walmart. I liked the blurb on the back cover and decided to buy the book. The emotional story and solid, sexy, kind and loving hero still have me, a year later, telling people all over the internet to buy the book.
Can't wait to read The Wild Sight and start spreading the word!
~PJ
Aunty Cindy - welcome to the boat! Congratulations on your debut, it sounds wonderful. I love Ireland (being a fiesty Irish lass myself) and I love paranormal elements (have a few in my WIP as well).
Was it hard to write a clairvoyant character? I have one in my WIP, but nothing is from her POV. I've been kicking around giving her a story later, but the idea of writing someone who knows what happens to others is daunting. How'd you work through that?
My goodness, we're off and running this morning! And La Campbell starts us off. LOL! Around this ship you get the Undead Monkey - no roosters aboard. We don't like to be awakened so early in the morning. Hangovers and all...
Since AC is on the west coast, we'll need to give her a little more time to wake up. LOL! But I love these comments. It really is all about word of mouth these days. The years of scanning the bookstore just looking for something to catch my eye are over. These days, I'm walk through hoping nothing catches my eye since I already have too many. LOL!
And if that call story isn't a case of being in the right place at the right time, I don't know what is. It was clearly meant to be. Wonderful to know Ms. Werksman had *the site*. :)
Great interview! I love, love, love your call story, and your upcoming book sounds fantastic. Usually, I'll buy a book word-of-mouth, if the story interests me, or from blogs where the author is guest-blogging.
The half-brother/half-sister conflict is interesting and a great stumbling block; I definitely would want to know how both characters surmount that one. But, it just goes to show that you can't listen to other people but trust your gut and write the story that speaks to you.
Who are some authors that you take inspiration from? And what advice would you give to us aspiring writers who feel like there's an endless sea of rejections? *g*
I smell chocolate on the deck! Be careful Aunty Cindy some pirates just take what they want around here. Best to hide the chocolate somewhere where they can't find it.
Thanks so much for boarding the ship! It's an honor and a priveledge!
I love series. It gives me time to really fall head over heels for the characters and really get to know them for an extended period of time. That way- when I close the book- I'm not tempted to stomp my feet like a child throwing a tantrum over a new toy. I just like the feel of a series of books.
What makes me pick up a book? A cover. The back cover blurb. The middle of the book. Even a fabulous recommendation won't make me pick a book up. I'm very selective with my reading so it must pass my middle of the book reading test before I will buy it. Of course, this method is not error proof by any means.
Congrats on your debut book in October! Sounds like you've had one whirlwind of a time!
I forgot to mention that picture is Loucinda singing with an alien. Yeah, we'll have to get her to explain that one. LOL! Loucinda is the world traveller we all wish we could be so we'll pick her brain about parts unknown when she gets here.
Aunt Cindy! So lovely to have you aboard!!! And what a gorgeous cover on your book! I admit that is what gets my attention first. Bad covers will make me run. Covers that look too much like about 20 others I've read before will make me run (because I'll think I've read it!)--but yours is lovely and it looks distinctive.
What makes me pick up a book of an otherwise unknown author? THE TITLE. I'm a title girl. I like something jazzy and clever. The last book I picked up, author unknown, was "Scuse Me While I Kill This Guy" and it was bright pink with the picture of the back of a woman, naked back, mind, holding a gun. Immediately I was intrigued.
Then I did the Sin Test: pick up and read the first page. SCORE. Flip to the middle: DOUBLE SCORE.
And I've been this author's personal stalker ever since. A clever title and writing that grabs you, even "out of context". *LOL*
Oh, good, I'm so glad we have the equivalent of the rooster. I wasn't sure what we could offer. *LOL* The undead monkey is perfect. Raging alcoholic I was going to offer her more rum. *LOL*
Captain - it might help us if you actually give us the author's name. LOL! That's Leslie Langtry in case anyone doesn't know.
I didn't think Sin would mind if we let others borrow her monkey for the day. Though watch out for his bananas, they're very sharp. LOL!
Really interesting interview and another book I'm now dying to read. W00t to the chocolates-there is not enough chocolate in my world right now as I am trying to avoid buying it. Gifts are totally acceptable, though, because I wouldn't want to make you feel bad by not eating the chocolate-therefore I have no diet-breaking guilt.
BTW, I have a rooster you guys can borrow. I live in a very small town with wild chickens. I used to have hens and other roosters that lived at my house just free range, but they have died off over the last few years. WT (White Tail) survives alone, and lonely now) because he roosts on my carport. Weird bird. Loud, early morning, PIA, weird bird. So you are welcome to him. If you don't take him I will feel obliged to build him a run and get him some girlfriends.
Sarah
Yes. Please. Keep the monkey.
Bananas are not the only things that monkey flings. Watch yourself, Anna.
Sarah, I think you need to get the rooster some girlfriends. I feel bad for him. I mean, nothing a bunch of chicks love more than a lonely, tortured survivor-hero. Talk about the romance!
The half-sibling plot reminded me of my old telenovela (Spanish soap operas are far superior to English ones ;) ). The lead, María del Carmen, thought that the bad guy, Federico, was her father. Then she married José María and found out JM really was Federico's son, so they never consummated their marriage (and JM basically died of a broken heart). But the guy Ma del Carmen really loved, Carlos Manuel, was ALSO Federico's son (the dude got around. He was the bad guy, after all.).
But turned out she wasn't Federico's daughter. Or Raquela's (the woman who raised her). She was the daughter of the blind plantation owner, Cristina, and her first love, whom Federico killed so he could marry Cristina.
Anybody follow that?
I follow! The poor guy died of a broken heart? That's so sad. And so soap opera. LOL! I don't speak a word of Spanish but you can watch those soaps on the Spanish channel and still enjoy them. They are so dramatic and so passionate. It's almost more fun to make up the story in your head to go with their performances. LOL!
Good Morning Hearty Crew!
Thank you sooo much for having me on board, even though that monkey woke me up. Fo, beware, his breath is like a bad banana daquiri!
Anna (she is FoAnna in the Lair coz we also have a Vrai Anna) and Helen, thank you for the shout out from Down Under! Helen, I'm so glad you're enjoying the excerpts. (shameless plug alert) If anyone else wants to read them, just join my Yahoo Groups (button on my website) and I send out a brief "newletter" about once a month.
I hear so much about word-of-mouth and hope to stir up a bit for me and my book, so thanx so much to everyone who want to "talk up" The Wild Sight!
Now where is that rum?
Aunty who is still half asleep
That's what you get for staying up late partying with those Cabana Boys and Gladiators. LOL! I sure hope you didn't invite the hockey players, those guys would probably tear the place up.
I'll help with the shameless plug - I joined the group and I love the excerpts. They're just enough to make you watch the calendar dying for October to get here already.
Evangaline,
Thanx for giving me another chance for a shameless plug... I just had my website updated if you'd like to take a look. Please tell me what you think of it (privately is fine). The fabulous Dawn of Austin Design Works (who also did our Bandit Blog template) designed the site for me.
Hi Tiff! And others who have mentioned the cover, I REALLY LURVE IT! Unfortunately, I can take no credit whatsoever for it. The design team at Sourcebooks created it, and when I saw that beautiful aquamarine color, I just about fainted from happiness! I agree Tiff, Sourcebooks has created a distinctive "look" for their Casablanca line, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it!
THANX A BUNCH Lisa, for the extra portion of rum!
I think I'm fully awake now,
AC
Terrio,
SOMEONE has to keep the cabana boys, gladiators, and hockey hunks in line in the Lair. It's a tuff job, but Aunty and her crop are ever vigilant! MUAHAHAHA!
Thank you sooo much for inviting me...(AHEM) Okay, so technically I invited myself, so thanx to the other RWR Wenches for ransoming your purloined Bo'sun!
Yes, I am the traveling fool (with the emphasis often on "fool")! The DH just booked our 12th cruise, which will be happening in Sept. I should be a complete and nervous wreck by then with only a couple of weeks to go before The Wild Sight hits the shelves.
Does anyone happen to recognize where I am singing with the alien? Banditas know, so DO NOT spoil the fun! I'll give you a clue, I am not in the USA.
Oh, and Fo, the first time I was in Northern Ireland they still had British guards at the border with sub-machine guns! ACK! That was a wee bit scary.
AC
Hellion and Sin,
Interesting method of selecting a book to buy. I'm a read the first and last page gal myself. I know, I know, I hear the screams of anguish about reading the ending first and I don't always do that for romances since I KNOW I'll be getting my HEA. But honestly, I am NOT spending my $$, time and effort reading a book only to be disappointed in the ending. :-P
So far I see Elyssa, PJ, Maggie, Helen and FoAnna who find new books to read via the net. This is great info and just encourages my blog fetish!
Hellion, Sin, PJ, and Tiff all mentioned covers.
And EVERYBODY listens to recommendations of friends, which is my chief source of new authors too.
AC
Oh, and I could tell from the building behind the alien that you weren't in the US but I have no idea where you were. It's not like I could narrow it down consider how much you travel. LOL!
You're 12th cruise! I've been on ONE and thought I was doing pretty good. Hey, there are people who haven't gotten that far. LOL!
So, where ya goin'?
Okay, I really should answer your questions before I have any more rum...
Marnee Jo said: Was it hard to write a clairvoyant character? I have one in my WIP, but nothing is from her POV. I’ve been kicking around giving her a story later, but the idea of writing someone who knows what happens to others is daunting. How’d you work through that?
When I started to develop the ideas for The Wild Sight, I purposely decided to make it a man who had the "gift" of clairvoyance rather than a woman, because female characters are usually the ones who have such things.
I think the key to writing Donovan was that he can't control his "gift." It strikes him with very little warning and often brings far more questions than the visions answer. He has tried to deny his abilities for over fifteen years, and in the course of the story is forced to come to grips with them. In fact, he is still in the "working through" stage in the sequel, and the way his "gift" keeps manifesting in different ways surprises both him and ME!
Not very helpful, I'm afraid. But I'm a real pantser and often have my characters taking over and going off in directions I never expected.
Elyssa asked: Who are some authors that you take inspiration from? And what advice would you give to us aspiring writers who feel like there’s an endless sea of rejections? *g*
First off Elyssa, I'm sorry to say it really IS an endless sea of rejections! UGH! NOBODY likes 'em and they never seem to get any easier to take. The Wild Sight may have sold to the very first editor I sent it to, but I had about 20 agents reject it before and during that time, including a rejection the very same day I sold the manuscript! So I definitely think the best piece of advice for any aspiring writer is DO NOT GIVE UP! I know that's a very hard one to follow but it is true that the only way you will completely fail is if you give up.
One of the most inspiring authors I've had the good fortune to meet is our own Anna Campbell. She didn't give up, even after years of rejections and today she is a DOUBLE RITA FINALIST! And I won't even mention the awards her first two books have garnered because I would probably forget a few!
I also greatly admire the writing of the great Gothic authors Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney. I grew up reading their books and love them to this day.
SO, if you are an aspiring writing and you have the slightest inclination to quit, please email yer olde Aunty first! I will give you ye olde pep talk, complete with snapping riding crop!
Sarah,
Do you happen to live in Key West? They have all kinds of feral chickens running around there! And what a fun place to visit. If you haven't been there, I highly recommend it! Be sure to catch the informal "show" at sunset on the quay where the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico meet. Also, Hemingway's house is a kick to visit, and there's a place called the Blonde Giraffe that makes Key Lime Pie TO DIE FOR!
Terrio, cruise #12 will be the exact same (even the same ship) as cruise #11, on Royal Caribbean to the Mexican Riviera. It's not so much the destination as the entire cruise experience, which I LOVE! GREAT food, TERRIFIC entertainment, people waiting on you hand and foot... What's not to love?!?!
I love cruises! (Clearly, I live on a pirate ship, hello.) Where will you be cruising? I can always think of something to keep me distracted on a ship. *sipping a pina colada, eyeing Jack speculatively*
So you're an organic-pantsing sort of writer too? Do you make sure there is conflict between the characters at the get go and then turn them loose? Or...well, how do you START your pantsing?
Do you ever write scenes out of order, if a scene is important and you can see it, do you write it first--then write to it??
NICE. I love Mexico. The men love me there. *flips hair* And the bars are awesome!
Key Lime Pie--is this the version they feature on the FOOD channel? Made with sweetened condensed milk, key lime juice (tiny limes blended with water in a blender, then strained), egg yolks--then baked in a cracker crust and topped with real whipped topping? And it's only baked like five minutes too..it's crazy....
AYE AYE, Cap'n!
Last question first: I don't watch the Food channel (cringes at gasps of horror) but REAL Key Lime Pie is pale yellow, not green. If it is green (like certain restaurants serve) PHOOEY! It is NOT true Key Lime. But yes, that recipe sounds about right. The Blonde Giraffe tops their with meringue that is about 5 inches high! YUMMY!
I LURVE Mexico too! Nothing like a cold cerveza on a sandy beach with a lot of cute lil beach boys hanging around your palapa with fans...
AHEM! But I digress. I tend to be a very linear person and so generally write first page to last with no jumping around (until I start revising). If a scene occurs to me that is not in sequence, I'll either try to hurry up and get there, or make a few notes (which may or may not make any sense later) to consult when I get there. For example, I dreamed the ending to my GH finalist manuscript. I was writing along in chapter 6 with no idea HOW this story was going to end when BOOM! I woke up one morning and knew the ending! I wish this happened to me all the time, but alas, it does not.
How do I start pantsing? Hmmm, I never really thought about it before. As you know ideas are EVERYWHERE, so that's not usually a problem. I usually have a pretty good grasp of the h/h when I start writing, but I don't purposefully set up conflicts for them. Men and women just seem to naturally be in conflict, don't they?
For The Wild Sight, I knew I wanted to write a story set in Ireland and for about 3 weeks I immersed myself in all things Irish, including as many books as my local library branch would allow me to bring home. I read everything from history to jewelry design and slowly, an idea began to take shape. For The Wild Sight, I actually tried to do a plot outline first and wrote about eleven pages of plot points and character info before I started writing the story. However, once I got into the story, the outline pretty much went by the wayside and the characters took over. I love when that happens.
Jordan,
I am LOL over the convoluted storyline and relationships in your fave Mexican soap opera! Things get pretty complicated in The Wild Sight too, though not quite to the extent you described. :-)
Thanx to everyone who didn't have an EWWW moment over the half-siblings issue. I hope you enjoy how everything resolves and Donovan learns to deal with his "gift." Only 109 days until the book is on the shelves! GAH!!! It still doesn't quite feel real sometimes.
Great interview Cindy! I love the cover, of course, who wouldn't? And your I-met-my-editor-in-an-elevator story never gets old.
Can't wait for the book, and I'm looking forward to having you personalize it for me!
*waving ferociously at Jordan*
Hello! Thanks for stoppin' bye!! How's that chapter one going? LOL!!
From the looks of it I think I missed your blog!! Well I am very excited to buy your first book off a shelf, not necessarily "first book"! This might just be the first series of books I read Lord knows with all my kids who has time!! I'll just have to make time for my favorite Aunty!!!!!
Cindy, wherever you are, there is a party! And so glad I slipped in the door for this one...
What makes me pick up a book varies, but word-of-mouth is huge, as is the plot line. Recently I read about Lisa McMann's WAKE in an interview and the storyline so intrigued me that I bought it in hardcover (and loved it).
I've already got yours on Amazon pre-order, by the way...
Wow, the party really picked up. I forgot to mention that anyone wanting to pre-order The Wild Sight can click on the cover in the blog and it will take right to the page on B&N.
I was on Royal Caribbean too. It was AWESOME! But I was only 16 so I'm really hoping I get to go back again. You know, to have more big girl fun. LOL!
Ahoy me hearties ... swinging in from the Bandit's Lair (avoiding the undead monkey).
No fair tempting us with your book Aunty Cindy when there is still way too long until we can get our hands on it. I'm so impatient, I just can't wait!
I love cruises too - we took Coral Princess on our Alaska trip. I'm trying to convince my hubby that the Panama Canal cruise should be on our trip agenda.
Ah yes, Northern Ireland. My BIL is Irish, from Downpatrick (doesn't that sound romantic?!). When he and my sister got married, there was a slight hitch with the wedding in that half of the guests were late to the church because they couldn't get through the armed checkpoint!
What makes me pick up a book by a new author - recommendation, word of mouth. I occasionally pick up new authors in-store because something about their cover or title catches my eye (like your gorgeous cover would) and when I read the blurb it intrigues me.
OMG! Hey Everyone,
Rosebud Jennie is my REAL LIFE niece! I used to call her and her sisters my rosebuds when they were wee little girls. She is now a very beautiful young woman and mom to FOUR gorgeous children including my lil Jillybean, who used to be pictured as my avatar.
Jennie, we'll just keep all the bad words and s-e-x in the book a secret from your mom, okay? SHHH!
And Waves to Martha!
Martha is my new face-to-face critique partner, if all the blood and gore in my sequel doesn't scare her off! Yes, Aunty is a blood-thirsty wench, which is why she writes romantic suspense.
Of COURSE you will receive a personally autographed copy of The Wild Sight. And anyone who wants an autographed bookplate, just send me your snail mail addy (via my website) and I'll send it to you once the book is out. I tell everyone I meet that I will gladly autograph their copy and the other day after promising such to my pharmacist, her assistant and all their friends, the DH asked me if I wouldn't get tire of signing books. I said, Ask me again in about TEN YEARS!
AC
What makes me buy a book...we'll ahem...the hot guy on the cover. And let me tell you, the cover God's have provided you with one hunky man.
Great interview. I love Hellion's approach to interviewing. Now, where's the bloody rum?
Or Bailey's will do, too... LOL
WAVES MADLY to my FAVE YA author, Tina F!!! If anyone likes YA or has a young teen reader, be SURE you pick up Tina's award winning How to Hook a Hottie, or the adorable Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress.
Thanx for stopping by my friend, writing buddy and Josh Holloway enthusiast! Thank you again for pre-ordering (and everyone else who has done so) and saying such nice things about the cover. Be sure you check the acknowledgment page FIRST...
AC
AHOY, VA!
Yes, this is our Vrai Anna from the Lair! BIG THANX for swinging by, or did you just come to collect a few errant hockey hunks?
OOOOO! The Panama Canal cruise is at the TOP of my must-do list! If our DHs won't cooperate, VA the two of us will just have to slip off on our own! :-)
I've been on Princess, Carnival and NCL also, but Celebrity is my FAVE! Of course, I happened to be sailing with them on my birthday and they made a fuss over me, which I LOVED. What can I say? But honestly, I've never had a bad day on any cruise line.
Hi Kimberly!
YOU happen to have a debut book about to launch, don't you? And with a very hawt clinch cover too! SUPER CONGRATS!
And yes, the cover gods and goddesses can be a finicky lot. Thank goodness we've been on their good side thus far!
Hmmm, the rum cask is feeling mighty light... Bo'sun? I think you better run below and see if there's another. The party's not quite over yet!
Hey there, Anna! Thanks for hopping over to the ship to support your fellow Bandita. It is cruel of her to make us wait all this time. You'd think she could just tell those publishing people to hurry this along. LOL! And I can't wait to see your hunky hockey players on your cover. Any day now, I know it!
Hey, Kimberly. Yes, Hellion does have an interesting interview style but I actually handled this one. I am flattered that you think mine similar to hers though. LOL! I can only strive for her sort of brilliance.
And you will be in the hot seat here very soon. Everyone do mark your calendars to hop back over here on July 1st for Kimberly's debut as a guest pirate!
Oops, forgot to mention, I had some of our Hottie crew members bring up extra rum. There's plenty to go round. And plenty of Hotties too. LOL! We do aim to please.
Hi, Cindy, popping over from the Romance Bandits to say your readers are gonna love THE WILD SIGHT. It's a great read. Excellent interview and I love hearing that call story over and over again LOL.
Thank you for the Hotties AND the rum, Terrio!
I see we have some lovely tall and lean Hotties ready to give me that promised foot rub! AH! HEAVEN!
Okay, since nobody seems to know where Aunty is singing (painful experience for all concerned!) with the alien, I will tell you that I was in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. This picture was snapped by my DH on the Malecon (elevated walkway on the beach) which sports dozens of these large bronze sculptures (including the famous boy on a seahorse). PV is my favorite city in Mexico, very pretty, laid back and friendly. I tell people it is the Santa Barbara of Mexico, very resort-ish. We've been there many times both as a cruise ship stop and to spend a full vacation. It has become a lot more Americanized lately, but is still a fun and exotic getaway with lovely tropical weather. Can't wait to go there again in September!
Hey Jo-Mama!
Can't blame you for laying low in this heat! Last I looked it was 95 degrees here in Nor Cal. UGH!
Jo can vouch for Puerto Vallarta, as she and her DH went there on a cruise with me and my DH about a year and a half ago. Yes, we had a BLAST! Hope we get a change to do it again in the not too distant future.
AC said, "Be sure you check the acknowledgment page FIRST…"
Oh, oh, now this is cruel! :) I have to wait HOW LONG until the book arrives? 'Til October 1! Good thing I've got books to read and write to keep me busy...
Jo Mama is on da boat! And we thank her for not gloating TOO much that she's read this book we're all anxiously awaiting. I wonder if she can be bribed to give more details?
Y'all need to set up some Bandita cruise. Could you imagine all of you sailing the seas together? Kind of like us pirates, only for real. LOL!
LOL, Tina! Like I would forget to mention YOU! And of course, Jo-Mama gets a big shout out too as one of my face-to-face CP's who "bled all over my manuscript." That's a joke we have about the red pens we use in line X Line crits. Terrio can tell you first hand what the blood and gore looks like since she won that crit from me. HA!
Luckily for me, Jo-Mama does not like alcohol so don't be thinking you can likker her up and get more info! Bribery, however, may work...
Terrio, we've actually talked about a Bandita cruise. How much FUN it would be... Not sure the cruise ship industry would ever recover, but it would certainly be an experience. :-P
Ha! They think it's hot in the tropics now. Wait until the Bandita Heat Wave gets there.
Thank you so much for spending the day with us, Loucinda. We have had a blast and look forward to having you back in October! It'll be even better because then we can all gush about Donovan and Riley and how fantastic this story is. And thanks to everyone who came out today! We really appreciate you all.
THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE!
I've enjoyed my little outing on RWR so much! It was such fun visiting with everyone, drinking rum, oogling hotties. I LURVED IT ALL! Well, maybe not the undead monkey with the fetid banana breath, but everything else!
I'd be THRILLED to come back again in Oct. after The Wild Sight is on the shelves. Maybe by then I can torture... er, um, intrigue you with bits about the sequel!
SAIL ON INTREPID PIRATES!
Aunty will pop in from time to time when you least expect her.
AC
Hello, Aunty Cindy! Another Bandita checking in. Dang, did I miss the rum and the hotties? Is Kurt Russell around here somewhere??
As to what makes me pick up a book, I usually try to ignore the front cover and concentrate on the back cover copy. I have learned, over the years, not to trust the back cover copy but it does give a sense of what the book is about. I then flip open to the prologue or first chapter and start reading. If I like the first couple of pages and where the blurb promises the book will go, I'll buy it. If not, try, try again!
I think many readers only buy authors they already know unless a gorgeous cover (like yours, AC!) catches their eye and makes them venture out of their comfort zone. Sad, but it seems to be true.
I can't wait to get my hands on The Wild Sight!
Hey there, Caren! We never run out of rum here on The Revenge. And I don't think anyone has ever asked for Kurt Russell around here but I'm sure we can find him. LOL! This Sunday we'll be paying homage to some Hottie Daddies and I bet we could easily get Kurt on the list.
And you're right about readers sticking with their favorites. Which is why we need to make sure they see and hear about AC so we can get her on those autobuys lists! I know I've found tons of new authors by visiting all these blogs I spend way to much time playing on. If they are sweet and the book sounds good, I want to buy the book just to support them!
Hey Caren!
Thanx for dropping by last night, sorry I missed you in my rather rum soaked haze. And BIG THANX for loving my beautiful cover. I'm a bit partial to it myself. ;-)
I've been a Kurt Russell fan since he was a kid in those Disney movies (yes, Kurt and I are almost the same age), and he has aged so nicely. I'll definitely be back tomorrow to see what the Wenches put together for Father's Day.
And Terrio, you just keep visiting those blogs and finding new authors... like yours truly!
AC
Hellion: I'm trying to decide whether the rooster would be happy in a coop with a few (2-3) girls so I can have some eggs or whether he's better off being the tragic, lonely figure that he is now. What do you think? And I can just see me doing a photo story of him and his girls on my blog, a' la Alice Audrey and her little plastic people. I'm just tired of losing mommas and babies, even if they aren't really mine.
Aunty Cindy:
No, not Key West, though I would love to visit there. I live in the panhandle, just above Destin. The Emerald Coast. I'm a sucker for a great key lime pie. I can grow key limes here, I just need to go get the tree this fall-it's on the list with some others to grow my own fruit.
Sarah
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