As you may recall, I was hard at work last week at the RT BookReviews Convention. Met lots of friends and fellow authors. I want to thank all of you who came to visit during the conference and at the book fair. It was awesome to get to meet you face-to-face.
If you haven’t been to RT, it’s quite an event. Dozens of wonderful panels as well as some great balls and mixers. It’s in Los Angeles next year and I’m already excited about going.
Since today is Fun Friday and we’re having downright balmy weather in the sixties here in NYC, I’d thought I give you a little blast from this summer past!
I had a fun time recording these videos with the wonderful website Romance in the Backseat! Just a word of warning – my boobs are really not that big. They just look that big on account of the camera angle. Seriously. LOL!
Enjoy the videos and keep an eye out for some of the great Jersey Shore highlights in the background. We actually filmed these videos in Bradley Beach, where SINS OF THE FLESH is set, as well as in nearby Avon-by-the-Sea.
If you can’t see the videos below, you can also follow these links to the videos:
This Thoughtful Thursday is about a question I am frequently asked? What do you in-between books? The answer is that you hope you’ve got something else contracted!
But seriously, what I do is start research on the next book and work on other proposals to be sent out by my agent. I’m always working on a new idea because for every book I am lucky enough to sell, there are at least one or two that end up gathering dust at my desk. Sometimes even though I think it’s a rocking book (like UNDEAD UPRISING!).
So the first answer to the question is: Always be preparing another project for consideration. Even if you’re in the middle of working on books that are contracted, keep your creative mind going, even if it’s to just to jot down some story ideas that you can flesh out later.
The second answer is: Get to work on the next book you need to write.
This spring and summer was blessedly busy for me. I had to finish two more book in THE CALLING vampire novels – ARDOR CALLS and VENGEANCE CALLS. Also had to do copy edits and galley proofs for SINS OF THE FLESH. And in the midst of all that, I was busy writing the next book in the SINS series – STRONGER THAN SIN – as well as researching that book.
Third answer: Spend some time researching your next novel.
For me, researching STRONGER THAN SIN meant long walks through some of the shore towns where I planned to set the novel. Snapping photos of places where I might be putting the hero and heroine so that I could get a real feel for the places. I’ve always thought that it’s important to really let you get a sense of the place and am always delighted to hear from someone who visits one of those towns that they felt like they knew it because of something I put in a novel.
So far in STRONGER THAN SIN, my ability to move them around has been limited, but I’m working up to allowing more and more scenes where the hero and heroine will be walking along the same streets that I visited and sharing their views of some of New Jersey’s delightful shore towns.
In STRONGER THAN SIN, most of the action will be taking place in Bradley Beach, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove and Spring Lake. For today, I’m sharing with you some pictures of Ocean Grove and Asbury Park. I’ve got to head down the shore again this weekend and work on adding some shots of Spring Lake and also, the wonderful tent city area close to the Ocean Grove auditorium.
It’s a classic line from the Godfather. Clemenza tells his assistant “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.” For hit men, that makes sense since the guns they’re using are generally untraceable and hopefully they’ve taken care to not leave DNA or fingerprints behind.
As for the cannoli – well who can resist a cannoli? Well. maybe you could if you have an amazing collection of cupcakes like these at the Toyzone! Just click here or cut and paste this into your browser:
Sadly, the wonderful Le Cupcake is in Sydney, Australia, so I will have to wait until I go down under to get my fix from them.
So where do I get my cupcakes? I’m lucky to have some spots right nearby. If you’re in the Central Jersey area, you can check out The Baker Boys in Ocean Grove and Asbury Park and the Ocean Grove Bakery right on Main Avenue. Then there are also the fabulous La Bonbonniere bakeries in South Plainfield, Fords, Edison and Woodbridge.
Of course, there’s the age old battle – Cupcake or cannoli? A hard choice, especially when the cannolis are as tasty as they are at Del Ponte’s Bakery on Main Street in Bradley Beach!
How about you? Cannoli or cupcake? Any favorite spots you can recommend?
Posted on
SINS OF THE FLESH
November 2009 – Grand Central Publishing
Caterina Shaw’s only chance for survival is a highly experimental gene therapy – a risk she willingly takes. Now Caterina has new, terrifying powers and she’s been accused of a savage murder, sending her on the run. Mick Carrera is a mercenary and expert at capturing elusive prey. Yet the woman he’s hunting is wounded, vulnerable, and a mystery of medical science. Caterina’s innocent sensuality tempts Mick to show her how thrilling pleasure can be. The heat that builds between them is irresistible, but surrendering to it could kill them both.
Want to find out a little more about SINS OF THE FLESH? Click on the links below to get a Behind the Scenes look at some of the locations in the novel as well as read some free excerpts!
Awakening the Beast
October 2009
Silhouette Nocturne
A collection of sexy Nocturne Bites featuring:
Honor Calls, Return of the Beast, Mortal Enemy, Immortal Lover, Claws of the Lynx and Wilderness by Caridad Pineiro, Lisa Renee Jones, Olivia Gates, Linda O. Johnston and Barbara J. Hancock
Thanks for sharing that behind the scenes look, Jacquie!
It only seemed right to follow Jacquie’s wonderful lead and give you some behind the scenes info about SINS OF THE FLESH. Hopefully you’ll find some of the places that will be appearing in the book interesting and worth a trip next time you’re in the area.
Today I’m sharing with you a bit about the hero’s home – Bradley Beach, New Jersey. According to the town website, “(t)he earliest accounts of Bradley Beach can be traced back to 1679 when it is said that Captain William Kidd anchored his vessel off Duck Creek, now known as Sylvan Lake.”
Captain Kidd! How cool is that, although I don’t have any pirates in my book, just some arguably mad scientists doing weird gene experiments.
The town was named Bradley Beach in 1871 and over the next century, became a popular beach resort. It’s the kind of small town where you feel safe walking around and people say “Hello” and “Good morning.” It’s got a gorgeous paved beachfront walk dotted with gardens, gazebos, a playground and mini-golf course.
I love taking long walks along the beachfront and through town. It’s quite relaxing and because of that, it was a natural choice for me to be Mick Carrera’s home. As a mercenary, Mick needs somewhere to go where life is safe, relaxing and people can be trusted. Bradley Beach is the kind of a town where I can imagine Mick having a Happily-Ever-After.
Bradley Beach is also where Mick’s family lives and runs a Mexican restaurant along Main Street. If you visit Bradley Beach and come “down the shore” as the Jersey natives say, you’ll find that Main Street is just loaded with an assortment of different restaurtants, ice cream parlors, and bakeries.
I visited Bradley Beach several times to do research and am continuing to go back for more research as I write the second book in the series which will feature Mick’s little sister Liliana. Liliana is a doctor at a local hospital and is doing a residency in orthopedic surgery.
Since I’ve been visiting, I’ve got some recent shots to share with you so you can appreciate the laid back and friendly vibe of this Jersey Shore town.
Hope you enjoyed a slightly different Wicked Wednesday. I’ll be giving you some more behind the scenes snippets into SINS OF THE FLESH so you’ll get to meet all the characters and know a little bit more about the various places you’ll see in the book.
Awakening the Beast
