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What can you tell us about your new release, Walk of Shame?

Walk of Shame is a standalone, that’s about as close to the quintessential Lauren Layne book as you can get. Writing it reminded me a bit of watching a modern rom-com movie. It’s about a cynical divorce attorney and the pampered socialite who lives in his swanky building. Their paths cross every morning at 5am—just as he’s leaving for the day, and she’s getting in from a night out drinking champagne. They’re as opposite as it’s possible to be, but naturally sparks fly!

What fictional literary world would you most like to visit?

Harry Potter, absolutely. Not a huge surprise since I can’t make it through a single interview without a JK Rowling/HP reference, but I’d love to see Hogwarts.

What books are currently on your night stand?

I don’t keep any physical books in my home—digital all the way! However, my Kindle Paperwhite sits on my nightstand and is currently filled with Nora Roberts and Lisa Kleypas backlist. I’ve been in the mood for the classics!

What is a typical day like for you?

I’m very much a creature of habit, so my favorite days are the “routine ones.” In fact, ever since I became an author and fell in love with my job, I almost resent/dread vacations because it takes me away from my schedule 😉 Not really, but … kind of!!! I’m an early riser, so most mornings start at 5am. I usually peruse Instagram during my first cup of coffee while my brain wakes up. Then it’s right into the writing for a couple hours until it’s time for shower and/or gym. Then a bit more writing until lunch, which is usually something fancy and delicious because my husband is a cookbook author. After lunch, my creative juices are often used up, so I’ll switch gears to the “business stuff.” I own a website design company, so I do client-work for that, as well as manage my Lauren Layne website and social media presence (although admittedly, social media almost always falls by the wayside, I’m pretty bad at it!” Later afternoon/early evening is often cocktail hour with the hubby. Then dinner, maybe some reading time, and then to bed by about 9:30!

What are you currently craving?

Oh man. Kraft macaroni and cheese. I mostly try to avoid processed foods, but that orange, artificial crap is my ultimate weakness.

What's your favorite play or musical?

Jersey Boys is my favorite musical. Our Town is my favorite play, only because my husband and I fell in love while working on it back in our high school theater department

What scene in Walk of Shame was your favorite to write?

Oh gosh, probably “the sick scene.” The heroine becomes alarmed when he skips their usual early-morning sparring session (read: foreplay) and goes by his apartment, only to find him delightfully rumpled with the flu:

I push the door wider, and let out a little sound of dismay as I absorb the reality of what I’m looking at.

The man looks terrible.

“Oh, Andrew,” I murmur, stepping into his apartment uninvited and dropping my bag on the ground. 

His hand is gripping the door, and he rests his forehead tiredly against it, eyes closing. “Is there any chance that you’ll go away now?”

“Absolutely none,” I say, prying his fingers away from the door and feeling his forehead with the other. “How long have you looked like this?”

“Like what?”

“Regurgitated death.”

He lets out a noise that’s half laugh, half groan. “Go away. I can’t spar with you today.”

It’s too late. I’ve already shut the door and am preparing a plan of action.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Honestly? I stumbled across this the other day, and it made me smile and is, well … quite true.

“If you have to ask if it’s too early to drink wine, you’re an amateur and we can’t be friends.”

Lauren Layne is the author of the new book Walk of Shame. 

Connect with Lauren:
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What can you tell us about your new release, Passion on the Pitch?

It's my first novel, a contemporary sports romance with a little heat thrown in. Aedan and Jess have lived with me for a while, so I'm really glad to finally be able to publish their story. And they will be popping up to say hi in my upcoming releases.

Who are your literary heroes working today? Why do you admire them?

JA Huss, mainly because of her sharing nature and willingness to help upcoming authors. Also, all of the other authors out there putting out amazing novels that suck me in and make me never want to leave, Olivia Cunning, Lolite Lopez, Theodora Taylor, Kristen Proby.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

I don't have any physical books laying around, they were becoming way too heavy and my husband complained about me lugging them around. My kindle library is stocked to the brim with everything from scifi romance to contemporary, so I guess it's mainly romances 🙂

Who is your favorite couple from literature?

I can't think of one. There are so many different ones I've enjoyed whether it's for their passion, laughter or steamy scenes. I read about a hundred books a year and I would say that each of them are my favs when I'm reading. One that sticks out to me is Eric Sticks and Rebecca from Olivia Cunning's Wicked Beat from the Sinners on Tour series.

BAM. You're a superhero. What's your superpower?

Teleportation! Never needing to get on a flight again, heading to a vacation spot on a moment's notice, those are the things I would love to be able to do. Also, if I needed writing inspiration from a location, it would be a snap to go there and take in the whole place.

How do you spend a rainy day?

Reading, playing board games with my kids and perhaps some hot chocolate with marshmallows.

What scene in Passion on the Pitch was your favorite to write?

My favorite scene to write was when Aedan and Jess meet. I love that Jess stands up for the waitress that is being bullied and steps out of her comfort zone with Aedan, helped by a little liquid courage.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Life's too short to walk around angry.

Maya Hughes is the author of the new book Passion on the Pitch. 

Connect with Maya:
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What can you tell us about your new release, Forbidden Kisses?

Grace and Jack used to be step siblings, but this isn’t your typical stepbrother romance. It’s a sweet story of two characters who fell in love when they were young and were torn apart by their families’ dislike for the other. A modern day Romeo and Juliet, if you will.

Grace is down on her luck at the start of the story and Jack offers her a job working for his family, which is obviously complicated. As Grace wins her spot back into the family, she finds herself having stronger feelings for Jack. While Jack has made peace with her, though, he’s not about to forgive Grace’s mother for her past transgressions.

If you were a teacher, what book would you assign to your class?

The Diary of Anne Frank is a must read for students. It reflects a piece of the world’s history and captures the life of a person and time that should never be forgotten.

Who is your favorite couple from literature?

Landon Carter and Jamie Sullivan in A Walk to Remember (Nicholas Sparks) will always have my heart. What a sweet, romantic story! The movie was good, but as usually is the case, the book was a thousand percent better. I adore this book!

If you could have dinner with anyone, alive or dead, who would you choose and why?

Mother Teresa. She was a beautiful person who did so many great things while she was alive. She made a difference. It would be amazing to sit down with her.

BAM. You're a superhero. What's your superpower?

Happiness. I don’t like to see people sad or suffering. If I had a superpower it would be to zap everyone with happiness.

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

An author, of course! I remember telling my grandfather when I was 6-years-old that I wanted to be an author when I grew up. It’s always been my dream, even when I wasn’t actively chasing it.

What scene in Forbidden Kisses was your favorite to write?

There’s a scene where Jack and Grace are keeping their relationship a secret from their families. Their families have quite a volatile history and Jack and Grace aren’t ready to come out as a couple. They’re on a boat in the middle of the ocean, Grace just caught her first big fish, and she’s elated. They kiss and Jack’s father catches them in the act. The scene was so complicated in my head because there were so many emotions coming together all at once: joy, fear, lust. It was a lot of fun to write and I breathed a big sigh of relief when I finally had it down on the computer.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Every morning when my alarm clock goes off way too early, I think to myself “Get up now or forever hold your peace.” Meaning if I don’t drag myself out of bed to write, I can’t complain and mope later when there’s no time to sit at my computer because I have a day job and 3 kids who need me. Life is busy. If I don’t make sacrifices to get my writing time, that’s on me. That’s something I’ve learned over the years. It’s not deep, but it’s my daily motto and it gets me moving.

Annie Rains is the author of the new book Forbidden Kisses. 

Connect with Annie:
Author Website

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What can you tell us about your new release, Dancing in the Rain?

Dancing in the Rain is a standalone contemporary romance, which I guess you could call a sports romance since my hero Drew is a hockey player. But unlike my other hockey romances, Drew isn’t playing hockey any more, having been forced to retire due to a recurrent knee injury. Drew is a guy who grew up knowing he was talented, with one goal—to play in the NHL. He’s never been the kind of guy to have a backup plan, and now that his career is over, he’s lost. Things get worse when he discovers he has a daughter he never knew about. But this “secret baby” trope is a little different too! And then Drew meets a woman who seems to have her life all planned out, a woman who’s on top of her game…except inside Peyton really isn’t. And they discover that deep down inside, they’re both afraid of the same thing—not being able to deal with the challenges life has thrown at them.

Which book from your childhood or teenage years has stuck with you as an adult?

I still love Anne of Green Gables. And all the subsequent Anne books. She’s such an endearing character, who I definitely felt was a “kindred spirit”,  and the relationship between her and Gilbert was really my first romance.

Who are your literary heres working today? Why do you admire them?

I admire so many authors but I really appreciate authors who can produce consistently but also keep things fresh and interesting.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

Oh that’s hard! I love creating a new world, and meeting the people who live there, getting to know them and helping them overcome the parts of them that keep them from being the best person they can be. And I love writing romance because, well, I’m a romantic. I love love!

What TV show have you binge watched?

My most recent binge shows are Scandal, Suits and House of Cards.

What's the last song that was stuck in your head?

Easy one! Katy Perry’s Chained to the Rhythm. It’s so catchy but has some good messages too.

What scene in Dancing in the Rain was your favorite to write?

I loved writing the scene where Drew has to go to his daughter’s school because she has violated the school dress code. I love how he stood up for her and showed his feminist side!

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

I try to keep in mind the message that runs through Dancing in the Rain. I’ve heard similar thoughts expressed in different mottos, but the basic idea is that life is hard and throws lots of challenges our way, but it’s how we deal with them that’s important. There’s a saying that’s something like “The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg.” It’s about what you’re made of. And like Drew and Chloe and Peyton, sometimes you have to just dance in the rain.

Kelly Jamieson is the author of the new book Dancing in the Rain. 

Connect with Kelly:
Author Website

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This is the fourth stand-alone installment in our Pounding Hearts series, and the first book featuring a female MMA fighter. Characters from our other books, including Chase, aka the Reaper, from Banging Reaper and his crotchety trainer, Dale, play an integral role this story. The story is about a young woman who is in a very bad position but finds help in the unlikeliest of heroes.

What's the last book you read?

Until You by Judith McNaught. I've been binge reading her books, they're so good.

You're hosting a literary dinner party. Which three writers are invited?

Stephen King, E.L. James & George RR Martin. Our writing dream team.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

Being able to let all our little demons and fantasies run free. Writing and developing interesting characters is so much fun, too. Oftentimes the characters will surprise us, and go in a direction that we never dreamed of.

If you could invent anything, what would it be?

A device that would extract the thoughts directly from our brains and record it on the computer.

Where is your happy place? Why does it bring you joy?

In bed, wearing pajamas and snuggled up with our two little dogs. It's the softest, most comfortable place in the world.

What scene in Breaking Beast was your favorite to write?

The scene where Alex and Christy are sitting in his car, waiting for Christy to go into work. She pulls out a hat she has to wear when she works, a little beanie cap with a propeller on top. Once Alex notices the hat, hilarity ensues.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Never let it go to the judges

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What can you tell us about your new release, Whatever You Need?

Whatever You Need is a light, fun, funny romantic comedy, and the second in The Haneys series. Wyatt is the youngest of the three siblings, who all work for the family-owned business: Haney & Sons Construction and Handyman Service.

Wyatt is an introvert with a vivid imagination, who is also extremely, painfully shy. He’s known as “Hoodie Guy,” to his neighbors, because he’s never without his hoodies, which don’t really hide the burn scars on his neck and jaw. Wyatt has been crushing on his pretty neighbor since she and her son moved into the apartment above his. In fact, she plays a major role in his most recent comic book plot. In his comics, his alter ego is a superhero. In real life, he’s a mess when it comes to talking to a woman he finds attractive.

Kayla Malone got pregnant the night of her senior prom. She married at eighteen, became a mother at nineteen, and was widowed a few years later. Her marriage had been a disaster from beginning to its tragic end, and now she just wants time to grow up and figure out her life. She’s in school, and she’s a single mom. She has no time for dating, and even less desire. Still, there’s something about the hot hoodie guy who always seems to be there when she needs him the most. He tugs at her heart and chips away at her defenses.

It takes a fire in Kayla’s apartment to bring the two together, and now it’s up to Wyatt to convince Kayla he’s the hero she’s always needed, when all she wants if friendship

Who or what inspired you to become an author?

Every single author whose books kept me up late at night, whose words made me laugh or cry, and whose stories completely swept me away, inspired me to write. Other writers still inspire me that way, but it’s a community of talented individuals, rather than a single bright, shining star. I’m always discovering new authors who sweep me away.

I’ve always processed what is going on in my world by putting words to paper. I guess writing helps me organize my thoughts and emotions. The leap from expressing thoughts and feelings to writing novels was an organic progression.

Name a book that you feel has impacted your life significantly. Why was it so impactful?

Anatomy of the Spirit by Caroline Myss completely altered how I view life and the maladies we suffer. In fact, I was so enthusiastic about the book, I bought several copies and attempted to “spread the word.” I may have gone a little overboard. I still pick up my copy and reread it now and then, and I’ve had it for.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

If I had an extra hour each day, I’d probably spend it reading or taking my dog for a walk somewhere in nature.

If you could invent anything, what would it be?

I’d invent a pill that reverses aging and cures any and all diseases. Life really is too short.

What scene in Whatever You Need was your favorite to write?

I don’t have just one. I really like the scene where Kayla and Wyatt finally “meet.” They’d seen each other in the hall and said hello, but when Wyatt gets up the nerve to talk to her . . . the way our hero could relate so easily to Kayla’s little boy, while his tongue glues itself to the roof of his mouth when trying to talk to her, that was fun to write.

Do you have a motto, quote or philosophy you live by?

Lately, it’s been, “nevertheless, she persisted,” because it applies to just about everything!

Barbara Longley is the author of the new book Whatever You Need. 

Connect with Barbara:
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