***
I want to welcome Babette to my blog today and say Thank You to her again for being such a supportive soul who stepped forward and helped a stranger when she reached out. I’m astonished and delighted at how many times other authors have shown that not only do they have wonderful imaginations, but also, good hearts
Bio: Babette James writes contemporary and fantasy romance and loves reading nail-biting tales with a satisfying happily ever after. When not dreaming up stories, she enjoys playing with new bread recipes and dabbling with paints. A teacher, she loves encouraging new readers and writers as they discover their growing abilities. Her class cheers when it’s time for their spelling test! She lives in New Jersey with her wonderfully patient husband and three extremely spoiled cats.
Thank
you, Mimi, for letting me visit here and share a little about Clear As Day, my spicy
contemporary romance coming from The Wild Rose Press on April 4, 2012. It’s
been exciting preparing for the upcoming release of my debut, and I was
delighted to learn last week Clear As Day received a 4 ½ stars and scorcher
review from the Romantic Times Book Reviews. Between that and being able to
hold my first book in my hands, I’m still happy dancing.
you, Mimi, for letting me visit here and share a little about Clear As Day, my spicy
contemporary romance coming from The Wild Rose Press on April 4, 2012. It’s
been exciting preparing for the upcoming release of my debut, and I was
delighted to learn last week Clear As Day received a 4 ½ stars and scorcher
review from the Romantic Times Book Reviews. Between that and being able to
hold my first book in my hands, I’m still happy dancing.
Clear As Day started life years ago as that little “story under
the bed you love but can’t do anything with.” I had originally
written it as a short story back when I was in college, as an exercise
featuring the desert setting of Lake Mohave, which is a stretch of the Colorado
River below the Hoover Dam, and the little story was born that would eventually
grow into Clear As Day. I
never found a place for it in its short story form. Too sexy, not sexy
enough. Too long, not long enough. I’d take it out
every now and ponder what to do with it, only to file it back away. There were
many times I felt like giving up, but I kept on writing new stories and
improving my craft and, now I can finally share this story and the characters I
love.
the bed you love but can’t do anything with.” I had originally
written it as a short story back when I was in college, as an exercise
featuring the desert setting of Lake Mohave, which is a stretch of the Colorado
River below the Hoover Dam, and the little story was born that would eventually
grow into Clear As Day. I
never found a place for it in its short story form. Too sexy, not sexy
enough. Too long, not long enough. I’d take it out
every now and ponder what to do with it, only to file it back away. There were
many times I felt like giving up, but I kept on writing new stories and
improving my craft and, now I can finally share this story and the characters I
love.
In January of 2010, I took the story
out once more, thinking to expand it into a small novella for a publisher’s
call. That
did not work out, but taking that step pushed me
forward to really write Nate and Kay’s story, and the once short story bloomed
into a sweet and sexy novel and even germinated several ideas for sequels. I
loved writing Clear As Day and I enjoyed exploring how Kay was the one
resistant to commitment and how sweet and certain Nate was in his love for her. It was a delight to see their love story evolve. I adore
Nate, his loyalty and his humor, and had so much fun writing him. I love Kay
and all her caution and uptight habits she uses to hide her vulnerability and
that she’s never chosen the expected routes in her life but made her own. And
the fun part is I don’t have to say goodbye to them just yet. I’m currently
working hard to finish and submit the next story featuring a couple from Nate
and Kay’s circle of friends, tentatively titled Love Burns. I love this couple,
and I’ve enjoyed seeing their story come to life as they work through their
personal trials and find their own happily ever after together.
out once more, thinking to expand it into a small novella for a publisher’s
call. That
did not work out, but taking that step pushed me
forward to really write Nate and Kay’s story, and the once short story bloomed
into a sweet and sexy novel and even germinated several ideas for sequels. I
loved writing Clear As Day and I enjoyed exploring how Kay was the one
resistant to commitment and how sweet and certain Nate was in his love for her. It was a delight to see their love story evolve. I adore
Nate, his loyalty and his humor, and had so much fun writing him. I love Kay
and all her caution and uptight habits she uses to hide her vulnerability and
that she’s never chosen the expected routes in her life but made her own. And
the fun part is I don’t have to say goodbye to them just yet. I’m currently
working hard to finish and submit the next story featuring a couple from Nate
and Kay’s circle of friends, tentatively titled Love Burns. I love this couple,
and I’ve enjoyed seeing their story come to life as they work through their
personal trials and find their own happily ever after together.
Blurb:
What’s
a girl to do when her summer lover wants forever?
a girl to do when her summer lover wants forever?
Haunted
by dark memories of her parents’ volatile marriage, artist Kay Browning keeps
her heart locked behind a free-spirit facade and contents herself with the
comfortable affair she has every summer with easygoing photographer Nate Quinn.
by dark memories of her parents’ volatile marriage, artist Kay Browning keeps
her heart locked behind a free-spirit facade and contents herself with the
comfortable affair she has every summer with easygoing photographer Nate Quinn.
The
only trouble with her plan? This summer Nate’s come to Lake Mohave to claim the
lover he can’t let go. He’s done with the endless traveling and settling for
temporary homes and temporary loves. Kay’s always been more than just a
vacation fling, and now he must convince this woman, who sees love as a course
to certain heartbreak, to take that leap of faith and learn how safe love with
the right man can be.
only trouble with her plan? This summer Nate’s come to Lake Mohave to claim the
lover he can’t let go. He’s done with the endless traveling and settling for
temporary homes and temporary loves. Kay’s always been more than just a
vacation fling, and now he must convince this woman, who sees love as a course
to certain heartbreak, to take that leap of faith and learn how safe love with
the right man can be.
Excerpt:
She
trailed her fingers over his collection of pebbles on the table, polished by
sand, wind and water. Be happy. Be happy. How could she feel so happy and
terrified at the same time? You’d think one would cancel out the other.
trailed her fingers over his collection of pebbles on the table, polished by
sand, wind and water. Be happy. Be happy. How could she feel so happy and
terrified at the same time? You’d think one would cancel out the other.
She
would be happy. They would talk. She would sort out her mind.
would be happy. They would talk. She would sort out her mind.
Don’t worry, be happy.
She
slipped on her leather sandals and picked up her sunhat, sunglasses and beach
bag. “All set.”
slipped on her leather sandals and picked up her sunhat, sunglasses and beach
bag. “All set.”
As
Kay and Olivia arrived at Spider Camp, Nate was talking and taking casual shots
of Dave sitting on his boat. Dave waved. Nate stopped talking the moment she
came into sight, his attention fixed on her in a way that rushed heat through
her and kicked a happy tumble in her heart.
Kay and Olivia arrived at Spider Camp, Nate was talking and taking casual shots
of Dave sitting on his boat. Dave waved. Nate stopped talking the moment she
came into sight, his attention fixed on her in a way that rushed heat through
her and kicked a happy tumble in her heart.
He
waved. “Hey, babe!” He raked his gaze over her. “Stop right there.” He raised
his camera and made swift adjustments. “Okay, move.” Rapid shutter clicks
followed his order. “Oh, yeah. Beautiful. Slower. Perfect.”
waved. “Hey, babe!” He raked his gaze over her. “Stop right there.” He raised
his camera and made swift adjustments. “Okay, move.” Rapid shutter clicks
followed his order. “Oh, yeah. Beautiful. Slower. Perfect.”
He
met her halfway and kissed her hot and hard. “I was about to track you down.
You look great.”
met her halfway and kissed her hot and hard. “I was about to track you down.
You look great.”
“And
you look happy.”
you look happy.”
“Life
is good.” He gave her another quick kiss. “I took some awesome shots today.”
is good.” He gave her another quick kiss. “I took some awesome shots today.”
Be
happy. Kay smiled. She just needed to practice. Starting now. “Want a beer then
to celebrate?”
happy. Kay smiled. She just needed to practice. Starting now. “Want a beer then
to celebrate?”
“Sounds
great.” Nate slid an arm around her waist and whispered in her ear, “Damn, I
love this suit on you. Why does it always make me want to peel you out of it?”
He caressed his hand down over her bottom, holding her close. He softly nipped
her earlobe. “Between this one and that yellow-dot one, I am one happy man.”
great.” Nate slid an arm around her waist and whispered in her ear, “Damn, I
love this suit on you. Why does it always make me want to peel you out of it?”
He caressed his hand down over her bottom, holding her close. He softly nipped
her earlobe. “Between this one and that yellow-dot one, I am one happy man.”
Desire
twisted and heated through her. Wanting him was so easy. That, at least, she
never doubted.
twisted and heated through her. Wanting him was so easy. That, at least, she
never doubted.
“Let’s
go swimming, so I can play. Hmm?” he murmured, with more little nips. “Please?”
go swimming, so I can play. Hmm?” he murmured, with more little nips. “Please?”
Go on, practice being
happy. Go swimming. Play. Relax. Enjoy. Love.
happy. Go swimming. Play. Relax. Enjoy. Love.
What
was so hard about all that?
was so hard about all that?
Nothing.
Kay
tugged the knot of her pareu free and tucked the wrap into his hand. “Okay.”
She pulled away from him and strolled off, slipping off her shirt and tossing
it, her sunglasses and hat on a chair as she passed, kicking off her sandals as
she reached the damp sand.
tugged the knot of her pareu free and tucked the wrap into his hand. “Okay.”
She pulled away from him and strolled off, slipping off her shirt and tossing
it, her sunglasses and hat on a chair as she passed, kicking off her sandals as
she reached the damp sand.
Running
feet pounded up behind her, and Nate scooped her up in his strong arms. He
charged laughing with her into the water and threw them both in, the cool
shocking splash against her sun-heated skin driving a giggling shriek from her.
feet pounded up behind her, and Nate scooped her up in his strong arms. He
charged laughing with her into the water and threw them both in, the cool
shocking splash against her sun-heated skin driving a giggling shriek from her.
Laughter
and friendly catcalls rang behind them from their friends.
and friendly catcalls rang behind them from their friends.
Nate
tugged her to her feet, his body hard and warm against hers. He shook the water
from his hair. A big smile, alive with affection and delight, lighted his face.
Mischief danced in his eyes. “Come on, follow me.” He swam with lazy strokes
toward the moored boats and flipped around, floating on his back, waiting. When
she followed, he kicked farther on, putting Lloyd’s and Dave’s boats between him
and the shore. She caught up with him. The water here was breast deep. He
snagged her wrist and drew her close.
tugged her to her feet, his body hard and warm against hers. He shook the water
from his hair. A big smile, alive with affection and delight, lighted his face.
Mischief danced in his eyes. “Come on, follow me.” He swam with lazy strokes
toward the moored boats and flipped around, floating on his back, waiting. When
she followed, he kicked farther on, putting Lloyd’s and Dave’s boats between him
and the shore. She caught up with him. The water here was breast deep. He
snagged her wrist and drew her close.
Links:
Buy
at The Wild Rose Press:
at The Wild Rose Press:
Buy
on Amazon
on Amazon
***
Note from Mimi – Babette’s story got
me thinking. My career happened very similar to hers. How many of you started
in the same way as we did…with a story half written, a dream put on hold
until the time was right?
me thinking. My career happened very similar to hers. How many of you started
in the same way as we did…with a story half written, a dream put on hold
until the time was right?
***
Hi Mimi – Thanks so much for letting me visit here today. It was a pleasure to have you as a guest at my blog. 🙂
What an interesting story!
And so is the story of how the book came about. It's great that the story you loved blossomed into the book you always knew it could be.
Good for you for sticking with it!
susan meier
Thanks, Susan!
Hi Babette, congratulations! I love the blurb and how your short story became a novel. Perseverance pays off! Good luck with the sequel.
Hi, Jennifer. Thank you so much. I love this group of friends and I'm really enjoying writing the sequel.
Congratulations on the 4 1/2 stars from the Romantic Times Book Reviews. Great blurb and excerpt. Hope you have lots of sales. :o)
Hi Katherine, thank you so much. My copy of the RT Magazine arrived and it's rather dizzying to see my name on the same list as Nora Roberts!