Billionaire's Matchmaker, an Anthology
by Shirley
Jump, Susan Meier, Jackie Braun and Barbara Wallace
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Can a
feisty four-legged matchmaker help four best friends find the romance of their
dreams?
Driving
Mr. Wrong Home by Shirley Jump: When a handsome man from Gabby’s past agrees
to a cross-country road trip, her master plan to re-launch her art career
quickly morphs into an unexpected, romantic reunion.
The
Sheriff’s Secret by Susan Meier: Marney’s 9-1-1 emergency help arrives in the
form of a rugged, blue-eyed cop. Now she has the perfect bodyguard to keep her
safe during those dark, steamy nights…
Love
Unleashed by Jackie Braun: The last thing Mia wants is a
relationship…yet the headstrong florist can’t keep her hands off her
sexy-as-sin ex-boyfriend. Will she open
her heart before he leaves town for good?
Love
in the Shadows by Barbara Wallace: Jenny is a woman on a mission – she’ll even
resort to dognapping to make her point! But can she teach a reclusive,
emotionally-wounded tycoon that love heals all thing?
Excerpt
from Love Unleashed by Jackie Braun in The Billionaire’s Matchmaker anthology
Marney leaned down and patted Charlie’s head. “Bye, boy.
Don’t let her do anything I wouldn’t do.” He let out a soft yip, almost as if
he understood.
Mia, however, wasn’t sure she did. “What’s that supposed to
mean?”
“Nothing. Be good.” Marney pointed a finger at the dog.
“Charlie’s going to be on his best behavior for me. Aren’t you?” Mia said.
Was it her imagination or did the little dog wink?
“You just keep telling yourself that. Well, I’d love to stay
and chat, but I have to run.” Marney was halfway out the open front door when
she called over her shoulder, “Oh, by the way, Charlie has a checkup with the
vet at five-thirty today. Don’t be late.”
The door closed on Mia’s shocked expression. By the time she
made it to the porch, Marney was already in her car driving away. Tires
actually squealed. Mia scowled. The only veterinarian
in Chandler’s Cove was Gideon Roth, hence Marney’s speedy
getaway.
Gideon was a prime specimen of a man with a muscular build,
thick sandy hair, rich brown eyes that could undress a woman with a glance, and
a mouth that could turn her most wanton fantasies
into reality. Mia knew all of this firsthand.
Gideon Roth was her ex-boyfriend.
She’d broken up with him six months earlier. Marney and
Gabby, as well as Jenny Travolini—the other woman who formed their close quartet
of friends—had been surprised. And no wonder. Gideon was a prize. Not only
gorgeous and gainfully employed, but smart, funny, and abundantly decent.
Mia’s reason for dumping him? He’d said, “I love you.”
Three little words that most women longed to hear. Not Mia.
Especially when Gid had gotten down on one knee on Christmas Day and backed
them up with a diamond engagement ring large enough to have its own ZIP code.
Panic had bubbled up, burning her like lava. God help her,
for one foolish moment, hope had as well—a geyser’s worth of it had shot up and
then rained down on the old, painful memories. But
nothing could wash away the past, which was why Mia had come
to her senses.
Why did Gid have to go and ruin a really good thing with a
declaration of love and a proposal of marriage?
Mia trusted neither.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HOW TO BEGIN A BOOK WITH A BAM!
Those of
you who are participating in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) this
month might be struggling with creating a strong opening for your novel. I know
how challenging that can be, so I sat down and analyzed how I, and other
authors, do it so well.
On the Food Network, there are a
few stars that stand out, whose cooking methods have created buzz all over the
country because they have a powerful delivery. My favorite of all of the chefs
used to be Emeril Lagasse and his signature “Bam!”
Books that
are memorable, that stand out in your memory, also have Bam. They start with a
bang, drawing you in and keeping you there, page after page.
You may
look at those books and wonder how the author did that, how she got all that
power into one little opening. There are a few tricks to the trade to create a
powerful opening, as follows:
- START
WHERE THE TROUBLE STARTS: After judging dozens of contests over the years,
the number-one mistake I see new writers making is starting off too slow.
They ease into the book--and end up leaving the reader wondering when it’s
going to get interesting. They often feel they need to pump in all this
back story, so the reader will “know” the character. The point of a book
is for the reader to GET TO KNOW the character, as the person’s layers are
peeled back one at a time. Don’t start with all that blah-blah about the
character’s background. Start with the trouble, the inciting incident that
gets the character smack into something new--something life changing.
- START
OUT ACTIVE: If you can, try to avoid using passive phrases in your opening
lines. Sometimes, they can’t be avoided, but by and large, if you want a
powerful, active opening, you need to use powerful, active words. “She was
tired” isn’t nearly as powerful as “Jane Doe took the last step she had in
her, then collapsed.”
- GIVE
THE READER A LITTLE LIGHT: Often, the lesson of not inserting back story
into the beginning of a book is taken too literally and writers put
absolutely zero back story in, leaving the reader with too many questions.
What happens is that the characters are two-dimensional because they lack
the element that gives them life--a past. You want to HINT at the back
story, not lay it all out in twenty-five paragraphs of narrative. Give us
a tease, a reason to keep turning the pages to put more of the puzzle
together.
- SET
THE TONE: What kind of book are you writing? A comedy? A drama? A
thriller? Whatever you are writing, that tone should be set from page one.
If you’re writing funny, start out funny. If you’re writing a thriller,
start out scary. There’s a book by Bill Johnson called “A Story is a
Promise.” The basic premise of that book is that your novel is a promise
to the reader. What the reader sees on the opening pages should be
indicative of the book’s overall tone. Don’t start out funny and then have
a serial killer come in and wipe out all your characters in a grisly scene.
Make a promise--and stick to it.
- GIVE
US A REASON TO CARE: In one of my earlier columns, I wrote about
characters that readers care about. Readers latch onto characters. If you
want your reader to form an attachment to your character, give them
likeable tendencies. They should be flawed human beings whose stories you
can relate to. Look at “Lost,” the hit ABC series that ran for many
seasons and created a whole subculture of followers. In each episode, the
writers focused on one of the characters, peeling back a little more of
their story. You cared about everyone, even Sawyer, because you had seen
them cry, mourn, celebrate and struggle over their lives. They were
relatable people with strengths and vulnerabilities.
- LOOK
AT GOOD EXAMPLES: Pick up five books (or more) that grabbed you from the
beginning and look at the first paragraphs. The first lines. The first
five pages. What did the author do in those pages that hooked your
attention? Most importantly, what was their opening line? Most authors I
know struggle with that opening line, revising it a hundred times before
they are happy. It is, after all, the most important line, the one readers
look at when they are skimming a book, deciding to buy it. Agent Evan
Fogleman once told a group of writers that he knows within three lines if
this is a book he wants to see more of or not. After judging a lot of
opening chapter contests, I agree with him. I can often tell within a few
lines if the author has what it takes. Does that mean that if you don’t
have powerful opening lines in your work today you can’t write great
opening lines? Absolutely not. Writing powerfully CAN be learned. If you
have good basic storytelling skills, all the rest is honing your
technique. Think of it in terms of coaching athletes. Many have wonderful
raw, natural talent, but they need to have that talent honed and
cultivated to fit the dynamics of the team, the game, and the coach. They
are taught to use their strengths and improve on their weaknesses.
Writing
a powerful opening creates a story that literally comes to life. Whether you
are writing novels or articles, powerful openings will make the difference
between your piece being read--or being pushed aside for another. Learn to grab
your reader from the start with a little Bam! and you’ll be holding his
attention for pages to come.
AUTHOR Bios and Links:
ABOUT SHIRLEY JUMP
New York
Times and USA Today bestselling author Shirley Jump spends her days writing
romance and women’s fiction to feed her shoe addiction and avoid cleaning the
toilets. She cleverly finds writing time by feeding her kids junk food,
allowing them to dress in the clothes they find on the floor and encouraging
the dogs to double as vacuum cleaners. Look for her Sweet and Savory Romance
series, including the USA Today bestselling book, THE BRIDE WORE CHOCOLATE, on
Amazon and Nook, and the debut of her Sweetheart Club series for Berkley,
starting with THE SWEETHEART BARGAIN in September 2013. Visit her website at
www.shirleyjump.com or read recipes and life adventures at
www.shirleyjump.blogspot.com.
BOOK TITLE: “Driving Mr. Wrong Home” in THE BILLIONAIRE’S
MATCHMAKER, Indulgence
www.shirleyjump.com
About Jackie Braun
Jackie Braun
is the author of more than 30 contemporary romance novels. She is a three-time RITA Award finalist, a
four-time National Readers’ Choice Award finalist and was nominated for Series
Storyteller of the Year by RT Book Club in 2008. She lives in Michigan with her
husband, their two sons and a former shelter dog named Pip.
Anthology
name and my title: The Billionaire’s Matchmaker/Love Unleashed.
About Susan Meier
In 2013 Susan Meier
lived one of her career-long dreams. Her book, THE TYCOON’S SECRET DAUGHER was
a finalist for RWA’s highest honor, the Rita! The same year NANNY FOR THE MILLIONAIRE’S
TWINS was a Book Buyer’s Best Award finalist and National Reader’s Choice
finalist.
Susan is the author
of over 50 books for Harlequin and Silhouette, Entangled Indulgence and one of
Guideposts' Grace Chapel Inn series books, THE KINDNESS OF STRANGERS.
One of eleven kids,
Susan never lacks for entertainment or amusement from her over thirty nieces
and nephews. Her family’s Wednesday Morning Breakfasts are the highlight of her
summer. And with lots of her nieces and nephews now in their twenties, wedding
season is in full swing!
Susan lives in west
central Pennsylvania with her husband, son and two crazy cats.
THE SHERIFF’S SECRET
in the THE BILLIONAIRE’S MATCHMAKER anthology for Entangled Indulgence
About Barbara Wallace
Barbara
Wallace has been a life-long romantic and daydreamer so it’s not surprising she
decided to become a writer at age eight.
However, it wasn’t until a co-worker handed her a romance novel that she
knew where her stories belonged. Her
first Harlequin Romance debuted in November 2010.
Barbara loves
writing sweet, smart, ‘it-could-happen-to-you’ style romances. She lives in Massachusetts with her other
loves – her husband, their teenage son, and three very spoiled pets (as if
there could be any other kind). She also
loves hearing from readers.
The authors will award a $25 Amazon GC to one randomly drawn commenter during the tour. Follow the tour for more exciting guest posts and chances to win!
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