I
want to introduce a new friend of mine to Believe!
want to introduce a new friend of mine to Believe!
One
I’m tickled to share with you
I’m tickled to share with you
as
she’s featured with me in the new,
she’s featured with me in the new,
upcoming
St. Valentine Day release
St. Valentine Day release
Hearts & Kisses.
And…
she’s a wonderful author!
she’s a wonderful author!
Hi
everyone. Thanks so much to Mimi for hosting me on her blog! So excited
to be here.
everyone. Thanks so much to Mimi for hosting me on her blog! So excited
to be here.
Although I’m a
long-time writer, I’m a newbie to the publishing world. After
numerous years (too many to count) of working my way up the ranks, 2015 is
shaping up to be the year I’ve been waiting for. I got an early
start late last year with my first published Harlequin work, CHRISTMAS,
ACTUALLY (11/14) and am gearing up for my very first single title contemporary
romance release through Berkley InterMix with ASKING FOR TROUBLE (the first in
my Tremayne Family Romances). Having the opportunity to participate
in a boxed set with these talented authors is yet another dream come true for
me. I’m so honored READING BETWEEN THE LINES is included in HEARTS
& KISSES (can you believe the .99 price?!).
long-time writer, I’m a newbie to the publishing world. After
numerous years (too many to count) of working my way up the ranks, 2015 is
shaping up to be the year I’ve been waiting for. I got an early
start late last year with my first published Harlequin work, CHRISTMAS,
ACTUALLY (11/14) and am gearing up for my very first single title contemporary
romance release through Berkley InterMix with ASKING FOR TROUBLE (the first in
my Tremayne Family Romances). Having the opportunity to participate
in a boxed set with these talented authors is yet another dream come true for
me. I’m so honored READING BETWEEN THE LINES is included in HEARTS
& KISSES (can you believe the .99 price?!).
READING BETWEEN
THE LINES isn’t a story I’d planned to write. In fact, the idea didn’t even
percolate in my brain until late last year when fellow author Melinda Curtis
suggested I branch out and stretch my publishing wings. A year ago, heck, a few
months ago, the idea of self-publishing was positively petrifying, but here I
am! I might be wearing floaties, but I’m in the pool! Look at me go!
<splash zone>
THE LINES isn’t a story I’d planned to write. In fact, the idea didn’t even
percolate in my brain until late last year when fellow author Melinda Curtis
suggested I branch out and stretch my publishing wings. A year ago, heck, a few
months ago, the idea of self-publishing was positively petrifying, but here I
am! I might be wearing floaties, but I’m in the pool! Look at me go!
<splash zone>
The reason for
my dive off the ledge? Well, with my single titles (3 so far) coming out five
to 6 months apart, Melinda advised me I needed a bridge between stories,
something to keep my (hopefully growing) audience anxious for the next books.
Thus the Lantano Valley Novellas were born.
my dive off the ledge? Well, with my single titles (3 so far) coming out five
to 6 months apart, Melinda advised me I needed a bridge between stories,
something to keep my (hopefully growing) audience anxious for the next books.
Thus the Lantano Valley Novellas were born.
While these
novellas don’t feature the main characters in my Berkley books (but they are referenced!),
this special group of friends who belong to a book group will each get their
happily ever after in the same southern California town of Lantano Valley over
the next year. Cassidy Wells and Ethan Sutherland–former high
school sweethearts are about to find their way back to each other–get the
series off the ground, providing eternal loner Cassidy can find the strength to
forgive Ethan for what was, to her, a heart-breaking betrayal. I’m
all about the HEA, but boy these two were tough to wrangle.
novellas don’t feature the main characters in my Berkley books (but they are referenced!),
this special group of friends who belong to a book group will each get their
happily ever after in the same southern California town of Lantano Valley over
the next year. Cassidy Wells and Ethan Sutherland–former high
school sweethearts are about to find their way back to each other–get the
series off the ground, providing eternal loner Cassidy can find the strength to
forgive Ethan for what was, to her, a heart-breaking betrayal. I’m
all about the HEA, but boy these two were tough to wrangle.
To say the idea
of this story came easy would be lying. In fact, I had no clue what their story
was going to be until I saw some images my cover designer (the amazing Annissa
Turpin-Giannone) was thinking of using. The instant I saw the photo
(I just love this couple), the story exploded in my head and I couldn’t get the
words out fast enough. Sometimes being a writer is pure magic (other days…).
Cassidy was a bit of a new type of character for meto tackle. Her history is less than
pleasant and she dealt with issues no child should ever have to face. She might
be stronger because of her past, but she’s also incredibly mistrusting, which
makes forgiveness all the more challenging. Ethan had his own set of
difficulties, nothing on the scale of what Cassidy faced, but complicated
nonetheless. Watching these two come
around and see life from the others’ point of view, where they learn to let go
of the past and, however terrifying the idea, move into the future with hope
instead of skepticism was incredibly rewarding. When I closed the file and hit
send I was already thinking about the
next novella. But first I’ll be
venturing into ASKING FOR TROUBLE (on sale 2/17 wherever eBooks are sold). I’d
be thrilled if you’d stop by Lantano Valley for a visit…or perhaps an
extended stay. The more people in the
pool the better!
Happy reading!
Anna J
Anna J. Stewart can’t remember a time she didn’t
have a book in her hands or a story in her head.
have a book in her hands or a story in her head.
Early obsessions with Star Wars, Star Trek and
Wonder Woman set her on the path to creating fun, funny, and family centric
romances with happily ever afters for the independent heroines she writes for
Harlequin and Berkley. Anna lives in Northern California where she deals with a
serious Supernatural & Sherlock addiction, surrounds herself with friends
and family and tolerates an overly affectionate cat named Snickers (or perhaps
it’s Snickers who tolerates her).
Wonder Woman set her on the path to creating fun, funny, and family centric
romances with happily ever afters for the independent heroines she writes for
Harlequin and Berkley. Anna lives in Northern California where she deals with a
serious Supernatural & Sherlock addiction, surrounds herself with friends
and family and tolerates an overly affectionate cat named Snickers (or perhaps
it’s Snickers who tolerates her).
Visit Anna online at:
~~~~~~
Hearts & Kisses
A Valentine’s Day Special for readers who love romance.
12 heart-wrenching stories
by 12 talented authors
to be released
February 10th
