Read or Write?

I haven't finished reading a single book yet in the new year and we're almost through January. This is because I've been concentrating on getting some writing done and I haven't yet figured out how to do both in a given day.

 Reading is a bit of a weakness for me..or a big one actually...I start reading, and if turns out to be engrossing...I can't put it down...I've slept only a couple of hours countless times and got up to go to work because I'd spent yet another night unable to stop reading....and faced the day looking like a ghoul...
And since I want to make a head start into the year and get some much needed writing done, I've been kinda scared to start reading something that I know will suck me in...

And time's really limited, so at the end of the day- it's coming down to read or write? and I've been picking write over the past three weeks..But I have no doubt the long clutches of my TBR pile will suck me in and will surrender to the reading one of these nights and pull an all nighter...

How about you? Do you read when you're in the midst of a writing binge? Or is  reading a good book your reward once you've achieved your writing goals?

PS - Don't forget you have up to Friday 27 January to win a copy of Once A Ferrara Wife by Sarah Morgan. Just leave a comment in the reivew post telling us the best book you read in 2011. Good luck!

Book Review: Once A Ferrara Wife by Sarah Morgan

Before I knuckle down to review this book I must warn you that I have a serious girl-crush on this author. Her writing makes me want to track her down and tackle-hug her just for being so, so, soooo brilliant!! Ahem.

Once A Ferrara Wife is a reunion/marriage-in-trouble story with a neat twist that will have you on the edge of your seat, or like me, feverishly reading but secretly hoping the story goes on and on and on…!

Cristiano Ferrara and Laurel were married for only short while before incredibly horrible circumstances drove her to leave. Now she’s back in Sicily to attend the wedding of her best friend, who also happens to be Cristiano’s sister. From the very first page sparks fly between these two. Laurel doesn’t want to be there because of heart-wrenching memories, and Cristiano’s seriously ticked off because she walked away from their marriage.

But what makes this book stand out, I hear you ask. From the very first page, it’s Cristiano who is pouring out his feelings, risking his heart and fighting desperately for the marriage to work. Laurel on the other hand is a completely closed book. Circumstances in her past have made her untrustworthy and she would rather skin herself alive than reveal even an ounce of feeling. To say this neat twist was seriously sexy is an understatement. Hearing an alpha male say, “I’m crazy about you. I’ve always been crazy about you,” (paraphrasing) in the first few scenes makes for a completely different kind of hero, in my opinion.

Laurel’s journey was equally awe-inspiring. The pain of losing her child and the difficult journey of learning to trust the husband she thought had betrayed her in the cruellest possible way made my heart melt for her. I couldn’t even bring myself to hate her when I found out she was a fitness instructor with a body to die for, lol.

Seriously, this is a must-buy and definitely a must-keep. And a little bird told me (well, it was Sarah herself via the Harlequin Blog) that Cristiano’s hot brother, Santino’s getting his own story! All I can say it, I can’t wait for The Forbidden Ferrara to come out in May! In the scenes where he featured in his brother's story, my heart missed a few beats for him too ;)

Now for the even brilliant bit. I have a copy of Once A Ferrara Wife to give away to one lucky non-Minx commenter.

Just tell me the best book you read in 2011 for a chance to win, and good luck!

Author Spotlight - Talli Roland

What is your writing process?

I usually have a spark of an idea, then I sit down and sketch out the major turning points for my main character – what do I want her to learn by the end of the novel? I connect the dots as I write the first draft, and then the hard work begins when I have to make sense of it all!

Everyone who writes knows it's not easy - what methods do you use to keep at it on days when it would be so much easier to go shoe shopping?

Oh, sigh. It would be so much easier to go shoe shopping! Well, I have a very strict writing regime – it’s the only thing that works for me. I sit down at my desk at eight in the morning, and I write at least three-thousand words a day.

Keeping fit: Do you have an exercise regime to counterbalance all those hours sitting at a computer?

Er . . . sort of! I tend to go in fits and starts. I love jogging, and I’ll have a few weeks when I go religiously. Then something will get in the way, and I’ll be right back to ground zero.

Do you believe in writer's block?

This is a contentious issue, but no, I don’t. There are times when writing is harder than others, but I treat it like a job. I sit down at the desk and pound away at the keyboard, fervently hoping something usable comes out! Giving myself permission to write rubbish has been really helpful to push me through those tough times.

Have you ever used an incident from real life in a book? If so, did it get you into trouble?

Oh, yes. In fact, there are a few incidents in Build A Man, my latest novel, that are loosely based on things I experienced during my time working at a five-star spa in central London. I’ve changed details significantly, though, so I haven’t got in trouble.

In what way is being a published writer different to how you thought it would be?

I had dream that published writers are confident, secure, and able to write exactly what they want. Ha! The reality is that nothing in the publishing world is secure, and confidence is hard to come by when you’re putting a product out to the public. I have learned that you can’t please everyone.

Promotion is no longer a dirty word. In what ways do you strive to reach more readers?

Social media has been the key for me to reach my readers and spread the word about my novels. Twitter, Facebook, blogging . . . they’ve all been critical for my promotional campaigns.

What is your top promo tip for other authors?

Make it fun – and have fun doing it. The less work you make it for people to spread the word and the more innovative and interesting you make your promotional efforts, the more likely people are to remember you and your novels.

What did you learn while writing this book?

I learned that I LOVE writing in first person. My previous novels were penned in third person, so this was a new thing for me.

What was the most fun part of writing this book?

I had a lot of fun writing Build A Man, mainly because my main character, Serenity, gets to say to the wealthy clinic clients many of the things I’d have liked to when I was working in a similar environment!

And just for fun: what would your hero’s honeymoon destination of choice be?

He’s a fairly down to earth bloke who enjoys nature, so I’m going to say Wales. Great question!

Slave to the rich and the rude, cosmetic surgery receptionist Serenity Holland longs for the day she's a high-flying tabloid reporter. When she meets Jeremy Ritchie -- the hang-dog man determined to be Britain's Most Eligible Bachelor by making himself over from head to toe and everything in between -- Serenity knows she's got a story no editor could resist. With London's biggest tabloid on board and her very own column tracking Jeremy's progress from dud to dude, Serenity is determined to be a success. But when Jeremy's surgery goes drastically wrong and she's ordered to cover all the car-crash goriness, Serenity must decide how far she really will go for her dream job.


Buy Links: Amazon, Amazon UK

Did you get books for Christmas?

I did. They are my favourite kind of gift, next to pretty notebooks or stationery - I am a self confessed stationery whore.

In my stocking this year I had:

The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society by MaryAnn Shaffer
Miracle on Regent Street by Ali Harris
It started with a Kiss by Miranda Dickinson
A Tiny Bit Marvellous by Dawn French
Pip by Freya North

From them, i've read 'It started with a Kiss' - I chose this one first as it has the 'curl up by the fire at Christmas and enjoy' factor right from the start of the sparkly cover. It didn't disappoint, was a real cockle warmer, can recommend.

Pip. Have to say the husband got this one wrong as i've already got it - I love Freya's books, so he'd find it hard to find one I haven't read. My fave of all of hers is 'Cat' - it's based around the Tour de France, which in itself is an unusual setting for women's fiction. Have to confess an interest in it, as my other hlaf is a huge fan and it's become a fixture of our summers.

I've just started on Dawn French's book, and the jury is out right now. I always enjoy Dawn's sense of humour on screen, and you can really hear her voice in the book. I don't know if i'd enjoy it as much if it was from an unknown author. Hmm. Will read on and report back.

The others on my list are sitting on my bedside table waiting to be read. I love having them there, and not knowing what lies beneath their covers yet. Tempting, like unopened boxes of chocolates.

My other massive reading discovery of late has been Jenny Crusie. I read 'Bet Me' and she had me hook, line and sinker. Honestly, I adore her writing so much. It half makes me want to try harder with my own writing, and it half makes me want to stop altogether because I have so far to go. Am reading 'Tell Me Lies' in tiny chunks right now so I don't get to the end too quickly.

How about you? Did Santa bring you any books to recommend?

Addicted to Series

My name is Sri and I’m a series ho. Give me a set of three dimensional characters, a dangerous paranormal world, or a memorable setting, whatever the time period, whatever the genre, I will return again and again to that set of characters.

Here are a few of the series I love, and wait on for the next installment.

1. The Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward
2. Thomas Pitt series and William Monk series by Anne Perry
3. Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny
4. Immortals after Dark by Kresley Cole
5. The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency Series by Alexander McCall Smith
6. Lords of the Underworlds by Gena Showalter
7. Guild Hunter series by Nalini Singh
8.  The Gaslight Mysteries by Victoria Thompson
9. The Elder Races novels by Thea Harrison
10. Royal Spyness Series by Rhys Bowen
11. The Amelia Peabody Series by Elizabeth Peters

Anytime a book comes out in the above series, and the first few of some of them were even written before I was born, I will pick it up ,glad to visit the same world, and in some cases, again the same characters, knowing that the author will deliver and surprise me.

How about you? Which authors or series are automatic buys for you? Do you like series novels where you can return again to that setting/fictional town/or world?