Showing posts with label Susan Jaymes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Susan Jaymes. Show all posts

Friday, 30 March 2012

Author Spotlight - Excerpt from "Guilty Hearts"


Thank you so much for supporting Susan during her week in the spotlight. :) Leave a comment on today's post today, Saturday, and Sunday and I'll pick a winner on Monday to receive a PDF copy of Guilty Hearts from Susan. Remember to leave your email in the post so we can get ahold of you. Enjoy this excerpt of Guilty Hearts.

Smiles
Moderator Steph

****************

Matt watched the two of them struggle against the stiff wind on their walk back to their
car. Jared stood almost as tall as Dee. He had forgotten how petite Dee was. He remembered how much she hated her given name, Deidra. She had shortened it to Dee long ago. When anyone but her parents used her full name, she turned into a little she-cat. Kind of like when she jumped him earlier. He could feel his lips curving into a smile. Damn, she felt good. She may be small, but her thin legs around his waist had a firm hold, and her body was warm and inviting. She had cut her hair into a short chin-length do, but her sable eyes were the same, still tugging at his heartstrings.

"Did I hear voices, Matt?" He turned to see his father approaching, bringing him back to
the present. His father shuffled across the store, and Matt's guilt stabbed at his chest. He shouldn't have stayed away so long. His father had lost his vibrancy somewhere along the way, and Matt knew disappearing for thirteen years had contributed to his downfall. He promised himself he would make up for it while he could.

"Yeah, Dad. Dee was here to pick up some paint with Jared." Matt watched his father
wince.

"How did it go?"

"Alright. She seems like she has gotten along really well through the years. Why didn't
you ever tell me she had a child with Steve?"

Tom shook his head. "It always seemed to upset you to hear her name, so we didn't think it was wise to tell you at the time. As the years passed, it didn't seem as important."

"It was a bit of a shock, I must admit."

"Sorry, son. You just were nuts about her at one point, but by the time you left, you only
held contempt in your heart for her. We wanted you to have time to heal."

Matt walked over to give his father's slumped shoulders a gentle squeeze. His father's
bones were so brittle, and with his recent weight loss, Tom had become frail and thin. "It doesn't matter now. What's done is done, and it's time to move on."

"Then you're over her?" Tom's watery blue eyes held hope, and Matt didn't have the heart to destroy it. Every wrinkle and every silver hair on Tom's head was probably caused by something he had done.

"The minute she turned her back on me, I got over her." Or at least he liked to believe he did.

**********

Reviews:
Guilty Hearts is a great book. I felt like I was right there with the characters; empathized and laughed right along with them. Loved the surprise twists and had me guessing the outcome right to the end. Can't wait for Susan Jaymes next book release. Reader: Anna Hoff.

What a great story. It was really hard to put the book down. You'll want to continue reading to find out what happens next. Reader: Dawn Margelofsky

I could not stop reading, I was hooked after the first few pages. I would highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed. Reader's review from Amazon (Cody74)

Find me at:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Jaymes
Twitter: susan_jaymes
Website: http://www.susanjaymes.com

Where to buy:
http://www.amazon.com/Guilty-Hearts-ebook/dp/B007K1OCQA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1332552126&sr=1-1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guilty-hearts-susan-jaymes/1107712025
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-guiltyhearts-751695-149.html
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-274/Guilty-Hearts-Susan-Jaymes/Detail.bok

Wednesday, 28 March 2012

Author Spotlight - Susan Jaymes and "Jared" from Guilty Hearts talk



Susan: Today I have with me Jared Adams. He is here to tell us a little bit about himself. Hi Jared. How are you today?
Jared: Fine

Susan: You seem a little nervous. I promise this will be painless. You are a big part of Guilty Hearts and we'd like to get to know more about you. How old are you?

Jared: Twelve. Almost a teen ager and I can't wait.

Susan: What do you like to do in Pine Crest?

Jared: Swim, play baseball, ice fish, and play video games.

Susan: Do you like the snow?

Jared: Yep. I love tobogganing.

Susan: Do your parents take you? Or do you have brothers or sisters?

Jared: Nope, just me. I don't have a dad. Mom would go with me but I don't like her to come.

Susan: Why not?

Jared: I look like a baby.

Susan: Ah, I see. What happen to your father?

Jared: He died before I was born. My Grandma and Grandpa tell me I was his gift to my mother.

Susan: I'm so sorry to hear about your father. I bet you were the best to gift your mom could ever have.

Jared: She won't talk about Dad.

Susan: Does that make you mad?

Jared: Yeah. I want to know about him but she won't tell me. My Grandma and Grandpa do though.

Susan: That's good.

Jared: And I met this really cool guy named Matt Black. He knew my Dad really good. Mom doesn't like him much though.

Susan: Why not?

Jared: I don't know.

Susan: What do you like about Matt?

Jared: He's funny and nice.

Susan: He sounds like a nice man. I hope your mom and Matt work things out so you can have Matt as a friend. Thanks for spending time with me.

Jared: You're welcome.


********

Reviews:
Guilty Hearts is a great book. I felt like I was right there with the characters; empathized and laughed right along with them. Loved the surprise twists and had me guessing the outcome right to the end. Can't wait for Susan Jaymes next book release. Reader: Anna Hoff.

What a great story. It was really hard to put the book down. You'll want to continue reading to find out what happens next. Reader: Dawn Margelofsky

I could not stop reading, I was hooked after the first few pages. I would highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed. Reader's review from Amazon (Cody74)

Find me at:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Jaymes
Twitter: susan_jaymes
Website: http://www.susanjaymes.com

Where to buy:
http://www.amazon.com/Guilty-Hearts-ebook/dp/B007K1OCQA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1332552126&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guilty-hearts-susan-jaymes/1107712025
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-guiltyhearts-751695-149.html
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-274/Guilty-Hearts-Susan-Jaymes/Detail.bok

Author Spotlight - Susan Jaymes talks about setting goals



Guilty Hearts is set in a fictional town. However, certain aspects of the story are based on a little town of Green Lake, Wisconsin. My husband grew up in Green Lake. They also have a lake by the same name where we spent many hours at.

In the winter like in Guilty Hearts, my boys would ice fish on the lake. He'd park his ice shack there as soon as the ice was safe and would keep it there until March. He had a wood stove inside where he would cook and heat the tiny shack. It'd get so hot in there you'd swear if not for the ice and snow outside, it was summer. They would spend entire weekends in it and come home exhausted. There was an annual fisheree where they even won a few prizes at.



In the summer we had a pontoon boat we would park in the inlet and enjoy the water and the cool breeze. The boys would swim and I would read. Unfortunately as the boys grew up, their interest in the boat faded. Too big for just my husband and I, we sold the boat and my husband bought a fishing boat instead. I often think of those days with fond memories.

I knew I wanted to have a similar lake in my book even if I only touched on it briefly. The lake was a place where families could enjoy one another through hot summer days or crystal clear freezing days.



*******

Reviews:

Guilty Hearts is a great book. I felt like I was right there with the characters; empathized and laughed right along with them. Loved the surprise twists and had me guessing the outcome right to the end. Can't wait for Susan Jaymes next book release. Reader: Anna Hoff.

What a great story. It was really hard to put the book down. You'll want to continue reading to find out what happens next. Reader: Dawn Margelofsky



I could not stop reading, I was hooked after the first few pages. I would highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed. Reader's review from Amazon (Cody74)

Find me at:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Jaymes
Twitter: susan_jaymes
Website: http://www.susanjaymes.com

Where to buy:
http://www.amazon.com/Guilty-Hearts-ebook/dp/B007K1OCQA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1332552126&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guilty-hearts-susan-jaymes/1107712025
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-guiltyhearts-751695-149.html
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-274/Guilty-Hearts-Susan-Jaymes/Detail.bok

Tuesday, 27 March 2012

Author Spotlight - Susan Jaymes talks about setting goals


My son has always had a dream to become a pro golfer. He's determined and confident he will do it someday. He gave me the courage to pursue my lifelong dream of writing. However, I always need a plan and a goal to work toward.

When I decided to get serious about my writing, I gave myself a five year goal. At that point, I decide if I wanted to continue or if maybe it just wasn't meant to be. I wrote it out in big letters. Published by 2014 and posted it on my wall.

I then set out to learn all I needed to know to get started. I took online classes and reached out to a few fellow writers for critique partners. I went through about four that just disappeared or our writing style wasn't compatible. Since Guilty Hearts was geared to the Harlequin market, I went on their forums where others posted for a critique partner. I came across another that was already published in the emarket and reached out to her. Susan Palmquist became my critique partner and still is to this day. She gave me enormous support. As it turns out, Harlequin rejected Guilty Hearts and Susan suggested Desert Breeze Publishing and here I am.

I think I'm proof that any age and with commitment and hard work, a dream can come true. My son will graduate from college with his masters come May but he still believes he will be that pro golfer in the future. I think he's right. We always can be what we want to be. I hope everyone has the chance to dream and have the dream come true like I did.

******

Reviews:
Guilty Hearts is a great book. I felt like I was right there with the characters; empathized and laughed right along with them. Loved the surprise twists and had me guessing the outcome right to the end. Can't wait for Susan Jaymes next book release. Reader: Anna Hoff.

What a great story. It was really hard to put the book down. You'll want to continue reading to find out what happens next. Reader: Dawn Margelofsky

I could not stop reading, I was hooked after the first few pages. I would highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed. Reader's review from Amazon (Cody74)

Find me at:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Jaymes
Twitter: susan_jaymes
Website: http://www.susanjaymes.com

Where to buy:
http://www.amazon.com/Guilty-Hearts-ebook/dp/B007K1OCQA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1332552126&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guilty-hearts-susan-jaymes/1107712025
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-guiltyhearts-751695-149.html
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-274/Guilty-Hearts-Susan-Jaymes/Detail.bok

Monday, 26 March 2012

Author Spotlight - Q&A with Susan Jaymes


STEPH: I don't know much about "Guilty Hearts." What's it about?

SUSAN: Dee harbors a secret that will affect everyone close to her. When Matt, a long lost love, returns to town, the secret unravels and all her fears turn to reality. Now she must rectify her deception to all the people she hurt.

STEPH: How long did it take to write?
SUSAN: It took me two years and I rewrote it three times before I finally had it right.

STEPH: Did you have to do a lot of research for the novel?

SUSAN: Most of the story comes from personal experience. The story is emotional driven which we can all relate to. At the time my sons had both left the nest and I knew exactly how Dee felt with Jared pulling away from her.

STEPH: How important is the setting to the novel?



SUSAN: Although Guilty Hearts takes place in a fictional town, I based it on my husband's hometown. However, Green Lake was too small of a town. I needed a place where the characters would run into one another, but yet big enough where the secret could be kept. The Bottomless Lake actually is Green Lake where my husband ice fished with my two boys for many years.

STEPH: Dee is the heroine. What are her faults? Strengths?

SUSAN: Dee's main fault is not trusting in anyone. Her strength is the ability to put her son first which also gets her in trouble.

STEPH: What does Matt find appealing about Dee?

SUSAN: Matt loves her spunk and her devotion to her son.

STEPH: What's the theme of the novel?

SUSAN: Secrets always come back to bite you. It's only a matter of time.

STEPH: Are you a plotter or a panster?

SUSAN: Defiantly a plotter. I plot out every chapter from beginning to end before I even start writing the first draft.

STEPH: Do you have an ebook reader? If so, which one?

SUSAN: I do. I have a kindle my son bought me for Mother's Day and I love it.

STEPH: Fun question: Easter is coming up soon. What do you like to eat on Easter?

SUSAN: That's a tough one. I love ham and only have it at Christmas and Easter but I also love the light pastel M&M's. It's something about the pretty colors that just make them taste better!


********

Reviews:
Guilty Hearts is a great book. I felt like I was right there with the characters; empathized and laughed right along with them. Loved the surprise twists and had me guessing the outcome right to the end. Can't wait for Susan Jaymes next book release. Reader: Anna Hoff.

What a great story. It was really hard to put the book down. You'll want to continue reading to find out what happens next. Reader: Dawn Margelofsky

I could not stop reading, I was hooked after the first few pages. I would highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed. Reader's review from Amazon (Cody74)
Find me at:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Jaymes
Twitter: susan_jaymes
Website: http://www.susanjaymes.com

Where to buy:
http://www.amazon.com/Guilty-Hearts-ebook/dp/B007K1OCQA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1332552126&sr=1-1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/guilty-hearts-susan-jaymes/1107712025
http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-guiltyhearts-751695-149.html
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-274/Guilty-Hearts-Susan-Jaymes/Detail.bok