Victoria Bernadine

A Warm Welcome to Victoria
Victoria Bernadine (a pseudonym) is, as the saying goes, a “woman of a certain age”. After twenty-something years of writer’s block, she began writing again in 2008. She began with fanfiction about a (now-cancelled) TV show called Jericho and particularly about the characters of Heather Lisinski and Edward Beck. From there, she expanded into writing original fic and she hasn’t stopped since.

Victoria enjoys reading all genres and particularly loves writing romantic comedy and post-apocalyptic science fiction. What those two have in common is anybody’s guess.
She lives in Edmonton with her two cats (The Grunt and The Runt). A Life Less Ordinary is the first novel she felt was good enough to be released into the wild.

Here's the Blurb: A LIFE LESS ORDINARY By Victoria Bernadine

For the last fifteen years, Rose “Manny” Mankowski has been a very good girl.  Now, at the age of 45, she’s questioning her choices and feeling more and more disconnected from her own life.  When she’s passed over for promotion and her much younger new boss implies Manny’s life will never change, something snaps.  In the blink of an eye, she’s quit her job, sold her house, cashed in her pension, and she’s leaving town on a six month road trip.
After placing an ad for a travelling companion, she’s joined in her mid-life crisis by Zeke Powell, the cynical, satirical, most read – and most controversial – blogger for the e-zine, What Women Want.  Zeke’s true goal is to expose Manny’s journey as a pitiful and desperate attempt to reclaim her lost youth – and increase his readership at the same time.
Now, armed with a bagful of destinations, a fistful of maps, and an out-spoken imaginary friend named Harvey, Manny’s on a quest to rediscover herself – and taking Zeke along for the ride.

Before treating us to an excerpt, Victoria Reveals:

In a couple of sentences, describe the hero’s character.  What do you like best/least about him?    

He’s an arrogant jerk who has some real problems with getting close to people and/or admitting he’s wrong.  What I like best about him is the fact that he has reasons for why he’s the way he is, and I find him lovable even with (or because of) his arrogance.  What I like the least about him is his determination to hold on to his ideas until he’s forced to change them.  He has his reasons, but it’s still frustrating – LOL.

And the heroine? How do you relate to her?     I know what it’s like to look at yourself and wonder what happened to your life.  I also know what it’s like to want to throw everything up in the air and take your chances with where it lands.  I love her loyalty to her friends and family, and I like that she’s willing to take risks.  What I like the least about her is that she could be a little more spontaneous...

Who controls the story – you or your characters?     My characters.  Absolutely.  I spend half my time wondering what they’re going to do and what’s going to come out of their mouths next!

What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your books?     I hope they come away with the thought that they were entertained for a few hours.  I really hope they come away with the feeling that they’d spent those few hours with friends.

What do you most enjoy about writing romance/your genre?     I write in several different genres, but what I most enjoy about this particular one is the combination of humor and drama.

What do you like best and least about writing?     What I like best is how fun it feels when I’m creating something, even when it’s really, really bad – LOL.  The thing I like the least is editing, as in proofreading because it just takes for-ev-er and there’s always something that’s missed.

Do you have a writing routine?     I don’t have a specific writing routine, although I’m trying to change that.  I do try to write every day, and my general objective is to write at least 1000 words a day.  When I’m in the midst of Editing Hell, though, the word count goes out the window and I just try to work on the story every day until it’s done.

Anything special you require to keep the creative juices flowing?     Noise (music, TV, something that acts as white noise), and when I’m really stuck, I need pens and paper to get the juices flowing.

What can we look forward to from you in the near future?    I'm working on a sequel to A Life Less Ordinary, tentatively titled A Year in the Life. there are a couple of other works that I'm working on that may eventually be oublished... or not. If anyone is interested, both are currently available online. One's called Historian's Daughter, a post-apocalyptic dystopian sorta-romance short novel, beginning here   (http://historiandghtr.livejournal.com/429.html), and the other will be the novelization of a script I wrote for a science fiction movie, available here(http://archiveofourown.org/works/404077) in all its unformatted glory - LOL. whether those last two will ever be published is anybody's guess.

What would you most like to accomplish this year?     I would like to promote this book, finish the sequel and have it ready for publication before the end of the year.

What was your favourite book as a child/teen/adult? Are you currently reading anything?     My favourite fantasy series as a young teen was the Chronicles of Pyrdain by Lloyd Alexander.  I read it one summer (I was about 12 or so), and I bought one book in the series every time I got into town.  The last book...oh, man – I read that book in one sitting and about halfway through, something happened to the characters, and I began to cry – and I mean, body-wracking sobs.  I was still crying when I finished it at 2:00 a.m.  It was one of the most engrossing reading experiences of my life, and I adore that series to this day (although I admit:  I’ve never read it again).

What is your culinary speciality?        The phone book.  ;)

In a few words, how would you describe yourself? How do you think your husband/partner would describe you?     Perfect.  And since I don’t have a husband/partner, I don’t think that description will be debated!  LOL

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Now A Taste of Victoria
“All I ever wanted was a life less ordinary.”
Manny lay flat on her back, eyes wide, staring at the ceiling while she waited for her clock to hit 6:00. Another day of work, she thought. Another day older and deeper in debt.

She had the alarm timed to the millisecond. The jarring noise had barely begun when she clicked it off. She sighed then threw back the covers and got out of bed.

She padded into the bathroom, glanced without interest in the full-length mirror that doubled as her shower doors and took her morning inventory.

Plain face? Check.

Looking tired? Check.

Thirty pounds overweight? Check.

Dark circles under deer-caught-in-headlights eyes? Check and check.

She shook her head at her limp, mousy hair and wondered when she’d gotten so old.

She sighed in resignation then conjured up her Perfect Fantasy Man–or Harvey, as she liked to call him–to give her a morning lift. She cocked her head to one side as she stared into the mirror and imagined him standing behind her. She smiled at the handsome man, and he smiled back, putting his hands on her shoulders. Everything about him was warm, in stark contrast to the cold shades of grey in which she lived her life. He had warm brown eyes, warm brown skin, and a warm smooth voice that always reminded her of golden honey. Today his hair was black with greying temples, and yes, even that seemed warm to her.

He was perfect, everything she considered ideal in a man–and extra-perfect, of course, because he was a fantasy. Just the thought of trying to establish a relationship with an actual man felt too much like work.

She sighed and Harvey disappeared.

“Instead I ended up in a rut–everything planned and executed to the minute.”

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Pleasure to meet you, Victoria!

Now leave a comment for the chance to win a $25 GC or a $15 GC (Amazon or Smashwords)

Maggie Jaimeson

A Warm Welcome to Maggie

Maggie Jaimeson writes romantic women’s fiction and romantic suspense with a near future twist. She describes herself as a wife, a step-mother, a sister, a daughter, a teacher and an IT administrator. By day she is “geek girl” – helping colleges to keep up with 21st century technology and provide distance learning options for students in rural areas. By night Maggie turns her thoughts to worlds she can control – worlds where bad guys get their comeuppance, women triumph over tragedy, and love can conquer all.

Her latest release, HEALING NOTES, is the second book in the Sweetwater Canyon Series of four books.  The final two books will be available in 2013.

Healing Notes  by Maggie Jaimeson

BLURB:
Forgiving yourself is the first step, but helping others forgive may be just too hard.

 Rachel Cullen grew up in Scotland with a fiddle in her hand from the age of four. She couldn't imagine life as anything but a musician. When her husband brought her to America she was immediately embraced by the Celtic and Bluegrass communities. But after her divorce, Rachel's life is a mess. 

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A year of trying to prove to herself that she's woman enough for any man, and then a vicious rape while on tour with the band, leaves Rachel reeling. When she meets Noel Kershaw, an English teacher who is poetry in motion, she is definitely attracted. But he has a young child and he's suffering from his own divorce. The last thing Rachel needs in life is more baggage.

First, Rachel must reconcile who she is, what she wants, and how to get there. Maybe then she'll know how to be a part of the family she's always wanted.

Before treating us to an excerpt, Maggie Reveals:

In a couple of sentences, describe the hero’s character.  What do you like best/least about him?

My hero, Noel, is someone who is dedicated to raising his young daughter.  As a single parent his primary concern is making sure his daughter feels safe and secure, and gets the right education and personal confidence that will allow her to be successful in life.  The thing I like  best about him is his focus and his honesty. I also love his romantic, poetic side. The thing I like least about him is how stuck he is in the past—stuck in the wounds from his previous wife and stuck in blaming himself.  Of course that is also how he must grow in the novel.

And the heroine? How do you relate to her?

The heroine, Rachel, relates to me and many of my sisters in cousins who have been raped and have had challenges moving forward, often not even realizing how it impacts daily life. Also Rachel’s perseverance and striving to find her own unique way in the world. It takes confidence and the ability to balance having a thick skin and being vulnerable to be a great artist, a musician, a writer. Rachel portrays that part of me as well.

Who controls the story – you or your characters?

I would say my characters control the story 80% of the time.  However, in the 20% where I fight back and insist on a specific direction, I always win. If I didn’t fight for that 20%, I’m afraid no book would ever be finished.

What do you most enjoy about writing romance?

I love knowing that no matter the obstacles in my character’s lives, they will triumph in the end and find a happily ever after (HEA).  I know it sounds cheesy, but I really believe  spending time in a world where that happens consistently is a large part of why I’m an optimistic person.  I’m doubly blessed because I read probably 100 romances every year, and I get to spend many hours every day reinforcing those HEAs.

What do you like best and least about writing?

I love learning about my character’s, their lives, their problems.  I love recording that and fashioning it into a story.  Then my most favourite part is the editing to most accurately reflect their settings, tensions, emotional growth.  All of the writing craft I love and find it constantly challenging.  The think I like least is the waiting to find a publisher and then to find an audience, after the book is done.  In many ways, that seems the most time consuming and difficult.

Do you have a writing routine?

Prior to this past September, I have always worked another job full time.  That meant my writing routine was to come home from work, have dinner, (My husband has always been the primary cook in the family), and then head upstairs to write for three to four hours. Depending on family schedules, I might also eek out one day of the weekend for a four to six hour block. Since September, for the first time in my eight years of writing novels, I am writing full-time.  I’m still figuring out exactly what that routine is. At the moment, I wake up around 7am and spend until 10am doing “chores”—meaning everything from making phone calls, doing housework, or responding to email.  I work on writing from 10am to somewhere around 4pm, with a half hour break around 1:30 or 2:00 for a snack.  Then depending on the day and what other obligations my husband and I have,  I will either return to my computer at 8 or 9pm and work until midnight or we will be out of the house.

What is the best writing advice you have ever received?

There are two pieces of advice I follow religiously.  1) Once you thin you have finished writing and editing the book, put it away for at least a week and don’t think about it. Then print it out and read it again. You will find a lot more things to change and edit when you approach it fresh.  2) Once you send the book to the market (agent, editors, publisher), forget about it and immediately start the next book.  Don’t wait for responses or think about what you could have done differently.  If you receive rejections, send it to the next person/company on your list and keep writing the next book.

What can we look forward to from you in the near future?

Healing Notes is the second book in a four book series.  Undertones was released last year. The final two books, Heart Strings—Sarah’s Story, and Two Voices—Theresa and Kat’s story, are scheduled for release in July and October/November of 2013.

How do you like to spend your free time?

My husband is in a classic rock band.  As much as possible I like to go to his gigs and enjoy the music and watch him and the audience having great fun.  The other thing we like to do is explore the natural beauty around us with day hikes, picnics, or the occasional weekend camping.

 What would you most like to accomplish this year?

Now that I am writing full time, I hope to be able to set my schedule to get out at least three books a year, instead of the one per year I’d been averaging the last eight years.  I already mentioned the completion of the Sweetwater Canyon series for 2013. I also have a YA novel, Chameleon, out to publishers right now that I hope to be picked up in 2103. If so, it probably won’t release until 2014. It is being marketed under my Maggie Faire penname. I would also like to return to both my Expendable characters and  my Eternity world and develop further books with them.

What was your favourite book as a child/teen/adult? Are you currently reading anything?

My favourite book as a child was Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgrin.  I started reading them when I was nine, the same age as Pippi in the books. Pippi reflected both the person I perceived myself to be and the person I wished to become.  I identified with her being friendly kind girl, but also someone who didn’t really know proper manners and didn’t have the best understanding of behavioral expectations. What she did that represented who I wished to become was to display amazing confidence, assertiveness and sense of who she is.  As an adult, I still admire her as a free spirit. She says what she thinks without much editing, does whatever comes into her mind, no matter how ridiculous it is, she can laugh at herself, and she enjoys life to the fullest. 

Any exciting plans for the near future?

For me every day is filled with promise. Right now I’m excited that I’m able to write full time, and I’m looking forward to discovering exactly what that means for me.   More time with my husband, more time to spend with friends, and more time to write seems like absolutely heaven to me.
Now A Taste of Maggie

As she reached for the handle, the door opened and a little girl rushed out, maybe six or seven years old, with beautiful long blond hair caught up in a blue denim bow.  She ran to a light blue sedan next to Rachel’s and giggled as she skipped through puddles circling the car. Rachel couldn’t help but smile at the child’s carefree innocence.

 After three circles, the girl stopped at the back end of the car, cocked her head and waved two fingers at her. “Hi.”

“Um, hi.” Rachel raised her hand and waved back. “Did you forget somebody? Your mommy maybe?”

“Claire, I told you to stay close.”

At the sound of the tenor voice beside her, Rachel started.  A man three to four inches taller than her had stepped out. In one hand he held several colorful ribbons attached to a bright pink, heart-shaped helium balloon that read Happy Birthday. He looked toward the car where the child was still giggling.

The little girl raced back. Skidding to a stop in front of Rachel, they bumped and Rachel teetered slightly toward the wall.

“Careful there.” A weathered hand reached toward her and wrapped around her elbow. His touch was softer than she expected, but her knees still locked, ready to spring if she needed to move fast. He held her up with one hand. Deep brown eyes, emphasized by his full head of short, wavy blonde hair, looked at her then turned toward the girl.”

“Apologize, Claire. You almost knocked her over.”

“I’m sorry.” A small hand lifted to touch her other arm.

“That’s okay. Really.  I should have been paying more attention.” Rachel smiled and pointed to the balloon. “Latha breith.”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, I…” She had lapsed into Gaelic.  Something she hadn’t done in public since Kavan left her almost three years ago. “I said ‘Happy Birthday.’” 



click here to follow the rest of Maggie's tour

LINKS:

Website: http://maggiejaimeson.com

Blog: http://maggiemeandering.blogspot.com

Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggie-Jaimeson/118916694787820

Twitter: @maggiejaimeson
BUY click here

Maggie will award one autographed cover flat to a randomly drawn commenter at each blog stop. In addition, she will award a $25 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) as a grand prize to one randomly selected commenter on this tour, and a $25 gift certificate to either Amazon or Barnes and Noble (winner's choice) to a randomly drawn host. 

LEAVE A COMMENT TO ENTER THE DRAW (with email address please)

 

Pleasure to meet you, Maggie! 

Genie Gabriel

A Warm Welcome to Genie

Genie says: For years I've been fascinated by the puzzle of why some people collapse under life's traumas and others emerge triumphantly stronger. These triumphs of the human spirit over the ugliest of adversities became the basis for my stories. Yet my dramatic stories have always contained touches of humor, and sometimes I have great fun writing romantic comedy novellas. However, in all my stories, my passion for writing romance is an outlet for the powerful messages that people can overcome great difficulties, and true love can turn life’s heartaches into happily ever after.

Here's her latest release:

Chasing the Legacy                     

by Genie Gabriel

BLURB:

A jaded reporter with a penchant for flashy shoes stumbles onto an explosive story when a beast-man blows up her hometown. She hides her own secrets as she digs for a truth hidden deep in the past of this small mining town. When she turns to a soft-spoken bomb tech for help, they uncover evidence that could shatter lives and defuse their budding love.

 

Now A Taste of Genie:

His heart dropped to his stomach as Grady frantically scanned the lake. Was Layla on Swaggerty's boat when it exploded?

 

Then a shadowy figure on the shore waved. Grady recognized Layla's lean frame and drew a deep breath.

 

She was safe.

 

While Dawson and his brothers placed Swaggerty in a body bag, Grady made his way to where he had seen Layla.

 

"You were a hero again." Layla tilted her head slightly to one side as Grady came to stand beside her.

 



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The darkness covered the flush that crept up his neck. He didn't want to be a hero. He wanted to be a regular guy with a woman who loved him. "You okay?"

 

Layla nodded. "I talked to Swaggerty."

 

"Figured as much."

 

"I'll let you read the story before I send it to my editor."

 

"It's evidence, you know."

 

"Are you going to try to stop the story?"

 

"Are you going to tell me what you know?"

 

A smile slowly curved Layla's mouth upward. "I like you, Grady O'Shea."



click here to follow the rest of Genie's tour

LINKS

Web site: www.GenieGabriel.com
Genie's LEGACY blog: http://oshealegacyseries.blogspot.com/

Pleasure to meet you, Genie!
Genie will be giving away a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour and a $10 Powell's Bookstore GC to one commenter at every stop.
DON'T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT