This blog is sponsored by the Buy The Book Tour.
Tour Dates: April 22 to May 13, 2013
Today's Featured Book is
Rendezvous with Danger
Reunited Series - Volume 2
Author: Sharon C. Cooper
AVAILABLE
Amazon
Alandra Pargas, ex-CIA counter-intelligence officer, plans to wreak vengeance on the people who tried to kill her. A little rendezvous with danger is not what scares her, though. It’s seeing the tall, dark, and dangerously sexy man she vowed to love forever that has her running for cover. Former U.S. Special Operative, Quinn Hamilton, left the world of covert operations after the love of his life died in his arms during a black op. Three years later, he still loses sleep wondering if maybe he could have done something more to save her – until Alandra shows up on his doorstep. With her lies and betrayal, he wants nothing to do with her, yet, his heart won’t cooperate. It’s not until unknown enemies come after her that he must decide if he can leave the past behind and protect the woman he’ll always love. Will they survive this last mission and rekindle the love and passion they once shared?
Excerpt:
Quinn eased around the paint-chipped pillar, and along the musty-smelling hallway, his gun held close to his body and ready to shoot anyone who got in his way. All he needed was to leave the building without being detected.
“You have twelve minutes to get out of there Q,” Malik said through Quinn’s earpiece.
Quinn proceeded through the corridor, his body tight against the uneven wall. He made the first turn and moved down the dimly lit hallway where a single bulb dangled from a sub-standard light fixture. He heard voices coming from a room to his right, so he turned left and maneuvered down the staircase. Ten more yards and he would be home free.
He made it to the final step and halted when he heard footsteps running on the level above him and then down the stairs behind him. He ducked into a nearby utility closet, not closing the door completely.
“We have a problem,” he heard Malik say in his ear.
No kidding, Quinn thought.
“Two snipers on the rooftop of the building adjacent to the one you’re in. Sit tight.”
Missions like this Quinn normally did solo, but he was glad Malik was there. They’d run into a few snags, and his presence had proven beneficial.
“All clear.”
No longer hearing footsteps, Quinn eased back into the hallway, down the back stairs and out of the building into the night. He made sure the information he had just stolen was secure inside his jacket, and he inched toward the gate. A tree branch snapped. Quinn slammed his body against the brick wall, blending into the darkness of the night. He stood still for several seconds and heard it again. Slowly, he turned his head toward the noise. What he saw, several yards away under the dim moonlight, made his heart stop.
Alandra. What in the… He blinked several times, unable to fathom why she was thousands of miles from home, and standing in the middle of what could easily become a war zone.
He retraced his steps. She anxiously looked around the area and then back at the small device she held in her hands. Within five feet of her, he must have made a noise because her head shot up and their eyes connected. And in slow motion everything exploded around her.
“Get down!” he yelled and saw her fall to her knees.
Without thinking he ran to her and chaos erupted in every direction. He scooped her up and nestled her behind a long concrete block and then he noticed she’d been shot.
“Oh, shit.”
“Quinn,” she said, grasping at his shirt, her eyes wild. “Please … be careful.”
“Malik, I need you. Now!” Quinn growled into his mouthpiece giving Malik his location while he jerked out of his jacket and placed it under Alandra’s head.
“On my way,” Malik said.
“Hang on baby. We’re going to get you out of here.” He ripped open her down vest and then her shirt to determine the extent of her injury. Blood spilled from the chest wound. Damn. He glanced around trying to decide the best route to safety as he removed his shirt, leaving him with only a black T-shirt on. Gunshots rang out around him as he pressed his shirt over her wound to slow the bleeding.
“Quinn… I love…you. I have to tel…”
“I love you too, baby, but I need you to hold... Oh, damn. Alandra? Alandra?” he growled when her eyes rolled to the back of her head. He cradled her closer to his body, willing her to stay with him. “Lan…” he started but felt a bullet slap the back of his shoulder - and then his back. Paralyzed by the sharp pain that traveled down his spine, gripping him like steel claws, he struggled to hold on to Alandra, fighting the blackness that threatened to overpower him.
“Alandra, baby, I…need you…to hold on.”
Author Genre: Romance, Romantic suspense
Website: Sharon Cunningham Cooper
Author's Blog: Sharon C. Cooper - Just Thinking
Twitter: @Sharon_Cooper1
E-Mail: sharon@sharoncooper.net
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Author Description: Best-selling author, Sharon C. Cooper, lives in Atlanta with her husband and enjoys reading, writing, and rainy days. She writes sweet and contemporary romance, as well as romantic suspense.
Sharon is a Pro member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), board member and member of Georgia Romance Writers (GRW), and a member of the Page a Day Writers Group.
SHOWCASE Questions and Answers with the Author
First things first. Rumor has it that you’re starting a new series called THE JENKINS FAMILY SERIES. Can you tell us about the new series and maybe a timeline for the first release? Also a little tease would be great?
Glad you asked, this is going to be a fun series! The idea sparked because of my background – I was a sheet metal worker (a long time ago) for over ten years and I thought it would be cool to do a series that included women tradesmen. Here’s a little back story of the Jenkins Family - The Jenkins family is a family who owns a construction company. The grandfather started the business and when he started thinking about retiring, none of his four sons and three daughters were interested in taking over the reins. It’s not until his oldest granddaughter, Peyton Jenkins, shows an interest that his hope is renewed. Now its 16 years later, he’s happily retired, and business is better than ever - thanks to five of his amazing granddaughters.
The series will follow the lives of the five granddaughters who oversee the construction company. We’ll watch them fall in love with some wonderful men. The granddaughters are: Peyton (master electrician), Martina (carpenter), Toni (master plumber), Christina (painter), and Jada (sheet metal worker).
Readers can get a little introduction to the Jenkins Family if they pick up Best Woman for the Job (available on all ebook online retailers). This short story is the prequel to Toni (TJ) Jenkins and her love interest Craig’s full-length novel (the title is still in the works). The sequel will be released late this summer and the rest of the schedule will be posted on my website in the very near future.
How important have your social media relationships been to your success? How much has it changed your book launch process?
Great question! I’ll be the first to admit, I’m lousy at social media. I’m an introvert by nature, so reaching out “friending” people is not second nature for me. With that said though, I’m trying to do better. I do think my social media relationships have helped, but I think what really helps is for me to keep writing and putting books out. I once read somewhere that as an author, writing more books is the best form of marketing because there is nothing worse than someone enjoying your book and then when they go to see what else you have written – they can’t find anything because you haven’t written anything else.
Do you do book signings, interviews, speaking and personal appearances? If so, when and where is the next place where your readers can see you? Where can they keep up with your personal contacts online?
My recent personal appearance was at an all day workshop (April 20th) hosted by Georgia Romance Writers. I was one of the round table speakers sharing my experience about indie/self-publishing. I do online interviews via blogs and on Facebook with various book clubs.
I can be found online: LIVE CONTACT LINKS CAN BE FOUND ABOVE ALSO
Subscribe to her blog
Goodreads
You have great covers. They carry a theme and your brand with them. How does your book cover creation process work? Do you hand over the basic theme or do you have more of a hands-on approach? Do you get your readers involved in its development?
I definitely have a hands on approach for my book covers. I did a couple of them myself (Something New and Best Woman for the Job), the others were done by graphic artist. I find and purchase the photos that I’d like to use and give the graphic artist a rough idea of what I’m looking for. I also give them a detail sheet of what the story is about and from there, the cover is created.
What kinds of writer support groups do you belong too? Do they help with the writing, marketing and the publishing process? Tell us a little bit about the writers group, Page-a-Day Writers and its impact on your writing career?
I wouldn’t have ever taken writing seriously if it weren’t for the Page-a-Day Writers group. When I first moved to San Diego I didn’t know anyone, but months later I met a woman who was a published writer. I did what most people do and said I’ve thought about writing and then I asked a lot of questions. From there we started a writers group that is now Page-a-Day writers. When I moved to Atlanta, I still met with them monthly via Skype. The group is not as active as it once was, but there are a couple of us who are still critique partners.
I’m also a member of Georgia Romance Writers and I sit on the board. In addition to that, I have a writing/critique partner who I connect with weekly (to keep us both motivated) and I have a couple of other critique partners who I stay in close contact with. Writing can be very lonely and I can’t imagine writing a book without my critique partners. We have learned a lot from each other over the years and we do a lot of cross promoting – which is fun and helpful.
Between your book writing, blogging, marketing, family and all the other things that can get in your way, how do you manage your time? Do you have a set schedule or do your sort of play it by ear?
I usually have a general idea of what I want to accomplish during the week. I break it down, and then spread those items over several days, starting each day with a detail schedule. No two days are alike. As for writing, though I find that I do my best writing early mornings (and on rainy days), it’s not always the same time every morning. As for things that don’t get done when they are scheduled - those items get moved to the next day (except for family responsibilities – they always come first).
Has the advent of ebooks changed anything in your writing, your marketing and the relationship with your readers and fans?
Not at all. I was one of those people who loved holding an actual book when I read, but then my husband purchased me an ereader two years ago and now I never leave home without it. With that said, I think the majority of readers prefer ebooks (there convenient and usually more affordable) so I’m good with making sure my books are in ebook format.
What has been your experience in giving your books away free? Have you been involved in any other type of giveaways and how did that work out? What was your main goal in doing this? Did you run into any obstacles?
I love doing giveaways and so far the ones I’ve done have been successful. My main goal in doing them is to reward my current readers and to get more exposure. It’s a wonderful way to get my book into the hands of individuals who might not normally read what I write. My last giveaway (Your Favorite Character) was a lot of fun. I have received numerous emails about some of my secondary characters and readers have asked if they will get their own story. So I had a giveaway where people could tell me who their favorite secondary character was (and why). I did a drawing with all of the responses and picked the winners. Doing the giveaway gave my readers a chance to tell me whose book they would like to see next and why – which also gave me some good story ideas. The first place person won a $20 Amazon gift card and an opportunity to be a supporting character in one of my future books.
How do you manage your plots, characters and timelines to keep your stories going? Do you use any software to keep track of your books?
I’m a plotter, so all of my books are outline and I create character sketches for the characters (detailed ones for main characters). I have a spreadsheet that I use to keep track of all of the characters names that I’ve used for each book (this keeps me from reusing character’s names in future books).
I read where you plan on writing some non-fiction. Can you give us a little preview of your idea?
I started a book years ago with my husband entitled – Secrets of an Irresistible Husband. I think he is an amazing husband and I had suggested that he share tips with other husbands (or husbands to be) – that sparked the book idea. It’s in the works, but I’m not sure when it will be completed…unfortunately it keeps getting pushed to the back burner.
How do your short stories fit into your plans? Did you use them to hone your writing skills or were they preambles to your novels?
Another excellent question! Interesting enough, my first short story was written because I first wanted to see if I could write a short story. Everything I had written prior to writing Best Woman for the Job (my first short story) had been over 70,000 words and I knew so many people who wrote shorts. Once written though, one of my critique partners suggested that I publish it and offer it for FREE. This was to draw readers to my work, especially since I was (and still feel like) a new writer. So I did (one week after I published my debut novel – Something New almost a year ago). I think it helped.
I tried it again, writing another short story, back in October (for different reasons). I wrote Secret Rendezvous (the prequel to Rendezvous with Danger) mainly because I was behind in my self-inflicted deadline for Rendezvous with Danger and readers were asking about “Quinn’s” story. Not only did the short story appease some readers who were waiting for Quinn’s full-length story, but because it is still a FREE read, it has introduced readers to my Reunited Series – people who might not have ever heard of me. Which means now I have a few new followers.
Author's Book List
Secret Rendezvous
- Reunited SeriesFormer Navy SEAL, Quinn Hamilton, is a special operative for the U.S. government and has been secretly dating CIA counter-intelligence officer, Alandra Pargas, for eight months. She’s brilliant, excited by danger, and the sexiest woman he’s ever known. Together they are a force to be reckoned with - inside and outside of the bedroom. But while Alandra is on assignment in Guerrero, Mexico, she’s captured by the country’s most dangerous drug cartel, and Quinn sets out on a black op of his own to save the woman he can’t live without.
Secret Rendezvous is the short story prequel to Rendezvous with Danger. Join me as we visit an old friend, Quinn Hamilton (first introduced in Blue Roses) and meet his love interest, Alandra Pargas.
This is a short story.
Order the Book From: Amazon
- Barnes and Noble
Blue Roses
- Reunited Series - Volume 1Where most women would welcome love from a wealthy, good-looking man, Chicago-based investment manager, Dallas Marcel, is not one of them. She will never let a man control her life again. That includes handsome entrepreneur, Tyler Hollister. Dallas is on track to making partner and she’s not letting anything or anyone get in her way. But when her life is put in danger, and a Ponzi scheme ignites a SEC investigation of her firm, she realizes the one man she'd banned from her heart, might be the only one who can save her career and her life. Tall, dark, and handsome, Tyler Hollister can have any woman he wants, but he only wants one - Dallas. When he starts talking marriage, she breaks things off between them, claiming she doesn’t want a romantic entanglement to hinder her plight to making partner. A chance meeting, six months later, brings them face to face and Tyler soon realizes the intense sexual attraction they once shared is stronger than ever. But he swore he was done with her. Except he finds out her life is in danger, and his protective instincts take over. Can he save her life without losing his heart … again?
Order the Book From: Amazon
- Barnes and Noble
- Smashwords
- All Romance
Something New
Entrepreneur, Simone Edwards, did what any intelligent woman with a ticking biological clock would do: she asked her longtime boyfriend to marry her. Devastated when he turns her down, and fed up with dead-end relationships, Simone swears off men … and takes a vow of celibacy. How hard could it be? She soon learns it’s harder than she thinks when the most irresistible man in the world, Tim Hollister, shows up at her job. She hasn’t seen him in over ten years, and quickly realizes he is a temptation she doesn’t want to resist. But isn’t there some rule about dating your friend? Simone must decide if a romance with Tim is worth risking their friendship, and her reclaimed virginity. Betrayed by his supermodel ex-girlfriend, who happens to be the mother of his child, Tim Hollister has placed a padlock on his heart. But when Simone, an old high school friend falls back into his life, he soon forgets his promise to stay clear of beautiful women. Simone was always like a sister to him, but he discovers that his feelings for her aren’t very brotherly. He’s captivated by the woman she’s become and wants to take their friendship to the next level - despite her resistance. Tim can’t avoid their new-found passion, and sets out to prove he’s the man for her. This is a sweet romance.
Order the Book From: Amazon
- Barnes and Noble
- Smashwords
- All Romance
Check Sharon's Media Page.
Author Recommended by: Buy The Book Tours
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Thank you so much for the wonderful book spotlight and interview!
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