#WriteWed – Playing Genre Roulette

Some people may know that I started out writing contemporary romance. Eight of them in fact for Kensington Publishing’s defunct ENCANTO romance line. I had written those novels over the course of about three years and I wanted to challenge myself by writing something totally new and different. Being a fan of The X-Files and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I wondered what I would do if I mashed the two genres — suspense and vampires — and tossed in some romance as well. That’s how THE CALLING IS REBORN series was created. Little did I know I would be sucked into a world of both regular and paranormal suspense for the next ten years. WOW! But like I had before, I felt myself craving doing some different and definitely something lighter. That’s how ONE SUMMER NIGHT and WHAT HAPPENS IN SUMMER came about as well as the TAKE A CHANCE Military Romance novellas.

It is a risk to mix genres like that. For an author it’s like playing roulette because you never know if you’re going to have a winner and make a reader happy. Ultimately, that’s one of the big end goals – happy readers. But there is also another goal: loving what you do as a writer.

Will writing in multiple genres work? It has for some people, but I always caution first-time authors to focus on one genre for at least a few books. Develop a following before you go off and try something different. If readers like you, they will follow. If not…

Publishing is a crap shoot for sure. If you’re going to be a winner in the long run the most important thing is to be passionate about what you write.

May 19, 2016

#ThrowbackThursday My Little Shore Baby

As I mentioned yesterday, we are truly shore people and of course, we had a little shore baby. LOL! This is a picture of my baby during a visit to a friend’s place in Long Beach on Long Island. Notice the Atlantic City hat, courtesy of her grandparents who went there often.

August 7, 2013August 7, 2013

TO CATCH A PRINCESS #Free Read

I’m so excited about my upcoming romantic suspense release TO CATCH A PRINCESS. It’s sexy and emotional. Action-packed. Set in the very elegant and over-the-top principality of Monaco. Plus, I love not only laid back Detective Peter Roman, but the very determined and in charge woman that Tatiana has become. You may remember her as Alexander’s little sister in THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE.

But I also fell in love with thief in the book, so you know my mind is already wondering what to do about him in the future!

Anyway, here’s a little excerpt from TO CATCH A PRINCESS and I hope you’ll love seeing what’s up with Alexander and Kathleen from THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE.

If you can’t see the excerpt below, you can click here to read!

TO CATCH A PRINCESS Romantic Suspense by Caridad Pineiro

February 27, 2013

To Catch a Princess #WIP #SpoilerAlert

Many of you have been asking about the secondary characters in THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE, especially Peter and Tatiana. You clearly sensed there was something there and wanted to know more about it . . .

So yes, there is a sequel to THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE and yes, it features none other than Peter and Tatiana and a mysterious, sexy man who is not what he seems.

The tentative title of the book is TO CATCH A PRINCESS, although titles are always something we play around with for a variety of reasons. This working title was inspired by Cary Grant/Grace Kelly motion picture TO CATCH A THIEF since most of Peter and Tatiana’s book will be set at the Ivanov casino in Monaco and since part of the suspense revolves around a serious of high end jewelry heists. SO EXCITING!

How I wish I could visit Monaco for some real life inspiration, but sadly, it’ll just have to be research. The site for the principality actually has some great information as well as a smartphone app! Perfect for when I’m on the train and need some quick information.

So what is TO CATCH A PRINCESS about? Think jewel thief to start, but add a big dose of revenge that will threaten Peter and Tatiana’s lives. Think haute couture fashion show loaded with priceless Russian jewelry and relics, just waiting to be stolen. Think of an arranged marriage for Tatiana and a betrayal she never expected from the man she has come to love . . .

Sigh. I’m having so much fun with this! The glamour and the danger. Fast cars and dangerous mountain curves. Money, jewels and of course, romance.

Big sigh. I can’t wait to finish it so you can read it. As soon as we have a final title and publication date, I will be sure to share with you!

February 19, 2013April 28, 2021

Apricot and Almond Rice Pilaf from the Prince and a #FreeRead

There is a scene in THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE where Prince Alexander decides to show FBI Agent Kathleen Martinez just how liberated a man he can be by making her dinner. I guess he hoped to woo his way into her heart by way of her stomach!

I shared the prince’s sour cream chicken recipe a couple of Tuesdays ago and now I’m going to share the recipe for the apricot and almost rice pilaf he made!

Apricot and Almond Rice Pilaf

Ingredients:

2 cups rice (you can use brown rice. I also wash the rice several times but that is a matter of choice)

4 cups broth (chicken or vegetable)

1-2 onions (medium to small. You can substitute shallots here!)

1/2 cup diced apricots

1/3 toasted slivered almonds

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

Directions:

Heat the butter and olive oil in a pot. Add onions and saute until onions are translucent, but not brown. Add the rice and cook until just turning golden. Add the broth and bring to a boil. Once it’s boiling, reduce to a low simmer and add the diced apricots. Once all the liquid is absorbed, fluff with a fork and add the toasted almonds. You don’t want to add them too early because they will get mushy!

Serve with the sour cream chicken or any kind of chicken. You can also use brown rice or quinoa in the recipe. Possibly even check out using couscous.

As for the free read . . .

Rum running, white slavery, money laundering, ghosts, murder and mysteries along the Jersey Shore! Now you get a free read of A GHOST OF A CHANCE when you purchase THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE. Plus, you’re helping out a good cause since my share of the proceeds from the sales from now until March 1 are being donated to the Hurricane Sandy NJ Relief fund. Help rebuild and restore the Jersey Shore and get some fun Jersey Shore reads while you do! THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE is now available for sale at Amazon (http://amzn.to/WGsxKy), B&N (http://bit.ly/WxipEv) and Kobo (ht.ly/fBKN0) as well as a number of other online retailers.

February 12, 2013

Gamble on Love & Fool for Luv #Giveaway

I’m a sucker for romance. What can I say? I love a good love story. I have since I was a little kid and I’ve yet to lose my hopeful optimism that there is someone out there for everyone.

With that in mind, today and tomorrow we’ve got two fabulous giveaways to help you get in the spirit of love!

To celebrate the release of THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE, join me today and until February 14 at the Entangled Publishing Facebook Page for a chance to name a character in a future book or a Sony E-reader or a $25 Gift Card. Just share your gamble on love to be entered in the giveaway.

For those of you who don’t do Facebook, you can leave a comment on this blog post with your gamble on love.

All of your stories must be posted by midnight PST on February 14th for a chance to win!

Tomorrow through Feb 16th, visit with me at the wonderful Fools For Luv Blogspot for a chance to win an assortment of prizes, including three of my erotic e-novellas – NIGHT OF THE COUGAR, THE VAMPIRE’S CONSORT and NOCTURNAL WHISPERS.

January 30, 2013

A Sexy Night with a Royal Free Read from THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE

I was having such a fabulous time with Babs on her radio show last night that we forgot to do the giveaway!! So here goes: I shared a secret on the show about something I did during the Las Vegas trip that inspired THE PRINCE’S GAMBLE. Hint: It was not the pole dancing class. LOL! So, post a comment on this blog post on what was the secret I shared last night for a chance to win a collectible print copy of GHOST OF A CHANCE! If you didn’t hear the original broadcast, you can listen to it at this link: http://ht.ly/heWU3

But for now, I’m sharing a sexy night with the luscious Prince Alexander. Warning, this excerpt is for mature audiences. If you can’t see the excerpt below, you can click here to read.

A Sexy Night with a Royal – THE PRINCE'S GAMBLE Romantic Suspense – For Mature Audiences Only by Caridad Pineiro