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Confessions of a Re-reader

I admit it. One of the reasons my TBR pile is so freaking high (or, since it’s mostly digital, takes up so many bytes) is my own fault.

Yes, it’s true. I’m a re-reader.

I can’t help it. Once I fall in love with characters, I want to visit them again and again. That’s one of the reasons I love series so much. And one of the reasons I’m addicted to J.D. Robb’s In Death series. With 8 bazillion books in that series, I get to revisit my favorite characters without re-reading. Though, of course, that often doesn’t stop me. Yes, I’ve read the entire series (well, through about book 20) at least twice. You can imagine the time commitment. And, alas, there are only so many hours in the day!
But sometimes I just can’t help myself. Yes, I may have a new book calling to me, but sometimes you (meaning me) just want a comfort read. So I turn to Eve and Roarke (In Death series), or Jamie and Claire (Outlander), or Harry and Ron and Hermione (I’ll just assume you know that one), or Charlotte and Thomas (the Inspector Pitt mysteries) or any number of books that I’ve read and loved (there are more...lots more...).

As a writer, my “re-reading” love is reflected in the fact that I have always leaned toward writing books in series. And also as a writer, I’m incredibly flattered when I hear from readers that they read and re-read one of my books because they love the characters so much, like Kate from my Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series that began with Carpe Demon. And especially Nikki and Damien from the Stark Trilogy – which continues on Tuesday with the release of Claim Me!
It is such fun to get messages from folks through my website or Facebook page telling me that they read Release Me a number of times and are re-reading it again in anticipation of Claim Me. It’s such a wonderful compliment! (Especially since I know from experience how much a re-read wreaks havoc on the TBR pile!)

Read on! 

Here’s how it works:
Giveaway:

1 Grand Prize Winner of $25 Gift Card to a retailer of your choice

4 winners receive a copy of An Affair to Dismember, by Elise Sax + a copy of Crazy Thing Called Love by Molly O’Keefe

3 Winners win a copy of, An Affair to Dismember, by Elise Sax

1 Winner receives a mashup of books, we choose, you receive

***All winners must be US & 18 or older.

Vella ReluctantCountess Final

Excerpts from Naughty & Nice (3-Story eBook Bundle) by Ruthie Knox, Molly O'Keefe, and Stefanie Sloane

Release Me by J. Kenner (an excerpt)

1. Tell us 5 things about yourself that readers may not know about you. 

1. I've been married for 16 years.
 2. I have 3 children ages 12, 8, and 6.
 3. I have a Master's degree in American History.
 4. I used to teach high school Social Studies.
 5. I live in the South.

2. What does a typical writing day look for you? 

Get kids off to school, sit down with my tea and answer email and do other kinds of administrative things. Hopefully get some writing in. I try to write in 15 minute slots, with a short break in between. Go to the gym for about an hour. Eat, shower, take care of basis necessity stuff. Write some more. Pick kids up from school. Do mom job. Put kids to bed. Write some more. Fall into bed. Wake up and do it again.

3. If you could describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be? 

Tired, busy, frazzled, funny, stressed. Can you tell I'm moving in one month? LOL

4. Tell us a little bit about "The Devil's Thief" and why readers should check it out? 

The Devil's Thief is the first book in a new Regency historical romance series called The Saint's Devils. The series is about a group of rakes who've been friends since their school days. Their unofficial leader is Sir Hilary St. John, a sort of brilliant, hedonistic Sherlock Holmes character. The Devil's Thief is about Alasdair Sharp, a well to-do gentleman whose famous family heirloom The Stewart Pearl is stolen by Miss Julianna Harte, a quiet lady who needs the money from the pearl to save the foundling home she sponsors. When Alasdair catches Julianna stealing the pearl she lies about her identity and he thinks she's an experienced thief, a product of the underworld. So he offers her a bargain--one night in his bed for the pearl. He nevers means to keep the bargain, however. He plans to pay her off with something else in the morning and make her his mistress. But when morning comes Julianna has disappeared with his pearl and Alasdair has to enlist the aid of his friends to find her and his family heirloom.

5. How did you come up with "The Devil's Thief"? 

Many years ago I came up with the concept of the Alasdair and Julianna characters, but in a different series context. Another author and I discussed doing that series together. That idea fell through because of schedules and prior committments, so I shelved it. Then came Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes, and the Sir Hilary St. John character came to me, and Alasdair and Julianna and their story fit so well with his character The Saint's Devils were born.

6. What was the hardest scene to write in "The Devil's Thief"? 

There's a scene between Alasdair and Julianna in the garden where he is very angry because he thinks she has another lover and the two of them conspired to steal his pearl and use him. He thinks Julianna is using sex to manipulate him and he nearly forces himself on her in the garden, although Julianna doesn't protest until she realizes how angry he is. There was a very fine line in that scene and it was rewritten several times before my editor and I were satisfied with it. It's an important scene, however, because it makes Alasdair realize he can't do it because he already cares for her too much and no matter how angry he is and no matter what she's done he's a gentleman and he can't treat a woman like that. It changes the nature of their relationship.

7. How do you choose the names for your characters in your books? 

Sometimes they just come to me. I used a play on words in this book. Alasdair's last name, Sharp, is a family name descended from Charles Stewart, and I researched that because the pearl was the Stewart Pearl with a connection to Bonnie Prince Charlie. Sharp is also a synonym for deceitful, smart and clever, which he is throughout the book. And Alasdair is a great Scottish name. Because I wanted to use some quotes and scenes from Romeo and Juliet in the book, I chose Julianna, which is close to Juliet. And Harte was chosen because, even though she's the thief, she does it for the right reasons. Her actions are always dictated by her heart. Sir Hilary St. John's name came about because I wanted a name with Saint in it. And I've always wanted to write a hero with the name Hilary. I have not idea why, lol. I think because it's so British and rather effeminate and I wanted to turn that on it's head. But I'm not always that clever, lol. Sometimes I just go to the internet and a random name generator and give it a spin. That's usually when I'm tempted to use a name I've used in a previous book for a main character. I don't want to have five books with Maggie's in them.

8. When you're not writing, what are your hobbies and interests? 

I love to knit. It's very zen and soothing and I go to a happy place, even if my life is spinning out of control, which happens with 3 young kids and a career as we all know. I also love decorating. My husband is in the furniture industry and I get to see all kinds of new decorating trends. Because of his job we have a lot of one-of-a-kind pieces in our home. We've just bought a new house and I'm having so much fun looking for new things for it.

9. What is next for Samantha Kane? 

I'm working on the third book in The Saint's Devil's series right now. I'm going to be releasing a short story and a novella in my erotic Regency series Brothers in Arms before the end of this year. Next year will see the release of the second book in The Saint's Devils, and another full length Brothers in Arms.

10. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers? 

 Just THANK YOU! Without you, none of this would be possible.

Fun questions 

11. If you could have a super power, what would it be and why?

 Super strength. I'm a serious weakling. I can't even open jars. Pathetic.

12. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? 

The Great Wall of China, or Machu Picchu. As a History teacher, I taught about man's great accomplishments but still have so many to see.

13. If you were stranded on an island, what three things must you have to survive? 

Fresh water, shade, companionship.

14. If you could have dinner with one famous person (dead or alive), who would it be and why?

Queen Elizabeth I. She was a woman ahead of her time, incredibly brilliant and powerful.

15. If you star in one of your favorite tv shows, which one would it be and why? 

The Voice! I want to judge. Some of the people the judges pick mystify me.


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