Cover Reveal: Sugarplum Dreams

Are you ready for the reveal?  Sugarplum Dreams is book four of the Candy Collection anthology from Renaissance Romance Publishing. containing four romantic stories centered around the holidays. With stories from veteran authors Lisa Bilbrey and Michele Richard, and debuts from R. E. Hargrave and M. B. Feeney, readers are in for a wonderful holiday treat

A late night reunion on the beach, warm cookies fresh from the oven, the overwhelming world of online dating, and a one-night stand that changes of the lives of three people — Sugarplum Dreams, Book Four of the Candy Collection, wields a voyage of self-discovery, new beginnings, new loves, and admirable courage.

NOW - how about that cover?

 

Sugarplum Dreams in a word from the authors:

Lisa Bilbrey calls the collection: “Four amazing stories that will have you on the edge of your seat and begging for more.”

M.B. Feeney says, “Beaches, baking, blogs and babies — Sugarplum Dreams offers escapism for all romantics.”

R.E. Hargrave added, “Moonlit beaches, the London dating scene, broken eggs, and mistaken identity are the stepping stones to follow four distinct love stories that span months and years in Sugarplum Dreams, Book Four of the Candy Collection.”

Michele Richard said, “From beaches to bakeries, to babies, to dating blogs, this anthology has everything to fulfill those holiday romantic readers with delight!”

Sounds fabulous, doesn't it?  Sugarplum Dreams releases December 11th in ebook and print. Stay tuned for blog posts from each author and information on where to buy.

Hopefully, tomorrow I will have an update on my NaNo progress.  See y'all soon! Until next time - SMOOCHES!

The Stories of Sugarplum Dreams: The Roommates

Its the final day of individual reveals for the stories contained in Sugarplum Dreams, the newest anthology from Renaissance Romance Publishing.While last, this story is certainly not least. Take a peek at The Roommates by Michele Richard.  

Spring break changes everything for Daphne Hobbs. A one-night stand leaves her pregnant and alone. She soon discovers that the father is an identical twin, and she's unsure of which one turned her world upside down. She’ll be forced to share her apartment with them until she can discover the truth. Julius and Jordan Sweet share everything in their lives — almost to the point of living one life. Will Daphne uncover who’s the daddy?

 

Michele Richard is a familiar name at Renaissance Romance Publishing. Besides being one of the owners, this is her third short story in the Candy Collection, and she has also released several full length novels. Keep an eye out for more in the months ahead, with several of her sequels due to release next year. 

Old Man Winter has blown some more snow away from the Sugarplum Dreams cover! Check in tomorrow for a full cover reveal and a final wrap-up of all the stories.

The Stories of Sugarplum Dreams: Sugar & Spice

It's Day Three of the Sugarplum Dreams cover reveals, and today's story, Sugar & Spice is also from a new author. R. E. Hargrave is a name to watch in the year ahead, with three full length novels slated to be released in the next 18 months.

Lacey Harrison has been dealt an unexpected hand in life: being a single mom. With her father's help and that of the residents at Royal Hills Nursing Home, she thrives and goes on to become a successful baker. She is content with her life but knows that she and her daughter Candy are missing something. Will things change for the better when Trent Childress moves into town and adds some spice to her sugar?

 I'm looking forward to reading more of what R.E. Hargrave has for us in the future!

More of the Sugarplum Dreams cover is revealed below. Check back in tomorrow for a summary of the fourth story, and for a bit more of the snow to be blown away on the cover in the reveal banner. On Friday, a full cover reveal and a final summary of all the stories. Until then -- Smooches!

The Stories of Supgarplum Dreams: Right Click, Love

It's the second day of a week-long feature of cover reveals for the stories from Sugarplum Dreams, book four of the Candy Collection from Renaissance Romance Publishing. Today's story, Right Click, Love, is from up-and-coming author, M. B. Feeney.

Disheartened about not being able to find “Mr. Right” on the London dating scene, best friends Jodie Lynch and Louise Hewson create a blog to not only document their disastrous dates with the numerous “Mr. Wrongs” and “Mr. Okay-for-nows” but also to help those going through the same experiences and to see where they’re going wrong. How will they deal with everything the dating scene has to throw at them — planned or otherwise?

 

While Right Click, Love may be M. B. Feeney's first published story, I sincerely doubt it will be the last. Stay tuned for more from this talented author! 

More of the Sugarplum Dreams cover is revealed below. Check back in tomorrow for a summary of the third story, and for a bit more of the snow to be blown away on the cover in the reveal banner. Until then -- Smooches! 

The Stories of Sugarplum Dreams: Broken Hearts & Dusty Dreams

 It's time! All this week, I will be hosting blog posts that highlight the upcoming release of Sugarplum Dreams, book four in the Candy Collection from Renaissance Romance Publishing. Today, I'm featuring the first story from the compilation, Broken Hearts & Dusty Dreams, by Lisa Bilbrey.  

 

Riley Farris and Natalie Sloane were the best of friends who spent every summer together on the sandy beach of Mustang Island. Then, just when Riley’s getting set to spend another

summer with Natalie, she disappears. As the years pass, he struggles to understand what happened to the girl he knew. Until, one night while walking on the beach, he stumbles upon a woman who is broken and lost.

 Broken Hearts & Dusty Dreams is the first of four stories from the Sugarplum Dreams anthology, and the fourth short story Lisa Bilbrey has written for the Candy Collection. Check back tomorrow for the second story, and a bit more of what to expect for the cover of Sugarplum Dreams. See you soon!

Behind is STILL Behind

So . . .

It's been an interesting week.

My dad has been in the hospital, and unfortunately, I am apparently the only one who can't get any information.

One of my dearest friends, and closest confidante, also had to take her father to the hospital, and the news was less than favorable. 

I've watched people on my assorted social media accounts rip into each other with a vehemence typically reserved for mock WWE battles, all over the simple process of electing the next President of the United States. 

I slipped into a blue funk over my characters, and spent two days accomplishing ZERO writing on my NaNo story, because I couldn't figure out what was wrong. So, in a fit of desperation, I ACTUALLY left my house . . . during the daylight . . . and met up with a complete stranger to write for a few hours. Yes, for my writing I will actually break from my self-imposed mimicking of drunken, reclusive authors (ala Kerouac, Hemingway, and Faulkner), and venture into society to find a new stream of thought. It worked, and I solved a significant sticking point in my plot.

Unfortunately, work and school also conspired to interfere with my writing, leaving me now over 5600 words behind where I should be. That is, of course, why I m writing a blog post instead of working on Price of Valor - because the post also is not going to do anything to increase my word count.

However, on a Publishing House - related note, book four of the Candy Collection will be released on December 11th, and will feature four authors, two of whom are newly signed with Renaissance Romance Publishing. Beginning tomorrow, we will reveal each of the solo ebook covers, culminating in a reveal of the actual anthology cover on Friday. Stay tuned for more on these fabulous stories and authors.

NOW, I have just been given two pictures that have Harvey, my rabid plot bunny, chaffing at the bit to resume playing with the fates of Trace and Lynne.

found on Facebook

discovered by my friend Lisa while we discussed how the first picture could tie into the story. 

Wish me luck! 

Procrastination and Progress

I have a huge motivation problem.

Scratch that . . .

When I am struggling with something, I allow myself to be easily distracted. Yeah, that's more like it.

I could blame the kids, my ADD, the phases of the moon, the pending zombie apocalypse, or any other number of things . . .

SQUIRRELS! 

. . . but the truth of the matter is, I still ALLOW myself to be distracted. I snuggle in to my writing nook, laptop in hand, with every intention to hammer out a few thousand words, but instead I am reading the news, answering emails, talking to friends, . . . everything BUT writing.

Hell, Hurricane Sandy alone has provided unlimited fodder for distraction, while I worried about friends and family who hadn't checked in, tuned into news sites for updates, and sought out images of the destruction in my native New Jersey. Even from a distance, I have felt the impact of Sandy, so I can only imagine what those in the thick of it must be going through.  But the undaunted American Spirit will get us through this disaster, just as it has every other time we needed it.
You see, the internet is my playground. As I've mentioned in the past, my closest friends live on my Facebook pages.  Being inveterately curious, rather than call a friend to check in, I open Facebook and read their status updates, peruse their recent uploads, and indulge my snarky sense of humor in sharing things that amuse me. And then there are the games . . .

Thus, I become as mesmerized as a 2 year old watching Christmas lights.

OOOOOHHHH Sparkly!

Despite my efforts to the contrary, I have still managed to log in nearly 7500 words. Of course, in between games of Bingo Blitz, I do wonder how much further I could be if I were more focused. Then the caller announces the first number, and I forget what I should have been doing.

B7 

Gotta go!