Spring Into Romance Begins...
Tomorrow! March 1. Amazing authors, free books, and great prizes--it is all here for the month of March. Stop by each day to find a new blog with a fantastic author--some of them are even giving away their books! What more could you want? So. Very. Excited. And if all the fantastic authors and their books weren't enough--well there is this--  Can't Buy Me Love publishes on March 28! Did I mention... So. Very. Excited. Please--spread the word--this month we are going to Spring Into Romance every single day! 
The Lifeguard by Deborah Blumenthal
The very talented Deborah Blumenthal stopped by the blog today to share The Lifeguard--her new release. Love the cover--  Deborah, tell us about your latest book. The Lifeguard is the story of Sirena Shane, a Texas teenager who is sent off to Rhode Island to spend the summer with her Aunt Ellie at the beach, while her parents are in the midst of separating. She moves into a house with ghosts, bonds with an eighty-year-old Brazilian painter with shamanic skills, and falls in love with a lifeguard with extraordinary looks and magical healing powers. What pulled you into this story, and as a writer made you think ‘I have to write this? Developing crushes is so much a part of the teenage years, so I thought it would be interesting to explore an obsessive crush on a lifeguard, but take it further and give him magical healing powers. Tell us about your writing process. Do you outline or are you more organic? I never outline, I just write and wait for the inspiration to hit and kind of steer me along. What is a typical writing day like for you? I wish I could say that I was disciplined enough to have a set schedule, but I don’t. When things are going well, I sit down at the computer after breakfast and write until lunchtime when it’s time to take out the dog. Then I'll work in the afternoon until dinner time and then keep going after dinner until about nine. When things aren’t going well, I find every errand possible to prevent me from focusing on what I’m working on. For you, what is the most difficult part of being an author? The hardest part is definitely coming up with the right idea. Once I have an idea that I’m excited about, I can’t wait to sit down and work. What do you love about being an author? The freedom. I love making my own schedule – even though I’m far harder on myself than any boss would be. Deborah thank you for coming by the blog. Good luck with The Lifeguard! Deborah Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and nutritionist who now divides her time between writing children's books and adult novels. She has been a regular contributor to The New York Times (including four years as the Sunday New York Times Magazine beauty columnist), and a home design columnist for Long Island Newsday. Her health, fitness, beauty, travel, and feature stories have appeared widely in many other newspapers and national magazines including New York’s Daily News, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Self, and Vogue.
Blumenthal lives in New York City.
Spring Into Romance: Humbled and Amazed
Saved From a Saturday Blue by a Blurb
Today I was feeling a bit like this--  but without the butterfly part. For whatever reason maybe it is fatigue or that I've been thinking a lot about the loss of my brother this past year. It could even be some of the challenges with the film projects I am working on. Or maybe it is what feels like a never-ending round of edits on my next book Courting Trouble (July 2012). It could be each individually or all of them collectively but yes, today I've been a bit of a melancholy molly and then I read an email from an author that I consider exceptionally talented and also dear to my heart. The email was from Marilyn Brant. I asked her if she might read Can't Buy Me Love (March 28 2012). Her email included a blurb for Can't Buy Me Love. A blurb that cheered me up and made me smile. This is what Marilyn had to say about Can't Buy Me Love.Readers will delight in Meg and Cole's sexy, romantic and charming love story and will find themselves touched by the kind of passion and vulnerability it takes to bring these two ambitious people together for a lifetime. Thank you, Marilyn. Thank you for your kind and thoughtful words about Can't Buy Me Love. The book is so dear to me as it is my very first contemporary romance. I am so honored to have these words from Marilyn as not only does she write stellar romances like On Any Given Sunday and Double Dipping but she also writes women's fiction. According To Jane and Friday Mornings At Nine are two of my favorite books. So thank you Marilyn for your wonderful words. I am so excited for everyone to read Can't Buy Me Love--not long now--March 28!! xoMaggie 
Jane Porter--My Author Crush
I know I am not alone as an author when I admit that I get author crushes. I worked at an agency--I was an agent--I sat in rooms with A-listers and while I respect their talent and their star power and I truly enjoyed discussing story with them I was able to keep my wits about me. But put me in front of an author I adore--well I get a little woozy and I stutter and sputter. Jane Porter happens to be one of my author crushes. For oh-so-many-reasons. Jane writes--she is prolific--just take a look at all the books she's written. Plus she writes well. Her books--wow her books make me swoon both the classic romance and the women's fiction titles. Jane can cross genres -- something incredibly difficult for most writers and she makes all of it look so easy. She's gorgeous in this amazingly effortless way. Plus she is truly a lovely person. I mean really--warm, genuine, and kind. Yeah, Jane is one of my author crushes. So if I was a babbling befuddled fool before whenever I saw her live and in person, imagine what I'll be the next time? Why? Because Jane was generous enough to read my latest book, my first contemporary romance, and give me a blurb. A wonderful blurb that I will always cherish. Sharp, sexy prose and a fast-paced plot make Maggie Marr's Can't Buy Me Love a very entertaining and steamy read! Romance readers will love this book!"
--Jane PorterThank you, Jane. You made this first-time-contemporary-romance writer so very happy! xoMaggie
Spring Into Romance--14 days to go!
February is a short month--only 14 days until Spring Into Romance begins!! So. Very. Excited. Our first author, on Thursday, March 1 is one of my favorite authors Carolyn Jewel. Have you seen the cover of her latest book Not Wicked Enough Amazing right? Not only does she write historical but she also writes fantasy. I am so excited to read her blog post during Spring Into Romance! On Friday, March 2 nd I am so lucky to host Wendy S. Marcus author of contemporary and medical romance. Wendy is a nurse and a fantastic writer. Can't wait to read her post on why she reads and writes romance.  Make sure you leave a comment each day on the blog because a number of authors will be giving books away the day they blog but also on Saturday, March 3rd we have our first weekend drawing! Every Saturday during Spring Into Romance we will draw one lucky winner from all the readers who leave a comment during the week. The first Saturday we have a 'take care of you' package which includes lotions, soaps, spritz, candles and of course books! So yes, thank goodness February is a short month! I can't wait to Spring Into Romance with all of you!! xoMaggie
Celebrate Love In All Its Varied Forms
 There are so many Valentines in my life. So many loves. So many joys. So much kindness. As I grow older this day has moved from simply signifying romantic love to my celebrating all the love I get to experience every day. The amazing kiss from my youngest as she drops off to sleep. The unexpected hug from my eldest after homework is completed. The unplanned call from a good friend who lives thousands of miles away. The tender gaze of a mature love (we've been married forever!) that seems to say I would pick you again. The laugh, the smile, the pat on the shoulder, the joke, the compliment--each and every one an act of love. Love. And to be sure, simple acts that most days I overlook--brush by--forget to acknowledge. But today I take a moment to remember -- to bask in not only romantic love but all the love that surrounds me. I am grateful. xoMaggie 
My Frenetic Life
 Yesterday I entertained Danish directors, discussed movie finance and distribution deals -- today I have my butt firmly planted in a chair editing my next contemporary romance Courting Trouble which is due to my editor in May. Tonight I'll be doing grade school homework and cleaning up some horrible mess that children seem uniquely talented at creating. I love it all--the films, the books, the tv because it is all story telling. I am a story teller. Who knows what tomorrow will bring--hopefully one more yes and pre-production. 
|
